Rural Remix

On the heels of the news that 2024 was the hottest year on record — beating out 2023 for the top spot — Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton reflect on winter past and future. Claire shares stories from her holiday travels to rural Pennsylvania, where her grandparents met as young people on a frozen toboggan slide that hasn’t run since 2014. Julia shares stories from her grandmother’s upbringing in New Hampshire and New York, where seasonal snow piles once towered so high they lasted well into the spring months.

Host Sara June Jo-Sæbo explores the transformative power of Recovery Court in Southwest Virginia, an innovative alternative to incarceration for individuals struggling with addiction. Through deeply personal stories from participants and judges, “On the Rebound” reveals how the program combines accountability, compassion, and fitness to support recovery and examines the pervasive impact of drug culture on rural communities.

Donald Trump is preparing for his second term in the White House by making nominations for key Cabinet positions. Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton discuss two of Trump’s picks – those slated to lead the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Agriculture if approved by the Senate. Julia provides background on Lee Zeldin, the former New York Congressman Trump has nominated for the EPA. Claire and Julia discuss how Zeldin’s past positions on fracking and rural communities might influence his leadership at the EPA. Claire digs into Brooke Rollins’ work at the America First Policy Institute and what it could say about her vision for the country if appointed US Secretary of Agriculture.If you like what you hear on Keep it Rural and the Rural Remix feed, consider supporting rural, nonprofit journalism by donating to the Daily Yonder. Right now, all donations up to $1,000 are matched dollar-for-dollar. Go to  dailyyonder.com/newsmatch to get started.

Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP

North Cove, Washington once had the fastest eroding shoreline on the West Coast. For the 72 cranberry farmers who call the area home, the erosion was an existential threat to the local community and economy. That was, until Connie Allen and her late husband David Cottrell got involved. Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton bring you the story of “Wash Away No More”, a grassroots effort to keep erosion at bay along a rural community’s beach.

The Associated Press called the presidential election in favor of former president Donald Trump at 5:34 am on November 6th, the morning after Election Day. But even before that, political pundits and TV reporters had plenty to say about rural voters and their role in re-electing Trump. 

Now that the numbers are in, host Olivia Weeks examines these assertions in the latest episode of Backroad Ballots, and takes a closer look at what happened on November 5th. 

In this bonus episode, Weeks talks with Tim Marema, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Yonder, and Sarah Melotte, the Daily Yonder’s data correspondent. Their conversation focuses on high-level election results and the rural voter’s role in deciding the outcomes of the presidential race and state-wide ballot measures.

Once upon a time, it was not unheard of for a voter to cast a Republican vote for president and a Democratic vote for a down-ballot candidate like a congressman or state representative – or vice versa. In the 1970s and 80s, an estimated 25% of voters split their ballots this way.Now, this type of voter is rarer than ever because of the political polarization that defines modern-day American politics. This week, Daily Yonder reporter Claire Carlson discusses the decline of the split ticket voter and what it might mean for Montana’s Senate race.

In the newest episode of the Backroad Ballots podcast, we asked our staff what they are paying close attention to between now and the election. Host Olivia Weeks interviewed Daily Yonder publisher Dee Davis, and Daily Yonder reporters Claire Carlson and Sarah Melotte about election denial, how Democratic policy affects rural America, campaign communication, whether rural voters are truly over represented in the Electoral College and Senate, how Hurricane Helene could disrupt voting infrastructure in North Carolina, and more. 

This week, Daily Yonder reporter Claire Carlson talks about the dangers of misinformation in the wake of hurricanes Helene and Milton. As Claire points out, a lot of the misinformation comes from climate change deniers.

We bring you a special Keep it Rural this week. Claire speaks with her colleague, Daily Yonder reporter Sarah Melotte about the devastating hurricane Helene.

Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina: https://homewardboundwnc.org/
The World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org/
All Hands and Hearts: https://www.allhandsandhearts.org/