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WOKV Show Notes January 8, 2026: Food pyramid turned upside down

Trump Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stands by an image of a food pyramid during a briefing at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Jacksonville, Fl — Some of the influencers and activists in Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again movement have spent years calling for a crackdown on highly processed foods.

That made Wednesday’s dietary guidelines announcement discouraging their consumption a cause for celebration for them.

The 2025-2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans offer updated recommendations for a healthy diet and provide the foundation for federal nutrition programs and policies.

The guidelines emphasize consumption of fresh vegetables, whole grains and dairy products, long advised as part of a healthy eating plan.

Officials released a new graphic depicting an inverted version of the long-abandoned food pyramid, with protein, dairy, healthy fats and fruits and vegetables at the top and whole grains at the bottom.

But they also take a new stance on “highly processed” foods, and refined carbohydrates, urging consumers to avoid “packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat or other foods that are salty or sweet, such as chips, cookies and candy.”

Liana Werner-Gray, an influencer and author who hosted a welcome party for a national MAHA summit last year, wrote on Instagram that the new dietary guidelines marked “the most important announcement this country has EVER seen on nutrition.”

Listen to Jacksonville’s Morning News Interviews

Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins joined us at 9:30 am to discuss a number of Florida legislative issues, including property taxation reforms, a special legislative session on district remapping, and Florida’s potential (additional) prosecution of ousted Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro.


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The CDC has revised its recommendations for routine childhood vaccinations, reducing the number of vaccines recommended for all children. Candace DeMatteis, Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, discusses the impact of new childhood vaccine recommendations.

Jonathan Savage reports on multiple international headlines: mass demonstrations continue across Iran regarding soaring inflation and declining economic stability; the latest regarding US forces capturing Venezuelan oil tankers; and President Trump’s aggressive threats and posturing against Iran, Greenland, and multiple Caribbean and South American nations.

Eben Brown reports on US forces apprehending more Venezuelan ships “conducting illicit activities,” allegedly illegally transporting Venezuelan oil outside of sanctions. This includes the North Atlantic capture of a tanker (“the Bella-1” or “the Marinera,” depending on which country you ask) that was allegedly flying Russian flags off the coast of Iceland, prompting Russian intervention demanding the release of the ship, its crew/passengers, and its cargo. This is the latest event in the ongoing US/Venezuela controversy, but likely not the last.

CAPITOL UPDATE: Now back in session in DC, the House and Senate both got briefings from Sec.’s of Defense and State on Venezuela, with apparently different partisan takeaways as to future implications. A number of votes are expected today - the Senate on a War Powers resolution, and the House on an extension of subsidies for ACA policies. WOKV will follow these stories as they develop. Fox’s Ryan Schmelz has this update:

Rich Jones

Rich Jones

Rich Jones is the Host of Jacksonville’s Morning News. Rich joined WOKV in October 2006. Rich is involved in many community organizations and causes. Rich and his wife, Noelle, have three children: Avery, Harper and Austen.