Anthony F. Pipa

Jan 22, 2025 | brookings.edu | Mark Muro |Anthony F. Pipa

President Donald Trump signed an avalanche of executive orders on his first day in office, consuming policymakers’ and the media’s attention. Meanwhile, former President Joe Biden’s very last executive order on economic policy—issued on January 19, the last full day of his tenure—has gone relatively unnoticed. Yet Biden’s order—on “helping left-behind communities make a comeback”—merits attention.

Jan 6, 2025 | brookings.edu | Anthony F. Pipa

As the Trump administration prepares to take power in Washington, Senior Fellow Tony Pipa, host of the Reimagine Rural podcast, looks at what has happened in rural policy under the Biden administration and what shifts in federal policy and emphasis might ensue under President Trump. No matter what changes come, Pipa notes, local communities will continue to solve problems locally. This episode is a replay of an interview Tony did on The Current podcast in late December.

Oct 28, 2024 | brookings.edu | Anthony F. Pipa

With the major-party nominations for vice president featuring two candidates with authentic rural roots, prospects seemed promising for a policy debate during the campaign about the role that the federal government can play in helping rural America prosper. Yet neither of the moderators during the vice-presidential debate on October 1 even uttered the word “rural,” and despite the forum’s much-praised focus on substance, none of it touched specifically on rural policy.

Oct 15, 2024 | brookings.edu | Anthony F. Pipa

The importance of public investment, and the difficulty rural places have in accessing it, are recurring themes in the stories we gather for the podcast. Communities often lack the time and staff to navigate the maze of available resources and match them to their project plans and aspirations. Policymakers are beginning to recognize that strengthening local rural capacity is a key to unlocking the investment that these communities need to thrive.

Sep 17, 2024 | brookings.edu | Anthony F. Pipa

Innovation and entrepreneurship are fundamental to America’s national identity, yet they are commonly associated with big cities and areas like Silicon Valley. As we’ve encountered numerous times in past episodes, rural America is full of innovation and home to countless examples of ingenuity.