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New York Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Farmers Are Turning on MAHA
The livelihoods of American small farmers are based on precariously thin profit margins. During the 2024 election, this group of Americans gravitated further toward President Trump's promises to improve wages and lower inflation. Farmers' support for Mr. Trump also swelled thanks to endorsements from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose Make America Healthy Again messaging around combating chronic disease and improving diet and nutrition has resonated strongly with many Americans. Those in the agricultural and food sectors interested in making fresh, healthier foods more accessible to the public believed Mr. Kennedy's elevation as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services would lead to policies that supported their work. Instead Mr. Kennedy has cast doubt, fairly or not, on the utility of established industrial farming practices, such as pesticide use. He has stood by as programs beneficial to American farmers have been cut. And the health secretary's policies are not based in sound, established science; the fact that his department's Make America Healthy Again Commission report, released in May, had several false and misleading citations has shaken some supporters' confidence in him. As someone who lives in a rural part of the country among many who share the goals of the MAHA movement, I'm keenly aware of the frustration some in the agricultural community are feeling. I talked to many farmers over the past three months, and they all found Mr. Kennedy's hypocrisy troubling. His unwillingness to stand up to policies within his own administration that undermine American farmers suggests, to them, that he is either too meek to push back or disingenuous about his commitment to his goals. Either way, Mr. Kennedy's response to farmers thus far indicates his MAHA agenda isn't really about meaningful impact; it's a rallying cry aimed at keeping himself in power. Mr. Kennedy 'owes a lot to the president and the administration for even putting him into this role to begin with,' said Will Westmoreland, a farmer from Polk County, Mo., who also runs a Democratic Party-aligned political strategy firm. 'And I think that causes him not to speak out because he doesn't want to rock the boat.' Mr. Westmoreland's critiques of Mr. Kennedy are not solely about politics — he's not opposed to the secretary's general stance on healthy food, but feels that 'there are a lot more effective voices out there for better agriculture, better food and better policies for rural America than him.' Nutrition is a core component of Mr. Kennedy's and the administration's stated goals. Under Mr. Kennedy's leadership, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health are beginning research to determine the harm of ultraprocessed foods and food additives. An executive order signed in February instructed federal agencies to work 'with farmers to ensure that United States food is the healthiest, most abundant and most affordable in the world.' In May, Mr. Kennedy declared, 'We cannot make America healthy again without the partnership with the American farmers.' But when it comes to the nuts and bolts of what actually gets enacted, the administration's actions in the ensuing months have only made life harder for farmers like the ones I spoke to. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
$372K In Lobbying And A Push For Family Rights From An Unlikely Ally
Some companies engage in lobbying that has little to do with the needs of their customers. Often, the focus is on protecting profit margins, preserving market share, or avoiding costly operational changes. That can mean pushing to loosen safety or transparency rules, resisting reforms that raise production costs, or reshaping legal definitions to fit what the company already offers. Publicly, these brands may speak the language of social responsibility; privately, their policy positions preserve loopholes, delay progress, or keep competitors out. Every so often, a company does the opposite. It uses its influence to advocate for customer needs, not just its bottom line. This is rare. And in 2025, one of the most surprising examples came from a brand better known for dating culture than family policy. Grindr Enters the Policy Arena With Purpose Grindr, widely recognized as a dating app, stepped into the policy arena with purpose. In the second quarter of 2025, the company spent $372,000 on lobbying for expanded access to surrogacy and IVF, tax deductibility for related expenses, and updated legal definitions of reproductive healthcare. CEO George Arison, who has two children through surrogacy, had a personal stake in the work. That spring, Grindr brought its lobbying in-house, creating a government affairs team to lead the charge. Its priorities: make it easier and more affordable for same-sex couples to build families through surrogacy and IVF, expand the tax code's definition of reproductive healthcare, and support HIV prevention and treatment programs. In December 2024, Grindr announced a $300,000 family-building benefit spread over five years and available to each eligible employee. Administered by Carrot Fertility, the program covers 80% of costs for adoption, surrogacy, and fertility treatments. It also includes hormonal healthcare such as menopause care and low testosterone treatment. Paired with 20 weeks of paid parental leave and a hybrid work model, it's one of the most comprehensive packages in the tech sector. Lobbying Backed by Bipartisan Engagement A company spokesperson told Forbes: 'We have been working hard to educate lawmakers on the issue on a bipartisan basis, and have also directly engaged the Trump Administration at the cabinet level to encourage regulatory updates that could allow for a broadened definition of eligible reproductive healthcare expenses and empower businesses to support all families – LGBTQ+ couples, individuals with health conditions, and other hopeful parents in creating the families of their dreams.' The gap is significant. U.S. tax law still largely blocks same-sex couples from deducting surrogacy expenses, and even IVF costs linked to surrogacy often don't qualify. Most employer health plans exclude surrogacy entirely even if they cover some IVF treatments. Some explicitly exclude any surrogacy-related medical care. The result: even 'family-friendly' employers can't close the gap without creating their own benefit programs. Redefining a 'Family-Friendly' Company Since January, a quarter of eligible Grindr employees have enrolled. One employee and his husband are expecting their first child. For Arison, the effort is personal and policy-driven: 'I'm very lucky to have two kids through surrogacy… I believe that small, targeted changes in public policy – such as making all surrogacy expenses, which are ultimately medical expenses, tax deductible – could make it far easier and more affordable for gay men to have children. In the meantime, I wanted Grindr to play a role by leading on what we offer employees and advance such policies on a larger scale.' By combining lived experience, robust internal benefits, and strategic lobbying alongside direct advocacy, Grindr challenges the idea that family-building benefits belong to a certain kind of company. It shows how corporate influence can widen the path to parenthood, making it accessible to more people, in more ways, than most would imagine.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Businesses are charging each other higher prices, a warning sign for consumers
Fresh inflation data suggests businesses have begun to raise the prices they charge each other for goods and services, a sign they are looking to preserve their profit margins in the face of President Donald Trump's tariffs — with consumers potentially footing the bill. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday that wholesale inflation surged in July, with the increases led by a category called trade services. Those reflect how much more wholesalers charge above initial costs to maintain or even increase their earnings rate. The category increased 6.9% on the year in July, the largest gain since March 2022, when pandemic-era inflation began to soar. 'Businesses were hesitant to raise prices charged to consumers last month, but the prices they charge each other are rising faster, with big increases touching many categories of goods and services,' Bill Adams, chief economist at Comerica Bank, said in a note. Thursday's report stands in contrast to the consumer inflation report published this week that showed a somewhat more subdued price growth picture. Analysts say the latest report on the costs that businesses are facing suggests consumers won't be left unscathed for long — and throws some doubt on whether the Federal Reserve will adjust interest rates for the rest of the year, and, if so, how. Stocks were lower in trading Thursday as investors dialed back expectations for Fed rate cuts. When inflation is hot, the Fed tends to keep interest rates elevated to curb overall economic activity. 'The large spike in the Producer Price Index (PPI) this morning shows inflation is coursing through the economy, even if it hasn't been felt by consumers yet,' Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Northlight Asset Management, said in a note. He called the high PPI number an 'unwelcome surprise' that is 'likely to unwind some of the optimism of a 'guaranteed' rate cut next month.' A report this week suggested that while consumers are so far only paying approximately 22% of the cost of Trump's tariffs, the figure is likely to rise to as much as 67% by the end of the year. Trump has disputed that forecast but, on Wednesday, a Goldman economist defended its estimates. 'If the most recent tariffs, like the April tariff, follow the same pattern that we've seen with those earliest February tariffs, then eventually, by the fall, we estimate that consumers would bear about two-thirds of the cost,' David Mericle said Wednesday on CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street.' Some analysts were more sanguine about the report. Samuel Tombs, head of U.S. economics at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said the jump in the trade services category is likely to be revised lower in subsequent reports, while other aspects of the latest data are too volatile from which to draw conclusions. 'The tariffs are continuing to create cost pressures … but July's PPI data overstate the intensity,' he wrote on X. On Friday, the BLS will publish import price data for July, which will provide further insight into how tariffs costs are being absorbed. 'The administration believes that foreign manufacturers will 'pay' much of the tariff by accepting lower prices in order to maintain market share,' James Knightley, chief international economist at ING, said in a note. 'Tomorrow will be an interesting test.' The Labor Department also reported Thursday that unemployment claims remain elevated, though they declined compared to the previous week. Economists are now zeroing in on September's jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, whose data has come under fire by Trump. His nominee, E.J. Antoni, whom he selected to head the agency after he fired its previous commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, must still be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Ultimately, Thursday's inflation report 'is a pebble on the scale against a rate cut at the Fed's next decision in September,' Comerica's Adams wrote. 'Even so, the upcoming jobs data will weigh more heavily in the Fed's decision making than this inflation report.' This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Carlsberg Malaysia to raise beer prices in September to protect margins amid flat sales
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 — Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd plans a modest price increase on beer starting September 1, 2025 in a move it said was aimed at protecting profit margins amid rising costs and weak demand, as sales volume is expected to remain flat this year. The price adjustment will only apply to the Malaysian market, according to a report published in The Edge. The company's managing director Stefano Clini said the increase would be in the single digits and noted the announcement was unusual, as the company rarely discloses pricing details publicly. 'Our objective is to protect our margin. We're not aiming to expand them, but we are committed to ensuring they're not eroded,' Clini said during a media briefing. He pointed out that the absence of early stockpiling ahead of Chinese New Year and weaker festive demand could put a dent in annual sales volume by 3 to 4 per cent. The prike hike may lead to a short-term drop in consumption lasting two to three months, Clini warned, but it is too early to assess the long-term impact. Despite investing hundreds of millions in infrastructure upgrades, the company has managed to keep production costs stable, a rare achievement according to Clini. 'That's more than what most companies would achieve — typically, you'd expect costs to rise after such investment,' he said. He said that weak consumer sentiment, inflation, and global uncertainties continue to weigh on spending. Meanwhile in Singapore, Carlsberg faces intense price competition, described by Clini as 'value-destructive.' He said the company had to respond to maintain market share but does not expect growth there this year. A recovery is hoped for in 2026 if market conditions stabilise. Carlsberg Malaysia's corporate affairs director Pearl Lai addressed potential 'pro-health' taxes under Malaysia's 13th Plan, which could target alcohol, tobacco, and vaping products, and warned that higher taxes might drive consumers toward illegal products, which do not generate tax revenue. Lai said that Malaysia already has some of the world's highest alcohol taxes, with the last increase in 2016. The company is engaging regulators to advocate for stable tax policies. Shares in Carlsberg Malaysia closed two sen higher at RM17.28 on Tuesday, valuing the group at RM5.28 billion. The stock has fallen 16.4 per cent year-to-date.
Wall Street Journal
11-08-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Asian Currencies Consolidate Ahead of U.S. July CPI Data
0017 GMT — Asian currencies consolidate against the dollar in the early session ahead of U.S. July CPI data due Tuesday. U.S. tariff revenue continues to increase every month and will erode profit margins if businesses don't raise selling prices, three members of CBA's Global Economic & Markets Research say in a research report. If the U.S. July core CPI is stronger than expected by economists, risks are that the greenback recoups some of its recent losses, the members add. USD/KRW is little changed at 1,389.20, USD/CNH is steady at 7.1891, and USD/SGD is flat at 1.2847, LSEG data show. (
