Week of October 19, 2025

This is "Arkies in the Beltway" for the week of Oct. 19, 2025! I'm Alex Thomas, Washington Correspondent for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, with your weekly look at national politics and the Arkansans influencing the discussions. The federal government shutdown continues into a new week, but the funding lapse has not prevented Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., from announcing new legislation aimed at helping farmers. Crawford, of Jonesboro, and Louisiana Republican Julia Letlow have introduced the Bridge the Gap for Rural Communities Act. The bill would provide farmers with the option of receiving partial payments to cover crop losses, as well as lift payment limitations for price and revenue loss programs. The lawmakers' push comes amid discussions between the White House and Congress about potential economic assistance for farmers struggling to maintain their operations. STORY: Crawford announces bill to provide farmers with economic relief options Thank you for listening to "Arkies in the Beltway!" You can stay up to date with all Arkansas news at ArkansasOnline.com, or follow me on Bluesky for more developments from the nation's capital!