A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from pausing federal taxpayer money to Maine.
U.S. District Court Judge John Woodcock Jr. on Friday granted a request for an emergency stay from the state, placing the Trump administration’s financial pressure on hold. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had frozen funds to the state over its policies allowing for males to compete in female sports.
“During the pendency of this Temporary Restraining Order, the United States Department of Agriculture and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins must immediately unfreeze and release to the state of Maine any federal funding that they have frozen or failed or refused to pay because of the state of Maine’s alleged failure to comply with the requirements of Title IX,” Woodcock <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.med.67828/gov.uscourts.med.67828.12.0.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>.
The White House has threatened and cut federal funding to Maine and accused the state of violating Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on sex and outlines policies against sexual harassment at educational programs that accept federal funding.
The feud between Washington and Augusta has split Maine politicians. Republican Sen. Susan Collins posted a statement on social media on Friday urging the state to revise its policies around transgender-identifying players in female sports.
“The conflict between how the State of Maine and the Administration interpret Title IX needs to be resolved. I agree with the federal government’s position that biological males should not compete in girls and women’s athletics. Policies to the contrary violate the original intent behind Title IX,” Collins said.
“People who are transgender deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. But that does not change the fact that Title IX mandated equal access to athletic resources and facilities on the basis of sex – not on the basis of gender identity. Safe and fair athletic competition has been one of the keys to the success of Title IX,” she continued. “While I will continue to advocate strongly for federal funding for Maine, I disagree with the state’s position and instead support the original intent behind Title IX.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The conflict between how the State of Maine and the Administration interpret Title IX needs to be resolved. I agree with the federal government’s position that biological males should not compete in girls and women’s athletics. Policies to the contrary violate the original…
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorCollins/status/1910814398295531606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey <a href="https://www.maine.gov/ag/news/article.shtml?id=13170752" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Woodcock’s order “confirms the Trump Administration did not follow the rule of law” in rescinding taxpayer funding to Maine.

Donald Trump

Federal Judge Blocks Trump From Freezing Funding To Maine Over Men In Women’s Sports

Courts

Maine

Social Issues

Transgender Athletes

Trump Administration

U.S.

USDA

Women's sports

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly asked the federal government to let her state prohibit food stamps from being spent on soda and candy — then reversed course and vetoed a bill passed by the legislature to cut back on taxpayer-subsidized junk food.
The Democrat&#8217;s abrupt flip-flop is the latest example of strange behavior following a lobbying campaign by the soda and candy industries aimed at countering bipartisan support for reforming food stamps to reduce obesity-related health issues among the poor.
In March, the Kansas <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/vote_view/je_20250219114953_198904/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">legislature</a> <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/vote_view/je_20250319154637_587964/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> a bill <a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/sb79_enrolled.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">instructing</a> “The secretary for children and families&#8221; to &#8220;request a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture to exclude candy and soft drinks from the definition of eligible foods &#8230;&#8221;
On April 2 — before the bill had been signed, and, therefore, before she was required to — Kelly requested such a <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25893168-snap-waiver/#document/p1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">waiver</a>, a copy of which was obtained by The Daily Wire. The waiver asked the federal government for permission to “exclude all candy and soda beverages (also known as soft drinks) from the definition of eligible foods under 7 CFR 271.2 for purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.” 
The waiver argued that Kansas has an epidemic of ailments associated with obesity, like diabetes and heart disease.
“Current estimates rank Kansas 12th in the nation for obesity prevalence, with 34.4% of adults,” it said. “The primary goals of the SNAP program are to alleviate hunger and improve the nutrition and health of low-income individuals… Allowing the purchase of sugar sweetened soda beverages and candy with minimal nutritional value with federal dollars is harmful for low-income families, and it enables unhealthy nutritional habits. It also creates irresponsible spending of federal tax dollars and increased healthcare costs.”
The waiver, signed by Economic and Employment Services Director Carla Whiteside-Hicks, said that an Agriculture Department report found that in 2011, nearly $360 million in food stamp dollars were spent on soda, making it the second-most popular item, as well as $138 million on candy. 
But a day later, Kelly vetoed the bill, contradicting her own waiver’s arguments while echoing arguments from industry lobbyists that businesses would lose money if they can’t accept welfare dollars for soda and candy.
“This bill is simply wrong,&#8221; she <a href="https://www.governor.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/598/56#:~:text=The%20following%20veto%20message%20is%20from%20Governor%20Kelly%20regarding%20her%20veto%20of%20Senate%20Bill%2079%3A%C2%A0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>. &#8220;Not only would it make it more difficult for Kansans to access the food they need to feed their families, it would also harm Kansas businesses.&#8221;
“The waiver required by this bill is confusing and will cause problems for our grocers and small businesses. Under the definition in that waiver, Kansas businesses would be mandated to stop accepting food assistance benefits for protein bars, trail mix, and other food products many would consider ‘healthy.’ Meanwhile, items like Twix, Kit Kat, and Twizzlers would still be eligible for purchase using food assistance benefits. It’s nonsensical,” the veto justification said.
The bill defined candy and soda using their existing definitions in Kansas state code, saying “candy is defined as a preparation of sugar, honey or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops or pieces. Candy does not include any preparation containing flour and shall require no refrigeration. Soft drink beverages are defined as nonalcoholic beverages that contain natural or artificial sweeteners. Soft drinks do not include beverages that contain milk or milk products, soy, rice or similar milk substitutes or beverages that are greater than 50% vegetable or fruit juice.”
Kelly left the door open to supporting policy changes that would go further, such as banning soda and candy across the entire nation.
“I support the idea that Kansans should eat healthier. However, changes to the SNAP food assistance program should be made at the federal level, not on a patchwork, state-by-state basis,” she said.
The vagaries and loopholes in defining what counts as soda and candy could also be alleviated with a stricter approach that lays out what can be bought with food stamps, rather than what can&#8217;t. SNAP could be limited to specifically-approved staples by mirroring or merging with another federal poverty program called Women, Infant, and Children (WIC). Or it could return to its roots and distribute <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-can-food-stamps-buy-junk-food-how-doge-could-save-billions-and-maha" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bulk commodities directly to families</a>, instead of giving them coupons to spend at corner stores. 
The Foundation for Government Accountability, a watchdog group, has suggested that donations and lobbying from interests that profit off of creating and treating obesity may have played a role in a series of reversals and uncharacteristic positions taken in the debate about soda and food stamps.
The American Heart Association (AHA) shocked Texas legislators last month by testifying against a similar bill there, even though its research shows that soda and candy are bad for the heart, and even though the Texas Medical Association testified in support of the bill. The AHA has taken money from PepsiCo and more than a million dollars each from Walmart, Pfizer, and Novo Nordisk, the maker of the obesity drug Ozempic. The AHA later <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/american-heart-association-retracts-food-stamp-soda-opposition?row=0&amp;elementPosition=6&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;author=Luke+Rosiak&amp;title=American+Heart+Association+Retracts+Opposition+To+Barring+Soda%2C+Candy+From+Food+Stamps&amp;category=News" target="_blank" rel="noopener">retracted</a> its testimony and said it does not oppose such bills.
“First, the American Heart Association flip-flopped and backed away from Big Soda in Texas; now it seems like Kansas’s Democratic Governor Laura Kelly is flip-flopping the other direction to support junk food on food stamps,&#8221; Foundation for Government Accountability spokesman Adam Gibbs told The Daily Wire. &#8220;There’s something about this taxpayer-funded soda ban that has certain people spinning in circles.&#8221;
&#8220;The Governor can’t decide who to back — her constituents or Big Soda,&#8221; he added.
Some conservative influencers said they were offered money to make social media posts spinning welfare for soda as conservative. The soda lobby is also <a href="https://yourcartyourchoice.com/oppose-restrictions-on-snap-benefits/?utm_source=x&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=social_x_social_20250312_E_no_1_" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promoting unusual op-eds in conservative media</a> that try to convince free-market conservatives to rally around taxpayer-funded junk food. Newsmax published one such piece, “Keep Bureaucrats’ Hands Out of American’s [sic] Grocery Carts – Please.” It was authored by Tom Giovanetti of the Institute for Policy Innovation, which, according to <a href="https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?page=3&amp;q=%22Institute+for+Policy+Innovation%22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tax records</a>, is funded by PhRMA, whose members profit from treating the unhealthy.
“Lawmakers must override the governor’s veto to ensure that the will of Kansans is delivered,&#8221; Gibbs said. &#8220;They can either stand with the MAHA moms who voted for President Trump in November—or they can fall in line with whatever political game Governor Kelly is playing this week.”
Kansas requires a two-thirds vote to override a veto. The Senate already has the votes, but the House would need about 18 members to switch positions.
Colorado and Arizona, two other states with Democrat governors, have received similar bills passed by their legislatures.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/food-stamps-accepted-at-thousands-of-liquor-and-tobacco-stores-contributing-to-healthcare-fiasco">Food Stamps Accepted At Thousands Of Liquor And Tobacco Stores, Contributing To Healthcare Fiasco</a>

spilled soda Stock photo

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly Flip-Flops On SNAP Soda Ban, Vetoes Bill

Kansas

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Welfare

WASHINGTON—The United States Department of Agriculture told Maine on Wednesday that it has frozen the state&#8217;s federal funding over Maine&#8217;s refusal to comply with President Donald Trump&#8217;s executive order on men in women&#8217;s sports.
In a letter first obtained by The Daily Wire, the USDA warned Maine, &#8220;you cannot openly violate federal law against discrimination in education and expect federal funding to continue unabated.&#8221;
&#8220;Your defiance of federal law has cost your state, which is bound by Title IX in educational programming,&#8221; said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. &#8220;Today, I am freezing Maine&#8217;s federal funds for certain administrative and technological functions in schools. This is only the beginning, though you are free to end it at any time by protecting women and girls in compliance with federal law.&#8221;
USDA is also reviewing all research and education-related funding in Maine to see if it is in compliance with the Constitution, federal law including Titles VI and IX, and the priorities of President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration, the USDA said.
&#8220;In order to continue to receive taxpayer dollars from USDA, the state of Maine must demonstrate compliance with Title IX&#8217;s protection of female student athletes from having to compete with or against or having to appear unclothed before males,&#8221; Rollins wrote. &#8220;USDA, alongside other federal agencies, will continue to pause and, where appropriate, terminate categories of education programming in Maine if these Title IX violations are not resolved to the satisfaction of the Federal Government.&#8221;
The pause will not impact federal feeding programs or direct assistance to Mainers, Rollins noted: &#8220;if a child was fed today, they will be fed tomorrow.&#8221;
&#8220;In addition, USDA has launched a full review of grants awarded by the Biden Administration to the Maine Department of Education,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Many of these grants appear to be wasteful, redundant, or otherwise against the priorities of the Trump Administration. USDA will not extend the Biden Administration&#8217;s bloated bureaucracy and will instead focus on a Department that is farmer-first and without a leftist social agenda. We look forward to the State&#8217;s cooperation with all federal reviews and future compliance with federal law and policy.&#8221;

President Trump Meets With Governors At The White House

EXCLUSIVE: Trump Admin Freezes Maine’s Federal Funds Over Men In Women’s Sports

Transgender

WASHINGTON — The United States Department of Agriculture is assisting the Department of Education in its investigation of California and the state&#8217;s law prohibiting school officials from sharing a child&#8217;s &#8220;gender identity&#8221; with parents, The Daily Wire has learned.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins informed California Governor Gavin Newsom of the move in a letter sent Thursday evening, first obtained by The Daily Wire.
&#8220;This is to inform you that, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, the United States Department of Agriculture is undertaking a review of its research and other education-related funding in California for compliance with the Constitution, federal laws including Titles VI and IX, and the priorities of the Trump Administration,&#8221; Rollins wrote.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-usda-investigating-california-for-transitioning-kids-hiding-gender-identity/screenshot-2025-03-27-at-8-11-11-pm" rel="attachment wp-att-899331"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-899331 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-27-at-8.11.11%E2%80%AFPM-467x576.png" alt="" width="467" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-27-at-8.11.11%E2%80%AFPM-467x576.png 467w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-27-at-8.11.11%E2%80%AFPM-243x300.png 243w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-27-at-8.11.11%E2%80%AFPM-768x947.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-27-at-8.11.11%E2%80%AFPM.png 1070w" sizes="(max-width: 467px) 100vw, 467px" /></a>
The USDA secretary told Newsom that her department will be working with other agencies and departments to ensure that California is in compliance with the United States Constitution, federal laws (including Titles VI and IX), and President Donald Trump&#8217;s priorities.
Specifically, USDA is supporting the Education Department&#8217;s investigation into the California Department of Education for violations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
&#8220;As the ED reported today, FERPA gives parents the right to access their children’s education records, but the California Department of Education has allegedly abdicated the responsibilities FERPA imposes, due to a new California state law that prohibits school personnel from disclosing records about a child’s &#8216;gender identity&#8217; to that child’s parent,&#8221; Rollins wrote.
<div id="attachment_899327" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-usda-investigating-california-for-transitioning-kids-hiding-gender-identity/us-politics-trump-cabinet-6" rel="attachment wp-att-899327"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-899327" class="wp-image-899327 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2206206722-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2206206722-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2206206722-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2206206722-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2206206722.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins (2nd L) speaks as US President Donald Trump hosts a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on March 24, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)</div>
&#8220;USDA will support ED’s investigation and efforts to vigorously protect parents’ rights and ensure that students do not fall victim to a radical transgender ideology that often leads to family alienation and irreversible medical interventions,&#8221; she added, noting: &#8220;Similarly, we will be reviewing our federal funding with respect to other related matters under investigation.&#8221;
The move comes hours after the Education Department&#8217;s Student Privacy Policy Office announced an investigation into the California Department of Education (CDE) for &#8220;alleged violations&#8221; of FERPA, which &#8220;gives parents the right to access their children’s educational data.&#8221;
The Education Department said Thursday that CDE has &#8220;abdicated the responsibilities FERPA imposes&#8221; due to California&#8217;s law prohibiting school officials from sharing information about a child&#8217;s supposed &#8220;gender identity&#8221; with parents. In a release, the department said that it has reason to believe that numerous local educational agencies in California may be violating FERPA as they socially transition kids in school and hide their activities from parents.
Given the number of local educational agencies involved, the Education Department said, it is concerned that CDE is playing a role in the &#8220;widespread adoption of these practices.&#8221;
“Teachers and school counselors should not be in the business of advising minors entrusted to their care on consequential decisions about their sexual identity and mental health. That responsibility and privilege lies with a parent or trusted loved one,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement on Thursday. “It is not only immoral but also potentially in contradiction with federal law for California schools to hide crucial information about a student’s wellbeing from parents and guardians.&#8221;
&#8220;The agency launched today’s investigation to vigorously protect parents’ rights and ensure that students do not fall victim to a radical transgender ideology that often leads to family alienation and irreversible medical interventions,&#8221; she added.

US-ECONOMY-MILKEN

EXCLUSIVE: USDA Investigating California For Transitioning Kids, Hiding Gender Identity

Agriculture

brooke rollins

California

Department of Education

General

A lobbyist for the American Heart Association turned heads last week when he asked Texas Republicans not to exclude soda, ultra-processed deserts, and candy from the list of items that can be bought with food stamps, despite the fact that the medical group has for years warned that such foods cause heart disease.
The testimony seemingly prioritized a left-wing opposition to welfare reform over the group&#8217;s mission and expertise — similar to scientists who said during COVID that mass gatherings were dangerous unless they were Black Lives Matter rallies, contributing to a dramatic loss of trust in medical experts. The testimony by Alec Puente, <a href="https://newsroom.heart.org/file/yama-and-alec?action=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">director of government relations</a> for AHA, was so surprising that state Sen. Lois W. Kolkhorst (R), chair of the Committee on Health and Human Services, repeatedly wondered if AHA could truly be taking the position.
“I often say I can never be surprised in this building, but for the American Heart Association to be against this bill, that might be the surprise of the session so far,&#8221; Sen. Kolkhorst said. &#8220;I would encourage you to look at what it restricts. I don&#8217;t know if y&#8217;all&#8217;s board voted on that.”
But now, AHA has retracted the testimony, with spokesman Steve Weiss telling The Daily Wire that “The Association’s position on Texas Senate Bill 379 was miscommunicated during the TX Senate Health and Human Services Committee hearing last week. The Association is not opposed to the bill, which would restrict purchases of sugary drinks and certain other unhealthy foods within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).”
“The miscommunication at the hearing from our representative, who is based in Texas, was unfortunate. We have corrected the record and worked to ensure this will not happen again,” Weiss said via email. “The Association remains committed to increasing the consumption of healthy food and decreasing the consumption of sugary drinks across our mission-critical work in scientific research, public policy and public awareness.”
He would not explain how the organization’s lobbyist managed to inadvertently <a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/witlistmtg/pdf/C6102025031113301.PDF" target="_blank" rel="noopener">register in advance</a> specifically to testify against the bill, travel to the state capitol, and provide written and oral testimony that was the exact opposite of the organization’s mission. According to the Texas committee&#8217;s list of registered witnesses, Puente was joined by Walmart in opposing the law, while representatives from the Texas Radiological Society, Texas Medical Association, Make Texans Healthy Again, and End Chronic Disease showed up to support it.
Soda is the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-can-food-stamps-buy-junk-food-how-doge-could-save-billions-and-maha">single most frequently purchased item with food stamps</a>, despite the program&#8217;s stated goal of increasing nutrition for Americans. The AHA has lobbied cities to heavily <a href="https://newsroom.heart.org/local-news/measure-z-passes-in-berkeley-and-santa-cruz-to-support-safe-and-healthy-communities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tax soda</a> to disincentivize workers from purchasing it, but Puente told the Texas legislators that tax dollars should continue to buy soda outright for those on welfare.
“While improving Texans&#8217; diet is a shared goal, the heart association is concerned about potential impacts of this bill on participation and population health,” <a href="https://senate.texas.gov/videoplayer.php?vid=21315&amp;lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Puente testified</a>. “Policies intended to reduce obesity should be focused on the population as a whole rather than singling out SNAP participants. While we know that SNAP is meant to be a supplement, healthy fruits and vegetables remain out of reach for many, and this will not change until benefit adequacy is addressed.&#8221;
He advocated for SNAP benefits to be increased while still permitting them to be spent on junk food, which he said would result in more purchases of fruit.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-611453" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/08/20230829_104856-768x576.jpg" alt="" width="768" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/08/20230829_104856-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/08/20230829_104856-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/08/20230829_104856-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/08/20230829_104856-2048x1536.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></div>
“I certainly understand why that might be surprising,&#8221; Puente responded to rebuttal from Kolkhorst, the bewildered lawmaker. &#8220;If we were talking about the issue a bit more generally I think the position might be a bit more nuanced, but I think the basic position is going to be that for something like this, we would need to be confident that it would not have an impact on overall participation in the program.”
Puente did not explain why food stamp recipients would stop participating in the program if they could not buy soda and potato chips with it, why the heart association would have an interest in maintaining welfare participation rates, or how increasing food stamp benefits so participants could buy fruits on top of their existing load of artery-clogging sweets would reduce obesity.
His testimony was preceded by that of Grace Price, a 19-year old food activist, who said “SNAP kids consume 43% more sugary drinks than those not on SNAP.&#8221;
&#8220;With 72% of SNAP recipients also on Medicaid, we are paying for the problem and the solution,&#8221; Price said. &#8220;This isn&#8217;t complicated; even my six-year old niece knows candy and soda are unhealthy. You don&#8217;t need a masters degree to know they have no place in a nutrition program.”
SNAP is a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/why-can-food-stamps-buy-junk-food-how-doge-could-save-billions-and-maha" target="_blank" rel="noopener">$124 billion-a-year program</a> that allows poor people to buy virtually any edible item with the exception, in most cases, of restaurant meals. Food stamps are even accepted at <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/food-stamps-accepted-at-thousands-of-liquor-and-tobacco-stores-contributing-to-healthcare-fiasco" target="_blank" rel="noopener">thousands of liquor or tobacco stores</a>, in case someone wants to pick up a Mountain Dew to chase their vodka or a bag of Skittles to go with their cigarettes.
Politicians from both parties have periodically noted the absurdity of including taxpayer-funded soda and candy in a nutrition program, with states like New York attempting to block soda. But SNAP is a federal program, and the feds have refused to allow states waivers allowing them to do so, even as pilot programs.
Now a coalition is forming between Make America Healthy Again advocates and Department of Government Efficiency proponents. Liberals have said DOGE will fail to balance the budget because such a large portion of federal spending is tied up in Medicare and Medicaid. But reducing obesity by improving diets among the poor could drastically decrease Medicaid spending relating to issues like diabetes.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who is from Texas, is expected to grant waivers to states who ask, and Arkansas has said it will do so. The change could also be nationwide; <a href="https://brecheen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=166" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marco Rubio introduced such a bill</a> in the Senate in 2023.
Roy Lenardson of the Foundation for Government Accountability testified in support of the bill at the Texas hearing.
“How is it going with our health in this country? If 42% of adults and 20% of kids are obese&#8230;and obesity has tripled since the 1960s&#8230;it&#8217;s not going great.&#8221; He told The Daily Wire that even Sonny Purdue, the agriculture secretary during Trump’s first term, blocked Maine’s request to exclude soda from the welfare program, and that special interests fight hard to keep the spigots of taxpayer money flowing for soda and candy.
<div id="attachment_842733" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-842733" class="size-large wp-image-842733" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/tobacco-beer-1024x556.png" alt="Antioch Tobacco &amp; Beer in Antioch, Tennessee / Google" width="1024" height="556" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/tobacco-beer-1024x556.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/tobacco-beer-300x163.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/tobacco-beer-768x417.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/tobacco-beer-1536x833.png 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/tobacco-beer-2048x1111.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Antioch Tobacco &amp; Beer in Antioch, Tennessee / Google</div>
He said such funding could explain the American Heart Association testimony, noting that it has received more than a <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/founders-day/second-century-campaign-donors">million dollars</a> each from Walmart, Pfizer, and Novo Nordisk — the maker of obesity drug Ozempic — and that <a href="https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/company-collaboration/food-system-strategy/aha-industry-nutrition-forum/industry-nutrition-forum-members" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PepsiCo pays it</a> to be part of its Industry Nutrition Forum.
&#8220;Voters put the MAHA movement’s hands on the levers of power, and the taxpayer-funded junk food cartel is sweating bullets,&#8221; Lenardson said.
The American Beverage Association, the industry group for soda manufacturers, is mounting a nationwide media offensive that attempts to persuade Republican lawmakers against reforms to the program. The industry group is attempting to cast the ability to buy taxpayer-funded junk food as an issue of liberty.
The ad campaign, called &#8220;<a href="https://yourcartyourchoice.com/about/">Your Cart, Your Choice</a>,&#8221; is spearheaded by the soda group in partnership with the National Confectioners Association, which represents candy manufacturers, and the Corn Refiners Association, which profits from high-fructose corn syrup.
“Restricting what one segment of the population can buy at the grocery store just because they need temporary government assistance goes against American values. These proposals treat families <a href="https://yourcartyourchoice.com/oppose-restrictions-on-snap-benefits/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">and veterans</a> as second-class citizens,” it says. “REJECT these so-called ‘reforms’ and take action to protect the freedom of food and beverage choice for all Americans,” it adds on top of an image of an American flag.
Its paid ads on X have been met with uniform derision, with one user responding: “Not your money, not your choice.”
In a statement to The Daily Wire, the group reiterated its liberty-centric argument for not restricting food stamp spending.
“Government meddling in Texans’ grocery carts does nothing to make us healthier and won’t save taxpayers a single dollar, but it will add new layers of red tape and empower government bureaucrats to force their ideas onto your shopping list,” said Americans for Food &amp; Beverage Choice spokeswoman Stacie Rumenap. “The working-class coalition that showed up this past election voted to reject bloated and inefficient government. Politicians should take note.”
The soda lobby is also <a href="https://yourcartyourchoice.com/oppose-restrictions-on-snap-benefits/?utm_source=x&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=social_x_social_20250312_E_no_1_" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promoting unusual op-eds in conservative media</a> that try to convince free-market conservatives to rally around taxpayer-funded junk food.
Newsmax published one such piece, “Keep Bureaucrats’ Hands Out of American’s [sic] Grocery Carts – Please.” It was authored by Tom Giovanetti of the Institute for Policy Innovation, which, according to <a href="https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?page=3&amp;q=%22Institute+for+Policy+Innovation%22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tax records</a>, is funded by PhRMA, whose members profit from treating the unhealthy

Alec Puente / Texas Senate

American Heart Association Retracts Opposition To Barring Soda, Candy From Food Stamps

Food Stamps

Health

Texas

Security officers escorted <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/usda" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a> Inspector General Phyllis Fong out of her office this week after she refused to leave following her termination by President Donald Trump.
Reuters reported that the incident happened on Monday after Fong, who served in the department for 22 years, told colleagues that she intended to stay after being fired.
She reportedly claimed that the administration did not follow the proper protocols in firing her, the report said.
In an email, she claimed that the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency “has taken the position that these termination notices do not comply with the requirements set out in law and therefore are not effective at this time.”
Trump fired 18 inspectors general across the U.S. government last week, which triggered opponents who claimed that he did not follow the law in doing so because he did not give Congress advance notice.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, defended Trump’s decision over the weekend.
“Time and time again, the Supreme Court has said that Congress can’t impose restrictions on the president’s power to remove officers,” Cotton said. “In President Trump’s first term, he removed the Director of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau despite limitations on the President’s constitutional power to remove officers, that was litigated at the Supreme Court and the president won.”
“So ultimately, these inspectors general serve at the pleasure of the President,” he added. “He wants new people in there. He wants people who focused on getting out waste and fraud and abuse and reforming these agencies, he has a right to have to get in there who he wants.”

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee

Security Escorts USDA Inspector General Out Of Building For Refusing To Leave After Being Fired

Executive

Politics

Tom Cotton

Americans are expected to spend more on food through the rest of 2023 and into 2024 as prices continue to rise even as President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> touts his record on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/inflation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">inflation</a> and &#8220;Bidenomics.&#8221;
According to a recent <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">analysis</a> from the U.S. Department of Agriculture&#8217;s Economic Research Service, food prices will remain elevated for the remainder of this year and into 2024, with increases in 2023 projected to be higher than average. 
“Food prices are expected to grow more slowly in 2023 than in 2022 but still at above historical-average rates. In 2023, all food prices are predicted to increase 5.9 percent, with a prediction interval of 5.3 to 6.5 percent,” the USDA researchers said in a press release. 
Prices for food-at-home, which is food bought at grocery stores or supermarkets, are expected to increase by 5.2% by the end of 2023. Food-away-from-home, food purchased at restaurants, is expected to jump 7.1%. 
Prices for key food staples are expected to increase, including beef and veal (4.2%), other meats (4.8%), poultry (3%), dairy products (4.1%), fats and oils (9.6%), processed fruits and vegetables (9.2%), sugar and sweets (9.3%), cereals and bakery products (9%), nonalcoholic beverages (7.6%), and other foods (7.4%). 
Food inflation is expected to continue into 2024 but rise at a lower rate. 
“In 2024, all food prices are predicted to increase 2.8 percent, with a prediction interval of -2.0 to 7.9 percent. Food-at-home prices are predicted to increase 2.1 percent, with a prediction interval of -5.1 to 9.9 percent, and food-away-from-home prices are predicted to increase 5.1 percent, with a prediction interval of 2.7 to 7.5 percent,” the USDA said. 
The predictions were made by examining data from the July 2023 Producer Price Index and Consumer Price Index. In July 2023, food cost 4.9% more than in July 2022. 
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Inflation has been an ongoing problem during the Biden administration, with prices on everything from gas to food to used cars soaring. In speeches <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-touts-record-on-inflation-as-americans-spend-hundreds-more-per-month" target="_blank" rel="noopener">across the country</a>, Biden has emphasized that inflation rates have declined since their peak during his presidency. However, many Americans are still spending hundreds more per month, on average. 
One recent report showed that Americans paid $709 more dollars for basic goods and services in July 2023 than they did in July 2021.

New U.S. Government Eating Guidlines Issued

Food Prices Set To Increase ‘Above’ Historical Average: Govt Analysis

Economy

Food

Inflation

Joe Biden

The director for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health, has warned new guidelines could match Canada’s: no more than two beers per week for men.
Dr. George Koob, the director of the NIAAA, said this week that the guidelines for how many alcoholic beverages are recommended per week for Americans are currently under review and could soon change when new guidance is issued in 2025.
“I mean, they&#8217;re not going to go up, I&#8217;m pretty sure. So, if [alcohol consumption guidelines] go in any direction, it would be toward Canada,” Koob said, according to the Daily Mail <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12438233/Americans-limited-two-beers-strict-new-alcohol-guidelines-Bidens-booze-czar.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. “If there&#8217;s health benefits, I think people will start to re-evaluate where we&#8217;re at.”
“Most of the benefits people attribute to alcohol, we feel they really have more to do with what someone&#8217;s eating rather than what they&#8217;re drinking,” Koob stated. “So it really has to do with the Mediterranean diet, socio-economic status, that makes you able to afford that kind of diet and make your own fresh food and so forth. With this in mind, most of the benefits kind of disappear on the health side.”
The <a href="https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans-2020-2025.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-domain-ext="gov">Dietary Guidelines for Americans</a> (2020-2025), part of the USDA, currently recommends limiting drink intake to two drinks or less per day:
<blockquote>
One alcoholic drink equivalent is defined as containing 14 grams (0.6 fl oz) of pure alcohol.The following count as one alcoholic drink equivalent: 12 fluid ounces of regular beer (5% alcohol), 5 fluid ounces of wine (12% alcohol), or 1.5 fluid ounces of 80 proof distilled spirits (40% alcohol). To help Americans move toward a healthy dietary pattern and minimize risks associated with drinking, adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink or to drink in moderation by limiting intakes to 2 drinks or less in a day for men and 1 drink or less in a day for women, on days when alcohol is consumed.
</blockquote>
Koob admitted he typically consumes two glasses of white wine per week, usually a “buttery Californian Chardonnay.”
&#8220;Alcohol infuses many lives in many positive ways,” Dr. Dan Malleck, a health sciences expert at Brock University in Canada, told the Daily Mail. “We celebrate accomplishments, mark occasions, bring wine to parties, meeting with friends, commiserate, relax, blow off steam &#8230; these are important activities, and part of the texture and tone of many lives.”
Amanda Berger, Ph.D., Distilled Spirits Council Vice President of Science and Health, reacted to Koob&#8217;s remarks, saying:
<blockquote>
Dr. Koob’s comments calling for a drastic change to the federal recommendations on alcohol before <a href="https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/related-projects#uswds-text-2587" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/related-projects%23uswds-text-2587&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1693078365323000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2ldqWXH40PI-v3EXZR7_xs">the review of alcohol research</a> has even begun undermines the scientific rigor and objectivity of the entire Dietary Guidelines process. For more than 30 years, the federal guidance on alcohol consumption has been no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men for those who choose to drink. It is extremely alarming and inappropriate for a federal official to predetermine the outcome of the Dietary Guidelines and suggest changing decades of precedent without the benefit of the scientific review to support such a sweeping move.
</blockquote>

HBO Documentary Film “Risky Drinking” Premiere

Biden Health Czar: Dietary Guidelines Should Be Like Canada’s: Less Beer

Alcohol

The United States Department of Agriculture <a href="https://apnews.com/article/cultivated-meat-lab-grown-cell-based-a88ab8e0241712b501aa191cdbf6b39a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Wednesday it approved the sale of “lab-grown” meat for commercial sale.
Two California companies, Good Meat and Upside Foods, are now approved to sell chicken created from animal cells in the United States. The decision makes the U.S. only the second country in the world to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/21/us-approves-sale-of-cell-cultured-chicken-to-two-start-ups.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">allow</a> the commercial sale of lab-grown meat, which is also referred to as “cultured” and “cell-cultivated” meat.
“This announcement that we’re now able to produce and sell cultivated meat in the United States is a major moment for our company, the industry and the food system,” Josh Tetrick, the CEO of Good Meat’s parent company, said in a statement. 
The FDA has already given the green light for lab-grown meat for the two companies, and the approval by the USDA means it can now be sold commercially, though the companies will not be bringing it to grocery stores yet due to high production costs. Just one other country, Singapore, allows the legal sale of lab-grown meat, while in March, Italy moved to ban the sale of it to protect its food heritage, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65110744" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the BBC. 
The lab product will be labeled as “cell-cultivated chicken,” CNBC notes. The companies argue that lab-grown meat is a more environmentally sustainable option than animals from farms and ranches. 
&#8220;GOOD Meat is real meat, made without tearing down a forest or taking a life. We’re the first and only company in the world to sell cultivated meat made from cells instead of slaughtered animals,&#8221; Good Meat says on its <a href="https://www.goodmeat.co/newsroom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>.
“This approval will fundamentally change how meat makes it to our table,” Uma Valeti, CEO of Upside Foods, said. “It’s a giant step forward towards a more sustainable future — one that preserves choice and life.”
These statements come despite a <a href="https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/lab-grown-meat-carbon-footprint-worse-beef" target="_blank" rel="noopener">preprint</a> study published in May, which hasn’t been peer-reviewed, that found lab-grown meat may actually be worse for the environment than regular meat.
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“If companies are having to purify growth media to pharmaceutical levels, it uses more resources, which then increases global warming potential,” lead author Derrick Risner from UC Davis Department of Food Science and Technology said. “If this product continues to be produced using the ‘pharma’ approach, it’s going to be worse for the environment and more expensive than conventional beef production.”
Lab-grown meat, which is not vegetarian, is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lab-grown-meat-moves-forward" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cultivated</a> from animal cells, which Valeti says are “like a starter dough.” The cells are incubated and grown into masses of meat in steel tanks, then cut and made to look like traditional meat, <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/usda-approves-first-lab-grown-meat-sold-public" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Fox Business. The product will reportedly cost upwards of $20 per pound when it comes to stores. Lab-grown meat is not the same as plant-based “meat” products, such as Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat.
Initially, two restaurants have partnered with the companies to serve the lab-grown food: Bar Crenn, a Japanese-style restaurant in San Francisco, will be serving the lab-grown meat from Upside Foods, and Good Meat’s product will be sold at a Washington, D.C., restaurant, according to the Associated Press.

Fried Chicken

USDA Approves Sale Of ‘Lab-Grown’ Meat

Animals

Social media users lit up <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> on Tuesday following reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture was weighing a proposal that would ban providing chocolate milk for school kids in the cafeteria.
A headline tweeted by the <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/05/15/usda-weighs-ban-on-chocolate-milk-in-school-cafeterias/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a> read, &#8220;USDA weighs ban on chocolate milk in school cafeterias,&#8221; which the piece noted has already been adopted in major cities like San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The proposal would ban the product in elementary and middle school cafeterias across the country, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/got-chocolate-milk-kids-washington-might-take-it-away-in-schools-b4c9b29e?mod=hp_lead_pos2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a> reported.
One official — Erica Lauren Kenney, a public health and nutrition professor at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health — told WSJ, &#8220;From a public-health perspective, it makes a lot of sense to try to limit the servings of these flavored milks because they do have quite a lot of added sugar.&#8221;
Opponents have questioned the ban and noted the ridiculousness of taking a &#8220;product that most kids like and that has nine essential nutrients in it and say, &#8216;You can&#8217;t drink this, you have to drink plain?’”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The USDA is weighing a ban on chocolate milk and other flavored milks in elementary and middle school cafeterias, but critics say it could lead to children drinking less milk <a href="https://t.co/l5ndRDuaN1">https://t.co/l5ndRDuaN1</a>
&mdash; The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/WSJ/status/1658079796448854017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Some on Twitter blew up over the proposal, suggesting that a ban might lead kids to drink less milk, and agreeing that by doing this, the feds may as well &#8220;just ban happiness.”
&#8220;Nanny State wants to suck all the fun out of life,” one person tweeted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Nanny State wants to suck all the fun out of life.
&quot;USDA Wants to Ban Chocolate Milk From Schools Due to Added Sugar&quot; <a href="https://t.co/jnK8orupuI">https://t.co/jnK8orupuI</a>
&mdash; Phineas Fahrquar (@irishspy) <a href="https://twitter.com/irishspy/status/1658473976182767616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Why don’t they serve the children cardboard?&#8221; another added.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Why don’t they serve the children cardboard?<a href="https://t.co/73jNzzpmZj">https://t.co/73jNzzpmZj</a>
&mdash; Legal Insurrection (@LegInsurrection) <a href="https://twitter.com/LegInsurrection/status/1658219955207262213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Yeah… that is what is causing obesity,&#8221; a third person wrote. “A half pint of milk. Not the lack of movement or added sugar and deadly high fructose corn syrup and additives in everything they eat. Every school day should have at least two exercise periods.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Yeah… that is what is causing obesity. A half pint of milk. Not the lack of movement or added sugar and deadly high fructose corn syrup and additives in everything they eat. Every school day should have at least two exercise periods.<a href="https://t.co/gfgxccWCx8">https://t.co/gfgxccWCx8</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nypost</a>
&mdash; Steve McLaughlin (@SteveMcNY) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveMcNY/status/1658434095498645506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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While another person tweeted simply, &#8220;Just ban happiness, why don&#8217;t cha?&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Just ban happiness, why dontcha?
The USDA weighs a ban on chocolate milk and other flavored milks in elementary and middle school cafeterias, but critics say it could lead to children drinking less milk <a href="https://t.co/khb83rMWnO">https://t.co/khb83rMWnO</a>
&mdash; Tom Gardiner (@Thogar) <a href="https://twitter.com/Thogar/status/1658248892884963330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Another wrote, &#8220;Y’all won’t do s*** about gun violence towards schools… but you&#8217;ll ban the babies from drinking chocolate milk?! Gtfoh&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Y’all won’t do shit about gun violence towards schools… but you’ll ban the babies from drinking chocolate milk?! Gtfoh <a href="https://t.co/mBfxQoTNZc">https://t.co/mBfxQoTNZc</a>
&mdash; Magically_McCrazy (@jordynmccrazy12) <a href="https://twitter.com/jordynmccrazy12/status/1658514295863246857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Finally, another noted the hypocrisy of a ban on &#8220;chocolate milk in schools but not all the overly processed meat they serve? OK.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
They want to ban chocolate milk in schools but not all the overly processed meat they serve? OK.
&mdash; CURVE BOO GOTTI (@ashleyanneb) <a href="https://twitter.com/ashleyanneb/status/1658442584887373828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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A decision on the proposal — which would impact some 30 million students — is expected by next year, and kids affected would be those in school by the 2025-26 school year, the outlet noted.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michelle-obama-takes-candy-away-babies-pardes-seleh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michelle Obama Takes Candy Away From Babies</a>

Chocolate Milk-1

‘Just Ban Happiness’: Twitter Destroys USDA Over School Chocolate Milk Ban Proposal

'Just Ban Happiness': Twitter Destroys USDA Over School Chocolate Milk Ban Proposal

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