In the first half, rural policy expert Brian Reisinger addressed the alarming decline of American family farms, which have been disappearing at a rate of 45,000 per year for the past century. He highlighted that this loss results not only from farmland being converted to development but also from bankruptcies and consolidation in the industry. Explaining the paradox of being "land rich, cash poor," he noted that rising farmland values contrast with decreasing farm incomes, forcing families into a difficult choice: sell their land and lose their heritage or continue struggling financially.
Reisinger graded the nation's food supply safety a "C," citing its growing vulnerability. While consumers can still access food, the supply chain is fragile and prone to disruption, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent bird flu outbreaks, underscoring the systemic risks in a highly consolidated food supply network. Despite extensive government regulation, food safety issues persist, he remarked, adding that the disappearance of family farms undermines competition and innovation, leading to higher prices and less secure food availability.
He detailed how farmland is increasingly concentrated in fewer hands, including large corporate farms, investors like Bill Gates, and foreign parties such as the Chinese. Reisinger stressed that preserving small family farms is critical to safeguarding food security, calling them "a force field of bulwark" against foreign control. He also discussed government policies, noting a lack of understanding from both major political parties about the farming crisis. Expressing hope grounded in the resilience of farm families, he advocated for policy changes to support small farms transitioning to sustainable, local food production instead of trapping farmers in chemical-intensive, large-scale commodity crops.
--------
In the latter half, John Olsen, paranormal investigator and author of the "Stranger Bridgerland" book series, shared insights from his 30-plus years of experience collecting firsthand paranormal accounts. His fascination with the supernatural began at age eight when he encountered phenomena in his own home that included phantom knocks, and missing objects, along with sightings of a "full body apparition [of] an old farmer with a wide-brimmed hat and overalls." His latest work, "Stranger Idaho," highlights the state's diverse landscape, rich supernatural folklore, and many paranormal stories.
Among the most chilling encounters Olsen recounted were those involving "shadow creatures" or "the watchers," particularly in wilderness settings where the entities were reportedly much larger than the ones observed in people's homes. One story involved "three figures... around 20 feet tall, bulky shadow figures" that silently observed a group of teenagers from a Wyoming mountain ridge. "They just tend to stand and watch... and exude this energy of unease," he said of the entities. He also shared a poignant account of a woman who, during episodes of family violence as a child, was comforted by an unknown elderly lady who would suddenly show up and take her by the hand and hide her.
He described a rare UFO encounter from the 1970s in Utah, where two hikers witnessed a glowing craft landing and saw "a rather tall figure" inside the doorway. The next day, the hikers observed several spots "where these big pads had crushed the safety brush" in the location where the mysterious craft had been. Olsen also discussed his role in assisting families troubled by paranormal activity. He shared a case where a young girl's unexplained illness coincided with disturbing supernatural phenomena. He coordinated with religious leaders to "bless the house" and "seal the property," which helped the family find peace and improved the girl's physical and emotional health.
News segment guests: Lauren Weinstein, Mike Bara