Click here to watch the interview.

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined America’s Newsroom on Fox News with Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer to discuss how Democrats’ numerous self-inflicted crises are harming rural America.

On Democrats’ self-inflicted crises:

“The Democrats – Dana, to your point – are gonna have a lot of explaining to do the American people. I mean, I think a wave is building out there. 

“Some of that revolves around the cultural issues that you just mentioned, a lot of it has to do with pocketbook issues, economic issues. The average American family this year paid $3,500 more just because of the higher cost of goods and everything that they buy. And if you think about it, it all comes back to policy decisions Democrats have made.

“I mean, the price of a gallon of gas has a lot to do with shutting down energy projects.

“You look at the chaos on the border, that's a change in immigration policies.

“You look at the chaos and crime in the cities, that has a lot to do with the ‘defund the police’ and all the woke movement that's out there.

“And the inflation issue really has to do with all the spending the Democrats have piled up, coupled with, again, lack of an energy policy, which is shooting gasoline through the roof. It's 40% higher than it was a year ago.”

On Democrats leaving rural America behind:

“People in the middle of the country tend to believe in limited but effective government, personal freedom coupled with individual responsibility, economic freedom, and an energy policy.  

“Believe me, we know, you know, when you come from that kind of geography, Dana, how much you rely on energy, home heating fuel in the winter, gasoline to get places, and natural gas, all those things are critically important. 

“And what people in the middle of country see is, you know, the Democrat government – it's an all-Democrat government, House, Senate, White House right now – driving an agenda that is completely out of step with what their priorities are, what they care about, which is why you see things swinging hard the other direction.”