The egg industry
continues its march away from cage confinement, leading my colleague Josh Balk to

observe this week that “for the first time in decades, life is
looking up for America’s egg-laying hens.”  Sadly, one of our nation’s
largest grocers, Florida-based

Publix, hasn’t gotten the memo. Check out
CagedForPublix.com to help the mega-retailer do the right thing.

Fortunately, as Wayne Pacelle details in his new book—The Humane Economy, which made both the
New York Times and Washington Post bestseller lists—things are looking up for animals in many ways. Check out his recent

appearance on Morning Joe.

For years, the tobacco lobby campaigned against Consumer Reports
over its studies on second-hand smoke. Today, the consumer advocacy
publication faces attacks from a similarly destructive industry: Big
Meat. I offer

some thoughts in response this week on Huffington Post.

While the meat lobby may not like Consumer Reports, it
really doesn’t like HSUS. Perhaps it’s our
popular plant-based trainings for chefs and directors that’s got their goat.

P.S.
Video of the week: What did Sen. Cory Booker bring to the Congressional Black Caucus meeting this week?

Big news, literally. The current issues of several fitness magazines—including
Flex and Muscle & Fitness—include
an open letter by Arnold Schwarzenegger encouraging people to join him in eating less meat.

The former California governor was joined by a former president: Bill Clinton

touted this week that “I might not be around if I hadn’t become a vegan. It’s great.“ And former Italian Prime Minister

Silvio Berlusconi said this week that, out of concern for animal welfare, he’s now a vegetarian.

With global top dogs like these on board, it’s no
surprise that HSUS’s campaign helping schools and other institutions use
less meat is gaining more steam than ever, as detailed in

this new story.

Speaking of gaining steam, our cage-free campaign continues growing.

Krystal and
Bloomin’ Brands (Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba’s) both announced cage-free policies this week. And in earth-shattering news, major grocer
Ahold announced
a timeline for switching to 100 percent cage-free eggs. Ahold is the
country’s sixth-largest grocery company, with major chains like Stop
& Shop and Giant, hammering another
major nail into the battery cage’s coffin.

Finally, Harvard Magazine ran a
great profile this week on the increasingly successful animal law movement, including HSUS’s numerous courtroom wins for animals.

P.S.
Video of the week: New meaning to the term “top dog.”

Does it seem strange to you that there’s so little
discussion among the fiscally conservative candidates about Big Ag
feeding from the federal corporate welfare trough? I offer some thoughts
in a new
National Review piece.

Another week, and more big retailers keep rocking the egg industry. This week,

IHOP,
Applebee’s,
Trader Joe’s,
Cracker Barrel, Golden Corral,
and
CVS are the latest to commit to 100 percent cage-free timelines. Wondering what going cage-free means?
Eater has an in-depth look this week with photos.

Finally, HSUS continues to spearhead efforts to
implement meat reduction policies in school districts across the nation,
including at

schools in Connecticut—check it out.

P.S.
Video of the week: Need help bringing in your groceries? These dogs can do it!

P.P.S. Want to know who’s speaking at the national Taking Action for Animals conference in DC June 17 to 20?
Check it and register now!

Wondering what to make for your loved one this Sunday?

We’ve got you covered.

Speaking of things we love: Grocery giant
BJs Wholesale Club announced this week a timeline for switching 100 percent of the eggs it sells to cage-free.

In similar news, my coworker Matt Prescott’s got the scoop on the

trend that’s rocking the egg industry right now. And ever wonder
what my grandparents have to do with the move away from battery cages?
Even if you didn’t, here are some thoughts of mine in a new

Supermarket News op-ed.

Finally, one Florida family’s struggle to keep its
pet chickens offers lessons for us all with regard to how these amazing
animals ought to be treated, I argue in this new

Orlando Sentinel op-ed.

P.S.
Video of the week: Is Adele asking Trader Joe’s to stop selling battery eggs? Almost!

This week alone:

• Target
  became the first major, mainstream grocer to announce a timeline for
  abolishing cages from its egg supply by going 100 percent cage-free at
  all its stores.
• ConAgra (Egg Beaters and many other major brands) announced a cage-free
  timeline.
• Norwegian Cruise Lines announced a cage-free timeline.
• Taco John’s (a 400-location chain serving breakfast) announced a cage-free timeline.
• And
  California Pizza Kitchen announced a cage-free timeline.

So much progress and we’re only a few weeks into the year. Speaking of 2016: It may be the 21^st century, but the pork industry is still stuck in the

Dark Ages, which I detail in this new op-ed.

Finally, HSUS’s groundbreaking, nationwide work helping school districts slash their meat usage continues, as

chronicled in this new story.

P.S.
Video of the week: How does a rabbit eat a banana?

P.S.
Quote of the week: What does Harvard’s president think future generations will wonder about us?