Episode Details

In this week’s episode of The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann balance the melancholy of fall with a lively rundown of animal rights news. Between linguistic deep dives and Jasmin’s theatrical preparations (complete with “lozengers” of questionable etymology), the duo delivers updates that actually matter for animals. They discuss the USDA’s increasingly toothless enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, celebrate the long-overdue closure of the notorious Miami Seaquarium, and explore promising developments in cultivated meat cat food. The hosts also reflect on how everyday institutions normalize animal exploitation for children, reminding us that the fight for animal rights extends far beyond the obvious battlegrounds.

This episode explores:

• How the USDA’s enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act has deteriorated, with warnings replacing actual penalties for violators
• The encouraging shift away from animal testing at NIH, proving that even strange political bedfellows can deliver positive outcomes
• The long-awaited closure of the Miami Seaquarium after decades of animal rights activism
• Promising developments in cultivated meat technology specifically designed for carnivorous companion animals
• How cultural institutions subtly normalize animal exploitation through children’s exhibits and displays

RESOURCES

• • • Animal abusers are getting let off the hook. Trump and his Supreme Court are partly to blame.
    • Can Trump End This Impossibly Cruel Practice?
    • The Miami Seaquarium was once beloved. It’s shutting down after accusations of neglect.
    • Omni Pet Files First Patent for Cat Food That Blends Cultivated Meat and Plant Proteins
    • Flock members and activists extraordinaire Goose and Silvia Rodriguez have written a bilingual (English/Spanish) vegan-themed children’s book called Someone, Not Something: ALGUIEN, NO ALGO