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Iowa News You Can Use

IOWA POLITICS
Sep 2025 10

WATCH: ‘Taxpayer-funded protests’: When a politicians avoids his constituents (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #38

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff

Congressman Zach Nunn was supposed to hold his first-ever public town hall in Jefferson, Iowa. Then he made it invitation-only at the last minute. This is the story of how your representatives are being ordered by their party to avoid the very people they were elected to serve.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down Nunn's "taxpayer-funded protest events" comment and what it reveals about a system designed to keep voters out.

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 - Zach Nunn's Last-Minute Town Hall Switcheroo Exposed
01:30 - "Taxpayer-Funded Protest Events": The Shocking Quote
02:00 - Corporate Donor List: Who Really Has Nunn's Ear
03:30 - Why Nunn Claims He Had 304 Public Events (But Didn't)
05:00 - The $1,000 Entry Fee for "Public" Representatives
07:00 - When Did Protests Become "Wrong" Speech?
09:30 - Political Hygiene: Why Town Halls Matter More Than Careers
11:00 - Democrats Fight Back: "We Need Leaders Who Show Up"

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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
Sep 2025 5

WATCH: Politics and big money make Iowa sicker (w/ Dr. Andrew Nish) – Cornhole Champions Interview

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff

Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the nation, and Dr. Andrew Nish has a blunt explanation: "Politics and big money." After 34 years treating cancer patients in Iowa, the medical director of John Stoddard Cancer Center connects our climbing cancer rates to everything from agricultural practices and contaminated water to our drinking culture and lack of green spaces.

In this episode of Cornhole Champions, Dr. Nish explains the "exposome" - all the environmental factors we're exposed to over a lifetime that influence cancer risk. From ultra-processed foods disrupting our microbiome to nitrates in our water system, he argues that Iowa's health crisis stems from the same forces shaping our economy.

Toss some bags about why politics and big money block solutions to Iowa's cancer crisis and and what one doctor thinks we need to change to save lives.

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:
02:00 - Doctor blames "politics and big money" for blocking cancer prevention
06:00 - Iowa's shocking cancer statistics: 2nd highest in nation, only getting worse
18:30 - Iowa's binge drinking problem affects highest earners most
22:30 - Why sitting is literally deadly and increases cancer risk
29:30 - Sleep study: 2 fewer hours drops immune cells by 40%
33:30 - Nitrates in Iowa water: "It's not pretty" says cancer expert
40:00 - Why Iowa has world's largest nitrate removal facility
43:00 - Shocking comparison: Iowa's hog waste equals 83 million people

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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
Aug 2025 29

WATCH: I’m applying sunscreen wrong… Iowa is too (w/ Dr. Marta Van Beek) – Cornhole Champions Interview

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff

Iowa ranks fifth nationally for melanoma—a rate similar to Arizona—and the reason might surprise you. It's not just about UV radiation. It's about who's spending their days outside and how we protect ourselves.

Dr. Marta Van Beek, a dermatologist at UI Healthcare, breaks down the reality: agricultural workers face 60% higher skin cancer rates, there's no such thing as a "healthy tan," and most of us are applying sunscreen completely wrong. (Spoiler: it's every two hours, not just when you remember.)

Toss some bags with a dermatologist about why Iowa's skin cancer rate is high and what you can do to reduce your chances of being part of the statistic.

Toss some bags at Iowa's surprising skin cancer crisis... why "pale is in vogue"... and the two-hour sunscreen rule that changes everything...

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 - Why Iowa ranks 5th nationally for melanoma (higher than Arizona!)
01:58 - Agricultural workers face 60% higher skin cancer rates
03:30 - The two-hour sunscreen rule most people don't follow
06:30 - Rural healthcare barriers: living far from dermatologists
09:00 - "No such thing as a healthy tan" - myth debunked
10:00 - Iowa's tanning bed problem: one of only 6 states with no restrictions
12:00 - Why tanning is actually addictive (endorphins released)
14:30 - "It's never too late" - why 50-year-olds should still protect skin

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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
Aug 2025 27

WATCH: Iowa City Historical Society Center closure: What a 60% loss means (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #37

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff

Iowa is closing its Historical Society research center in Iowa City to save money, potentially unloading 60% of the collection, including irreplaceable Meskwaki Nation artifacts, Civil Rights Movement records, and Women's suffrage documents.

On this segment of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker explore the devastating impact of closing Iowa City's archive.

Toss some bags at declining school enrollment... the coming loss of a historical archive in Iowa City... And how the 1986 Deere strike connects to today's tariff layoffs...

Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia.

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:30 - Coffins on Doorsteps: The Dramatic Rally to Save Iowa History
01:00 - Suzanne White Buffalo's Powerful Speech: "You Are the Reason Why"
02:00 - 60% of Collection May Be Lost: What Happens to Donated Materials?
02:30 - The Meskwaki Nation: Cultural Genocide Continues Through Neglect
04:30 - Civil Rights and Women's Suffrage Archives Under Threat
06:30 - The Real Budget Story: Unlimited Vouchers vs. $800K for History
07:30 - What This Says About Iowa's Values and Priorities
08:30 - State Rep Adam Zabner: "Fighting Back Against This Decision"

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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
Aug 2025 27

WATCH: Fewer students in Iowa schools, fewer dollars for Iowa students (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #37

By , | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff, Zachary Oren Smith

157 Iowa school districts now depend on budget guarantees as public school enrollment drops 0.63% while nearly 28,000 kids use taxpayer-funded vouchers for private schools. That's 43 more districts on life support than before the pandemic, revealing how voucher programs and brain drain are systematically hollowing out Iowa's public education system.

On this segment of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down the enrollment crisis hitting Iowa communities.

Toss some bags at declining school enrollment... the coming loss of a historical archive in Iowa City... And how the 1986 Deere strike connects to today's tariff layoffs...

Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia.

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
01:00 - Tim Conroy's Epic D&D Realtor Ad: Supporting Local Media Done Right
05:30 - Welcome to Cornhole Champions: Iowa's Education Crisis Begins
07:00 - The Shocking Numbers: 157 Districts on Budget Guarantee
08:30 - What Budget Guarantees Really Mean for Iowa Communities
09:30 - The Voucher Paradox: Funding Both Public AND Private Schools
10:30 - Why School Closures Devastate Entire Towns
11:30 - Moving 6th Grade Back: Desperate Strategy or Band-Aid Solution?
12:30 - Des Moines' Radical 10-Year Education Overhaul Plan

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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
Aug 2025 27

WATCH: John Deere’s $600M tariff crisis vs. the 1986 Farm Crisis strike (PT 3) – Cornhole Champions #37

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff

Thirty-nine years ago, UAW workers began the longest strike in John Deere history—163 days fighting for job security during the 1980s farm crisis. Today, John Deere announced 238 more layoffs across Iowa and Illinois, blaming $600 million in annual tariff costs. From the 1986 lockout to 2025's trade war casualties, Iowa workers keep paying the price for decisions made in distant boardrooms and Washington.

On this segment of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker connect past and present labor struggles.

Toss some bags at declining school enrollment... the coming loss of a historical archive in Iowa City... And how the 1986 Deere strike connects to today's tariff layoffs...

Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by me and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia.

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00:30 - August 23, 1986: The Day 4,300 Workers Walked Off the Job
01:00 - "Emasculate Our Cost of Living": What UAW Workers Really Fought For
01:30 - 1980s Farm Crisis: When Manufacturing Jobs Fell 30% in Quad Cities
02:30 - 2025 Reality: $600 Million in Tariffs, 238 More Layoffs
04:00 - Farmers Feeding Wheat to Cattle: When Harvesting Isn't Worth It
04:30 - How China Switched from Iowa Soybeans to Brazilian Suppliers
06:00 - Waterloo's Five John Deere Plants: Thousands of Jobs at Risk
08:00 - The Through Line: Erosion of Public Life in Iowa Communities

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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
Aug 2025 22

WATCH: What can you do about cancer (w/ Dr. Richard Deming) – Cornhole Champions Interview

By | POLITICS VIDEO, CANCER IN IOWA, Iowa Production Staff

Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in America, and Dr. Richard Deming has been fighting this crisis for four decades. In this powerful conversation, Iowa's leading oncologist reveals what you can actually do about it.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, we explore the mortality wake-up call that cancer brings and the simple---though not easy---steps that could save thousands of lives.

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.

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 Iowa's Cancer Crisis: Why We're Second in America
05:30 The Mortality Wake-Up Call: Cancer Changes Everything
12:00 From Navy Diver to Cancer Fighter: An Unlikely Journey
20:00 Why Screening Saves Lives (But Can Also Harm)
28:00 Iowa's Two Big Problems: Radon and Farm Chemicals
34:00 The 45% Solution: What We Already Know Works
36:30 Why Smoking Is Still Cancer's Biggest Killer
42:00 Healthcare Access: The Hidden Cancer Crisis

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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
Aug 2025 20

WATCH: Pastor and state Rep. Lindsay James takes on US Rep. Ashley Hinson (PT 3) – Cornhole Champions #36

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff

Can Democrats flip one of Iowa's reddest congressional districts? State Representative Lindsay James thinks so.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with the Dubuque legislator who's spent seven years fighting for insulin access and affordable healthcare in the Iowa House.

Toss some bags at "no" tax on tips... merit pay for teachers... a Sioux City special election next week... and a new candidate taking on US Rep. Ashley Hinson.

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.

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
01:30 - Why Lindsay James is Challenging Ashley Hinson in 2026
03:30 - The Impossible Choices: Rent vs. Life-Saving Medication
05:00 - Republican Leadership Kills Insulin Access Bill
07:00 - Pharmaceutical Lobbyists Run the Iowa Legislature
09:00 - Ashley Hinson's "Big Beautiful Bill" Moral Failure
10:30 - Iowa's Cancer Crisis: Worst Rising Rates in America
12:30 - How Faith Drives Progressive Politics (Good Samaritan)
14:00 - Taking on a $5 Million GOP Fundraising Machine

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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
Aug 2025 20

WATCH: From Instagram activism to running for Iowa Senate (w/ Catelin Drey) (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #36

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff

Can Democrats win in deep-red western Iowa? As Republicans dominate rural districts, one mom is betting that grassroots organizing and door-to-door conversations can flip a seat that hasn't seen Democratic representation in years.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with Caitlyn Drey, the 37-year-old founder of Moms for Iowa, who's running in a special election for Iowa Senate District 1 in Sioux City.

Toss some bags at "no" tax on tips... merit pay for teachers... a Sioux City special election next week... and a new candidate taking on US Rep. Ashley Hinson.

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.

*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:30 - Democrats Beating Odds in Rural Iowa Districts
01:30 - How "Moms for Iowa" Instagram Account Started a Movement
03:30 - From Phone Calls to Running for Office (The Gulf)
04:30 - Uvalde Shooting Sparks Mom's Political Awakening
07:00 - "When You Need a Mess Cleaned Up, You Send Mom"
09:00 - School Voucher Fight That Changed Everything
12:00 - Why Losing Rural Schools Destroys Communities
14:30 - Special Election Strategy: Knocking Every Door

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IOWA POLITICS - Iowa Starting Line
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