Special Ep: A Lively Discussion w Farmers, Journalists, & Advocates -- MAHA & Others -- About Farming Our Country's Food

Sep 16, 2025

Guest

Stephanie Nash

Join Michelle Miller, The Farm Babe, who sheds light on modern farming truths, and John Klar, a Vermont farmer and MAHA Report author, as they tackle the complexities of American agriculture. Michael Grunwald, a journalist focused on climate and food systems, shares insights into pesticide debates, while fourth-generation dairy farmer Stephanie Nash voices the need for sustainable farming. Together, they explore the challenges farmers face, the impact of agricultural policies, and the pressing need for transparency and trust in food production.

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INSIGHT

1960s Science Shifted How We See Pesticides

Silent Spring launched modern worries about pesticides and lasting chemical exposure.
The Maha report urged better public communication and targeted use studies but avoided new regulatory limits on farmers.

INSIGHT

Conflicting Glyphosate Assessments

Different expert bodies reached different conclusions about glyphosate's safety.
EPA says 'not likely carcinogenic' while IARC called glyphosate 'probably carcinogenic.'

ANECDOTE

Farmer Perspective: Pesticide Use Is Economically Driven

Michelle Miller described farming as a business that forces minimal input use to stay solvent.
She said modern seed genetics and GMOs have cut spray frequency to one or two applications early in the season.

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On today's episode, we are heading to the farm, which is where one of America's biggest debates is taking place over food, health, and who and what we trust.

Modern agriculture feeds the nation and the world, but its tools raise tough questions about long-term impacts on our health, not to mention our land. You'll hear from farmers, journalists and advocates -- some aligned with MAHA and others not -- as we dig into how we grow and harvest our food, the pressures on the population and on the planet, what we know and don't know about the harms of pesticides, and their take on the new MAHA Commission report on the topic of pesticides. And we will ask: would some in MAHA even break with the GOP if Congress moves to shield pesticide makers from lawsuits?

Hosts:

Brinda Adhikari

Tom Johnson

Maggie Bartlett

Dr. Mark Abdelmalek (off this episode)

Guests:

Stephanie Nash, a fourth-generation dairy farmer who lives and works in Tennessee. On IG, @nofarmsnofood

John Klar, operates a small farm in Vermont, and is an author for the MAHA Report, a popular newsletter; he is a supporter of Sec. Kennedy and MAHA's vision.

Michelle Miller, a popular presence on social media, @thefarmbabe, former corn and soybean farmer, she says she spends her time traveling the country unearthing the truth about modern farming and supporting farmers.

Erin Martin, founded Fresh RX Oklahoma, which prescribes local, regeneratively grown food to reverse food linked chronic disease in Oklahoma; co-lead Oklahoma Food is Medicine policy; frequent supporter of MAHA vision.

Michael Grunwald, who is a journalist focused on the climate, agriculture and author of a new book: "We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate.” He is a contributor to the New York Times opinion page and a former staff writer for the Washington Post, Time and Politico Magazine.

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