Burritogate: Thomas Massie somehow manages to link the Jews to the cost of burritos

DAILY BS BULLETIN:

Thomas Massie injected the Israel lobby into the GOP’s escalating fight over expensive burritos and household affordability.
Massie claimed pro-Israel interests spent $30 million trying to remove him from Congress.

The Great Republican Burrito War was already serving everything on the menu, inflation, generational resentment, personal responsibility, corporate pricing, communism, ramen noodles and one vice-presidential fat joke.

Then Rep. Thomas Massie walked into the restaurant and ordered the Israel lobby.

Massie, the Kentucky Republican who lost his May primary after a bruising and historically expensive campaign, injected foreign-policy politics into the affordability debate Thursday night with a viral post connecting families’ efforts to stretch their grocery budgets with the money spent trying to defeat him.

“While they’re telling you to put more beans in your beef so you can afford to make burritos for your family, remember the Israeli lobby spent $30 million to take me out of Congress because of the way I voted.”

The reaction was immediate and ferocious.

Twitchy accused Massie of blaming expensive burritos “on the Jews.” Breitbart columnist John Nolte called him a “Jew-baiter.” Conservative writer Ramesh Ponnuru reacted, “Just when you thought this conversation couldn’t get any dumber.”

Let’s be precise, Massie did not write “the Jews,” nor did he literally claim that Israel or Jewish Americans set burrito prices. He specifically blamed what he called the “Israeli lobby” for spending enormous sums against him because of his congressional votes. But that does not make the attempted connection between burrito ingredients and his primary defeat any less bizarre.

If you are not caught up on Burritogate, this gastronomic civil war began after Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet recounted a conversation with a college student who complained that an ordinary burrito now costs around $20.

“It just feels like basic things cost too much,” the student reportedly told him.

From there, one tortilla became the wrapper for nearly every disagreement currently dividing the political right.

Washington Post columnist and Fox News contributor Marc Thiessen dismissed the complaint with, “Cry me a river,” noting that cafeteria burritos are typically covered by a college meal plan. Vice President JD Vance responded with a crack about Thiessen’s weight:

“I’m surprised to hear Marc say this. If you’ve ever met him in person, it’s quite obvious the man has never missed a burrito.”

Rep. Dan Crenshaw then threw gasoline on the salsa by telling young Americans to stop complaining.

“Stop whining, get a job, eat Ramen like the rest of us did in college, on a budget with 4 roommates.”

Crenshaw also asked whether people upset about prices were communists and described them as incapable of “handling” their own affairs.

When the backlash arrived, Crenshaw offered a sarcastic “apology” that essentially repeated his original argument:

“Okay, I am SORRY for triggering the comment section. Of course the world is objectively harder than EVER, and while a $20 burrito is rare, the fact that it exists anywhere is obviously proof that capitalism has FAILED.”

One faction argued that young people are being spoiled by delivery apps, restaurant markups and unrealistic expectations. Another warned that Republicans who laugh at affordability concerns will hand socialists a ready-made campaign message.

Massie chose Door Number Three: Yes, your groceries are expensive—but look how much money pro-Israel groups spent defeating me.

Massie’s broader point about outside money is not imaginary. His Kentucky primary against Trump-endorsed former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein became the most expensive House primary in American history, with more than $32 million reportedly spent on the contest.

But Massie’s implication that the entire $30 million came from “the Israeli lobby” overstates the available accounting.

Two pro-Israel organizations, including a super PAC connected to AIPAC, spent more than $9 million against Massie, according to reporting summarized by Al-Monitor. The Republican Jewish Coalition reportedly spent another $4 million supporting Gallrein.

Massie also benefited from substantial outside spending. Kentucky 4th PAC reportedly spent approximately $6.5 million supporting him, with its donors undisclosed.

Gallrein defeated Massie 54.9% to 45.1%, according to the Associated Press.

AIPAC openly celebrated the result:

“Congratulations to US Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein for defeating anti-Israel incumbent Thomas Massie!”

The organization added:

“Pro-Israel Americans are proud to back candidates who support a strong U.S.-Israel alliance and help defeat those who work to undermine it. Being pro-Israel is good policy and good politics!”

Following criticism from former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, AIPAC defended its activity by stating, “We back candidates who support the U.S.-Israel partnership. Voters decide elections.”

Massie responded to his defeat by proposing legislation requiring AIPAC to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. During his concession speech, he joked that it took him a while to contact Gallrein because he had to locate him “in Tel Aviv.”

The feud has not cooled since then.

Massie has repeatedly opposed U.S. aid to Israel and American military involvement in the Middle East. In July, he offered an amendment that would have eliminated $3.3 billion in annual security assistance to Israel. The House rejected it 314-104. Massie was the only Republican supporting the amendment, joined by 103 Democrats. AIPAC praised the vote and accused Massie of trying “to undermine the U.S.-Israel relationship.”

Massie’s disputes with Republican leaders have extended beyond Israel. He opposed Trump-backed spending legislation, criticized deficits, pushed to release government records connected to Jeffrey Epstein and challenged the administration’s military actions involving Iran.

President Trump made defeating Massie a personal priority, repeatedly branding him a “moron,” “bum,” “obstructionist” and “fool.” Pro-Israel spending was therefore a major factor in the race—but hardly the only one. Trump’s endorsement of Gallrein and Massie’s habit of opposing his party’s leadership also played central roles.

The unfortunate part of this entire spectacle is that the original affordability complaint was legitimate, even if the famous $20 burrito was purchased from an unusually expensive restaurant.

The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report showed that food prices increased 3% over the year ending in June. Grocery prices rose 2.7%, while food away from home increased 3.4%.

The numbers become more painful when shoppers look at particular burrito ingredients. USDA data showed wholesale beef prices were 12.7% higher in June than a year earlier. Fresh tomato prices were up 19.5%, while lettuce was 32.1% more expensive.

So yes, adding more beans to ground beef is a real tactic families use to stretch meals. It is not proof of socialism, laziness or an inability to understand restaurant economics.

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