Hours before tonight’s Saturday Night Live, Weekend Update co-anchor Michael Che is already ripping into the news with a very personal take on the cutoff today of the federal government’s food stamps program.
“This snap freeze is really f*cked up,” Che wrote online Saturday of the halt on widely relied upon Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by Donald Trump’s administration during the nearly month long government shutdown.
A rare-ish presence on social media, a blunt Che took aim at “racist videos celebrating (mostly black) families not being able to buy groceries.” With not a trace of humor over the double standard loaded on minorities and the less fortunate, the comedian added: “This country is built on greedy mother*ckers taking shortcuts and gaming the system to their benefit, but for some reason, when poor people find a way to turn a nickel into a dime, they’re judged more severely, especially blacks.”
Getting very personal, Che went on to say tell his 751,000 followers how programs like the 61-year-old SNAP helped him and his family before late-night fame and fortune hit.
“I grew up on free cheese and powdered milk and waiting for your friends to leave the store s they won’t see me pay with stamps.. that sh*t aint as glamorous as it sounds. I promise.”
The suspension of SNAP benefits to over 42 million Americans by the Trump gang on November 1 has proved to be a political lightning rod during the pretty much low key shutdown. In some of the ugliest examples of the MAGA mindset, the Department of Agriculture has determined in October it can’t use the billions in contingency funds long set aside for SNAP due to legal considerations.
That decision has led to a series of court challenges by states, cities and others amidst an expected surge at food banks.
Two federal judges this week ruled the administration has to tap into the $6 billion available. However, despite Trump posting late Friday it would be his “honor to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay,” the administration is demanding the courts provide guidance on how to pay out — a process that will still delay SNAP recipients from receiving benefits for weeks in the very best case scenario
With Che joined by Colin Jost behind the Weekend Update desk, the fourth episode of SNL’s 51st season airs tonight on NBC with Miles Teller as host and Brandi Carlie as musical guest.
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