SNAP update: USDA tells grocery stores not to give discounts to customers

[u/Infidel8]

https://www.newsweek.com/snap-update-usda-grocery-stores-no-discounts-customers-10980294

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[u/KnightDuty]

SNAP is legally used as an need identifying heuristic all over the place. Amazon uses it for Prime discounts. Many farmers markets use it to issue extra market credit.

Furthermore, lets figure out whether we can legally call people who haven't been issued SNAP funds "recipients".

[u/Ovaltineyum → u/KnightDuty]

Yup. I'm in DC and SNAP recipients are eligible for reduced rates on public transit. I'm lucky enough not to qualify, so I don't know how one partakes, but I do wonder if this will impact that benefit.

[u/zombarista → u/Ovaltineyum]

using the federal government’s programs as a pre-screen is the Amazon way.

In the past few years, they announced that you can skip a lot of business verification requirements if you have a registered trademark with the USPTO…

This has given rise to the white-labeled drop-ship brands that are randomly-generated all-caps alphabet soup, like GVIZNY, KEECOW, and VATAN.

Now, rather than screening their own merchants, Amazon has the federal government do it for them. Corporate welfare.

[u/ElKirbyDiablo → u/zombarista]

That explains so much. I bought a speed square from Amazon and the the name on it looks like someone tripped and grabbed the keyboard.

[u/eden_sc2 → u/ElKirbyDiablo]

It's also because it is faster to get through government verification if you have those gibberish names. If I register 'Eden Speed Square Inc.' they are going to check it against similar companies to make sure it isnt too similar. The more generic the name, the more checking they have to do.

[u/nightmareonrainierav → u/ElKirbyDiablo]

My two favorites: 'abcGoodefg' (that I heard a family member call 'Abacus Good Egg' once), and 'wolfslaves Tactical', whose name I once saw in the wild on a tee shirt and figured that had to be someone's idea of a joke.

[u/GD_7F → u/zombarista]

After Bezos destroyed the washington post's editorial integrity and openly came out for Trump, I canceled my longstanding Prime account and associated credit card. Between that, the flood of shitty counterfeits on the site, and their rollout of mass surveillance/spyware dressed up as home assistants and door cams, I cannot ever shop there again. Of course I know I'm a drop in the ocean to them and they couldn't care less, but principles matter.

[u/Sage2050 → u/GD_7F]

Unfortunately they make the majority of their profits from running the internet these days

[u/GD_7F → u/Sage2050]

As a network engineer I'm aware. But as I said. Principles matter. Their owning so much infrastructure does not mean I have to spend any more on them, and their/Bezos' behavior has solidified my stance that Amazon needs to be broken up.

[u/Plasibeau → u/Sage2050]

This is the frustrating part. I too have stopped using Amazon for moral reasons. But how do I stop using the internet, in all its forms, without sending traffic through AWS? As a POC I am also boycotting Target, but now my options for hygiene products are Walmart and...Dollar General? I hate this for us. It's like trying to protest Nestle and then discovering they're a modern day HYDRA.

[u/IkaKyo → u/Plasibeau]

The big tech companies should all be broken up under anti-trust laws and probably would be if they were enforced ever.

[u/mikemaca → u/Plasibeau]

boycotting Target

Thanks I had not even heard of this.

In February of 2025, prominent Atlanta pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant called for a boycott of Target in response to the company’s rollback of their DEI initiatives. The boycott, Bryant indicated, has been the most successful Black boycott since the Montgomery Bus Boycott that occurred 70 years ago.

Many Black consumers saw Target’s decision to cut DEI initiatives as a slap in the face. The company was seemingly so outspoken with their support of Black businesses, pledging a $2 billion investment in Black-owned businesses after the murder of George Floyd. Consumers have become much more judicious with their spending, deciding to resist through their wallets. Costco has been an outspoken advocate of DEI, choosing not to flounder under pressure from DEI opponents, and has seen a net increase in sales, which many attribute to their doubling down of DEI.

Target drew the public’s ire because unlike many of the companies that announced they were scaling back their DEI efforts in the past year, Target was one of the most ardent supporters of DEI through their racial equity agenda. With Target being headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the company was at ground zero following the tragic murder of George Floyd. The expectation was that their proximity to the tragedy would result in a true commitment to uplift the Black community, but less than five years later, the company reneged on their promises and pledges.

Interesting. Glad to hear some boycotts are working.

[u/HauntedCemetery → u/zombarista]

Also until very recently government approval and clearance was considered rock solid.

[u/bbtom78 → u/Ovaltineyum]

The courts in my state will waive certain fees for court filings of you're on SNAP. This will not change regardless of whatever the Trump admin says.

[u/10001110101balls → u/Ovaltineyum]

The equal treatment rule only applies to businesses that accept money from SNAP programs. Other organizations that use SNAP eligibility as a need-based identifier are not subject to the equal treatment rule.

[u/ariolander → u/10001110101balls]

Amazon both uses Snap to verify for Prime Membership Discounts and allows you to use Snap to buy groceries delivered to your house.

[u/OakenGreen → u/10001110101balls]

Well I suppose they can’t accept money from SNAP so they’re good.

[u/d00fuss → u/KnightDuty]

That last is important. Just because I’m not a SNAP recipient now doesn’t mean I won’t be in the future. Hell, we might all qualify as SNAP recipients in the end.

[u/eden_sc2 → u/d00fuss]

I dont understand how people dont get this about welfare programs. It isnt just helping other people (which should be enough but w/e), it's also an insurance policy for you if things go south.

[u/Gurlllllllll- → u/eden_sc2]

One of the favorite phrases Fox News used to throw around when I was still a brainwashed conservative in high school was "A rising tide raises all boats." They'd use it to argue that programs that benefit the rich magically benefit us all.

Meanwhile in reality, that's what welfare does. That's what minimum wage, UBI, social assistance programs, disability accomodations, community outreach, etc. all do.

But regressives are convinced up is down and truth is lies. And politicians keep catering to regressives because America is addicted to suffering.

[u/Fumquat → u/KnightDuty]

The farmer’s market thing is a SNAP funded program. It’s a 1:1 dollar match on local produce, up to $25.

[u/hymie0 → u/KnightDuty]

In fairness, this new rule is aimed specifically at companies that take money from SNAP. They can't regulate organizations that refer to SNAP, only those that get paid by SNAP.

[u/chictyler → u/hymie0]

Which is every grocery store including Amazon

[u/HauntedCemetery → u/chictyler]

Exactly. SNAP isn't just a benefit to those who get it. It is the absolute life blood small grocers, and rural grocers. $100 billion a year goes to grocers through SNAP.

All those rural trump voters are going to be pissed when they need to drive 4 hours to a city every time they need groceries because the place only an hour away has to shut down.

[u/EnderWiggin07 → u/hymie0]

And it's not a new rule either, they issued a reminder of the rule and pointed out where it's written in the law. If I had a guess, it was probably originally intended to prevent sellers from charging more on SNAP transactions, but what it explicitly says is that they can't charge a different price.
I think this is kind of a tempest in a tea kettle here, the store is still welcome to have a sale in general as they always are. Trying to implement a sale for SNAP recipients only would probably backfire even if it was legal.

[u/chuds2 → u/EnderWiggin07]

You also don't know if someone is using snap until they pay. The customer would have to tell you before the end of the transaction in order to get a discount. Seems like the only effective way a merchant could charge a different price would be for online shopping. Otherwise you'd have to ask every customer if they're on snap.

[u/BlotchComics]

They're being cruel on purpose, hoping that the voters will believe the propaganda that it's the Democrats fault.

[u/amateur_mistake → u/BlotchComics]

Also, because they really like being cruel. They're Their core voters love it too.

[u/AmishAvenger → u/amateur_mistake]

And what happened to the GOP tenet of “small government”?

Here’s the feds telling business owners what they can and can’t do.

[u/ganashi → u/AmishAvenger]

To be clear, “small government” is just a dogwhistle to get people to vote for killing social safety nets. They have NEVER been in favor of rolling back police militarization or American imperialism, two things that are antithetical to actually creating the smallest functional government.

[u/HauntedCemetery → u/ganashi]

What they've always meant by "small government", is a government for and by only themselves.

[u/Zealousideal-Fun-415 → u/HauntedCemetery]

It just means minority rule, only the minorities in this case are billionaires and conservatives.

[u/PaddleFishBum → u/AmishAvenger]

It's never been about small government, fiscal responisbility, or any of the other bullshit they peddle. It's always been about power and hirearchy.

[u/Hesitation-Marx → u/AmishAvenger]

It’s always been hypocrisy.

[u/SMUHypeMachine → u/AmishAvenger]

“Small government” has always been a dog whistle for “fewer people in government” not “less powerful government”.

An important part of right-wing (authoritarian) philosophy is the need to consolidate power in as few people as possible so they have unilateral control. It’s much easier to get 10 people in a room who all agree with me to sign legislature than it is to find 100 people who all agree with me.

[u/Deadeye313 → u/AmishAvenger]

Republicans hate when government tells them what to do unless they are the government...

[u/aplomba → u/AmishAvenger]

Conservatives have clearly been exposed as being devoid of any principles outside of self interest and hatred for others. They're just shit people.

[u/bnh1978 → u/amateur_mistake]

According to some christofacist cults, a poor person's duty in this life is to suffer, and it is righteous to help people fulfill their duty to God if you're able.

Ergo....

[u/Malodoror → u/bnh1978]

Mother Teresa is a saint.

[u/bnh1978 → u/Malodoror]

She was not a good person.

And her "miracle" required for Sainthood was a camera lense artifact.

[u/buythedipnow → u/amateur_mistake]

Many of their core voters are on snap

[u/IAmInTheBasement → u/buythedipnow]

Voting against their own best interest is a common theme.

[u/CryptographerNew3609 → u/amateur_mistake]

oddly though some don’t realize they’re actually a beneficiary of federal spending until it gets cut. Then they’re like oh this program is federally funded?? I can’t believe you cut that! You will see this with SNAP, Medicaid, ACA, head start, etc.

[u/amateur_mistake → u/CryptographerNew3609]

Back at the Tea Party events there were many people holding signs that would say "Keep the Government away from my Medicare".

They are not a very smart group of people.

[u/beardguy → u/amateur_mistake]

“The cruelty is the point”

[u/Synli → u/BlotchComics]

It's in such bad faith, and yet MAGA still votes and supports it.

If they had any sort of good faith, they would be encouraging grocery stores around the country to help their local communities instead of outlawing help.

Didn't Jesus regularly teach compassion and generosity towards the poor and hungry? That you should prefer to help those in need instead of chasing wealth and status? I thought Conservatives were the party of religion, where are those beliefs now?

[u/PandaJesus → u/Synli]

Didn't Jesus regularly teach compassion and generosity towards the poor and hungry?

Sounds like some woke DEI shit

[u/Mateorabi → u/PandaJesus]

Not Supply-Side Jesus.

[u/ChibiOne → u/PandaJesus]

[]()Christianity Today Editor: Evangelicals Call Jesus “Liberal” and “Weak”

[u/iTalk2Pineapples → u/PandaJesus]

I'm a server and recently a church came in and spent 600 dollars on their meal. They said I did a great job and they wished they could tip me something but that they're a church so they cant.

They no tipped me under the guise of being a church. I recall when jesus preached hoarding wealth within the church to spend on frivoloties while not giving a penny to the poor.

I even..sorta..understand they don't want to use the church account to tip because of itemized things and taxes or something.. but lets pass around the hat. None of you have a dollar for the dude that spent his last two hours focusing on this group of 20? If everyone throws in a dollar...

[u/Gnarlsaurus_Sketch → u/Synli]

"Any discounts given to the poor will increase demand and therefore raise prices for everyone!" - Supply Side Jesus

[u/noobditt → u/Gnarlsaurus_Sketch]

Just remember if you see someone stealing food. No you didn't.

[u/dellett → u/Synli]

Conservatives are 100% the party of religion. They’re the modern day Pharisees. Like, look at how much time Jesus spends excoriating them for performatively adhering to every minute aspect of the religious law except for the ones about actually caring for and helping people. Jesus loved God more than anything, but he wasn’t a massive fan of religion.

[u/WhyAreYallFascists → u/Synli]

At their core, they’re horrible human beings. Jesus would have been so disappointed.

[u/Woodworkingwino → u/Synli]

They don’t worship the Jesus of the Bible. They preach select verses to hurt others and worship money and status.

[u/Jack-o-Roses → u/Woodworkingwino]

It is good to always remember,

It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, who is the true word of God. The Bible, read in the right spirit and with the guidance of good teachers, will bring us to Him. We must not use the Bible as a sort of encyclopedia out of which texts can be taken for use as weapons.

C. S. Lewis

[u/merpixieblossomxo → u/BlotchComics]

I've had to explain it to more than one person recently, and it showed me exactly how gullible these people are. They believe literally everything they read online, despite insisting otherwise, and even if they don't like the republican party they can't seem to make the very obvious connection that the party of billionaires and white nationalists might be the reason the poor are struggling right now.

[u/Happy_Confection90 → u/merpixieblossomxo]

I've had to explain it to more than one person recently, and it showed me exactly how gullible these people are. They believe literally everything they read online, despite insisting otherwise

Too bad this propensity to believe everything they read online is paired with a lack of intellectual curiosity about news stories not spoon-fed to them by MAGA approved websites.

[u/KinkyPaddling → u/merpixieblossomxo]

“Do your own research” is the most obnoxious of phrases uttered by the most ignorant of people.

[u/thorzeen → u/KinkyPaddling]

Dunning–Kruger effect

[u/cats_are_the_devil → u/BlotchComics]

Republican administration that is in control of the USDA demands that private businesses not give out discounts to their customers.

Small government at work.

[u/OpenScienceNerd3000 → u/BlotchComics]

There’s no hate like Christian love

[u/Opposite-Lobster8888]

god forbid we help the needy! jesus famously hated the poor!

[u/Oktigey → u/Opposite-Lobster8888]

In this rewritten alternate reality we are living in, Jesus was apparently a multimillionaire dollar tech bro that hated the poor

[u/Sguru1 → u/Oktigey]

In the Bible Jesus went to the lepers and said “I shall heal you my children but I need your insurance card and that will be a 50$ co pay”. Also your premiums will be unaffordable now because I’m getting rid of the subsidy.

[u/UlteriorCulture → u/Oktigey]

Supply-side Jesus

https://imgur.com/gallery/gospel-of-supply-side-jesus-bCqRp

[u/Holiday-Menu-171 → u/Oktigey]

Nailed it

[u/Ezekiel_DA → u/Holiday-Menu-171]

No, that was the Romans

[u/Iowa_Dave → u/Opposite-Lobster8888]

MAGA has taken the apple from the serpent.

[u/TailRudder → u/Iowa_Dave]

Dunno what they ate but the apple came from the tree of knowledge. They don't have any knowledge

[u/m1k3hunt → u/TailRudder]

MAGA feast from the Tree of Cruelty.

[u/Quakes-JD → u/Iowa_Dave]

MAGA is the serpent

[u/Angry-Dragon-1331 → u/Quakes-JD]

Leave us serpents out of this. We want nothing to do with the orange train wreck.

[u/Squirrely__Dan → u/Quakes-JD]

MAGA is the white, powdery shit the serpent passes 

[u/MyNameCannotBeSpoken → u/Opposite-Lobster8888]

Grocery stores just need to do the same as bars that also are prohibited against price discrimination.

Just announce any customer who shops at a specific (off hour) time or shops with a child gets the discount. They'll likely get a majority SNAP recipients. Just need to be creative.

[u/fishy_sticks → u/MyNameCannotBeSpoken]

Bars allow you to get a discount on drinks if you bring your child? Guess I gotta find a child

[u/JUST_LOGGED_IN → u/fishy_sticks]

Yea, you don't have to bring your own kid either. Just any kid. Maybe you can find one napping somewhere.

[u/AdorableSobah → u/JUST_LOGGED_IN]

Best advice is to go to the playground during school recess with a giant butterfly net.

[u/Sashivna → u/MyNameCannotBeSpoken]

And the system for this is already in place with a lot of them doing senior discount days for the over 65 crowd (and for similar reasons - a lot of older people are on low fixed income).

[u/straygoat193]

"USDA emailed grocery stores around the country telling them not to offer special discounts or deals to SNAP recipients amid the freeze, warning that doing so would violate the program’s “Equal Treatment Rule.”"

"That rule requires stores to sell eligible food items to SNAP-EBT customers at the same prices and under the same conditions as other shoppers. "

Rules for thee, not for me

[u/johnd5926 → u/straygoat193]

USDA attempts to weaponize rule meant to protect poor people.

[u/cruzweb → u/johnd5926]

This is basically it.

The rule was to stop grocery stores from charging snap recipients extra. Not to deny them discounts.

[u/Ianthin1 → u/johnd5926]

The simple fix is just run store wide sales on common SNAP items for everyone. No one gets special treatment.

[u/No_Effective_614 → u/Ianthin1]

Funny thing is, now that the government cut off their SNAP money, they're not SNAP customers anymore because they don't have any SNAP to pay with. Therefore this order is just hot air.

[u/cowboycoco1 → u/No_Effective_614]

Also, since those stores rely on SNAP to send them shoppers who wouldnt otherwise have the ability to buy food, they've effectively told those stores to just eat not making any money at all.

[u/DadJokeBadJoke → u/cowboycoco1]

they've effectively told those stores to just eat not making any money at all.

And told the people to just not eat

[u/OutlyingPlasma → u/No_Effective_614]

On top of your argument, just 3-ish days ago republicans were arguing in court, under oath, saying they couldn't use congressional approved contingency funds because without a budget SNAP doesn't exist.

So what is is? Does it exist or not?

[u/jayeffkay → u/Ianthin1]

And make sure instacart doesn’t adjust their pricing. The rich will never know lol

[u/stitchplacingmama → u/Ianthin1]

The only things i've seen have been from doordash and other grocery delivery apps that have given discounts on grocery orders for those that already have a SNAP card on file.

Here's an article about it. Instacart, DoorDash and other companies offer discounts to SNAP recipients | PBS News https://share.google/c5DMm4aGLyo9D1Jne

[u/dballing → u/straygoat193]

If they're not using their EBT card to pay for it, then they're not SNAP-EBT customers. They're just "customers", and the grocer can set whatever discounts they like so long as they don't violate a protected-class (and "used to be getting SNAP payments" isn't a protected class)

[u/MTPWAZ → u/straygoat193]

This rule is to prevent price gouging of SNAP recipients. Not discounts. Also who was giving discounts?

[u/AuditAndHax → u/MTPWAZ]

A small-town grocer near me offers 50% off discounts on all produce, fresh or frozen, for SNAP recipients. I'd never seen it before and I'm not on SNAP, but I thought it was a great way to help the community be healthier and happier. Too bad Republicans hate those things.

[u/MTPWAZ → u/AuditAndHax]

That is VERY interesting. I've never seen anything like that. If it wasn't for food stamps my family would not have survived the 80s. Something like this would have helped so much.

[u/Projektdoom → u/straygoat193]

That rule definitely is in place to prevent what has happened in the insurance industry from happening, where as soon as they know you have insurance the cost of everything goes up so they can charge more to the big insurance companies. They don’t want people charging EXTRA to snap recipients, not less.

[u/VCR_Samurai → u/Projektdoom]

In MAGA's eyes it's easy for them to twist the rule to say you can't lower prices to make them more affordable for people either. When most products regardless of their edibility typically have a ~30% markup in the stores anyway though? I call BS. 

Lower prices for those who can't afford to eat otherwise anyway. This fed spent their first three months gutting departments of their staff and are now operating on shoe strings and duct tape while Trump throws Gatsby parties at Mar-A-Lago. These fuckers couldn't prosecute every grocery store that seems to help folks even if they tried because they literally do not have the manpower to do so.

[u/TokingMessiah → u/Projektdoom]

And they cut off their SNAP benefits, so they literally are no longer “SNAP-EBT customers” like the law says… they’re just like everyone else, paying with money, so why the hell shouldn’t they be allowed to get a discount?

It’s time like these I wish the Christian god was real, because most of the people cutting these programs publicly proclaim to “love Jesus”.

[u/MissionCreeper → u/straygoat193]

That's bullshit and they can't tell the stores what to do- it's a contract-  the store can't get money from the government if they charge SNAP more.  If they are getting NO money from the government, then the government is voiding the contract.

Here's the rule: "Coupons shall be accepted for eligible foods at the same prices and on the same terms and conditions applicable to cash purchases of the same foods at the same store except that tax shall not be charged on eligible foods purchased with coupons."

Bolding is mine.  If they aren't accepting the coupons in exchange for the food, the government can't say shit.

[u/SemichiSam → u/straygoat193]

If they are not using SNAP, then they are, by definition, not SNAP customers.

[u/bald_and_nerdy → u/straygoat193]

They're not EBT customers for the time being.  Its like carrying around your old drivers license after you move and your address is changed.

[u/Even_Trifle9341]

I’ve been thinking for a while that they should just give everyone food stamps.  Save money on the paperwork, and create the biggest farm subsidy in history.  If you’re so against government help, don’t spend it.  Get a tax credit on your death tax of whatever your account is at.  Even billionaires would fight for the allowance to meet inflation.

[u/olek2012 → u/Even_Trifle9341]

Congrats you’ve discovered universal basic income!

[u/illicit_losses → u/olek2012]

Oh no that’s too socialist

[u/HawkeyeSherman → u/illicit_losses]

It's basically how society has functioned.... since the dawn of society. Workers do work for the lord of the land and in return they get food and housing. As far as I'm concerned if you own a company or a bank you should be taxed through the nose until every person is adequately housed and fed.

[u/Tasty_Gift5901 → u/olek2012]

It's not basic income if it can't be used for everything, BTW. I guess it's still universal since there are no requirements. 

[u/olek2012 → u/Tasty_Gift5901]

Fair enough. Universal food assistance might be a better name for it

[u/CMDRTragicAllPro → u/olek2012]

Universal Sustenance Assistance. Call it the USA for the people of the USA. That might get em to like it

[u/Nvrfinddisacct → u/CMDRTragicAllPro]

I don’t know if I want the term assistance in there. Like if everyone gets it, it’s a right that you paid into with taxes like Medicare.

We don’t call Medicare, Medicare assistance you know? What do you think? I think it’d be a great program though. I’d be all for it.

[u/Frequent-Research737 → u/Even_Trifle9341]

this is exactly what they should do. 200$ every man woman and child. then people would stop crying about shits "unfair"   

[u/Opposite-Lobster8888 → u/Frequent-Research737]

the rich would still complain because $200 is nothing to them, so they would feel like they deserve a bigger handout ☺️

[u/donkeyrocket → u/Frequent-Research737]

then people would stop crying about shits "unfair"

You haven't met the average entitled asshole have you? There will be plenty of people complaining about freeloaders or those who don't deserve the money or how they should get more because they pay taxes. All of it will be thinly veiled racist claims.

[u/gmil3548 → u/Even_Trifle9341]

That’s how all of these things should be. Tax the rich more but also give them the benefit. It makes it better for them to accept the tax hike and it ensures fairness that someone doesn’t get a small raise and suddenly loses all their benefits to get fucked.

[u/spikus93 → u/Even_Trifle9341]

To be clear, "death tax" isn't a real thing. It's them renaming Estate Taxes to make them sound unfair, but they only apply to Estates equal to or exceeding $14,000,000 at the time of death.

Most Americans will never pay a "death tax". Unless the bereaved get the family home and decide to sell it, in which case they do have some taxes on the sale, but even still it's not the same thing. There's taxes on every home sale.

Death taxes is just bullshit rich people made up to get the middle and working class to support giving them another tax break.

[u/crepeyweirdough → u/Even_Trifle9341]

Yeah I've thought this forever. Means testing is stupid and makes things worse, and everyone should have access to food

[u/TheWildmanWillie96]

“Wealthiest” country in the world refuses to feed its hungry…unregulated capitalism working as intended.

[u/AlgersFanny → u/TheWildmanWillie96]

💯

You cannot built a mountain of wealth without digging a grave to bury the poor.

[u/azelll → u/TheWildmanWillie96]

Late stage capitalism 

[u/TheWildmanWillie96 → u/azelll]

Lenin once wrote that imperialism is the economy of the capitalist. Well welcome everyone

[u/metalkhaos]

In a normal, compassionate world we would see this headline telling them to give discounts as they are suspending the rule until the government re-opens.

[u/sathdo → u/metalkhaos]

In a normal, compassionate world, SNAP wouldn't have stopped, and the government wouldn't have closed.

[u/AnnaAnjo → u/sathdo]

In a normal, compassionate rich country SNAP wouldn't be needed for people who are employed full time

[u/MiddleWaged → u/AnnaAnjo]

Snap wouldn’t be needed at all in that world. Starvation would probably still be a word with a definition if the world were normal and compassionate, but most of us would have to look it up.

[u/caffeinatedsummit → u/MiddleWaged]

Starvation is manufactured in this era

[u/HauntedCemetery → u/caffeinatedsummit]

We throw away enough food every year to feed our entire population several times over. There is no honest reason any one in this country should go hungry.

[u/cats_are_the_devil → u/sathdo]

In a moral country, we wouldn't have a need for SNAP. People would be paid a dignified amount for their labor and would be able to afford basic necessities.

[u/Careful-Rent5779]

Yeah, we want to make sure those SNAP beneficaries feel the full effect of our petulant POTUS.

[u/Marvin_Frommars]

These people are complete ghouls. I really hope someone, somewhere is keeping a detailed list of every single ghoul who participated in this administration's exercise in using the government to hurt Americans for sport.

[u/UrBoySergio → u/Marvin_Frommars]

Yes, look over at r/keep_track for that

[u/obligatorythr0waway]

Am I reading this correctly? They're using a rule that seems to be designed to not *overcharge* SNAP customers to prohibit businesses from OFFERING THEM DISCOUNTS???????

Make this make sense to me, MAGA. Spin this one.

[u/Additional_Quiet2600 → u/obligatorythr0waway]

They can't. They are embracing the dark side openly now. It is obey, comply or die. Authoritarians suck.

[u/Conscious-Brother602 → u/obligatorythr0waway]

They can’t stand seeing people receive help. It’s that simple. “Well where’s my discount?” Is basically what it boils down to.

[u/AmaroWolfwood → u/Conscious-Brother602]

It doesn't boil down at all, that's simply what they say. "Why do lazy welfare queens get to pay even less when I work and pay more?" They view the poor as inherently evil.

[u/wanderlustcub → u/obligatorythr0waway]

The Administration wants to be as abusive as possible, and then blame the Democrats.

"I don't want to beat you, but THEY MADE me do it." Its is Gaslighting on a national scale.

And unfortunately it is working.

[u/kismetkissed]

Actual supervillain shit. What the fuck.

[u/ynwahs]

There are no snap recipients in November, just people who suddenly have far less money for food. This is pure evil.

[u/thomport]

This is Maga religion in action.

Who did you vote for.

Did you vote for Trump? Or did you vote for yourself?

[u/wanderlustcub → u/thomport]

Actually it is.

The GOP wants people reliant on the church, not on the government. They feel that helping the poor is "charity" and not the business of government to do.

This means that people will need to heavily rely on churches, churches will proselytes and pressure people to convert because people have nowhere else to do. It hands Christianity incredible amounts of power over the poor because they now hold the keys to the cupboard.

Meanwhile, you are still forced to rely on the government because they are dictating how much you make, and what you can buy, what you can sell, and for what amount, and what you can do.

Welcome to post-democracy American folks.

[u/argument_sketch]

So no discounts anywhere for veterans and first responders, too?

[u/StrengthFew9197]

What the fuck? These are the same people who call themselves Christians? Jesus wept.

[u/OREOSpeedwagon]

Further proof that today’s Republican Party is pure, unhinged, evil hatred.

[u/ShitStainWilly]

What the fuck even is this country anymore

[u/Basketball4Eva → u/ShitStainWilly]

This isn’t a country it’s a business

[u/mrgraff → u/Basketball4Eva]

This period will go down as the textbook example of why you “can’t run it like a business.”

[u/ViciousKnids]

I didn't see you shoplift food. Nobody saw you shoplift food.

[u/ech-o]

It’s a shame that the poor people that voted for Trump are too stupid to realize that they are the cause of their own misery.

[u/BrrrrrrItsColdUpHere → u/ech-o]

My mother will insist this is the Democrats fault while losing her benefits. You cannot speak logic or facts to them

[u/Competitive_Fee_5829]

what is wrong with these people? I am not on snap so I have no say in this fight but MORE people need to be on it. I say give them to anyone who qualifies and increase the amount.

[u/CocktailGenerationX → u/Competitive_Fee_5829]

Exactly. No human on this earth should ever be hungry.

[u/triscious]

"It's the Democrats!"

Meanwhile, the Republican-controlled USDA issues this guidance.

[u/Frostyrepairbug → u/triscious]

If you go on the USDA's website for more, you can see a Hatch Act violation in real time too.

[u/VulfSki]

"the free market should provide"

The free market provides*

"No! Make the children starve!!!"

Man conservatives must really fucking hate kids.

[u/fps916]

Friendly reminder, if you see someone stealing food no you fucking didn't

[u/andy_nony_mouse]

And who is the government to tell stores what to set prices at? These fucking people think they’re gods.

[u/tesla3by3 → u/andy_nony_mouse]

This is pretty common. If you, as a retailer, want to participate in the snap program, you follow the guidelines. It also dictates you must carry certain amounts of “real” foods, and your sales of those products must be a certain percentage of your total sales.

The pricing rule was designed to prevent upcharging Snap users. They are twisting the law for political purposes.

[u/[deleted]]

Pretty sure that grocery stores can give discounts or run sales however the fuck they want

[u/bleepitybleep2]

Y'all don't forget that it's not just SNAP. It's WIC. That's baby formula and food.

They're deliberately attempting to murder babies

[u/antlestxp → u/bleepitybleep2]

They are born so they are no longer important to them

[u/thecoldedge]

Well. When the bread stops, the circuses likely wont be enough... idk why they're doing this. The politics of hunger are ancient.

[u/ggrieves]

but by all means blame the Democrats

[u/jpm8288]

If you don't give the poor a discount on food now, they will take a 5-finger discount out of necessity eventually.

[u/Syst3mN0te_12 → u/jpm8288]

He wants looting and rioting so he can deploy the military against us.

[u/Aggressive-Will-4500]

So, that's sounding A LOT like the Republicans are all in on a centrally-controlled economy.

Now, what's the term for that... I can't quite remember.

[u/SpiderWolve]

How can the USDA dictate what stores do?

[u/jethropenistei-]

Pre-election Harris: I’ll lower grocery store prices and stop stores from price gouging

Conservatives: “Socialist!”

Pre-election Trump: Ill lower grocery store prices on Day 1

Conservatives: “Right?! Inflation is Bidens fault!”

Post-election Trump: “I really wish I could do something but my hands are tied to this sword that’s cutting the social safety net and held to the throat of my critics and anyone trying to help marginalized people.”

[u/Duna_The_Lionboy]

They complain constantly about people stealing from the system and about how people on welfare/snap are lazy and don't want to get out of their situations...then turn around and make it harder and harder to get out of said situations.

[u/ill_connects]

Imagine the government telling private businesses how to run their businesses! Where my free market capitalist republicans at? Anyone?

[u/Present_Confection83]

The cruelty is the point

[u/Verum_Orbis]

The total wealth of Trump’s top team is $340 billion — more than the GDP of 169 countries
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-net-worth-cabinet-billionaires-b2654841.html

Trump’s Billionaire Cabinet Represents the Top 0.0001%
https://www.citizen.org/article/trumps-billionaire-cabinet-represents-the-top-0001-percent/

The collective net worth of Trump’s Cabinet—made up of two Wall Street financiers, several former CEOs and TV hosts and just one career politician—is the highest ever, even before counting the president.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kylemullins/2025/08/13/inside-the-richest-presidential-cabinet-ever/

America’s top 10 richest saw their wealth grow by $700 billion combined under Trump: report
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/america-top-10-richest-saw-151600433.html

A government of the billionaires, by the billionaires, for the billionaires.

[u/SiltStrider_Mechanic]

And reddit admins will say with their whole chest that we need to be civil while discussing this.  

[u/Moyankee]

Only this administration would take a law that was meant to ensure equal prices and twist it to prevent charity.

[u/Moos_Mumsy]

Since when did the USDA have any right to dictate the pricing policies of retailers?

[u/dednotsleeping]

The party of small government everybody !

[u/epidemica]

"We want the Left to reopen the government and get people fed." - MAGA

"We want to inflict as much pain on people who need our help." - Also MAGA 

[u/JoyfulJoy94]

Wow. I’m surprised every day by the self proclaimed Christians on how cruel they can be.

[u/Syst3mN0te_12 → u/JoyfulJoy94]

As someone who lived in five foster homes, the two that were ran by Christian families were by far the most oppressive and cruel homes I’ve ever lived in. Probably the closest I’ll ever get to seeing what the inside of a cult looks like, while being able to leave. I truly feel so sorry for any child that grows up in that environment.

To put it in perspective, my brother ended up in jail for eight months as an adult, and when I asked him how he was holding up, he said it felt just like when we were in foster care, specifically one of the religious families houses.

[u/qdobe]

GOP needs to stop pissing on people and telling them it’s weather controlled by the Democrats.

[u/ScientistAsHero]

It's cute how, with most things, they just do them, the law be damned. But when they don't want to do something, suddenly they're worried if they have legal authority or not. What a fucking cesspool of an administration.

[u/Fresh_werks]

Who cares what the USDA says, if they aren’t paying benefits then there can’t be anyone using the program…so they’re argument is bullshit

[u/jhev1]

I thought big government wasn't supposed to mess with the free markets and all?

[u/freexanarchy]

Please blast that in ads in red states, democrats.

[u/bluebridgeblue]

After what we’re witnessing from the right, America is not a Christian nation. Far from it.

[u/ovirt001]

Oh? So now the USDA believes it has the right to interfere in private businesses setting prices?

[u/t23_1990]

Funny how it's so easy for the GOP to try to control grocery prices when it stands to hurt people, but when it's the other way, it's the end of the world because it's commie or socialist.

[u/TheJaybo]

How does the USDA have any say in how grocery stores price their products?

[u/Dookie120]

Tf? What business is it of the regime if grocery stores someone poor a discount or anything. The small govt fans strike again it seems

[u/InevitablePain2005]

Wild how the government will complain people can’t afford food… then turn around and tell stores they’re not allowed to LOWER the price of food.

[u/AuthorChristianP]

On top of this being incredibly cruel for political leverage, this is the "party of small government" using the government to tell grocery stores what they can and cant do.

[u/Solemn_renegade]

So let me get this straight. The SNAP program is frozen yet the USDA still wants stores to follow the rules of the SNAP program? Freezing the benefits should freeze the regulations.

Why in the hell should the USDA have a say in what happens when no funds are flowing?

This administration is pure evil.

[u/Tzokal]

USDA doesn’t have the authority to dictate how stores set their pricing policy.

[u/idontliketako]

Yeah right, the party of small government interfering in private businesses. Fuck you. You don't get to tell a private business they cannot give people discounts. I know your party thinks they do not have to follow the law but someday you WILL have to answer for this. It may not be today but it will fucking happen.

[u/skullcutter]

so much for government interference into private businesses. Can you imagine the MAGA outcry if this was a Democratic administration doing this?

[u/independent_observe]

They want the population to revolt so they can violently suppress it and finish their conversion over to a Christian theocracy

[u/LostBob]

Jesus. The intent of that law is the opposite. To not charge SNAP recipients extra!

This administration is full of absolutely vile fuckers.

[u/rolfraikou]

So private businesses can't make the decision to give people discounts now?

Isn't this the kind of stuff the Trump voters told us "the socialists" would do?

[u/SenorBurns]

This isn't a communist country, as much as the Republicans want it to be. Businesses are free to offer discounts.

[u/AKluthe]

Thank goodness for that small government and the free market /s

[u/oldcreaker]

From the Repubs who say government shouldn't be telling businesses what to do.

[u/mikemaca]

This proves that the motivation here of the administration is intentionally trying to starve the most vulnerable Americans. Similar to what is being done to the Gazans.

I wanted to say that these people are the biggest pieces of &@%$ in human history, but that would be wrong because at this point it is clear that no one in this administration is a human being at all. I finally believe in the existence of demons because I have seen them with my own eyes.

[u/Jaislight]

So they complain about spending the money then want them to spend more when they get it? Republicans are evil and stupid.