Newsweek Discovers Pesticides Are Bad, Not Who Profits
The story meticulously charts where these dangerous chemicals, like PFAS, are being sprayed, highlighting hotspots of environmental and public health concern. What the article less meticulously charts, however, are the political donations from agrochemical giants to the very politicians who regulate (or don't regulate) their products. Consider that companies like Bayer/Monsanto alone spent over $2
million on lobbying in 2023 , influencing farm bills and environmental regulations. It's almost as if addressing the symptom is easier than tackling the disease, especially when the disease pays for your re-election. So, we get maps showing pesticide use, but never maps showing which congressional districts are awash in corporate agricultural cash, ensuring those pesticides keep flowing. It makes
one wonder: is this reporting or just a very pretty, very expensive warning label?