One of President Trump’s political appointees at USDA, Tucker Stewart, had a colorful Capitol Hill history, and now a sexually explicit story he supposedly wrote is making the rounds.
As first reported by Politico, the 28-page story, focusing on a cowboy who moved to D.C. and shares his detailed sexual exploits, was shared with fellow Hill staffers when Stewart worked for Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan. Now, Stewart is a deputy assistant secretary for congressional relations.
Agri-Pulse obtained a copy of the story on Sunday. Neither USDA nor Stewart responded to our request for comment.
By the way: In 2022, we also received a copy of one of his Tik Tok videos in which he appeared to be in a congressional office listening to music in his boxer shorts, before getting dressed in his suit and boots. It was tagged #inmyboots #lawyer #cowboy. That video has since been removed.
Treasury secretary defends tariffs, but concedes refunds possible
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the administration is staying the course with its use of tariffs. But he told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday that the administration would refund tariffs if the Supreme Court rules that President Donald Trump lacked the legal authority to implement them.
Besssent also brushed off concerns about recent jobs numbers, citing the strong stock market.
“We’re not going to do economic policy off of one number,” Bessent said, referring to the poor August employment data released Friday. “We believe that good policies are in place that are going to create good high-paying jobs for the American people.”
Bessent also brushed off concerns that John Deere is struggling to deal with tariffs. “For every John Deere we have companies who are telling us, ‘The tariffs have helped our business,’” Bessent said.
A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled last month that Trump improperly used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. trading partners. Asked if the tariffs would be refunded should the ruling be upheld, Bessent said, “If the court says it, we'd have to do it.”
House to consider grain inspection authorization
This week, the House is set to consider a five-year reauthorization of the federal grain inspection program. The bill includes some updates aimed in part at promoting new technology.
The measure would require USDA to “prioritize the adoption of improved grain grading technology.” The bill also would exempt equipment and technology costs from a 30% cap on administrative and supervisory expenses that may be incurred under the law. The cap is intended to limit the overall cost of the program.
Also on tap: A top adviser to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the administration’s Make America Healthy Again strategy will be released this week. The White House didn’t respond to a request to confirm the release schedule.
For more on this week’s agenda, read our Washington Week Ahead.
Don’t miss: We’ve posted a transcript of our full unedited interview with House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson. Read it here.
Pork producers in D.C. to pitch Prop 12 fix
Members of the National Pork Producers Council are in town for their legislative action conference this week, and they’ll be using the visit to lobby for legislation to roll back Proposition 12 requirements on sow housing.
On Wednesday, they’ll be setting up a Fix Prop 12 Food Truck on Capitol Hill.
Here’s the menu:
- The Farm Bill Roll-Up: Pancake-Wrapped Sausage with Syrup Dipper
- The McFix Prop 12 Muffin: Ham & Egg English Muffin
- The Supply Chain Sunrise: Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit
- Morning Fuel: Coffee & Juice
What’s next: Thompson wants to include a Prop 12 provision in the skinny farm bill his committee hopes to move this fall.
NFU members talking farm bill, antitrust concerns
National Farmers Union members are flying to D.C. this week to urge lawmakers to finish the farm bill and provide “immediate assistance for farmers facing financial uncertainty,” the group said.
“Family agriculture is reaching a breaking point, and farmers, ranchers and consumers need policymakers to act now,” the group says.
NFU members plan to meet with top officials at USDA and the Justice Department “to share the current, real-world challenges they face on their farms,” NFU says.
EPA launches food waste initiative
EPA has launched a new initiative meant to reduce food waste by connecting donors to hungry households.
EPA administrator Lee Zeldin announced the new program in a visit Friday to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, where representatives from Frey Farms trucked in leftover produce to give to military families.
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The initiative is meant to help reduce food waste, according to a press release. An EPA report from earlier this year estimated consumers lose $728 annually to food waste.
Canada lifts some tariffs on U.S. goods
Canada has lifted 25% tariffs that it had placed on several products in March, with the exception of those on steel, aluminum and automobiles.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had announced his intent to remove the retaliatory tariffs in late August, noting that the U.S. had agreed to not subject goods compliant with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement to Trump’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariffs.
Founding Farmers gets welcome second look
Washington’s Founding Farmers restaurant got a second look from a critic who had found it wanting when he visited nine years ago. Founding Farmers launched as a project of the North Dakota Farmers Union, and there are now a series of sister restaurants in the D.C. area.
The Washington Post’s Tom Sietsema had famously panned the eatery, giving it zero out of four stars. This time, the establishment fared better, though Sietsema no longer uses stars to rate restaurants. He said the wings and cornbread had improved.
“Both appetizers have since reached their potential. Larger wings — seemingly from a grown chicken — pulse with garlic and gain interest with a squeeze of lime. The cornbread, served hot in a skillet, is cakey in texture and swirled with corn kernels. Alas, the meat loaf proves as compact and salty as I remember it.
The entrée’s mashed potatoes, on the other hand, are skin-on and buttery.”
Sietsema advises diners to stick with Founding Farmers’ strong suits: generous portions of greens, chicken, fish and “parts of breakfast.”
Final word
“President Trump was elected for change. And we are going to push through with the economic policies that are going to set the economy right.” – Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Meet the Press Sunday.
Philip Brasher, Lydia Johnson and Noah Wicks contributed to today’s Daybreak.
