Amanda Prestigiacomo

Also something to watch for, West Virginia has just passed a bill that bans a number of food dyes often found in junk food and sugary drinks. That will affect the soda industry too, and they ran a very strong opposition campaign to that bill. Republican Governor Patrick Morrissey signed that bill on Monday. It will go into effect in 2028, though it will affect school food programs this summer.

Well, the food industry is working across numerous fronts to try to protect these profits. About one in eight Americans receive SNAP benefits currently with soda as the most frequently purchased item. About 10% of all SNAP spending goes towards soda and sugary drinks and another 10% toward junk food. American taxpayers reportedly subsidized roughly $4 billion worth of soda products through SNAP.

Well, the food industry is working across numerous fronts to try to protect these profits. About one in eight Americans receive SNAP benefits currently with soda as the most frequently purchased item. About 10% of all SNAP spending goes towards soda and sugary drinks and another 10% toward junk food. American taxpayers reportedly subsidized roughly $4 billion worth of soda products through SNAP.

Now, losing that subsidy would be a big blow to these companies. So unsurprisingly, there's been a full court press to try to keep them in SNAP, including from even influencers.

Now, losing that subsidy would be a big blow to these companies. So unsurprisingly, there's been a full court press to try to keep them in SNAP, including from even influencers.

Well, we're seeing influencers online who mainly lean right-wing posting very similar messages on X about how restricting soda from Snap is government overreach, a violation of personal choice, and politically unpopular. And almost all of them mentioned Trump's love for Diet Coke. There are unconfirmed reports that these influencers were paid to post those messages by groups tied to Big Soda.

Well, we're seeing influencers online who mainly lean right-wing posting very similar messages on X about how restricting soda from Snap is government overreach, a violation of personal choice, and politically unpopular. And almost all of them mentioned Trump's love for Diet Coke. There are unconfirmed reports that these influencers were paid to post those messages by groups tied to Big Soda.

And women's rights advocate Riley Gaines said that she was approached to do the same, but she turned them down. RFK actually publicly thanked Gaines for her integrity. And he added, quote, it's troubling that some companies now think they have a right to demand taxpayer money to poison our children. Now, there's also been a campaign to cozy up to Trump.

And women's rights advocate Riley Gaines said that she was approached to do the same, but she turned them down. RFK actually publicly thanked Gaines for her integrity. And he added, quote, it's troubling that some companies now think they have a right to demand taxpayer money to poison our children. Now, there's also been a campaign to cozy up to Trump.

Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Keurig Dr. Pepper have all directly engaged with Trump administration officials. They're talking up their commitment to zero sugar options and clear product labeling. Coca-Cola also met with Trump in January and they gifted him that personalized bottle of Diet Coke.

Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Keurig Dr. Pepper have all directly engaged with Trump administration officials. They're talking up their commitment to zero sugar options and clear product labeling. Coca-Cola also met with Trump in January and they gifted him that personalized bottle of Diet Coke.

The American Beverage Association, or the ABA, which reps all of these big soda companies, they gave money to Trump's inauguration, as they have with past presidents. They also made a public political pitch. They said working families voted for Trump to lift them up and not leave them behind, but snap restrictions would, quote, "...betray those voters and that promise."

The American Beverage Association, or the ABA, which reps all of these big soda companies, they gave money to Trump's inauguration, as they have with past presidents. They also made a public political pitch. They said working families voted for Trump to lift them up and not leave them behind, but snap restrictions would, quote, "...betray those voters and that promise."

In a press conference on Tuesday, ABA Vice President of Public Affairs Meredith Potter argued that that West Virginia law that bans numerous food dyes would hurt West Virginia consumers and the economy in the state over ingredients that she said have been proven safe.

In a press conference on Tuesday, ABA Vice President of Public Affairs Meredith Potter argued that that West Virginia law that bans numerous food dyes would hurt West Virginia consumers and the economy in the state over ingredients that she said have been proven safe.

She said that the ban was rushed and that beverage companies would need at least five years to phase out some of these dyes or update their recipes. I was also able to ask her if the ABA paid influencers to create those posts against SNAP restrictions on soda. And she clearly and emphatically told me, no, the ABA was not behind that campaign and is unaware of who is.

She said that the ban was rushed and that beverage companies would need at least five years to phase out some of these dyes or update their recipes. I was also able to ask her if the ABA paid influencers to create those posts against SNAP restrictions on soda. And she clearly and emphatically told me, no, the ABA was not behind that campaign and is unaware of who is.

Now, we also have Walmart, one of the largest retailers where SNAP benefits are spent. They've engaged in lobbying efforts to stop these restrictions. And believe it or not, there was a lobbyist from the American Heart Association who advocated against these types of restrictions.

Now, we also have Walmart, one of the largest retailers where SNAP benefits are spent. They've engaged in lobbying efforts to stop these restrictions. And believe it or not, there was a lobbyist from the American Heart Association who advocated against these types of restrictions.

That was first reported by The Daily Wire's Luke Rosiak, and the AHA has since claimed that the lobbyists who traveled to Washington miscommunicated.