Trump is Starving His Own Base - Rick Wilson's The Enemies List

Podcast Summary: "Trump is Starving His Own Base"

Rick Wilson's The Enemies List
Host: Rick Wilson (presented by Black Pearl Studios)
Date: November 7, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Rick Wilson tackles the ramifications of the ongoing government shutdown—what he calls the "Donald Trump Epstein shutdown"—and its devastating impact on millions of Americans who rely on SNAP (food aid), Medicaid, and other safety net programs. He highlights the hypocrisy in the MAGA movement's cruel indifference to the suffering of their own base and the broader American underclass. Wilson contends that the current politics of starvation and humiliation are not just policy failures, but a deliberate strategy rooted in race, class resentment, and a breakdown of fundamental American values.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The SNAP Crisis and Its Real Victims

(02:30) Rick opens by painting the immediate crisis: “Our government is frozen…if you’re one of the 44 million Americans in 25 million households who rely on SNAP for food aid, you get to go hungry.”
He dispels MAGA myths about SNAP recipients, emphasizing most are children, the elderly, and families in red states, not “slackers” or “cheaters.”
- Quote: “For the very most part, [SNAP] goes to kids and old folks. It is not MAGA, contrary to your lurid fantasies, being used for menthol cigarettes and malt liquor—which I literally heard a serious MAGA person say without a hint of understanding of how flamingly racist he is.” (04:05)

2. Economic Pain and Hypocrisy

(06:20) Wilson critiques the “tone-deafness” and mockery by MAGA supporters over the suffering caused by economic stasis and food aid cuts, pointing out that most beneficiaries are in conservative regions.
- Quote: “65% of the people on SNAP are in red states. Most of them are Republican voters or non-voters, but a plurality are Republicans. Y’all hypocritical. Y’all hypocritical.” (07:50)

3. The Disconnect between MAGA Elites and Reality

(09:15) Wilson contrasts the deprivation suffered by ordinary families with the decadence of Trump and his circle.
- Quote: “On the same night in Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump is conducting this bacchanalian degenerate Halloween party…If Barack Obama or Joe Biden had attended a party like that, 44 million Americans were about to have their food aid cut off, Fox would be running 24/7 chyrons.”

4. Race, Class, and the Manufactured Culture War

(11:30) He argues the political strategy is to pit marginalized groups against each other:
- Quote: “Very wealthy people have convinced very poor people that even poorer people are the enemy…McKinsey has taken more American jobs than any Mexican ever has.” (14:05)

5. The False Narrative of Welfare Scorn

(21:00) Wilson directly attacks the narrative that those on government aid are lazy or criminal.
- Quote: “People that are getting SNAP are not criminals. People getting SNAP are not slackers…These are people who are not going to be uplifted by the great AI revolution.”

6. Moral Responsibility and Lost Nobility

(27:10) He laments the decline of noblesse oblige and the rise of cruelty for political gain.
- Quote: “Even people who didn’t come out and follow those rules…didn’t revel in starving kids, didn’t brag how hard they were going to make it for single moms…They weren’t overjoyed about it.”
He offers a call to action for moral leadership and actual charity.

7. Divisions in the Republican Party

(31:05) Wilson notes “a schism in this country” even within the right, naming Senator Josh Hawley as someone who opposes cutting food aid.
- Quote: “Why do you think Josh Hawley…is out there saying, we can’t cut off food aid to poor families because at the end of the day we cannot allow the government to remain permanently closed...The military not paid, needy families go hungry.”

8. Shifting Definitions of Americanism

(37:45) Wilson challenges MAGA pride and calls for real patriotism through compassion and responsible government.
- Quote: “If you think feeding people who are in desperate need is something you can’t be proud of as an American, then you’re not really an American. That’s the enemy’s list.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On SNAP Misconceptions:
“Everybody get a grip on that front…let’s dismiss this illusion that they’re out buying lotto tickets or malt liquor on SNAP.” (12:45)
On Race and Class:
“This really has become about race and class. This really has become about blood and soil, white America. Even though, once again, the majority of people on SNAP are white people in red states.” (12:15)
On Economic Elitism:
“We have plenty of money to spend on AI data centers from the federal government. We have plenty of money to spend on ballrooms. We have plenty of money to spend on Qatari jets… [but] millions of Americans are going hungry.” (36:20)
On Charitable Action:
“Feeding America is a terrific organization. World Kitchen, Jose Andres, a terrific organization. We made a meaningful donation to our Second Harvest food bank here in Tallahassee this last week because 650 people were in their cars waiting for food for their kids.” (38:30)

Suggested Listening Timestamps

02:30 – Explanation of who suffers from the SNAP shutdown
07:50 – On red state dependence and MAGA hypocrisy
09:15 – Contrasting Mar-a-Lago decadence with public hardship
14:05 – How elites manipulate class resentment
21:00 – Busting welfare myths
27:10 – Loss of empathy and noblesse oblige
31:05 – Hawley and conservative dissent
36:20 – Wealth priorities vs. national hunger
38:30 – Call to action for direct charity

Tone and Language

Rick Wilson is direct, impassioned, and at times unsparing in his criticism. The episode balances policy analysis with moral rhetoric and biting humor, often using memorable, vivid language to skewer hypocrisy and cruelty within the MAGA movement.

In Short

Rick Wilson’s episode is a scathing indictment of the politics of cruelty—starving the poor, especially in red states, while mocking them from positions of privilege. He calls for Americans to reject this inhumanity, support direct charitable action, and reclaim genuine American values of compassion and community.

Transcript

A (0:01)

Man, fall is really here. Cold mornings, the beginnings of our holiday plans. This is the time of year when I want my wardrobe to be simple. Stuff that looks sharp, feels good and things I'll actually wear. For me, that's Quint's and the bonus Quint's pieces make great gifts too. This season's lineup is simple but smart and Easy with Quint's $50 Mongolian cashmere sweaters that I am addicted to. I now own three of them that feel like everyday luxury wool coats that are equal part stylish and dur their denim nails the fit and everyday comfort at the fraction of what you expect to pay. By partnering directly with ethical factories and top artisans, Quints cuts out the middleman to deliver premium quality at half the cost of other high end brands. So you can give luxury quality pieces without the luxury price tag. As I mentioned, I am getting a lot of wear out of my Quince cashmere sweaters right now. The blacks are obviously my favorite, but I've got several now and I absolutely love them. They are, they are just such a stylish mix. You can wear them with jeans, you can dress them up with a jacket. They are really my favorite right now. You know, Quint has stuff beyond clothing which we discovered recently. Renee picked up their quilted travel bag and lately we just discovered they have furniture as well. It's kind of an amazing expansion of the same kind of quality with Quint's clothing into their home, bath, kitchen and travel lines. And we're delighted with it. Give and get. Timeless holiday staples that last the season with Quince. Go to Quince.com Wilson for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns now available in Canada too. That's Quince.com Wilson free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com Wilson foreign Hey folks, it's Rick Wilson. Welcome back to another edition of the Enemies List podcast. Delighted to have you with us. As always, the Enemies List is generally just a person. It's generally just one person. Generally not a gaggle of people. It's generally one person. Donald Trump, all time reigning champion. But I want to say this. The Enemies List this week has a special collective set of blame. We are at a moment right now where because of the Donald Trump Epstein shutdown, our government is frozen. Go to an airport. See what the TSA line looks like. Try to get services. If you're a veteran, try to do anything with with renewing your health care because you can. And most of all, if you're one of the 44 million Americans in 25 million households who rely on SNAP for food aid, you get to go hungry. That EBT card that the right makes so much fun of for the very most part goes to kids and old folks. It is not maga, contrary to your lurid fantasies being used for menthol cigarettes and malt liquor, which I literally heard a serious MAGA person say without a hint of understanding of how flamingly racist he is. But all these MAGA folks who've been cheering on, oh yeah, those, those poor people, those slackers need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and, and learn how to work harder for their food. We're at a moment in this country where if you believe that this is a great economy, I strongly encourage you to seek aggressive and immediate psychological or drug counseling. This economy is sideways, upside down, running backwards. There's no job growth in this country right now unless you're building data centers. There's no job growth. There's no economic growth unless you're one of the big seven tech firms. None, zero, zip. You think the Federal Reserve is pumping $125 billion at the time of this recording? I think it looks like there's going to be more into the markets this week for, for fun. And they're doing that for, for, for some sort of academic reason. They're doing it because the economy is going sideways. Trade war is killing our farmers. Trade war is killing small business. The trade war is killing manufacturing in this country, the jobs that are growing in this country. Again, it's data center construction. Can't eat a data center. But you know, the, the tone deafness of it, the mockery of it, of all these MAGA folks who are out there laughing and giggling. Finally they'll learn. They'll learn the value of hard work. If they're hungry and their belly's empty, they'll get a job. 65% of the people on SNAP are in red states. Most of them are Republican voters or non voters, but a plurality are Republicans. Y' all hypocritical. Y' all hypocritical. Let's all get out. It's not just the cruelty. It's not just the willingness to cancel Thanksgiving for millions of families. It's not just that. In my community, six hundred and fifty families on Halloween night lined up, some of them sleeping in their cars at a local food bank because SNAP is over. It's not just that. It's at the same night in Mar A Lago, Donald Trump is conducting this bacchanalian degenerate Halloween party. If Barack Obama or Joe Biden had attended a party like that, 44 million Americans were about to have their food aid cut off. Fox would be running 24.7chirons. Republicans would be in the streets with pitchforks and torches. But it strikes me, because this is the moment that maga's kind of been waiting for. This is the moment where, where they think that they're the vanguard of a class war that will finally teach those black people a lesson. They think they're moving the Overton window by doing this with cutting off SNAP funding for poor families. They think they're moving the Overton window by mainstreaming Nick Fuentes. They think they're opening the Overton window by making Laura Loomer a Pentagon correspondent. Stenographer is the word you're looking for, by the way, if you work at the Pentagon right now. But all this, all this has added up to a very clear moment. This really has become about race and class. This really has become about blood and soil, white America. Even though, once again, the majority of white people of people on SNAP are white people in red states. Trump profile voters or even Trump profile casuals. If you think that it's a funny joke to take away the food from poor families. And by the way, again, let's dismiss this illusion that they're out buying lotto tickets or malt liquor on snap. Everybody get a grip on that front. And I looked at this the other day. I was thinking, like, what are my priors on this as a conservative? The idea that people in this country require food aid tells you that we don't have free markets in this country. Our markets are crony capitalism. Our markets are regulatory. Captured. There's a lot of reasons why we have food aid in this country. The disparity of wealth, class and race is the dirty secret. What holds the MAGA movement, what glues a lot of it together. Very wealthy people have convinced very poor people that even poorer people are the enemy. Very wealthy people have convinced poor people that the most destitute among us are the people that have caused their failures in life. You know, I say this a lot. McKinsey has taken more American jobs than any Mexican ever has. We'll be right back. If you're still overpaying for wireless, it's time to say yes to saying no. At Mint Mobile, their favorite word is no. No contracts, no monthly bills, no overages, no hidden fees, no bs. You know, here's why I said yes to making the switch to Mint Mobile and getting Premium Wireless. For 15 bucks a month we were able to ditch our overpriced wireless plan and the frankly jaw dropping monthly bills and the unexpected overages and hidden fees. It just got to be a lot. With Mint plans start at 15 bucks a month. All the plans come with high speed data and unlimited talk and text delivered on the nation's largest 5G network network. Look, I was able to easily switch over to my phone. So you bring your own phone. With any Mint Mobile plan, bring your phone number along with all your existing contacts and your data. It's easy. The quality of Mint Mobile's wireless service is better or the same as my old provider. I've never noticed a difference in a negative way. The speeds are faster. The voice quality is perfectly clear. I feel like nothing's changed in the quality level except it getting better. Are you ready to say yes to saying no? Make the switch@mintmobile.com Wilson that's mintmobile.com Wilson Hey. An upfront payment of $45 is required. That's the equivalent of 15 bucks a month limited time new customer offer for three months only. Speeds may slow above 35 gig on the Unlimited plan. Taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details. And now back to the show. People that are getting SNAP are not criminals. People getting SNAP are not slackers. They're not laying home watching Netflix all and eating caviar. This is a food program for poor people. These are people who are not going to be uplifted by the great AI revolution. These are not people who are going to go suddenly wake up one morning and go man, my crypto portfolio is killing it. This country has a disparity in it and I'm not smart enough to solve that entire economic nut in one fell swoop. Okay? I'm just not. I'm not going to pretend that I am. I'm not going to say I have some magic hand wavium that's going to solve poverty in America. But I can tell you one thing. Republicans and Democrats alike have focused on trying to solve the problem of poverty until now. Cuts to Medicaid, cuts to Medicare, eventual cuts to Social Security which they are eagerly chomping at the bit to get to tell you what is going on in their brains. It tells you that the kind of thought process that has informed the SNAP shutdown where Trump grudgingly put 6 billion back into, should tell you everything about how they have integrated into their minds a picture of America that is grubby cheating welfare scum versus the hard working folks. Everybody's Working hard. There is no job creation in this country right now except for building data centers and a pissing number of service jobs in Florida and a few other places. The idea that you have to revel in the, in the, in the misfortune of these people who are having their food aid cut off, the idea that it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a cracking good joke to, to get good social media hits off of, by making fun of the people that are going hungry. It tells you what the fundamentally broken nature of the MAGA coalition. I know it's not even a conservative coalition anymore. It's just straight up cruelty and race and class hatred. There used to be a concept called noblesse oblige where the more fortunate helped the less fortunate. It has gotten very much out of fashion in these days of decadence and crony capitalism and castocracy in Washington. I get it. But even people who were not engaged in the practice of noblesse oblige, even people who didn't come out and, and follow those rules of those to the man are born, didn't revel in starving kids, didn't brag how hard they were going to make it for single moms. They didn't brag about, finally, this will teach those people a lesson. They weren't overjoyed about it. They weren't, they weren't dancing in the streets about it. They weren't thinking, wow, I really showed them. There are a lot of people online last few days who, I promise you, some part of their family has been on Medicaid, been on Medicare, been on Social Security, been on snap, been on tanf, gotten disability. I promise you, we'll be right back. And now back to the show. Steve Bannon himself said it all these people are MAGA voters. Why do you think Josh Hawley, who was nobody's idea of a progressive, is out there saying, we can't cut off food aid to poor families because at the end of the day we cannot allow the government to remain permanently closed. The military not paid, made needy families go hungry. There's a schism in this country, some people think mocking the poor, laughing at their misfortune, laughing at their hunger and the hunger of their children is hilarious. They think it's great social media content. They think it's fantastically funny. They've got every meme, they've got every, every fake AI video with every racist stereotype you could do under the sun. They fall for it when they're called on it. Like Fox was They laugh and go, ha ha ha. I got to the truth of it. It owned the libs too. That division between those people and the rest of America is a division between humanity and inhumanity. It's a division between good and evil. You know, I don't want people to be dependent on the state for their every single thing. No one does, you know, really doesn't. Most of the people that are dependent on the state, it takes something out of you. And yes, poverty in this country has been an intractable long running problem. But we have plenty of money to spend on AI data centers from the federal government. We have plenty of money to spend on ballrooms. We have plenty of money to spend on Qatari jets. We have plenty of money to spend on investing American retirement assets into crypto scams. We have plenty of money to put up golden statues of Donald Trump. We have plenty of money to deploy more DHS and ICE troops than there are United States Marines into the streets of our, of our nation. Plenty of money for all that. Thanksgiving's coming in two weeks, folks. Two and a half weeks, let's call it. And there will be millions of Americans who are going hungry. Maybe they're not people like you, maybe they're not people like me, but they are people. I'd like to encourage anybody who is interested in addressing this in a direct way, if you have means. Feeding America is a terrific organization. World Kitchen, Jose Andres, a terrific organization. We made a meaningful donation to our the Second Harvest food bank here in Tallahassee, which is part of Feeding America this last week because 650 people were in their cars waiting for food for their kids. MAGA always talks about being proud of America. They always talk about pride in country, big chest beating pride. America. I'm proud of America. I'm proud of what we've done for 250 years. Not always, perfectly, not always heading the right direction, but that ARC is bent generally the right way. If you think feeding people who are in desperate need is something you can't be proud of as an American, then you're not really an American. That's the enemy's list. Thanks again folks. It.