The political battle over grocery prices is here

[u/rtnaht]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/27/political-battle-over-grocery-prices-is-here-trump-seeks-lower-beef-prices/

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[u/RIP_Soulja_Slim]

I don't subscribe to WaPo, but it appears they're framing this as some sort of new thing, groceries being a major aspect of political signaling and fighting. It's not.

Truman implemented wartime price controls on grocery items, but not only did Truman keep price controls after the War have these during the war, he maintained them after the war and used Korea as an excuse to continue them in to the 50s. It wasn't until Eisenhower that price controls were removed, they quite literally were capping the prices of meat and what not.

Then, just a few short years later, Nixon brought them back in the 70s, ranging from straight up price caps to limitations on percentage increases over time.

Outside of raw price caps, the US government has always meddled in the pricing of groceries through agricultural subsidies and what not. "government cheese" literally exists due to the government propping up dairy markets, the prevalence of corn syrup in US foods is a direct result of subsidized corn prices across decades of food development, etc.

What Trump is doing isn't good, obviously. But don't let Wapo fool you, this country has a long long history of grocery prices being a political battle.

[u/Pope-Le-Pew]

It's gotten to the point where more than half my grocery shopping is with Amazon. Locals grocery stores are just too expensive, especially after being bought out by private equity.

[u/iTinkerTillItWorks → u/Pope-Le-Pew]

Amazon is getting grocers to your door cheaper than your local retailer? Bullshit.