Crossed Arrows

We got some amazing stuff happening on Capitol Hill this week.

Let me take you to a scene at the House Oversight Committee where they were talking SNAP benefits and why people on food stamps should or shouldn’t have free, taxpayer-funded access to sugary snacks and drinks (they shouldn’t).

Brandon Gill asked FRAC's director of SNAP policy if people should be able to buy soda with food stamps.

She said yes.

He then left her speechless after exposing how FRAC is funded by Big Soda and companies that profit off EBT dollars. pic.twitter.com/RkSQaMyGIE

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) June 25, 2026

Gill: Do they need sugary sodas to survive?

Plata-Nino: Some of them do.

That’s Gina Plata-Nino, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) director over at the Food Research & Action Center. She’s also an Obama Foundation USA Leader, whatever that means.

Here’s how the Obama Foundation describes her:

Gina Plata-Nino is the interim director for SNAP at the Food Research & Action Center, a nonprofit where she addresses food insecurity by alleviating immediate hunger and tackling its root causes.

I’m old enough to remember when Michelle Obama wanted people to eat healthy things.

Toward the end of Rep. Gill‘s line of questioning, he points out that General Mills funds Plata-Nino’s advocacy. He asks her if it’s a conflict of interest for her to be shilling on the part of junk food companies when they donate to her organization.

Her silence was deafening.

SnapSugary DrinksBrandon Gill

Wolfgang RamsayJun 25, 2026