Good afternoon from a city of "filth and decay" (though as one familiar with the path from Reagan National Airport into Washington, D.C. has noted, to Virginians' chagrin, that's just Arlington).

Former president Donald Trump was indicted for a third time. His four most recent criminal charges relate to his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which culminated in the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Trump pleaded not guilty, with his lawyer arguing that his attempts to interrupt the peaceful transition of power were merely "aspirational." Most voters don't find such aspirations so inspirational, instead believing that they undermined American democracy.

While polling has found Trump's numerous legal troubles are turning away Independent voters who will be crucial to win over in the general election, he is still poised to win the Republican primary and turn the 2024 presidential race into a rematch with current President Joe Biden. So, how is Biden's reelection campaign looking?

In 2020, 61 percent of voters under the age of 30 helped elect Biden. Young voters, turning out in historic numbers, have proved to be immensely influential in electing Democrats. As of April of this year, though, only 38 percent of young Americans approve of Biden's presidential performance, and fewer young voters are likely to identify as Democrats.

A key issue for young voters is climate change – and they don't believe Biden is taking strong enough action. Part of the problem is that 7 in 10 Americans have heard little or nothing about Biden's climate policies.

The Inflation Reduction Act – the largest investment the U.S. has ever made to address climate change – passed Congress a year ago yesterday. It is projected to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. OCP founder, former Senator Heidi Heitkamp weighed in on CNBC yesterday saying, "one of the things I see out here in North Dakota...there is a big interest in hydrogen [energy]." Yet after a July that has already surpassed the first benchmark of 1.5 degrees Celsius hotter than pre-industrial times, those efforts may not be enough.

HOT JOBS

• Despite the excessive heat, raging wildfires, torrential rain and flooding have already been affecting agriculture and are costing the country billions of dollars, 70 percent of Republicans say that climate change is a minor or negligible threat. Though young voters might be seeing the writing on the wall, Republicans in the House are trying to slash Inflation Reduction Act funding for critical climate provisions with their eyes firmly shut.
   
• The GOP claims that the economy takes precedence over the climate crisis – but the climate crisis is inarguably affecting the economy already. As the labor market continues to grow, President Biden is working to keep both the climate and inflation cool: his historic Hazard Alert offers workers protections from increasingly high heat and a slowing inflation rate has brought hope that the U.S. can escape a recession. Read OCP's full statement on the July jobs report here.

SECURING THE FARMING FOUNDATION

• Though the economic outlook is sunnier than it has been for a while, storm clouds are hovering on the horizon – and not just because the East Coast has been shrouded in thunderstorm threats. The reauthorization of the Farm Bill is sure to be contentious, but a worthy fight for the future of rural America.

• On Friday, OCP released Securing the Farming Foundation, its first of three Farm Bill policy priorities. With increasingly extreme weather disrupting agriculture amidst persistently high grocery prices and food insecurity, it is vital that the Farm Bill secure America's farming foundation.

• The average age of American farmers is 57 years old, creating a generational cliff that, without a new crop of young farmers, threatens to further disrupt the sustainability and security of our entire country's food system.

• OCP recommends establishing a new tax credit for landowners selling their operations, livestock, machinery, or supporting equipment to new and beginning farmers as well as a deduction for new and beginning and farmers just acquiring land that reduces the financial burdens of transferring farming operations. Read more about OCP's Farm Bill priorities here.

RURAL VOTERS

• On the latest episode of the Hot Dish podcast, Heidi and Joel talk Chris Christie's chances at his White House run and Joel says he's"a little late to the dance," while Heidi says she is "hedging her bets" now that Christie is in the race and isn't so sure that Trump has the GOP nomination locked up.

• In a conversation with David Pepper, author of "Laboratories of Autocracy" and "Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for Every American," Pepper calls on Democrats to engage in the fight for democracy in their hometowns, at the local level, by running for public office or supporting Democrats who do. According to Pepper, "We are so focused on the federal election cycle and the swing states that we have basically accepted not running in so many of these places hard or at all, not running for the offices in so many of these places that are actually the ones that shape democracy itself." Pepper added, "The front line is everywhere, it's in Oklahoma, it's in New York, it's all over the country, it's in Ohio, [and] there's a lot more you can do about it than just sending a check to a Pennsylvania Senate race."

• And when Rep. J.D. Scholten isn't working at the Iowa House, he's playing professional baseball in the Netherlands. Scholten expressed optimism to Joel that the Democratic party is going to stage a comeback in Iowa, pointing out that GOP lawmakers passed controversial legislation that did not reflect Iowa voters, "Everything controversial was passed just strictly on Republican votes. And you looked at where a lot of these bills came from. They're not coming from Iowans... this is a national plan. And whether it's a school voucher plan that was pushed by Betsy DeVos' group, whether it was child labor laws pushed by a billionaire down in Florida, you know, just bill after bill after bill that was controversial, was not coming from Iowans."

• Sister Simone Campbell closes out the podcast by telling Heidi about her book tour across the rural south.

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• This past week, OCP founder and former Senator Heidi Heitkamp appeared on:
  • CNBC's Squawk Box to discuss Fitch's downgrade of the U.S. credit rating;
  • NBC's Meet the Press to discuss recap the latest on the Republican presidential campaign trail;
  • And CNBC Last Call to discuss major provisions in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act to invest in energy and reform prescription drug prices.

• ABC News: Democrats are overperforming in 2023's special elections. Is it a clue for Biden vs. Trump?
• Reuters: Redistricting Battles Could Determine Control of US House in 2024
• Politico: Farmers Have Bought into Biden's Climate Program. Now Comes the Hard Part.
• KTTC: USDA Farm Bill Research: Single, female-headed households with children using food pantries most
• The Daily Yonder: Commentary: Reckoning with the Loss of Rural Labor and Delivery Departments
• ABC News: Judge Partially Blocks Texas Abortion Ban for Medical Emergencies, Fatal Diagnoses
• American City and County: Report: Transportation and Smart Land Use Are Key Areas of Focus for Revitalization Rural Communities

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