Videos
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WATCH: We spoke to LGBTQ Iowans who are leaving. We learned why. – Cornhole Champions #33
Iowa once led on civil rights, but now it’s leading the rollback. Over half of LGBTQ young people in Iowa have considered leaving the state, and for transgender and nonbinary people, that number jumps to 69%. Iowa became the first state in U.S. history to remove gender identity protections from civil rights law. On this…
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WATCH: Trump revokes visas of 200 JBS workers in Ottumwa (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #33
The irony is staggering: JBS subsidiary Pilgrim’s Pride donated $5 million to Trump’s inauguration, only to watch his administration immediately revoke visas for 200 of their Ottumwa workers from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. These legal workers—nearly 10% of the plant’s workforce—are being told to leave the country immediately. On this episode of Cornhole Champions,…
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WATCH: One year with Iowa’s abortion ban. What is the state of reproductive care?
7/29/25 marked one year since Iowa’s extreme and unpopular 6-week abortion ban went into effect. The Iowa Abortion Acces Fund (@iaafund) has since helped over 870 Iowans receive care out of state—but not without great physical, mental, and financial cost.
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WATCH: Christina Bohannan on Rep. Miller-Meeks’ budget bill vote
Democrat Christina Bohannan was asked whether Republicans’ cuts to Medicaid were necessary. The budget bill was a spending bill, she explained. Those cuts didn’t reduce the national debt—they paid for tax cuts for the wealthy.
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WATCH: The Iowa Investigator’s advice for aspiring content creators
JT Vonderhaar (@jttheiowainvestigator on TikTok) has some advice for aspiring content creators: “climb cringe mountain.” Check out the latest Cornhole Champions interview here: https://youtu.be/GshSxf40XvQ?si=vF7J6JGRdjWS4UMH
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WATCH: Climbing Cringe Mountain w/ JT Vonderhaar (aka @jttheiowainvestigator) – Cornhole Champions Chats
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 Joe Biden’s…
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WATCH: Congress voted to shrink Iowa PBS and Iowa Public Radio (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #32
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 eliminate 25 jobs at Iowa PBS and knocked 10% of…
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WATCH: Iowa has FASTEST growing cancer rate in America. Help us learn why (PT 3) – Cornhole Champions #32
Iowa faces a devastating cancer crisis, with the fastest growing rate of new cancers in the nation hitting close to home. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Liz Fleming talk about a new investigation into Iowa’s cancer problem, sharing personal stories of loss and exploring potential causes from radon…
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WATCH: See the money powering competitive races in Iowa (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #32
Iowa’s federal races heat up this month—with second-quarter fundraising reports revealing massive war chests and surprising upsets. On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Liz Fleming break down Joni Ernst’s lackluster $720,000 showing, Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ strong $1.3 million haul, and the shocking grassroots surge from newcomer Nathan Sage. Toss some…
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WATCH: Sioux City special election Aug. 26
What you need to know about the Special Election in Senate District 1. 🗳️ Election Day is August 26. Follow Iowa Starting Line for more.
