Washington Today Weekend Edition: Farmers, College & Trump Administration Pardons
Dec 13, 2025
Mike Stranz, Vice President of Advocacy at the National Farmers Union, dives into the challenges facing U.S. agriculture, like the impacts of tariffs and rising farm bankruptcies. Jason Altmire, CEO of Career Education Colleges and Universities, discusses a new poll revealing shifting perceptions about four-year degrees and the growing appeal of trade schools. Finally, Kim Wehle, law professor and legal contributor, analyzes executive power as it relates to Trump's pardons and suggests reforms for greater transparency and oversight.
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Farm Revenues Trail Rising Input Costs
- Farmers face four years of revenues below input costs, creating acute liquidity strain.
- Mike Stranz says the new Farmer Bridge Assistance Program offers short-term relief amid a broader farm economic crisis.
Farmers Lack Market Power
- Farmers are price takers with limited market power against multinational firms in the supply chain.
- Stranz links tariffs and lost export markets to downward pressure on commodity prices, especially soybeans.
China Soybean Demand Still Lagging
- China has not fully restored purchases to pre-tariff levels and logistical limits prevent instant market recovery.
- Stranz estimates China is buying about half of promised soybean volumes, prolonging price weakness.
