Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan.

This week’s Open Mic guest is Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts. For four decades, Kansans elected Pat Roberts to represent them in Washington D.C. After serving as chairman and ranking member on the agriculture committees in both chambers and helping write eight different farm bills, the Kansas legislator is hanging up his spurs on the Hill. In this interview, Roberts discusses the challenges he sees in the culture of the Senate, the implications of next month’s Georgia Senate elections, climate change and the Paris Climate accord, and the obstacles ahead for the next farm bill. Roberts is concerned about China’s thirst for power and believes trade is a lever of influence in our relationship with the Communist nation.