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.
