Monopolies in Agriculture: Historical Context and Modern Challenges

Most Americans know their food passes through many hands before reaching their plates, but few realize just how concentrated that chain of production has become. In this final episode of the season, antitrust lawyer Basel Musharbash reveals how roughly three dozen corporations have come to dominate nearly every aspect of America's food system, from farm to table.

Drawing from his recent report "Kings Over the Necessaries of Life," Musharbash traces this consolidation through pivotal moments in American history, from the sweeping reforms of the 1930s New Deal to the deregulation of the 1970s and 80s. He tells Matt and David how today's agricultural giants wield their market power to shape everything from seed prices to distribution networks, often at the expense of farmers and consumers alike.