Looking Ahead on Hunger in 2026: Eric Mitchell

I recently listened to an important conversation between Minerva Delgado and Eric Mitchell, president of the Alliance to End Hunger, on the Alliance’s January podcast. It is well worth your time.

Eric offers a clear-eyed look at where we are right now. Globally, famine and near-famine conditions are becoming business as usual. Here in the United States, the “big, beautiful bill” made changes in health benefits and SNAP that will increase poverty and hunger over time.

Eric notes how alarming last fall’s administrative disruptions to SNAP were for families and communities who depend on these benefits. The Alliance plans to track the impact of the “big, beautiful bill” in 2026 and 2027, helping voters remember why SNAP benefits are declining. 

I’m grateful for the Alliance’s steady leadership and for Eric’s honest assessment of the moment we are in. 

You can listen to the full podcast below. And if you missed it, I was featured on the December episode, reflecting on the tumultuous year of 2025.