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1 Six More States Approved To Remove Unhealthy Foods From SNAP Benefits
Six more states have been approved to change what foods can be bought with food stamp benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee were approved late Wednesday for waivers that will prevent SNAP benefits from being used on certain processed foods and sugary drinks starting in 2026. This brings the total number of states with these waivers to 18 under the Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again initiative. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the changes are meant to restore SNAP to its original purpose of providing nutrition. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the current system forces taxpayers to pay for foods that make people sick, and then pay again to treat the illnesses those foods help cause.
2 Senate Rejects ACA Funding And A Republican Alternative
The Senate voted yesterday to reject health care bills from both parties, leaving millions of Americans facing steep premium hikes when enhanced Obamacare subsidies expire at the end of the year. The Democratic bill would have extended the Affordable Care Act subsidies for three more years. It failed 51-48, with four Republicans joining Democrats in support. The Republican alternative would have let the subsidies expire and instead expanded health savings accounts and made changes to insurance marketplace plans, but failed with another 51-48 vote. Congress is set to leave for the holidays at the end of next week, making a deal before the deadline unlikely.
3 President Trump Signs Executive Order Establishing National AI Regulation Standard, Limiting States' Power
President Trump signed an executive order eysterday creating a single national framework for artificial intelligence regulation, blocking states from enforcing their own AI rules. The order directs the attorney general to create a task force to challenge state AI laws and instructs the commerce secretary to identify state laws that conflict with national AI policy. AI czar David Sacks said the administration won't challenge every state AI law and will preserve child safety protections. Trump argued that requiring companies to get approval from 50 different states would cripple innovation and let China win the AI race.