Big Government Cheese | Planet Money | NPR

There is an argument that our country has to be able to produce its own food because if our farmers go out of business and we become reliant on other countries for food, then that is a kind of national security risk. In 1976, Jimmy Carter made a single campaign promise that snowballed into a longstanding cultural phenomenon– government cheese. It shows up in comedy sketches, songs, even a cooking show by Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg. So what is government cheese? And how did the U.S. government end up buying two pounds of cheese for every American? Listen to the original Planet Money podcast episode here! Subscribe to our video series here — And, while you’re at it, subscribe to our podcast - ------------------------------------------------------ Follow NPR elsewhere, too: • Twitter: • Facebook: • Instagram: • Tumblr: • Snapchat: ABOUT NPR NPR connects to audiences on the air, on demand, online, and in person. More than 26 million radio listeners tune in to NPR stations each week and more than 36 million unique visitors access each month making NPR one of the most trusted sources of news and insights on life and the arts. NPR is also the leading publisher of podcasts, with 36 original shows and an average of 4 million listeners per week. NPR shares compelling stories, audio and photos with millions of social media users on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Snapchat; NPR News and NPR One apps, online streaming, podcasts, iTunes radio and connected car dashboards help meet audiences where they are. NPR’s live events bring to the stage two-way conversations between NPR hosts and the audience in collaboration with the public radio Member Station community. This robust access to public service journalism makes NPR an indispensable resource in the media landscape.