Hunger isn’t inevitable. The United States has the tools to prevent it — but during this historic shutdown, millions of Americans have been left waiting to see if those tools will be used.

In Michigan, more than 1.4 million people rely on SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), to buy food each month. Most are children, seniors, or people living with disabilities.

When the federal government shutdown froze November benefits, families across the state faced growing uncertainty about how they would put food on the table.

Contingency funds released after court rulings

Late last week, two federal judges ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use 5 billion in contingency funds to continue SNAP payments.

On the Monday deadline, the Trump administration announced it would comply, but it would pay out half the amount recipients typically receive. Officials warn the solution is temporary. If the shutdown continues, December SNAP funding and other safety-net programs could again be in jeopardy.

Broader impacts across Michigan

Even with food aid partially restored, the shutdown is rippling through daily life.

• Federal workers and contractors have gone weeks without paychecks.

• Housing vouchers, heating assistance, and childcare subsidies face processing delays.

• Head Start programs risk closures in several states.

• Small-business loans, IRS services, and passport processing remain slowed or suspended 

Those disruptions can be just as destabilizing for families living close to the edge as lost food aid.

This is especially true in places like Michigan’s 12th District, which covers Detroit, Dearborn, Inkster, and downriver communities. These areas are shaped by working-class families, new immigrants, and people living paycheck to paycheck.

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, representing the 12th District, joined Robyn Vincent on The Metro to discuss these reverberations.

The discussion also turned to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and how it is reshaping politics with people like New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who, like Tlaib, has been outspoken about the crisis and U.S. foreign aid priorities. His advocacy, and the movement around him, highlight a generational push inside the Democratic Party for a more value-driven, intersectional approach to policymaking, one that connects international issues to struggles faced by working class communities in cities like Detroit.

For updates or emergency food aid, residents can visit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Food Assistance page or call 2-1-1.

Editor’s Note: This conversation aired shortly before the Trump administration announced it would comply with court order and use contingency money to fund SNAP.

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A metro Detroit attorney who has helped lead multiple humanitarian flotillas bound for Gaza says she was abused and detained by Israeli forces after the ships were intercepted on October 8.

Huwaida Arraf, a human rights lawyer long involved in pro-Palestinian activism, says she was zip-tied, beaten, and held for five days before being deported. She describes her experience as minor compared with the suffering of people inside Gaza, where shortages of food, water, and medicine persist amid leveled city blocks and decimated infrastructure.

Arraf spoke with Robyn Vincent on The Metro about the incident and her decision to keep leading these missions meant to draw attention to Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

Ceasefire under strain

The Israeli war in Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, has killed nearly 68,000 Palestinians and over 1,200 Israelis. The latest flotilla voyage took place just before Israel and Hamas entered a fragile ceasefire agreement on Oct. 10. Days later, Israeli airstrikes resumed after reports of new clashes. Both Israel and Hamas have accused the other of breaking the truce. 

Humanitarian agencies say residents of Gaza face worsening hunger, disease, and displacement as aid convoys continue to be delayed or blocked.

Disputed blockade

Israel maintains a maritime blockade on Gaza, first imposed in 2007, which it says is necessary to stop weapons from reaching Hamas. Israeli naval forces routinely stop the flotillas that challenge the blockade.

Some international law experts argue that intercepting civilian aid ships in international waters violates maritime law and amounts to collective punishment. Israel disputes that interpretation and says the blockade is lawful under the right of self defense.

Reports of prisoner abuse

During her interview, Arraf referred to allegations of torture and abuse of Palestinians held in Israeli custody. International media outlets and global human rights groups document those allegations.

The Israeli organization B’Tselem released the 2024 report “Welcome to Hell – The Israeli Prison System as a Network of Torture Camps,” describing what it called the systematic abuse of Palestinians. Israeli officials deny the claim and say the country’s detention system meets legal standards.

Genocide case at the ICJ

Arraf also noted that Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The case was launched by South Africa at the end of 2023 and later joined by other countries, including Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Ireland, and Turkey.

Israel and the United States reject the accusation. Proceedings are ongoing and expected to take years, though the ICJ has found Israel’s occupation of Palestine unlawful under international law.

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Mental health crises too often land people in jail instead of hospitals.

That’s what happened in Traverse City, where this weekend, a man attacked 11 random Walmart shoppers. According to his family, he had suffered for decades from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and he “fell through the cracks” of the system again.

Meanwhile, in Manhattan, four people died after a shooter opened fire in an office building housing NFL offices. The gunman pleaded grievances in a note tied to suspected brain injuries and noted a mental health history.

These incidents remind us why reforming the system—and the people who interact with it—matters.

In Wayne County, nearly half of the people in jail are medicated for severe mental illness. And 911 received over 15,000 mental health calls last year alone.

Over the past decade, a coalition of groups has been working to change how we respond to things like mental health crises in Wayne County. It’s having an impact.

Since 2016, jail bookings in Wayne County dropped more than 50%.

Police now receive specialized training, social workers ride alongside officers, and mobile crisis teams sometimes respond without law enforcement.

At the center of this transformation is Dr. Sheryl Kubiak. She’s the founding director of the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice at Wayne State University and dean of Wayne State’s School of Social Work. Her team has led pilot programs, built shared data systems, and worked to break down silos.

She joined The Metro’s Robyn Vincent to share what’s working, what still needs to change, and how communities can respond before crisis turns to catastrophe.

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Since Oct. 7, 2023, the world has felt different for a lot of American Jews. Much of that is related to Israel’s ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. For almost two years, Israel has been responding to Hamas’ brutal attacks in Gaza. 

The results have been devastating for Palestinians. About 55,000 people have been killed from that war. Starvation has become a profound issue after Israel’s months-long food aid blockade a few months ago. 

This is an ongoing problem, as Israel has been striking food aid centers which happened just two days ago, killing 74 people. In America, Jews generally support the Jewish-majority country that is Israel. But there are some who feel that, whether they feel kinship with Israel or not, the country’s government needs to be held accountable. 

That’s true for many members of Jewish Voice for Peace. A number of people in the anti-Zionist group are participating in a “rolling solidarity fast” to help bring more attention to the starvation happening in Gaza. 

Ruby Shapiro, a member of the local Detroit chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, joined The Metro to share more about their effort.

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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