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Episode Chapters:

1. [01:08] — Priority Check: Ballrooms vs. Emergency Rooms
2. [14:55] — The SNAP Crisis: Can You Eat on $6 a Day?
3. [30:26] — Maternal Health: The Cost of Inaction
4. [43:03] — Trusting Science: A Pediatrician in Congress

1. Priority Check: Ballrooms vs. Emergency Rooms

U.S. Rep. Susan DelBene, D-Wash., joins us to discuss the current disconnect in federal spending. While families struggle with rising costs, current proposals include $1 billion for a vanity ballroom project while allowing life-saving healthcare credits to expire. Rep. DelBene is the primary architect of the expanded Child Tax Credit, a policy that previously cut childhood poverty in the U.S. nearly in half.

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U.S. Rep. Susan DelBene discusses budget priorities on "Breaking Through."

Expert Profile: Read U.S. Rep. Susan DelBene's official bio here.

2. The SNAP Crisis: Can You Eat on $6 a Day?

Chad Bolt is the senior vice president for economic security at First Focus on Children and a leading expert on federal nutrition policy. Bolt explains the imminent threat to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Legislative shifts are moving the financial burden of SNAP to individual states — a move that all 50 governors are begging Congress to delay.

• The ROI of SNAP: For every $1 invested, the local economy sees a $1.73 return.
• The Human Cost: Cuts to SNAP also endanger "automatic eligibility" for free school meals, putting more children at risk of hunger.

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Chad Bolt explains the economic impact of SNAP funding on "Breaking Through."

Expert Profile: Learn more about Chad Bolt’s work at First Focus on Children.

3. Maternal Health: The Cost of Inaction

Tina Sherman is the national director for maternal justice at MomsRising and a veteran advocate for maternal health policy reform.

Sherman shares a sobering reality: 85% of maternal deaths in the U.S. are preventable. She discusses the Black Maternal Health Momnibus and the need for a "guilt-free" advocacy space for busy parents to engage with their elected officials.

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Tina Sherman discusses maternal justice and preventable mortality on "Breaking Through."

Expert Profile: Read Tina Sherman’s bio here.

4. Trusting Science: A Pediatrician in Congress

U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Wash., is the first pediatrician ever elected to Congress and a leading voice on community health and medical integrity.

Rep. Schrier addresses the surge in medical misinformation — including debunking "RFK Jr. information" regarding vaccines — and the specific threat to rural healthcare as Medicaid faces massive funding cuts.

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U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier highlights the importance of constituent voices on "Breaking Through."

Expert Profile: Read U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier's official bio here.

Common Questions About the Affordability Crisis (FAQ)

Q: Why is SNAP funding being cut in 2026?
A: Recent legislative shifts are moving the financial burden of SNAP from the federal government to individual states. As Chad Bolt explains, most states are not in a fiscal position to absorb these costs, leading to potential eligibility cuts.

Q: What is the ROI of the Child Tax Credit?
A: Research shows that for every $1 invested in children and families through programs like the Child Tax Credit or child care, the return can be between $7 and $20 due to improved health, educational, and economic outcomes.

Q: How do Medicaid cuts affect rural hospitals?
A: Because rural hospitals serve higher percentages of Medicaid and Medicare patients, slashing these programs pushes these facilities toward bankruptcy — leaving rural residents hours away from the nearest emergency room.