‘Need Coca-Cola to survive?’ Watch Republican in Congress humiliate ‘expert’ on why taxpayers need to pay for people’s soda

By Nicole Silverio, Daily Caller News Foundation

June 29, 2026

Republican Texas Rep. Brandon Gill pressed a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) advocate Thursday on why taxpayers should pay for sugary drinks.

The House Oversight subcommittee examined waste, fraud and abuse in SNAP, a roughly $100 billion program that provides food for more than 40 million Americans. Gina Plata-Nino, director of policy and advocacy for the Food Research and Action Center, could not provide a straight answer on why tax dollars should cover SNAP recipients’ sugary drinks.

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“You think they need Coca Cola to survive?” Gill asked. “You think that’s the most appropriate use of our tax dollars? … Do the American people need Coca-Cola to survive? You think there’s some Americans who need Coca Cola to survive? Is that your testimony? … I think most people can rationally say that you don’t need Coca Cola to survive, wouldn’t you agree?”

“I agree that we have a hunger crisis and that we need to address it by ensuring that people have the food resources that we need,” Plato-Nino said.

WATCH:

Gill pressed Plato-Nino to explain what is nutritional about Coca Cola.

“I am not a nutritionist, I am a food security expert in ensuring that individuals have the food resources that they need,” Plato-Nino said.

“This is a common sense question,” Gill replied. “All of these have been common sense questions. I’m just asking you if there’s nutritional value to sugary sodas.”

“I am not an expert,” Plato-Nino said.

Coca-Cola contains 140 calories, 0 grams of fat, 39 grams of carbohydrates, 39 grams of added sugars and 0 grams of protein. Its formula includes high-fructose corn syrup, caramel color, phosphoric acid and caffeine.

An Obama-appointed judge ruled Monday that SNAP recipients could use their benefits to buy unhealthy foods. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins approved waivers in 23 states, allowing them to prohibit SNAP participants from using their benefits to purchase items such as candy and soda, Reuters reported.

“USDA is empowering states with greater flexibility to manage their programs by approving SNAP Food Restriction Waivers that restrict the purchase of non-nutritious items like soda and candy,” USDA’s statement said. “These waivers are a key step in ensuring that taxpayer dollars provide nutritious options that improve health outcomes within SNAP.”

U.S. states reported having to replace over $320 million in stolen SNAP benefits from October 2022 to December 2024, according to a December 2025 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

A Maryland resident was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison “for masterminding” a SNAP benefits “fraud scam” and other related crimes, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

Brandon Gill, Coca-Cola, SNAP

Here’s how to get last-minute Wimbledon 2026 tickets with a discount

Get last-minute Wimbledon 2026 tickets with a discount

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Here’s how to get last-minute Wimbledon 2026 tickets with a discount

By Matt Levy Published June 29, 2026, 10:32 p.m. ET

Jannik Sinner (L) and Aryna Sabalenka are playing at Wimbledon in 2026. — Getty Images

See more of our coverage in your search results.

Add The California Post on Google New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

Tennis season is officially in full swing.

On Monday, June 29, Wimbledon got underway in dramatic fashion at The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.

Defending men’s champion Jannik Sinner of Italy barely took down No. 50 Miomir Kecmanović, defeating the Serb in five sets. Mid-match, the world No. 1 tripped, crumpled to the ground mid-rally and later saw his foot get bloodied.

Meanwhile, women’s No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka had better luck against a Serbian underdog, besting Teodora Kostovic 6-2, 6-3.

And that was just day one.

If you’d like to be at the world-famous grassy London courts, last-minute all-day passes are still available for all upcoming dates of the iconic tourney.

At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on passes was $2,115 including fees on SeatGeek (that’s for Thursday, July 9, by the way).

Other dates have passes starting anywhere from $2,729 to $13,985 including fees.

Make sure to use promo code NYPOST10 for $10 off purchases over $250 at checkout (Editor’s Note: this discount is only valid for users’ first purchase on SeatGeek).

In addition to Sinner and Sabalenka, notable players also set to take the grass by storm over the next two weeks include seven-time Wimbledon champ Novak Djokovic, Roland Garros victor Alexander Zverev, World No. 2 Elena Rybakina, 2025 winner Iga Świątek and fan-favorite Coc Gauff.

Plus, Serena Williams will be on the grounds playing singles as well.

Fans that have never attended are in for a literal treat, too.

“Pimms and strawberries and cream are an integral part of the Wimbledon experience – 200,000 punnets of strawberries are served during the Championships,” On The Luce reports.

“There are lots of other eating options though, ranging from takeaway cafés to sit-down restaurants and Champagne bars.”

~~Want~~ Need to politely clap while watching the world’s most elite tennis players live?

We’ve got your back~~hand~~.

Our team has everything you need to know and more about attending Wimbledon 2026 live in England below.

How much are tickets for Wimbledon 2026?

A complete day-by-day breakdown of all the cheapest Wimbledon tickets can be found here:

Wimbledon dates	Ticket prices start at
Tuesday, June 30	$3,205 (including fees)
Wednesday, July 1	$3,378 (including fees)
Thursday, July 2	$2,729 (including fees)
Friday, July 3	$2,943 (including fees)
Saturday, July 4	$2,859 (including fees)
Sunday, July 5	$2,821 (including fees)
Monday, July 6	$2,997 (including fees)
Tuesday, July 7	$3,702 (including fees)
Wednesday, July 8	$3,996 (including fees)
Thursday, July 9	$2,115 (including fees)
Friday, July 10	$11,655 (including fees)
Saturday, July 11	$4,374 (including fees)
Sunday, July 12	$13,985 (including fees)

Where can I get U.S. Open tickets?

Fans hoping to attend Flushing’s annual blue court tourney can pick up tickets well over a month in advance.

If you’d like to catch beloved blue court battles live in Queens, some seats can be yours for as low as $54 including fees on SeatGeek.

Not too bad considering you won’t have to travel to England and will likely see many familiar faces that also competed at Wimbledon (plus, Roger Federer who is putting on a one-night doubles event with Andre Agassi, John McEnroe and Andy Roddick on Aug. 24).

To find the match that makes the most sense for your schedule and wallet, you can find 2026 U.S. Open tickets here.

About Wimbledon 2026

One of this year’s biggest storylines at Wimbledon are all the players not taking part in the tournament.

Sadly, Carlos Alcaraz will be sitting due to a wrist injury he suffered at the Barcelona Open this spring. Biggies Marketa Vondrousova, Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper have also withdrawn.

On a lighter note, as noted above, 44-year-old Serena Williams is competing in a singles match at Wimbledon for the first time since 2022. All eyes will be on her for her match with 20-year-old Australian Maya Joint on June 30.

Players will also be getting paid more than ever before. Ahead of this year’s Wimbledon, a 20% prize pool increase was implemented. Other upgrades at the tourney include a video review system for controversial line calls and new-and-improved heat stress rules.

Wimbledon fashion 2026

Off the court, trendsetters will be serving looks in the stands.

Just a few of the biggest attention-grabbers this year thus far include Naomi Osaka’s kimono-inspired fit, Bad Bunny’s low-key look, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann’s simple yet elegant numbers, Isla Fisher’s flow-y dress and Sir David Beckham’s classy, single-breasted suit.

Huge artists on tour in 2026

Need a little bit of music in your life too?

Here are just five huge artists you won’t want to miss live these next few months.

• Harry Styles

• Daniel Caesar

• Olivia Rodrigo

• Ariana Grande

• Louis Tomlinson

Who else is on the road this year? Take a look at our list of the 50 biggest concert tours in 2026 to find out.

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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