WATCH: How the Koch brothers influence Iowa politics
Here's who the Iowa GOP is really working for
Jul
2025
3
POLITICS VIDEO
Jul
2025
3
WATCH: President Trump is coming to Iowa. Which Iowa Republicans will be there?
President Donald Trump is making a trip to Iowa this week. We're watching for which Iowa Republicans make a mad dash for a seat at his table.
Check out more on the newest episode of Cornhole Champions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-yD_H1l6wc
Jul
2025
2
WATCH: America 250 kicks off in Iowa. Will Trump plays GOP Kingmaker? (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #31
President Donald Trump returns to Iowa this week for a July 4th America 250 celebration at the state fairgrounds - but this isn't the "Great American State Fair" he promised during his 2023 campaign.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amy Rivers, and Avery Staker break down Trump's Iowa return and what it means for 2026 politics.
Toss some bags about Iowa rolling back civil rights protections for trans Iowans… officials debunk water safety rumors amid the ongoing nitrate crisis... and a conversation with Christina Bohannan.
Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.
*LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:*
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... and everywhere you listen to podcasts
*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 - Trump Returns to Iowa - July 3rd State Fairgrounds Rally for America 250
02:00 - Broken Campaign Promises - The "Great American State Fair" That Never Was
02:30 - 50-State Tour Abandoned - Mexico Wall-Level Promise Keeping
06:00 - 2026 Stage Sharing Speculation - Who Gets Trump's Blessing?
07:00 - Regina George GOP Politics - Mean Girls Fascism Edition
*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
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Jul
2025
2
WATCH: Iowa becomes first state to strip trans civil rights (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #31
Iowa makes devastating history this week---becoming the first state ever to strip away existing civil rights protections from transgender residents.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amy Rivers, and Avery Staker cover Iowa's historic civil rights rollback that removes gender identity protections from employment, housing, public accommodation, and education.
Toss some bags about Trump's stop at the Iowa fairgrounds… officials debunk water safety rumors amid the ongoing nitrate crisis and a conversation with Democrat Christina Bohannan.
Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.
*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
*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:30 - Zach's "Par Excellence" Pun Disaster - Tech Out of There Falls Flat
02:49 - Iowa's Historic Civil Rights Rollback - First State to Strip Existing Trans Protections
04:00 - The Energy of Hope - Trans Community and Allies Unite at State Capitol
06:30 - Beyond Civil Rights - Birth Certificate Changes and "Gender Theory" Language
08:00 - Project 2025 Playbook - Scapegoating as Fascism Facilitation
10:00 - Hope for the Future - Protests Matter, Continued Advocacy Essential
*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
- Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith
- Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social
- Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith
- LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/
*FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
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- YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w
Jul
2025
1
WATCH: Trump’s federal cuts target Ottumwa Job Corps site
The Trump administration wants to cut Job Corps programs across the country, which will leave a big gap in Ottumwa's community.
Learn more about it on the latest episode of Cornhole Champions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzECAsvY2wI
Jul
2025
1
WATCH: Iowa becomes first state to cut trans civil rights protections
This morning, Iowa became one of the first states to remove the civil rights of transgender residents. Here's one story from an Iowan impacted by the change.
Jun
2025
30
WATCH: The GI Bill proves social safety nets work
Where's the love for social safety nets?
Check out the newest episode of Cornhole Champions here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzECAsvY2wI
Jun
2025
30
WATCH: Rep. Miller-Meeks does not want to make Medicaid better
US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks says the US Senate GOP bill and its massive cuts to Medicaid are too much. But will that change her willingness to vote for it?
Jun
2025
30
WATCH: Why Iowa public schools are required to let private school kids play sports
“Survival mode.”
That’s what Rep. Heather Matson says Iowa’s public school districts are operating in these days.
And in just a couple of short months, there will be another issue added to the growing list of Republican moves that are hurting the state's more than 300 public school districts.
Besides being underfunded, not having teacher candidates to hire, and a voucher system that diverts public funds from public schools to private, the new trouble will be a requirement for public schools to let private school students play in their sports programs.
Matson says she worries about “the possible fiscal and logistical implications.”
Jun
2025
28
WATCH: Iowa’s maternal health care crisis, explained
Iowa is in a maternal health crisis.
With one of the most restrictive abortion policies in the country since the overturning of Roe v. Wade (three years ago this week), clinics and hospitals are having a hard time recruiting OB-GYNs.
Iowa’s year-old statewide abortion ban prohibits most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know they’re pregnant.
Dr. Karla Solheim reflects on Iowa’s maternal health care scene since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that overturned the decades-long protections for women that were secured from Roe v. Wade.
