Journalists’ Roundtable: SNAP funding, lawsuit and more

It’s Friday, which means it is time for another edition of Journalists’ Roundtable. This week, “Arizona Horizon” host Ted Simons was joined by Jeremy Duda of Axios Phoenix, Wayne Schutsky of KJZZ, and Jim Small of Arizona Mirror.

This weeks topics include

• SNAP Funding
• Mayes Joins SNAP Lawsuit
• Swoboda vs. MAGA
• CD5 Race
• Anti-DEI Teaching Standards
• Smart Border Wall

SNAP Funding:

Wayne Schutsky: “…basically said the states, the cities that are suing were correct in their interpretation that there’s this contingency fund available for emergency situations with S.N.A.P., there’s not the money there to cover these food stamps…because of the government shutdown. Trump administration said we can’t tap into these funds…but said this situation doesn’t apply.”

Jeremy Duda: “I think 42 million people around the country rely on S.N.A.P. benefits, about 900,000 here in Arizona…this is a major issue. A lot of concerns from folks…a lot of people I think that didn’t realize this was about to happen.

Jim Small: “I think it reality what’s going on is you have the Trump administration trying to arm twist Democrats in the U.S. Senate into voting for the funding bill to reopen the government.”

Swoboda vs. MAGA/CD5 Race:

Wayne Schutsky: “As we’ve seen many times with Gina Swoboda…in this ongoing fight with the far right wing of her party…they just really don’t like each other for a variety of reasons…even though Swoboda announced the Trump endorsement, Hoffman and co came out swinging against her immediately claiming she is not the best candidate for the job.”

Jim Small: “I do kind of question the utility of calling people who you want to be your candidates stupid…this is all indicative of this intra-party fight…this is the latest iteration of it…I think it is very unusual that she is remaining chair of the party, as she is an active candidate.”