Cornhole Champions Podcast

It's easy to miss what's happening in Iowa when you're scrolling past headlines. GDP down 6.1% in Q1. Soybean markets shipped to Argentina. A $20 billion bailout that somehow bypassed the farmers who needed it most. But this isn't just about tariffs or trade policy. It's about who holds power in Iowa and who gets left behind. On Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith sat down with Chase Seibert and Liz Fleming to unpack the New York Times story everyone should be reading: how Trump's economic policies hit Iowa harder than almost anywhere else in the country. Toss some bags about Iowa’s economic woes… health insurance costs going up… and some reflection on a year of Cornhole Champions. It's a conversation about reality, responsibility, and refusing to pretend everything's fine when it clearly isn't. And if you've been following this show, you know we don't do academic jargon — just honest talk about what's happening in Iowa and why it matters. Cornhole Champions is a weekly politics and policy podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line, hosted by Zachary Oren Smith and produced by Rebecca Steinberg, with music by Avery Mossman and art by Desirée Tapia. SHOW RUNDOWN: 0:00 – Marinette Miller Meeks refuses town halls: "When hell freezes over" 4:30 – Welcome and what's coming this episode 6:30 – Trump's economic disaster hits Iowa hardest: the New York Times story 17:00 – ACA open enrollment and what Iowans need to know now 25:00 – Why Iowa journalism matters more than ever 36:00 – Reflecting on a year of Cornhole Champions 41:00 – How to support the show and send us your questions 42:00 – Outro and what's next *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights is challenging Republican Congressman Zach Nunn for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. As the first woman to lead Iowa House Democrats, Konfrst has spent seven years fighting for reproductive rights, healthcare access, Medicaid funding, and school voucher accountability while building power in the minority. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Konfrst explains why voters feel frozen by political uncertainty, how Democrats can win even when outnumbered, and what effective opposition actually looks like in Iowa politics. Cornhole Champions is a weekly politics and policy podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line, hosted by Zachary Oren Smith and produced by Rebecca Steinberg, with music by Avery Mossman and art by Desirée Tapia. *SHOW RUNDOWN:* 0:00 - Intro and Jennifer Konfrst's congressional run 1:15 - Why voters feel unheard by Congressman Zach Nunn 3:00 - The stakes of Iowa's third district race for House control 5:00 - Susan B. Anthony list enters the race on abortion rights 9:30 - Getting things done as the minority party in Iowa legislature 13:45 - What effective opposition looks like in politics 16:30 - How to make politics feel less like a game 18:00 - Hedgie's bookstore and hope in small town Iowa *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s easy to romanticize small-town Iowa — cornfields, calm mornings, and hardworking families. But behind the postcard image is a story of consolidation, pollution, and the steady draining of civic power. For my penultimate episode of the 2025, I spoke with Pulitzer Prize–winner Art Cullen has spent decades writing from Storm Lake about the forces reshaping rural life. In his new book Dear Marty, We Crapped In Our Nest: Notes from the Edge of the World, he reflects on how we got here, what we have left, and what it would take to turn things around after a century of extraction. Toss some bags about Iowa’s petrochemical farm economy… the hollowing out of our small towns… And the politics of pollution and power… It’s a hard read. But if you like this show, I think it’s up your alley. A conversation about responsibility, hope, and the cost of pretending everything’s fine. And for my money, it has one of the best essays I’ve read on the history of corn in the US. Super interesting. Cornhole Champions is a weekly politics and policy podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line, hosted by Zachary Oren Smith and produced by Rebecca Steinberg, with music by Avery Mossman and art by Desirée Tapia. *SHOW RUNDOWN:* 00:00 – Iowa’s rural myth vs. the reality of industrial agriculture 04:00 – Who is Marty? The friendship behind Dear Marty, We Crapped in Our Nest 07:00 – The “Corn Gospel”: How petrochemicals and subsidies changed Iowa 10:00 – When Big Ag bought Iowa politics 15:00 – Can Iowa’s populist right break from corporate control? 21:00 – Pipelines, property rights, and the cracks inside the GOP 30:00 – Art Cullen on cancer, rural healthcare, and what it means to stay 36:00 – “Dear Marty” epilogue: despair, democracy, and a flicker of hope *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the nation, and it's getting worse. State Rep. Austin Baeth isn't just a politician. He's a practicing physician who sees cancer patients every day and watches people die from this disease in his palliative care work. His unique perspective as both doctor and lawmaker reveals the harsh reality: Iowa's cancer crisis has identifiable causes and policy solutions, but special interests keep blocking progress. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, I speak with Baeth about why Iowa's cancer rates are skyrocketing when other states are improving. From radon in 70% of Iowa homes to untaxed vaping products, from water contamination to landlord lobbying, we explore the specific regulatory tools that could save lives—and the political roadblocks preventing action. Toss some bags at Iowa's cancer emergency... Why $20,000 for radon testing disappeared in two months... And how special interests are hurting Iowans... 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 Cancer Crisis: Second Highest Rate and Rising 03:30 Why Current State Efforts Are Just Getting Started 05:30 The Real Drivers: It's Not Just Smoking and Obesity 08:00 Radon: The Silent Killer in 70% of Iowa Homes 10:00 Why Landlords Block Life-Saving Radon Protections 13:00 New Home Construction: Simple Solutions Blocked by Builders 15:00 Tobacco Taxes: The Evidence-Based Solution Iowa Won't Use 17:00 Making the Political Case When Lives Are at Stake 19:30 How to Contact Lawmakers About Cancer Policy *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Hedlund and Diana Mondragon were groomed and sexually abused by the same high school teacher 20 years ago - but their paths to justice couldn't have been more different. Not because of the facts of their cases, but because of where they lived. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with the co-hosts of "Blooming After Grooming" to explore how a predator moved from Iowa to Illinois after Hedlund ended the relationship, and how state laws either support or fail survivors seeking accountability. From Iowa's restrictive statute of limitations to Illinois' more progressive laws that still fell short, their story reveals the shocking gaps in our systems meant to protect children. Discover how Hedlund found Mondragon through a cold LinkedIn message, why the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners became the unlikely hero of their case, and what parents, educators, and students need to know about recognizing and preventing grooming. Toss some bags at survivor accountability... the trauma onion that keeps peeling... and why "why now?" is the wrong question... 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. 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 - Welcome to Cornhole Champions: Accountability and Healing 04:00 - How Two Survivors Found Each Other Through LinkedIn 05:30 - The Grooming Started: From Iowa to Illinois 09:00 - Different States, Different Laws, Different Outcomes 11:30 - Iowa's Statute of Limitations vs Illinois' Progressive Laws 12:30 - How Iowa Board of Education Became the Unlikely Hero 16:30 - The Trauma Onion: When Systems Fail to Protect 22:30 - Why Survivors Wait: The Average Age is 52 LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ty Rushing made history as the first Black reporter and editor at eight different Iowa publications, but his journey from breaking barriers to breaking down stories reveals something deeper about the evolution of journalism. From covering northwest Iowa's "playground" of small towns to mentoring the next generation at the University of Iowa, Rushing offers some insight into what shoe leather teaches about the craft. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith dives deep with the Emmy-nominated documentarian about the art of local journalism, the challenge of "parachute reporters," and why every gas station should have decent coffee. Toss some bags at making the jump from veteran reporter to rookie professor… The real difference between local and parachute journalism… And why Mike Jones references don't land with Gen Z students… 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 From Local to Statewide: Expanding Your Coverage Playground 02:30 The "Helicopter Journalist" Problem in Iowa 05:00 Defending Iowa from Coastal Elite Takes 07:30 Transitioning from Top Reporter to Rookie Professor 10:30 Teaching Local Government: More Than Just Meeting Coverage 16:00 Preparing Students for a Consolidated News Industry 18:00 The Time-Consuming Reality of Academic Grading 23:00 Generational Gaps: Mike Jones vs. Gen Z Students *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're just a week out from the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and since then we've seen Iowa Republicans lash out at everything from local teachers to the Iowa National Guard in response. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, hosts Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers and Avery Staker break down the state's response to Kirk's assassination, the impact you can have on city-school elections, and why the Iowa Gov. thinks she can withhold her emails from the public. 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: Mississippi vs Iowa Food Fight 08:30 Local Elections: Why 80% of Iowans Skip Races That Matter Most 15:30 Political Violence Statistics: 23% of Americans Now Support Violence 22:30 Iowa Teachers Face Firing Over Social Media Posts 28:30 Johnson County Defies Governor's Flag Order 35:00 Kim Reynolds Can't Deny "Money Laundering" Claims on Camera 40:30 Email Lawsuit: What Is Reynolds Hiding from Taxpayers? 43:00 Government Transparency vs Executive Privilege Battle *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. RUNDOWN: 00:00 - Miller-Meeks vs Rob Sand: The Breakfast Pizza Twitter Drama 07:30 - Iowa Lost ALL Health Funding While Blue States Fought Back11:00 - 80% vs 5%: The Shocking Funding Numbers Explained 15:00 - Zach Nunn Calls Town Halls "Taxpayer-Funded Protests" 21:30 - Why Your Congressman Only Listens to Corporate Donors 27:00 - Ashley Hinson's "Orchestrated" Senate Run in 3 Hours 32:30 - 2026 Election Scramble: Which Seats Are Actually Competitive 38:00 - Iowa Democrats' Best Shot at Flipping Federal Seats in Years LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa's public schools are hemorrhaging students while 157 districts now depend on budget guarantees to survive. Meanwhile, the state is dismantling 168 years of history by closing Iowa City's Historical Society research center to save money. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker connect three stories that reveal how Iowa systematically undermines the foundations that could keep families here. 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. RUNDOWN: 07:00 - 157 School Districts on Budget Guarantee: The Enrollment Crisis Explained 11:00 - Why Moving 6th Grade Back to Elementary Is Just a Band-Aid Solution 14:00 - Iowa City Rally: Fighting to Save 168 Years of Historical Archives 16:30 - Meskwaki Nation Artifacts at Risk: What 60% Collection Loss Really Means 19:00 - The Intangible Cost: How Archive Closures Kill Student Curiosity 24:00 - 39 Years Ago Today: The Longest John Deere Strike in History Began 26:00 - $600 Million in Tariff Costs: How Trump's Trade War Hits Iowa Workers 29:00 - Waterloo's Five John Deere Plants: When Layoffs Devastate Entire Communities LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The "One Big, Beautiful Bill" promises to help working Americans – but when you dig into the details, it's just another political bump-it: looks impressive from far away, falls apart up close. Republicans are celebrating "no tax on tips," but what does it actually do for Iowa service workers making $2.13 an hour? On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith and Amie Rivers dig into the truth behind the tax policy that expires when Trump leaves office. Toss some bags at "no" tax on tips... merit pay for teachers... Catelin Drey is running in a Sioux City special election next week... and Iowa Rep. Lindsay James is a candidate taking on US Rep. Ashley Hinson. SHOW RUNDOWN: 00:30 - Republicans' Viral "Bump It" Tax Ad Gets Exposed 06:00 - GOP Rep's Embarrassing 10% Tip Goes Viral 10:30 - Iowa DOGE Wants to Turn Teachers Into Products 17:30 - "Moms for Iowa" Founder Runs for Deep Red Senate Seat 21:30 - From Uvalde to Campaign Trail: Mom's Political Awakening 33:30 - Can Democrats Flip Ashley Hinson's Safe Seat? 37:30 - Insulin or Rent: The Impossible Choice Driving This Campaign 46:00 - Good Samaritan Politics vs. $5 Million War Chest LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa uses more pesticides per capita than any other state—nearly 54 million pounds annually. But according to research engineer Chris Jones, we might be focusing on the wrong chemicals when it comes to cancer risk. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with Jones, author of "The Swine Republic" and president of Driftless Water Defenders, to unpack Iowa's chemical cocktail crisis. We explore why 60% of Iowa's corn goes to ethanol production that exists only because of policy—not environmental benefits. Jones argues it's time to "slaughter the sacred cow" and redirect farm conservation dollars toward systems that don't pollute in the first place. Toss some bags at Iowa's pesticide problem... why ethanol might be our biggest policy mistake... and what a progressive water quality platform actually looks like. 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 - Iowa uses more pesticides per capita than any other state 02:00 - The dangerous "chemical cocktail" effect explained 03:30 - Neonicotinoids: The overlooked pesticide in our drinking water 07:00 - How weeds fighting back is making everything worse 08:00 - Dicamba drift: Why everyone in Iowa is breathing toxic chemicals 12:00 - The "D-Day invasion" of crop dusters poisoning our air 22:00 - Why ethanol is Iowa's biggest policy mistake 24:30 - Slaughtering the sacred cow: What needs to change now LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zachosmith Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter -   / iastartingline   Facebook -   / iowastartingline   TikTok -   / iowastartingline   Instagram -   / iowastartingline   YouTube -    / @iowastartingline   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Reynolds administration is targeting public retirement—again. Despite promising to "protect and defend" IPERS in 2018, Gov. Kim Reynolds's handpicked DOGE task force now wants to eliminate pensions for new state employees. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down how wealthy business executives are targeting the 11th best-funded pension system in America. Toss some bags at Iowa DOGE's pension grab... Josh Turek's Senate bid... And how cancer research cuts are shutting down labs across Iowa... 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 Cold Open: The Great Donut Debate 04:30 Iowa DOGE Targets Teacher and Police Pensions 06:00 What is IPERS and Why It Matters 10:30 Iowa Has the 11th Best Pension System in America 14:00 Josh Turek Announces Senate Bid Against Joni Ernst 27:00 Why Josh Turek Thinks Democrats Can Win in 2026 30:30 Cancer Research Funding Cuts Shut Down Iowa Labs 35:00 Why Private Funding Can't Replace Public Research LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes the science moves faster than public policy. And it has real impacts on your health. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Orne Smith explores this gap with Dr. David Cwiertny, an environmental engineer at the University of Iowa. Toss some bags at the science-policy gap… why we find chemicals everywhere we look… and what mass balance means for Iowa's future. 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:* 0:00 - Welcome: Iowa's cancer rates and chemical safety evolution 2:30 - Mass Balance Principle: Why chemicals never really disappear 5:00 - Neonicotinoids: The pesticides painted on seeds 8:00 - Atrazine Study Reversal: Same research, opposite conclusions 11:30 - The Science-Policy Gap: 20-year lag between discovery and action 14:00 - Why Simple Answers Don't Exist for Complex Problems 16:30 - Living in the "Gray Area" of Chemical Safety 18:30 - Alternative Agriculture: Different models, same profitability *LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:* - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts *FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ *FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA:* - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa is hemorrhaging talent, and the numbers are staggering. With 34% more college graduates leaving than staying, the state lost $17.6 billion in potential income from just the 2023 cohort alone. But that's not the only crisis hitting Iowans hard. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers Rivers, and Avery Staker dive into Iowa's brain drain crisis and explore why young professionals—especially LGBTQ+ Iowans—are fleeing the state. Toss some bags about the economic cost of brain drain… how pesticides contribute to Iowa’s cancer problem… and how the Iowa Supreme Court is approaching new “strict scrutiny” language. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by Zachary Oren Smith and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia. Watch the full episode on Iowa Starting Line’s YouTube. YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedIn SHOW RUNDOWN: 00:00 - Classic 1980s Waterloo Tourism Commercial (Viral Opening) 06:30 - Iowa's $17.6 Billion Brain Drain Crisis Begins 08:30 - Why 34% More College Graduates Leave Iowa Than Stay 16:30 - LGBTQ+ Exodus: "Most of My Friends Are Leaving the State" 19:00 - 53 Million Pounds: Iowa's Massive Pesticide Problem 24:00 - Cancer Rates & Agricultural Health Study Findings 32:30 - Iowa Supreme Court's Surprising Gun Law Divisions 36:00 - Domestic Violence & "While Criming" Court Cases LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: YouTube -    • Cornhole Champions - Full Episodes   Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA... PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos Instagram -   / zacharyosmith   Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bs... Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith LinkedIn -   / zacharyos   FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter -   / iastartingline   Facebook -   / iowastartingline   TikTok -   / iowastartingline   Instagram -   / iowastartingline   YouTube -    / @iowastartingline  \ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Mary Charlton directs the Iowa Cancer Registry, tracking cancer diagnoses across the state for over 50 years and helping researchers understand Iowa's stubbornly high cancer rates. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith talks with Charlton about what the data really shows, why simple explanations for complex problems fall short, and the challenge of doing long-term science in a world that wants quick answers. Toss some bags at complicated truths... geographic patterns that don't fit neat theories... the politics of risk factors... why linking cancer to environmental causes takes decades... and the funding crisis threatening Iowa's public health infrastructure. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by Zachary Oren Smith and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: YouTube | Substack | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | PocketCasts | ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts. FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Instagram | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedIn FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been one year since Iowa's near-total abortion ban took effect, and the numbers tell a devastating story. A 74% drop in abortion services in Iowa means Iowans are traveling hundreds of miles and paying thousands more for healthcare. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down the real impact of Iowa's restrictive abortion law on families and communities. From $19,000 emergency cases to overnight drives with young kids, we explore how the ban has forced care out of state. Toss some bags at one-year of Iowa’s near-total abortion ban… Trump revoking visa workers in Ottumwa… And why LGBTQ Iowans are leaving… 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. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: YouTube | Substack | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | PocketCasts | ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts. FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Instagram | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedIn FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JT Vonderhaar is taking Iowa history to TikTok as the Iowa Investigator, building a following hungry for untold stories. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith talks with Vonderhaar about creating work while trying to find an audience and the need for storytelling in places like these. Toss some bags at hidden history… Joe Biden's Song of the Summer... the Forest Gump of the Civil War... Iowa's war with Missouri... and the Iowan who saved a billion lives. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by Zachary Oren Smith and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: YouTube | Substack | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | PocketCasts | ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts. FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Instagram | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedIn FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | Instagram | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress made some devastating cuts this week, slashing $1.1 billion from public broadcasting nationwide. Money that had already been promised to member stations near you.  On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Liz Fleming cover the historic funding cuts that will eliminate 25 jobs at Iowa PBS and will knock 10% of Iowa Public Radio’s budget. Toss some bags at Congress’ cuts to public media… the money powering Iowa’s federal elections… And why we’re talking about cancer. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by Zachary Oren Smith and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: YouTube | Substack | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | PocketCasts | ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts. FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Instagram | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedIn FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | Instagram | YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa made history this week - stripping away civil rights protections from transgender residents, marking the first time a state has revoked existing civil rights. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amy Rivers, and Avery Staker dive deep into Iowa's transgender civil rights rollback - from the massive Capitol protests to what the changes mean for employment, housing, and education protections. Toss some bags about Iowa rolling back civil rights protections for trans Iowans… Trump heads to the Iowa fairgrounds… officials debunk water safety rumors amid the ongoing nitrate crisis... And hear from Democratic congressional candidate 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. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: YouTube | Substack | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | PocketCasts | ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts. FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Instagram | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedIn FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | Instagram | YouTube SHOW RUNDOWN: 00:00 - Kevin Tau Drops Out - Zach's "Par Excellence" Pun That Nobody Appreciated 01:30 - Welcome to Cornhole Champions - Iowa Starting Line's Weekly Political Podcast 02:49 - Iowa's Historic Civil Rights Rollback - First State to Strip Trans Protections 03:30 - Capitol Protests Coverage - Avery Reports from the Largest Protest in Iowa History 05:00 - The Bill's Breakneck Speed - Seven Days from Introduction to Governor's Signature 06:30 - What the Changes Mean - Employment, Housing, Education, and Birth Certificate Impacts 07:30 - State Rep Amy Chenail's Statement - "Targeting Trans Community is Tool of Power" 09:00 - Constitutional Challenges Ahead - ACLU Watching for Legal Action 10:13 - Trump's July 4th Iowa Return - America 250 Celebration at State Fairgrounds 11:30 - Regina George Politics - Who Gets to Sit at Trump's Lunch Table? 16:00 - The Evangelical-Authoritarian Blend - Prayer Circles Next to Military Tanks 18:30 - Central Iowa Water Crisis - Nitrate Levels Force Lawn Watering Bans 19:30 - Test Strip Controversy - Residents vs. Official Water Testing Methods 21:30 - Big Ag's Political Influence - Why Real Water Solutions Keep Getting Blocked 25:00 - Farm Economy Struggles - Record Corn Yields but Unprofitable Crop Prices 27:00 - Ethanol's False Promises - Aviation Fuel as Agriculture's "Second Coming" 29:25 - Christina Bohannon Interview - Third Congressional Campaign Against Miller-Meeks 30:00 - The 799-Vote Heartbreaker - Coming Within 0.2% in 2024 32:00 - Split-Ticket Voting Analysis - 33,000 Trump Voters Who Chose Bohannon 35:00 - Bucking Party Establishment - Bohannon's Independent Voice Record 37:30 - Miller-Meeks' Corporate Donors - Big Pharma Money and Insulin Vote Timing 40:00 - Renewable Energy Hypocrisy - Writing Letters vs. Actual Voting Record 42:00 - Building District-Wide Momentum - Massachusetts-Sized District Campaigning 44:00 - Gas Station Rituals - Coke Zero, Slim Jims, and Big Gulp Ice 45:00 - Show Wrap-Up and Iowa Starting Line Promotion This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration paused funding for Job Corps centers nationwide, including Iowa's top-rated Ottumwa facility. The cuts eliminate 125 jobs in one of Iowa's poorest counties while stranding vulnerable young people mid-program. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amy Rivers, and Avery Staker dig into how a major shift on high ripples out into a small town. Toss some bags about the “Big Beautiful Bill’s” big, ugly impacts… a "research victory” leaving US research in the hole... and why egging's decline may be our country's greatest recession indicator. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: YouTube | Substack | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | PocketCasts | ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts. FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Instagram | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedIn FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter | Facebook | TikTok | Instagram | YouTube SHOW RUNDOWN: 00:00 - Egging Houses and Economic Anxiety 05:00 - Federal Medicaid cuts threatening small-town hospitals, focusing on "Big Beautiful Bill" reconciliation package 08:00 - Work requirements, cost-sharing increases, and federal matching rate reductions for expansion states like Iowa 09:00 - Tony and Lori Lukken family facing loss of Medicaid waiver for ventilator-dependent care in Sergeant Bluff 12:30 - Iowa's Waiver System Problems - Lack of appeal process compared to neighboring states like Nebraska and Missouri 13:30 - Hospital Funding Mechanics - How hospital taxes create federal match funds that get redistributed back 16:00 - Trump administration announcing $10 million study of train derailment health effects in East Palestine 19:00 - 1,400 terminated research grants versus single $10 million study 20:30 - Community skepticism about "too little, too late" approach 22:30 - Trump administration pausing 99 contractor-operated centers including Iowa's top-performing Ottumwa facility 28:00 - Personal Story - Ajai Long's transformation from couch-hopping and depression to stable employment through Job Corps 30:00 - Generational Investment Concept - How current spending prevents future costs and breaks poverty cycles 32:00 - Community Impact - Comparison to Iowa Wesleyan University closure and difficulty replacing specialized employers 33:30 - Show Wrap - Promotion of YouTube, newsletter, and Iowa Starting Line content 35:30 - Post-Credits Banter - Joking about federal government and fake January 6th meeting story This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christina Bohannan just announced her campaign for Iowa's 1st Congressional District, setting up a potential third consecutive matchup with Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in America's most competitive House race. After losing by just 799 votes in 2024 following a district-wide recount, Bohannan is back for another shot at flipping this crucial swing seat. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amy Rivers, and Avery Staker take stock of why this margins of this district continue to be so tight. Also on this episode… Which hands are up in Iowa’s race for governor… Iowa Republicans are in revolt over Reynolds' CO2 pipeline bill veto… Iowa AG Bird going after law enforcement in Winneshiek… 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. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: - YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju - Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ - Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 - PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts SHOW RUNDOWN:00:00 - Cold Open - The Great Iowa Diner Debate and McGriddle Supremacy 07:00 - Show Intro - Christina Bohannan's Third Congressional Campaign 08:30 - Miller-Meeks Problems - Trump Vote Gap and Brand Deficiency 11:46 - Third Campaign Strategy - Building Name Recognition and Infrastructure 16:28 - Governor's Race Lineup - Sherman, Andrews, Feenstra, and Bird 22:32 - Republican Trump Worship - Height Measurements and Accent Analysis 25:03 - Democratic Contenders - Rob Sand's Advantages and Vulnerabilities 33:36 - Trump Name-Dropping 35:19 - Pipeline Revolt - Reynolds vs. GOP "Errand Girl" Attacks 41:30 - Country Club vs. Grassroots - Steve Holt's Class War Analysis44:38 - Immigration Lawsuit - Bird vs. Sheriff Over Facebook Post49:00 - Sheriff Resistance - Zero Iowa Counties Sign 287G Agreements 52:00 - Community Pushback - Republican Immigration Foundation Cracking 55:00 - Show Outro and Post-Show Banter FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith - Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social - Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: - Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine - TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Months after a deadly shooting in Perry, Iowa, Tyson Foods announced it was pulling out of its plant in the town and taking with it 1,200 jobs. But this month there's some good news. Brazilian meat giant JBS Foods is bringing 500 jobs. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker dive into JBS Foods' $135 million sausage facility announcement and what it means when a town's devastation becomes its selling point. We also explore how Pride events across Iowa are thriving despite losing corporate funding, and break down State Senator Zach Wahls' announcement that he's challenging Joni Ernst for her US Senate seat in 2026. Special to the newsletter this week, Zach recounts his weekend with Relay Iowa, a 339-mile relay race from Sioux City to Dubuque. 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. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts SHOW RUNDOWN: 00:00 - Relay Iowa Recap - Zach's 339-Mile Van Driving "Heroics" Across the State 02:00 - Why the Senate Matters - Six-Year Terms, Farm Bill Power, and Iowa's Outsized Voice 05:30 - Joni Ernst's Background - From Hog Castration to "Make Them Squeal" Campaign Fame 08:30 - Ernst's Voting Record - COVID Relief Opposition, School Vouchers, and Voting Restrictions 09:25 - "We're All Going to Die" - Ernst's Callous Healthcare Town Hall Response 10:00 - The Hegseth Flip-Flop - Ernst Caves to MAGA Pressure Despite Sexual Assault Concerns 12:30 - Term Limits Hypocrisy - Ernst's 2014 Promise vs. 2026 Campaign Reality 13:30 - The Republican Primary - Jim Carlin's America First Challenge to "DC Joni" 16:30 - Zach Wahls Enters the Race - From Viral 2011 Speech to Senate Campaign Launch 22:00 - JD Scholten's Anti-Monopoly Message - Fighting Corporate Consolidation and Wall Street Extraction 24:30 - Nathan Sage's F-Bomb Campaign - Marine Veteran's Working Class Populism 29:00 - Trans Rights Debate - Avery's Concerns About Economic vs. Social Issue Priorities 32:30 - Perry's Second Chance - JBS Brings 500 Jobs Back After Tyson's Devastating Departure 36:30 - Corporate Pride Retreat - Companies Pull $70K+ in Sponsorships Under Trump Pressure 38:30 - Community Fights Back - Individual Donations Replace Corporate Sponsors at Pride Events 42:00 - Zach Wahls Interview - Mobile Home Rights, New Generation Leadership, and Taking on Both Parties FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A six-story Davenport apartment building collapsed, killing three people two years ago. And we can finally read an investigation into the fall that the Scott County Attorney tried to keep secret. Inside: cash workers, altered reports, and a runaway landlord. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amy Rivers, and Avery Staker examine the explosive report. We also dive into Senator Joni Ernst's callous town hall moment, telling worried constituents, "we're all going to die" over Medicaid cuts, and explore how Trump's research grant terminations are devastating Iowa universities. Plus, Amy Rivers interviews India May, the nurse who confronted Ernst and is now running for Iowa House. 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. LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS: YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju Substack - https://cornholechampions.substack.com/ Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64 PocketCasts - https://pca.st/74atty1j ... and everywhere you listen to podcasts SHOW RUNDOWN: 00:00 Canadian Wildfire Smoke Commentary - Optimizing Half-Full Lungs for Yard Work 02:26 Welcome to Cornhole Champions - Weekly Podcast Introduction 03:21 Joni Ernst "We All Die" Town Hall - Amy Rivers Eyewitness Account 06:53 Ernst's Cemetery Apology Video - Doubling Down with Jesus and Tooth Fairy 08:50 Medicaid Cut Reality Check - 13.7 Million vs Ernst's 1.4 Million Claim 10:33 Ernst's Reelection Signals - Roast and Ride Fundraiser and Democratic Challengers11:36 Davenport Building Collapse Investigation - Steel Beam Shopping When Building Fell 14:42 Andrew Wold's Great Escape - Running from Police Through Garage to House 16:27 Cash Workers and Unlicensed Masons - 14-Year-Old Translator Investigation Details 17:34 Scott County Attorney Stonewalling - Kelly Cunningham's Charge Refusal Reasoning 19:41 Trump Research Funding Cuts - $1.5 Billion in Terminated Grants Nationwide 21:04 Pancreatic Cancer Research Axed - Dr. Cullen's Vitamin C Study Casualties 22:30 "Diverse" Word Triggers Cuts - Rural Mental Health Research Deemed Woke 23:12 Anti-Intellectualism Strategy - Dismantling Scientific Infrastructure and Expertise 25:05 Research Equipment Reality - Why You Can't Just Restart Million-Dollar Labs 26:14 Scientific Brain Drain - Losing America's Research Advantage 27:10 Amy Rivers Interviews India May - The "People Will Die" Town Hall Voice 29:01 India May's Nursing Background - Death Investigator Knows Healthcare Consequences 32:23 Charlie Thompson Library Attacks - Gay Agenda Accusations Against Book Programs 36:09 Iowa Migrant Movement Targeting - Private Information Requests and ACLU Rights 37:00 House District 58 Campaign - Disability Rights and Rural Healthcare Platform 38:07 Progressive Democrats of America - No Kings Protest Planning and Bubble Machines 39:29 Episode Wrap-Up and Credits FOLLOW ZACHARY OREN SMITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter - https://x.com/zacharyos Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social Threads - https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/ FOLLOW IOWA STARTING LINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter - https://twitter.com/iastartingline Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

YouTube | Instagram | Twitter | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedIn On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith speaks with the Pints & Diplomacy duo, Tyler Stewart and Ryan Comer. They’re two folks with deep roots in Iowa. Folks who love it here. And whose love doesn’t mean their deaf to what’s not working. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. The best place to follow us is on YouTube. But don’t sleep on our short videos on Instagram and Tiktok (Avery would be pissed). And while you’re at it, subscribe to our flagship newsletter! We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Iowa Starting Line's Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers and Avery Staker discuss a federal judge's preliminary injunction against key portions of Iowa's SF 496, the state's controversial "Don't Say Gay" law. The team also explores Republican representative Megan Jones's accusations that the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation used improper surveillance at the State Capitol, allegedly using geofencing software to monitor mobile devices before deploying the technology to investigate student athletes for illegal sports betting. Plus, they cover a North Iowa woman facing harassment charges for alleged homophobic slurs and threats, and discuss the media coverage of the WNBA, particularly the problematic framing of the Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese "rivalry" and the underlying racism that needs to be addressed. And somehow, they make time to build a case against the country’s greatest sin: carpeted toilet seat covers. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out cornholechampions.substack.com. Links: * 1st Story - Federal judge blocks key parts of Iowa's "Don't Say Gay" law (Little Village) * 2nd Story - Rep. Megan Jones accuses DCI of improper surveillance at State Capitol (The Gazette) * 3rd Story - North Iowa woman faces harassment charges for alleged homophobic attacks (KCHA) * Bonus Story - On WNBA coverage of Clark-Reese rivalry (Dan Finney’s The Paragraph Stacker) (Sports Illustrated) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this solo episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith breaks down State Auditor Rob Sand's historic campaign launch for Iowa governor. After entering the race with an impressive $8 million war chest, Sand's campaign reported an additional $2.25 million raised in just 24 hours — breaking state records for the most raised on the first day of any gubernatorial campaign in Iowa history. Then, Zach sits down with Nico Agosta, a 25-year-old TikTok creator behind the viral "Stocking the Capitol" series. Nico grades the financial integrity of every member of Congress before the 2026 midterms, exposing stock trading and corporate influence through engaging social media content that makes campaign finance accessible. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line where we throw bags at the state's biggest stories. This show is created by Zachary Oren Smith with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. Guests: * Rob Sand is Iowa's State Auditor. He’s running to be the Democratic nominee in Iowa’s 2026 governor’s race. * Nico Agosta is the creator of "Stocking the Capitol," a series that grades members of Congress on their financial integrity and stock trading practices. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith is joined by Iowa Starting Line's Amie Rivers and Avery Staker for a candid conversation about journalism, the stories the shaped them, and why they believe local reporting matters now more than ever. Plus, a debate about Iowa cuisine: the pork tenderloins, maid-rites, and the "turkey and dressing sandwich" that Avery claims is a thing… you be the judge. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line where we throw bags at the state's biggest stories. This show is created by Zachary Oren Smith with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Kim Reynolds was unsure when asked before Congress whether the Lutheran Services of Iowa was a money laundering scheme. At a later press conference, she clarified that she doesn’t think that the church was up to no good. Now she’s suing the Des Moines Register hoping to withhold the media prep that guided the exchange. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Iowa Starting Line’s Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers and Avery Staker discuss the governor’s lawsuit. Also hear about a growing youth mental health crisis in Iowa. Despite a 15% surge in demand since 2018, funding hasn't kept pace, leaving families describing the search for care as "a full-time job." The team also explores why the Iowa Legislature is extending beyond Friday's deadline. Links: * 1st Story - More Iowa youth need mental health support. Has funding kept up with the demand? (Des Moines Register) * 2nd Story - Iowa Legislature Set to Extend Session Past Friday Deadline (Iowa Public Radio) * 3rd Story - Governor Reynolds Sues Des Moines Register Over Email Disclosure (Associated Press) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Kim Reynolds stunned us with her bombshell decision not to seek reelection in 2026, creating the first wide-open Republican primary since 2010. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith is joined by Iowa Starting Line's Amy Rivers and special guest Liz Fleming (a.k.a @LizfromIowa) to discuss how this political earthquake is reshaping races across the ballot. They examine potential Republican candidates including Attorney General Brenna Bird, House Speaker Pat Grassley, state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, and state Sen. Mike Bousselot. The team also discusses how federal funding cuts are creating a crisis for Iowa museums and libraries, with rural communities taking the hardest hit. Plus, conversations with Angel Ramirez, running to be the first Latina in the Iowa Legislature in a special election for House District 78, as well as Democrat Kevin Techau, the former US Attorney challenging Ashley Hinson for Congress. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line where we throw bags at the state’s biggest stories. This show is created by Zachary Oren Smith with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. Guests: * Liz Fleming, best known as Liz from Iowa, is a correspondent for Iowa Starting Line and Courier Newsroom. * Angel Ramirez is a Democrat running in the special election for Iowa House District 78. * Kevin Techau has career spanning military service (Air Force and Iowa National Guard), law enforcement (Iowa Commissioner for Public Safety), and legal work (US Attorney for northern Iowa). He plans to take on Republican incumbent Ashley Hinson in 2026. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Kim Reynolds shocked Iowa politics by announcing she will not seek reelection in 2026. But the governor’s mansion is not the only seat folks are eyeing in 2026. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith speaks with four Democrats who are eyeing a 2026 run against US Sen. Joni Ernst: state Sen. Zach Wahls of Coralville, state Rep. J.D. Scholten of Sioux City, state Rep. Josh Turek of Council Bluffs, and Nathan Sage of Knoxville who launched his campaign today. Join the conversation with Iowa Starting Line's Amie Rivers and Avery Staker as they discuss the candidates and what they’re bringing to the table. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out cornholechampions.substack.com. Guests: * Sen. Zach Wahls is a Democrat representing State Senate District 37. He’s the executive director of the Next 50, a group working to recruit young people to run for office. He has a newsletter. * Rep. J.D. Scholten of Sioux City is a Democrat representing State House District 1. He writes about fighting corporate monopolies on his newsletter You're Probably Getting Screwed. * Rep. Josh Turek is a Democrat representing State House District 90 and two-time Paralympic gold medalist. He has a newsletter. * Nathan Sage is a veteran and the executive director of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce and previously worked as a radio station director for KNIA/KRLS in Indianola. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa's economy is in trouble. According to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Iowa's economy shrank by 0.5% last year, making it the second-worst performing state in the entire country. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith speaks with Algona farmer Josh Manske about the impact of President Trump's new tariffs on Iowa agriculture. Manske, a fifth-generation farmer who publishes the Corn Belt Newsletter, discusses how these tariffs could further harm Iowa's already struggling farm economy. Then Iowa Starting Line's Amie Rivers and Avery Staker join to break down a Republican bill that would have shielded pesticide companies from cancer lawsuits, the legislature's 2% increase in school funding, and the political blame game around Iowa's economic decline. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out cornholechampions.substack.com. Links: * 1st Story - Iowa economy shrinks, posts second-worst growth as political parties pass the blame (Iowa News Now) * 2nd Story - Iowa Republicans Want to Shield Pesticide Firms From Cancer Lawsuits (The New Republic) * 3rd Story - Iowa Senate approves 2% increase in school funding, other funding provisions (WHO 13) * Farm-state Republicans rocked by tariffs fear Trump lacks exit strategy (The Hill) Guest: * Josh Manske is a fifth-generation farmer in Algona, Iowa who grows corn and soybeans. After a career as a professional golfer, Josh returned to farming in 2019. He's also a farm realtor and publishes the Corn Belt Newsletter. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa’s Republican Attorney General wants to defund the police… well the Winneshiek County Sheriff to be precise. Attorney General Brenna Bird filed a lawsuit aimed at stripping Winneshiek County of ALL its state funding. That includes its law enforcement. All because of a — checks script — Facebook post. Sheriff Dan Marx, a fellow Republican, said his office would reject unconstitutional immigration detainer requests that weren't approved by courts. And now he’s in a fight with AG Bird and Governor Kim Reynolds. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith speaks with Winneshiek County Republican Party Co-Chair Thomas Hansen about why it “doesn’t make sense” for state Republicans to attack Marx. “just seems wrong.” Then Iowa Starting Line’s Amie Rivers and Avery Staker join to break down Whirlpool’s layoff of a third of their employees in Amana and the US. Secretary of Agriculture’s visit to the state. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out its roundup of local writers. Links: * 1st Story - Whirlpool lays off 650 (Iowa Starting Line) * 2nd Story - County Supervisors by districts is a bad idea (John Deeth) * 3rd Story - County Supervisors by districts is a bad idea (John Deeth) * 4th Story - Attorney general moves to strip Winneshiek County of all state funding (Iowa Capital Dispatch) Guest: * Thomas Hansen is the co-chair of the Winneshiek County Republican Party, the co-chair of the Republican 2nd District Executive Committee and has served on the Republican Party of Iowa’s platform committee for 12 years. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An Iowa state representative distributed a controversial pamphlet throughout the House chamber last week. The pages, which Rep. Brett Barker said in a statement he circulated without reading, attacked women's liberation, LGBTQ rights, Islam, and certain branches of Christianity. This week on Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith talks with with Iowa Starting Line’s Amie Rivers and Avery Staker as they break down Barker’s pamphlet and preview some of the actions this week in the Iowa Legislature. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out its roundup of local writers. Links: * 1st Story - ‘What changed, Chuck?’ Grassley faces angry crowd at Iowa town hall (Iowa Starting Line) * 2nd Story - Iowa House Republican admits "rookie mistake" over extremist handout (Iowa Starting Line, Bleeding Heartland) * 3rd Story - Iowa gave $1 million to 7 anti-abortion pregnancy centers. How they're spending the money (Des Moines Register) * 4th Story - Iowa’s polluted waterways rarely see improvement. Lawmakers still resist efforts to regulate industrial ag (Investigate Midwest) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota was in Des Moines last week. But while the crowd was excited to see him, they seemed as excited about who didn’t show up. Des Moines sits in US Rep. Zach Nunn’s congressional district, and he’s among a crowd of Republican who are choosing to skip out on public town halls. This week on Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith talks through whats to gain and whats to lose as these splashy events fall out of favor among Republicans. Join the conversation with Iowa Starting Line’s Amie Rivers and Avery Staker as they break down some the nonsense that’s been going down at the Iowa Legislature. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out its roundup of local writers. Links: * 1st Story - Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz criticizes US Rep. Zach Nunn for skipping out on public town halls. (Iowa Starting Line) * 2nd Story - Chemtrail bill amended with Bigfoot study. (Iowa Legislature website) * 3rd Story - Iowa Democrats push to end insider trading and add term limits. (Iowa Starting Line) Guest: * Megan Goldberg is an assistant professor of American politics at Cornell College. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Waterloo Schools pulled out of an event focused on promoting Black literacy over fears of losing federal funding under Trump’s new anti-DEI directives. In response, the 1619 Freedom School is stepping in to host its own event this Saturday. On this special episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Waterloo native Nikole Hannah-Jones. She’s the founder of the 1619 School, and she believes this exactly the work the school was created to do. “What’s so appalling to me is we know that there’s a gaping achievement gap in Waterloo. That’s why the 1619 Freedom School exists. We know that the typical black student in Waterloo reads at one to two grade levels behind the typical white student,” Hannah-Jones said. “That you would not be able to hand out a book for a child to take home that affirms that child’s identity, that is an ugly society that does something like that.” 1619 Freedom School will host a free Community African American Read-In on Saturday, March 15th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Waterloo West High School’s auditorium. The first 300 families attending Saturday’s event will receive tote bags containing books, including copies of “All Because You Matter.” The event is free and open to the public. You can register here. You can support the work of the 1619 Freedom School by donating here. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out its roundup of local writers. Guest: * Nikole Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter covering racial injustice for The New York Times Magazine and creator of the landmark The 1619 Project, now a Hulu original docuseries. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa's farmers and food producers are facing a crisis that's been brewing behind the scenes at the US Department of Agriculture. Since President Donald Trump took office and his number two billionaire Elon Musk has been taking a club to federal programs, the consequences have been mounting. And now Iowa food growers are left with the bill. The USDA has frozen nearly $7 million in promised funding, leaving hundreds of local farms and food businesses in limbo during the critical spring planting season. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, hosts Zachary Oren Smith speaks with Giselle Bruskewitz of Iowa Valley RC&D a group that administers the entire program that was to help build more resilient foodways, but now is leaving a lot of Iowans in the cold. "It's a slap in the face. It's really devastating. It's the 11th hour. It’s past the 11th hour for some. The produce farmers already have seeds coming up in the greenhouses. The meat farmers have already booked locker dates,” Burskewitz said. “And so the sales projections and what these farmers have been planning all winter for this growing season is now putting them in a really precarious situation where they have to either find other markets.” Join the conversation with Starting Line’s community editor Amie Rivers and Zach as they break down the what bills are dead and which bills shouldn’t be. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out its roundup of local writers. Post Funnel Week Postmortems: * 1st Story - Iowa lawmakers introduced 1,500+ bills this session. Which survived the 'funnel' deadline? (Des Moines Register) * 2nd Story - Here are the bills that advanced during the Iowa Legislature's first deadline of 2025 (Iowa Public Radio) * 3rd Story - What bills are still moving at the Iowa Capitol this year? (The Gazette) Previous episodes mentioned: * Hear from an anti-hunger organizer about Double Up Food Bucks bills moving through the Iowa Legislature. (Cornhole Champions #14) * Hear about why banning the abortion pill is dumb move. (Cornhole Champions #13) * Hear our breakdown of the “Meet Baby Olivia” video. (Cornhole Champions #9) Guest: * Giselle Bruskewitz is the program director at Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: * 1st Story - Iowa law rips up anti-discrimination protections for trans Iowans. (Iowa Starting Line) * 2nd Story - Free menstrual products in public schools (Iowa Starting Line) * 3rd Story - Bill regulating transactions at Bitcoin ATMs (Iowa Starting Line) * 4th Story - $1 billion unemployment tax cut proposal (The Gazette) * 5th Story - Teaching the Bible as curriculum (Iowa Starting Line) * 6th Story - Iowa Republicans’ bill to criminalize vaccine providers advances amid funnel week chaos (Iowa Starting Line) Guest: * Luke Elzinga is the policy and advocacy manager at Des Moines Area Religious Council. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. [Show note: Amie Rivers and I are out of town this week for work so the sound quality on this one is a little different. We’ll be back to normal next week.] 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. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You don’t win races you don’t run. And because we’ve made getting involved such a slog, no one wants to run. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, hosts Zachary Oren Smith speaks with Blue Missouri’s Jess Piper about what happens when a party decides not to compete in our rural states. In 2022, over 40% of legislative seats went uncontested. That dropped to just 18% in 2024. Competing isn’t winning, but Piper argues making the effort makes a difference. Join the conversation with Amie Rivers and hear about a push to criminalize drag shows, the opacity of the state’s private school voucher program, and primary jockeying among Republicans for election years that haven’t begun. Links: * 1st Story - Taking someone under 18 to a drag show would be a felony under Iowa House bill (Des Moines Register) * 2nd Story - State agencies block Auditor Sand during review of private school voucher program (Iowa Starting Line) * 3rd Story - Former Republican state representative to challenge Kim Reynolds for Iowa governor seat (Des Moines Register) Guest: * Jess Piper is the executive director of Blue Missouri and the host of Dirt Road Democrat podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I absolutely do not think that Lutheran Services (of Iowa) is a money laundering organization.” Gov. Kim Reynolds took some heat last week after getting asked if she agreed with billionaire Elon Musk that Lutheran Family Services and its member organizations were laundering money. In a press conference, she blamed it on being taken out of context. It took Raygun all of 24 hours to get this on up. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, hosts Zachary Oren Smith and Amie Rivers play back the tape. Also here about a glowing profile in the Des Moines Register of Speaker of the House Pat Grassley. As well as a rally held against a bill that would limit lawsuits over pesticide-related illness. Finally, many listeners had followup questions about last week’s discussion of Trump’s lawsuit against the Iowa Poll. We get some real insight from a national expert in defamation. Links: * 1st Story - Lutherans decry Reynolds’ ‘failure to defend’ Lutheran Services of Iowa (Iowa Starting Line) * 2nd Story - How Pat Grassley keeps the Iowa House's sprawling GOP majority united. It's not always easy (Des Moines Register) * 3rd Story - Iowa senators advance Bayer bill to limit lawsuits over pesticide-related illness (Iowa Public Radio) Guest: * Samantha Barbas is a legal historian and the author of Actual Malice: Civil Rights and Freedom of the Press in New York Times v. Sullivan. She is a professor of law and the Aliber Family Chair in Law at the University of Iowa College of Law. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2020, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks won her seat by one of the closest margins in US history. This past year, she repeated, winning by less than point two percentage points. Leading Iowa political writer Laura Belin to say “there may be no luckier person in Iowa politics” than Miller-Meeks. But apparently getting lucky isn’t enough for our congresswoman. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, hosts Zachary Oren Smith and Amie Rivers chat about the weirdness of Miller-Meeks decision to pile-on. Also hear about the Scott County Attorney’s decision not to pursue charges against landlord Andrew Wold after his building collapsed killing three people and displaced hundred more. Finally, hear form Cindy Yelick, the director of Heartland AEA, about the tough road ahead her AEA and the students it serves. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out its roundup of local writers. Links: * 1st Story - Congress member, ex-Iowa senator join Trump suit over Des Moines Register Iowa Poll (Des Moines Register) * 2nd Story - No charges in Davenport building collapse; “Nothing about this fact pattern … constitutes a crime” - Scott County attorney (The Quad-City Times) * 3rd Story - Heartland AEA begins dramatic restructuring following Republican’s AEA changes and cuts (Iowa Starting Line) Guests: * Cindy Yelick is the chief administrator of Johnston-based Heartland AEA which serves 11 counties in central Iowa. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maria Gonzalez was high school student when a neighbor called. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement was conducting a raid at the meat packer her mom worked at. The neighbor said her mom, an undocumented immigrant, got caught in the roundup. “It hit me. Oh my God. How do I protect my mom?’ "Gonzalez said. “I kind of just froze. And I remember turning to look at my brother who is two years younger than me and saying, ‘I think they’re going to deport mom.’ ” On this episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith talks with Gonzalez and Maria Acosta, two migrant organizers in Iowa about what he road looks like under President Donald Trump’s executive orders. Iowa Starting Line’s community editor Amie Rivers and reproductive rights reporter Nikoel Hytrek join to talk about a move to remove requirements for blood lead level tests for Iowa children and the renewed interest in Baby Olvia. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out its roundup of local writers. Resources: Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice is encouraging folks to learn their rights. They are also maintaining a hotline for reporting ICE enforcement actions: 515-505-8805 Links: * 1st Story - IA Republicans advance bill to make schools teach that life begins at conception. (Iowa Starting Line) * 2nd Story - Iowa lawmakers advance proposals affecting homeschooling. (The Gazette) * 3rd Story - Vandals deface two Muscatine restaurants with swastikas; owners stand firm: ‘We do not know fear.’ (Little Village) Guests: * Baby Olivia is a fictional character based on bad science. * Maria Gonzalez of Marshalltown is an organizer with Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice. * Maria Acosta of Des Moines is an organizer with Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice. Bonus: During the interview with the Marias, Gonzalez’s dog kept trying to join the conversation. So for the first time, this is Delilah. She’s a part-demon mix. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s week one of the Trump presidency. If the fat reem of executive orders didn’t bother you, than the 11 trillion dollars dressed as people on the inauguration stage should. These are the people with the president’s ear and the rest of us can’t even get inside to watch the inauguration. On this episode of Cornhole Champions—after making a big to-do about being a local podcast—we’re thinking about the inauguration, the election and the billionaires that defined it. Hosts Zachary Oren Smith and Amie Rivers dig through executive orders and why mutual aid can do a lot in times like these. Hear from state Rep. J.D. Scholten and Sen. Zach Wahls about why corporate interests and its political power should worry you. And why Austin Frerick says corporate consolidation in the agriculture and food sector is making our lives worse and less tasty. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out its roundup of local writers. Links: * 1st Story - Trump versus the US Constitution (Iowa Starting Line) * 2nd Story - We care for us: Iowa places to support as another Trump presidency looms (Iowa Starting Line) * 3rd Story - ‘Best seats’ for billionaires at Trump’s inauguration (Iowa Starting Line) * Bonus - Read J.D.’s latest on the new Gilded Age and the billionaires that run it all. (You’re Probably Getting Screwed) * 2x Bonus - Trump’s Gender Order Won’t Affect Existing Passports — Unless They’re Renewed (NOTUS) Guests: * Rep. J.D. Scholten of Sioux City is a Democrat representing State House District 1. * Sen. Zach Wahls is a Democrat representing State Senate District 37. * Austin Frericks the author of Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America's Food. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once again, Reynolds has been mum about her priorities for the Legislature. The rough strokes of her plan finally got a public recounting Tuesday with the Condition of the State address. To a packed Iowa House floor and repeated standing ovations, Gov. Kim Reynolds rattled through childcare and energy, Medicaid regulations and cancer research. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith chats with Iowa Starting Line’s community editor Amie Rivers about important takeaways form the governor’s proposals. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out its roundup of local writers. Links: * 1st Story - Read Gov. Kim Reynolds full speech. (Iowa Starting Line) * 2nd Story - Child care gaps in rural America threaten to undercut small communities (Iowa Capital Dispatch) * 3rd Story - March of Dimes report on maternity care deserts in the US. (March of Dimes) * 4th Story - Quad-Cities schools restrict cell phone use to recapture learning time. (The Quad-City Times) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Half a million students are enrolled in Iowa’s public schools. And because Iowa charges students for meals, some rack up lunchroom debt and others go hungry. Studies show hunger impacts academic performance, classroom behavior, as well as overall health and even test scores. But so far, the powers that be in Iowa aren’t interested. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith chats with Sen. Janice Weiner (D-Iowa City) about why year-after-year this policy goes nowhere in the Iowa Legislature which convenes again next week. Also, hear from Democrat Mike Zimmer who is running to flip a Clinton County Senate seat blue. This week, Chase Seibert guest hosts offering the analysis he’s becoming famous for on TikTok (@burnerlearner) and Insta (@theseibert). Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out its roundup of local writers. Links: * First Story - Chuck Grassley: Iowa's veteran lawmaker once again third in line for presidency (Iowa Starting Line) * Second Story - Rita Hart reelected to lead Iowa Democrats in 2025 (Iowa Starting Line) * Third Story - Iowa Republicans want to cut property taxes. (The Gazette) Guests: * Sen. Janice Weiner of Iowa City is a Democrat representing State Senate District 45. She was elected to lead the Democratic caucus as minority leader of the Iowa Senate. * Mike Zimmer is the Democratic candidate running in the Special Election to fill Senate District 35. He is the president of Central DeWitt School Board and owner of Mike Zimmer Construction. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Politics has a short memory. And consequently, it’s challenging to remember that the movement for reproductive rights does not begin with Dobbs or even Roe v. Wade. People here in Iowa and elsewhere have been locked in a fight for reproductive freedom that far predates any of us. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith chats with Dr. Lina-Maria Murillo, a scholar of power and reproductive rights. Iowa Starting Line’s community editor Amie Rivers joins to talk about Sen. Joni Ernst’s sudden warmth towards Trump’s Pete Hegseth, Iowa Democrats return to Summer EBT, and Food and Water Watch’s new analysis on the disparity between polluters and the people who drink the water. Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. For more, check out its roundup of local writers. Links: * 1st Story - Amid pressure, Ernst says she’ll ‘support’ Hegseth through nomination process. (Iowa Starting Line) * 2nd Story - Democrats will return to Des Moines with legislation to feed Iowa kids during the summer (Iowa Starting Line) * 3rd Story - Iowa Factory Farms Penalized Less Than $750K For 10 Years Of Illegal Pollution, New Analysis Finds (Food & Water Watch) * 4th Story - Iowans removing fallopian tubes, getting long-term birth control as threats to reproductive freedom loom (Iowa Starting Line) Guest * Dr. Lina-Maria Murillo is an assistant professor in Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies and History at the University of Iowa. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cornholechampions.substack.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices