In this episode, we unpack the full picture of SNAP: what it is, what critics say, why some critiques are fair and others miss the point, and how the program ties into the strength of our entire food system.

You’ll hear:

• A quick history of SNAP and how it evolved from Depression-era “food stamps” into today’s $100 billion stabilizer.
• Who actually receives SNAP: families with children, seniors, people with disabilities, and millions of working Americans whose wages don’t stretch as far as they used to.
• What critics get right (and wrong) about fraud, work, and food choices.
• Why SNAP can’t simply “become more like WIC” — and why that’s not as simple or healthy as it sounds.
• What happens when SNAP is paused or defunded: the economic domino effect that hits farmers, retailers, and local economies far beyond the households using the benefits.
• And finally, why asking farmers — who already live close to the margins — to donate their way through a federal funding crisis is both unfair and unsustainable.

Because this isn’t about handouts.

It’s about understanding that food assistance is economic infrastructure.

When we weaken it, everyone pays.

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🎙️ The OBIE Team

Dana DiPrima, host and producer

Sonia Dhillon, co-producer & editor

Russell Chapa, sound engineer, original music

One Bite is Everything is a proud part of Heritage Radio Network, home to the most influential voices in food.