Iowa Lawmaker Uses Satirical Video to Address Water Pollution and Cancer Concerns

Des Moines representative Dr. Austin Baeth created a humorous video to highlight the dangers of nitrates in Iowa's water and its potential link to rising cancer rates.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:26pm

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A close-up painting of a glass of discolored water sitting on a wooden table, with warm sunlight casting deep shadows across the scene, conceptually representing the murky politics surrounding water quality and public health.A satirical video about Iowa's water pollution issues exposes the disconnect between lawmakers and the scientific realities of public health concerns.Des Moines Today

Iowa state representative Dr. Austin Baeth, a Democrat from Des Moines, created a satirical video called "Spinachgate" to draw attention to the state's water pollution issues and their potential connection to increasing cancer rates. The video pokes fun at a fellow Republican legislator, Ken Rosenbaum, who claimed that high nitrate levels in spinach and other leafy greens are the real culprit behind Iowa's water quality problems.

Why it matters

Baeth says he has been vocal for years about his concerns that Iowa's high nitrate levels in drinking water may be contributing to the state's cancer crisis, but he feels the legislature has been slow to address the issue. By using satire and humor, Baeth hopes to reach more people and raise awareness about this serious public health concern.

The details

In the video, Baeth parodies Rosenbaum's claims about spinach and lettuce being high in nitrates, sarcastically suggesting that Iowans should quit eating the "green leafy killer" and switch to Cheetos instead. Rosenbaum declined an interview, telling Baeth he didn't want to be part of a "silly slideshow" and that the issue warrants serious discussion.

  • Baeth has been vocal about the water pollution and cancer link for the last 2-3 years.

The players

Dr. Austin Baeth

A Democratic state representative from Des Moines who created the satirical "Spinachgate" video to highlight Iowa's water quality and cancer rate issues.

Ken Rosenbaum

A Republican state representative from Marion County who offered a theory that high nitrate levels in spinach and other leafy greens are the real cause of Iowa's water pollution problems.

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What they’re saying

“For the last 2 or 3 years, I've actually been very vocal about the concern that Iowa's water pollution, especially our high water nitrate levels, may be contributing to Iowa's cancer crisis.”

— Dr. Austin Baeth, State Representative

“You will find they are very high in nitrates, spinach and lettuce, spinach and lettuce, spinach and lettuce.”

— Ken Rosenbaum, State Representative

What’s next

Baeth says he would like to sit down with Rosenbaum and have a serious discussion about drinking water quality and its potential effects on cancer rates in Iowa.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges of addressing complex public health issues like water pollution and cancer rates, where lawmakers may not always be fully informed on the science. Baeth's use of satire aims to engage the public and push the legislature to take more decisive action on this critical problem.