Topic: Alfalfa

The hosts revisit "Rubisco," a plant protein derived from alfalfa, noting that a Saudi company is using unlimited water rights in Arizona to grow the crop. They debunk claims that broccoli contains as much protein as steak. The segment also features a viral story about a traditional Chinese dish from Hubei province called "suodiu," which consists of stir-fried rocks that are sucked for flavor and then discarded.

The discussion introduces "Rubisco," an enzyme involved in photosynthesis that is being promoted as a sustainable plant protein to replace meat. Sailesh Rao of "Climate Healers" claims that there is more protein in broccoli per calorie than in beef. The hosts debunk this claim using nutritional data, highlighting the push to move human diets toward "leafy greens, bugs, and rocks."

Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farm have reportedly signaled their support for the USDA's conditional deregulation of genetically engineered alfalfa. The hosts label Whole Foods "Whole Paycheck" and describe the organic industry's cooperation with GMO regulations as a "big scam." They warn consumers that the "organic" label may be losing its integrity.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is expected to approve the legalization of Monsanto's Roundup Ready genetically engineered alfalfa. Organic farmers express concern that cross-pollination will contaminate their crops, making them ineligible for organic certification. The hosts discuss the legal difficulty of fighting Monsanto, given the company's significant political influence and financial resources.

The Supreme Court rules in favor of Monsanto, allowing the distribution of genetically modified alfalfa seeds before full environmental testing is completed. The hosts also discuss a project involving genetically engineered mosquitoes with "glowing eyes," expressing concern over the long-term safety of such biological experiments.

Critics point to Elena Kagan's past ties to Goldman Sachs and her office's intervention on behalf of Monsanto regarding genetically modified alfalfa. The hosts argue that the media focus on her sexuality serves as a "smokescreen" to hide her status as a corporate shill. They also criticize C-SPAN for editorializing during broadcasts of Senate hearings on the Gulf oil spill.