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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:*
- Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos
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EXCO-Player - Iowa Starting Line

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:*
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EXCO-Player - Iowa Starting Line

WATCH: Iowa’s First District Rematch: Bohannan vs. Miller-Meeks Round Three (PT 4) – Cornhole Champions #31

Christina Bohannon is making her third bid to unseat US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa's 1st Congressional District, coming off a razor-thin 799-vote loss in 2024. In one of 2026's most closely watched races, Bohannon believes her working-class roots and independent voice can finally break through.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with Christina Bohannon to discuss why 2026 will be different after outperforming other Democrats nationwide and winning 33,000 Trump voters in 2024.

Toss some bags about Iowa rolling back civil rights protections for trans Iowans… Trump heads to the Iowa fairgrounds… And officials debunk water safety rumors amid the ongoing nitrate crisis.

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:*
01:00 - The 799-Vote Heartbreaker - 0.2% Loss Despite Trump District Win
02:30 - Miller-Meeks Enthusiasm Gap - Why Republicans Cross Over
04:00 - Miller-Meeks Voting Record - $4,400 Tariff Costs and Medicaid Cuts
05:30 - Bucking Party Establishment - Defeating 20-Year Incumbent by 34 Points
08:00 - "Pragmatic and Compassionate" - Miller-Meeks Medicaid Cut Justification
10:00 - Talk is Cheap Analysis - Miller-Meeks Pattern of Empty Gestures
12:30 - Why 2026 is Different - Building Momentum Over Multiple Cycles
13:30 - County-by-County Campaign - Keokuk to Scott County Tour

*FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
- Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos
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*FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:*
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EXCO-Player - Iowa Starting Line