
Start your day with the essentials. Coffee. Breakfast. And the local news you need to know. Host Meghan McKinney rises bright and early to bring you the top news stories from around Iowa in under 10 minutes. Wake up, grab that coffee and get your news Here First. You can support what you hear on this podcast at ipr.org/donate.
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 210 | Founded | 5 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | NewsDaily NewsPolitics | |||

The governor has signed a bill that requires immigration status checks for public workers. Death is more likely to occur in domestic violence when a gun is involved. And how have 1970's federal laws cleaned up rivers in the U.S.?
A new study will look at how environmental factors affect Iowan's health. Governor Kim Reynolds reflects on her last legislative session as governor. And former residents of a teen treatment center in Missouri say they were abused there.
Zach Lahn, who didn't receive President Trump's endorsement, will be the Republican candidate for Iowa governor. Josh Turek will be the Democratic candidate for Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat. And Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a few crime related bi... more
There has been a mass shooting in Muscatine that has left seven people dead. Residents in Palo voiced their thoughts on a proposed data center ordinance. And today is the last day Iowans can vote in the primary elections.
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Listening to Meghan deliver news each morning feels like drinking coffee with a good friend who says, “Hey, here’s what’s going on. Thanks for listening.”
Interesting program but wording and expressions are definitely slanted. It is liberal leaning and must be listened with that in mind.
“Here First” has become my go-to morning listen for a quick overview of state news and the occasional in depth coverage of other issues affecting the Midwest. It’s right up there with coffee as my morning must-have!
Thank you so much IPR for creating this podcast, I often cannot reach IPR on normal radio hours but having this resource is perfect for me to listen more about Iowa specific news!
I am a daily Up First listener, so this was an instant subscribe! Great idea, I appreciate everything IPR does for us in Iowa!
Clay is an excellent radio host and always delivers fair and timely content. I’m really looking forward to this podcast!
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #157 | |
Apple Podcasts | #144 |
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Morning daily briefing that covers Iowa-focused politics, policy, and public life in under 10 minutes. Listeners tune in for concise updates on government actions, state budgeting, infrastructure, and healthcare, with occasional deep dives into education, agriculture, and regional issues. The show consistently features on-the-ground reporting from Iowa Public Radio correspondents and guest perspectives from politicians, watchdog reporters, and local experts. Its short, fast-paced format makes it a reliable quick-read of what's shaping Iowa each day, often tying policy changes to practical everyday impacts. Noteworthy elements include a steady emphasis on state policy, transparent reporting, and timely context around elections and public hea... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Here First:
1. River to River
2. Talk of Iowa
3. Up First from NPR
4. The NPR Politics Podcast
5. Trump's Terms
Here First launched 5 years ago and published 210 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on Here First include:
1. Christina Bohannon
2. Monica Arora
3. Anna Pope
4. Mundy McCarty
5. Joe Mitchell
6. Charlie McClintock
7. Zach Wahls
8. Zach Walls
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