Good afternoon,

Today, former president Donald Trump faces arraignment 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 CNN poll 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 here.
 

As the news coverage continues, DC area residents can follow along with a themed beverage at select bars and those across the country can mix up the viral Indictment Cocktail. Please drink responsibly – after all, it's National Public Health Week.

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 abortion rights is affecting women across the state – and motivating voters. "I do think we're going to see a record-breaking turnout for the spring," Godlewski said.

• Also at stake are court decisions regarding voter ID laws, redistricting, gun rights, and even the results of the 2024 presidential election 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 Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). 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 driven prices higher. 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 larger share of their income on transportation. OCP founder Heidi Heitkamp joined CNBC's Last Call to discuss this recent development.
   
• Last week, the GOP-controlled House of Representatives passed the energy bill H.R.1 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 storm system ripped through Mississippi and Alabama, bringing hail, floods, and tornadoes that caused at least 26 deaths and reduced communities to rubble. Learn more about how you can help.
   

• OCP founder Heidi Heitkamp appeared on NBC's Meet the Press with Chuck Todd to discuss DeSantis v. Disney feud and how the field is evolving for the 2024 presidential election.

• USA Today: American Indian, Alaska Native communities face 'disproportionate burden' of poor oral health
   
• Idaho Capital Sun: Another Idaho hospital announces it can no longer deliver babies
   
• KOSU: Rural grocery stores are dying off. Here's what some communities are doing to save them
   
• The Daily Yonder: Analysis: Home Mortgage Demand Declines in Rural America, Mirroring National Market
   
• The Washington Post: No Labels group raises alarms with third-party presidential preparations
   
• The Washington Post: Red America is growing because blue America is shrinking

Be sure to follow the One Country Project on Twitter and Facebook, and check out The Hot Dish podcast.

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