Samuel Benson

'The whole thing is screwed up': Farmers in deep-red Pennsylvania struggle to find workers They're pushing lawmakers to move faster on a farm labor solution, even as the president cracks down on immigration.

Farmers in deep-red Pennsylvania are struggling to find workers. They're pushing lawmakers to move faster on a farm labor solution, even as Trump cracks down on immigration.

“We need people to do the jobs Americans are too spoiled to do," said one farmer and three-time Trump voter.

POLITICO Pro: USDA extends reorganization plan comment period to Sept. 30 The department's proposal to spread workforce to five regional hubs has drawn bipartisan criticism.

USDA quietly extended the comment period another month for its controversial reorganization, @sambbenson.bsky.social reports.

It comes after lawmakers pressed for an extension.

Dolores Huerta Has Seen Farm Raids Before. But Not Like This. The longtime farm labor activist gets candid about the fallout from Trump’s deportation efforts.

Labor activist Dolores Huerta gets candid on Trump’s farm raids, the Teamsters and RFK Jr.

POLITICO Pro: Top agriculture employers prepare for more farm ICE raids Nearly 100 employers gathered to discuss how to respond to the Trump administration's reversal of guidance pausing raids on farms, restaurants and hotels.

Nearly 100 agricultural employers met Wednesday to discuss the Trump administration's flip flop over ICE raids on farms, restaurants and hotels.

From @sambbenson.bsky.social, Jake Traylor and Myah Ward:

subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...

Dept of Agriculture celebrates its 163rd birthday tomorrow by hanging a massive banner of its founding president (Lincoln) and ... Trump

White House budget proposal cuts nutrition, conservation spending In the White House’s fiscal 2026 spending plan, which Congress does not have to accept, Trump is proposing significant cuts to food, forest and conservation programs and increased funding for the “Mak...

Weekly Ag today:

-Reconciliation woes
-What the 'skinny budget' means for conservation, nutrition
-A new lobbying campaign against California's Prop 12
-Rep. Derrick Van Orden's beef with the SNAP cost-share proposal

w/ @sambbenson.bsky.social + Grace Yarrrow
www.politico.com/newsletters/...

Farmers are no strangers to trade wars. But this time may be worse. Facing higher inflation and economic uncertainty, farmers have less cushion to face tariffs than they did during the first Trump administration.

NEW:

Farmers are no strangers to trade wars.

But the farm economy is in a much weaker spot than 2018 after years of high inflation and low crop prices.

W/ Jordan Wolman, Grace Yarrow and @sambbenson.bsky.social

www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

USDA halts millions of dollars worth of deliveries to food banks The halt in deliveries comes after the Trump administration separately slashed $1 billion for schools and food banks to buy food from farms.

NEW: The Agriculture Department has halted millions of dollars worth of deliveries to food banks without explanation.

Comes after USDA canceled $1B for schools and food banks to buy food from farms.

www.politico.com/news/2025/03...

USDA cuts funding for school, food bank programs The U.S. Department of Agriculture is cutting two pandemic-era programs that provide more than $1 billion combined in federal funding for schools and food banks to buy food directly from local supplie...

I was on @cbsnews.com yesterday with Lindsey Reiser talking about the latest cuts in funding to school meals and food banks.

Watch here --> www.cbsnews.com/video/usda-c...

Politico hires Benson to cover food and ag policy - Talking Biz News Politico has hired Samuel Benson to cover food and agriculture policy. He has been with The Deseret News for the past five years as national political correspondent. Benson previously interned with Po...

@sambbenson.bsky.social hired by @politico.com to cover food and ag policy: talkingbiznews.com/media-news/p...

or New York!

Letters from two Americas: A year on the campaign trail Red and blue America are moving farther and farther apart from each other. Here is what voters told the Deseret News' Samuel Benson about how politics affect their relationships

My reflections after 15 months on the presidential campaign trail

Biggest takeaway: Americans of differing political persuasions don't know each other anymore www.deseret.com/politics/202...