USDA Launches Pro-Trump Propaganda Podcast
October 8, 2019

US Department of Agriculture launches pro-Trump propaganda podcast
Farm policy was discussed only briefly on the inaugural podcast, and when it was, guest Sarah Huckabee Sanders falsely said Trump’s trade war with China is causing only a “minor economic hit”

WRITTEN BY TIMOTHY JOHNSON

PUBLISHED 10/08/19 4:07 PM EDT

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently launched a new podcast, and the first episode was largely devoted to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue heaping praise on President Donald Trump with the help of former White House press secretary and current Fox News contributor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. During the 20-plus-minute podcast, Perdue and Sanders spent much of their time celebrating Trump for loving America, fighting “for what he believes is right,” having “genuine, sincere affection for our farmers” and “an amazing instinctive ability to make decisions,” and being “incredibly smart,” “a tough New Yorker,” and “one of the most fun, engaging, charming, charismatic people.”

Though the USDA website describes the podcast’s focus as “the issues facing America’s farmers,” there was almost no discussion of farm policy. In one instance where farm policy was actually discussed, Sanders called Trump’s trade war with China that is devastating American farmers a “minor economic hit.”

The first episode of The Sonnyside of the Farm was released on October 4. According to the USDA website, Perdue will be talking to guests “about the issues facing America’s farmers, ranchers, producers and foresters today.” The USDA encourages people “from USDA or out in the country” to “tune in the first Friday of every month to hear from Secretary Perdue himself.” The inaugural episode is available on the USDA website and YouTube channel, and it’s being promoted by the USDA’s Twitter and Facebook accounts.

For the first episode, Perdue traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas, to talk with Sanders, who is now a Fox News contributor and is reportedly mulling a run for governor of Arkansas.

Anyone tuning in with the hopes of hearing about issues facing farmers -- and there are a lot at the moment -- would have been disappointed with the first episode. The vast majority of the podcast featured Perdue and Sanders taking turns complimenting Trump. Among the over-the-top praise:

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