Axios PM: New price worry

Photos: Olympic surfing debuts | Monday, July 26, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Comcast   Axios PM By Mike Allen ·Jul 26, 2021 Good afternoon. Today's PM — edited by Kate Nocera — is 499 words, a 2-minute read.     1 big thing: How extreme weather feeds inflation Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios   This summer's extreme weather is having ripple effects that could raise food prices in the U.S. and disrupt diets around the world, Axios' Andrew Freedman writes. Sugar, pinto beans and flour prices are all trending up due to dry conditions in the West. Coffee hit the highest prices seen in over six years due to ongoing frost and a historic drought during the Brazilian winter. Drought in Canada and the Northwestern U.S. pushed spring wheat crops to the highest point in over eight years, Bloomberg reports. Why it matters: Climate scientists and food supply experts, like those at the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, have long warned about the impact of human-caused global warming on prices, food shortages and hunger. The latest: UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned today that climate change and conflict are "both consequences and drivers" of poverty, income inequality and food prices. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urged calm in an interview with Bloomberg, saying the food inflation rate "is not that much higher" than normal and will settle. Between the lines: As seen in the examples above, extreme weather does have a strong effect on food supplies, but not all of extreme weather can be traced to climate change, Axios' Bryan Walsh notes. Plus, some food price increases can be attributed to the pandemic's economic disruption.     2. Catching a new Olympic sport Photo: Lisi Niesner/Reuters   The waves were modest but the day was emotional for devotees as surfing made its century-in-the-making Olympic debut at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach, east of Tokyo on Japan's Pacific coast. "I actually had a little mini-meltdown because of all the nerves and anxiety that built up," reigning world champion Carissa Moore (above), 28, of Team USA told AP's Sally Ho. "Today, I had more of a sense of calm going into it and was like, 'Hey, today is game day.' ... And now it's time to have fun." Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images American teammate John John Florence (above), also 28, said he was over-thinking his wave choices — but landed an impressive combo and some airs to boot.     A message from Comcast Comcast brings Team USA and the Olympic Games home to millions     Combining the storytelling of NBCUniversal with Xfinity's innovative technology, Comcast is delivering this summer's Games at a greater scale and across more platforms than ever. What this means: Viewers will have unparalleled access to all 7,000 hours of the heart stopping and inspiring competition.     3. Catch up quick Doctor gives a thumbs-up to a COVID patient no longer using a respirator at a VA medical center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Photo: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images   1. The Department of Veterans Affairs becomes the first federal agency to require COVID-19 vaccines for its frontline health care workers. Go deeper. 2. Civilian casualties in Afghanistan hit a record high amid U.S troop withdrawal, the UN says. Go deeper. 3. U.S. travel restrictions will remain in place as Delta variant spreads. Go deeper.     4. Opening this week: Prince's vault Cover: Sony Music Entertainment via AP   Five years after Prince's death, the studio album "Welcome 2 America," made posthumously after the artist's death, is set for release Friday. Confronting themes of racial justice, equality, big tech and just what it means to be human, the 12-track album was recorded in 2010, but was abandoned, AP reports. The title track has already been released — a loping, spacey funk song with spoken-word lyrics that feature a withering examination of America: "Land of the free/Home of the slave." The music had been stored in Prince's fabled vault, which housed thousands of unreleased recordings.     A message from Comcast Comcast supports Team USA in inspiring a better tomorrow     Comcast is proud to support Team USA and share their incredible stories. Their achievements fuel the Team of Tomorrow. Those we inspire today can build a better future. It's why Comcast spent a decade addressing digital inequities. Comcast will invest $1B to help people succeed in a digital world.   Like this email style and format? Learn more about Axios HQ. It'll help you deliver employee communications more effectively.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: