Why RFK Jr. wants to ban soda from SNAP benefits

Summary

Apple News Today: Why RFK Jr. Wants to Ban Soda from SNAP Benefits

Release Date: March 10, 2025
Host: Shemitah Basu

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Introduction

In this episode of Apple News Today, host Shemitah Basu delves into several pressing issues shaping the political and social landscape. From the impending partial government shutdown in Washington to the geopolitical tensions surrounding Greenland's future, and a contentious debate over the inclusion of soda in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), this episode offers a comprehensive overview of the most significant news stories of the day.

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1. Impending Partial Government Shutdown and the Stopgap Spending Bill

Key Highlights:

• Speaker Mike Johnson introduced a stopgap spending bill aimed at preventing a government shutdown by keeping federal funding intact through September.
• The bill proposes a marginal increase in defense spending by approximately $892 billion while simultaneously implementing a $708 billion reduction in non-defense expenditures.
• Additional allocations include $485 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), accompanied by a $20 billion cut, and an extra half-billion dollars for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

Notable Quotes:

• Mike Johnson (Speaker of the House) at [01:18]: "I believe we'll pass it along party lines, but I think every Democrat should vote for the CR. It is a fundamental responsibility we have to fund the government. And a clean CR with a few minor anomalies is not something that they should vote against. So we'll see what they do."

• Rosa DeLauro (House Appropriations Committee, Democrat) at [01:53]: "It's a blank check to Elon Musk and to President Trump. And it allows them what I call this is stealing. This is stealing taxpayers dollars."

Discussion: The proposed spending bill has sparked significant partisan debate. Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have criticized the bill for not adequately protecting essential programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Representative Rosa DeLauro accused the bill of being a "power grab" benefiting figures like Trump and Elon Musk.

President Trump publicly supported the bill, urging Republicans to maintain unity and avoid dissent, emphasizing the critical need to fund the government. Despite internal disagreements, particularly within the Republican ranks, the bill is set to be brought to the floor for a vote, with Speaker Johnson expressing confidence in its passage along party lines.

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2. Trump's Geopolitical Maneuvers: The Greenland Vote

Key Highlights:

• President Trump has expressed intentions to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark with a population of 56,000.
• Greenlanders are set to vote on the island’s future, a decision influenced by Trump's interest in the region's strategic and economic value.
• The island hosts a U.S. military base vital for space and missile monitoring and possesses abundant rare earth minerals essential for high-tech industries. Climate change is also making Greenland's vast ice sheets and potential Arctic shipping routes more accessible, increasing its geopolitical significance.

Notable Quotes:

• Ralph Norman (Republican, South Carolina) at [04:02]: "We need it really for international world security, and I think we're going to get it. One way or the other, we're going to get it."

• Sana Vass (Bloomberg Reporter) at [04:22]: "There is a lot at stake this time around. It will really define the future for Greenland, of course, but it will ultimately also impact a lot of other things, geopolitics and potentially the whole path of Greenland's independence and future partners."

• Sana Vass at [05:44]: "Tech industries, and they are now becoming more accessible as the vast ice sheets in Greenland are melting because of climate change. And at the same time, climate change is also expected to kind of expand the Arctic shipping routes. And that will give Greenland potentially a very important role in global trade in the future."

Discussion: The Greenlandic parliamentary elections are poised to be one of the most consequential for the island's future. With over half of the populace supporting independence from Denmark, Trump's overt interest in the region has galvanized the debate. While 85% of Greenlanders currently oppose joining the United States, Trump's actions have emboldened pro-independence factions who see Greenland as a valuable and autonomous partner rather than a target for colonization.

The localized support for independence, coupled with international interest due to Greenland's strategic resources and changing climate dynamics, places Greenland at a pivotal point. The outcome of the vote could have far-reaching implications for Europe's security and global trade routes, especially as Arctic navigation becomes more feasible.

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3. The SNAP Benefits Soda Ban: Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Proposal

Key Highlights:

• Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. proposes banning the purchase of soda with SNAP benefits, citing health concerns.
• The debate centers around whether government-funded food aid should subsidize non-nutritious items like sugary beverages.
• Proponents argue that restricting such items could enhance the nutritional impact of SNAP, while opponents cite logistical challenges and civil liberties concerns.

Notable Quotes:

• Christina Peterson (Wall Street Journal Reporter) at [07:46]: "There have been lawmakers and states from the Republican Party, Democratic Party for years who have been discussing whether the government should be subsidizing these purchases. And they believe that it could boost the sort of overall nutritional impact of the food aid program. If you said not gonna let people use these benefits to buy sugary desserts or sugary drinks."

• Christina Peterson at [09:35]: "They're making a political argument that President Trump's supporters and the people who voted for him in their polling do not want to restrict soda. And they make an argument that doing so would make these people feel like second class citizens and that it would not score any political points for President Trump or Republicans."

Discussion: The SNAP benefits soda ban has ignited a political battle, placing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at odds with President Trump and his base. Advocates for the ban, including lawmakers from New York, Minnesota, and Arkansas, argue that eliminating sugary drinks from SNAP can lead to better health outcomes for low-income families. They contend that it is a matter of enhancing the dignity and nutritional quality of food aid recipients.

Conversely, opponents, including major soda companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, argue that such restrictions infringe upon personal freedom and place an undue burden on retailers. They also highlight the logistical difficulties in implementing these restrictions, a point the USDA has historically supported against similar proposals.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has taken a proactive stance by requesting the USDA to implement restrictions on items like soda within her state, signaling potential shifts in federal policy. However, it remains uncertain whether President Trump will align with his health secretary's recommendations or maintain his current policies, especially given the political sensitivities surrounding the issue.

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4. Additional News Highlights

a. Measles Outbreak in Texas and New Mexico

• Over 200 cases have been reported, with 23 hospitalizations and one death in Texas.
• Shortages of measles vaccines are exacerbating the situation as demand surges.
• The CDC notes a nationwide increase in cases, now confirmed in 12 states.

b. Escalating Conflict in Syria

• Intense fighting between Syria's new government and forces loyal to ousted President Bashar al-Assad has resulted in over 1,300 deaths, predominantly civilians.
• The violence marks the worst since Assad's fall in December, with reports of revenge executions targeting the Alawite community.

c. Canada’s New Prime Minister: Mark Carney

• The Liberal Party selected Mark Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada, as Justin Trudeau’s successor.
• Carney is expected to navigate trade tensions with the Trump administration and may face elections shortly after assuming office.
• His banking expertise is seen as an asset in addressing economic challenges, though his tenure's length remains uncertain.

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Conclusion

Shemitah Basu's episode of Apple News Today provides an in-depth analysis of significant national and international issues. From the United States facing a potential government shutdown and grappling with policy changes to federal aid programs, to global geopolitical shifts involving Greenland and ongoing conflicts in Syria, the episode presents a comprehensive overview of current events. The contentious debate over SNAP benefits and the inclusion of soda highlights the intricate balance between public health initiatives and individual freedoms, reflecting broader societal tensions.

Listeners are encouraged to stay informed through the Apple News app, which offers detailed articles and additional content on these and other pressing topics.

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For more detailed coverage, including direct quotes and comprehensive analysis, subscribe to the Apple News app and stay updated with the latest episodes of Apple News Today.

Transcript

[Host 1]

Good morning.

[Shemitah Basu]

It's Monday, March 10th. I'm Shemitah Basu.

[Host 1]

This is Apple News today.

[Shemitah Basu]

On today's show, Greenland votes on the future of the island. Should food stamps pay for soda? And Canada's Liberal Party selects Trudeau's successor. But first, a big week for lawmakers in Washington as a partial government shutdown.

[Host 1]

Is set to begin Friday.

[Shemitah Basu]

Over the weekend, Speaker Mike Johnson introduced.

[Host 1]

A stopgap spending bill that would keep the government funded through September. Included in the bill is a slight increase in defense spending totaling around $892 billion and a small cut to non defense spending totaling around $708 billion.

[Shemitah Basu]

The bill also adds an additional $485 million for ICE, a $20 billion cut.

[Host 1]

To IRS enforcement, and an additional half billion dollars for WIC, the federal program that provides grocery assistance for low income women and children.

[Shemitah Basu]

Here's Speaker Johnson talking to reporters in.

[Host 1]

The halls of Capitol Hill about the bill.

[Mike Johnson]

I believe we'll pass it along party lines, but I think every Democrat should vote for the cr. It is a fundamental responsibility we have to fund the government. And a clean CR with a few minor anomalies is not something that they should vote against. So we'll see what they do.

[Shemitah Basu]

Democrats came out quickly against the bill.

[Host 1]

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, in a.

[Shemitah Basu]

Statement with party leadership, criticized it for.

[Host 1]

Not explicitly protecting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

[Shemitah Basu]

Representative Rosa DeLauro, a top Democrat on.

[Host 1]

The House Appropriations Committee, called the domestic cuts in the bill a power grab by Trump and Elon Musk. Here she is speaking to MSNBC yesterday.

[Rosa DeLauro]

It's a blank check to Elon Musk and to President Trump. And it allows them what I call this is stealing. This is stealing taxpayers dollars.

[Shemitah Basu]

President Trump voiced his support for the.

[Host 1]

Proposed spending bill, posting on social media that all Republicans should vote yes. And that quote, we have to remain united, no dissent.

[Shemitah Basu]

That's, of course, because Republicans have only.

[Host 1]

Two votes to spare in the House.

[Shemitah Basu]

But a number of Republicans who in.

[Host 1]

The past were against these types of stopgap measures are now saying they will support.

[Ralph Norman]

Typically, I am not for continuing resolution because we ought to pass our appropriation bills in time.

[Shemitah Basu]

That's Representative Ralph Norman, a Republican from South Carolina and member of the conservative.

[Host 1]

House Freedom Caucus, speaking to Fox News.

[Ralph Norman]

I think that having a government shut down now is not the proper thing.

[Shemitah Basu]

He went on to say.

[Host 1]

What's different now is the work that Doge is doing, which he agrees with. NPR has been reviewing the claims made by the Doge team and comparing them.

[Shemitah Basu]

With federal contract data and has so.

[Host 1]

Far found that the Trump administration is overstepping, stating the estimated savings totals by billions of dollars. If some of this to the brink spending negotiating sounds familiar, it's because it is.

[Shemitah Basu]

Late last year, heavy pressure and threats.

[Host 1]

From Trump and Elon Musk torpedoed a bipartisan agreement in favor of the smaller current spending resolution that's set to expire.

[Shemitah Basu]

On Friday, the New York Times reports. This time around, bipartisan talks had been.

[Host 1]

Underway to find a way to pass a bill and wrestle some control back from President Trump on spending issues.

[Shemitah Basu]

But Republicans ran out of time and.

[Host 1]

Are hoping to instead push through what they can on party line votes. Speaker Johnson says he'll bring the bill to the floor tomorrow.

[Shemitah Basu]

President Trump has threatened for weeks now that he wants America to take Greenland, a large island in the Arctic Ocean.

[Host 1]

With a population of 56,000 people.

[Shemitah Basu]

In fact, he specifically called out his.

[Host 1]

Intentions in last week's joint address to Congress.

[Ralph Norman]

We need it really for international world security, and I think we're going to get it. One way or the other, we're going to get it.

[Shemitah Basu]

Well, tomorrow Greenlanders will vote in what.

[Host 1]

Might be the most consequential election of their lifetimes. The vote, while technically unrelated to Trump's goals of territorial expansion, has certainly been influenced by it.

[Sana Vass]

There is a lot at stake this time around.

[Shemitah Basu]

That's Bloomberg reporter Sana Vass, based in Denmark.

[Sana Vass]

It will really define the future for Greenland, of course, but it will ultimately also impact a lot of other things, geopolitics and potentially the whole path of Greenland's independence and future partners.

[Shemitah Basu]

In tomorrow's parliamentary elections, Greenlanders will be.

[Host 1]

Deciding whether to support politicians who have called for independence from Denmark, which colonized Greenland 300 years ago.

[Shemitah Basu]

Ago it was a Danish colony until 1953.

[Host 1]

Today, Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark that receives annual funding from Copenhagen to fund its police, judiciary and defense, among other things.

[Shemitah Basu]

In a recent poll in Greenland, 56%.

[Host 1]

Of respondents supported having an independent state.

[Shemitah Basu]

But with Trump now vying to take control, it's given voters there more to think about.

[Host 1]

Some believe it's even more important to be independent.

[Shemitah Basu]

Others argue that separating from Denmark could.

[Host 1]

Make it far more vulnerable to the threat of American colonization.

[Shemitah Basu]

Vass told us a few reasons why.

[Host 1]

Trump sees Greenland as valuable.

[Shemitah Basu]

Aside from it already being home to.

[Host 1]

A US Military base that monitors space and missile threats, the island has a vast amount of natural resources, including rare earth minerals that are critical to high.

[Sana Vass]

Tech industries, and they are now becoming more accessible as the vast Ice sheets in Greenland are melting because of climate change. And at the same time, climate change is also expected to kind of expand the Arctic shipping routes. And that will give Greenland potentially a very important role in global trade in the future. So there are a lot of things about Greenland that make it potentially valuable to Trump.

[Host 1]

85% of Greenlanders oppose joining the United States. And for those who support independence, Trump's interest in the island has buoyed their cause.

[Sana Vass]

It's almost as if Trump's comments have made them realize that they can. They're worth much more than they thought they were, and they have potential partners outside of Denmark. And so the big question for future lawmakers that get elected this week is when are they ready to become independent and who might they collaborate with in the future?

[Shemitah Basu]

Recently, Donald Trump Jr. Visited the territory, followed by the Nelk.

[Host 1]

Boys, a group of Gen Z right leaning influencers on YouTube who handed out hundred dollar bills, telling locals, welcome to America. One father whose son came home with a hundred dollar bill told Bloomberg he found it, quote, disgusting and that it crossed a line.

[Shemitah Basu]

However, tomorrow's vote plays out.

[Host 1]

One former chief analyst at the Danish Defense Intelligence Service told Bloomberg that it could have a far reaching impact on Europe's security.

[Shemitah Basu]

Let's turn now to a political battle involving soda.

[Host 1]

President Trump is a big fan.

[Shemitah Basu]

He reportedly has several Diet Cokes a day. But Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

[Host 1]

Calls it poison and wants to make it so Americans can't spend their food aid benefits on it.

[Shemitah Basu]

Wall Street Journal reporter Christina Peterson told.

[Host 1]

Us about the efforts to modify snap. That's the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

[Christina Peterson]

There have been lawmakers and states from the Republican Party, Democratic Party for years who have been discussing whether the government should be subsidizing these purchases. And they believe that it could boost the sort of overall nutritional impact of the food aid program. If you said not gonna let people use these benefits to buy sugary desserts or sugary drinks.

[Shemitah Basu]

Lawmakers in New York, Minnesota and Arkansas.

[Host 1]

Have advocated for restricting less healthy items from the SNAP program. But for more than 20 years, the USDA has rejected these types of requests, saying that it would be too logistically challenging to implement.

[Christina Peterson]

That's been a long standing argument that this is gonna place a burden on retailers. It's gonna be hard to go through every item and decide which restricted and which can be included in the program. Are cashiers going to have to play interference?

[Host 1]

Proponents of these restrictions say those questions are less relevant in the digital age.

[Christina Peterson]

There's also an argument you hear from Democrats and anti hunger groups that say people on the food aid program have the same dignity as everyone else. We shouldn't be telling them what they can and can't eat. We don't tell anyone else what they can and can't eat.

[Host 1]

Lobbyists for major soda companies like Coca Cola and PepsiCo have made similar arguments.

[Christina Peterson]

They're making a political argument that President Trump's supporters and the people who voted for him in their polling do not want to restrict soda. And they make an argument that doing so would make these people feel like second class citizens and that it would not score any political points for President Trump or Republicans.

[Host 1]

This puts Kennedy at odds with Trump and his base. The administration's willingness to change course on the SNAP program could be tested soon.

[Shemitah Basu]

Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has said.

[Host 1]

She plans to ask the USDA to restrict certain items, potentially including soda, from SNAP eligibility in her state, and Trump's Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rawlins has seemed open to that.

[Shemitah Basu]

But Peterson told us it's not totally.

[Host 1]

Clear whether Trump will follow his health secretary's lead or stick to his usual order.

[Shemitah Basu]

Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following. The measles outbreak in Texas has now.

[Host 1]

Infected more than 200 people in the state and neighboring New Mexico.

[Shemitah Basu]

Texas health officials said 23 people have.

[Host 1]

Been hospitalized and there's been one death of a school aged child in the outbreak area centered in Gaines county near.

[Shemitah Basu]

The New Mexico border.

[Host 1]

In New Mexico, 30 cases are confirmed and a person who died there tested positive for measles, although it's not been determined whether it was the cause of death.

[Shemitah Basu]

The Guardian reports shortages of measles vaccines.

[Host 1]

Are hitting Texas cities as demand soars.

[Shemitah Basu]

The CDC says nationwide cases jumped by.

[Host 1]

A third over the past week, and there are currently confirmed cases in 12 states. Intense fighting in the past few days between Syria's new government and forces loyal to ousted former President Bashar al Assad have led to the deaths of more than 1,300 people, mostly civilians, the worst violence in Syria since the toppling of Assad's regime in December.

[Shemitah Basu]

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says.

[Host 1]

Many of the killings were revenge executions carried out against the Alawite community, which was Assad's base of support.

[Shemitah Basu]

Leaders in the Alawite community say they.

[Host 1]

Have been targeted since Assad's fall and that the gunmen loyal to the former regime do not represent them. And finally, Canada knows who its next prime minister will be.

[Shemitah Basu]

The Liberal Party on Sunday chose Mark.

[Host 1]

Carney to replace Justin Trudeau, who announced in January he would step down.

[Shemitah Basu]

Carney has a banking background and led.

[Host 1]

The country through the 2008 global financial crisis as governor of the bank of Canada, the country's equivalent of the Federal.

[Shemitah Basu]

Reserve, CBS News reports.

[Host 1]

Many Canadians are hoping Carney's expertise in the financial sector will help the country as it deals with a lingering trade war and tariff threats from the Trump admin.

[Shemitah Basu]

Carney said like Trump, he would enact.

[Host 1]

Dollar for dollar tariffs against the U.S. and leverage Canada's role as an energy supplier.

[Shemitah Basu]

It's not clear how long Carney will hold office.

[Host 1]

He does not hold a seat in.

[Shemitah Basu]

Parliament and is expected to call elections.

[Host 1]

Soon after being sworn in.

[Shemitah Basu]

He'll face off against Conservative Party leader.

[Host 1]

Pierre Poilievre in those elections.

[Shemitah Basu]

Meanwhile, Trump said over the weekend he.

[Host 1]

Wouldn'T rule out a recession this year, acknowledging the turbulence in the US Economy since he announced new tariffs.

[Shemitah Basu]

You can find all these stories and.

[Host 1]

More in the Apple News app.

[Shemitah Basu]

And if you're already listening in the.

[Host 1]

News app right now, we've got a narrated article.

[Shemitah Basu]

Coming up next, Bloomberg Businessweek looks at the elusive billionaire behind the world's most popular vapes. If you're listening in the podcast app, follow Apple News plus narrated to find that story. And I'll be back with the news tomorrow.