A key health committee in the Iowa Legislature has defeated a measure that would have increased the state's tobacco and e-cigarette taxes.
The environmental advocacy group Food & Water Watch has announced a 20-point "clean water blueprint" it says would help protect Iowa's waterways from toxic levels of nitrate and phosphorous pollution. Manure from large-scale agriculture operations routinely pollutes ground and surface water nearby.
Iowa House Democrats say they will focus on affordability in the upcoming legislative session, with plans for lowering property taxes, helping young Iowans buy their first homes, raising the minimum wage, and supporting the state's workers.
The Democratic state senator from West Des Moines died on Oct. 6 after a bout with an undisclosed illness. West Des Moines resident Al Womble will always remember the first time he met Iowa Sen....
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.
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*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
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Governor Kim Reynolds vetoed a Republican bill restricting pipeline eminent domain, triggering angry responses from GOP lawmakers who are now threatening to kill her remaining legislative agenda. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amy Rivers, and Avery Staker talk through the infighting and how it could show up in future legislative sessions.
Also on this episode… Bohannan to take another swing at unseating Miller-Meeks… Which hands are up in Iowa’s race for governor… Iowa AG Bird going after law enforcement in Winneshiek…
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
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... and everywhere you listen to podcasts
*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 - Show Intro - Kim Reynolds' Carbon Pipeline Veto Sparks GOP Civil War
02:30 - Anti-Pipeline Mass Protests - Public Outcry at Iowa Legislature
04:21 - Political Calculation - Republicans Feel Safe to Attack Reynolds
05:30 - Veto Override Challenges - Senate Numbers Don't Add Up
09:00 - Ethanol Deal Follow-up - Legislative Sessions Ahead
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