Where is Trump's tariff-free beef coming from?

Cattle farmers are latest Trump allies to get shafted

By kos

The agricultural sector has been struggling ever since it helped Donald Trump win a second term.

His tariffs have constrained key overseas markets, with China shifting major soybean and other commodity purchases toward countries like Argentina and Brazil. 

Immigration raids have created labor shortages and driven up the cost of harvesting crops, some of which have been left rotting in the fields.

But there was one corner of agriculture that was thriving: cattle farmers.

A shortage of cattle combined with strong domestic demand meant high prices. Cattle producers also argue that near-monopoly conditions in the processing industry have pushed prices even higher. Since the 1990s, Tyson Foods, Cargill, JBS, and National Beef have controlled upward of 80% of purchases of cattle, squeezing cattle farmers on one end while consumers pay more on the other.

Still, despite challenges like the New World screwworm outbreak, likely boosted by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, cattle farmers were riding high, their faith in Trump apparently rewarded.

That is, until Friday, when Trump announced that he would temporarily allow a massive influx of tariff-free foreign beef into the United States, explicitly intended to undercut domestic beef prices by 25%.

“Today, I concluded a deal to substantially lower the price of ground beef for working American families,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “[F]or the next 90 days, the United States will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef to be imported with no out of quota tariff. We have a commitment that this beef will be sold at 25 percent below current market prices.”

Weirdly, Trump is refusing to say which countries will supply all this mystery meat—an omission that becomes particularly notable amid concerns about the spread of New World screwworm.

On its face, Trump’s announcement is an extraordinary admission that even he knows his economic policies aren’t working.

First, he’s temporarily lifting tariffs to lower consumer prices. That’s a pretty remarkable concession from a president who has spent years insisting that foreign countries pay his tariffs rather than American importers and, ultimately, American consumers.

Trump’s ‘forever’ tariffs are kicking in for the long haul – and US consumers are footing the bill

Trump uses tariffs to wield personal power

Kent Jones, Babson College

Donald Trump’s tariff announcements no longer cause the market gyrations that they did in 2025. But their sticker shock for American consumers is becoming increasingly clear – just as economic sentiment is souring ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.

Many business groups had hoped that the tariff wars would end in February, when the Supreme Court overturned Trump’s emergency tariffs. They got a rude awakening five months later, however, when Trump announced a raft of new import taxes to replace the levies that were struck down.

Covering nearly all U.S. imports, the advantage of these tariffs in the Trump administration’s view is that they’re more firmly based on existing U.S. trade law, beyond the reach of the Supreme Court’s review. And Trump has said he envisions enacting many more of these so-called trade law tariffs.

As a trade economist who has been following the tariff wars, I believe that the longer these import taxes are in place, the more the consumers will bear their burden. The 2025 “Liberation Day” tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down, as well as other levies Trump announced after the February ruling, turned out to be temporary. But the bulk of the new levies are designed to be permanent.

That means that for consumers, the total cost burden is likely to increase even if the tariff rates don’t change – because the new tariffs will be stacked on older ones.

The cost squeeze

On one level, Trump’s tariff fixation is a mystery. Tariffs continue to be unpopular, and it’s unclear why Trump would double down on them before midterm elections when his approval ratings, including on the economy, are so low.

But on another level, Trump’s embrace of tariffs can be understood as an instrument of personal power. He has long viewed them as tools for negotiating leverage, and he recently declared that U.S. tariffs “aren’t high enough.” The president also has deflected criticism of their impact on consumer prices by claiming erroneously that foreigners pay for them.

Honor Life of Gloria Steinem ‘By Organizing’ for Rights, Equality, and Freedom

“Thank you, Gloria, for showing the world what it means to speak up for women’s equality.”

Jon Queally for Common Dreams

Progressive advocates, lawmakers, veteran journalists, labor leaders, and champions of feminism on Thursday are mourning the death of trailblazing women’s rights activist and author Gloria Steinem, who has passed away at the age of 92.

Steinem, regarded as an icon of the second-wave feminism that emerged in the 1960s and 70s and co-founder of Ms. Magazine, was known for decades as a leading voice on reproductive rights, women’s equality at work, and gender equity across society.

According to her representatives, Steinem died Wednesday at her home in New York City, surrounded by loved ones. An exact cause of death was not given.

“Gloria’s near-century on earth was years well-lived, and she continued working for equality until the very end,” read a message posted to her Instagram account.

“Gloria’s greatest gift was her ability to listen to others, to make others feel seen and heard,” the message continued. “Her words, actions, and example gave people permission to be their truest selves. Gloria lived true to her independent spirit, always with curiosity and a great sense of humor.”

Damage control

Get yer Trump buck. Only $2.40

 

SEIU leaders on why the union supports Helena Foulkes over Dan McKee

McKee’s record speaks for itself

By Jesse Martin and Victoria Mitchell

On a sunny day in May 2021, a crowd of excited nursing home workers, family members, and advocates gathered on the State House steps. The pandemic was easing; mask-wearing and social distancing were now optional. The workers - wearing scrubs or ‘Raise the Bar’ t-shirts - clustered around a folding table. There, Governor Daniel McKee sat, grinning, as he signed the Nursing Home Staffing and Quality Care Act into law.

It was a great day for nursing home caregivers, residents, and family members. We believed it was the beginning of safer, more dignified care for our loved ones and a commitment that 80% of any Medicaid increases would go toward worker wages. But five years later, the law - once one of Governor McKee’s crowning pandemic achievements - has become all but non-existent by the actions of the Governor himself.

This broken promise by Governor McKee deeply disappointed caregivers and residents who desperately needed the law’s protections. But it is not the only one. That’s why, this Labor Day, as we reflect on workers’ rights, our healthcare system and the economy, we - as leaders of SEIU 1199NE, the state’s largest healthcare union - conclude that the status quo cannot continue. We have had enough of McKee’s empty promises and have voted instead to endorse Helena Foulkes for Governor.

A recent article in the Providence Journal quotes McKee’s campaign spokesperson as saying, “Governor McKee’s record on labor and healthcare speaks for itself.” We could not agree more. Here are a few reasons why:

Six months after McKee signed the nursing home staffing law, he signed the first moratorium delaying enforcement, followed by a succession of executive orders suspending fines, the only enforcement mechanism to hold for-profit nursing home owners accountable. Finally, in December 2023, he suspended the law altogether.

Charlestown Mini-Super changing ownership

Local guy is new owner

By Bob Yarnall

The sale of Charlestown Mini-Super is imminent, according to long time store employees. 

 The iconic town landmark was purchased by the Charlie and Tim Beck in1981. The Beck Brothers owned and operated the business together for over forty years until Charlie passed away in 2024.  

The Mini-Super is thankfully staying in local hands, those of Charlestown resident Jeffery Hanks. Jeff has owned and operated Hanks Hardwood Floors since 2012. Continued success, Jeff!

A life well lived

‘Utterly Unsustainable’: Employer-Sponsored Healthcare Costs Set to Keep Surging

Bad choices no matter where you look

Brett Wilkins for Common Dreams

US workers with employer-sponsored health insurance are expected to spend an average of $5,297 on healthcare this year, including premiums deducted from their paychecks, deductibles, and copayments, according to a new estimate from benefits consulting giant Aon reported Thursday by The Wall Street Journal.

That’s $388 more than last year, and the pain is expected to intensify in 2027. According to a survey conducted by WTW, another consultant, US employers anticipate their healthcare costs will soar 11.1% next year. That could be the steepest increase in more than two decades, and would mark the fifth consecutive year of rising employer healthcare costs.

As the Journal noted, expensive cancer treatments and widespread adoption of weight loss drugs are among the factors driving up spending—and costs. For workers, that means larger deductions from their paychecks, higher out-of-pocket costs, and, for some, abandoning insurance altogether.

“Employers are telling us that this is utterly unsustainable,” WTW population health leader Jeff Levin-Scherz told the Journal.

Green Report Card Gives Rhode Island’s Climate Change Actions Bad Grade

Rep. Tina Spears and Sen. Victoria Gu score "A" grades, Sen. Elaine Morgan gets an "F"

By Rob Smith / ecoRI News staff

Tina and Victoria fought hard for the environment

Rhode Island has slowed its actions against climate change in the past two years, and environmental groups have found themselves playing defense.

That’s the takeaway from a new report by the Environment Council of Rhode Island (ECRI), a coalition of some 60 organizations dedicated to environmental advocacy. The group released its biennial Green Report Card on Aug. 27, less than two weeks before the state primary elections.

It’s a big difference from just four years ago, when the report card for the legislative sessions of 2021-2022 called them “the best two years of environmental policymaking” in state history.

Elaine Morgan didn't

“We need to act quickly and decisively to slash emissions from buildings and transportation and get on track to meet our climate commitments,” said Jordan Miller, ECRI’s executive director. “We must ensure that all our communities benefit from a just transition to a net-zero future. The next steps we take are vital if we want to secure a healthy and sustainable future for all Rhode Islanders.”

Environmental organizations have had a tough few years in the General Assembly. Of the 68 priority bills ECRI identified in 2025, only 21% passed the Legislature. The group fared a little better this year, with a third of its 78 endorsed bills securing passage out of legislative chambers.

None of the group’s eight top priority bills from the past two years passed into law. Those priorities included a package to fund the Rhode Island Public Transit Agency, new offshore wind procurement, a bottle bill and extended producer responsibility omnibus bill, and building benchmarking legislation.

That doesn’t mean the General Assembly has been completely hostile to the group’s priorities; ECRI noted in its Green Report Card that the past two years saw some significant wins in standards for labor and workforce development, new protections against PFAs and rodenticides, and a stronger Green Bond for voters in November.

Breaking news

Trump Downplays Significance Of Trump Tower Found On Epstein Island - The Onion

Charlestown Residents United asked for continued support from Charlestown voters

 

Community Update | Week of August 31, 2026 THANK YOU, CHARLESTOWN! What a Great Night at the Breachway Grill! A big thank you to everyone who joined us last week at The Breachway Grill for our Meet & Greet with the Candidates! We hope you had a great time, enjoyed the refreshments, and—most importantly—had the opportunity to meet the candidates, face-to-face. DID YOU MISS IT? No problem, you can still meet candidates. Join Us for the CRU Fundraiser! The campaign season is moving along—and we’re keeping the momentum going! Thursday, September 24, 2026 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM The Charlestown Rathskeller Enjoy an evening with friends, neighbors, and supporters of CRU!  Complimentary Fry Bar Light Fare Cash Bar Available Whether you’ve been involved from the beginning or are just getting to know CRU and our candidates, we’d love to see you there! Suggested donation $35, $50, 100+ RSVP/DONATE CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT MEET DEB CARNEY Current President, Charlestown Town Council Candidate for Re-Election 30 YEARS IN CHARLESTOWN Deb Carney has called Charlestown home for 30 years. Her connection to the community runs deep—and she says that's exactly why she wants to continue serving. “I love Charlestown and I want to continue working to make our town a wonderful place to live.” For Deb, public service is about more than holding office. It's about helping Charlestown remain the community residents know and love. HER VISION FOR CHARLESTOWN Maintain our low tax rate while ensuring effective town services. Support affordable housing and help address the needs of our community. Protect our rural community and preserve what makes Charlestown unique. Support small business and the local businesses that help make our town thrive. Expand recreation opportunities for residents of all ages. ACCESSIBLE. RESPONSIVE. INVOLVED. Deb makes herself available to the residents she represents and strives to respond to residents within 24 hours. Have a question or want to connect with Deb? Her phone number and email address are available on the Town of Charlestown website.  Above: Deb with George and Martha Washington at the 250th Celebration this year! YOU MAY NOT KNOW... Deb is the proud mother of a 32-year-old son, she is a commercial-rated pilot and Vice President of a small, family-owned business. And if you see Deb around town, there's a good chance she's doing what many of us love to do—enjoying Charlestown Beaches. There's more to Deb's story. Read Deb's full candidate profile—including more about her experience, priorities and vision for Charlestown—on the Charlestown Residents United website and click on her picture!  Re-Elect Deb Carney Charlestown Residents United (CRU) remains committed to keeping our community informed about important local events, town initiatives, and opportunities to meet the candidates seeking to represent us. CRU encourages you to participate in the events that help shape the future of our town. Add your email here to receive updates. Charlestown Residents United | PO Box 412 | Charlestown, RI 02813 US

Nearly one in five Medicaid-eligible adults may miss new 80-hour work rule

Trump covering health coverage for more people

By Boston University

Edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan

Map of the Proportion of Adults Age 18 to 64 Years at Risk of Noncompliance Who Were Plausible Medicaid Expansion Enrollees and Potentially Subject to Work-Reporting Requirements, by State. Credit: JAMA Health Forum (2026). DOI: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2026.2938

A new study found that nearly 20% of eligible adults in Medicaid expansion states are in danger of not meeting the minimum work hours that will be required nationwide beginning Jan. 1. Women, unmarried people, white individuals and those with limited education all had a higher risk of losing their health coverage due to noncompliance with these new requirements.

Up to 10 million people may lose Medicaid coverage in the United States due in part to new work requirements and eligibility redeterminations under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which mandates a reduction of nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid spending over a decade.

While the administrative burden associated with meeting and maintaining these work requirements is expected to be the primary driver of disenrollment, a new study led by researchers at Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina (Arnold School) found that millions of Medicaid enrollees may lose their health coverage because they are unable to achieve the required work hours.

Who is most at risk

Set to take effect nationwide on Jan. 1, 2027, the new federal Medicaid work reporting rules require adults enrolled in the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion to show that they are working, volunteering, enrolled in school and/or participating in job training for at least 80 hours per month, with certain groups exempt. But the new study found that nearly 20% of Medicaid-eligible adults living in states that expanded Medicaid are at risk of noncompliance because they are unlikely to fulfill the minimum required hours once the rules take effect. The findings are published in JAMA Health Forum.

Certain groups were more at risk of noncompliance than others. Women had a 22% higher probability of having insufficient or inconsistent work hours than men, while married Medicaid enrollees had an 18% lower probability of noncompliance than unmarried enrollees.

How patients write portal messages may affect whether doctors respond

Maybe AI should write your portal messages

By Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health

Edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan

Portal messages have become a routine way for patients to communicate with their health care teams. But a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health suggests that how patients write those messages can play a key role in whether—and by whom—they receive a response. The findings are published in JAMA Network Open.

Researchers analyzed more than 3.6 million patient portal message threads and found that patients from historically marginalized groups were generally less likely to receive responses from their care teams and, in particular, were less likely to receive responses from the messages' originally intended recipient—most often their doctor. The natural next question was "why?"

While the content of a message was an important predictor of care team response, it explained little of the differences by race, ethnicity, education or insurance. Writing style—including factors such as length, formality, sentiment and how a message opened—accounted for nearly half of those differences.

"Patient portal messages are an increasingly central channel for patient-clinician communication, but there are inequities in how responsive care teams are to messages sent by patients from historically marginalized groups," said Mitchell Tang, Ph.D., assistant professor of health policy and management at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health.

"Our findings suggest that message writing style may be a potential source of bias in message triage and point to possible ways to reduce these disparities."

Facing public criticism, Rep. Julie Casimiro resigns

Necessary but overdue

By Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current

Rep. Julie Casimiro is ending her final term in office early, confirming in a Monday afternoon email to Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha’s office that she is resigning at the close of the day.

The three-paragraph email, obtained by Rhode Island Current, comes amid mounting pressure for Casimiro to give up her seat — and legislative salary — because she no longer lives in Rhode Island. Casimiro, formerly of North Kingstown, moved to Hardeeville, South Carolina, as of July 1, as first reported by the Boston Globe. The 64-year-old Democratic lawmaker had already announced she would not seek reelection to the District 31 seat representing North Kingstown and Exeter after 10 years in office.

But she intended to serve out her fifth and final term to its completion, refusing to cave to calls to resign, including from House Speaker Christopher Blazejewski. Although state lawmakers only meet for the first six months of the year, their taxpayer-funded salary is spread across the entire calendar year. Casimiro was earning $800 every two weeks, plus health insurance, under the $20,922 annual salary for rank-and-file lawmakers.

“I would have preferred to quietly exit Rhode Island politics, but it seems as though that didn’t happen,” Casimiro wrote in the email.

Critics, including Neronha, cited the state constitutional qualifications for elected officeholders, which include state residency, as reason why Casimiro could no longer keep her seat. A separate section of state law also defines residency as a “fixed and established domicile,” determined by a “factual physical presence in the voting district on a regular basis incorporating an intention to reside for an indefinite period.” 

Neronha cited both sections of state law in an email to Casimiro Friday. He did not call on her to resign, but asked for a written explanation of how she met the state legal requirements to remain in office while living in South Carolina. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: Charlestown had a similar situation in 2022 when Charlestown Citizens Alliance Town Council member Cody Clarkin moved to Westerly but maintained the fiction that he still lived in Charlestown. Scout's Honor! CCA leader and Charlestown Planning Commissar needed Clarkin to continue on the Council to conserve the CCA's 3-2 majority. The CCA ended up losing that majority anyway due to their mishandling of Charlestown taxpayers' money when the Charlestown Residents United (CRU) walloped them at the polls.  - Will Collette