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

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Artwork for Here First

Latest Episodes

Ranchers pushed back on an executive order from President Trump that increased Argentina beef imports. A bill in the state legislature would eliminate vaccine requirements in schools. And funding for USDA Climate Hubs that help farmers is uncertain.

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Ames has passed anti-discrimination protections for gender identity. A bill in state legislature would create a domestic abuse offender registry. And how are local musicians impacted by music venues closing in central Iowa?

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Congress must figure out DHS funding by Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown. Coralville is considering revisiting what it uses automated license plate readers for. And a young couple moved out of Iowa after state lawmakers removed gender id... more

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Abortion pills would have to be dispensed in person under a bill in the Iowa Senate. Local government's civil rights codes would have to match the state's civil rights code under a bill in the Iowa House. And how has immigration enforcement impacted ... more

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Madison Rae
Staff member at local Indie venue, XBK
Episode: Thursday, February 12th, 2026
Dylan Medina
Bassist for local rock band Display Case
Episode: Thursday, February 12th, 2026
Eric Brown
Co-owner of Lefty's Live Music
Episode: Thursday, February 12th, 2026
Rebecca Smith
Contributor for Harvest Public Media
Harvest Public Media
Episode: Friday, February 6th, 2026
Kelly Decker
Rancher from north central Oklahoma affected by Alpha Gal Syndrome
Episode: Friday, February 6th, 2026
Scott Cummins
Allergist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and leading Alpha Gal researcher
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Episode: Friday, February 6th, 2026
Zach Stopplemore
The first Iowan to make the US Olympic speed skating team.
US Olympic Speed Skating Team
Episode: Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026
Brandon Bradshaw
Accused of illegally painting flowers on manhole covers
Episode: Thursday, January 22nd, 2026
Aaron Layman
President of Iowa Farmers Union
Iowa Farmers Union
Episode: Wednesday, January 21st, 2026

Host

Meghan McKinney
Host of Here First, delivering top news stories from Iowa in under ten minutes each morning.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 85 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 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
  • 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.

Listeners appreciate the concise format, making it a perfect morning companion for busy lives.
Feedback highlights the importance of fair and accurate reporting, with occasional critiques about political biases observed in the content.
There is a strong emphasis on local news coverage, which resonates well with Iowans eager for relevant updates.

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, 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.
Monday, February 9th, 2026
Q: How likely is this bill to pass?
It remains uncertain, but there is some anti-vaccine sentiment among Republicans, particularly since COVID-19, and discussions are ongoing among House Republicans.
Monday, February 9th, 2026
Q: What's the reasoning from supporters of this bill?
Supporters believe that current medical and religious exemptions are insufficient and that parents should have the ultimate authority to make health decisions for their children.
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026
Q: What does a typical day look like for you now as you prepare for the Olympics?
Zach described his intense training schedule consisting of on-ice sessions and strength training.

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?

This daily news podcast provides a quick, accessible overview of the most important local stories affecting Iowans. Covering a range of topics including politics, healthcare, education, and community events, it aims to deliver essential news in under ten minutes, making it an ideal choice for busy listeners seeking to stay informed. Each episode typically features a blend of breaking news, political insights, and updates on significant regional issues, all presented in a straightforward manner that is likely to resonate with a diverse audience. Unique to the format is its focus on local affairs, ensuring that listeners are connected to their community with relevant information every morning.

Where can I find podcast stats for Here First?

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?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Here First, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. NPR News Now
5. The NPR Politics Podcast

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.

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.

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. Madison Rae
2. Dylan Medina
3. Eric Brown
4. Rebecca Smith
5. Kelly Decker
6. Scott Cummins
7. Zach Stopplemore
8. Brandon Bradshaw

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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