The Iowa Capitol is buzzing this week. It’s one of two so called “Funnel Weeks.” These are self imposed deadlines placed on the legislative process. The idea is that we’ve only got 110 days to get through the billbook. They need to focus up or risk being stuck in Des Moines all year.

In practice, Funnel Week is a cramming period. Where legislation of all kinds gets put through the committee gauntlet. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, hosts Zachary Oren Smith speaks with DMARC’s Luke Elzinga about policies that could help hungry Iowans and why they’re unlikely to pass.

Join the conversation with Amie Rivers and hear about last week’s move by Iowa Republicans to remove civil rights from some Iowans and the games they played while they did it.

Links:
1. Iowa law rips up anti-discrimination protections for trans Iowans (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2025/02/24/republican-transgender-civil-rights/

2. Free menstrual products in public schools (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2025/03/03/free-tampons-public-schools-menstural-products/

3. Bill regulating transactions at Bitcoin ATMs (Iowa Starting Line): https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF%20449

4. $1 billion unemployment tax cut proposal (The Gazette): https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/iowa-senate-republicans-advance-reynolds-1-billion-unemployment-tax-cut-proposal/

5. Teaching the Bible as curriculum (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2025/02/14/iowa-republicans-advance-public-school-bible-study-bill/

6. Iowa Republicans’ bill to criminalize vaccine providers advances amid funnel week chaos (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2025/03/03/republicans-anti-vaccine-legislature/

Guest:
Luke Elzinga is the policy and advocacy manager at Des Moines Area Religious Council.

Iowa’s near-total abortion ban is in effect. Nonetheless, Iowans are still getting abortions. It’s just harder and more expensive, often requiring travel outside the state.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, hosts Zachary Oren Smith speaks with Iowa Abortion Access Fund's Lyz Lenz about the crisis unfolding six months after Iowa's six-week abortion ban took effect. Since July 2024, the number of Iowans needing abortion funding has tripled, with hundreds forced to travel to Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Kansas for care. Lenz argues that while the ban hasn't stopped abortions, it has made them more expensive, delayed, and dangerous.

Then get some facts on the abortion pill mifepristone, the newest target of Iowa Republicans’ crusade against reproductive rights.

Guests:
- Mica Chase is a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

- Dr. Sarah Traxler is the chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood North Central States.

- Lyz Lenz is the chair of the board of directors at the Iowa Abortion Access Fund.

You don’t win races you don’t run in. And because we’ve made getting involved such a slog, no one wants to run.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, hosts Zachary Oren Smith speaks with Blue Missouri’s Jess Piper about what happens when a party decides not to compete in our rural states.

In 2022, over 40% of legislative seats went uncontested. That dropped to just 18% in 2024. Competing isn’t winning, but Piper argues making the effort makes a difference.

Join the conversation with Amie Rivers and hear about a push to criminalize drag shows, the opacity of the state’s private school voucher program, and primary jockeying among Republicans for election years that haven’t begun.

Links:
1. Taking someone under 18 to a drag show would be a felony under Iowa House bill (Des Moines Register): https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/13/iowa-house-bill-would-make-it-a-felony-to-take-minors-to-lgbtq-drag-show/78523064007/

2. State agencies block Auditor Sand during review of private school voucher program (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2025/02/18/sand-education-school-voucher-audit/

3. Former Republican state representative to challenge Kim Reynolds for Iowa governor seat (Des Moines Register): https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/17/republican-brad-sherman-to-run-for-iowa-governor-against-incumbent-kim-reynolds-gop/78963619007/

Guest:
Jess Piper is the executive director of Blue Missouri and the host of Dirt Road Democrat podcast.