Veteran political strategist Paul Begala joins the Hot Dish to discuss how the Democratic Party can reconnect with rural Americans. He offers straightforward actions each of us can take to respond to the challenges of chaos in Washington and State Capitals and to help our neighbors get past the misinformation and propaganda to see the truth about the dangerous impacts of the Donald Trump / Elon Musk administration on rural and small-town values.

But first, Joel speaks with Isaac Wright, founder of the Rural Voter Institute, about Democrats' communication challenges and the need to speak about values like personal faith.

This episode is packed with political strategies, insights into rural issues, and suggestions on how to make political messaging that resonates with middle America. Listen for a deeper understanding of our country's current political dynamics and practical suggestions for making an impact.

Join hosts Joel and Heidi Heitkamp on The Hot Dish every other week to learn about the economic and cultural issues pertinent to rural constituents and the importance of effective messaging. The Hot Dish is brought to you by the One Country Project. To learn more, visit https://onecountryproject.org.

 One Country Project is a growing movement dedicated to providing honest analysis and serious conversation about issues affecting rural and small-town communities. The fact is mainstream platforms are becoming less reliable. So One Country is expanding to new channels. We're starting with Substack, where we share articles, essays, videos, and the Hot Dish podcast. We're joining journalists and experts from places like the New York Times, the Washington Post, and CNN to help you make sense of things in these challenging times. Go to onecountryproject.substack.com to learn more. That's onecountryproject.substack.com.

In this episode, we delve into essential discussions on federal policy, TikTok, and the balance of power in Washington that we know will resonate with you.

Heidi and Joel explore the chaos caused by a recent Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo concerning the freeze on federal expenditures. They provide a clear-eyed analysis of the memo's implications for Americans, particularly those relying on federal assistance programs, and question the legality of specific executive branch actions.

In the second half of the episode, we're joined by David Dorfman, Deputy Staff Director and Chief Counsel of the House Select Committee on China. David provides an in-depth understanding of the critical legislation affecting TikTok, clarifying misconceptions about a so-called "ban" and diving into the platform's national security concerns.

Lastly, hear from TikTok user Sayen Gates, a small business owner from South Carolina, who discusses how TikTok has been crucial in growing her life coaching business and how the threat of its ban poses challenges to entrepreneurs relying on the platform.

Tune in to The Hot Dish every other week as we serve up hearty discussions that matter to the heartland. We aim to ensure that the voices of 'the rest of us' are heard loud and clear in Washington.

To learn more, visit https://onecountryproject.org
Visit Sayen's site: www.shadowcornerlifecoaching.com

 One Country Project is a growing movement dedicated to providing honest analysis and serious conversation about issues affecting rural and small-town communities. The fact is mainstream platforms are becoming less reliable. So One Country is expanding to new channels. We're starting with Substack, where we share articles, essays, videos, and the Hot Dish podcast. We're joining journalists and experts from places like the New York Times, the Washington Post, and CNN to help you make sense of things in these challenging times. Go to onecountryproject.substack.com to learn more. That's onecountryproject.substack.com.

Welcome to another episode of The Hot Dish, where we serve comfort food for Middle America. In today's episode, Heidi Heitkamp and Joel Heitkamp delve into the political whirlwind surrounding Donald Trump's inauguration, cabinet picks, and executive orders — and their implications for the next four years.

Later in the episode, you'll hear a fascinating conversation between One Country Project Board Member J.D. Scholten and Anderson Clayton, North Carolina Democratic Party Chair. Anderson, the youngest state party chair in the nation, shares her experiences and insights on enhancing grassroots infrastructure, speaking to rural voters, and the GOP's efforts to throw out 60,000 legal votes in the Tarheel State to overturn the results of a state Supreme Court election.

Join us as we explore these pivotal topics and more, all aimed at bringing clarity and hope to the heartland.

 One Country Project is a growing movement dedicated to providing honest analysis and serious conversation about issues affecting rural and small-town communities. The fact is mainstream platforms are becoming less reliable. So One Country is expanding to new channels. We're starting with Substack, where we share articles, essays, videos, and the Hot Dish podcast. We're joining journalists and experts from places like the New York Times, the Washington Post, and CNN to help you make sense of things in these challenging times. Go to onecountryproject.substack.com to learn more. That's onecountryproject.substack.com.