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PODCAST

Cornhole Champions Podcast

Zachary Oren Smith

Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast, powered by Iowa Starting Line, where we throw bags at Iowa"s biggest stories and maybe sip a beer or two. cornholechampions.substack.com

news news commentary

All Episodes

29:17

📻 Climbing Cringe Mountain w/ JT Vonderhaar (aka...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/07/25

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

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40:40

🌽 AG Brenna Bird flies away without her apology -...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/07/23

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

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46:23

🌽 Iowa strips away trans civil rights - Cornhole...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/07/02

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…

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36:34

🌽 Ottumwa braces for Job Corps cuts - Cornhole...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/06/25

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

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56:37

🌽 Christina Bohannan's 2026 bid and Congress' biggest...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/06/18

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

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52:46

🌽 Zach Wahls launches US Senate campaign - Cornhole...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/06/11

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

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41:18

🌽 FINALLY: The secret report on deadly Davenport...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/06/04

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

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91:51

🌽 Cornhole Champions #26 - The big work of a small...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/05/28

YouTube | Instagram | Twitter | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedInOn 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

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44:58

🌽 Cornhole Champions #25 - Judge partially halts...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/05/21

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

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45:19

🌽 Cornhole Champions #24 - Rob Sand's Record-Breaking...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/05/14

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

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55:23

🌽 Cornhole Champions #23 - Behind the Scenes with...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/05/07

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

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31:13

🌽 Cornhole Champions #22 - But her emails!!!

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/04/30

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

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64:56

🌽 Cornhole Champions #21 - Reynolds' Surprise Exit

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/04/23

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,

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91:45

🌽 Cornhole Champions #20 - Four Dems eye a challenge...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/04/16

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

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71:26

🌽 Cornhole Champions #19 - Iowa Econ 101 Blues

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/04/09

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

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47:58

🌽 Cornhole Champions #18 - Defunding the Winneshiek...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/04/02

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

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45:55

🌽 Cornhole Champions #17 - 'A rookie mistake'

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/03/26

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

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68:43

🌽 Cornhole Champions #16 - Empty chair at a crowded...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/03/19

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

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20:38

🌽 Cornhole Champions Special - The DEI witch hunt and...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/03/13

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

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69:05

🌽 Cornhole Champions #15 - Dancing on the graves of...

Cornhole Champions Podcast ·

2025/03/12

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

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54 results

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