In a recent appearance on Fox News, pollster Matt Towery highlighted a potential misstep by Democrats in their handling of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding during the government shutdown.
Towery suggested that the Democratic strategy to incite public outrage over the disruption of food aid might be backfiring, as the party continues to obstruct a temporary funding agreement, thereby jeopardizing assistance for over 40 million Americans.
According to Conservative Daily News, Towery elaborated on "The Ingraham Angle" that Democrats may have underestimated public sentiment by attempting to leverage the funding lapse as a political weapon.
He remarked, "I think the public is just now beginning to hear the information about how many people who are receiving food stamps, who simply are not from this country and came into the country illegally. And I think as more of this information comes out, youll see more resentment for that aspect." Towery's comments suggest that while there is traditionally voter sympathy for social safety nets, the revelation of non-citizens benefiting from such programs could shift public opinion.
Towery further argued that the Democrats' intention to use the SNAP disruption to fuel public discontent might not yield the desired results. He noted, "I dont know that these decisions by these judges are helping them because the Democrats really wanted people to not get this assistance and be up in arms and very upset, and cause more turmoil over the next week." He pointed out that judicial interventions to maintain food aid might be mitigating the intended political fallout.
The discussion also touched on a broader political realignment, with Towery observing a gradual shift in attitudes among younger Americans entering the workforce. "Theres a slow shift. You wont see it from the legacy pollsters, and you wont hear from the legacy media. But the country is beginning to shift. And I think it starts with the youngest of voters, the ones who are having to get out there and make money and find jobs," he stated. This shift could indicate a growing skepticism towards expansive government programs among the younger demographic.
In response to the ongoing shutdown, two federal judges have mandated the Trump administration to utilize a contingency fund to continue SNAP benefits. However, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins cautioned that the $5 billion reserve is insufficient to sustain the program through November, as Democrats persist in blocking efforts to reopen the government. The SNAP program, which serves approximately 42 million Americans monthly, incurs an operational cost of about $9.2 billion.
President Donald Trump has taken a proactive stance, instructing White House lawyers to seek an immediate court ruling on lawful funding mechanisms for SNAP amidst the shutdown. He has accused Democrats of obstructing relief efforts for millions of Americans and pledged swift action once the courts provide legal guidance.
Meanwhile, the administration has already redirected funds from tariff revenues and leftover Pentagon research to support other essential programs, such as Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) and military pay.
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