Inside The Republican network behind big soda's bid to pit Maga against Maha
a day ago
- #political-campaigns
- #public-health
- #corporate-lobbying
- Major US soft-drink and snack-food corporations are campaigning to oppose RFK Jr's Make America Healthy Again (Maha) movement, which aims to reduce soda and ultra-processed food consumption.
- The campaign involves a network of Republican-aligned pollsters, strategists, and political financiers, some of whom obscure their connections to the effort.
- Trade groups like the American Beverage Association and Consumer Brands Association, backed by companies such as Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Kraft Heinz, are leading the lobbying efforts.
- The industry's main concerns are RFK Jr-backed initiatives to ban petroleum-based dyes in school foods and restrict SNAP benefits from purchasing soft drinks.
- Lobbyists are warning conservative lawmakers that supporting Maha efforts could trigger a MAGA backlash, framing the issue as government overreach.
- State-level efforts to restrict SNAP benefits and school food dyes have seen more success than federal initiatives, with a dozen states obtaining waivers or passing related laws.
- Industry-funded polls and media campaigns, including paid MAGA influencers, are being used to shape public opinion and pressure lawmakers.
- Mystery firms like Plymouth Union Public Research (PUP Research) and Tyson Group are involved in conducting polls, with ties to GOP operatives and dark money networks.
- The Center Square, a conservative media outlet linked to Leonard Leo and Charles Koch, has published industry-friendly articles based on these polls.
- Paid influencers, coordinated by Influenceable LLC, promoted pro-soda messages without disclosing their financial ties, echoing industry talking points.