The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell Lawrence: Trump and GOP effectively taking food from Americans as shutdown cuts to food stamps loom
Oct 29, 2025
Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Leader from New York, discusses the looming government shutdown and its dire implications for SNAP funding, accusing the administration of weaponizing hunger against families. Paul Krugman, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, explores the economic fallout of potential SNAP cuts and critiques Trump's tariff policies. Both guests emphasize the bipartisan history of food assistance and the detrimental effects of current GOP strategies, especially on rural communities that rely heavily on these benefits.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Emergency SNAP Funds Are Being Withheld
- The Agriculture Department has emergency funds legally designated to continue SNAP during a shutdown. Donald Trump ordered the department not to use those funds, blocking benefits for millions.
Past GOP Bill Created Today's Health And SNAP Crisis
- The GOP's 'one big ugly bill' included major cuts to Medicaid and SNAP while making tax breaks permanent for the wealthy. That bill created the current Republican-driven healthcare and nutrition funding crises.
Be Ready To Negotiate To Reopen Government
- Democrats say they are ready to meet anytime to negotiate a bipartisan spending deal to reopen government. Engage leaders directly and prioritize reopening with protections for health and nutrition programs.