SCOOP: OMB hasn’t released nearly all $ for 3 USDA programs that support rural small businesses. Comes as budget chief Russ Vought has floated “pocket rescissions” that would allow the WH to cancel funds even w/o congressional approval.

Farm groups' asks to MAHA Commission: Focus on soil health & conservation, not pesticides subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/0… Grace Yarrow

West Virginia’s first-in-the-nation ban on food dyes went into effect today, sending schools scrambling to ensure compliance ahead of the new school year subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/0…

Sad. Last month’s WaPo obit of my Uncle Steve was fair and meticulous, and a comfort to a grieving family. Kudos to Harrison Smith. washingtonpost.com/obituaries/202…

Labor activist Dolores Huerta gets candid on Trump’s farm raids, the Teamsters and RFK Jr. politico.com/news/magazine/…

BIG moment in the Senate overnight. Republicans left DC without a deal to confirm Trump’s nominees. Senators say Trump told them to abandon talks with Dems. “The president is fed up,“ Markwayne Mullin says. Schumer says Trump “went home with nothing” politico.com/news/2025/08/0…

New CBO megalaw forecast: - 2.4 million Americans will lose SNAP benefits (bc work requirement changes) - 300k will see reduced/eliminated benefits (bc state cost-share) - States may "modify benefits or eligibility" or "leave the program altogether" subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/0…

Trump’s pick to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics is floating quarterly instead of monthly jobs numbers. via Nick Niedzwiadek for POLITICO politico.com/news/2025/08/1…

At Union Station:

NEWS: Grace Yarrow and I obtained copies of the forthcoming MAHA Commission strategy report. POLITICO Read below⬇️

NEW FOIA Files newsletter is out! What the USDA Spent on the Huge Trump and Lincoln Banners ... And a third banner that featured Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins together. It’s unclear if that one was displayed anywhere. bloomberg.com/news/newslette…

DOL plans to revise the adverse effect wage rate formula for H-2A visas, a major win for ag employers who claim the current standard is burdensome, Nick Niedzwiadek reports subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025/0…

The draft MAHA report we got is good news for food & farm groups. “It's an administration at war with itself, because there are way too many industry influences on certain things, and the way they're getting their way is to try to keep sniping at Bobby." politico.com/news/2025/08/1…

Maine oyster farmer wants to upend Democratic politics with Senate bid ow.ly/H74v106jjKr

Public can vote on Metrorail 8000-series train design: ggwash.org/view/100544/br… wjla.com/news/local/wma…

from BYJew to Pioneer47

Some personal news: I’m taking on a new role at POLITICO covering the Department of Homeland Security. Very excited to dive into the nitty-gritty of immigration policy and its role in America’s national security toolbox.

NEW at NYT: The Democratic Party is facing a voter registration crisis in red, blue and battleground states alike — losing ground to the GOP everywhere. My deep dive into the numbers and what it reveals about the party's brand. Thread —> nytimes.com/2025/08/20/us/…