JD Vance, never one to tell the truth intentionally, accidentally deliver an honest assessment of the state of the U.S. economy as he compared the Trump economy to “turning the Titanic around.” Read more:https://onecountryproject.substack.com/p/thursday-talkers-122-jd-vance-trump

Paul Sullivan of the @aclumn.bsky.social joins Joel Heitkamp on the #HotDishPod to discuss the rising tensions between Minnesotans and the federal law enforcement. Learn more about the ACLU's role in advocating for civil liberties for all Americans: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/on-the-gro...

Last week, Secretary Rollins claimed in a news article that Americans can secure a nutritious meal for just three dollars a plate. Lets take an unrealistic look at how Americans eat: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/an-unreali...

A Year of Trump. In the first year of his second term, Trump has expanded presidential power and entirely reshaped the nation’s foreign policy. Read more about what Trump has done over the past year, and what we can expect over the next 3: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/tuesday-ta...

Rural American Needs Investment, Innovation, and Modernization To get rural America moving again, they can’t just be an afterthought. Read more here: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/rural-amer...

MAGA Extremism Will go as Far as as we Let it. Defending free speech, voting rights, and a free press is how we push back against encroaching extremism. Read more: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/maga-extre...

On this week’s #HotDishPod, Heidi and Joel Heitkamp discuss how Trump’s Venezuela plan has served as a distraction from the Epstein files. With so much else going on, the media has forgotten about the files. Watch Heidi and Joel break this down: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/the-hot-di...

Is Hope on the Horizon? The Farm and Family Relief Act Could be an Economic Lifeline. With the farm bill coalition deeply fractured along partisan lines, the path to passing comprehensive agricultural and rural policy remains uncertain. Read more: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/hope-on-th...

ICYMI: Sen. Heidi Heitkamp breaks down what Trump's recent foreign policy actions mean for other nations, and how NATO is preparing for a potential move on Greenland. Watch here: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/the-hot-di...

New York announced its plan to make childcare free last week. Subsidized childcare programs have already proven to work well in America, as New Mexico's inaugural program lifted thousands out of poverty. Read more about the new politics of childcare: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/thursday-t...

2025 Impacts and 2026 Predictions: Sen. Heidi Heitkamp gives her takeaways from how 2025 impacted rural America, as well as her predictions for what 2026 holds. Read more of her insights here: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/rural-amer...

On this week’s episode of the #HotDishPod, Heidi and Joel Heitkamp analyze the U.S.’s demand to take control of Greenland. Listen here for Joel’s analogy that helped a conservative understand the issue: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/the-hot-di...

@markhertling.bsky.social joined us on the #HotDishPod today to discuss the complexities of U.S. military operations and regime changes. The retired General addresses his concerns regarding Venezuela, and who seems to be in charge of the aftermath. Tune in here: lnk.to/onecountryxx

The Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program offers critical support to a farm economy spinning from diminishing returns, lost international markets, and high input prices. Can the FBA and PLC save farm country? Read more here: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/can-the-fb...

2025 was ICE's deadliest year, with 32 individuals dying in ICE's custody. It has been nearly a year since the president ramped up ICE’s deportation efforts, and ICE agents have become increasingly violent. Read more about ICE's deadly impact: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/tuesday-ta...

Trump will not be in power forever. Watch @JustinWolfers.bsky.social dive into the state of our economy and explain how to fix the world in a world after Trump. youtube.com/shorts/MTEqi...

@justinwolfers.bsky.social joined the #HotDishPod to tell the truth about the U.S. economy. Learn more about the impact of Trump's tariffs and economic isolationism here: youtube.com/shorts/zowGN...

ICYMI: @marcelias.bsky.social joined us to discuss the Trump administration's Project 2025. Learn more as Marc dives into the first step of the plan to overhaul the government. youtube.com/shorts/NHm4J...

Vaccination is one of the greatest public health breakthroughs of the 20th Century, and this administration has done its best to erode that confidence in science and proven statistics. Read more about protecting our future through public health: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/protecting...

To round out our highlights of last year's best Substack posts, check out Learning What Motivates Rural Voters. Read here:

OCP is excited to share last year's best Substack posts! Losing American Farmers to Hopelessness and Suicide Read more here:

As we ring in 2026, OCP is excited to share last year's best Substack posts. Putting the Brakes on Rural Energy Read more here:

OCP wishes you a Happy New Year!

As we close out 2025, OCP is excited to share the year's best Substack posts. Control+F: What Happens When Unqualified Interns Run Amok Read more here:

As we close out 2025, OCP is excited to share the year's best Substack posts. Not Quite Cupid, “doge” fires an Arrow at the Heart of USDA Services Read more here:

Today's 2025 Substack article highlight is New Mexico’s Free Childcare Policy Will Be the First of Many Read now:

Check out today's 2025 Substack article highlight: Proposed Repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule Sparks National Debate!

Merry Christmas from One Country Project!

OCP is proud to honor Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) with our 2025 Rural Champion Award. Sen. Wyden has been an instrumental advocate for rural progress in the Senate. Read more about our rural champions here: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/2025-rural...

Funding the Future, Losing the Field: The Paradox of the USDA’s Latest Conservation Push Read more about the need for technical service providers who can work with farmers and ranchers to create a conservation plan: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/funding-th...

Today, Cynthia Cox from @KFF.org joins the #HotDishPod to discuss the ACA tax credits and how health insurance costs will skyrocket if Congress does not extend the credits. Tune in here for more insights on how the ACA supports small businesses and farmers: lnk.to/onecountryxx

The Great Affordability 'Hoax' Working Americans in the bottom half of the income ladder are struggling to pay their bills; these facts cannot be hidden from the people. Read more about the Trump administration's lies about the state of the economy: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/the-great-...

Tuesday Talkers 12/16: Congress Fumbles a Healthcare Fix. The political stakes of rising healthcare premiums stand to be a key aspect of the 2026 midterms, as affordability concerns have emerged as a primary issue for American voters. Read more here: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/tuesday-ta...

2025 Health Care Wrapped You may have recently got your year in review from Spotify, sharing your top artists, songs most-played, even your listening age. Well, let’s see what America’s health care has been up to this year. Read here: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/2025-healt...

Today’s #RuralSpotlight is on New Hampshire for the $9M grant for childcare, preservation, infrastructure upgrades, and rural development. Read more about the project’s details here: shorturl.at/uPjO6

Head Start is Critical Infrastructure. New Mexico is funding free childcare for all its kids beginning in January. Why are they the only ones? Read more: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/head-start...

How Do We Make America’s Farmers Strong Again? So far, the legacy of the Trump era in rural America is budget battles, broken promises, and half-hearted bailouts. Read more: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/how-do-we-...

This week’s #SelflessSaturday highlights UNR Med for using $3.7M in federal grants to expand care in 11 counties without rural emergency hospitals, supported in part by student volunteers. Read more here: shorturl.at/elTHz

Rain on the Scarecrow. Health care was a central aspect of the latest government shutdown. But a month later, rising costs have yet to be addressed. Read more about what American farmers can expect from the Republican health care plan: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/rain-on-th...

Rural America is facing a growing women’s health crisis, driven by a combination of provider shortages, shrinking services, and policy decisions that undermine the safety net women rely on. Read more about the growing crisis here: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/thursday-t...

Will the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program get farmers to the other shore? Given the current state of the farm economy, the FBA program will likely have dramatic and long-lasting impacts. Read more about the $12 billion bailout here: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/will-the-f...

The Rebirth of Rural Democrats. This week, @thetraecrowder.bsky.social joins the #HotDishPod to share his perspective on the artificiality of politicians today, as well as his journey from rural America to internet stardom. Tune in here for more: lnk.to/onecountryxx

Supreme Court Considers Expanding Presidential Powers. The high court heard a case yesterday to determine the fate of former FTC member Rebecca Slaughter. The ruling will provide further insight into what direction our country is going in. More: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/tuesday-ta...

Job Market Fears Rise. Despite Administration claims of low unemployment and falling inflation, many Americans feel an increasing sense of pessimism stemming from issues like underemployment, discrimination, and high costs. Read more: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/job-market...

Today’s #RuralSpotlight highlights $3.45M in New Mexico grants supporting 18 agribusinesses working to strengthen the local food supply chain. Learn more here: shorturl.at/ZeMku

The Holiday Season Brings Mental Healthcare Complications Rural Americans are going without comprehensive mental health care – and it’s having disastrous consequences. Read more: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/the-holida...

This week’s #SelflessSaturday celebrates Penn State University and local food banks for their joint effort to reduce food insecurity by offering free vegetable-growing lessons for adults. More about the program: shorturl.at/zmFzx

There is a Maternal Health Crisis in Rural America Without reasonable voices representing maternal and reproductive healthcare in Congress, rural women will continue to walk a tightrope. Read more here: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/there-is-a...

Hungry for the Holidays If SNAP’s administrative funding is in fact withheld next week, states will again be forced to find ways to bridge the gap. Without federal funding, states may not have the ability to administer the program as efficiently. More: onecountryproject.substack.com/p/hungry-for...

Happy #NationalCookieDay! 🍪 We polled OCP's board on the cookies they’ll never turn down: Joe Donnelly: Chocolate Chip Sarah Godlewski: Snickerdoodles Adam Zabner: Oatmeal Raisin Heidi Heitkamp: Gingersnaps Mike Espy: Chocolate Chip