Good afternoon,

Public opinion on President Donald Trump's second term is shifting with his political base continuing to be supportive while the rest of the country grows increasingly doubtful. According to a new CBS poll [[link removed]] , support for the president's deportation program is falling. The American public has become less approving of the Trump administration's deportation strategy while the Republican and MAGA political base remain overwhelmingly approving of it. CBS reports, "Most now say the administration is not prioritizing dangerous criminals for deportation and also is deporting more people than they thought it would." As for the economy, people continue to call for a deeper focus on prices rather than tariffs, which most oppose. It will be interesting to see how these trends in public attitudes continue to evolve as we head into the second half of 2025.

Here are a few important updates...

THE REGRESSION OF RURAL MATERNITY DEPARTMENTS

Rural maternity departments across the country are in danger and closing at an alarming rate. According to a report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform [[link removed]] (CHQPR), over 100 hospitals across the country have stopped delivering babies or announced plans to do so since the end of 2020. Additionally, the report found that only 42% of U.S. rural hospitals still offer labor and delivery services, a dangerous trend for babies and mothers. These closures could negatively impact pregnant women, potentially increasing their travel time to a hospital that offers the care they need and increasing the possibility of being in traffic accidents. In the absence of accessible obstetrics services, women in these areas are likely to lack access to sufficient prenatal and postpartum care, which can adversely impact the health of the newborn or the new mom.

Expectant mothers in rural America deserve better. One solution to this maternal health crisis, proposed by President and CEO of CHQPR Harold Miller, is for employers to guarantee that their employee insurance policies adequately cover the costs of labor and delivery services. Another solution he proposed is for insurance companies and Medicaid to pay for standby capacity and delivery fees, in addition to fees for services. While legislation proposing standby capacity payments has been put forward in Congress, it has yet to be passed and signed into law. Given that 80% [[link removed]] of maternal deaths in the U.S. are preventable, it's time for the leaders of our country to prioritize this issue and rethink the devastating Medicaid cuts, which will leave countless hospitals unable to afford [[link removed]] their labor and delivery units.

REPUBLICANS' FOOD AID CUTS WILL BACKFIRE

Across the board, the sweeping cuts Republicans made to federal nutrition programs this summer will be devastating. Take independent grocery stores for example. They are at the core of many low-income communities, including those that sent President Trump back to the White House. POLITICO reports [[link removed]] , "Food aid recipients often make up the majority of small grocers' customer base in remote areas and food deserts – places that have limited options for fresh, healthy food." Now that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been slashed, families could be kicked out of the program, and small grocery stores could experience a loss of business soon. One especially hypocritical and ridiculous piece of these food aid cuts is that the second Trump administration has touted healthy eating as a priority, releasing a " Make America Healthy Again" report [[link removed]] that outlines their strategy.

Once again, the Trump administration is failing to fulfill its promises to rural Americans, and no one is holding them accountable. Food aid is critical for families across rural America and throughout our country at large. This overhaul of the anti-hunger food program will backfire, and local grocers, along with many others, are bracing for the consequences. According to a study [[link removed]] from the Commonwealth Fund, the overhaul will result in thousands of job losses and a decline in revenue across the agriculture, retail grocery, and food processing industries. So much for "Make America Healthy Again." It's more like "Make America Hungry Again."

Each week, this newsletter highlights what's going on in rural states, counties, and communities, and what One Country Project is up to around the country. If you value this content, please consider donating to One Country Project. Your contribution supports our efforts to connect with rural voters and to promote greater opportunities for rural communities.
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NUMBER OF THE WEEK

75% [[link removed]] : More than 75% of federal Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants over the last decade have gone to Republican congressional districts. REAP, a strong bipartisan effort, has supported thousands of farmers in clean energy improvements for over two decades. Since 2014, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio have been in the top 10 states receiving grants. The Trump administration's freeze on rural energy hits the Midwest and GOP districts – its core base – the hardest.

WHAT WE'RE READING

* West Central Tribune: Minnesota Broadcasters Brace for 'Catastrophic' Impact of Federal Funding Cuts [[link removed]]
* The Nevada Independent: 1 in 6 Nevadans Get Food Stamps. Many May Lose Benefits Under Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill." [[link removed]]
* Politico: O'Rourke Says Texas Redistricting Could Ultimately Help Democrats [[link removed]]
* NPR: Community Radio Stations are Collateral Damage as Congress Cuts NPR Funding [[link removed]]
* The Daily Yonder: DOGE Cuts Debilitate Rural Oregon's AmeriCorps Program [[link removed]]
* CBS News: Trump Wants Texas to Redraw its Congressional Map to Pick Up More GOP Seats. Here's What to Know. [[link removed]]
* Stateline: Medicaid Cuts are Likely to Worsen Mental Health in America [[link removed]]

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