Squawk Pod: Affording Food: Agriculture Sec. Rollins & Chef Lidia Bastianich - 11/24/25

Economic & Geopolitical News - US and Ukraine officials made progress in talks for a peace plan backed by President Trump [2] - European aerospace and defense index dropped more than 1%, after falling more than 3% on Friday [2] - President Trump met with New York City's mayor-elect, Zoran Mandami, focusing on the high cost of living [2] - Congressman Marjgerie Taylor Green announced she will resign from Congress on January 5th [2] Agriculture & Trade - Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins discussed aid for farmers, the soybean trade, and rising costs of food, labor, and fuel [3] - The Trump administration is removing tariffs on Brazilian coffee and beef to ease food costs for Americans [3] - Under Joe Biden, there was an increase in inputs interest rate 73%, fertilizer 36%, and labor increased 47% [6] - The US went from an agriculture trade surplus under Trump to a $50 billion deficit [15] - China is back to buying soybeans, with 12 million metric tons this year and 25 million metric tons over the next few years [18] Inflation & Healthcare - The Trump administration is working on bringing down healthcare costs, with an expected announcement this week [2] - Inflation numbers were down to 29%, after a high of 9% [27] - The average Thanksgiving meal is down about 5%, turkey is down 17%, and dinner rolls are down 22% [27] - Mortgage rates are down about $200 on average per month [27] Consumer & Food Industry - Food is up all over for restaurants, wholesale, and retail, and everybody's feeling the pinch [38] - Thanksgiving dinner itself is cheaper this year than it was last year, partly due to turkey prices being down about 17% [48] - Chef Lydia Bastionic recommends buying seasonally and using legumes to manage food costs [39][40]