Episode Overview

Podcast: Marketplace Morning Report
Episode Title: The next USDA report on hunger in the U.S. will be the last
Date: September 24, 2025
Host: David Brancaccio
Length: ~10 minutes

This episode informs listeners about the Trump administration's decision to end the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) annual report on household food insecurity—a key data source for policymakers, researchers, and advocacy groups for nearly 30 years. The show further covers market movements following Federal Reserve announcements, and updates on China's cessation of its international adoption program, adding insights into how adoptees are seeking their roots.

Main Story: USDA Halts Annual Hunger Report

[00:57 – 02:54]

Key Discussion Points

• What’s Happening:
  The USDA has announced it will discontinue its annual report on food insecurity in America after the next release. This report, ongoing for about three decades, is a primary tool for measuring household hunger across the country.

• How Data Is Collected:
  The report is based on surveys from around 30,000 people, addressing food access, hunger, money, and governmental food assistance, with breakdowns by state and income level.

• Official Reason for Ending the Report:
  According to the USDA, the reports are “redundant, costly, politicized and extraneous.”

Expert & Advocate Voices

• Colleen Heflin, Researcher, Syracuse University:
  Disputes the USDA's justification, saying the report is rigorously factual and intentionally devoid of political emphasis.

  “I don’t think it uses any adjectives at all. It’s a very dry read. Purposefully. It’s not a political document. … It is just the facts as good federal statistics should be.” — Colleen Heflin [01:52]

• Minerva Delgado, Alliance to End Hunger:
  Explains how organizations rely on the report for advocacy and tailoring interventions.

  “There aren’t many other data sets that study food security and insecurity in as much depth. I think it’s going to make it harder all around to really measure what the impacts of the policies of this particular administration are.” — Minerva Delgado [02:33]

Memorable Moment

• David Brancaccio’s Opening Quip:

  “Is there less hunger in America if we stop tracking hunger?” — David Brancaccio [00:57]
  (Sets a skeptical tone about the administration’s decision)

Markets & Policy Update

[02:54 – 05:06]

Key Discussion Points

• Stock Market Movements:
  The Nasdaq closed down 1% after a series of highs, triggered by Federal Reserve Chairman Powell’s cautious messaging on interest rates.

• Federal Reserve Signals:
  Powell says interest rates might or might not decline depending on future data and inflation.

• Susan Schmidt, Exchange Capital Resources:
  Reiterates the uncertain outlook.

  “Chairman Powell is wisely trying to remind everyone that nothing is set in stone.” — Susan Schmidt [03:16]

  “We want lower interest rates because it’s good for the labor market. But we are still looking out for inflation. … Chairman Powell is just trying to put out a word of caution and keep the market from getting ahead of itself.” — Susan Schmidt [03:39]

• NASDAQ & S&P 500 Performance:

  • NASDAQ 100 up 17% year-to-date
  • S&P 500 up 13% year-to-date
    (Despite volatility, overall strong market)

• Geopolitical News:
  European military hardware stocks jump after President Trump announces openness to Ukraine reclaiming lost territory with NATO help.

  • Renk (Germany) up 4%
  • Hensoldt (Germany) up
  • Lockheed Martin (US) closed up 1.3%

Feature: The Costly Quest for Adoptees’ Roots in China

[06:08 – 09:15]

Key Discussion Points

• Background:
  A year after China ended its international adoption program, many of the 160,000+ adoptees (more than half in the U.S.) are adults searching for their birth families.

• Individual Story: Beth Henry

  • Adopted in 1995, raised in Arizona
  • Describes returning to China:

    “It was surreal. There were so many people that looked like me, which is something I’ve never really experienced.” — Beth Henry [06:34]

  • Faced with an information gap about her early life, Henry plans an organized search with professional help.
  • Cost breakdown:
    • Chinese searcher: US $700
    • Total trip: ~$2,200
    • Funds side hustle (pet sitting) to finance the search

• Growing Search Industry:

  • Hui Han Li, founder of My China Roots:

    “In the first few years we really focused on TV and newspaper ads. Now it's really online social media outreach. Also … from really focusing on paper based trails, we moved to a starting focus on DNA.” — Hui Han Li [08:32]

  • DNA services, social media ads, field research can total $1,500–$3,000+

• Chance of Success:

  • Many searchers report only about a 10% success rate.

• Beth Henry’s Motivation:

  “I just want to say that I tried. I just want to know that I did my best.” — Beth Henry [08:48]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:57] — Introduction to the USDA hunger report and its pending cancellation
• [01:52] — Colleen Heflin explodes the myth of politicization in the hunger report
• [02:33] — Minerva Delgado on the unique value of the data
• [03:14] — Susan Schmidt advises caution regarding the Fed and markets
• [06:30] — Beth Henry on her search for roots in China and its high costs
• [08:32] — Hui Han Li explains shift to DNA/online search methods
• [08:48] — Emotional note from Beth Henry on her search

Notable Quotes

• David Brancaccio:

  “Is there less hunger in America if we stop tracking hunger?” [00:57]

• Colleen Heflin:

  “…It is just the facts as good federal statistics should be.” [01:52]

• Minerva Delgado:

  “There aren’t many other data sets that study food security and insecurity in as much depth.” [02:33]

• Susan Schmidt:

  “Chairman Powell is wisely trying to remind everyone that nothing is set in stone.” [03:16]

• Beth Henry:

  “I just want to say that I tried. I just want to know that I did my best.” [08:48]

Overall Tone

The episode blends pointed skepticism (about government data transparency), practical analysis (on market and policy), and human interest (adoptees searching for origins). The tone is brisk, informative, and occasionally emotive, true to Marketplace’s style.

For those who missed it, this episode underscores how decisions about government data affect public scrutiny and policy, highlights the ongoing uncertainty in financial markets, and shares the poignant journeys of international adoptees seeking to close gaps in their personal histories.