About The Cocklebur.
We cover rural policy and politics from a progressive point-of-view. Our work focuses on a tangled rural political reality of dishonest debate, economic and racial disparities, corporate power over our democracy, and disinformation peddled by conservative media outlets. We aim to use facts, data, and science to inform our point-of-view. We wear our complicated love/WTF relationship with rural America on our sleeve.
We provide topical reporting and analysis on:
Federal legislation, budgets, executive actions, rules and regulations that matter to rural.
Rural people’s movements pushing back against extractive corporations, business and industry.
Racial and sexual disparities, injustices and discrimination in rural places and rural politics.
Environmental justice, climate and conservation issues in rural.
People-powered attempts to build a different rural economy.
White-collar crime, extractive corporate practices, exploitative financial instruments, government subsidies and corporate capture of public institutions.
Rightwing/Conservative/GOP attacks on the public sector, public institutions, cooperatives and unions that are critically important in rural.
Rural voters, rural elections, rural campaigns and the mechanics/strategy/art of rural politicking.
The Cocklebur is published by Bryce Oates, a rural reporter and analyst. Oates is a widely-published writer on rural issues. His work includes straight reporting, narrative nonfiction, opinion pieces, Q&A interviews, and conducting research and policy analysis related to rural voters. His interests and topical experience include federal budgets related to rural counties, farm and food policy, public lands and conservation issues, racial and gender equity in rural, climate change, economic inequality, rural demographic data, rural voters, and rural politics.
