Good afternoon,
Today, voters head to the polls in several states across the country where there are highly anticipated races taking place, including in New York City, New Jersey and Virginia. These off-year races <a href='[link removed]'>provide</a> insight into how voters across the nation are feeling about the current administration. Democrats are trying to make a comeback from the 2024 election while Republicans are on defense. In New York City, the mayoral election has <a href='[link removed]'>garnered significant attention</a> as people decide between three candidates: Queens State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, current mayor Eric Adams, and 2021 Republican nominee, Curtis Sliwa. New Jersey's gubernatorial race includes former GOP New Jersey State Rep. Jack Ciattarelli and Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill facing off for the seat. Virginia's gubernatorial race is a must-watch as either former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears will make history as the Commonwealth's first female governor. This election year is an opportunity for Democrats to build momentum and fight for what's right amid the turmoil of the federal government shutdown, aggressive trade wars, and a continuously irrational president.
Here are a few important updates...
<h3>A LAWLESS, DISHONEST ADMINISTRATION PLAYS GAMES WITH NUTRITION ASSISTANCE</h3>Last week, a pair of court rulings directed the Trump administration to use contingency funds to send Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding to states. This would ensure that the 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits to feed themselves and their families would not go hungry. At first, Trump indicated he would comply with the courts.
Today, however, Trump and several administration officials have issued blistering, lie-filled, and often contradictory statements rebutting the court's directions. First, Trump claimed there would be no payments sent at all. Then his Agriculture Secretary – and former Miss Cotton Bowl Queen – Brooke Rollins called SNAP a broken and corrupt system. Later, Trump's Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the administration would only send roughly half of the SNAP funding to the states for distribution, and even that payment would be late. Leavitt – in what is now her trademark style – delivered this announcement in an overtly political and dishonest fashion, blaming Democrats for the government shutdown and claiming they and they alone were responsible for the delay in SNAP payments.
We are 1,172 days away from the end of the second Trump presidency. It remains to be seen what, if anything, will remain of our democracy by then. Today's lawless actions – playing games with American citizens' access to food – are another step down the road to an autocratic future. For the good of the country, we can only hope that there remain some people within Trump's party with the moral courage to value the fate of the country more than their access to power.
<h3>ANXIETY RISES AMONG RURAL HEALTH PROVIDERS</h3>Rural health providers are growing increasingly concerned and anxious about the limited $50 billion rural health fund which was created to lessen the blow of the Republican budget bill. As <a href='[link removed]'>reported</a> by Axios, 'the money could provide a lifeline as rural providers across the country struggle to keep facilities open under the nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts anticipated from the budget bill.' However, these providers are worried they could be excluded from the funding as several other entities, including large medical academic centers, private equity-backed providers, technology companies, and startups, are pitching states for different ways to use the funding. Congress outlined a two-step process for awarding the funding where the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) distributes half of the $50 billion equally to states that apply and then states must compete for parts of the other half. The applications are due tomorrow. CMS will consider the size of the rural population in states and the financial health of their rural hospitals when distributing the money.
As the application deadline for the rural health fund closes in, providers are understandably stressed. The Republican healthcare budget cuts could have lasting consequences for rural Americans and others struggling to pay everyday costs. Rural communities have <a href='[link removed].'>significantly fewer</a> health care providers available to them than urban areas. Health care services not only help keep communities healthy, but also stimulate local economies. While the rural health fund offers some relief, it is not a permanent or big picture solution. Our country's leaders and lawmakers must put partisan politics aside if we want to preserve health care benefits and health care facilities that so many Americans rely on.
<h3>TRUMP WAVES THE WHITE FLAG IN THE GREAT SOYBEAN WAR</h3>Following the meeting between Trump and Xi in South Korea last Thursday, China verbally promised to purchase <a href='[link removed]'>at least 25 million metric tons</a> of American soybeans annually over the next three years. The deal marks a notable increase: from zero to <a href='[link removed]'>about 12 million metric tons</a> are expected this year. Shipments would begin in late December or early January. Just hours before the meeting, China placed its first U.S. soybean order of the year for <a href='[link removed]'>180,000 metric tons</a> of beans.
While this commitment offers some relief to farmers, it <a href='[link removed]'>falls short</a> of restoring pre-trade war volumes. China imported nearly 27 metric tons of U.S. soybeans in 2024, but under the new terms, that exact total is spread across three years. Optimism over renewed trade has lifted sentiment, pushing soybean futures to <a href='[link removed]'>a 15-month high</a> after hitting five-year lows. As U.S. prices increased, making South American prices more competitive, some Chinese traders have started discussing the purchase of Brazilian cargoes for the period from March to July, threatening U.S. market share. This situation highlights that while progress has been made in the soybean tariff dispute, it is far from resolved. The farm economy remains under strain, and both leaders may reverse course if the political or economic winds shift in the near future.
Another notable development comes from Brazil, where at the same time Beijing pledged to buy U.S. soybeans, they placed even larger orders for Brazilian soybeans. Brazilian and Argentinian soybeans are now cheaper than U.S. soybeans shipping from the Gulf of Mexico. The price reduction comes in large part due to the Chinese investments in export terminals in South America in recent years. As these terminals continue to come online, U.S. producers will face even greater downward pressure on the value of agricultural exports. Combined with the complete disruption of decades old trading relationships, the hard times for American farmers are likely just beginning.
NUMBER OF THE WEEK
<a href='[link removed]'>30%</a>: This is the average increase in monthly payment next year for the benchmark plan on <a href='[link removed]'>healthcare.gov</a> after the enhanced tax premiums expired. However, actual costs could be double that amount, according to the health policy research group KFF.
WHAT WE'RE READING
NBC News: <a href='[link removed]'>Farmers Fight an 'Extension Cord' for Data Centers</a>
PBS News: <a href='[link removed]'>Less Talk of Trump, More Focus on Economy Is Part of The Democrats' Playbook for Tuesday's Election</a>
The Washington Post: <a href='[link removed]'>Obama Aids Democrats in Weekend Campaign Stops Ahead of 2025 Elections</a>
CNN Politics: <a href='[link removed]'>Democrats Are More Enthusiastic about The Midterms as Trump's Approval Hits A Second-Term Low, CNN Poll Finds</a>
Brownfield Ag News: <a href='[link removed]'>U.S. Farmers Still Need Aid Despite New U.S.-China Trade Framework, Expert Says</a>
The Guardian: <a href='[link removed]'>Senate Republicans Strike Down Democratic Proposal to Fully Fund SNAP</a>
The Hill: <a href='[link removed]'>Moderate House Dems, GOP Release 'Principles' for Obamacare Subsidy Extension</a>
The Dispatch: <a href='[link removed]'>Democrats Confront Divide Over Culture Issues</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.
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