11/17/2021

My Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            I just watched the TV coverage of Danny Fenster’s homecoming where he talked about his love for his wife & his brother. Despite all he has been through he plans to continue his work as a journalist seeking truth. Thanks for whatever you may have done to help him get out. I’m sure he would appreciate a welcome home call from you.

            It looks like you had a scenic moment yesterday in NH standing on the Route 175 bridge over the Pemigewasset River touting the infrastructure bill while a gentle snow fell. I’m sure you talked about BBB, too. Today I learned that it includes lots of “niche” spending including tax subsidies for folks to buy electric bikes, $$ so that doulas can be covered by Medicaid & a payroll tax credit for local media. A little bit for everyone, what a nice Christmas gift!

            Did you see today’s WP piece about a pie shortage? It’s brilliant journalism using the plight of Mike’s Pies in FL to highlight issues with our food supply brought on by climate change. Mike’s biggest problem is getting graham cracker crumbs, but many of their other ingredients are in short supply. Madagascar is producing less vanilla; the upper Mid-west has fewer honeybees & the cows in WI are stressed out so sweetened condensed milk is pricey. A pumpkin fungus broke out in IL this July so prices of that squash were up 7% this year.

If my dad were alive, he would be having a blast trading red spring wheat. Prices are at an all-time high due to drought conditions. He always bragged that the US had the world’s lowest food prices due to our phenomenal ag advances. It looks like the days of cheap food may be over. I hope Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is up to the task of shepherding our farmers into a new age of climate friendly practices & helping Americans understand that devoting our resources to food production is a worthy investment.

BYBS,