[BND] Your Breakfast Briefing --
Good Morning and Happy Wednesday. It's April 2, 2025.
Dear Friend and Subscriber:
Barack Obama gave the speech that won him the Democratic nomination for President of the United States four years before he actually won the slot. That's pretty much the unanimous view of public speaking coaches and communication scholars.
Something similar happened last night. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) gave a 25 hour, 8 minute speech exc0riating Donald Trump and his administration – and, by the way, the Congress of the United States – for what has been happening in the country. It was pretty much a nonpartisan speech; Booker quotes Republicans and Democrats, cited legislative triumphs of each party and said the U.S. was at a "moral moment."
Since Trump took office and Elon Musk and DOGE began their chainsaw wrecking of the U.S. government, there's been a lot of speculation about whether there were any leaders left in the Democratic Party. That question was decisively answered last night.
Now, on to the beverage news . . .
Hand Family Acquires Stone Distributing
Stone Distributing Co., the San Marcos, Calif., A-B wholesaler, was acquired by Hand Family Cos. Terms weren't disclosed.
Senate Vote to Test GOP Support on Trump's Canadian Tariffs
Today (4/2) is "Liberation Day" when President Trump's sweeping tariff plan is supposed to be unveiled. But Senate Democrats plan to force a vote to nullify the emergency declaration that underpins the tariffs on Canada.
Direct Shipping Bill Nixed in Hawaii
Penelope Bourbon Offers 1st Bottled Cocktail
Penelope Bourbon launched its first-ever bottled cocktail: the Penelope Peach Old Fashioned.
A-B to Halt Production at NH Craft Brewery
Anheuser-Busch said it will close a 104,000-square-foot Portsmouth, N.H., brewery operated by Craft Brew Alliance and move production to Asheville, N.C.
Economy Watch: Manufacturing Resumes Contraction
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in March after two consecutive months of expansion preceded by 26 straight months of contraction.
ICE Arrests a Student for DWI
A University of Minnesota graduate student was detained by Immigration & Customs Enforcement because of a drunk driving violation.
Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. – Joel