Samuel Benson
@sambbenson.bsky.social
National political correspondent @ Deseret News
Reposted by Samuel Benson
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.
“We need people to do the jobs Americans are too spoiled to do," said one farmer and three-time Trump voter.
'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.
www.politico.com
September 15, 2025 at 12:16 PM
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.
“We need people to do the jobs Americans are too spoiled to do," said one farmer and three-time Trump voter.
Reposted by Samuel Benson
USDA quietly extended the comment period another month for its controversial reorganization, @sambbenson.bsky.social reports.
It comes after lawmakers pressed for an extension.
It comes after lawmakers pressed for an extension.
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.
subscriber.politicopro.com
August 29, 2025 at 7:58 PM
USDA quietly extended the comment period another month for its controversial reorganization, @sambbenson.bsky.social reports.
It comes after lawmakers pressed for an extension.
It comes after lawmakers pressed for an extension.
Reposted by Samuel Benson
Labor activist Dolores Huerta gets candid on Trump’s farm raids, the Teamsters and RFK Jr.
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.
www.politico.com
August 2, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Labor activist Dolores Huerta gets candid on Trump’s farm raids, the Teamsters and RFK Jr.
Reposted by Samuel Benson
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...
From @sambbenson.bsky.social, Jake Traylor and Myah Ward:
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
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.
subscriber.politicopro.com
June 18, 2025 at 9:12 PM
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...
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
The Trump administration has installed new banners at the Agriculture Department.
It's the only federal department office building on the National Mall.
It's the only federal department office building on the National Mall.
May 14, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Dept of Agriculture celebrates its 163rd birthday tomorrow by hanging a massive banner of its founding president (Lincoln) and ... Trump
Reposted by Samuel Benson
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/...
-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/...
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...
www.politico.com
May 5, 2025 at 4:25 PM
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/...
-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/...
Reposted by Samuel Benson
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...
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...
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.
www.politico.com
April 4, 2025 at 2:20 PM
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...
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...
Reposted by Samuel Benson
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...
Comes after USDA canceled $1B for schools and food banks to buy food from farms.
www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
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.
www.politico.com
March 19, 2025 at 9:04 PM
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...
Comes after USDA canceled $1B for schools and food banks to buy food from farms.
www.politico.com/news/2025/03...
Reposted by Samuel Benson
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...
Watch here --> www.cbsnews.com/video/usda-c...
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...
www.cbsnews.com
March 14, 2025 at 1:56 PM
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...
Watch here --> www.cbsnews.com/video/usda-c...
Reposted by Samuel Benson
@sambbenson.bsky.social hired by @politico.com to cover food and ag policy: talkingbiznews.com/media-news/p...
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...
talkingbiznews.com
February 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
@sambbenson.bsky.social hired by @politico.com to cover food and ag policy: talkingbiznews.com/media-news/p...
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...
Biggest takeaway: Americans of differing political persuasions don't know each other anymore www.deseret.com/politics/202...
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
www.deseret.com
November 22, 2024 at 2:24 PM
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...
Biggest takeaway: Americans of differing political persuasions don't know each other anymore www.deseret.com/politics/202...