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Only Republican beef need apply [1]

['News Corpse']

Date: 2026-08-26  

I read in Politico today that Trump signed his beef import plan. This is despite the backlash he was getting from beef producers around the country. It’s been all over internet media today, with good reason. It’s a really stupid policy that throws American beef producers under the bus because Trump thinks it will win him votes.

The proclamation will remove tariffs from 300,000 metric tons of imported lean beef trimmings for 90 days. Trump, who is clearly a master of economic theory, said the countries supplying the beef would sell it at 25 percent below current market prices. It’s obvious why ranchers and farmers don’t like it. It cuts into their own profits.

This is an extremely unpopular idea and he’s getting flack, not only from agricultural interests, but from those GOP Senate candidates who are running in the states with heavy ranching activity.

Guess which states are the top three beef producers: Texas, at number one with about 12.2 million head, Nebraska, number two with about 6.05 million and Kansas, number three with 5.95 million!

Of course, we all know what’s happening in Texas with the Talarico/Paxton race. Paxton isn’t performing very well, and there are a lot of ranchers and farmers in rural Texas. Just how many will this push over the edge to either stay home, or vote for Talarico?

Then there is Nebraska, where the independent candidate, Dan Osborn, who Democrats supported in the primary, is running against Republican Pete Ricketts. The most recent poll (today) has the race neck and neck. The new policy may not be of concern to a large number of voters, but most who are affected will be Republicans, and in a tight race, it could make a difference.

Lastly, there is Democrat Adam Hamilton running against incumbent Republican Roger Marshall in the Kansas Senate race. Hamilton is the pastor of a megachurch with the largest Methodist congregation in the US. He’s a great speaker, and is running a strong campaign. Kansas hasn’t sent a Democrat to the Senate since 1932, but if anyone can do it, it’s Hamilton in this particular year. The Kansas Livestock Association, which supported Marshall in 2016 and 2020, has not endorsed him this time round. And, the Cook Political Report recently changed Kansas from Likely Republican to Lean Republican. Not a good sign for the incumbent.

I doubt this new beef policy will make a huge difference. But, it’s another action Trump has taken which hurts his base, and pushes moderate Republicans away.

Democrats need all the help they can get this year and at the very least, well…every little beef helps!

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/8/26/800089899/community/wheres-the-beef/

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