30,000 reasons.
That’s what Interim Superintendent Matt Smith said he would point to: the district’s 30,000 students, when asked why Des Moines Public Schools’ upcoming bond referendum still matters in the wake of the recent scandal involving former superintendent Ian Roberts.
Iowa has long stood at the intersection of First Amendment battles.
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 journalist and author Art Cullen penned a book about the state’s issues with water pollution. He’ll be promoting it at the Iowa City Book Festival in October.
To help reduce Iowa's cancer rates, the government will need to take action. We’ve got some ideas on where to start.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand has been starting his campaign stops across Iowa with an unusual ritual: leading crowds in singing "America the Beautiful." Sand, the current state...
A group of clean water advocates in Iowa has filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to back down on changes designed to ensure water safety in the state.
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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