Heitkamp

The news I’ve seen about possible picks for Biden’s Secretary of Agriculture has coalesced around one issue: Heidi Heitkamp. She’s considered a frontrunner, but progressive groups hoping for serious change in U.S. food production are concerned she’s too closely allied to the status quo. So, lots of drama. This is a tremendous opportunity to do what I do best — get lost in the weeds, but instead of allowing myself to be drawn in, I’m going to leave you with a couple of links to follow if you’re so inclined. I, however, will be moving along in my attempt to sketch the political landscape.

For Heitkamp: The Grand Forks Herald argues that Heitkamp’s an advocate for rural issues, she knows agriculture, and she’s chummy with Biden and Harris, but suggests she might be opposed by environmental groups. So true.

Against Heitkamp: Food Tank sums up the opposing view.

Middle of the Road: Feedstuffs doesn’t take sides and says, “None of the major commodity groups – including the sometimes more progressive groups like the National Farmers Union and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition – have formally endorsed any of the discussed candidates.”

And this, right here, looks like the nut of the issue to me (from Mother Jones): “Heitkamp’s emergence soon after the election as the favorite for the position hints that Biden remains pulled to the centrist, corporate-friendly policies that have characterized his whole career. Whereas choosing Fudge would show an openness to making good on the transformational promises that propelled him to the job he has coveted for decades.”

Choosing Heitkamp might look like playing it safe, but in the face of the climate crisis, playing it safe may just be playing the wrong game altogether.