{"id":3162,"date":"2026-08-25T16:31:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T16:31:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/?p=3162"},"modified":"2026-08-25T16:31:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T16:31:43","slug":"why-the-democrats-path-back-to-power-runs-through-the-kitchen-table","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/?p=3162","title":{"rendered":"Why the Democrats\u2019 Path Back to Power Runs Through the Kitchen Table"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align:center\"><\/div><p><\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<div id=\"article-title-block_1ac4096975161ec812472889e51e3259\" class=\"article-title \">\n<div class=\"article-title__container\">\n<div class=\"article-title__eyebrow\">\n                            <span class=\"article-title__labels\"><br \/>\n                                        <span class=\"article-title__label\"><br \/>\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/subject\/politics\/\">Politics<\/a><br \/>\n                    <\/span><br \/>\n                                                            <span class=\"article-title__label-divider\"> \/ <\/span><br \/>\n                                                            <span class=\"article-title__label\"><br \/>\n                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/content\/rethinking-rural\/\">Rethinking Rural<\/a><br \/>\n                                        <\/span><br \/>\n                                    <\/span><br \/>\n                                    <span class=\"article-title__label-divider\"> \/ <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                            <span class=\"article-title__date\">August 25, 2026<\/span>\n                                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>A unique new messaging study underscores the supremacy of economic populism in rural America and beyond.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"ad-block ad siderail-ad float-r-w-3 break-r-4\">\n<p>                                    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thenation.com\/advertising-policy\" class=\"ad-policy\" target=\"_blank\">Ad Policy<\/a><br \/>\n                                    <\/aside>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743.jpg?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743.jpg?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743.jpg?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743.jpg?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743.jpg?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743.jpg?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743.jpg?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743.jpg?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"907\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"James Talarico speaks during a \u201cTalarico for Texas: Frontera Tour\u201d campaign rally at the International Center For Trade convention center on July 13, 2026 in Eagle Pass, Texas.\" class=\"wp-image-607773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2285961743-793x500.jpg 793w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n<p>James Talarico speaks during a \u201cTalarico for Texas: Frontera Tour\u201d campaign rally at the International Center for Trade Convention Center on July 13, 2026, in Eagle Pass, Texas.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"credits\">(Brandon Bell \/ Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural.jpg?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural.jpg?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural.jpg?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural.jpg?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural.jpg?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural.jpg?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural.jpg?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural.jpg?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1669\" height=\"555\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-501827\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural.jpg 1669w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural-768x255.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Rethinking-Rural-1536x511.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1669px) 100vw, 1669px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"is-style-dropcap\">Democratic politicians seem to have finally gotten the memo: More than anything, people want their economic grievances addressed and their hard work rewarded. Nothing else comes close to mattering as much as earning enough money to pay the bills and having a shot at the American Dream.<\/p>\n<p>From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reels\/DavcQyTJb-I\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pete Buttigieg<\/a> deploring a political system that allows corporations to squeeze farmers and consumers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.murphy.senate.gov\/newsroom\/press-releases\/murphy-scanlon-introduce-bicameral-bill-to-ban-private-equity-from-owning-nurses-and-hospitals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">to Senator Chris Murphy\u2019s bill<\/a> banning private equity ownership of hospitals and nursing homes, Democrats are showing signs of reclaiming their party\u2019s New Deal\u2013era legacy.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re wise to do so. In June, our respective organizations, the Rural Urban Bridge Initiative (RUBI) and the Center for Working-Class Politics, surveyed 6,100 people, more than a thousand of them rural, about their reactions to political messaging. We asked them to compare two GOP opposition messages and 13 different kinds of messages either written by us or frequently heard on the campaign trail or in content by groups such as Indivisible, Showing Up for Racial Justice, and the Movement Voter Project. We have now compiled our findings in a new study, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.prod.website-files.com\/61b7a8b63fe8c230fa4bbc77\/6a7d14b7b9a113bf4458611a_93c508a7a61104c5ef8c29ac7995bff1_CWCP_RUBI_Kitchen%20Table%20Messaging.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kitchen Table Messaging for the Populist Era<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The results are clear. We found that people said they were substantially more likely to vote for Democrats who deploy populist economic messaging than for Democrats with messaging that criticizes Trump, warns about fascism and oligarchy, or exposes elites\u2019 divide-and-conquer playbook. (Divide-and-conquer rhetoric scapegoats marginalized groups so that working people blame them\u2014rather than elites\u2014for their hard times.) The preference for kitchen-table populism held true with our respondents across the board and with key subgroups, including rural voters.<\/p>\n<p>Our kitchen-table populist messages all do four things in various ways: They acknowledge that wages aren\u2019t keeping pace with rising costs; affirm that people are working hard and deserve a decent standard of living; recognize that economic elites are doing well while ordinary people are struggling; and lay out clear material solutions such as making corporations and billionaires pay their fair share in taxes and refusing corporate PAC donations.<\/p>\n<p>All seven of these messages beat both GOP messages. In some cases, the gap was modest, but our top performers absolutely trounced the GOP opposition.<\/p>\n<div id=\"current-issue-block_020e2dd7ae23f38092a96daefe0e1ab5\" class=\"current-issue  float-l-w-2\">\n<h4 class=\"current-issue__title\">\n                    Current Issue<br \/>\n            <\/h4>\n<p>    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/issue\/september-2026-issue\/\" class=\"current-issue__cover\"><br \/>\n        <img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" decoding=\"async\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/09-26-Cover-1.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"Cover of September 2026 Issue\"\/><br \/>\n    <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>When it came to the divide-and-conquer set, Texas senatorial candidate James Talarico\u2019s message below did a little better than the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.demos.org\/research\/race-class-narrative-national-dial-survey-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Race-Class Narrative<\/a> (a messaging approach that frames racial division as an elite tactic to divide working people) but lagged far behind the kitchen-table populist winners. Talarico is edging his opponent out in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2026\/07\/28\/texas-senate-poll-james-talarico-ken-paxton-july-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recent polls<\/a> and, we suggest, could do better still, especially with rural voters, by doubling down on his more resonant messages rather than the one below:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Unity<\/strong> <em>Adapted from James Talarico<\/em><br \/>\u201cThe billionaires want to keep us from seeing all that we have in common. They divide us by party, by race, by gender, by religion so we don\u2019t notice they\u2019re defunding our schools, gutting our healthcare, and cutting taxes for themselves and their rich friends. It\u2019s the oldest strategy in the world: divide and conquer. They want to keep us from realizing there\u2019s far more that unites us than divides us. Because once we do, we\u2019ll come together to fix what\u2019s broken in our country and take back power for ourselves and our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Race-Class Narrative\u2026(race-light)<\/strong> <em>Adapted from ASO Communications<\/em><br \/>\u201cEvery family, of every color and background, deserves to have what we need. But today, Republicans spread lies to keep us divided while they abduct our neighbors, start wars abroad and jack up prices. If you want to know who took your money, it\u2019s the people with all the money. And if billionaires and Republicans can talk you into thinking anyone else is to blame for your hard times, they will keep getting away with it. The many can take on the money by voting for leaders who will fund our futures and respect our freedoms.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Given the popularity of divide-and-conquer rhetoric on the progressive left, we created our own unique divide-and-conquer message called \u201cImmigrant Solidarity.\u201d It fared better than the others in this category but, again, lagged behind the kitchen-table champs.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>Immigrant Solidarity<\/strong> <em>Original message by study authors<\/em><br \/>\u201cSo many people are struggling financially\u2014and the question is why. As far as I\u2019m concerned, immigrants who are here to work and feed their families aren\u2019t the problem. The problem is politicians and their lobbyist buddies who hand tax breaks to the rich and then turn around and say: \u2018Sorry we don\u2019t have enough money for schools and health care, and it\u2019s immigrants\u2019 fault.\u2019 That\u2019s BS. Most of us have more in common with an immigrant who works paycheck to paycheck than with a CEO that gets paid a big bonus for moving their factories overseas. The government should go after the people who rig our economy, not the ones who build it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>For key persuadable segments of the electorate, the preference for kitchen-table populism over divide-and-conquer and anti-Trump narratives was even more pronounced. Rural respondents and Trump waverers (who voted for him in 2024 and are not planning to vote Republican in 2028) unequivocally rejected the Race-Class Narrative and anti-Trump messages. Independents and undecided likely 2026 voters were mildly positive toward anti-Trump and Race-Class messages but liked Kitchen Table Populist messages far better, especially this one:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>American Way (confrontational)<\/strong> <em>The American Way message with a more combative tone added by the study authors<\/em><br \/>\u201cMost people just want to work hard, get ahead, and give their kids a better shot\u2014and they should be able to. But the cost of rent, groceries, and health care keeps going up faster than working families can keep up, and paychecks just aren\u2019t stretching the way they used to. I\u2019m going to bring those costs down for working people, make sure the biggest corporations pay their fair share, and crack down on corruption and the people who game the system for themselves. Hard work should pay off again\u2014that\u2019s the American way.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Our data crowns the message above as the clear winner (to the extent that any single survey can). That was fairly predictable: Voters have for years been telling pollsters that the cost of living is their number-one concern\u2014no surprise when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/business\/2026\/jul\/07\/cost-of-living-poll-groceries-gas?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">half the country struggles<\/a> to pay for gas and groceries. Messages that keep these financial woes front and center obviously resonate. For rural voters with a strong work ethic, acknowledgement that they work hard and deserve a decent standard of living goes a long way.<\/p>\n<div id=\"cta-block_938137ed4024ee0c1dd12400eaff0735\" class=\"cta float-l-w-3\">\n<p>Anti-Trump attacks, even those that link Trump\u2019s malfeasance to pocketbook pain, fail because they try to get voters to focus their attention on what is, to them, a matter of less importance. Whereas kitchen-table populism dwells in concrete reality, Trump attacks veer into abstractions (fascism, abuse of power, the end of democracy, etc). Trump\u2019s abuses of power are matters of grave importance, but, when your car\u2019s broken down and the rent\u2019s overdue, they can feel somewhat beside the point.<\/p>\n<p>The Talarico and Race-Class Narrative divide-and-conquer messages present a different set of pitfalls: They suggest that elites have successfully duped \u201cyou\u201d or \u201cus\u201d into supporting their xenophobic, jingoistic agenda against your own best interests. This comes across as condescending, implying that the speaker knows better than the hapless voter what\u2019s really going on. This accentuates liberals\u2019 reputation for self-righteousness and lands particularly badly with rural voters who already feel stung by liberal disdain.<\/p>\n<p>Politics 101 requires politicians to meet voters where they\u2019re at, not where political consultants and activists wish they were at. Where they\u2019re at is the kitchen table, sorting through stacks of bills. Candidates who meet them there, with empathy, bold solutions, and a dash of anger toward the winner-take-all system, will be given a fair hearing.<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-end-\" class=\"article-end \">\n<div class=\"article-end__authors\">\n<div class=\"article-end__author\">\n<h5 class=\"article-end__author-name\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/jared-abbott\/\">Jared Abbott<\/a><br \/>\n                    <\/h5>\n<div class=\"article-end__author-bio\">\n<p>Jared Abbott is the director of the Center for Working-Class Politics.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>        <!-- Tag ID: thenation_incontent_2 --><\/p>\n<p>\t\t<!-- Tag ID: thenation_registration_billboard --><\/p>\n<section class=\"collections collections--col-0\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<h2 class=\"collections__title\">More from <span class=\"not-italic\">The Nation<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"collection__row\">\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/pramila-jayapal-trump-donroe-doctrine-panamerican-congress\/\" aria-label=\"Pramila Jayapal at the PanAmerican Congress\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay.jpg?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay.jpg?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay.jpg?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay.jpg?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay.jpg?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay.jpg?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay.jpg?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay.jpg?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" class=\"collections__card-image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay-793x500.jpg 793w\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CubaParadeMayDay.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"Cuban military personnel carry caricatures of Donald Trump.\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>The Trump administration\u2019s \u201cDonroe\u201d Doctrine promotes a flawed and failed policy of US intervention in the hemisphere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"knockout \">\n                                                                            <a class=\"collections__author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/pramila-jayapal\/\">Rep. Pramila Jayapal<\/a>                                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/hakeem-jeffries-jared-kushner-meeting-reaction\/\" aria-label=\"How Jared Kushner Snookered Hakeem Jeffries\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-24-at-9.32.37-AM.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-24-at-9.32.37-AM.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-24-at-9.32.37-AM.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, 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https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-24-at-9.32.37-AM-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-24-at-9.32.37-AM-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-24-at-9.32.37-AM-793x500.jpg 793w\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-24-at-9.32.37-AM.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"Jared Kushner and Hakeem Jeffries.\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>Democrats need a fighter, but the congressional leader is addicted to illusory comity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"knockout \">\n                                                                            <a class=\"collections__author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/jeet-heer\/\">Jeet Heer<\/a>                                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/imagine-peace\/\" aria-label=\"Imagine Peace\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" class=\"collections__card-image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440-793x500.jpg 793w\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/8-24_FEAT_1440.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"Imagine Peace\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<p class=\"dek\">From Gaza and Ukraine to conflicts across the world, imagine a future where killing is no longer the answer<\/p>\n<p class=\"knockout \">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/content\/oppart\/\" class=\"collections__label\">OppArt<\/a><br \/>\n                                            <span class=\"collections__divider\"><br \/>\n                            \/<br \/>\n                        <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                        <a class=\"collections__author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/andrea-arroyo\/\">Andrea Arroyo<\/a>                                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"collections__card   \">\n            <a class=\"collections__card-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/politics\/puppet-masters-will-be-unleashed-on-americans\/\" aria-label=\"Puppet Masters Will Be Unleashed on Americans\"><br \/>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet.jpg?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet.jpg?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet.jpg?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet.jpg?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet.jpg?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet.jpg?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet.jpg?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet.jpg?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" class=\"collections__card-image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet-275x173.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet-810x510.jpg 810w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet-340x215.jpg 340w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet-168x106.jpg 168w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet-382x240.jpg 382w, https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet-793x500.jpg 793w\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.thenation.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/puppet.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"A puppet in the likeness of US President Donald Trump holding a sign reading \u201cThe Lying King\u201d is held up held up in front of the Colorado State Capital during the \u201cNo Kings\u201d national rally in Denver, Colorado.\"\/><br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"collections__card-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-the-nation-dek article-title__dek\">\n<p>From Gaza to Minnesota, the Trump administration is accelerating a politics of fear and of intimidation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"knockout \">\n                                                                            <a class=\"collections__author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenation.com\/authors\/sasha-abramsky\/\">Sasha Abramsky<\/a>                                    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>        <!-- Tag ID: thenation_btf_medrec --><\/p>\n<p>\t\t        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"tpContentAuthor\" value=\"Erica Etelson,Jared Abbott\"\/><br \/>\n        <input type=\"hidden\" name=\"tpTags\" value=\"politics,rethinking-rural\"\/><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script type=\"b8009fa8a904ed676a7bce5e-text\/javascript\">\n\t\t!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n\t\t{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n\t\tn.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n\t\tif(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n\t\tn.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n\t\tt.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n\t\ts.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script', 'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n\t\tfbq('init', '233793277040432');\n\t\tfbq('track', 'PageView');\n\t\t\t\t<\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Politics \/ Rethinking Rural \/ August 25, 2026 A unique new messaging study underscores the supremacy of economic populism in rural America and beyond. Ad Policy James Talarico speaks during a \u201cTalarico for Texas: Frontera Tour\u201d campaign rally at the International Center for Trade Convention Center on July 13, 2026, in Eagle Pass, Texas. (Brandon&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3163,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[214,2883,4028,367,4651,4241],"class_list":["post-3162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","tag-democrats","tag-kitchen","tag-path","tag-power","tag-runs","tag-table"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3162"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3162\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3163"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/valutednews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}