rancher and former environmental attorney
Rancher and co-owner of BN Ranch, which is based in Marin County and specializes in grass-fed cattle, and author of Defending Beef: The Case for Sustainable Meat Production; former environmental lawyer with the Waterkeeper Alliance, she lives on a cattle ranch in Bolinas, California with her husband Bill Niman, one of the nation's most well-known grass-based ranchers
America's Diet…and the Environment? Every five years, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee issues a report used to shape federal nutrition policy — including the $16 billion school lunch program. This year's report contains unprecedented advice: instead of eating red meat in moderation, we should eat less. The meat industries are up in arms not just about health warnings — but especially the claim that livestock production contributes to global warming. And that's not the only surprise from the panel that helps determine official Dietary Guidelines. It says eggs and coffee don't cause heart trouble after all. As special interests and politicians take aim at conclusions so different from what's gone before, what's the American public to think?
Making the Case for Eating Beef Beef dinners have been a Christmas tradition for many American families, but more and more cooks are hearing, "I don't eat red meat anymore." Consumption of beef and animal fats has been declining — on doctor's orders. Beyond that, cattle have long been blamed for climate change. Nicolette Hahn Niman is a vegetarian – and a cattle rancher. Her book, Defending Beef : The Case for Sustainable Meat Production, has earned some praise even from the food guru Michael Pollan.
How Safe Is California Beef? The Agriculture Department is conducting a criminal investigation into Rancho Feeding, one of California's few slaughterhouses. It's now closed. Two separate recalls — involving nine million pounds of beef — have now reached to 35 other states and Guam. The recall has been linked to cattle with eye cancer, but no human health consequences have been reported.
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.