RFK Jr Steals Michelle Obama’s Food Playbook with Top Chef's Spike Mendelsohn

What happens when the same healthy-food revolution Republicans once mocked Michelle Obama for is now being led by Robert F Kennedy Jr? On this juicy and revealing episode of the Tara Palmeri Show, Top Chef finalist and D.C. restaurant king Spike Mendelsohn pulls back the curtain on how Washington’s food scene shifts with every administration: Obama’s eclectic fast-casual boom, Trump’s steakhouse surge, and the wild new reality of Republicans embracing the same healthy-food crusade that once got Michelle Obama called the “nanny state.” Spike dishes on creating the legendary Prez Obama burger, the Michelle Melt with Sam Kass, why In-N-Out just ditched food dyes, how tariffs and RFK’s policies are already hitting restaurant menus, and the bizarre Jared Kushner White House lunch order that left everyone speechless. From vegan burgers inside Whole Foods to watching happy hour specials turn overtly political overnight, Spike explains why power, policy, and plates are more intertwined than ever in the nation’s capital. Which D.C. restaurant best captures the current political mood right now — steakhouses, trendy ethnic spots, or something else entirely? For more of her reporting, subscribe to her weekly newsletter, "The Red Letter." https://tarapalmeri.substack.com/ https://www.tarapalmeri.com/subscribe Latest from the Red Letter: https://www.tarapalmeri.com/p/george-santos-believes-george-santos https://www.tarapalmeri.com/p/power-shifts-everywhere https://www.tarapalmeri.com/p/did-trump-just-slap-his-name-on-obamacare To support her mission of independent journalism, consider donating to her GoFundMe account: https://gofund.me/0c46f9a5 Tara Palmeri is one of the most feared and fearless reporters covering power and politics. She has 15 years of experience covering national politics and foreign affairs. She was formerly a White House Correspondent for ABC News where she covered the first Trump administration. She was the chief National Correspondent for POLITICO during the Biden administration. She has been a political analyst for CNBC, CBS and CNN. She started her career as a columnist for the Washington Examiner and then went on to report for the New York Post. She was a foreign correspondent for POLITICO Europe, where she covered international affairs, including Brexit. She hosted the Ringer's political podcast "Somebody's Gotta Win" and wrote a column for Puck. Tara also hosted two acclaimed podcasts on Jeffrey Epstein, "Broken: Jeffrey Epstein" and "Power: The Maxwells." Tara currently hosts the Tara Palmeri Show. Listen to the 'Tara Palmeri Show': Apple https://apple.co/4lWeFuo iHeartRadio https://iheart.com/podcast/273622585/ Amazon Music https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cdfe747e-54a2-47ae-9ec5-15957642e533/the-tara-palmeri-show Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3kgamV3lbZIGIHW2H0XUTR?si=1ffdbb566a964bc1 New videos from Tara are released 5PM EST on weekdays and Sunday https://www.youtube.com/@TaraPalmeri Follow Tara: https://www.instagram.com/tarapalmeri/ https://x.com/tarapalmeri https://www.tiktok.com/@tarapalmeri For inquiries, email: [email protected] #TopChef #MichelleObama #RFKJr #DCRestaurants #Foodie #Politics #Podcast #CapitolHill #WashingtonDC #HealthyEating #TaraPalmeriShow #TaraPalmeri RFK Jr Steals Michelle Obama’s Food Playbook Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the Tara Palmeri Show 01:01 Spike Mendelsohn joins the Tara Palmeri Show 03:12 How Spike helped explode D.C.’s food scene under Obama 06:25 Obama out and about vs Trump’s steakhouse surge 09:12 The new MAGA spot on Capitol Hill taking over the old Dem bistro 14:15 Prez Obama burger and the Michelle Melt legacy 17:19 Michelle Obama mocked as nanny state – now RFK Jr pushes the same ideas 18:39 Spike offers to help RFK Jr clean up American food 22:05 Will banning dyes and seed oils just make everything more expensive 25:43 The bizarre Jared Kushner White House lunch order 27:19 Thanks for watching the Tara Palmeri Show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices