Great news for vegans: The cost of beef has skyrocketed, and President Donald Trump has made American cattle ranchers hoof-stomping mad with policies that appear decidedly America-last.
While U.S. consumers wrestle with record-high ground beef prices – $6.63 per pound in August, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – and steak restaurants boost prices, Trump has proposed helping his far-right, Trump-like pal, Argentine President Javier Milei, by quadrupling the amount of Argentine beef coming into America.
That would likely do little to help consumers, while hurting cattle ranchers already struggling with a reduced domestic herd size brought on by everything from drought to inflated feeding costs.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall called out Trump’s pro-Argentina plan in no uncertain terms: “This plan only creates chaos at a critical time of the year for American cattle producers, while doing nothing to lower grocery store prices. … Argentina also has a history of foot-and-mouth disease, which, if brought to the United States, could decimate our domestic livestock production.”
I generally place anything involving foot-and-mouth disease in the “bad” category.
WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and 15 Senate colleagues wrote to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Greer calling out the Trump administration’s harmful and undeveloped plan to import more beef from Argentina, which will harm American ranchers.
“We write in strong opposition to the Administration’s undeveloped plan to increase imports of Argentinian beef,” the Senators wrote. “This announcement has already had tangible market impacts felt by cattle producers across the country, at a time when cattle producers are looking for long-term stability to rebuild their herds. Rather than reward Argentina’s president and agricultural producers, we encourage you to focus on policies that support American farmers and ranchers and that bring down costs for all Americans.”
To meaningfully lower prices for American families, the Senators called on the Trump Administration to end the chaotic, across-the-board tariffs that are driving market instability and increasing costs.
“In addition, we are concerned that this plan could also introduce serious animal health threats that further cripple U.S. cattle production at a time of low cattle supply…” they continued. “…these animal health threats would pose severe risks to U.S. livestock production, disrupt domestic and international trade, and have far-reaching economic consequences across rural communities and the agricultural supply chain.”
“Instead of introducing additional volatility into the market, we urge you to implement a trade policy that uses targeted tariffs and other tools to ensure U.S. producers can fairly compete in the global marketplace while also ensuring Americans have access to healthy, affordable foods,” the Senators concluded.
Read the full letter HERE.
Last week, Senator Gallego called on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to reconsider further aid to Argentina and focus instead on restoring and expanding export markets for U.S. farmers.
10/27/25
Scott Bessent—worth an estimated $600 million according to Forbes—wasn’t well-received when he identified himself as a fellow soybean farmer suffering under China’s boycott.
The Secretary of the Treasury appeared on This Week Sunday, and spoke to host Martha Raddatz about the U.S. relationship with China alongside the impacts of tariffs, and shared that he related with the struggles of the working man more than people realized.
Predictably, the former hedge fund manager’s self-identification as “actually a soybean farmer” wasn’t lapped up by the masses, who were quick to fact check him online.
Talking about how President Trump has stated his wish to see “our farmers to be taken care of,“ Raddatz added: “China has been boycotting American soybeans and American farmers have really suffered.”
She asked: “Do you see a real light at the end of the tunnel there, they may allow soybeans again?”
Multimillionaire Bessent earnestly responded: “Well, Martha, in case you don’t know it, I’m actually a soybean farmer. So, I have—I have felt this pain, too.”
And the country erupted in laugher.
According to The New York Times, Bessent
— a former hedge fund manager whose net worth is estimated to top $500
million — owns as much as $25 million worth of corn and soybean farmland
in North Dakota that he rents out to farmers, netting him more than $1
million a year.
Japan visit: President Trump met Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan on Tuesday as part of his six-day trip to Asia. The visit was heavy on flattery, but the leaders signaled no breakthrough in ongoing trade negotiations. Trump was set to meet on Tuesday evening with business leaders from several top Japanese companies. Read more ›
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), as well as 41 other colleagues, in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release the billions of dollars at its disposal to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue in November. The letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins comes as the Trump Administration’s refusal to provide SNAP funding will force at least 25 states, including California, to delay essential food benefits at the start of next month.
Approximately 40 million low-income Americans — including 5.5 million Californians — depend on SNAP benefits to help afford their groceries, which has only grown more important amid skyrocketing food prices under President Trump. In response to USDA’s withholding of SNAP funding, Governor Gavin Newsom announced yesterday that he will deploy the California National Guard to support food banks across the state, similar to the emergency role the Guard played to facilitate nutrition assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. California will also fast-track over $80 million in state support to protect these vital benefits.
“We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will ‘run out of money in two weeks,’” wrote the Senators. “In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November.”
“In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November. Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance,” continued the Senators. “We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA’s plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government.”
The Democratic Senators raised the alarm about USDA’s failure to use available funding to continue SNAP, urging USDA to comply with the law by using contingency funding available for SNAP. They also urged USDA to use its interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that allows the agency to transfer funds from other USDA nutrition programs to SNAP, which they recently used to transfer funding to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), to protect important benefits during the government shutdown.
In addition to Padilla, Schiff, Booker, Klobuchar, and Luján, the letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
Earlier this year, Senator Padilla joined a spotlight forum titled “Hunger by Design — The GOP’s Assault on SNAP” to question witnesses and expose President Trump and Republicans’ cruel budget proposal that cut nearly $200 billion in SNAP benefits while giving tax cuts to billionaires. He also repeatedly slammed Republicans’ billionaire-first budget reconciliation bill that is gutting critical programs like SNAP and devastating families in California and across the country. In June, Padilla joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in calling on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to reverse course on Republicans’ plan to take health care and food assistance away from millions of Americans — including seniors, children, people with disabilities, and veterans — to pay for tax breaks for ultra-wealthy Americans.
Full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear Secretary Rollins,
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is our nation’s largest food assistance program, serving 42 million people, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 4 million people with disabilities. Any halt in SNAP funding will have devastating impacts for program beneficiaries, increasing food insecurity and undermining family budgets. Given the critical importance of SNAP benefits, the USDA must take all steps possible to ensure that families do not go hungry.
We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will “run out of money in two weeks.” In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November. First, the USDA must, at a minimum under the law, use the contingency funding that is available for SNAP, as noted by USDA officials. Second, the USDA has interchange authority under 7 U.S.C. 2257 that permits the transfer of funds from other USDA nutrition programs. In fact, this authority was recently used by the USDA when it transferred money from child nutrition programs to the WIC account to maintain WIC benefits during the shutdown. In the event that more resources are needed than what is available in contingency funding, the USDA should explore all legal means to augment funds to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits in November.
Americans are already struggling with the rising cost of groceries, and they cannot afford a sudden lapse in grocery assistance. We urge you to immediately communicate to states and committees of jurisdiction the USDA’s plans to disburse the contingency funding to state agencies and utilize all available legal authorities so that American families can get benefits without interruption. Democrats remain at the table and ready to negotiate reopening the government.
Sincerely,
###
A federal agent blatantly violated a court order against using excessive force against journalists and protesters last Thursday by pointing a gun in a veteran’s face, saying “Bang, bang” and “You’re dead, liberal.”
The Chicago Headline Club, a nonprofit representing journalists in the Chicago area, filed a complaint in federal court after the incident, which took place in the city’s Little Village neighborhood. Local residents had gathered to observe and protest a large presence of federal agents in the area, and Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino did not respond well or care to take the earlier court order into consideration.
According to the complaint, combat veteran Chris Gentry was “lawfully standing on the side of the road voicing his opposition as agents were driving by in their vehicles.” That’s when an agent pointed a gun at him and threatened to kill him.
That was just one of many shocking incidents that day. Bovino also allegedly threw a tear gas canister into a crowd of protesters, who, according to the complaint, were not violent or committing any crimes. Some of the protesters attempted to talk to Bovino and other federal agents there and were rebuffed. Bovino and his colleagues instead shoved several people and threw more tear gas canisters at them, according to the complaint.
Federal agents carrying out President Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration have repeatedly clashed with protesters and bystanders across the Chicago area in recent weeks. Sometimes, the agents have used tear gas, drawing criticism and bringing new attention to the chemical irritant that has been used by American law enforcement officers for decades.
Generally, police officials say tear gas can help bring unruly crowds under control without hand-to-hand violence between officers and demonstrators, and with a lower risk of serious injury. But the chemicals can also have serious health effects, and police agencies have often been accused of using tear gas without justification or without giving sufficient warnings.
In Less Than 10 Days, New Yorkers Begin Picking Health Insurance For Next Year, But For Many Their Only Option Is To Pay Thousands $$ More Per Month Because Republicans Refuse To Extend The Tax Credits Over 20 Million Americans Rely On
80% of Americans Want To Extend The ACA Tax Credits, But House Republicans Have Been On Vacation For Over A Month, And Trump Refuses To Even Sit Down With Democrats – Meanwhile, New Yorkers In Every Region Are Getting Letters & Seeing Skyrocketing New Premiums
Schumer: New Yorkers Can’t Afford To Wait, We Must Fix The Republican Healthcare Crisis NOW
As New Yorkers see their only option is to pay thousands more for health insurance with less than 10 days before enrollment begins, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer joined families from across New York who rely on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits to afford healthcare to demand NY House Republicans stop their vacation and extend this lifesaving program.
Schumer said with NY’s health insurance marketplace opening November 1st we can’t afford to kick the can down the road any longer, NY House Republicans need to get back to work and tell Trump to negotiate with Democrats now to protect healthcare for 24 million Americans and stop New Yorkers from facing a whopping 40% average increase in their healthcare bills every single month.
“New Yorkers are staring down the barrel of a healthcare crisis that could upend the lives of millions of families across America. In less than 10 days, families need to start picking their health insurance for next year, but many are seeing their only option is to pay thousands more every month without the ACA tax credits. The ACA premium crisis is not a fix-it-later issue, like NY Republicans keep pretending it is. We need to fix it now, otherwise New York’s seniors, small business owners, and families will be paying the price,” said Senator Schumer. “New York House Republicans have been on vacation for over a month. Enough is enough. New York House Republicans need to stand up to Trump and stand up for their constituents who face massive healthcare spikes, end this Republican shutdown, and extend vital ACA tax credits before premiums double. For thousands of hardworking New Yorkers, it’s not just a question of bankruptcy, but survival.”
Schumer explained that the ACA tax credits help working families, small business owners and employees, farmers, and self-employed Americans afford premiums for their health insurance purchased through ACA marketplaces. These tax credits were expanded during the pandemic and continue to lower the cost of health insurance, so it is more affordable for over 24 million Americans, including thousands of families in every corner of New York. If Republicans continue to refuse to address this crisis, health insurance premiums are expected to increase by hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars each month for the average couple in New York.
Already, New Yorkers are receiving letters and seeing online their prices for next year compared to last year. A region-by-region list of examples can be found HERE.
“New York’s health plan marketplace and the federal premium tax credits that allowed me to afford a plan that meets my needs have been a critical lifeline for me,” said Jeremy Koulish from Ulster County. “Downgrading my coverage isn’t just a number. It will have a direct impact on my health and my life. This may be a game to Republicans and their billionaire supporters who will never have to worry about the cost of their own platinum-plated health care, but for normal Americans like myself, this is no game at all.”
John T. of Manhattan said, “Obamacare subsidies cut my insurance premiums from $1,400 to $700 per month. So I'm actually getting something back for the taxes I pay. Next year, premiums are likely to more than double, up to $1,500 every month. Without subsidies, that's an extra $800 every single month. Why are we spending tons of money on foreign bailouts instead of helping people here? I want the taxes I pay to help me.”
Below is an example of what a couple in the Hudson Valley, like Jeremy and his wife, could see as their cost skyrocket by $949 every single month.
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2025 Costs Per Month |
2026 Costs Per Month |
 |
 |
In addition, because of Trump’s healthcare cuts in his ‘Big, Ugly Bill,’ 450,000 New Yorkers will be forced off New York’s Essential Plan, which means many will either have to look for insurance on the ACA marketplace with sky-high prices because of the expiring tax credits, or lose their health insurance entirely.
“My heart dropped when I got an email earlier this month stating I might lose my insurance benefits. I already struggle to afford the city that I have grown up in and contributed to as a small business owner. Without ACA I now have to get into the frustrating, time-consuming process of finding insurance of which I doubt will be possible,” said Lilah Obregon-Wilson from NYC. “Shopping for health insurance through the marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act was the first time I had assurance of affordable, good insurance. We must protect this program, it’s a matter of survival.”
Judy Jerome of New York City said, “This healthcare crisis is causing me great anxiety because there just doesn’t seem to be any way to get ahead. Republicans' refusal to extend the ACA tax credits means that the new, far more expensive premiums are now out of reach for me. My current NY Essential plan insurance will end in June of 2026, and I’m scared for what comes after.”
For months, Schumer has been speaking out about the need for Republicans to work with Democrats to protect Americans from skyrocketing healthcare costs, but Republicans have refused to come to the table. If Republican inaction lets ACA enhanced premium tax credits expire at the end of the year, premiums will more than double for Americans who buy health care through the ACA marketplaces. These higher costs will push 4 million people off their health coverage over the next decade, including tens of thousands of New Yorkers. According to KFF, 8 in 10 Americans say they want Congress to extend these tax credits, including nearly 60% of Republicans.
Schumer has been speaking out about the need for Republicans to work with Democrats to protect Americans from skyrocketing healthcare costs and reopen the government. Under Schumer’s leadership, Senate Democrats have already forced three votes to extend these tax credits, but Senate Republicans have continued to vote against them. Republicans continue to refuse to act to stop these entirely avoidable healthcare cost increases for Americans, and House Republican leaders have not brought the House back to vote in over a month.
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