As an American farmer, JJ Ficken, 37, was perpetually subject to weather, labor, loans, overhead, markets, health, politics. None of it was predictable, and all of it was a threat. The industry’s survival has long depended on the deals made between millions of Americans willing to brave all that uncertainty and a federal government willing to sustain them, through grants, subsidies, insurance, financing, payouts and disaster relief.

But then President Donald Trump, in the earliest days of his second term, threatened to break tens of thousands of those deals, suspending billions in agricultural funding and decimating the staffs that managed it. Swept up in the freeze was JJ and the $50 million grant program he’d signed up for along with 140 other farmers across the country. All of them had agreed to hire and, in many cases, house domestic workers or lawful immigrants willing to take jobs that Americans would not, but with the reimbursements in doubt, farmers worried they’d miss payrolls, default on loans or face bankruptcy.

This story follows JJ and Otto Vargas, 24, as JJ recruits, meets and starts working with Otto – all while JJ wonders whether the government will ever pay him back.

John Woodrow Cox reported, wrote and read the piece. Sarah Blaskey co-wrote the story. David Ovalle contributed to the report. Bishop Sand composed music and produced audio for the piece.

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The gut microbiome acts as a key player in our overall health; but what exactly is it, and how does it work?

In the first class in our course on the gut microbiome, host Cristina Quinn speaks with gastroenterologist Trisha Pasricha about the leading role the gut microbiome plays in our digestive health and how certain foods support its function.

Read more of Pasricha’s work, including eight tips to improve gut health and why probiotics can be a waste of money. For more advice, follow her on Instagram.

To hear more, check out “Try This” wherever you listen to podcasts.

Now “Try This” has a newsletter! Think of it as a supplemental guide and sign up here.

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President Donald Trump is poised to sign the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law, after the House and Senate passed the bill in two all-night sessions this week.

Trump and his allies consider its passage to be a big victory, but the bill, which extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, will also result in millions losing their health insurance — a cost that could leave fissures in the Republican Party.

Today on “Post Reports,” Colby Itkowitz sits down with congressional reporter Theodoric Meyer and the Post’s “Early Brief” newsletter author Dan Merica to discuss the consequences of the bill and how it could influence the 2026 midterm elections.

Today’s show was produced by Arjun Singh, and edited by Laura Benshoff with help from Emily Rauhala. It was mixed by Sam Bair.

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After weeks of deliberation, a jury has found Sean “Diddy” Combs not guilty on racketeering and sex-trafficking charges. While this spares Combs from life in prison, he could still face years in prison because he was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The verdict came as a shock for many, particularly after lengthy, graphic testimony from Combs’s ex-girlfriends, who described alleged abuse.

Today, host Elahe Izadi speaks with style reporter Anne Branigin to unpack the verdict, what it means for Combs’s future and the precedent it could set for similar cases going forward.

Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan, Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval and Thomas Lu. It was mixed by Sean Carter and edited by Reena Flores. Thanks to Carla Spartos.

Follow our coverage of the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs on Spotify here.

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This month Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the administration’s termination of temporary protected status, or TPS, for Afghans, exposing thousands, potentially, to deportation as soon as next week, when the policy is to take effect.

Today on “Post Reports,” national security reporter Abigail Hauslohner explains.

Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy and mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Maggie Penman. Thank you to Andy deGrandpre, Hasiba Atakpal, Spojmie Nasiri, Shala Gafary, Negina Khalili, Helal Massomi.

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