GOP’s struggle to satisfy farmers and oil refiners

Published: Aug. 19, 2020, 9 a.m.

Since taking office, President Trump has struggled to strike a balance with two key Republican groups: corn farmers and oil refiners. They're at odds over how much ethanol should be blended into the fuel. And less than three months before the election with farmers critical to the GOP base, the importance of striking a balance is ever more important, especially after Iowa, a state huge in corn and oil, was ravaged by a natural disaster. Anthony Adragna is an energy reporter for POLITICO. Carlos Prieto is a Politico podcast producer. Jenny Ament is the senior producer of POLITICO audio. Irene Noguchi is the executive producer of POLITICO audio.