While he says it’s still too early to get a clear picture of the upcoming elections, Capitol Hill veteran analyst Jim Wiesemeyer foresees the possibility of a Republican sweep of the White House, Senate and House of Representatives. He cites polling by his friend David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report and other sources that suggest a very close race for president but adds, “Law and order will prevail, much like it did in the 1968 election.”
Wiesemeyer provides a number of insights on Unscripted, a new Farm Journal podcast hosted by AgDay’s Clinton Griffiths and U.S. Farm Report’s Tyne Morgan. Each week, the podcast features Farm Journal hosts and editors sharing behind-the-scenes observations on the stories they’ve covered, giving viewers a unique opportunity to meet the personalities behind the personalities.
The inaugural episode of Unscripted was posted on Friday, May 10.
On that first episode, Wiesemeyer, a long-time D.C. analyst for Pro Farmer and regular guest on AgriTalk, offers informed insights on everything from the upcoming election to the importance of the next farm bill. “I think whoever wins the presidential race, that ups the odds that his party will win the House,” Wiesemeyer says, adding the races will be critical in determining extensions of the 2017 tax cuts and biofuel tax incentives.
But Unscripted is not just all about politics and gravitas. There’s a lot of levity, too. Segments are named using current Gen Z slang phrases, from “Talkin’ Tea” to “What the Sigma?”. The hosts and guests choose the craziest headline they’ve read or written during the week, and they also share what’s happening with their families. “This is where we get personal,” says Morgan. On the first episode, they discuss juggling kids’ events while meeting professional obligations and debate the best restaurant in Kansas City. In the end, Morgan christens Wiesemeyer “the O.G. of Ag reporting.”
“We’re not just going off-script,” Morgan says. “We’re throwing out the script altogether.” Look for new episodes of Unscripted every Friday on the Farm Journal YouTube channel.
