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Iowa News You Can Use

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Jul 2025 2

WATCH: Iowa becomes first state to strip trans civil rights (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #31

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Iowa Production Staff

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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... and everywhere you listen to podcasts

*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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youtube - Iowa Starting Line
Jun 2025 30

WATCH: Why Iowa public schools are required to let private school kids play sports

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Amie Rivers

“Survival mode.”

That’s what Rep. Heather Matson says Iowa’s public school districts are operating in these days.

And in just a couple of short months, there will be another issue added to the growing list of Republican moves that are hurting the state's more than 300 public school districts.

Besides being underfunded, not having teacher candidates to hire, and a voucher system that diverts public funds from public schools to private, the new trouble will be a requirement for public schools to let private school students play in their sports programs.

Matson says she worries about “the possible fiscal and logistical implications.”

youtube - Iowa Starting Line
Jun 2025 30

WATCH: Iowa family loses Medicaid access

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Amie Rivers

Tony Lukken needs daily care. But Iowa Medicaid recently dropped his exemption that gave him access to an in-home nurse five-days a week. His mother Lori is now tasked with piecing together her son's care.

Find out more on the latest episode of Cornhole Champions: https://cornholechampions.substack.com/p/job-corps-ottumwa-iowa-trump-cuts

youtube - Iowa Starting Line
Jun 2025 28

WATCH: Iowa’s maternal health care crisis, explained

By | POLITICS VIDEO, POLITICS, Amie Rivers

Iowa is in a maternal health crisis.

With one of the most restrictive abortion policies in the country since the overturning of Roe v. Wade (three years ago this week), clinics and hospitals are having a hard time recruiting OB-GYNs.

Iowa’s year-old statewide abortion ban prohibits most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know they’re pregnant.

Dr. Karla Solheim reflects on Iowa’s maternal health care scene since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that overturned the decades-long protections for women that were secured from Roe v. Wade.

youtube - Iowa Starting Line