Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey

Episode 1262 | SNAP: A Factual & Biblical Analysis
Date: November 3, 2025
Podcast Host: Allie Beth Stuckey
Network: Blaze Podcast Network

Overview of the Episode

In this episode, Allie Beth Stuckey provides a multifaceted analysis of the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—its current funding crisis, cultural implications, and moral debates. She explores both factual legislative issues (such as the government shutdown's impact on SNAP) and the biblical perspectives on poverty, work, welfare, and the responsibilities of individuals versus the state. Allie also addresses recent online criticism she’s received, offers encouragement to her listeners, and discusses the upcoming New York City mayoral election, focusing on the potential implications of a Zoron Momdani victory for Christians and conservatives.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Opening Encouragement and Responding to Criticism

[04:30–19:20]

• Allie starts with her recurring phrase of encouragement:
  “Do the next right thing in faith, with excellence, and for the glory of God.”
  She credits Elizabeth Elliot for the foundation of this maxim.

• She discusses the personal pressures of living in a chaotic world and dealing with online criticism:

  • Encourages focusing on the “next right thing” instead of being overwhelmed by big-picture fears.
  • Shares personal struggles with hurtful slander from supposed Christian critics.

• Notable quote:

  “If you live by the crowd, you will die by the crowd... If you are buoyed and carried by other people’s compliments, you will be destroyed by people’s criticism.”
  [19:00]

• She shares messages of affirmation from listeners and friends that encourage her to persevere.

  • Recounts testimonies from listeners whose faith was transformed by Relatable.

2. The SNAP Discussion: Facts and Political Context

[22:00–38:00]

The Current SNAP Crisis

• Background: Federal funding for SNAP (food stamps) ran out on November 1 due to the ongoing government shutdown, affecting 42 million low-income Americans.
• Allie emphasizes that such a high number indicates deeper cultural and economic issues.
• Clarifies that Senate Democrats could end the shutdown by voting for the Republican-proposed clean continuing resolution (CR), but are not negotiating.
  • Plays a Jake Tapper (CNN) clip highlighting that Democrats are blocking funding.
    • Quote:

      “...the party that is not voting for the [CR] ... is the party that is blocking the government funding and is responsible for the shutdown.”
      [22:11 – Jake Tapper]

Critique of SNAP’s Structure and Impact

• Shares recipient stories, e.g., Aaron Annis, who values independence through SNAP benefits but could be supported by family.
  • Allie criticizes this perspective, arguing that government benefits can foster dependency on taxpayers, not true independence.
    • Notable quote:

      “You’re not actually independent. You are completely dependent on the government, and the government doesn’t have its own money. The government has money from us.”
      [25:31]

• Highlights abuse and fraud:
  • Shares viral clips of SNAP recipients threatening to rob stores due to lost benefits.
  • Discusses cases where recipients sell benefits for personal profit, pointing out systemic abuse.

SNAP Growth and Outcomes

• SNAP rolls have more than doubled since 2001 (17.3M to 42.1M recipients).
• High percentage (48%) remain on benefits for 20 months or longer.
• RFK’s critique: Approximately 18% of SNAP benefits go to candy and sugary drinks, potentially fueling the diabetes crisis.

Reforms and Rule Changes

• New rules require able-bodied adults under 65 without dependents to work at least 80 hours/month or participate in education/training.

  • Young adults, veterans, and homeless must meet this to receive benefits for more than 3 months.

• Changes restrict illegal immigrant eligibility.

• On moral and economic grounds, Allie argues that while emergency aid is justifiable, ongoing, unconditional support—especially for non-essentials—creates an “entitlement mentality.”

  • Quote:

    “If you are telling me that I’m forced to pay for the diabetes of a kid whose parents could be working or could rely on family members, that’s not just—that’s just theft.”
    [29:30]

3. Biblical Perspective on Welfare and Government’s Role

[38:00–46:45]

• Argues that Jesus’s call to care for the needy (e.g., “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat...”) addresses individuals and the church, not government.
  • Christian charity is to be cheerful and voluntary, not compulsory via taxation (which she equates to socialism).
• Government’s role: “a safety net, not a hammock.” Aid should be temporary and designed to prevent destitution, not create permanent dependency.

Key Biblical Citations

• 2 Thessalonians 3:6–10:

  “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”

• 1 Timothy 5:8:

  “If anyone does not provide for his relatives... he has denied the faith...”

• Proverbs 14:31:

  “Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.”

• Allie’s take:

  • The Bible commends generosity but condemns idleness.
  • The primary duty to care for the poor is with family and the church, not the state.
  • Outsourcing compassion to government, she argues, is slothful, not biblical.

4. New York City Mayoral Race: Zoron Momdani

[47:00–58:30]

Who is Zoron Momdani and What Does He Represent?

• Background: State assemblyman, immigrant, Muslim, progressive, projected to win the NYC mayoral race.

• Policy priorities (as described by Allie):

  • Strengthen sanctuary city laws, use taxpayer funds for legal defense for detained illegal immigrants.
  • Proposes civilian-led “Department of Community Safety,” shifting 911 calls from police to mental health/social workers.
  • Supports police/prison abolition, decriminalizing drugs and prostitution, eliminating cash bail, freezing rent increases, city-run grocery stores.

• Critiques of his platform:

  • Argues these policies will make NYC less safe, more chaotic, and economically unsustainable.
  • Notes that similar programs have failed elsewhere (e.g., government-run groceries).

• Points out his radical alliances (endorsements from Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, AOC) and problematic associations (campaigning with individuals linked to anti-Western or anti-Semitic sentiment).

Cultural Commentary

• Highlights Ms. Rachel's (popular children’s YouTuber) support for Momdani as evidence of rising “toxic empathy”—policies driven by feelings, not outcomes.
• Warns of a wider cultural shift toward socialism and empathy detached from biblical or pragmatic roots.

On Bigotry, Identity, and 9/11

• Argues that America has gone out of its way to accommodate Muslims post-9/11; pushes back against narratives of rampant post-9/11 Islamophobia promoted by Momdani.

• Notable quote critiquing manipulative narratives:

  “If you’re going to try to manipulate Americans into saying ‘Well you shouldn’t be scared of this, the real tragedy here is that my aunt was scared to wear her hijab days after a Muslim terrorist attack,’ then you should probably tell the truth.”
  [57:02]

5. Biblical Principles on Governance and Socialism

[58:30–End]

• Romans 13:4: The government is “God’s servant” for good, tasked with rewarding good and punishing evil.

• Condemns policies built on lies or unsustainable promises (Proverbs 19:5, 20:17; 2 Peter 2:3; Ecclesiastes 5:5).

• Uses Venezuela and Zimbabwe as real-world examples of how socialist policies—though rhetorically appealing to helping the poor—produce poverty and chaos.

• Final challenge to Christians:

  “If we love our neighbor, we can’t support socialism. Unless you want to outsource your love of neighbor to the government, in which case you aren’t really loving your neighbor. You’re just slothful. And that’s a sin.”
  [1:01:45]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Do the next right thing in faith, with excellence, and for the glory of God."
  [03:30]
• "You’re not actually independent. You are completely dependent on the government... the government has money from us."
  [25:31]
• "If you live by the crowd, you will die by the crowd... If you are buoyed and carried by other people’s compliments, you will be destroyed by people’s criticism."
  [19:00]
• "If you are telling me that I’m forced to pay for the diabetes of a kid whose parents could be working or could rely on family members, that’s not just—that’s just theft."
  [29:30]
• "Jesus is not speaking to the government. Jesus is speaking to you and the establishment of the early church..."
  [38:17]
• "[Mamdani’s] anti-Western sentiment... just the entitlement, the disgusting lack of gratitude that he has towards the incredible liberty and the privilege and the wealth and the power..."
  [55:40]
• "If we love our neighbor, we can’t support socialism... you’re just slothful. And that’s a sin."
  [1:01:45]

Timestamps for Major Topics

• Opening Encouragement and Personal Reflections: [04:30–19:20]
• SNAP Shutdown Crisis and Political Blame: [22:00–25:40]
• SNAP Recipient Stories, Abuse and Fraud Evidence: [25:07–29:30]
• SNAP Growth, Sugary Food Spending & Policy Changes: [29:40–34:50]
• Biblical Perspective on Charity and Welfare: [38:00–46:45]
• Zoron Momdani Background and Policy Critique: [47:00–58:30]
• Biblical Principles on Good Government & Socialism: [58:30–End]

Tone

Allie Beth Stuckey’s delivery is characteristically candid, passionate, and unapologetically Christian and conservative. Her tone blends personal vulnerability (while sharing about online criticism and her spiritual practices) with firm, evidence-based argumentation—particularly when dissecting government policy and biblical teaching. Her style is both assertively polemical and pastorally encouraging.

Summary

This episode of Relatable provides a substantive conservative and biblical examination of SNAP, refutes common progressive Christian arguments regarding welfare, and warns of the dangers of government overreach, dependency, and socialism—both in public policy and personal worldview. Allie weaves in practical encouragement for living purposefully as a Christian, no matter the cultural or personal climate, while urging her audience to root their compassion in biblical truth rather than state-mandated solutions.