Rephonic
Artwork for Here First
Iowa
Bird Flu
Glenwood Resource Center
Flooding
Spencer
Abortion Law
FEMA
Northwest Iowa
Iowa Supreme Court
Flood Recovery
Iowa Attorney General's Office
Iowa Immigration Law
Cold Cases
Libertarian Party
Nicholas Gluba
Eating Disorder Coalition Of Iowa
Des Moines Police Department
Historic Flooding
Mississippi River
Opioid Settlement

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes210Founded5 years ago
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PoliticsDaily NewsNews

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Artwork for Here First

Latest Episodes

The Des Moines Public School Board has accepted Ian Robert's resignation from superintendent. DMPS students walked out of classes yesterday in connection with ICE detaining Roberts. And DMPS is now under investigation for what the Department of Justi... more

The Des Moines School Board has placed Superintendent Ian Roberts on unpaid leave as he remains in federal detention, and the state has revoked his education license. Abortions provided by clinicians in Iowa dropped significantly in the first half of... more

YouTube

The Des Moines School Board voted over the weekend to place Superintendent Ian Roberts on paid administrative leave, following his arrest Friday by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. On Saturday, supporters for Roberts protested ou... more

YouTube

Tax changes in President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” will reduce Iowa’s revenue by about $400 million this fiscal year. Iowa says its efforts to help a few dozen struggling public schools are showing encouraging results. And the University of Northe... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

Jacob Wondershein
Executive Director of the Food Bank of Saultland
Food Bank of Saultland
Episode: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025
Naina Gupta
Advocate with the American Immigration Council
American Immigration Council
Episode: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025
Sonya Carlson
Program Director at Hawkeye Community College
Hawkeye Community College
Episode: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025
Chad McCumbers
Sheriff in Sioux County, Nebraska
Episode: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025
Larry White
Organizer of the annual popcorn days in Nebraska
Episode: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025
Jack Hoag
Longtime popcorn farmer in Northwest Iowa
Episode: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025
Steve Husinga
President of American Popcorn Company (Jolly Time)
American Popcorn Company
Episode: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025
Josh Turek
State Representative and Paralympian
Iowa Legislature
Episode: Wednesday, August 13th, 2025
Jason Grume
CEO for the American Clean Power Association
American Clean Power Association
Episode: Tuesday, August 12th, 2025

Host

Meghan McKinney
Host of the show, known for delivering concise updates on local news and events impacting Iowa communities.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 80 ratings
  • 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 States3 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 States4 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 States5 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 States5 years ago
  • Wanna know? Listen to this podcast—

    Comprehensive, understandable, timely, accurate information. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pkatrinka
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Feedback highlights the relevance of topics covered as well as the need for careful balancing in political discussions.
Listeners appreciate the concise format, making it easy to catch up on important local news in a short time.
Many regard it as a necessary morning staple, equating it with their coffee 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.

Monday, July 28th, 2025
Q: What did abortion providers say about this past year?
Abortion providers reported a significant drop in services due to the law, and an increase in Iowans traveling out of state for care.
Monday, July 28th, 2025
Q: How has this affected abortion in the state?
Data shows that abortions dropped significantly since the law was implemented, with many Iowans seeking care out of state.
Wednesday, June 11th, 2025
Q: What is the stance of Iowa lawmakers on the federal bill?
Republican senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst expressed their support for the bill, framing it as a way to strengthen Medicaid while addressing waste and fraud in the program.
Wednesday, June 11th, 2025
Q: How could this impact Iowans?
About 700,000 Iowans are on Medicaid now, and due to the proposed cuts, experts estimate that enrollment could drop by approximately 90,000 by 2034.
Wednesday, June 11th, 2025
Q: What is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act proposing for Medicaid?
The bill proposes significant cuts to federal Medicaid spending, aiming to reduce the federal budget while threatening coverage for millions, despite estimates indicating increased numbers of uninsured Americans.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Here First

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

Focused on delivering concise updates, this podcast provides listeners with essential local news from Iowa in a format that is both efficient and engaging. Each episode aims to capture key political and social stories affecting the community, featuring discussions on state legislation, community initiatives, and local events. Noteworthy features include timely coverage of pressing issues, including education, public policy, and environmental challenges, ensuring that listeners are well-informed about topics that directly impact their lives.

The podcast distinguishes itself by not only informing but also prioritizing the significance of local perspectives, making it a valuable resource for Iowa residents. Its commitment to providing quick n... more

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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. Talk of Iowa
5. Sources & Methods

How many episodes of Here First are there?

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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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Here First?

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What guests have appeared on Here First?

Recent guests on Here First include:

1. Jacob Wondershein
2. Naina Gupta
3. Sonya Carlson
4. Chad McCumbers
5. Larry White
6. Jack Hoag
7. Steve Husinga
8. Josh Turek

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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