Would You Only Eat “Made in USA” Beef? & Being a Bridesmaid is Becoming Too Costly

SPEAKER_1 (0:01)

This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required compatibility and availability varies 18 plus.

Neal Freyman (0:27)

Good Morning Brew Daily show. I'm Neal Freyman.

Olivia Lake (0:30)

And I'm Olivia Lake.

Neal Freyman (0:31)

Today, do you care whether your beef is made in the USA?

Olivia Lake (0:35)

And has being a bridesmaid become too expensive? It's Friday, September 18th. Let's ride.

Neal Freyman (0:48)

Well, this is exciting. Subbing in for Toby today is Olivia Lake, our associate producer. You hear in the credits every day, making her MBD hosting debut. I couldn't be more excited. Liv, one question. How do you feel about cats?

Olivia Lake (1:02)

If I wasn't so deathly allergic, I think I would love them more, but I do think that they're very cute.

Neal Freyman (1:07)

Okay, well, what if I told you that a new cat just dropped? For the first time in more than a century, a new species of cat has been identified that was previously unknown to science. It's called the Tilkayo tiger cat, and it's a little spotted guy who lives in the Bolivian cloud forest. Scientists found it when a local man brought one to his home thinking it was a domestic cat, until he realized, no, this thing was wild and turned it over to a wildlife sanctuary. Liv, how are you feeling about this new feline?

Olivia Lake (1:36)

You guys all need to look up the picture because this thing is so cute. It's got cute little ears that I've never seen on a cat before, and then it has little leopard spots. I, yeah, if I wasn't so allergic, I would go straight for this species, but it might not like me back.

And now a word from our sponsor, hotels.com. Neal, did you know they have hotels that are just for dogs?

Neal Freyman (1:57)

Yeah.

Olivia Lake (1:58)

Well, I didn't, and I stayed at one for a work trip. It was rough.

Neal Freyman (2:02)

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Olivia Lake (2:11)

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Neal Freyman (2:21)

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Olivia Lake (2:33)

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Neal Freyman (2:44)

It's National Cheeseburger Day and no doubt you're planning to celebrate by making your signature patty, stunning guests with its juiciness. But as you pick up ground beef from the grocery store, you'll find that unlike other common food items, you won't be able to see which country that beef is from. The question of beef's country of origin is front and center. After the Trump administration allowed 300,000 metric tons of beef trimmings to be imported from abroad at a reduced tariff rate to cool skyrocketing prices, a move that's outraged cattle ranchers here in the US for meddling in the market and hurting their business. Yesterday, the New York Times reported that the administration is exploring a middle way that aims to appease ranchers, but also help out consumers. Require a label on beef that will display its country of origin. The idea is that if you know that beef is made in the USA, you'll pay a premium for it. While if it's not, you can scoop it up at a lower price. It's not definitely gonna happen. But officials are going to review regulations, provide an economic analysis of what could happen should the labeling be enacted, and decide whether to move forward with the issue within 90 days. If it does, it'd mark the next drastic move the White House has taken to make beef less expensive, but ranchers remain wary. Liv, I had no idea some foods require an origin country label while others did not.

Olivia Lake (4:01)

Yeah, this is crazy. I had no idea about this. According to the New York Times, beef actually did require origin labeling at one point. The 2002 Farm Bill required retailers to put origin labels on fresh beef and a number of other meats and fruits and veggies, and then an expansion passed in 2008 that added chicken to that list. But then Canada and Mexico complained to the World Trade Organization, and they argued that the requirements violated their trade agreements, and it caused them millions of dollars that they had to spend to comply.