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Iowa News You Can Use

IOWA POLITICS
Oct 2025 1

WATCH: Iowa’s $400,000 scandal: Research on ag pollution buried (w/ Carey Gillam) – Cornhole Champions #41

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff

Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the nation, and it's getting worse. A million-dollar study confirmed what many suspected: agricultural pollution is poisoning our water and making Iowans sick. However, after scientists completed their research, the $400,000 set aside to tell Iowans about it simply ⁠disappeared⁠.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with investigative journalist Carey Gillam, editor-in-chief of ⁠The New Lede⁠ and author of "The Monsanto Papers" and "Whitewash." She spent 17 years as a senior correspondent with Reuters international news service. Her work has been at the center of how powerful agricultural interests suppress critical public health research while Iowa families pay the price.

From EPA officials grilling pork chops with polluters to the revolving door between Big Ag and government regulators, we explore how corporate money corrupts the science that should protect us all.

Toss some bags at Iowa's cancer crisis cover-up… Trump's EPA reversing water protections… And why farmers are fighting back on their own…

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 - Iowa's Shocking Cancer Statistics: Second Worst in America
01:30 - The $400,000 Cover-Up: Public Health Funding Disappears
05:00 - Pattern of Suppression: Multiple Studies Buried by Officials
07:30 - EPA Chief Grills with Polluters at Iowa State Fair
09:00 - Big Ag's Corruption Playbook: Ghost Writing and Revolving Doors
12:30 - Trump EPA Reverses Water Protection for Iowa Rivers
16:30 - Farmers Fight Back: Real Solutions from the IDEA Network
19:00 - Why Voluntary Change Won't Save Iowa's Water

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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
Sep 2025 17

WATCH: Iowa governor sues to keep emails secret. Will a judge agree? (PT 3) – Cornhole Champions #39

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff

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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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
Sep 2025 17

WATCH: Charlie Kirk’s murder, Big Tech’s role, + how Iowans are dealing (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #39

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff

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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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
Sep 2025 17

WATCH: Sweet corn slander + why votes go further in Iowa’s local elections (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #39

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff

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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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
Sep 2025 10

WATCH: Red states really showed ‘em…: Iowa loses out on research funding (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #38

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff

Iowa chose loyalty over lawsuits when Trump cut $11 billion in federal health funding. And we paid the price. While blue states sued and kept 80% of their CDC grants, Iowa lost all 12 of its targeted research grants.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down how Iowa's decision to stay quiet cost millions in federal dollars while other states fought back and won. Plus, why your congressman thinks town halls are "taxpayer-funded protests" and the 2026 scramble as Ashley Hinson jumps to Senate.

Toss some bags at Iowa losing research funding... why your congressman is skipping out on town halls... and the musical chairs of 2026 as Iowa's biggest seats come open...

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 - Miller-Meeks vs Rob Sand: The Breakfast Pizza Twitter Meltdown
01:30 - Why Miller-Meeks' Pizza Post Backfired Spectacularly
03:30 - The Performative Politics of Social Media Drama
05:00 - Epstein Files Drama Enters the Pizza Wars
08:30 - Iowa's $11 Billion Health Funding Catastrophe Begins
10:30 - Blue States Sued and Won, Iowa "Boot-Licked" and Lost
11:00 - 80% vs 0%: The Devastating Numbers That Prove Everything
13:00 - Why "Winning" Feels Like Getting Owned in Iowa

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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
Sep 2025 10

WATCH: 2026 election scramble: Why Democrats have their best shot in years (PT 3) – Cornhole Champions #38

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff

US Rep. Ashley Hinson announced her Senate run just hours after Joni Ernst said she wouldn't seek reelection. Republican Jim Carlin called it "orchestrated" – and he's absolutely right. This is the story of how Iowa's 2026 election just became the most consequential in years, with open seats creating opportunities up and down the ballot.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down the musical chairs of Iowa politics as seats come open across the state.

Toss some bags at Iowa losing research funding... why your congressman is skipping out on town halls... and the musical chairs of 2026 as Iowa's biggest seats come open...

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 - Ashley Hinson's 3-Hour Senate Announcement: Orchestrated or Not?
02:30 - Why Republicans Coordinated Ernst's Retirement and Hinson's Launch
04:00 - Trump's Endorsement: The Only One That Matters in GOP Primary
05:30 - Iowa's 2nd District: From Safe Republican to Wide Open Race
09:30 - Christina Bohannon's Third Shot at Miller-Meeks
11:00 - Iowa's 2026 Map: Open Governor, Senate, and House Seats
14:00 - Incumbent vs Open Seat: Which Is Easier for Democrats to Flip?
16:30 - Why 2026 Could Be Like 2018: The Best Democratic Opportunity in Years

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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
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