Rephonic
Artwork for Here First
Iowa
Des Moines
Des Moines, United States
Data Centers
University Of Iowa
Iowa Politics
Donald Trump
Sioux City
Rob Sand
Iowa Public Radio
Trump Administration
Republican Party
Central Iowa Water Works
Cedar Rapids
Medicaid
Google
Immigration
Kim Reynolds
Property Tax Reform
Iowa Legislature

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes210Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNewsPolitics

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Artwork for Here First

Latest Episodes

The Board of Regents has picked a new permanent director for the Center for Intellectual Freedom. The major party candidates for Iowa's First Congressional District debated last night. And an update on the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge.

Gov. Kim Reynolds' husband, Kevin Reynolds, is undergoing treatment for a recurrence of cancer. An ISU student is suing the city of Ames over its policy that bans firearms on public transit. And how are the candidates campaigning in Iowa's First Cong... more

The Department of Homeland Security is delaying a decision about TPS for Ukrainians. Democratic candidates in Iowa raised more money than Republicans this last fundraising quarter. And state revenue estimates for the next two years are out.

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An Iowa City woman granted protection from persecution in Ivory Coast has been deported and could likely end up back in that country. President Trump will hold a rally in Sioux City next Thursday. And data center construction waste is piling up at Li... more

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Recent Guests

Steph Conquest-Wehr
Reporter for The Midwest Newsroom covering the deportation feature
The Midwest Newsroom
Episode: Thursday, October 15th, 2026
Mitra Naser
Professor and director of the Forced Migration Initiative
Washington University in St. Louis
Episode: Thursday, October 15th, 2026
Denise Meyer
Director of social work at the Center for Immigration and Refugee Advancement
Center for Immigration and Refugee Advancement, Nebraska
Episode: Thursday, October 15th, 2026
Ro Khanna
California Congressman, potential 2028 presidential candidate
U.S. Congress
Episode: Monday, October 12th, 2026
Chase Obenchain
Corporate chef for the Sorghum Checkoff
Sorghum Checkoff
Episode: Friday, October 9th, 2026
Lanier de Bruyze
Director of Nutrition and Food Innovation
Sorghum Checkoff
Episode: Friday, October 9th, 2026
Sarah Sexton Bowser
Director for the Center for Sorghum Improvement
Kansas State University
Episode: Friday, October 9th, 2026
Jessica Davidoff
Founder and CEO of Cobb
Cobb
Episode: Friday, October 9th, 2026
Michael Marks
Reporter for Harvest Public Media
Harvest Public Media
Episode: Friday, October 9th, 2026

Host

Meghan McKinney
Host focusing on local Iowa news, politics, and policy with IPR News support.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 92 ratings
  • News Delivery

    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.”

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Central Iowa Katie
    United States7 months ago
  • Language not neutral

    Interesting program but wording and expressions are definitely slanted. It is liberal leaning and must be listened with that in mind.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    iMallears
    United States4 years ago
  • Great start to the day!

    “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!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AnnAppleseth
    United States5 years ago
  • So happy this exists

    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!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    1234569274
    United States6 years ago
  • Very excited for this

    Clay is an excellent radio host and always delivers fair and timely content. I’m really looking forward to this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Avanorny
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners note fair, balanced coverage with practical context for policy decisions.
Audiences appreciate local focus and timely reporting on topics affecting Iowa communities.
Observers praise concise, dependable updates that fit into a busy morning routine.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Thursday, October 8th, 2026
Q: What did the candidates say about the war in Iran and national security in their debate?
They discussed the need to end the conflict and debated the appropriate use of presidential powers, with one candidate emphasizing a cautious approach to further military action and the other focusing on containment and accountability.
Tuesday, October 6th, 2026
Q: What do the candidates think about education savings accounts?
Candidate Lane advocates expanding ESAs and tying them to parental choice and private schooling, while candidate Zahn calls for accountability, income limits, and broader eligibility rules to ensure public funds are used responsibly.
Wednesday, September 30th, 2026
Q: What are the two candidates' general approaches to improving water quality in Iowa?
Jones advocates for more regulations to curb pollution from farming practices, while Naig argues that regulations and taxes would harm smaller and mid-sized farms and prefers expanding voluntary conservation and existing programs.
Friday, March 13th, 2026
Q: How would you describe what's going on in the world right now, in our country, affecting immigrant and refugee students?
Neibolt describes how immigration policies and safety concerns are shaping decisions for students and families, including self-deportation, moving to more welcoming places, and the pressure on pursuing higher education despite obstacles. She emphasizes the emotional impact and the need for supportive programs like RISE to provide pathways to college.
Monday, February 23rd, 2026
Q: Were there some proposals that advanced last week?
Most bills passed and are still alive, including legislation on eminent domain and changes to school vaccine requirements.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Here First

What is Here First about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A concise morning briefing that rounds up local Iowa news, politics, and policy with a focus on how policy decisions affect everyday life. Episodes often weave in reporting on data centers, local government, education, environmental issues, and health policy, complemented by long-form features on agriculture and regional trends. Notable strengths include fast-paced, bill-by-bill context, and a steady stream of expert and local voices to illuminate both policy and community impact. Listeners likely appreciate clarity, timeliness, and practical implications for residents and businesses alike.

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Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Here First. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Here First and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Here First get?

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What are the audience demographics for Here First?

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How many subscribers and views does Here First have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Here First has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Here First?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Here First:

1. River to River
2. Up First from NPR
3. Consider This from NPR
4. Short Wave
5. Throughline

How many episodes of Here First are there?

Here First launched 6 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.

How do I contact Here First?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Here First?

Recent guests on Here First include:

1. Steph Conquest-Wehr
2. Mitra Naser
3. Denise Meyer
4. Ro Khanna
5. Chase Obenchain
6. Lanier de Bruyze
7. Sarah Sexton Bowser
8. Jessica Davidoff

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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