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In Texas cattle country, one rancher welcomes Trump’s focus on decades of thin margins

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LA GRANGE, TEXAS — Along the bends of Highway 71, a string of steady Texas towns dot the wind-swept pastures. It’s here where most folks earn a living with their hands, wear dust on their boots, sun on their skin and easy smiles on their faces.

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This is the soft edge of the Hill Country, where limestone gives way to red dirt and family ranches stitch the land together. Folks here haul their own hay, do things right the first time and don’t wait for daylight to start the day.

Among those who know the grind is Cole Bolton, owner of K&C Cattle Company, who welcomes the Trump administration’s renewed focus on the razor-thin margins ranchers have endured for years.

«What the real issue is, is the price differential between the big four packers and what they’re paying us for the product,» Bolton told Fox News Digital.

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A photo of Cole Bolton and his wife in Texas. (Courtesy of Cole Bolton)

Known as the «big four,» Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef anchor the U.S. beef supply chain, commanding pricing power that reaches from pasture to plate. 

Combined, the packing titans process about 85% of the grain-fattened cattle that become steaks, roasts and other supermarket cuts.

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AMERICA’S SMALLEST CATTLE HERD IN 70 YEARS MEANS REBUILDING WILL TAKE YEARS AND BEEF PRICES COULD STAY HIGH

And those margins, Bolton said, have been squeezed for decades. «Ranchers have dealt with such thin margins of profitability for the last 20 years.»

A rancher in Nebraska rounds up cattle ahead of an auction

Cattle rancher Brad Randel rounds up some of his Black Angus cattle to sell at auction. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

It’s the kind of sustained financial strain that federal officials say could signal deeper problems in the supply chain.

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The revelation comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing food supply chain security task forces within the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to address risks from price fixing and anti-competitive behavior.

TRUMP’S BEEF IMPORT PLAN IGNORES KEY ISSUE SQUEEZING AMERICAN CATTLE RANCHERS

«My administration will act to determine whether anti-competitive behavior, especially by foreign-controlled companies, increases the cost of living for Americans and address any associated national security threat to food supply chains,» Trump said in the order released on Saturday.

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According to the order, the attorney general and the FTC chairman may bring enforcement actions or propose new regulatory measures if the investigation uncovers anti-competitive behavior.

Beef is seen in a fridge inside of a grocery store in Maryland

The federal probe announced by President Donald Trump did not specifically name companies in the meat-packing industry. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)

In a related move, the Trump administration called on the Justice Department to investigate the major meatpacking companies, accusing them of driving up beef prices through «illicit collusion, price fixing and price manipulation.»

The probe did not identify any targets.

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BEEF PRICES ARE CLOSE TO RECORD HIGHS — BUT AMERICANS AREN’T CUTTING BACK

Meanwhile, beef prices have climbed to record highs.

According to USDA data, the average price of beef in grocery stores climbed from about $8.40 per pound in March to $9.18 per pound by August 2025, a roughly 9% increase over that period. Despite that rise, beef demand continues to hit new highs.

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But that strong appetite comes as ranchers are contending with the smallest U.S. cattle herd in 70 years.

Years of punishing drought, rising costs and an aging ranching workforce have thinned herds across the country. Ranchers and agricultural economists alike say rebuilding will take years, and beef prices aren’t likely to ease anytime soon.

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Cattle graze on a ranch in Texas.

Cattle graze on a ranch in Texas on Nov. 14, 2025. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

«I think it’s going to take a while to fix this crisis that we’re in with the cattle shortage. My message to consumers is simple: Folks, be patient. We’ve got to build back our herds,» Bolton told Fox News Digital.

He noted that the cattle industry has weathered one setback after another, from market turmoil to extreme conditions, over the past five years.

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En una carta pública, el presidente de Irán dijo que Netanyahu manipula a Trump en la guerra y lanzó una advertencia a EE.UU.

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Mientras se cruzan las versiones por un alto al fuego entre Washington y Teherán, este miércoles por la tarde el presidente iraní publicó una carta abierta en la que dijo dirigirse «al pueblo de los Estados Unidos». Masoud Pezeshkian cuestionó la «guerra de desinformación», deslizó que Donald Trump puede estar siendo manipulado por Benjamin Netanyahu y cerró con una fuerte advertencia: «A lo largo de su milenaria y orgullosa historia, Irán se sobrepuso a muchos agresores. Lo que queda de ellos sólo son nombres manchados en la historia».

Se trata de una misiva de cuatro carillas publicada en los perfiles oficiales de redes sociales de Pezeshkian, presidente de Irán, este miércoles por la noche, hora local. Llegó apenas horas después de que Donald Trump afirmara en Truth Social que «el nuevo presidente del régimen iraní acababa de pedirle un alto al fuego», lo cual sería considerado por Washington sólo después de que se liberara el estrecho de Ormuz.

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En su carta, Pezeshkian no se pronuncia explícitamente sobre el posible cese al fuego, pero señala: «Hoy el mundo está en una encrucijada. Seguir por el camino de la confrontación es más caro y fútil que nunca. La elección entre confrontación y compromiso es real y consecuente; su resultado moldeará el futuro de las generaciones venideras».

Tampoco aclara si la carta fue escrita con aprobación del líder supremo, Mojtaba Khamenei, de mayor poder que el presidencial.

«Al pueblo de los Estados Unidos de América y a todos aquellos que, en medio de un caudal de distorsiones y relatos fabricados, continúan buscando la verdad y aspira a llevar una vida mejor. Irán –en su nombre, carácter e identidad– es una de las civilizaciones más antiguas en la historia. Pero además de sus ventajas históricas y geográficas a lo largo de los tiempos, Irán nunca ha elegido, en su historia moderna, el camino de la agresión, expansión, colonialismo o la dominación», comienza la carta del presidente iraní.

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Y continúa: «Incluso ante la ocupación, invasión y de la presión sostenida de las potencias globales –y a pesar de tener superioridad militar sobre varios de sus vecinos–, Irán nunca inició una guerra. En cambio, resolvió y repelió valientemente a aquellos que lo atacaron (…) Por eso, retratar a Irán como una amenaza no es ni consistente con la realidad histórica ni la moderna; y esa percepción responde a la necesidad de justificar la presión, mantener superioridad militar y la industria bélica (…) En ese contexto, si no hay una amenaza, se la inventa».

También señala a Estados Unidos por concentrar «sus más numerosas fuerzas y capacidades militares alrededor de Irán». «Lo que Irán ha sostenido es una respuesta mesurada en legítima defensa, lo cual no significa la iniciación de guerra o agresión alguna», amplía Pezeshkian en su carta abierta.

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Además, dice -en referencia a las negociaciones por el programa nuclear, previas al estallido de la guerra- que «Irán buscó negociar, alcanzó un acuerdo y cumplió con sus compromisos».

«La decisión de salir de ese acuerdo, escalar el conflicto y lanzar dos ataques en medio de las negociaciones fueron dos decisiones destructivas del gobierno estadounidenses. Haber atacado infraestructura crucial de Irán –instalaciones energéticas e industriales– atentó directamente contra su pueblo», sigue.

Luego desliza acusaciones sobre el rol de Benjamin Netanyahu y su influencia sobre Trump: «¿Acaso los Estados Unidos no entraron en el conflicto arrastrados como un proxy de Israel, manipulados por su régimen? ¿Acaso no es evidente que Israel busca confrontar contra Irán hasta la vida del último soldado norteamericano y del último dolar de impuestos de cada estadounidense? ¿Es realmente ‘Primero EE.UU.’ la prioridad del gobierno norteamericano?».

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«A lo largo de su historia y orgullosa historia, Irán se sobrepuso a numerosos agresores. Lo único que queda de ellos son nombres manchados en la historia, mientras que Irán persiste, resiliente, digno y orgulloso«, concluyó el presidente iraní.

Más temprano este miércoles, Trump publicó en su propia red social, Truth, un mensaje para anunciar que el régimen de Teherán había pedido un alto al fuego. «El nuevo presidente del régimen iraní, mucho menos radicalizado y mucho más inteligente que sus precesores, ¡acaba de pedir un alto al fuego a los EE. UU.! Lo consideraremos cuando el estrecho de Ormuz esté abierto, libre y despejado», comenzó el mandatario norteamericano.

De lo contrario, aseguró, Estados Unidos continuará «bombardeando Irán hasta la aniquilación o, como dicen algunos, hasta que regrese a la Edad de Piedra».

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No tardó en llegar la respuesta desde Teherán: el portavoz del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Esmaeil Baqaei, dijo que «la afirmación de Trump es falsa e infundada».

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Fox News Poll: Broad anxiety about AI doesn’t extend to jobs

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As artificial intelligence continues to expand into homes and the workplace, voters are less concerned about it taking their jobs and more worried about its overall influence.

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The latest Fox News Poll finds 66% of registered voters are concerned about artificial intelligence, up from 63% in December and 56% in 2023 (the first time the question was asked). 

The increase in concern is across the board, with the biggest jumps happening among women, voters without a college degree, Democrats and liberal voters.

FOX NEWS POLL: SOUR VOTERS SAY WASHINGTON IS OUT OF TOUCH

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Yet when it comes to how AI will affect the workforce, voters aren’t concerned about their own jobs even though most think it will eliminate more positions (59%) than it will create (7%) over the next 5 years.

FOX NEWS POLL: VOTERS OPPOSE ACTION IN IRAN BUT GIVE US MILITARY POSITIVE MARKS

Seven in 10 (69%) employed voters are unconcerned their job will be cut in the next five years, while three in 10 are worried (31%). This matches where sentiment was in November.

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The lack of concern may reflect broader attitudes toward AI in the workplace: Seven in 10 say it is not important to their career that they learn how to use AI, including six in 10 employed voters. 

Another three in 10 say it is important, and that jumps to roughly  in 10 among workers, voters with graduate degrees, and those living in households with an annual income of $100,000 or higher. Those most likely to feel learning AI is a career priority are men under age 45 (48%). 

But if they must tech up, a majority of voters feel comfortable adopting and using new technology (60% comfortable vs. 40% not comfortable).

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The highest numbers saying they’re comfortable are voters under age 45, particularly younger men (81%) and younger Republicans (82%).

Artificial intelligence and the military…

As the Iran conflict enters its fifth week, nearly two-thirds of voters are uncomfortable with the military using autonomous weapons systems (AWS). About four in 10 feel comfortable.

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The partisan divide on this issue is wide: 52% of Republicans are comfortable with AWS vs. 27% of Democrats. Fifty-eight percent of MAGA Republicans are comfortable vs. 40% of non-MAGA Republicans.

There is also a prominent gender gap with men (43%) more comfortable than women (31%).

Still, nearly all voters say that when the military is considering a strike that could kill people, a human should be required to make the final decision: 93% feel that way vs. 7% saying AI systems alone should have the final say. 

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This is a bipartisan belief, with at least nine in 10 Democrats, Republicans and independents agreeing a human needs to make the decision.

More than half of voters who have served in the military are uncomfortable with the use of AWS systems (54% not comfortable vs. 45% comfortable), and an overwhelming majority thinks a human should be making the choice between life and death (90%).

One more thing…

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While concern about AI is up among voters, it’s far from the top worry with inflation (86% extremely/very concerned), healthcare (81%), gas prices (80%), political divisions (80%), unemployment (73%), attacks by Islamic (73%) and non-Islamic terrorists (70%), ability to pay bills (70%) and gun violence (69%) ranking higher.

Concern about Iran getting a nuclear bomb ties with concern over AI (66% extremely/very) while antisemitism (63%) and detentions by ICE (62%) rank lower.

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Conducted March 20-23, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,001 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (104) and cellphones (641) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (256). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education and area variables to ensure the demographics are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis and voter file data.

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Ukraine signals progress on US security guarantees after call with Trump envoys

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday touted new momentum toward ending the country’s war with Russia after a high-level call with President Donald Trump’s envoys, pointing to progress on a U.S.-backed security deal.

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Zelenskyy announced in an X post that he and his officials had a «positive» conversation with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, along with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte with talks centered around forging a «dignified peace.»

«We agreed to strengthen security guarantees, and I have already instructed our team to promptly update the documents so that the security guarantees for Ukraine are strong, the prospects for post-war reconstruction are real, and everything is doable,» Zelenskyy wrote.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a meeting Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (@ZelenskyyUa via X)

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WITKOFF AND KUSHNER SCHEDULED TO MEET PUTIN IN MOSCOW

He emphasized Ukraine needs clear agreements so that its citizens understand exactly how international partners will respond to deter any renewed Russian aggression.

«We need strong, shared positions, and Ukraine’s contribution to this strength is unquestionable,» Zelenskyy wrote. «… I expect that the teams will work substantively in the coming days so that we can all feel progress. A trilateral format — a leaders’ format — all of this is necessary.»

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Leaders meet to discuss the Ukraine-Russia war.

Ukranian leaders at a meeting discussing the Ukraine-Russia war Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (@ZelenskyyUa via X)

TRUMP CONFIRMS HE INVITED PUTIN TO JOIN HIS BOARD OF PEACE: ‘HE’S BEEN INVITED’

In a subsequent video, Zelenskyy reported Russia launched a massive wave of more than 700 drones Wednesday, including «shaheds,» targeting Ukraine’s energy sites, food warehouses and residential buildings across multiple regions.

Although Ukrainian forces intercepted roughly 90% of the incoming drones, Zelenskyy condemned the bombardment as Russia’s direct response to Ukraine’s proposal for an Easter ceasefire.

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Leaders meet to discuss the Ukraine-Russia war.

Leaders meet to discuss the Ukraine-Russia war Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (@ZelenskyyUa via X)

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He noted that a halt in fighting during the holidays was intended to be a signal that diplomacy could be successful.

Beyond the U.S. and Europe, Zelenskyy said Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is working to secure long-term defense contracts with several Middle Eastern nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain and Turkey. 

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