Part 3/13:
He proposed extending SNAP (food assistance) benefits—critical support for millions of struggling Americans—while the government remains shutdown. This move, framed as a humanitarian gesture, seems designed to garner public sympathy and put the GOP on the defensive. Critics argue that this is a classic case of political damage control: Democrats, who previously boasted that pain was their weapon, now seek to soften its impact as adverse public sentiment grows.
This strategy raises fundamental questions about sincerity and motives. Why offer support now? Is it genuine compassion, or a calculated attempt to spin the narrative once the “pain as leverage” approach backfires? Many perceive it as a desperate attempt to appear compassionate while still holding onto political advantages.