Silicon Valley Bank’s Political Connections and America’s Agricultural Challenges

On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, Kim Monson examines government transparency and accountability with investigative journalist Adam Andrzejewski, founder of Open the Books, who reveals concerning connections between Silicon Valley Bank and California Governor Gavin Newsom. In the second hour, sixth-generation farmer and rancher Trent Loos provides insights into the labor crisis affecting American agriculture and explains why beef prices will continue rising.

Uncovering Silicon Valley Bank’s Political Entanglements

Start listening at 30:55 – Hour 1

Adam Andrzejewski, founder and CEO of Open the Books, joins Kim to reveal the results of his organization’s investigation into Silicon Valley Bank’s political connections. When federal regulators swooped in after the bank’s failure, Andrzejewski’s team had already compiled extensive research showing deep ties between the bank and California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The investigation uncovered that the founding board member of the Newsom nonprofit, the California Partners Project, was the president of Silicon Valley Bank’s investment banking arm. The bank itself donated $100,000 to this nonprofit at the governor’s request. Andrzejewski also discussed his organization’s work exposing NIH royalties and conflicts of interest involving Dr. Anthony Fauci and his wife, who serves as the top ethicist at the National Institutes of Health.

In breaking news shared exclusively on the show, Andrzejewski reported that the Newsom nonprofit has removed the Silicon Valley Bank executive from their website and board following Open the Books’ investigation. He called for the nonprofit to return the $100,000 donation, noting that taxpayers now back 100% of the bank.

“That’s depositor money. That’s investor money. That is taxpayer money because now the bank is 100% backed by taxpayers.”

Adam Andrzejewski, Founder and CEO of Open the Books

Labor Crisis and Declining Cattle Inventory Threaten Food Supply

Start listening at 71:18 – Hour 2

Trent Loos, a sixth-generation farmer and rancher, discusses the real story behind Tyson Foods closing two chicken plants. While media reports focused on job losses, Loos explains that the actual crisis is a severe labor shortage affecting all manufacturing, particularly in the food industry. Workers paid not to work during COVID never returned to the workforce, creating a persistent problem that threatens food production capacity.

Loos also addresses the declining cattle inventory, now at its lowest level in nearly a decade due to severe drought conditions. He explains that heifer bulls at auctions are bringing $2,500 to $3,000 more than average, indicating ranchers are retaining females to rebuild their herds. However, this means less beef available now, with the rebuilding process taking over three years from decision to beef on store shelves.

The conversation turns to the bloated USDA bureaucracy, where 114,000 federal employees oversee an industry where just 120,000 farm families produce 80% of America’s food. Loos emphasizes the nutritional value of beef, noting that six ounces provides more essential nutrients than any other food, and discusses opportunities for new farmers to enter agriculture through mentorship and direct-to-consumer sales.

“The labor shortage is being so underestimated. Anybody right now that’s employing people and expecting people to show up in a manufacturing scenario, we’re in trouble. We’re in trouble in that regard, and it is going to cripple our infrastructure of food.”

Trent Loos, Sixth-Generation Farmer and Rancher