Iowa leads the nation in binge drinking—and faces higher cancer risks because of it.
Subscribe to our newsletter for more editions of "The Hot Spot: Investigating Cancer in Iowa" right to your inbox: https://iowastartingline.com/newsletter/?utm_term=isl_cancer_series
Poverty is quite a simple math problem, but the government doesn't want to solve it.
Corn and soybean farmers are sounding the alarm that Trump's tariffs are causing crop prices to plummet, production costs to rise, and overseas trade opportunities to dry up.
Kyle Hoylman, CEO at Protect Environmental, the nation's largest radon contractor, says Iowans' exposure to radon is equivalent to smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day.
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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is fighting to keep her emails secret, and it could change government transparency in Iowa forever. When asked if Lutheran Family Services was a "money laundering operation," Reynolds couldn't give a straight answer - now she's suing the Des Moines Register to hide the emails that prepared her to to respond.
This isn't just about four emails. It's about whether Iowa governors can claim "executive privilege" that doesn't exist in state law.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down Reynolds' disastrous Washington testimony, why she's fighting so hard to keep emails hidden, and what this lawsuit means for government accountability in Iowa.
Toss some bags at city-school elections this fall... Iowa's response to Kirk's assassination... And what about Gov. Kim Reynolds' emails?!
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 Kim Reynolds vs Des Moines Register: The Email Fight
01:30 Iowa Doge Initiative Leads to Washington Disaster
02:30 Reynolds Can't Deny "Money Laundering" Claims on Camera
04:30 What Executive Privilege Actually Means (Spoiler: Not Much in Iowa)
06:00 Legal Precedent at Stake: Future of Government Transparency
07:00 What Could Be So Bad She's Fighting This Hard?
08:30 Government Office Gossip vs. Media Prep: What's Really Hidden?
09:30 Democracy Requires Sunshine, Not Shadows
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Political violence is on the rise, and the aftermath of tragic events reveals just how broken our discourse has become. Join us for a discussion about how we as Iowans and our leadership are reacting to a tragedy, and what it says about free speech, cancel culture, and our democracy.
From teachers facing job loss over social media posts to county officials defying the governor's orders, we're seeing the real-time erosion of nuanced political discussion.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down the role of big tech in political radicalization, the surveillance of educators, and why Johnson County's response sparked statewide controversy.
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.
Toss some bags at city-school elections this fall... Iowa's response to Kirk's assassination... And what about Gov. Kim Reynolds' emails?!
*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 Political Violence Statistics: 23% Now Support Violence
01:30 Big Tech's Role in Radicalizing Americans
04:00 Why Charlie Kirk's Debate Format Fed Into Division
06:30 Iowa Teachers Face Firing Over Social Media Posts
08:30 Project 2025's Attack on Free Speech in Schools
10:30 The Reality: Educators Are Being Surveilled
13:30 Johnson County Official Defies Governor's Flag Order
17:30 Using Tragedy to Push Political Agendas
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Sweet corn is Iowa's pride, but at least one of our hosts thinks it's "completely overrated garbage that belongs in the trash." He must be stopped.
Also on this episode of Cornhole Champions, hosts Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers and Avery Staker dig into something that actually matters: Iowa's upcoming local elections. With voter turnout hovering around just 20% for city council and school board races, your vote has never counted more.
Toss some bags at city-school elections this fall... Iowa's response to Kirk's assassination... And what about Gov. Kim Reynolds emails?!
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 Sweet Corn Controversy Begins
01:30 "Sweet Corn Sucks" - The Hot Take That Started It All
03:00 Science vs. Tradition: Is Corn Actually Indigestible?
04:30 Elote Debate: Does Good Corn Need Mayo and Cheese?
06:30 Mississippi Gas Station Snacks vs. Iowa Corn Stands
08:00 Corn Take So Bad the Host Has to Walk Out
08:30 Why Local Elections Matter More Than Presidential Races
12:00 The Pipeline Effect: How City Council Leads to Congress
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Ten years of Republican control. Have we gotten what we were promised?
Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks sold out Iowa's clean energy future.
State Senator Catelin Drey (D-Sioux City) was sworn in today, breaking the Republican supermajority in the state legislature.
Drey and Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner spoke with press after the swearing in ceremony, expressing optimism that the increase in Democratic representation will mean more checks on Republican power.
