In this episode of The Hot Dish, Joel Heitkamp speaks with Jamie Ager, a congressional candidate from North Carolina, about pressing issues facing rural America. The conversation covers the tragic story of Alex Pretti, the impact of Hurricane Helene on local communities, frustrations with government response, healthcare challenges, housing affordability, and the importance of curiosity in leadership. Ager shares his family legacy in farming and his vision for a better future for his community and country.The Hot Dish is brought to you by the One Country Project. To learn more, visit OneCountryProject.org, or find us on Substack (Onecountryproject.substack.com), and on YouTube, Bluesky, and Facebook (@onecountryproject).( ( ( ( (