Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is apparently anxious to show his campaign contributors that he will fight to the death (literally, perhaps) over Americans' right to be sick and fat. Sen. Grassley has attacked the conservative Meatless Monday program, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was promoting as a way to encourage its staffers to eat healthier and protect the environment. But the USDA has withdrawn the initiative, opting instead to prove that it is the servant of agribusiness and let its employees pay the price. PETA has hit back with a "Meat-Free Mondays Through Sundays" campaign.

The USDA inadvertently set off a firestorm of controversy earlier this week when it promoted the Paul McCartney–endorsed Meatless Monday program on its website. But the move was publicly blasted by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, after which the department yanked the promo, mumbling something about not receiving the proper "clearance," as if encouraging good health and environmental protection were a covert spy mission or something.

Apparently not content with that backpedal, Sen. Grassley, a legislator from a beef-belt state, vowed to "eat more meat on Monday" in an attempt to singlehandedly (forkedly?) make up for the meat that conscientious USDA workers might be planning to forgo on the first day of the workweek.

We're taking bets (place yours in the comments section below) on how long it will take Sen. Grassley to succumb to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or some other meat-related disease.

"From his reaction, it seems like a pretty safe bet that he's already got high blood pressure," says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. "Were he a physician instead of a politician who truly puts his rancher money where his mouth is, he'd be guilty of malpractice."

Make Every Day Meatless

Don't let fat-cat government lobbyists win—celebrate Meatless Monday every day of the week by ordering a vegetarian/vegan starter kit today!

Martin Cathrae|cc by 2.0

Olympian Michael Phelps adopted his new pooch, Stella, and promptly started honing her ability to swim. We're sure Michael already qualifies as a hero to Stella even before the London games!

Paul McCartney has schooled many a musician in rock 'n' roll, and now he wants to school children in going vegetarian. He's encouraging schools to join his "Meat Free Mondays" campaign and offer students vegetarian options at lunch.

Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky and Switched at Birth actor Constance Marie joined Paul's chorus, jumping in with the host of other celebs tweeting for animals this week and promoting "Meat Free Mondays" and the veggie life.

The role of WNBA star Candace Parker in the L.A. Sparks' win last Wednesday earned her a Player of the Week nod, but she plays for animals every week by working with PETA to fight fur. 

Photo: Jason Grow/www.jasongrow.com|Hair and makeup: Lauren Genatossio for Team Artist Representative

With another fur foe, Aimee Teegarden, cast in the starring role, you can bet that the CW Television Network's new show, The Selection, billed as "the next Hunger Games," will be decidedly fur-free.

To keep up with what all your fave stars are doing for animals, follow @PETA on Twitter.

Foodies everywhere are buzzing about Mario Batali's declaration that he is a "big believer in the Meatless Monday movement" and his announcement that all 14 of his restaurants will offer at least two vegetarian options each and every Monday.

Batali believes that "most people in the U.S. eat way more meat than is good for them or the planet" and supports efforts to "focus on a more plant-based diet." And get this: He's also created a logo to further promote the flesh-free options at some of his restaurants. Woo-hoo!

Batali's eateries are known for cooking up just about every bit of animal one can name, including bone marrow and cockscombs (yes, cockscombs), so it's no wonder Batali's announcement is a hot topic for offal eaters and vegans.

We can't wait for the day when chefs like Batali embrace "Turkeyless Tuesdays," "Wings-Free Wednesdays," etc., or declare "Meat Mondays" as the only day they serve the stuff, but in the meantime, Batali's support for Meatless Mondays will do wonders to spotlight humane cuisine's plethora of pluses for animals, human health, and the environment.

Written by Karin Bennett