Soda Pop Wars: MAGA vs MAHA

[Sean Mooney 1,935]

Interesting story here that looks at how people are manipulating discourse online through the battle over soda.

There is a push from some circles to try and get soda labeled as ineligible from the SNAP system. Then a firm stepped in behind the shadows (allegedly-ish) and started paying MAGA influencers to make posts talking about this being government overreach, post pictures of Trump drinking Diet Coke, and paying people up to 1,000 dollars per pro-soda post. It just strikes me as interesting to this story but also to the idea that this speaks to a much larger issue where corporations and politicians are finding new ways to rile up people through less than noble means. 

 

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2025/03/25/soda_pop_wars_inside_pay-to-post_campaign_to_pit_maga_against_maha__152551.html

[seafoam1 2,797]

6 minutes ago, Sean Mooney said:

Interesting story here that looks at how people are manipulating discourse online through the battle over soda.

There is a push from some circles to try and get soda labeled as ineligible from the SNAP system. Then a firm stepped in behind the shadows (allegedly-ish) and started paying MAGA influencers to make posts talking about this being government overreach, post pictures of Trump drinking Diet Coke, and paying people up to 1,000 dollars per pro-soda post. It just strikes me as interesting to this story but also to the idea that this speaks to a much larger issue where corporations and politicians are finding new ways to rile up people through less than noble means. 

 

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2025/03/25/soda_pop_wars_inside_pay-to-post_campaign_to_pit_maga_against_maha__152551.html

Did you finish changing diapers early today? Or are you slacking at work? 

[RaiderHaters Revenge 4,236]

Snap should be only allowed for necessities.  Nobody needs soda. 
 

I’m not sure what side that puts me in. Nor am I going to read a bunch on Twitter gibberish to find out 

[jerryskids 6,547]

40 minutes ago, Sean Mooney said:

Interesting story here that looks at how people are manipulating discourse online through the battle over soda.

There is a push from some circles to try and get soda labeled as ineligible from the SNAP system. Then a firm stepped in behind the shadows (allegedly-ish) and started paying MAGA influencers to make posts talking about this being government overreach, post pictures of Trump drinking Diet Coke, and paying people up to 1,000 dollars per pro-soda post. It just strikes me as interesting to this story but also to the idea that this speaks to a much larger issue where corporations and politicians are finding new ways to rile up people through less than noble means. 

 

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2025/03/25/soda_pop_wars_inside_pay-to-post_campaign_to_pit_maga_against_maha__152551.html

Interesting, thanks for posting.  I can see both sides, but in the end I'm on RFK's side on this.  There is nothing redeeming health-wise about sugary soft drinks (diet sodas are a different topic; I presume RFK distrusts them tho).  I don't think it's "government overreach" to tell people what they can or cannot use our tax dollars on.

[Sean Mooney 1,935]

3 minutes ago, RaiderHaters Revenge said:

Snap should be only allowed for necessities.  Nobody needs soda. 
 

I’m not sure what side that puts me in. Nor am I going to read a bunch on Twitter gibberish to find out 

The RealClear writer does a pretty good job wading through it all. Belief is that the American Beverage Association might be behind it but that isn't confirmed. They also give numbers that say 6 out of 10 Trump voters feel sodas should stay eligible for food stamps. 

1 minute ago, jerryskids said:

Interesting, thanks for posting.  I can see both sides, but in the end I'm on RFK's side on this.  There is nothing redeeming health-wise about sugary soft drinks (diet sodas are a different topic; I presume RFK distrusts them tho).  I don't think it's "government overreach" to tell people what they can or cannot use our tax dollars on.

I don't particularly have a thought one way or the other on the issue of soda on food stamps. I know there are guidelines for things that can be bought but like if a person wants a 2 liter of Coke with the beans and milk and grain cereal- whatever. 

On the diet soda thing- there are some studies that indicate diet sodas are worse because of the artificial sugars. But I just don't like the taste of Diet Coke and the only time I will drink it is if I'm mixing it with whiskey or bourbon of some kind. 

Like I said- I'm more into the story on the grounds of this speaks to the influencer culture that is out there and how it is being manipulated by bad actors in the space. 

[supermike80 1,794]

I dont care about this. At all 

[jerryskids 6,547]

11 minutes ago, supermike80 said:

I dont care about this. At all 

Are you the new Posty?  That's at least twice this morning you've taken the time to tell us that you don't care.   

[supermike80 1,794]

20 minutes ago, jerryskids said:

Are you the new Posty?  That's at least twice this morning you've taken the time to tell us that you don't care.   

I know.   Just my mood today.

I care about you tho.  Hope you beat this  

[RaiderHaters Revenge 4,236]

43 minutes ago, Sean Mooney said:

The RealClear writer does a pretty good job wading through it all. Belief is that the American Beverage Association might be behind it but that isn't confirmed. They also give numbers that say 6 out of 10 Trump voters feel sodas should stay eligible for food stamps. 

I don't particularly have a thought one way or the other on the issue of soda on food stamps. I know there are guidelines for things that can be bought but like if a person wants a 2 liter of Coke with the beans and milk and grain cereal- whatever. 

On the diet soda thing- there are some studies that indicate diet sodas are worse because of the artificial sugars. But I just don't like the taste of Diet Coke and the only time I will drink it is if I'm mixing it with whiskey or bourbon of some kind. 

Like I said- I'm more into the story on the grounds of this speaks to the influencer culture that is out there and how it is being manipulated by bad actors in the space. 

Oh gotcha ok. I just thought this was about yes or no. The paid content. I guess is normal. And yes has to be funded by like nabisco or whoever owns coke or Pepsi 

The make America healthy campaign was my no 3 reason to vote for Trump. So I will stand behind that. 
the 6/10 are probably either on them or using the whole govt overreach thing 

[Fnord 2,051]

54 minutes ago, Sean Mooney said:

The RealClear writer does a pretty good job wading through it all. Belief is that the American Beverage Association might be behind it but that isn't confirmed. They also give numbers that say 6 out of 10 Trump voters feel sodas should stay eligible for food stamps. 

I don't particularly have a thought one way or the other on the issue of soda on food stamps. I know there are guidelines for things that can be bought but like if a person wants a 2 liter of Coke with the beans and milk and grain cereal- whatever. 

On the diet soda thing- there are some studies that indicate diet sodas are worse because of the artificial sugars. But I just don't like the taste of Diet Coke and the only time I will drink it is if I'm mixing it with whiskey or bourbon of some kind. 

Like I said- I'm more into the story on the grounds of this speaks to the influencer culture that is out there and how it is being manipulated by bad actors in the space. 

I would be shocked if the bolded wasn't true. This is the same lobbying org that has us drowning in plastic bottles.

Otherwise, I'm with @supermike80 in that I don't have a dog in this fight. I can see both sides, and since I'm not on SNAP it's not going to affect me.

[Hawkeye21 2,380]

I don't really care but I also believe that, as Americans, we are free to do what we want.

[Fnord 2,051]

@Sean Mooney pimp slappin some MAGA hoes up in here today. I ran out of likes already!

[Drizzay 698]

Let the fatties buy sh!tty food on their own dime, not the tax payer's.

[TBayXXXVII 2,480]

I don't care about what the article says, I just have beliefs.  If a person is on government assistance, then the government should have a say in how you spend the money you are given.  It's an encouragement to get off of it.  Also, healthcare is an issue in the sense that we're spending too much on it.  The reason for that is unhealthy lifestyles and not the insurance or healthcare industry itself.  So, if the government is supplying you with assistance, not only in daily living but in healthcare as well, they should have every right to restrict your spending to be healthy.

Sadly, because we have dbags in government, there will always be someone who'll change the restrictions when they need to pander for votes.

[Cdub100 3,824]

2 hours ago, supermike80 said:

I dont care about this. At all 

This. 

People are so worried about muH tAx dOlLAhs. This cost us nothing.

Let's get doge into DOD. That's where the real money is spent.

[Fnord 2,051]

7 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

I don't care about what the article says, I just have beliefs. 

Ah, the MAGA ethos in a nice little nutshell. Well done.

[avoiding injuries 1,505]

41 minutes ago, Drizzay said:

Let the fatties buy sh!tty food on their own dime, not the tax payer's.

Which raises the question, if they have their own money why do they need mine?

[Sean Mooney 1,935]

43 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

I don't care about what the article says, I just have beliefs.  If a person is on government assistance, then the government should have a say in how you spend the money you are given.  It's an encouragement to get off of it.  Also, healthcare is an issue in the sense that we're spending too much on it.  The reason for that is unhealthy lifestyles and not the insurance or healthcare industry itself.  So, if the government is supplying you with assistance, not only in daily living but in healthcare as well, they should have every right to restrict your spending to be healthy.

Sadly, because we have dbags in government, there will always be someone who'll change the restrictions when they need to pander for votes.

The article is more about the influencers than the actual debate itself. 

[HB Localboy 121]

Tax payers shouldn't have to pay for the parasites to drink soda.

 

Let them drink water! 

[easilyscan 855]

49 minutes ago, TBayXXXVII said:

I don't care about what the article says, I just have beliefs.  If a person is on government assistance, then the government should have a say in how you spend the money you are given.  It's an encouragement to get off of it.  Also, healthcare is an issue in the sense that we're spending too much on it.  The reason for that is unhealthy lifestyles and not the insurance or healthcare industry itself.  So, if the government is supplying you with assistance, not only in daily living but in healthcare as well, they should have every right to restrict your spending to be healthy.

Sadly, because we have dbags in government, there will always be someone who'll change the restrictions when they need to pander for votes.

A+

I'd only change one thing. You use the word government 3 times in the first paragraph. I'd change that to taxpayers.

People that use government are indifferent, people that pay for it aren't"
Objectivist: Pioneer Press Comment section July 2017

[easilyscan 855]

3 minutes ago, HB Localboy said:

Tax payers shouldn't have to pay for the parasites to drink soda.

 

Let them drink water! 

Tap water. 

[HB Localboy 121]

9 minutes ago, easilyscan said:

Tap water. 

Yep!

 

Go to any grocery store and the people with the carts with the most food are the welfare parasites!

 

I like to ask them if they are a doctor.  When they ask why, I say only a doctor can afford all of those groceries! 

 

 

[Sean Mooney 1,935]

5 minutes ago, HB Localboy said:

Yep!

 

Go to any grocery store and the people with the carts with the most food are the welfare parasites!

 

I like to ask them if they are a doctor.  When they ask why, I say only a doctor can afford all of those groceries! 

 

 

Cool story bro.

No one believes you leave your house or talk to anyone. 

[TBayXXXVII 2,480]

1 hour ago, Fnord said:

Ah, the MAGA ethos in a nice little nutshell. Well done.

It's actually based in fact, but go on with your little leftist echo chamber.

[HB Localboy 121]

5 minutes ago, Sean Mooney said:

Cool story bro.

No one believes you leave your house or talk to anyone. 

It's a cool true story.

 

[TBayXXXVII 2,480]

34 minutes ago, Sean Mooney said:

The article is more about the influencers than the actual debate itself. 

That's fine, and I don't trust influencers any more than I trust politicians.

[Fnord 2,051]

1 hour ago, TBayXXXVII said:

It's actually based in fact, but go on with your little leftist echo chamber.

Mmm, not really. But you have your beliefs and nobody can ever take that away from you l'il guy!

[jerryskids 6,547]

2 hours ago, Cdub100 said:

This. 

People are so worried about muH tAx dOlLAhs. This cost us nothing.

Let's get doge into DOD. That's where the real money is spent.

Needs based entitlements like Medicaid dwarf any reductions you could get at the DOD, and CBFs drinking crap soda directly influences the cost of that program.

[easilyscan 855]

1 hour ago, TBayXXXVII said:

That's fine, and I don't trust influencers any more than I trust politicians.

Agreed.

Does anyone who watches TV really believe people like Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Serena Williams, Travis Kelce, Steph Curry, etc, regularly eat at Subway ? 

[Sean Mooney 1,935]

3 hours ago, TBayXXXVII said:

That's fine, and I don't trust influencers any more than I trust politicians.

The point of the article though is that this is not openly paid endorsements like a Brady or Mahomes. These are people that people already follow online putting this stuff out. It happens way more than you would imagine and I'd wager a strong guess people across all lines of the political spectrum fall for it. 

[Cdub100 3,824]

2 hours ago, jerryskids said:

Needs based entitlements like Medicaid dwarf any reductions you could get at the DOD, and CBFs drinking crap soda directly influences the cost of that program.

No it does not. The dod is the biggest government welfare program in the US. Stopping kids drinking a Pepsi will have effectively no change.

[seafoam1 2,797]

4 hours ago, Sean Mooney said:

Cool story bro.

No one believes you leave your house or talk to anyone. 

No one believes you aren't a babysitter for a living. Ok, ok. Nanny. 

[seafoam1 2,797]

I want it regulated that they can only buy Grape Pop and deep fried foods with their food stamps.

The sooner they die and stop sponging off of hard working Americans (conservatives) the better. 

 

[HB Localboy 121]

12 minutes ago, seafoam1 said:

I want it regulated that they can only buy Grape Pop and deep fried foods with their food stamps.

The sooner they die and stop sponging off of hard working Americans (conservatives) the better. 

 

$$$$$$$

[HB Localboy 121]

13 minutes ago, seafoam1 said:

I want it regulated that they can only buy Grape Pop and deep fried foods with their food stamps.

The sooner they die and stop sponging off of hard working Americans (conservatives) the better. 

 

I have been a big advocate of giving them their own State a.k.a. "RESERVATION" and then having a trail of tears forced migration to said "reservation".   Once all the parasites are collected in one community the other 99% of the country won't be burdened by their existence. 

[seafoam1 2,797]

14 minutes ago, HB Localboy said:

I have been a big advocate of giving them their own State a.k.a. "RESERVATION" and then having a trail of tears forced migration to said "reservation".   Once all the parasites are collected in one community the other 99% of the country won't be burdened by their existence. 

We can fence it in and air drop in crates and crates of generic cigarettes, cheap vodka, grape pop, and white bread on a weekly basis for them to sustain themselves. Plenty of it all for them so they don't have to fight over it. 

See? I'm a peaceful man. 

[HB Localboy 121]

2 minutes ago, seafoam1 said:

We can fence it in and air drop in crates and and crates of generic cigarettes, cheap vodka, grape pop, and white bread on a weekly basis for them to sustain themselves. Plenty of it all for them so they don't have to fight over it. 

See? I'm a peaceful man. 

You are money today!!!!

 

$$$$$$$$$$

[Gepetto 1,285]

Purchasing pop with Snap should be a non-issue. People get fat and diabetes drinking too much fruit juice just the same. Plus, most pop sales are diet, not sugar/corn-syrup based.

[Drizzay 698]

7 hours ago, avoiding injuries said:

Which raises the question, if they have their own money why do they need mine?

Exactly

[Drizzay 698]

1 hour ago, Gepetto said:

Purchasing pop with Snap should be a non-issue. People get fat and diabetes drinking too much fruit juice just the same. Plus, most pop sales are diet, not sugar/corn-syrup based.

But Aspartame and Sucralose do the same exact thing to your body as sugar and hfcs.