# NEW Stupid Republican Idea of the Day (Part 4) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 22, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678 "2025-02-22T21:08:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 141
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2801 "2026-01-12T10:51:16Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > What the fuck does “double the amount of whole food that is now available” even mean??? I don’t know. The store I work for has for many years now offered all SNAP recipients a 10% discount on all fresh fruits and vegetables. As soon as they swipe their EBT card the register makes the deductions. That’s over and above any sales going on, any coupons, etc. Which strikes me as a nice carrot (unintended pun) as opposed to the administration’s usual stick. But what Wormbrain means by his babbling? Fuck if I know. We can sell whole apples but not apple slices? No more sliced deli cheese, only blocks allowed? No more ground meat - you have to buy an intact cow? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2802 "2026-01-12T13:11:43Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > What the fuck does “double the amount of whole food that is now available” even mean??? Stores that accept SNAP are required to have specific food items in stock. For example, at least 3 different kinds of fruit and at least 2 pieces of each kind. I’ll see if I can find the list ([here it is](https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer/eligible)), but it covers quite a bit of stuff and we even get a surprise audit from time to time. This is why you’ll often see a basket of crappy, over ripe fruit sitting on the counter at a gas station. No one’s going to the gas station to buy an apple, but they need to have it on hand so they can accept SNAP. Anyways, my WAG is that it’s somehow related to that. Maybe he meant ‘whole fruit’ or maybe ‘whole grain food’, but I think that’s down at the small end of his new food pyramid. Maybe he meant whole food as opposed to processed/junk food and he’s just planning to double the amount of food SNAP requires us to keep on hand? I don’t know, but remember that if they make the requirements too hard, all it’s going to do is make small stores and gas stations unable to accept SNAP. While that doesn’t sound like a big deal in the grand scheme of things, think about how many people aren’t going to be able to buy milk at the gas station or pick up some cereal at the tiny corner store half a block away from their home. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2803 "2026-01-12T13:30:05Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Maybe he meant whole food as opposed to processed/junk food and he’s just planning to double the amount of food SNAP requires us to keep on hand? That’s the way it reads and if that’s what he meant he’s a fucking idiot. I’m envisioning two meat cases, two dairy aisles, two produce sections . . . and the same $6.17 per day SNAP benefit so you can’t really change your month’s shopping list if you want to get enough cheap calories to not go hungry before the month ends. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2804 "2026-01-12T13:37:03Z")
I’m hearing Jeff Bezos in his ear. You must shop at Whole Foods. Okay, probably not that either. Probably. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2805 "2026-01-12T14:20:23Z")
Another war that Trump has ended… [![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gUVW!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffeb4ab37-2497-4f6b-8944-56978998b4be_1290x2151.jpeg) ](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gUVW!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffeb4ab37-2497-4f6b-8944-56978998b4be_1290x2151.jpeg) And if there’s one thing we know about Trump, it’s that he’s as pro-teen as they get. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2806 "2026-01-12T14:25:58Z")
## SCENE: The ~~White~~ Trumphouse, shortly before the food pyramid scheme is announced **Donald “Minderbinder” Trump** : Bobby, I want you to do something for me. _removes item from small bag_ **Donald “Minderbinder” Trump** : I want to serve this to America. Taste it and let me know what you think. _Bobby “Yossarian” Kennedy takes a bite_ **Bobby “Yossarian” Kennedy** : What is it? **Donald “Minderbinder” Trump** : Beef tallow covered in beef. **Bobby “Yossarian” Kennedy** : What are you, crazy? **Donald “Minderbinder” Trump** : No good, huh? **Bobby “Yossarian” Kennedy** : For Christ’s sake, who can afford beef! **Donald “Minderbinder” Trump** : Is it really that bad? **Bobby “Yossarian” Kennedy** : It’s tallow! **Donald “Minderbinder” Trump** : They’ve got to learn to like it! **Bobby “Yossarian” Kennedy** : Why? **Donald “Minderbinder” Trump** : Look, I saw this great opportunity to corner the market in Argentinian American beef. I’ve got a hundred warehouses stacked with the stuff all over South America America. I can’t get rid of a $TRUMP’s worth. People eat butter, don’t they? Well this stuff is better - it’s made out of real beef. **Bobby “Yossarian” Kennedy** : Donny, people can’t afford beef! **Donald “Minderbinder” Trump** : They’ve got to - it’s for America America! ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2807 "2026-01-12T15:07:52Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > What the fuck does “double the amount of whole food that is now available” even mean??? It means they still don’t understand how sales and capitalism actually work. It doesn’t matter what the store puts on the shelves, if people fundamentally don’t want to buy it. If people were willing to buy “twice as much whole food”, they’d be doing that already, and the stores would stock their shelves accordingly. This is the same mistake Trump keeps making with trade deals. Just because China or Canada says they’ll allow people the option of buying more US products without tariffs, that doesn’t mean anything if the people doing the buying just decide they don’t want the US products. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2808 "2026-01-12T15:19:19Z")
“Whole food” versus “Processed food,” maybe? I dunno - I would prefer not to get into that headspace. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2809 "2026-01-12T16:25:35Z")
So the Whole Foods in my neighborhood is going to be expanding? It already takes up a whole city block. Are they going to add levels? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2810 "2026-01-12T16:59:11Z")
> [@Maus\_Magill](#): > > “Whole food” versus “Processed food,” maybe? There is a Wikipedia article on the topic (sparse it might be). > **[Whole food](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whole_food)** > > A whole food is a type of food that is not processed or refined, having the least change from its natural state, and contains diverse nutrients. > Examples of whole foods include grains, fruits, vegetables, dried beans, nuts, seeds, unprocessed meats, and fish. > In 2018, unprocessed or minimally processed foods were named as Group 1 of the Nova classification adopted by the Pan American Health Organization of the United Nations. > The Mediterranean diet has been studied as an example of a whole foo... Generally, it is food processed as little as possible with no additives. The British Heart Foundation (which sounds like what would happen in the WWF if the British Bulldog joined the Hart Foundation back in the day) has an article on it as well. > **[What are whole foods?](https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/whole-foods)** > > What are whole foods? Find out in our article on why you should consider adding more whole and unprocessed foods to your diet. Though they suggest moderation. > The key is balance. Don’t try to exclude all non-whole foods. Instead, include more whole foods and make healthy swaps. Be open to some nutritious processed foods in your diet. This can make it easier and more convenient to eat more healthily, helping you to be consistent over time. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2811 "2026-01-12T17:39:37Z")
> [@Zoobi](#): > > And pretty soon the Supes will get to decide I read that as “And pretty soon _Snopes_ will get to decide.” From Chris Garten ad: > [@](#): > > When you find out the North Pole is trying to bring more bureaucratic overreach & unfunded mandates down the chimney disguised as “Christmas cheer.” To be fair, I’m all against bringing bureaucratic overreach and unfunded mandates disguised as “Christmas cheer”, or anything else. Things like forcing “Merry Christmas”, ten commandments displays in public schools, bibles required in public schools, etc. Somehow, I don’t blame Santa for any of that. I wonder about how many children will see that on their parents’ screens and wonder why the bad man is kicking Santa Claus. > [@](#): > > Lots of intolerance, swearing, and outrage on display over a few AI pics I had a blast designing with my kids. Wait, he’s teaching his kids to beat up Santa Claus. I would really hate to be the mall Santa they visit next. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > It’s like the Christmas version of Katie Hopkins tweet: YankeeGunner +1 So is he saying he wants to double the size of the produce section with twice the same merchandise, or by adding new products or more brands? ---
**Author:** ![irae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f0a364/32.png) [@irae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irae)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2812 "2026-01-12T19:40:50Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Steve Bannon is planning to run for president. I thought he’d retired from public life to spend more time with his leprosy? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2813 "2026-01-12T22:23:50Z")
That means we are free to say, “Merry Protein!” again! Celibrate with the protein of your choice, be that roast whale’s head, or roadkill bear dipped in measles! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2814 "2026-01-12T22:24:17Z")
Capitalism is when the government tells you how you’re allowed to spend your money. > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mcasw4irok2x)** > > Bessent: "For individuals who want to wire money out of the country, they're gonna have to tick a box whether they are or are not on public assistance. Then we're going to start pushing over the coming days and weeks that if you're on public... ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2815 "2026-01-12T22:49:54Z")
Imagine if Republicans were the party of _large_ government. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2816 "2026-01-12T22:53:28Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > [https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mcasw4irok2x](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mcasw4irok2x) the teaser text says > [@](#): > > Bessent: "For individuals who want to wire money out of the country, they’re gonna have to tick a box whether they are or are not on public assistance. Then we’re going to start pushing over the coming days and weeks that if you’re on public… So, you’re saying that corporations can no longer hide money in foreign investments and off-shore accounts? I’m all for this! ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2817 "2026-01-12T22:56:38Z")
> [@Maus\_Magill](#): > > “Whole food” versus “Processed food,” maybe? Yeah. No more bread at the store. Instead, wheat (maybe needing to be ground into flour) and yeast and beef tallow. You can’t leave the womenfolk as much free time as they have now. Make them grind the grain and make the bread. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2818 "2026-01-12T23:18:45Z")
You know the RFK Jr food pyramid is going to have roadkill on it somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2819 "2026-01-13T03:04:44Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > You know the RFK Jr food pyramid is going to have roadkill on it Which is why I asked upthread if a whale head counts as a whole food (as opposed to a partial cut) > [Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Sawed the Head Off a Whale and Drove It Home, Daughter Says](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/27/us/politics/rfk-jr-whale-head.html?unlocked_article_code=1.EFA.wQ3f.AyCAsdPwHPBb&smid=url-share) ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678/2820 "2026-01-13T03:37:45Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > It means they still don’t understand how sales and capitalism actually work. It doesn’t matter what the store puts on the shelves, if people fundamentally don’t want to buy it. If people were willing to buy “twice as much whole food”, they’d be doing that already, and the stores would stock their shelves accordingly. Also by requiring them to “ **double** ” the amount of whole foods they are going to be hurting those stores that are currently providing health options. A convenience store can double the amount of whole food by simply adding another bunch of bananas, but a vegetable stand would have to double their whole inventory. Of course that isn’t really their actual policy, because they don’t have an actual policy. All they have is a bunch of sound bites that sounded good in their head but make no sense in practice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678.md?page=140) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day-part-4/1014678.md?page=142)