Marker 35

Marker 33

Former Agriculture Secretary and two-term Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack — the longest-serving USDA secretary of the modern era, now CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation — joins the Chuck ToddCast to explain what's actually happening in farm country. The Iran war has driven up input costs while deportations gut the labor supply, farmers get blamed for high prices despite capturing the smallest share of every agricultural dollar, and importing beef only discourages domestic ranchers from staying in business. Vilsack notes America has lost a million farming operations since 1973, with most federal support flowing to the top 10%. He argues food security is national security, that SNAP cuts are income cuts for farmers, and that Iowans are tired enough of watching their kids leave the state to vote for change — with Rob Sand's authenticity, not his party label, the reason he's connecting. 

Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Tom Vilsack joins The Chuck ToddCast

02:00 Pirates baseball and why national media misses agriculture

05:45 The Iran war, input costs, and a deported labor force

10:00 What can actually lower beef prices

16:00 A million lost farms and who federal support really reaches

22:00 Food security is national security

29:45 SNAP cuts, rural schools, and the Senate map in the Midwest

36:00 Rob Sand, authenticity, and why Iowa may vote for change

45:00 Should 2028 Democrats spend time in Iowa?

52:45 Data centers, a bio-based farm economy, and what a good night looks like

Former Agriculture Secretary and two-term Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack &mdash; the longest-serving USDA secretary of the modern era, now CEO of the World Food Prize Foundation &mdash; joins the Chuck ToddCast to explain what's actually happening in farm country. The Iran war has driven up input costs while deportations gut the labor supply, farmers get blamed for high prices despite capturing the smallest share of every agricultural dollar, and importing beef only discourages domestic ranchers from staying in business. Vilsack notes America has lost a million farming operations since 1973, with most federal support flowing to the top 10%. He argues food security is national security, that SNAP cuts are income cuts for farmers, and that Iowans are tired enough of watching their kids leave the state to vote for change &mdash; with Rob Sand's authenticity, not his party label, the reason he's connecting.&nbsp;
Timeline:
(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)
00:00 Tom Vilsack joins The Chuck ToddCast
02:00 Pirates baseball and why national media misses agriculture
05:45 The Iran war, input costs, and a deported labor force
10:00 What can actually lower beef prices
16:00 A million lost farms and who federal support really reaches
22:00 Food security is national security
29:45 SNAP cuts, rural schools, and the Senate map in the Midwest
36:00 Rob Sand, authenticity, and why Iowa may vote for change
45:00 Should 2028 Democrats spend time in Iowa?
52:45 Data centers, a bio-based farm economy, and what a good night looks like

The Chuck ToddCast is back! If you're looking for smart, no-nonsense political conversation, you've come to the right place. The Chuck ToddCast goes beyond the headlines, featuring conversations with top reporters, insiders, and newsmakers from D.C. to the heartland. No scripts, no spin—just real discussions about what’s shaping our politics and why it matters.

The Chuck ToddCast

Interview Only w/ Tom Vilsack - Trump Screwed The Ag States… Can Democrats Win Them Back?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ae1ee507-de2d-40a4-9a82-b4d20116dd54/transcript