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Vice President Joe Biden returns to Iowa this week, raising questions as to whether the trip may be preparation for something bigger. Biden admitted recently to be considering a third bid for the presidency. Heading into the twilight of his long and successful career...
Iowa Democrats will get their chance to see a few of their party's presidential hopefuls in the upcoming months. Senator Bernie Sanders and former Governor Martin O'Malley both return to the Hawkeye state to meet potential caucus-goers. Sanders plans a three-day trip...
No campaign from Hillary Clinton until July? That's what a Politico report suggested late last week, setting off a fierce discussion among Democratic activists. Iowa Democrats, in particular, worried she may be taking her early lead for granted, and voiced concern...
The Des Moines Register and Bloomberg Politics conducted the first big Iowa Poll of the year, asking likely caucus-goers who they would caucus for. It provided a wealth of information for those of us wishing to dissect the presidential race still in its infancy. So...
Iowa Democrats have reason for optimism as they look to the future, despite the terrible results from the 2014 election. A crop of inspiring leaders are looking for their moment on the bigger stage. Republicans like Terry Branstad and Chuck Grassley won't be around in...
Starting Line will offer a series of Iowa Travel Guides to all of Iowa's main cities throughout the course of the year for visiting journalists and campaign staff to use on their trips. Let's start out with the Capitol City. Des Moines has undergone a cultural...
The midterms before the Iowa Caucus provide an excellent opportunity for potential presidential candidates to visit the First in the Nation state. Early trips to Iowa can connect candidates with grass-top activists, pique interest in local and national media, and...
On an unseasonably warm Saturday that felt like a spring thaw, top Democratic activists from around the state looked to shake off the cold reality of their 2014 losses and chart a new course forward to victory. The party's state central committee met in Des Moines to...
Welcome to the brand new Iowa political news site, Iowa Starting Line! I (Pat Rynard) am very happy you're here and I hope you'll join us on a daily basis to find news on the Iowa Caucus and Iowa politics. What will you find here? Iowa is about to take center stage...
Thirty-nine years ago, UAW workers began the longest strike in John Deere history—163 days fighting for job security during the 1980s farm crisis. Today, John Deere announced 238 more layoffs across Iowa and Illinois, blaming $600 million in annual tariff costs. From the 1986 lockout to 2025’s trade war casualties, Iowa workers keep paying the price for decisions made in distant boardrooms and Washington.
On this segment of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker connect past and present labor struggles.
Toss some bags at declining school enrollment… the coming loss of a historical archive in Iowa City… And how the 1986 Deere strike connects to today’s tariff layoffs…
Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia.
*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00:30 – August 23, 1986: The Day 4,300 Workers Walked Off the Job
01:00 – “Emasculate Our Cost of Living”: What UAW Workers Really Fought For
01:30 – 1980s Farm Crisis: When Manufacturing Jobs Fell 30% in Quad Cities
02:30 – 2025 Reality: $600 Million in Tariffs, 238 More Layoffs
04:00 – Farmers Feeding Wheat to Cattle: When Harvesting Isn’t Worth It
04:30 – How China Switched from Iowa Soybeans to Brazilian Suppliers
06:00 – Waterloo’s Five John Deere Plants: Thousands of Jobs at Risk
08:00 – The Through Line: Erosion of Public Life in Iowa Communities
*LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:*
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Iowa State Senator Zach Wahls officially launched his 2026 U.S. Senate campaign, taking aim at Joni Ernst and calling for a new generation of leadership to challenge Washington’s failed establishment. Wahls, known for his viral 2011 testimony supporting his two moms’ marriage rights, is positioning himself as a champion for working-class Iowans struggling with housing costs, healthcare access, and an economy “rigged to benefit those at the very top.”
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with Wahls to discuss his campaign launch, his work protecting mobile home residents from predatory private equity firms, and why he believes Democrats need to stop “looking down on voters” and start meeting them where they are. We explore Wahls’ critique of political corruption in Des Moines, his push for term limits and stock trading bans, and Ernst’s tone-deaf “we’re all going to die” healthcare comment that’s already becoming campaign fodder.
Also, an overview of Iowa’s 2026 Senate race. The dangers of corporate Pride. Perry’s second chance.
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/
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– PocketCasts – https://pca.st/74atty1j
… and everywhere you listen to podcasts
*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 – Cornhole Champions Introduction – Zach Wahls Senate Campaign Launch
00:19 – Interview Begins – State Senator Zach Wahls Joins from Coralville/Iowa City
00:30 – Democratic Messaging Strategy – Reconnecting with Working Class Voters Post-2024
00:52 – Wahls’ Campaign Platform – Economy Rigged Against Hardworking Iowans
01:30 – Personal Examples – Daycare Costs and Mobile Home Community Challenges
02:00 – Democratic Party Critique – Too Many Know-It-All Attitudes Toward Voters
02:28 – Housing Affordability Crisis – Mobile Home Parks and Private Equity Takeovers
03:20 – Bipartisan Mobile Home Legislation – 30 Senators Supporting Tenant Protections
04:00 – Political Corruption Problem – Special Interest Money Blocking Bipartisan Solutions
04:29 – Next 50 Organization – Bringing New Generation Leadership to Politics
05:00 – Challenging the Establishment – Taking on Both Parties’ Failed Leadership
05:30 – Reform Agenda – Term Limits and Stock Trading Bans for Political Insiders
06:10 – Iowa Democrats’ Electoral Challenges – No Federal Wins Since 2018
06:30 – Recent Special Election Successes – Three Consecutive Democratic Overperformances
06:48 – Joni Ernst’s Healthcare Gaffe – “We’re All Going to Die” Comment
07:15 – Republican Healthcare Plan Critique – Waiting for Constituents to Die
07:30 – 99-County Strategy – Meeting Voters Through Grassroots Organizing
08:00 – Campaign Capacity Building – Voter Registration and GOTV Operations
08:34 – Grassroots Campaign Strategy – Taking on Washington’s Failed Establishment
09:04 – Campaign Website Plug – ZachWahls.com for More Information
09:21 – Interview Wrap-Up – Thanks to State Senator Zach Wahls
09:30 – Show Conclusion – Subscribe and Newsletter Information
*Follow Zachary Oren Smith on social media:*
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Half a million students are enrolled in Iowa’s public schools. And because Iowa charges students for meals, some rack up lunchroom debt and others go hungry. Studies show hunger impacts academic performance, classroom behavior, as well as overall health and even test scores. But so far, the powers that be in Iowa aren’t interested.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith chats with Sen. Janice Weiner (D-Iowa City) about why year-after-year this policy goes nowhere in the Iowa Legislature which convenes again next week. Also, hear from Democrat Mike Zimmer who is running to flip a Clinton County Senate seat blue.
This week, Chase Seibert guest hosts offering the analysis he’s becoming famous for on TikTok (@burnerlearner) and Insta (@theseibert).
Links
1. Chuck Grassley: Iowa’s veteran lawmaker once again third in line for presidency (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2022/10/19/chuck-grassleys-political-career-is-older-than-barbie-the-grammys-and-more/
2. Rita Hart reelected to lead Iowa Democrats in 2025 (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2025/01/04/rita-hart-chair-democrats/
3. Iowa Republicans want to cut property taxes (The Gazette): https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/iowa-republicans-want-to-cut-property-taxes-heres-what-it-could-mean/
Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.
Democrats will still be in the minority in next year’s Iowa Legislative Session, but Minority Leader Janice Weiner (D-Iowa City) said that doesn’t make them powerless.
US Sen. Joni Ernst is a combat veteran with deep experience in military policymaking through her work on the Senate Armed Services Committee. She expressed interest in leading the US military in President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet. But she got snubbed by a guy who doesn’t believe women should be combat veterans.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith chats with Iowa Starting Line’s community editor Amie Rivers about Ernst and a troubling report from the Farm Bureau Federation.
Also on this episode, hear from state Rep. Josh Turek of Council Bluffs and Sharon Lake of Iowa City. The two had pretty impressive wins this year, one as an elected and the other as an organizer. Spend some time with hard-earned lessons from the grassroots.
Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out its roundup of local writers.
Links:
1. Trump chose a Fox News host as his secretary of defense over Ernst (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2024/11/13/tr…
2. A new analysis by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation showing around 11,400 Iowa workers have lost their jobs in the state’s broad agriculture economy (The Des Moines Register): https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/mo…
3. Senator Joni Ernst comments on Trump’s cabinet picks so far (KWWL): • Senator Joni Ernst comments on Trump’…
4. Pete Hegseth on women in combat roles (The Shawn Ryan Show): https://shawnryanshow.com/blogs/the-shawn-…
5. Leshtz: “Here in Iowa, the Fight Goes On” (The Nation): https://www.thenation.com/article/politics…
Guests:
Rep. Josh Turek is a Democrat reelected to represent House District 20.
Sharon Lake is an organizer with Iowa City’s East Side Dems.
Protests, rallies, and candidate meetings for Mar. 10-17, 2026
Protests, rallies, and meet a candidate: Mar. 3-10, 2026
Nathan Sage dropped out of the Democratic primary for Iowa’s US Senate race, endorsing Josh Turek. This reshapes the 2026 Democratic primary as Turek and Zach Wahls duke it out to take on Republican establishment pick Ashley Hinson for the open seat. Nathan Sage, the...
Check out these immigrant-owned businesses to not only boost your local economy but also support those who the federal government is actively targeting.
The kidnapping goon squad gutting our workforce keeps rolling to more cities across the US. Its newest target is Charlotte, North Carolina, and soon ICE and Border Patrol will bring their terror to New Orleans. But deportations of immigrant workers continue to happen...
Gamers will take over Kinnick Stadium this weekend to compete in a College Football 26 tournament for charity.
More than 200 people rallied at Escucha Mi Voz Iowa’s “protective accompaniment” event on Wednesday to support families and individuals during their routine immigration check-ins at Cedar Rapids ICE Field Office.
The former Des Moines Public School superintendent’s arrest by ICE has garnered international attention and prompted a closer look at his background.
Halloween is on October 31, but did you know that for decades, that wasn’t true in Des Moines? Discover a unique piece of local Halloween history.
The Iowa state representative, who won twice in Trump territory, is betting his story of overcoming adversity will resonate statewide. Josh Turek has never been afraid of long odds. Born with spina bifida after his father's exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, Turek...
State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past month, including offenses related to cockroach infestations, rodents, expired food and operating without a license.
Residents are calling on Havenpark to institute “a two-year moratorium on lot rent increases” and said park owners needed “to provide clean, safe drinkable water, essential park maintenance, and responsive on-site management in all parks.”
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds vetoed a bill restricting private pipelines’ use of eminent domain, against the wishes of Iowa landowners and farmers.
On Tuesday, news broke that 651 Iowans are soon to be laid off by June 1 from Whirlpool in Amana. That’s about a third of its workforce.
Iowa has one of the most restrictive medical cannabis programs in the country. There’s a push in the Iowa Legislature to double the number of cannabidiol dispensaries that can operate in the state. Iowa license plates have become a common site at weed dispensaries...
Muscatine, Iowa, has eight sister cities around the world. Find out how these international destinations foster understanding in southeastern Iowa.
