US Rep. Ashley Hinson announced her Senate run just hours after Joni Ernst said she wouldn't seek reelection. Republican Jim Carlin called it "orchestrated" – and he's absolutely right. This is the story of how Iowa's 2026 election just became the most consequential in years, with open seats creating opportunities up and down the ballot.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down the musical chairs of Iowa politics as seats come open across the state.

Toss some bags at Iowa losing research funding... why your congressman is skipping out on town halls... and the musical chairs of 2026 as Iowa's biggest seats come open...

Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. It’s produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 - Ashley Hinson's 3-Hour Senate Announcement: Orchestrated or Not?
02:30 - Why Republicans Coordinated Ernst's Retirement and Hinson's Launch
04:00 - Trump's Endorsement: The Only One That Matters in GOP Primary
05:30 - Iowa's 2nd District: From Safe Republican to Wide Open Race
09:30 - Christina Bohannon's Third Shot at Miller-Meeks
11:00 - Iowa's 2026 Map: Open Governor, Senate, and House Seats
14:00 - Incumbent vs Open Seat: Which Is Easier for Democrats to Flip?
16:30 - Why 2026 Could Be Like 2018: The Best Democratic Opportunity in Years

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Congressman Zach Nunn was supposed to hold his first-ever public town hall in Jefferson, Iowa. Then he made it invitation-only at the last minute. This is the story of how your representatives are being ordered by their party to avoid the very people they were elected to serve.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down Nunn's "taxpayer-funded protest events" comment and what it reveals about a system designed to keep voters out.

Toss some bags at Iowa losing research funding... why your congressman is skipping out on town halls... and the musical chairs of 2026 as Iowa's biggest seats come open...

Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. It’s produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 - Zach Nunn's Last-Minute Town Hall Switcheroo Exposed
01:30 - "Taxpayer-Funded Protest Events": The Shocking Quote
02:00 - Corporate Donor List: Who Really Has Nunn's Ear
03:30 - Why Nunn Claims He Had 304 Public Events (But Didn't)
05:00 - The $1,000 Entry Fee for "Public" Representatives
07:00 - When Did Protests Become "Wrong" Speech?
09:30 - Political Hygiene: Why Town Halls Matter More Than Careers
11:00 - Democrats Fight Back: "We Need Leaders Who Show Up"

*LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:*
- YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju
- Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/
- Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714
- Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64
- PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j
... and everywhere you listen to podcasts

*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
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- Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social
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