If Democrats Want to Appeal to Rural America, They Need to Talk Like a Neighbor If Democrats Want to Appeal to Rural America, They Need to Talk Like a Neighbor
Saving a democracy that has delivered diminishing returns for 50 years—and is widely seen as rigged on behalf of the 1 percent—is not as compelling as the political class thinks.
Jul 11, 2025 / Erica Etelson
Republicans’ “Big Beautiful” Medicaid Cuts Spur Rural Organizing Innovation Republicans’ “Big Beautiful” Medicaid Cuts Spur Rural Organizing Innovation
Taking away healthcare coverage isn’t just “morally wrong and politically suicidal,” in Senator Josh Hawley’s apt phrase. It’s also putting pressure on rural members of Congress.
May 30, 2025 / Erica Etelson
Rural Trump Voters Won’t Regret Their Vote Until Democrats Fight for Them Rural Trump Voters Won’t Regret Their Vote Until Democrats Fight for Them
Taking away healthcare coverage isn’t just “morally wrong and politically suicidal,” in Senator Josh Hawley’s apt phrase. It’s also putting pressure on rural members of Congress.
Apr 23, 2025 / Erica Etelson
Welcome to Bozangeles! Welcome to Bozangeles!
The greater Bozeman, Montana, region has become ground zero for rampant luxury development that is taking the “public” out of public lands.
Mar 27, 2025 / Erica Etelson
What’s—Still—the Matter With Kansas? What’s—Still—the Matter With Kansas?
As recent events bear out, when Thomas Frank lamented, “We’ll have to drag the Democrats kicking and screaming to victory" in 2017, if anything he was understating the challenge.
Nov 27, 2024 / Column / Erica Etelson
Democrats Dismiss JD Vance at Their Peril Democrats Dismiss JD Vance at Their Peril
Calling the Ohio senator "weird" may feel satisfying. Pundits have dismissed him as a drag on the ticket. But the smarter play would still be to steal his thunder.
Sep 6, 2024 / Column / Erica Etelson and Anthony Flaccavento
Whom Should Kamala Harris Choose as Her Running Mate? Whom Should Kamala Harris Choose as Her Running Mate?
Nation writers make their cases for who the next Democratic vice presidential candidate should be.
Jul 31, 2024 / Jeet Heer, Alexis Grenell, Sasha Abramsky, Erica Etelson, Anthony Flaccavento, Elie Mystal, Joan Walsh, John Nichols, and Katha Pollitt
Working-Class Americans Prefer a “Hand Up” to a “Handout” Working-Class Americans Prefer a “Hand Up” to a “Handout”
Working- and middle-class Americans take pride in their work. If Democrats want to win their votes, they need to acknowledge and appeal to that pride, not dismiss or patronize it....
Jul 23, 2024 / Column / Erica Etelson
Paul Krugman May Not Know How to Reverse the Decline of Rural America. But We Do. Paul Krugman May Not Know How to Reverse the Decline of Rural America. But We Do.
The countryside has been neglected for decades. A Rural New Deal would reverse that with capital and creative solutions writen by and for rural Americans.
Jun 12, 2024 / Erica Etelson and Anthony Flaccavento
It’s Not Too Late for Democrats to Win Back Rural Voters It’s Not Too Late for Democrats to Win Back Rural Voters
Putting together a Democratic majority in 2024 requires winning back some portion of the rural working class. The good news is that it can be done. Here’s how.
May 17, 2024 / Column / Erica Etelson and Anthony Flaccavento