Austin Frerick is an economist, Yale Fellow, former Congressional Research Assistant, and author of Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America's Food Industry. He investigates how the U.S. food system became both outrageously expensive and dangerously toxic—not just for consumers, but for the farmers who grow our food. Instead of blaming deregulation alone, Frerick exposes the real culprits: the Big Ag monopolies that have spent billions to rig the system, buy politicians, and crush opposition to expand their hidden empires. We break down how these corporate Barons pulled off their silent coup, the devastating impact of monopolization on farming, food prices, and public health. Most importantly, we explore what can be done to take back control of the food system before it’s too late.