Code Switch The hidden history of demonizing SNAP recipients
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Nov 8, 2025 Josh Levin, a journalist and author, discusses the infamous Linda Taylor, whose story fueled the 'welfare queen' stereotype. The conversation highlights how political rhetoric demonized SNAP recipients, especially Black women, amid economic turmoil in the 1970s. Levin reveals Taylor's criminal history and complex identity claims, and how her narrative was manipulated by politicians like Reagan and Clinton to justify welfare cuts. The aftermath saw aggressive prosecutions of minor infractions, pushing many into extreme poverty.
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Childhood Shame Over Food Stamps
- Gene Demby recounts a childhood moment when his mother paid with food stamps and he loudly identified them, shaming her.
- That memory illustrates how stigma around welfare was ingrained in everyday life for working-poor families.
SNAP's Reach Versus Political Targeting
- Around 12% of Americans (42 million) receive SNAP benefits, showing how widespread precarity is.
- SNAP is only ~1.5% of federal spending yet has long been a political target and stigmatized.
How A 1974 Story Created A Symbol
- The Chicago Tribune's 1974 story painted Linda Taylor as driving three cars, owning buildings, and about to vacation in Hawaii.
- That profile launched national attention and political use of her image as a 'welfare queen'.
