Farmers’ Anger at Trump Tariffs Puts Republican Candidates in a Bind

As President Trump moves to fulfill one of the central promises of his campaign — to get tough on an ascendant China — he faces a potential rebellion from a core constituency: farmers and other agricultural producers who could suffer devastating losses in a trade war. … While the battle […] Read more »

Hope from the Heartland: How Democrats Can Better Serve the Midwest by Bringing Rural, Working Class Wisdom to Washington

Democrats’ national level of support has seen better days. Much better. By the numbers, Democrats are at their lowest in nearly 100 years. While the party had a successful night in off-year elections on Nov. 7, 2017, and in the Dec. 12, 2017, special election in Alabama for U.S. Senate, […] Read more »

U.S. Business Sectors Gain or Hold Steady in Public Esteem

Americans’ overall impressions of six major sectors of the U.S. economy grew significantly more positive this year. Farming and agriculture saw the biggest improvement, with 70% now viewing it positively, up 15 percentage points from 2016. Americans are also more positive about education, the computer, real estate and sports industries, […] Read more »

This survey is as murky as chocolate milk

LAST WEEK, A WASHINGTON POST headline provoked a collective groan of embarrassment: apparently “seven percent of all American adults” think that chocolate milk comes from brown cows. Unsurprisingly, The Internet took notice. … Those of us concerned with news literacy and public trust in media feel let down when one of […] Read more »