What to expect at the 2025 Iowa State Fair
To help you make the most of your trip to the 2025 Iowa State Fair, we’ve compiled an extensive guide with everything you need to know.
To help you make the most of your trip to the 2025 Iowa State Fair, we’ve compiled an extensive guide with everything you need to know.
For these buyers, purchasing their forever home in Iowa was a dream come true. Check out these gripping episodes of “House Hunters” to see a new side of Iowa.
There are many affordable places to live in Iowa, a state that consistently ranks high for low cost of living. Here are eight of the best options to consider.
Iowa has been home to many devastating crimes over the years. Here are a few of the biggest true crime cases in IA history.
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.
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*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
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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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The Trump administration paused funding for Job Corps centers nationwide, including Iowa's top-rated Ottumwa facility. The cuts eliminate 125 jobs in one of Iowa's poorest counties while stranding vulnerable young people mid-program.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amy Rivers, and Avery Staker dig into how a major shift on high ripples out into a small town.
Toss some bags about the “Big Beautiful Bill’s” big, ugly impacts… a "research victory” leaving US research in the hole... and why egging's decline may be our country's greatest recession indicator.
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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*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 - Job Corps Shutdown - Trump administration eliminates Iowa's flagship Ottumwa facility serving vulnerable youth
01:00 - Ottumwa's Outstanding Performance - 125 jobs, 240 students, 94% job placement rate in one of Iowa's poorest counties
02:30 - Economic Impact Analysis - 125 jobs lost, students becoming homeless, community economic contribution
04:00 - Personal Military Family Experience - Army brat perspective on social safety net benefits
05:30 - Ajai Long's Transformation Story - From couch-hopping and depression to stability through Job Corps
07:30 - Generational Investment Concept - Current spending prevents future costs and breaks poverty cycles
10:30 - Federal Land Questions - What happens to donated campus property after closure
11:30 - Close
13:11 - Post-Credits Banter
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:*
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*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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Christina Bohannan just announced her campaign for Iowa's 1st Congressional District, setting up a potential third consecutive matchup with US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in America's most competitive House race. After losing by just 799 votes in 2024 following a district-wide recount, Bohannan is back for another shot at flipping this crucial swing seat.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amy Rivers, and Avery Staker take stock of why this margins of this district continue to be so tight.
Also on this episode… Which hands are up in Iowa’s race for governor… Iowa Republicans are in revolt over Reynolds' CO2 pipeline bill veto… 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:*
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*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 - Cold Open - Diner Debate
07:42 - Breaking News - Christina Bohannan Announces Congressional Campaign
08:00 - Iowa's 1st District Analysis - Miller-Meeks' Narrow Victory Margins
08:30 - Trump vs. Miller-Meeks Vote Gap - 34,000 Vote Enthusiasm Difference
09:30 - Trump Loyalty Test - Republican Primary Challenges and Endorsements
11:46 - Christina Bohannan Background - Constitutional Law Professor's Political Rise
13:00 - Third Time's the Charm - Historical Context for Repeat Candidates
13:18 - Name Recognition Strategy
14:00 - Closing the Gap - From 20,000 to 800 Vote Margins in Two Years
15:00 - Campaign Experience Value - Building Local Political Infrastructure
16:00 - House Control Stakes - Why This Iowa Race Matters Nationally
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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:*
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*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
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