Zohran Mamdani posted a commanding win in this week’s New York City mayoral election. While an avowed democratic socialist might fare better in deep blue New York than elsewhere, it’s fair to wonder: Can the politics of affordability — and positive solution seeking — win traction in the rest of the country?
Michael Chameides and the Rural Democracy Initiative helped assemble 40 groups — including the Institute for Policy Studies, which distributes OtherWords — to draw up a positive vision to make life more free, affordable, and democratic in rural America. This week in OtherWords, Michael lays out five key planks from that agenda and explains how the Trump administration has often been doing the opposite.
Also this week, Amber Wallin warns that the Trump-GOP budget is going to leave state governments in a lurch. With major cuts coming to Medicaid, SNAP, and more, she calls on state leaders to learn from the Great Recession and prioritize finding new revenues — not cutting jobs and programs regular people rely on.
Finally, Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and Eric Morrissette highlight the economic dangers of Trump’s decision to hollow out America’s only minority for minority business development. And Farrah Hassen warns that the administration’s proposed changes to housing policy could leave hundreds of thousands of more people homeless.
New This Week…
Rural America Has a Plan. Congress Needs to Show Up. | Michael Chameides
Five ways lawmakers can deliver for rural America — not just corporations and the wealthy.
States Must Learn the Lessons of the Great Recession Before It’s Too Late | Amber Wallin
The GOP’s “Big Beautiful Bill” is going to cause major pain in statehouses. Lawmakers need to prepare now.
Trump Is Hollowing Out America’s Only Agency for Minority Business | Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and Eric Morrissette
Businesses owned by rural Americans, women, and veterans — and their communities — will also be impacted.
It’s Not Only the White House Getting Demolished. Trump’s Gutting Affordable Housing, Too. | Farrah Hassen | Nov 5, 2025
President Trump’s proposed housing policies would put hundreds of thousands of Americans out on the streets.
In Case You Missed It…
Democracy Begins Where We Live | Kate Hess Pace
Whether we’re facing flooding, AI disruption, or authoritarianism, it will be the people around us who get us through.
An Immigration Success Story in the Heartland | Michael Chameides
As ICE raids terrorize communities large and small, Americans should take a lesson from this Iowa town: We’re stronger when everyone is free to participate and contribute.
Child Care Can Be Free and Universal | Rita Bee
In most of the country, child care is too expensive for families and pays too little for providers. New Mexico is fixing that — and all states should follow.
Rural America Deserves Dependable Broadband, Not More Billionaire Handouts | Claude Cummings Jr.
The Trump administration’s new rules for broadband funds favor giveaways to Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk over reliable internet for rural communities.
