Rephonic
Artwork for Here First
Iowa
Des Moines
Donald Trump
University Of Iowa
Trump Administration
Affordable Care Act
Iowa State University
USDA
SNAP
Cedar Rapids
Governor Kim Reynolds
Des Moines, United States
Charlie Kirk
Republican Party
Iowa National Guard
Kim Reynolds
ICE
Agriculture
Iowa Senate
Ian Roberts

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
NewsDaily NewsPolitics

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Artwork for Here First

Latest Episodes

Iowa is gripped by the first heat wave of the summer, big cuts for the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, and a popular lake in northwest Iowa reopens as part of a state program marking its 20th year.

The U.S. Supreme Court sided with the maker of Roundup over cancer warnings on pesticide labels, a new facility could support more conservation on farms across the state, and some farms are growing something you might find in your own backyard, servi... more

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A termination letter shows why a former IPERS official was fired. Libertarians running for Iowa governor and lieutenant governor are suing to be put on the ballot. And a museum in Waterloo is bracing for funding cuts.

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Iowa's SNAP restrictions have been blocked by a federal court. Woodbury County has passed a moratorium on data center projects. And U.S. senators are still working on a new farm bill.

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Key Facts

Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Marco Battaglia
Libertarian candidate for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District
Libertarian Party
Episode: Wednesday, June 10th, 2026
Grant Gerlach
IPR News reporter, on-site reporter
IPR
Episode: Thursday, May 28th, 2026
Ross Wilburn
State Representative
Iowa House of Representatives
Episode: Thursday, May 28th, 2026
Rachel Kramer
IPR News reporter
IPR
Episode: Thursday, May 28th, 2026
Lindsay James
Executive Director, Visit Mason City
Visit Mason City
Episode: Thursday, May 28th, 2026
Christina Bohannon
Candidate in Iowa's first district congressional race
Political Candidate
Episode: Tuesday, May 26th, 2026
Sheila Brummer
IPR News reporter
Iowa Public Radio
Episode: Friday, May 22nd, 2026
Monica Arora
Chief Medical Officer at the new state-of-the-art facility
Methodist Jenny Edmundson
Episode: Friday, May 22nd, 2026
Anna Pope
Harvest Public Media reporter
Harvest Public Media
Episode: Friday, May 22nd, 2026

Host

Meghan McKinney
Host of Here First

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 89 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 States4 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 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.

Many describe it as a reliable daily caffeine-fix of local and state news.
Listeners appreciate concise, clear morning briefings that catch them up fast.
Feedback notes perceived slant by some, highlighting the importance of balanced context for certain topics.

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
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Here First

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

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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Which podcasts are similar to Here First?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Here First:

1. Up First from NPR
2. River to River
3. Consider This from NPR
4. The Daily
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.

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What guests have appeared on Here First?

Recent guests on Here First include:

1. Marco Battaglia
2. Grant Gerlach
3. Ross Wilburn
4. Rachel Kramer
5. Lindsay James
6. Christina Bohannon
7. Sheila Brummer
8. Monica Arora

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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