Jess Piper joins Jen Rubin to talk about how Trump’s policies are disproportionately harming rural Americans, and how the Democratic Party cannot abandon the rural vote if they want to be successful.
There's a lot of talk about Democrats not listening to rural voters. After listening to Ms. Piper, I understand that the problem is actually worse: Democrats are simply absent in some areas. The idea that many rural voters would readily vote for the progressive candidate -- if they could find one -- ought to motivate us to find candidates throughout rural America and support them even though odds appear steep. Democratic policies are positive for rural areas and voters can't choose those policies if there is no candidate on the ballot.
Dems should use the Howard Dean 50 State playbook. Unfortunately for the past I don’t know how many years, the Dems only seem to think there are only 7 states in the country.
Jess, I saw Tim Walz yesterday saying he is going to Nebraska and Iowa and Wisconsin, etc, when he is invited, to hold town halls where the Republican Congressman won't. You should get him to MO!
Also, for those who don't know about Blue Missouri (and there is also a Blue Ohio and Blue Tennessee)--these are grassroots organizations to fund the most underfunded Dems in these states, making it possible to have Democrats on the ballot where there hasn't been one for years. It's going to take time for them to win, but until everyone has the option to vote blue, we will never get anywhere in rural America. https://bluemissouri.org/about/
Jess isn’t just speaking to Missourians she’s speaking to both rural and suburban Alabamians. Since Roe v Wade was overturned the mortality rate for both women and infants has gone through the roof because our state didn’t expand Medicaid. Like Missouri 40-45% of child births are paid by Medicaid in Alabama. Many of our rural hospitals have closed and women are driving an hour away to the next hospital in a larger city to get care. The representative in a nearby district has been in Washington for over 30 years and no town hall that I know of. Our two senators in Alabama are just as bad as Josh Hawley. Tommy Tuberville isn’t even an Alabama resident. He is Florida’s third senator. I hear everything Jess is saying because I relate. We don’t have enough Democrats representing suburban and rural districts in Alabama.
I live in Kirkland New York. 20 years ago, an acquaintance started knocking on doors in this community, pointing out that we had a similar problem—no Democrats running in local elections. He, and the people working with him, were very effective. Today, democrats outnumber Republicans in kirkland by 10 percentage points, and Democrats hold seven of the 10 elected offices.
Right on, Jen! Jess is "a breath of fresh air" and a welcome addition to the Contrarian. But I have to tell you we (our country) is in an autocratic Fascist takeover. These people are dead serious about making our vote in 2026 obsolete. They are the bad guys and must be seen as such!
I am from Illinois but I 100% stand by you, Jess! Thank you and I hope you will return to the Contrarian! You are a true American patriot!!
In the Midwest and South (and probably the rest of the country too), the smallest towns have these businesses: a gas station/convenience store and a nursing home. In those nursing homes, the large majority of patients’ care costs are paid by Medicaid. When Medicaid is sharply cut, the homes shrink or close completely and most of the residents are left with no decent place to go. Taking a hatchet to Medicaid will do lasting damage. The moneyed interests don’t care.
In red red Trumpville, TN, Blackhearted Blackburn hasn’t held a town meeting ever—and they keep voting her in. No Democrat has ever come here and even suggested a public meeting of any duration at a time when people could attend. Here’s what has happened to these rural Americans most of whom voted for Trump: first, the rural county was a Green Bean capital until government issued so many restrictions costing so much money local farmers couldn’t meet government demands; then industry came in and people trained to sew Levi’s and make Timberland shoes, and sew gloves and make furniture-then government came in and the factories and industries closed and the businesses left America; then do training and despair and poverty set in and the people started selling drugs and taking drugs because their world was and is desperate. Any candidate that could come into NE TN and actually speak to the people and address these issues would be a winner.
I've listened to Jess frequently and recommended her to many people,
I'd also like to recommend to her something I've mentioned several times: a way to support teachers: the organization Donors Choose. Public school teachers write up a description of their needs and send it to Donors Choose. Donors Choose evaluates the statement/request and posts it on their site. Then folks from all over the country can view and contribute. One hundred people each donating $10 or $50 or more can fund a project or give it a significant start.
Donors can search the site via state, age of students or subject. Go to Donorschoose.org to see listed projects. [sorry, I can't make this underline.]
I've been a fan of donors choose for years. One can buy its gift certificates and give them as gifts to anybody and everybody. Especially great as gifts for children who may already have everything they need.
Went to college in Kirksville MO. I was originally from the NYC suburbs. Got off the plane and went to eat at a pizza place where I was privy to an argument between two elderly guys about which way a boat goes when the outboard engine is in a certain direction. It was still going on when I left. I finally understood why Missouri is called the "Show Me State."
for those you living in the Little Rock, Arkansas, (District2) area, there will be a town hall on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. It will be at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 W 9th Street, Little Rock.
The 2nd District US Rep., French Hill (R), as well as the two republicon Senators Cotton and Boozman have been invited.
Excellent thing to do. Kudos to the organizers. Would be great to see this all over the country. Rachel Maddow has been speaking about and showing town hall meetings open to all citizens run by Democrats because the Republican "representatives" won't show up.
Really enjoyed hearing from Jess Piper. So right about her being a breath of fresh air. An eye opener for me was learning in her rural area democrats only show up a few weeks before a big election ... otherwise they are not there and not on the local ballots. She is right about dems needing a long term approach and being familiar to local residents ... not just an unknown face at election time. Thanks for educating me.
There's a lot of talk about Democrats not listening to rural voters. After listening to Ms. Piper, I understand that the problem is actually worse: Democrats are simply absent in some areas. The idea that many rural voters would readily vote for the progressive candidate -- if they could find one -- ought to motivate us to find candidates throughout rural America and support them even though odds appear steep. Democratic policies are positive for rural areas and voters can't choose those policies if there is no candidate on the ballot.
Yup, the same is true in Arkansas.
It is true in Indiana.
Same in rural Tennessee.
Ditto in Montana
Ditto in Ohio.
Yep, though our district elected a Democrat this time. He made me something like 1 for 8 with my yard signs.
Dems should use the Howard Dean 50 State playbook. Unfortunately for the past I don’t know how many years, the Dems only seem to think there are only 7 states in the country.
Jess, I saw Tim Walz yesterday saying he is going to Nebraska and Iowa and Wisconsin, etc, when he is invited, to hold town halls where the Republican Congressman won't. You should get him to MO!
Also, for those who don't know about Blue Missouri (and there is also a Blue Ohio and Blue Tennessee)--these are grassroots organizations to fund the most underfunded Dems in these states, making it possible to have Democrats on the ballot where there hasn't been one for years. It's going to take time for them to win, but until everyone has the option to vote blue, we will never get anywhere in rural America. https://bluemissouri.org/about/
Thanks Ellen. I was just going to let Jess know the same thing about Tim Walz. A Google of Tim Walz Tour will explain everything.
Jess isn’t just speaking to Missourians she’s speaking to both rural and suburban Alabamians. Since Roe v Wade was overturned the mortality rate for both women and infants has gone through the roof because our state didn’t expand Medicaid. Like Missouri 40-45% of child births are paid by Medicaid in Alabama. Many of our rural hospitals have closed and women are driving an hour away to the next hospital in a larger city to get care. The representative in a nearby district has been in Washington for over 30 years and no town hall that I know of. Our two senators in Alabama are just as bad as Josh Hawley. Tommy Tuberville isn’t even an Alabama resident. He is Florida’s third senator. I hear everything Jess is saying because I relate. We don’t have enough Democrats representing suburban and rural districts in Alabama.
I live in Kirkland New York. 20 years ago, an acquaintance started knocking on doors in this community, pointing out that we had a similar problem—no Democrats running in local elections. He, and the people working with him, were very effective. Today, democrats outnumber Republicans in kirkland by 10 percentage points, and Democrats hold seven of the 10 elected offices.
Right on, Jen! Jess is "a breath of fresh air" and a welcome addition to the Contrarian. But I have to tell you we (our country) is in an autocratic Fascist takeover. These people are dead serious about making our vote in 2026 obsolete. They are the bad guys and must be seen as such!
I am from Illinois but I 100% stand by you, Jess! Thank you and I hope you will return to the Contrarian! You are a true American patriot!!
In the Midwest and South (and probably the rest of the country too), the smallest towns have these businesses: a gas station/convenience store and a nursing home. In those nursing homes, the large majority of patients’ care costs are paid by Medicaid. When Medicaid is sharply cut, the homes shrink or close completely and most of the residents are left with no decent place to go. Taking a hatchet to Medicaid will do lasting damage. The moneyed interests don’t care.
In red red Trumpville, TN, Blackhearted Blackburn hasn’t held a town meeting ever—and they keep voting her in. No Democrat has ever come here and even suggested a public meeting of any duration at a time when people could attend. Here’s what has happened to these rural Americans most of whom voted for Trump: first, the rural county was a Green Bean capital until government issued so many restrictions costing so much money local farmers couldn’t meet government demands; then industry came in and people trained to sew Levi’s and make Timberland shoes, and sew gloves and make furniture-then government came in and the factories and industries closed and the businesses left America; then do training and despair and poverty set in and the people started selling drugs and taking drugs because their world was and is desperate. Any candidate that could come into NE TN and actually speak to the people and address these issues would be a winner.
Karen, wasn't that the kind of thing Gloria Johnson was addressing? Or maybe not?
Love Jess Piper! It’s great to see her on The Contrarian.
She’s right! Democrats need to play a long game, not just an election by election game. Remember that Project 2025 has been 50 years in the making!
I've listened to Jess frequently and recommended her to many people,
I'd also like to recommend to her something I've mentioned several times: a way to support teachers: the organization Donors Choose. Public school teachers write up a description of their needs and send it to Donors Choose. Donors Choose evaluates the statement/request and posts it on their site. Then folks from all over the country can view and contribute. One hundred people each donating $10 or $50 or more can fund a project or give it a significant start.
Donors can search the site via state, age of students or subject. Go to Donorschoose.org to see listed projects. [sorry, I can't make this underline.]
I've been a fan of donors choose for years. One can buy its gift certificates and give them as gifts to anybody and everybody. Especially great as gifts for children who may already have everything they need.
Jess Piper is an inspiration and an American hero!
Oh! Thank you!
Went to college in Kirksville MO. I was originally from the NYC suburbs. Got off the plane and went to eat at a pizza place where I was privy to an argument between two elderly guys about which way a boat goes when the outboard engine is in a certain direction. It was still going on when I left. I finally understood why Missouri is called the "Show Me State."
All politics are local.
for those you living in the Little Rock, Arkansas, (District2) area, there will be a town hall on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. It will be at Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 W 9th Street, Little Rock.
The 2nd District US Rep., French Hill (R), as well as the two republicon Senators Cotton and Boozman have been invited.
Excellent thing to do. Kudos to the organizers. Would be great to see this all over the country. Rachel Maddow has been speaking about and showing town hall meetings open to all citizens run by Democrats because the Republican "representatives" won't show up.
Really enjoyed hearing from Jess Piper. So right about her being a breath of fresh air. An eye opener for me was learning in her rural area democrats only show up a few weeks before a big election ... otherwise they are not there and not on the local ballots. She is right about dems needing a long term approach and being familiar to local residents ... not just an unknown face at election time. Thanks for educating me.