Chad Bolt Exposes the Real Cost of SNAP Cuts
Wed Feb 04 2026
In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Chad Bolt about what happens when the food safety net millions of children rely on suddenly fails, why access to nutrition is foundational to kids’ health and learning, and how political decisions can have immediate consequences for families. Bolt is Senior Vice President for Economic Security at First Focus on Children, and an anti-hunger policy expert who has worked extensively on SNAP and child nutrition programs. Together, Abebe and Bolt explore the unprecedented lapse in SNAP benefits during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, what it revealed about the fragility of food access, and why protecting nutrition programs is essential to giving kids a fair chance to grow, learn, and thrive.
To learn more about Chad Bolt and his work, you can visit the First Focus on Children website.
Want to keep digging into the real-life impact policy decisions have on children? Here’s some of what First Focus on Children has published recently:
Children Need Congress to Reverse the SNAP Cost Shift to States
Big Ideas For Kids: A Blueprint for Building Government That Works for Children
No Child Should Go Hungry: The Fight to Protect School Meals
To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.org
Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus
Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here.
To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here.
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In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Chad Bolt about what happens when the food safety net millions of children rely on suddenly fails, why access to nutrition is foundational to kids’ health and learning, and how political decisions can have immediate consequences for families. Bolt is Senior Vice President for Economic Security at First Focus on Children, and an anti-hunger policy expert who has worked extensively on SNAP and child nutrition programs. Together, Abebe and Bolt explore the unprecedented lapse in SNAP benefits during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, what it revealed about the fragility of food access, and why protecting nutrition programs is essential to giving kids a fair chance to grow, learn, and thrive. To learn more about Chad Bolt and his work, you can visit the First Focus on Children website. Want to keep digging into the real-life impact policy decisions have on children? Here’s some of what First Focus on Children has published recently: Children Need Congress to Reverse the SNAP Cost Shift to States Big Ideas For Kids: A Blueprint for Building Government That Works for Children No Child Should Go Hungry: The Fight to Protect School Meals To join the conversation, follow First Focus on Children on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Send us comments on thoughts via email: SpeakingOfKids@firstfocus.org Find us on Twitter/X: @SpeakingOfKids and @First_Focus Want to be a voice for kids? Become an Ambassador for Children here. To support our work and this podcast, please consider donating to First Focus on Children here.