State of the Union speech had much of rural interest, largely implicit; fact-checkers note issues with it and the GOP reply

President Biden's State of the Union address had much of interest to rural Americans, though largely implicit. Here are some highlights, along with some journalistic fact-checking.

Biden's text used "rural" once: "We’re going to provide — provide affordable high-speed Internet for every American — rural, suburban, urban, and tribal communities," but he issued a "fact sheet" about "Historic Investments To Create Opportunity and Build Wealth in Rural America."

He didn't mention his stalled Build Back Better bill by name, but stumped for many elements that would benefit rural areas, perhaps in an effort to appeal to holdout Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. That includes expanding Medicaid and government negotiating of drug prices (as the Department of Veterans Affairs already does, he noted), capping insulin costs, equitable mental-health insurance coverage, and more help for home health and long-term care (and higher nursing-home standards).

Biden demanded more action to combat the opioid epidemic: "Get rid of outdated rules that stop doctors from prescribing treatments."

He emphasized issues of women and children, including universal pre-kindergarten, extending the expanded child tax credit, and cutting the cost of child care in half for most families. "Middle-class and working folks shouldn’t have to pay more than 7% of their income to care for their young children," he said, noting that lack of child care forced women, disproportionately, to leave the workforce during the pandemic. No one earning less than $400,000 would pay extra taxes to fund these programs, he said.

He didn't mention the Big Four meatpackers by name (Cargill, JBS, Tyson Foods and National Beef), but did mention the number, and said lack of competition was hurting family farmers and ranchers. He also called for expanded broadband access in rural areas.

Biden called for more incentives to encourage manufacturing and said the new jobs must pay a living wage. The Daily Yonder points out, "A greater percentage of rural Americans than urban Americans work in manufacturing." Biden suggested that more domestic manufacturing would curb inflation, but that is dubious, The Associated Press said in its fact check.

While he repeatedly calling for unity in the face of a deeply divided nation, Biden raised the issue with perhaps the biggest rural-urban divide, gun control: "You think the deer are wearing Kevlar vests?" He said Congress should “repeal the liability shield that makes gun manufacturers the only industry in 

America that can’t be sued, the only one.” That is false, AP and Politifact said flatly.

Biden also called for securing the Mexican border and fixing the immigration system, which drew a skeptical-looking Sen. Ted Cruz to a standing ovation. Such was rare. Lisa Desjardins of PBS said Republicans weren't clapping even for things they support, like fighting the opioid epidemic.

Politifact noted that Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who gave the Republican response, erred in saying Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris hadn't visited the border; he hasn't, but Harris has.