Videos
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WATCH: Renee Hardman, West Des Moines city councilwoman, running for Iowa Senate
Renee Hardman of West Des Moines is a Democrat running in the December special election to fill a state Senate seat. The vacancy was left following the death of Democrat state Sen. Claire Celsi. The special election is December 30.
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WATCH: Civics 101: What is an oligarchy?
If democracy is really backsliding, what takes its place? In this week’s Civics 101 series, written by COURIER Newsroom’s Ryan Pitkin and voiced by Iowa Starting Line’s Amie Rivers, we explore the different flavors of oligarchy.
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WATCH: Wage theft thrives in an era of mass deportation
It’s no secret that many industries lean on undocumented workers to meet their needs. In an era of mass deportations, wage theft is still occurring and some employers are counting on workers being too scared to come forward.
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WATCH: Government shutdown threatens SNAP and affordable healthcare
If the government shutdown continues through Nov. 1, millions of Americans will lose SNAP benefits and access to affordable health care.
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WATCH: Health insurance costs are about to spike as ACA subsidy ends (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #46
November 1st marks the start of ACA open enrollment — and this year, it’s one of the most unaffordable and uncertain periods we’ve seen. Republicans refuse to come to the table and extend subsidies that have made health care more affordable for 140,000 Iowans. On Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith sat down with Chase…
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WATCH: Iowa’s economic crash out (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #46
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…
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WATCH: Celebrating one year of Cornhole Champions (PT 3) – Cornhole Champions #46
This is one of the last episodes of Cornhole Champions for 2025. We’re taking November and December off, coming back in January with fresh ideas. But before we wrap, it felt right to step back and talk about what this year has been — and what 2026 might bring. On Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren…
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WATCH: Iowa’s family farms strained by Trump’s trade policies
Bailouts aren’t a solution for anyone but the biggest corporate agriculture operations. Farmers keep saying they want markets, not bailouts.
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WATCH: Iowa economy gets squeezed by tariffs
Iowa’s GDP dropped 6.1% in Q1 2025—worse than almost every state. Farmers lost their biggest customer. John Deere laid off hundreds. Meatpacking plants can’t find workers. These are Iowa jobs, Iowa families, Iowa businesses. We broke down what’s actually happening—and why it matters heading into 2026.
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WATCH: Trade war costs Iowa farmers $1.5 billion in soybean sales
Iowa farmers are feeling the pain. $1.5 billion in soybean sales lost – and the ripple effects are hitting families and communities across the state. Here’s how we got here.
