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Good afternoon,
Today, former president Donald Trump faces <a href="[link removed]">arraignment</a> in New York after being indicted last week for over 30 counts related to business fraud -- becoming the first former president in American history to face criminal charges.
How could this impact Trump's re-election bid? The One Country Project teamed up with Impact Social to see what this news may mean among independent voters. The analysis of 40,000 swing voters between March 18 -- April 01, 2023 found that:
Trump cannot win from his base support alone. With this indictment -- and any others which may follow -- he will have to garner the support of people outside of his base such as independents.
Trump's net sentiment score remains at --32 among the 40,000 swing voter panel.
Trump's arrest is what many independents had been calling for and they will be glad to see him in court. This finding is consistent with a recent <a href="[link removed]">CNN poll</a> that found that 62 percent of Independents approve of the indictment of former President Donald Trump.
Among independents, Trump's legal woes are an issue only for Trump -- they have little impact on the brand of his competitors, specifically Biden and DeSantis.
Read full analysis <a href="[link removed]">here</a>.
As the news coverage continues, DC area residents can follow along with a themed <a href="[link removed]">beverage</a> at select bars and those across the country can mix up the viral <a href="[link removed]">Indictment Cocktail</a>. Please drink responsibly -- after all, it's <a href="[link removed]">National Public Health Week</a>.
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT ELECTION
Speaking of health, today Wisconsinites will vote to decide the future of abortion and the legality of its pre-Civil War abortion ban.
OCP board member Sarah Godlewski authored a column on the importance of today's election and how the issue of <a href="[link removed]">abortion rights</a> is affecting women across the state -- and motivating voters. “I do think we're going to see a record-breaking turnout for the spring,” <a href="[link removed]">Godlewski said</a>.
Also at stake are court decisions regarding voter ID laws, redistricting, gun rights, and even the results of the <a href="[link removed]">2024 presidential election</a> in the critical swing state.
IRA SOWED, USDA REAPS BENEFITS
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $1 billion in grant opportunities for the <a href="[link removed]">Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)</a>. The grants will go toward rural small business and agricultural producers to fund projects for energy efficiency or renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, insulation, or methane digesters.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provided a total of $1.7 billion to the program as part of a $14 billion rural energy investment package -- separate from the nearly $20 billion allocated to four of the USDA's conservation programs.
GOP'S H.R.1 EMITS BAD ENERGY
This weekend, OPEC announced a surprise oil production cut that has <a href="[link removed]">driven prices higher</a>. While the price of gas is down more than $1.50 since last summer's peak, higher costs to drive disproportionately impact rural Americans, who live farther from amenities and thus spend a <a href="[link removed]">larger share</a> of their income on transportation. OCP founder Heidi Heitkamp joined <a href="[link removed]">CNBC's Last Call</a> to discuss this recent development.
Last week, the GOP-controlled House of Representatives passed the energy bill <a href="[link removed]">H.R.1</a> under the guise of spurring domestic energy production and lowering energy costs.
Don't let the messaging fool you -- domestic oil production is up under Biden. Here are a few quick stats on U.S. oil production: 2022 was the second largest year of U.S. oil production in history with over 4.3 billion barrels of oil.
The U.S. in on pace to produce over 4.5 billion barrels of oil in 2023 -- shattering the record for domestic energy production.
The Republicans' bill would actually reverse Democrats' efforts to secure domestic energy, diversify America's energy portfolio, and address climate change. The IRA's historic investments in domestic biofuels and clean energy sources will be instrumental in decreasing our dependence on foreign oil.
When it comes to addressing America's energy independence an all of the above approach that includes taking advantage of our ethanol resources while also leveraging a mix of natural gas, wind energy, and fossil fuels is needed.
DEADLY TORNADOES HIT THE SOUTH
Another series of tornadoes swept through the South and Midwest last week. President Biden declared an emergency the previous weekend after a <a href="[link removed]">storm system</a> ripped through Mississippi and Alabama, bringing hail, floods, and tornadoes that caused at least 26 deaths and reduced <a href="[link removed]">communities</a> to rubble. Learn more about how you can <a href="[link removed]">help</a>.
ONE COUNTRY IN THE NEWS
OCP founder Heidi Heitkamp appeared on <a href="[link removed]">NBC's Meet the Press with Chuck Todd</a> to discuss DeSantis v. Disney feud and how the field is evolving for the 2024 presidential election.
ICYMI
USA Today: <a href="[link removed]">American Indian, Alaska Native communities face 'disproportionate burden' of poor oral health</a>
Idaho Capital Sun: <a href="[link removed]">Another Idaho hospital announces it can no longer deliver babies</a>
KOSU: <a href="[link removed]">Rural grocery stores are dying off. Here's what some communities are doing to save them</a>
The Daily Yonder: <a href="[link removed]">Analysis: Home Mortgage Demand Declines in Rural America, Mirroring National Market</a>
The Washington Post: <a href="[link removed]">No Labels group raises alarms with third-party presidential preparations</a>
The Washington Post: <a href="[link removed]">Red America is growing because blue America is shrinking</a>
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