- Social:
National Farmers Union
President of the National Farmers Union, an advocacy group for family farmers and ranchers based in Washington, DC; former Agriculture Commissioner of North Dakota
PROFILE
Roger Johnson
Guest
FROM Roger Johnson
To the Point
The Farm Bill and America's Food Supply The Farm Bill dates back to the Great Depression, when family farms were in trouble and many Americans could not afford what they needed to eat. It gives taxpayer support to a huge range of Americans, from the poor who survive on food stamps to wealthy farmers insured against losses. New versions have passed roughly every five years on a bipartisan basis, but the latest effort is more evidence that there is no bipartisanship any more. Republicans in the House and Democrats in the Senate have passed different versions, and compromise may fall victim to competing interests and ideologies. A conference committee with 41 members from both sides is meeting behind closed doors to work out a compromise. If there's no agreement, farm policy could revert back to 1938, driving an increase in the price of some foods.
Which Way, L.A.?
The High Price of Cheap Food Horror stories about America's food industry go back to Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle , published in 1906. The current issue of Time magazine concludes that some things have improved a lot in the past 103 years…but that others have gotten worse.
To the Point
Is the Ag Industry Making Us Fat and Damaging the Environment? Horror stories about America's food industry go back to Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle , published in 1906. The current issue of Time magazine concludes that some things have improved a lot in the past 103 years, but that others have gotten worse.
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To the Point
White House budget proposal slashes and burns President Trump's first budget request is considered dead on arrival in Congress — a familiar development in Capitol Hill. We hear what it reveals about the priorities of the new administration. What's likely to die… and what might survive?
To the Point
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
To the Point
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
To the Point
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.