THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent Trump Nixing of Dem State Disaster Aid Backfires, Screwing MAGA Voters
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Oct 27, 2025 MSNBC writer Steve Benen joins to discuss Trump's controversial disaster aid decisions, revealing a pattern of politically motivated denials. They highlight how Trump's refusal to assist blue states like Maryland impacts his own supporters in Trump-leaning areas. The conversation explores the administration’s tactics to punish political dissenters and how this can backfire, ultimately damaging the very voters that support him. Beneath the politics, Benen critiques the broader implications of partisan governance on national unity.
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Disaster Aid Used As Political Reward
- Trump is explicitly tying federal disaster aid to states he won, making aid partisan rather than needs-based.
- Steve Benen argues this is overt politicization that treats blue states as undeserving and undermines national unity.
Bureaucratic Rules Ignored For Politics
- Trump’s refusal to approve Maryland relief ignored bureaucratic thresholds the state met for aid.
- Benen emphasizes this breaks the formal process and is driven by political motives, not need.
Red Counties Hurt By Denied Maryland Aid
- Maryland’s storm damage hit Garrett and Allegany counties in Western Maryland, which strongly voted for Trump.
- Denying aid to Maryland therefore harms Trump supporters in those counties amid serious flooding and infrastructure damage.
