President Trump is weighing a plan to import Argentine beef to curb rising U.S. prices. Experts say the move would have little effect because Argentina’s quota is only 20,000 tons, less than 2% of U.S. beef imports. Argentina mainly sells premium beef, not the bulk products needed for U.S. consumers. Experts say lifting tariffs on Brazilian beef could have a greater impact, since Brazil could supply up to 250,000 tons by 2026. (Story URL)
The White House plans to demolish the entire East Wing as early as this weekend to make way for President Trump’s proposed $200 million ballroom. A White House official confirmed the East Wing will be “modernized,” though plans have not yet been submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission. The National Trust for Historic Preservation urged a pause, warning the project could alter the White House’s design. (Story URL)
Senior Republican lawmakers are criticizing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new rule restricting Pentagon staff from speaking directly with Congress. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole called the policy “ill-advised” and said it “is not going to work.” Hegseth’s October 15 memo requires Defense Department employees to get approval from the Office of Legislative Affairs before contacting lawmakers. (Story URL)
North Carolina’s Republican-led legislature has approved new congressional boundaries designed to strengthen the party’s position in the 2026 midterm election. Lawmakers passed the plan 66-48 after ending debate early. The map is expected to add one Republican seat and reduce the voting influence of Black residents in a district they have long represented. Legal challenges are expected as critics seek to overturn the plan. (Story URL)
Wholesale turkey prices will average $1.32 per pound this year, up 40% from 2024’s $0.94 per pound, according to a September USDA report. The price surge stems from reduced turkey supply as farmers raised 195 million turkeys in 2025 compared to 200 million in 2024. More than 3 million turkeys were affected by bird flu outbreaks this year, including over half a million this month alone. (Story URL)
