On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti The Jackpod: Rural ressentiment, or ‘the country strikes back’
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Dec 5, 2025 Jack Beatty, a historian and longtime news analyst, dives into the complexities of the rural-urban divide in America. He discusses the historical roots of rural resentment, linking it to trade policies and Democratic elitism. Beatty highlights the rise of Republican mobilization through grassroots organizations and critiques the Democrats' disengagement from rural voters. They also explore modern civic activism and the risks of political extremism, emphasizing the need for self-reflection in today's turbulent political landscape.
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Rural-Urban Split Is New And Politically Powerful
- The rural-urban political split is a recent phenomenon that accelerated after the 1990s due to shifting economic fortunes and policy choices.
- Jack Beatty links growing place-based inequality to a stronger Republican hold on rural America and minority rule in national institutions.
Economic Decline Drove Political Realignment
- The authors connect economic decline in rural counties to Republican voting, beyond simple education explanations.
- Trade deals and deregulation in the 1990s and 2000s hollowed out rural manufacturing and reinforced that political shift.
Elite Overreach Alienated Rural Voters
- Perceived elite overreach alienated rural voters when Democrats pushed policies seen as urban priorities.
- Issues like environmental regulation, guns, and immigration felt imposed by distant elites with little local input.
