Good afternoon,

Amid a national redistricting battle, Democrats have hit a setback as a Virginia <a href='[link removed]'>court blocked</a> the party's efforts to redraw congressional lines. Ahead of the November midterm elections, both parties are attempting to redraw congressional maps in order to pick up extra seats to gain control of the House of Representatives. Virginia represents the largest potential number of seats Democrats could pick up through redistricting. The court ruled that the Democratic effort <a href='[link removed]'>did not follow the correct procedures</a> for a mid-decade redraw. Virginia Democrats proposed a referendum to redistrict that would go before voters in April. As the midterm elections creep up, we can expect to see more action being taken by both Red and Blue states aiming to redraw their maps to gain control of Congress.

Here are a few important updates...

THE SHUTTERING OF RURAL HOSPITALS

When Trump assumed office last year, one of the first picks for his cabinet was Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services. RFK Jr. has been one of the most famous <a href='[link removed]'>vaccine skeptics</a> in the U.S., questioning their safety and spreading misinformation for years, including perpetuating the idea that vaccines cause autism. During his <a href='[link removed]'>confirmation hearing </a>to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, RFK attempted to rewrite his background, telling Senators he is not an anti-vaxxer, assuring the Senate that he didn't intend to take vaccines away.

A few months later, RFK Jr. <a href='[link removed]'>fired all 17 members</a> of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), appointing new members that align with his views on vaccines. Earlier this month, the new anti-vaccine members of ACIP announced major revisions to the childhood vaccine schedule, reducing the number of recommended shots from <a href='[link removed]'>17 to 11</a>. Public health experts expressed outrage at the revisions, warning that the move would erode public trust in immunization and leave more children vulnerable to preventable diseases. The administration's actions signal a dramatic shift in how the federal government approaches vaccines and public health, away from scientific consensus and toward a politically driven framework. These policies are already leading to increased rates of infectious diseases. The U.S. is at risk of losing measles elimination status due to surging cases of the disease. In 2024, there were <a href='[link removed]'>285 </a>confirmed cases of measles in the U.S. In 2025, there were <a href='[link removed]'>2,255 </a>cases, and in the first month of 2026, there have already been 416 reported cases. The Trump administration is reshaping childhood immunization for a generation, with consequences that will be felt most in communities with already fragile health systems. If these changes are not reversed, the U.S. will likely see wider immunity gaps and growing pressure on hospitals and clinicians who will bear the cost of illness that vaccines once largely prevented.

<h3>TRADE DEFICIT EXPLODES</h3>The U.S. Trade Deficit <a href='[link removed]'>skyrocketed to $56.8 billion in November</a>, a 95% increase from the prior month. This is the largest increase in the trade deficit <a href='[link removed].'>in 34 years</a>. Exports for the month fell by 3.6% as imports rose by 5%.

Despite Trump's rambling claim earlier this week at his Iowa midterm rally that 'We had the largest trade deficit in world history. But in one year, I've slashed our gaping trade deficit by a staggering 77%. How about that? What about that? That's pretty good. Nobody's ever seen that,' the U.S. is now on track for the largest single-year trade deficit in history. Through November, the 2025 trade deficit is up 4.1% from 2024. December will have to show a significant drop in the trade deficit in order for 2025 to avoid setting the record.

Trump's myopic -and economically illiterate- focus on trade deficits has been the onus for his tariff policy and the U.S. alienating long-term economic allies. Despite all of his economic rampaging, the U.S. trade deficit continues to grow. However, Trump <a href='[link removed]'>fails to understand</a> that the U.S. being a wealthy nation means it will run a deficit with other countries. As the U.S. buys things from countries that are too poor to buy goods or services from the U.S., a deficit is the natural outcome. As long as countries we are trading with are not deploying illegal market manipulations, there is no basis for the argument that a deficit in and of itself is proof that the U.S. is somehow being ripped off as Trump so often claims.

<h3>THE WORLD MOVES ON</h3>Today, the European Union (EU) and India announced a broad landmark trade deal. The deal will eliminate tariffs and other trade restrictions on nearly all goods traded between the 27 countries of the EU and India.

The countries included in the deal represent <a href='[link removed]'>one-third of global trade and 25% of the global GDP</a>. The deal comes in the shadow of new U.S. trade sanctions on both India and the EU.

In addition to the trade elements, the EU and India also agreed on new measures for defense and security cooperation. The deal also includes provisions to make it easier for skilled workers and students to relocate for economic opportunities.

Over the past year, the EU has struck similar trade agreements with Japan, Indonesia, Mexico and several South American countries as the world continues to economically decouple from the U.S.

WORD OF THE WEEK

<h5><a href='[link removed]'>Consequences</a>: Something produced by a cause or necessarily following from a set of conditions.</h5>With a full year of Trump policy chaos behind us, we are now starting to see the negative returns hitting across the economy. This includes <a href='[link removed]'>cancelled investments</a>, <a href='[link removed]'>investments being redirected</a> to China, the loss of <a href='[link removed]'>prospective skilled workers</a>, <a href='[link removed]'>declining enrollment in universities</a>, and tourism <a href='[link removed]'>declining by 6%</a> in 2025. In every corner of American life, we see higher costs, reduced opportunities, shattered economics and great isolation.

WHAT WE'RE READING

Tampa Bay Times: <a href='[link removed]'>Florida agriculture commissioner pushes back after farm bill postponed in Senate</a>Washington Monthly: <a href='[link removed]'>How Democrats Lost Rural Voters—and How to Win Them Back</a>POLITICO: <a href='[link removed]'>Republicans set to make 'best and final' Obamacare offer, Moreno says</a>NPR: <a href='[link removed]'>How states may use the $50 billion they're getting for rural health</a>The Hill: <a href='[link removed]'>Minnesota House seats won by Democrats in special elections</a>POLITICO: <a href='[link removed]'>Senate Democrats float DHS changes in shutdown stalemate </a>The Breakthrough Institute: <a href='[link removed]'>Congress Punts on the Farm Bill (Again),...</a>Los Angeles Times: <a href='[link removed]'>Partial federal shutdown seems increasingly likely as Democrats demand major changes to ICE - Los Angeles Times</a>The Daily Yonder: <a href='[link removed]'>Cuts to Manufactured-Home Efficiency Rules Would Hit Southeast Hard</a>

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