Good afternoon,
As the chaos and disorder in Washington grows, world leaders have begun to take action. French President Emmanuel Macron called for an emergency meeting of European leaders to discuss <a href='[link removed]'>Trump's participation in Ukraine-Russia peace talks</a>. At home, the mass firing extravaganza caused another grave mistake, with the USDA <a href='[link removed]'>accidentally firing</a> employees working on the government's response to the bird flu outbreak. They are now trying to rescind those firings.
Here are a few important updates...
FARMERS LEFT IN THE DUST
The Trump Administration has been quickly working to push its agenda, freezing funding, starting trade wars, and dismantling federal agencies. Farmers and rural Americans, two of the most reliable GOP voting blocs, have <a href='[link removed]'>been harmed on multiple fronts</a> by the administration's policies. The decision to pause and review federal funding has caused an extensive amount of chaos for farmers. Many farmers recently installed solar panels in an effort to reduce energy costs and increase sustainability, paying up front with <a href='[link removed]'>guarantees that they would receive reimbursements</a> from the government. With these reimbursements cut off, the financial burden falls on individual farmers, pushing some into bankruptcy.
Farmers have also been impacted by the shutdown of USAID, which buys almost <a href='[link removed]'>$2 billion of products from American farmers</a>. Dismantling USAID doesn't just hurt populations abroad, it hurts farmers here at home who depend on USAID to purchase their goods. Farmers produce far more goods than Americans can consume, and the administration's actions will <a href='[link removed]'>disrupt market prices and create additional stress</a> for food producers. The Trump Administration's policies have hit farmers hard, and we can expect their struggles to ripple out into rural communities. Trump and his party have relied on rural Americans as a voting group, yet <a href='[link removed]'>they appear uninterested in rewarding that political support</a>.
TRUMP'S (SECOND) FIRST MONTH
Today marks one month since President Trump took office, and the consistent theme of his (second) first month is the challenging of norms, laws, and the balance of power. Just a month in, his presidency has been vastly different from all presidencies we have seen throughout our country's history, including Trump's own first term. Trump installed unelected co-president Elon Musk to lead 'doge,' giving him seemingly unchecked power to fire federal workers and execute mass cuts in federal spending. Then his administration argued in court that Musk was not even an official part of 'doge.' He nominated <a href='[link removed]'>several controversial cabinet picks</a>, none of which have faced resistance from the Republican-led Senate. He has also been skeptical of longstanding international organizations and alliances, pulling out of the <a href='[link removed]'>World Health Organization</a> and withdrawing from the <a href='[link removed]'>United Nations Human Rights Council</a>.
Trump is attempting to reset the balance of power in the government and put himself above the law. In his latest executive order, Trump sought to expand his authority over independent agencies, requiring them to <a href='[link removed]'>submit proposed regulations to the White House for review</a>. The EO also requires Russell Vought, the head of the Office of Management and Budget, to review all spending to <a href='[link removed]'>ensure it aligns with Trump's priorities</a>. This is an extremely authoritative move that will likely bring along legal challenges. Trump and has also taken to social media with authoritative language stating '<a href='[link removed]'>He who saves his Country does not violate any Law</a>.' If that wasn't a clear enough statement that Trump views himself as a king, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post '<a href='[link removed]'>LONG LIVE THE KING</a>.' The White House's official Instagram account accompanied this post with <a href='[link removed]'>an image of a crowned Trump</a>. It's been a damaging first month of this Trump presidency with little sign of slowing down. The last time America was ruled by a king in <a href='[link removed]'>mental decline</a> we fought a war to establish our nation. We don't need a king in <a href='[link removed]'>mental decline</a> now.
WORD OF THE WEEK
Reciprocal-Tariff—A major foreign economic policy tool through which the U.S. can <a href='[link removed]'>impose levies on imported goods</a> to match the import duties a country imposes on their imported goods from the U.S. While straightforward in theory, it is complicated in practice, as countries often charge different tariffs on different goods. Many countries also impose a border adjustment tax, a flat percentage charged on the value of an imported good. This was a policy that Trump supported in the past but now complains about other countries using. Now Trump is touting reciprocal tariffs, claiming it is a matter of '<a href='[link removed]'>fairness.'</a> Economists warn that reciprocal tariffs will cause <a href='[link removed]'>a 0.5% annual increase</a> in inflation.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Senate Committee hearings for Deputy nominations for the Department of Homelands Security, Office of Management and Budget and Secretary of Defense will be held early next week.
The Senate will begin a 'vote-a-rama' tonight as part of the push to setup the $4.5 trillion tax cut for the wealthiest Americans, to be paid for by over $3 trillion in cuts to social programs like Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, Social Security, and many others.
WHAT WE'RE READING
The Washington Post: <a href='[link removed]'>Farmers still missing USDA funds get little help from Republicans in Congress</a>
The Oklahoman: <a href='[link removed]'>Trump's federal funding freeze affecting payments to farmers</a>
Heartland Signal: <a href='[link removed]'>OPINION: Democrats should fight back with an aggressive, fact-based counternarrative every single day</a>
Morning Ag Clips: <a href='[link removed]'>Trump Administration Plans New Strategy to Fight Bird Flu</a>
Be sure to follow the One Country Project on <a href='[link removed]' target='_blank'>Bluesky</a>, <a href='[link removed]' target='_blank'>Twitter</a>, <a href='[link removed]' target='_blank'>Facebook</a> and <a href='[link removed]' target='_blank'>Substack</a>, and listen to <a href='[link removed]' target='_blank'>The Hot Dish</a> podcast.
Paid for by One Country Project
This email was sent by One Country Project [[link removed]]
One Country Inc
600 Pennsylvania Ave SE
#15180
Washington, DC 20003
United States
One Country Project is a 501(c)(4). Contributions to One Country Project are not tax-deductible. They support our efforts to promote greater opportunities for rural communities.
Email is an important way for One Country Project to keep supporters like you informed about critical issues and to build a winning grassroots campaign. Too much email? Switch to our less email option [[link removed]] or unsubscribe here [[link removed]] .
You can also update your name, email, or mailing address. [[link removed]] Questions or concerns? Contact us here [[link removed]] .
[link removed] [[link removed]]
