In a stunning twist, Judge John McConnell, an Obama appointee, openly credited Trump for moving fast to keep SNAP money flowing, even as he blasted the shutdown’s impact. His order forced the USDA to guarantee November benefits, pushing the administration to act while Democrats in Congress kept blocking a temporary funding bill. At the same time, another Obama-appointed judge in Boston ruled that cutting off SNAP was “unlawful,” further undercutting efforts to turn the crisis into a political weapon.

Outside the courtroom, the strategy was already unraveling. Pollster Matt Towery argued that Democrats badly misread the public mood: instead of outrage at Trump, voters are learning how many recipients aren’t citizens and are questioning the system itself. He sees a slow, quiet realignment, especially among young workers, who are starting to view endless government benefits less as a lifeline and more as a burden they’re being asked to carry.