Conservative commentator Steven Crowder has recently revived his viral “Change My Mind” series, returning to college campuses to debate students one-on-one. In a December exchange, Crowder took on a college student over whether the government should end all SNAP benefits.
While the student initially argued, as is often the case, that choice is essential for those receiving government assistance, but after being confronted with the scope and costs of the SNAP program, she quickly found herself conceding several of Crowder’s broader points about how out of control the system has become.
It underscores that many college students remain largely unaware, whether by choice or through lack of exposure, of the widespread inefficiencies that burden government operations, particularly within welfare programs. As economist Milton Friedman once observed, “One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results," and too often today do people only do the former.
This mindset continues to thrive in academic circles and within government itself, especially among left-wing politicians, where policies are applauded for their intentions but rarely measured by their results, if they even bother to check them. As a result, many students adopt an overly idealistic view of public welfare, overlooking the bureaucratic waste, inefficiency, and unintended consequences that so often define these programs.
"Everyone deserves treats. First off, not everyone deserves treats," Crowder said. "Second, for me its pretty simple, you pay, you choose, I pay, the taxpayer, I choose. Milk, eggs, meat, produce, and fabric softener. Otherwise, get to work. Is that fair?"
"No," the student replied.
"No, that's not fair?"
"There should be some choice in that," the student insisted.
Crowder went on to explain that U.S. soldiers don't have as many choices as SNAP recipients.
"I don't think there should be any choice," Crowder said. "Our soldiers get MRE's, and they have to pay for them. Why should someone who's able-bodied, choosing not to work, get anything better than our soldiers?"
Are you aware...So SNAP, cause you mentioned...If you go to Amazon, right, SNAP EBT. So I work, I pay taxes, right? There are a lot of Americans who work and pay taxes, who are poor. Low-income Americans who are not on SNAP. You get 50 percent off your Prime membership, you get unlimited groceries for $499 a month. Let me show you whats int he groceries. Lavazza coffee, $25, Rockstar, Ghost Energy. Let's go down to snacks and treats. When you say choice, these are the choices right now...Prefilled pumpkin buckets of assorted Halloween candy. Does that seem like helping someone with a tough break? And how do we make the case to low-income Americans that they should fund that? Cause they are.
"Well, a lot of them have children," the student replied.
"Okay, so do the people paying taxes who are working for a living," Crowder replied.
"Okay, that's a fair point."
"I mean cause people who say it's taking from the rich and giving to the poor...And you look obviously very svelte," Crowder said. "I'm sure you know obesity is a problem in the country, it doesn't affect you. Probably affects me more than you, and I have some I could lose."
But the obesity rate for low-income women in this country who are not on SNAP is 40 percent. You know what it is for those on SNAP? Fifty-seven percent. So working-class Americans with kids not on SNAP, struggling, are paying to make other people fatter.
🚨JAW-DROPPING moment as Steven Crowder stuns liberal when he exposes the reality of SNAP. She admits he's RIGHT.
— Stand Up For Trump (@StandUpForTrmp) February 3, 2026
"Our soldiers get MREs and they have to pay for them. Why should somebody able-bodied, choosing not to work, get ANYTHING better than our soldiers?"
CROWDER: Snacks… pic.twitter.com/U3HpmOJ8uO
