In this powerful clip from Black Out with Ian & Rashad, hosts Rashad Bilal and Ian Dunlap sit down with guest Conscious Lee to unpack the truths and misconceptions surrounding SNAP benefits (food stamps) in America. The conversation dives deep into how close most working people are to needing public assistance, debunking the myth that only “lazy” individuals rely on government support.

Conscious Lee breaks down the economic realities for millions of Americans—even those working for major companies like Amazon and Walmart—and reveals how many of their employees still qualify for SNAP. The discussion takes a hard look at the class divides that pit communities against each other and highlights how racial biases distort public empathy and media narratives around poverty and assistance.

From stories of essential workers to the stigmas faced by Black families, the hosts challenge listeners to examine their assumptions and recognize how policy decisions around SNAP affect everyone—not just those directly receiving aid. They shed light on how government shutdowns ripple across communities, impacting everything from TSA wait times to the morale of workers in all industries.

Plus, get critical context on how viral AI videos and sensationalized media continue to paint an inaccurate picture of SNAP users, ignoring the fact that the true face of government assistance spans race, class, and employment status. Conscious Lee shares his own experiences to drive home how close many of us truly are to needing help, and why empathy should replace judgment in these conversations.

Whether you’ve never thought about SNAP or you’ve dealt with it firsthand, this clip is essential listening for anyone who wants to better understand the interconnected struggles and stories behind food insecurity in America.

**Tune in for:**

- Real stories and statistics on SNAP benefits

- The economic reality for essential workers

- Class, race, and media pathologies around public assistance

- Empathy versus stigma in conversations about poverty

- The real impact of government shutdowns on everyday life

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#SNAPBenefits #FoodStamps #BlackOutPodcast #ClassDivide #FoodInsecurity #EssentialWorkers #RacialBias #MediaMyths #Empathy #GovernmentShutdown #EconomicReality #PodcastClip #RashadBilal #IanDunlap #ConsciousLee

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