After a summer break, Farms and Frontlines returns with a deep dive into one of the most fascinating intersections of agriculture and Cold War politics: the 1972 Wheat Deal, better known as The Great Grain Robbery. Jess shares her move from West Point to the National Intelligence University, and together we unpack how a secret U.S.–Soviet grain deal reshaped global food markets, sparked inflation at home, and forever tied the Farm Bill to both foreign policy and domestic food programs. From 300 billion loaves of bread to Cold War soft power, this episode explores how American agriculture became a tool of diplomacy, strategy, and controversy.Sign up for our newsletter!
