The flesh-eating New World screwworm has been confirmed in a Texas calf, marking the first detection of the parasite in U.S. livestock in decades.
The Department of Agriculture <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/flesh-eating-screwworm-scare-reaches-the-u-s">announced</a> Wednesday that a three-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, tested positive for New World screwworm, a parasite whose larvae feed on the living tissues of warm-blooded animals, and yes, sometimes humans.
The confirmation comes one day after The Daily Wire reported on a suspected case in South Texas and follows a growing outbreak in Mexico that prompted federal officials to warn that the pest could eventually cross into the United States.
According to the USDA, the screwworm infestation was found in the calf’s umbilical area. The parasite typically enters animals through open wounds, where larvae burrow into the flesh and feed on living tissue. Federal officials said no additional cases have been identified in the United States.
As far as meat and produce go, the USDA noted the food supply is safe because screwworms do not infest meat, fruits, vegetables, or other food sources.
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🚨 With the recent detection of New World screwworm in a 3-week-old bovine in Zavala County, TX, USDA urges residents to contact your veterinarian right away if you see any suspicious wounds, maggots, or infestations in your animals or herd.
If you see signs of maggot… <a href="https://t.co/lxxsjIgDcb">pic.twitter.com/lxxsjIgDcb</a>
— Dept. of Agriculture (@USDA) <a href="https://x.com/USDA/status/2062541369839673737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
&#8220;All models showed New World screwworm entering the country in 2025; however, thanks to the hard work across the entire Trump administration and our industry, state, and local partners, we were able to buy time for this moment,&#8221; said Dudley Hoskins, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.
Hoskins said protecting America&#8217;s livestock is a national security issue &#8220;of the utmost importance.&#8221;
&#8220;USDA invested heavily in the tools needed to eliminate NWS ever since cases started increasing in Central America and Mexico. The United States has defeated this pest before, and we will do it again.&#8221;
The U.S. case comes after the screwworm was found last week in a five-year-old goat in Coahuila, the Mexican state that borders southwestern Texas. A separate case was reported on Sunday of the screwworm infecting a dog in Tamaulipas, another bordering Mexican state.
The current outbreak in Mexico has persisted for some time, prompting Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to shut down livestock trade across the southern border in May 2025. There was one confirmed U.S. case last year from a person who returned to Maryland after traveling to El Salvador.
The USDA reports that screwworm maggots cause painful, foul-smelling wounds — and that maggots can sometimes be seen or felt in open wounds or in body openings, including the nose, mouth, eyes, ears, and genitals.
If the infestation isn’t caught early and treated quickly, it can lead to extensive tissue damage and sometimes death.
Adult screwworm flies are the size of a housefly, with orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body, and three dark stripes along their backs. The parasite is typically found in South America and parts of the Caribbean, but has been found farther north, in Central America and Mexico, over the last three years. While the major outbreak currently in Mexico and Central America is primarily in livestock, wildlife, and pets, there have been cases in people, according to the CDC.
If mammals or birds are found showing signs of irritated behavior, head shaking, a decaying odor, or maggots in wounds, they should be reported to an animal health official immediately.
The USDA and Texas officials are taking immediate action to eliminate the threat of screwworms in the United States through an action plan linked here.
The USDA warns that if you see signs of maggot infestations in live or very recently dead wild animals, especially in areas near the U.S.-Mexico border, call 866-487-3297 or report it to your local USDA Wildlife Services office.

Credit: USDA/Christian Torres/Anadolu via Getty Images

Flesh-Eating Screwworm Reaches U.S. Livestock

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The Trump administration is preparing to implement a sweeping and controversial overhaul of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps — an action officials describe as part of a broader effort to increase program integrity and eliminate what they characterize as widespread abuse.
At the center of this initiative is a major requirement announced by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins: millions of low-income Americans will be required to reapply for food-stamp benefits, regardless of whether they are already enrolled, have been long-term recipients, or have recently completed eligibility reviews at the state level.
Rollins outlined the plan during an <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/14/trump-usda-snap-participants-reapply-benefits-00651874">interview</a> on Newsmax, framing it as a necessary step to restore confidence in how federal taxpayer dollars are used. She said she plans to “have everyone reapply for their benefits, make sure that everyone that’s taking a taxpayer-funded benefit through &#8230; food stamps, that they literally are vulnerable and they can’t survive without it.”
Rollins has recalled that on the day she took office, she sent a letter to all 50 states saying that the federal government had never asked for the data before, but that it now needed the personal data, including names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and addresses, of SNAP recipients. She <a href="https://x.com/SecRollins/status/1985007736896053318">said on X</a> that she sent the letter “so we could make sure illegal immigrants aren’t getting benefits meant for American families,” adding, “The Democrat Party has turned its back on working Americans and built its entire strategy around protecting illegal aliens. They know if the handouts stop, those illegals will go back home, and Democrats will lose 20+ seats after the next census.”
“29 states — mostly the red states — responded with their data sets, February, March, April; so the numbers that you’re talking through, those are numbers that we have been collecting and analyzing since early summer/late spring,” she said. “The fact that this spotlight shined on SNAP has allowed us to talk about it. But here’s the most unbelievable news I have [learned] really just over the last few days: That 5,000 dead people, that was just one month; the number is closer to 186,000 deceased men and women and children in this country are receiving a check.”
The administration argues that this mass reapplication process is essential to combating what it calls systemic fraud and error in SNAP. By reprocessing the entire recipient population, officials say they hope to remove ineligible participants, strengthen data accuracy, and reduce government spending.
By placing the mandatory reapplication requirement at the center of the reforms, the administration seeks to redefine SNAP as a program reserved only for those who can clearly demonstrate acute need, reflecting a broader shift toward stricter eligibility enforcement.

Ice Cream Makers Pledge To Remove Artificial Colors By 2028

Rooting Out Fraud: Trump Admin To Make Food Stamp Recipients Reapply For Benefits

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The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says tens of millions of Americans are at risk of losing food stamp benefits next month if Senate Democrats continue to refuse a deal on funding the government.
&#8220;At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01,&#8221; the department&#8217;s homepage <a href="https://www.usda.gov/">reads</a> in large letters.
&#8220;Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),&#8221; the USDA alert continues. &#8220;Bottom line, the well has run dry.&#8221;
&#8220;We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats,&#8221; it says. &#8220;They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.&#8221;
The government has been shut down since October 1, after Democrats refused a funding resolution without certain health care subsidies. Republicans have charged that Democrats want illegal immigrants to receive health care paid for by the American people.
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About 42 million Americans currently receive SNAP benefits, commonly referred to as food stamps.
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In 2024, SNAP served about 41.7 million people per month, <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap/key-statistics-and-research">according</a> to government data. Federal SNAP spending totaled nearly $100 billion, with the average recipient averaging $187.20 in benefits per month.
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Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) on Monday blasted Democrats for &#8220;punishing families and small businesses&#8221; over their refusal to strike a deal with Republicans.
&#8220;SNAP doesn’t just serve families &#8211; it helps small town grocery stores too,&#8221; Huckabee Sanders posted to X. &#8220;But 2,700 Arkansas retailers soon won’t be able to serve SNAP-recipient customers because of the Democrat’s shutdown. Democrats need to do their job and stop punishing families and small businesses.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
SNAP doesn’t just serve families &#8211; it helps small town grocery stores too. But 2,700 Arkansas retailers soon won’t be able to serve SNAP-recipient customers because of the Democrat’s shutdown.
Democrats need to do their job and stop punishing families and small businesses. <a href="https://t.co/K6voNWJ380">pic.twitter.com/K6voNWJ380</a>
— Sarah Huckabee Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) <a href="https://twitter.com/SarahHuckabee/status/1982811058571006116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
<div>As the shutdown continues, President Donald Trump is working to ensure U.S. troops remain paid. He signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to repurpose unused funds to cover salaries in the interim. Trump also obtained a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-now-know-mystery-donor-who-gave-130-million-to-pay-troops-during-schumer-shutdown?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=We+Now+Know+Mystery+Donor+Who+Gave+%24130+Million+To+Pay+Troops+During+‘Schumer+Shutdown’">$130 million donation</a> from a &#8220;patriotic friend,&#8221; which reports indicate is Timothy Mellon, a billionaire railroad magnate and heir to the prominent banking and political Mellon family.</div>
“Chuck Schumer recently said, ‘Every day gets better’ during their Radical Left Shutdown. I DISAGREE!” Trump posted to Truth Social last week, as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/get-our-troops-paid-trump-says-he-wont-let-military-suffer-due-to-dem-shutdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">highlighted</a> by The Daily Wire.
“If nothing is done, because of ‘Leader’ Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th,” he continued. “That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th.”
“I will not allow the Democrats to hold our Military, and the entire Security of our Nation, HOSTAGE, with their dangerous Government Shutdown,” Trump added.
<div>Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/maha-another-republican-state-bans-candy-soda-purchases-with-food-stamps?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=MAHA%3A+Another+Republican+State+Bans+Candy%2C+Soda+Purchases+With+Food+Stamps">MAHA: Another Republican State Bans Candy, Soda Purchases With Food Stamps</a></div>

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Food Stamps Won’t Be Issued Nov 1 Because Of ‘Senate Democrats,’ USDA Says

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A new report from The Wall Street Journal explains how the USDA is using movie clips and popular music to keep hungry wolves away from livestock.
One clip of audio is from the 2019 drama “Marriage Story” starring Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Laura Dern. The film follows a couple going through a divorce while navigating custody issues over their son. The particular scene being used by the USDA, which has been popular among meme creators for years, shows the couple embattled in a heated argument. 
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/wolves-drones-livestock-ac-dc-scarlett-johansson-ed12d278">According</a> to WSJ, ranchers are using drones equipped with thermal cameras and spotlights to detect wolves at night, while loudspeakers blast unsettling sounds such as fireworks, gunshots, or even movie clips to keep the deadly predators at bay.
“I need the wolves to respond and know that, hey, humans are bad,” USDA district supervisor Paul Wolf told the outlet.
Playing these clips at high volume is known as “wolf hazing” and acts as a deterrent for wolves looking to turn livestock into a meal. During this hazing, the speakers blast songs such as Five Finger Death Punch’s “Blue on Black” and the AC/DC classic “Thunderstruck” to scare off the would-be predators. 
These drones are being used to protect the gray wolf population in the area, which is still on the endangered species list. But the article noted how the number of gray wolves has expanded since they were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in 1995.
WSJ noted that fewer calves were killed in southern Oregon after the drones were introduced. Over a period of 20 days, ranchers lost 11 cattle, but after 85 days of using the music and movie clip broadcasting drones, only 2 calves fell victim to the hungry wolves.
Whether &#8220;wolf hazing&#8221; can function as a long-term strategy for the USDA remains to be seen. Ranchers Jim and Mary Rickerts are unsure of its effectiveness if the wolves become used to the drones over time. &#8220;Hopefully they’re gonna be successful, but I’m kinda betting on the wolves, truth be known,” Jim Rickerts told The Wall Street Journal.

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The new United States dietary guidelines, which are expected to be released this month, will remove the daily recommended limit for alcohol consumption.
The new guidelines, drafted by the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services,  “are expected to include a brief statement encouraging Americans to drink in moderation or limit alcohol intake due to associated health risks,” sources told <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-drop-guidance-limit-alcohol-one-or-two-drinks-per-day-sources-say-2025-06-18/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters</a>.
This marks a shift for the guidelines. Since 1990, the daily recommended limits have been no more than one drink for women and up to two drinks for men. It also signals a rebuke of the Biden administration, which took steps to drastically limit the amount of alcohol Americans consume.
In the last month of his term, Biden’s surgeon general expressed a desire to place cancer risk warnings on all alcohol products. Biden had also tapped a secretive board called the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking to revise the alcohol portion of the dietary guidelines.
Sources close to the committee — which contained multiple Canadian citizens —warned it was “close to adopting the World Health Organization’s 2023 <a href="https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">declaration</a>: &#8216;No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health,&#8217;” as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/no-donald-trump-isnt-coming-for-your-tequila-but-kamala-might-be" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previously reported</a> by The Daily Wire.
Dietary guidelines are published every five years. The current revision is being led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The intention behind making the change is “to ensure the guidelines reflect only the most robust evidence.”
“The scientific basis for recommending specific daily limits is limited,” one source commented.
The debate surrounding the potential benefits and harms of alcohol is still unsettled. Though some studies indicate an increased risk of <a href="https://ysph.yale.edu/news-article/the-link-between-alcohol-and-cancer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cancer</a>, others show that those who consume alcohol in moderation may have a <a href="https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2024/12/new-report-reviews-evidence-on-moderate-alcohol-consumption-and-health-impacts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lower mortality rate</a>, and possess a lower risk of heart attack and stroke.
Authors of a Harvard <a href="https://harvardpublichealth.org/policy-practice/is-alcohol-bad-for-you-or-is-alcohol-good-for-you-yes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">meta-study</a> concluded that “the data do not justify sweeping statements about the [negative] effects of moderate alcohol consumption on human health.”
&#8220;The hospitality industry has consistently maintained the view that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans should be determined based on a preponderance of sound scientific evidence, free from bias and conflicts of interest,&#8221; Science Over Bias, a coalition of groups involved in the alcohol industry, said in a statement. &#8220;Information on responsible alcohol consumption has been part of the Dietary Guidelines for decades and has provided useful guidance for consumers who choose to consume alcohol and their health care providers.&#8221;

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U.S. Dietary Guidelines Will Scrap Daily Alcohol Limit

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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.”
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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

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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

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

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

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

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. 
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
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.

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