The Iowa Capitol is buzzing this week. It’s one of two so called “Funnel Weeks.” These are self imposed deadlines placed on the legislative process. The idea is that we’ve only got 110 days to get through the billbook. They need to focus up or risk being stuck in Des Moines all year.

In practice, Funnel Week is a cramming period. Where legislation of all kinds gets put through the committee gauntlet. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, hosts Zachary Oren Smith speaks with DMARC’s Luke Elzinga about policies that could help hungry Iowans and why they’re unlikely to pass.

Join the conversation with Amie Rivers and hear about last week’s move by Iowa Republicans to remove civil rights from some Iowans and the games they played while they did it.

Links:
1. Iowa law rips up anti-discrimination protections for trans Iowans (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2025/02/24/republican-transgender-civil-rights/

2. Free menstrual products in public schools (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2025/03/03/free-tampons-public-schools-menstural-products/

3. Bill regulating transactions at Bitcoin ATMs (Iowa Starting Line): https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF%20449

4. $1 billion unemployment tax cut proposal (The Gazette): https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/iowa-senate-republicans-advance-reynolds-1-billion-unemployment-tax-cut-proposal/

5. Teaching the Bible as curriculum (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2025/02/14/iowa-republicans-advance-public-school-bible-study-bill/

6. Iowa Republicans’ bill to criminalize vaccine providers advances amid funnel week chaos (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2025/03/03/republicans-anti-vaccine-legislature/

Guest:
Luke Elzinga is the policy and advocacy manager at Des Moines Area Religious Council.

Iowa’s near-total abortion ban is in effect. Nonetheless, Iowans are still getting abortions. It’s just harder and more expensive, often requiring travel outside the state.

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, hosts Zachary Oren Smith speaks with Iowa Abortion Access Fund's Lyz Lenz about the crisis unfolding six months after Iowa's six-week abortion ban took effect. Since July 2024, the number of Iowans needing abortion funding has tripled, with hundreds forced to travel to Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Kansas for care. Lenz argues that while the ban hasn't stopped abortions, it has made them more expensive, delayed, and dangerous.

Then get some facts on the abortion pill mifepristone, the newest target of Iowa Republicans’ crusade against reproductive rights.

Guests:
- Mica Chase is a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

- Dr. Sarah Traxler is the chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood North Central States.

- Lyz Lenz is the chair of the board of directors at the Iowa Abortion Access Fund.