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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
Nicholas Gluba
Libertarian Party
Cold Cases
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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NewsDaily NewsPolitics

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Artwork for Here First

Latest Episodes

Campaign finance reports are published. There's a bill in the state legislature that would make it harder to get medication abortions. And why did George Foreman decide to be buried in Iowa?

An independent candidate is running to represent Iowa's 1st Congressional District. Public health officials in Polk County have created a plan to address community needs. And a bill would regulate AI used by minors.

A federal commission met last night about the Duane Arnold Energy Center. A bill on the governor's desk would no longer allow minors to get vaccines that prevent STIs. And the gender pay gap in Iowa's state employees has widened.

Congressman Zach Nunn talked to MAGA Nation last night. There's a bill on the governor's desk that changes time limits on subacute mental health care. And the Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque is consolidating parishes.

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Recent Guests

Frank Morris
Reporter for Harvest Public Media
Harvest Public Media
Episode: Friday, April 17th, 2026
Thayne Larson
Farmer on H-2A program case study
Kansas farm (illustrative)
Episode: Friday, April 17th, 2026
Jose Reyes
Worker on Larson's farm with long tenure on H-2A
Farming community
Episode: Friday, April 17th, 2026
John Miano
Federation for American Immigration Reform representative
FAIR
Episode: Friday, April 17th, 2026
Roxana Buckmahamady
Representative of US Hydrogen Alliance, hydrogen industry advocate
US Hydrogen Alliance
Episode: Wednesday, April 15th, 2026
Elissa Slotkin
Michigan Senator, keynote speaker at Polk County Democrats Spring Dinner
U.S. Senate
Episode: Tuesday, April 8th, 2026
Mark Mueller
Fourth generation farmer, president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association
Iowa Corn Growers Association
Episode: Thursday, April 2nd, 2026
Randy Feenstra
Republican candidate for governor, discussing tax policy
U.S. Representative / Republican candidate for Iowa governor
Episode: Wednesday, April 1st, 2026
Olivia Jokums
On-the-ground protest participant, 18th birthday interviewee
IPR News Reporter
Episode: Monday, March 30th, 2026

Host

Meghan McKinney
Host of Here First, IPR News and Iowa Public Radio correspondent focused on Iowa politics, policy, and local issues.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 90 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 Statesa month 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 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

Listeners Say

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

Concise morning briefing that keeps me updated on Iowa's latest moves.
Strong local focus with clear, practical takeaways for daily life.
Fair, timely reporting with in-depth context when needed.
Reliable source to start the day with Midwest and Iowa-specific news.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Monday, February 23rd, 2026
Q: Republican lawmakers reached an agreement on K-12 school funding. What's the latest deal?
Republican leaders landed on a 2% increase for K-12 per student funding, amounting to additional funding but raising concerns from educators about inflation not being met.
Monday, February 9th, 2026
Q: What is related to last year's changes to the state civil rights code?
Governor Kim Reynolds' new bill would prevent local governments from having civil rights policies differing from state law, which follows the removal of protections for transgender individuals in the previous year.
Monday, February 9th, 2026
Q: What are lawmakers who support this bill saying about why it's needed?
They argue that it is necessary to award opportunities based on merit rather than race or gender and to align state laws with recent Republican initiatives limiting diversity efforts.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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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, can't-miss morning briefing focused on Iowa news, policy, and local issues with a national-security and education lens. Episodes frequently cover state politics, infrastructure funding, school finance, data center debates, and environmental topics, often including voices from government, journalism, and advocacy. The tone is fast-paced and practical, aiming to keep listeners informed as they start their day, with a strong emphasis on how statewide developments affect communities, businesses, and public services. A notable strength is tight, under-10-minute formats that mix direct reporting with expert context, making it suitable for busy professionals, movers in state affairs, and media/trainers looking for quick, reliable Iowa c... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Here First?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Here First:

1. Up First from NPR
2. Throughline
3. Letters from an American
4. River to River
5. Pantsuit Politics

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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What guests have appeared on Here First?

Recent guests on Here First include:

1. Frank Morris
2. Thayne Larson
3. Jose Reyes
4. John Miano
5. Roxana Buckmahamady
6. Elissa Slotkin
7. Mark Mueller
8. Randy Feenstra

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