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.

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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

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