On Friday night, CBS Evening News bashed President Trump amid his campaign rally stop in Mobile, Alabama, as longtime White House correspondent Weijia Jiang hit the president on the economy and SNAP program work requirement changes from the Big Beautiful Bill. The report, featuring an Alabama food bank, also hit Trump on gas prices and low numbers in approval polls, a new media favorite, amid the newfound increase in midterm election coverage.
Jiang led her report by pointing out how the rallies are taking place in Republican-led states in a seeming opening jab on Trump not being in swing states: “Tonight President Trump is campaigning in deep-red Mobile, Alabama. His third visit to a Republican-led state in two days.
She continued and cited poll numbers: “But the president's approval rating is at near-record lows, in large part because of his handling of the economy.”
In more midterm coverage on broadcast networks, Friday’s CBS Evening News featured a report from Weijia Jiang that hit President Trump from his Midterm campaign stop in Alabama, as she highlighted low approval numbers and bashed the new SNAP benefits eligibility requirements from… pic.twitter.com/lvkhp5fbUw
— Nick (@nspin310) October 3, 2026
In more of her economic doomcasting, her report on a Trump rally in Alabama then focused on an Alabama food bank. Jiang said there was a “spike of requests” at food banks in Alabama, something she blamed on changes to SNAP from the Big Beautiful Bill that was passed last year:
In Theodore, Alabama, this food bank says it is dealing with a spike in requests for help after Trump's Big Beautiful Bill changed eligibility requirements for food stamp benefits, including expanded age limits for workers and fewer carve-outs for veterans.
In an effort to tie everything together, Jiang turned to gas prices and their impact on transportation of food from food banks.
To her credit, Jiang did mention how Europe and the G7 agreed to release diesel in an attempt to lower prices and block a potential ban on the U.S. exporting diesel from Trump:
With diesel and gas prices soaring, Trump announced Europe will release diesel from its stockpile.
In other details not reported by the other broadcast network, Jiang mentioned the FBI arrest of three University of South Alabama students for threats against the president ahead of his Friday night rally at the school.
Still, CBS and Jiang's Trump-bashing report proved once again they were not “MAGA TV."
Thursday’s Good Morning America on ABC also took issue with new work requirements for SNAP, described as "tighter eligibility rules from the GOP-backed spending bill pushed by President Trump last year."
Robin Roberts worried, “And they so need this - these benefits.” Rebecca… https://t.co/fWsySvsYRm pic.twitter.com/nRNUpdqylO— Nick (@nspin310) October 3, 2026
Earlier this week on Thursday, ABC’s Good Morning America also hit on the changes to SNAP and hit a somber tone on its impacts.
Host Michael Strahan began and said, “nd we’re going to turn now to roughly 37 million Americans facing changes this morning to SNAP, the program that helps people with low income pay for groceries.” He then directly mentioned the changes stemmed from “the rollout of tighter eligibility rules from the GOP-backed spending bill pushed by President Trump last year.”
Rebecca Jarvis followed with more details: “The families hardest hit by inflation because rising costs take up a much larger share of their budget are also most dependent on these SNAP benefits.”
What was forgotten from both reports was that SNAP was supposed to be a temporary program. Last year, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins also claimed SNAP was full of “rampant fraud.”
The transcripts are below. Click "expand":
CBS Evening News
October 2, 2026
6:39:12 PM Eastern
TONY DOKOUPIL: President Trump is back on the campaign trail tonight, hoping to give Republicans a boost ahead of the midterm elections. Here is senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang.
[Cuts to report]
WEIJIA JIANG: Tonight President Trump is campaigning in deep-red Mobile, Alabama. Hs third visit to a Republican-led state in two days.
TRUMP: We are making a lot of progress. When I go there, we win. If I don't go there, we would not do as well.
JIANG: But the president's approval rating is at near record lows, in large part because of his handling of the economy.
In Theodore, Alabama, this food bank says it is dealing with a spike in requests for help after Trump's Big Beautiful Bill changed eligibility requirements for food stamp benefits, including expanded age limits for workers and fewer carve-outs for veterans.
Michael Ledger is the CEO of Feeding the Gulf Coast. He tells us as the need increases, so do costs, as the Iran war drives up diesel prices, which these trucks use to make deliveries six days a week.
MICHAEL LEDGER: So you can imagine the amount of fuel that we are using. Every dollar that goes into that tank extra is not going into food and other supports that we are hoping to provide.
JIANG: With diesel and gas prices soaring, Trump announced Europe will release diesel from its stockpile.
[Cuts back to live]
President Trump is speaking tonight here at the University of South Alabama, where three students were arrested in the last 24 hours, accused of making threats against the president. The FBI traced social media messages, allegedly posted by the suspects, that included language about ending Trump's life. Tony?
(...)
ABC’s Good Morning America
October 1, 2026
8:04:51 AM Eastern
(...)
MICHAEL STRAHAN: And we’re going to turn now to roughly 37 million Americans facing changes this morning to SNAP, the program that helps people with low-income pay for groceries. New benefit amounts taking effect amid the rollout of tighter eligibility rules from the GOP-backed spending bill pushed by President Trump last year. Chief business correspondent Rebecca Jarvis is here to break down what to expect. Good morning, Rebecca.
REBECCA JARVIS: Good morning to you, Michael, and something to keep in mind as you’re looking at these new numbers. The families hardest hit by inflation because rising costs take up a much larger share of their budget are also most dependent on these SNAP benefits. So, here’s what you can expect right now: Eligibility depends largely on household income, disability status, and where you live. But Congress has already imposed stricter work requirements on SNAP recipients, raising the age limit for able-bodied adults without dependents from 54 to 64. Before today, the maximum SNAP benefit for a family of four living in the lower 48 states was $994 a month. But starting today, to help offset some of that inflation, that amount rises to $1,023 a month. That works out to a little less than $3 per meal per day. The other change that goes into effect today? The federal government is shifting the burden of running these programs to states, so individual states will start paying 75 percent of the administrative costs, which is up from 50 percent. That can amount to millions more in costs. And, in anticipation of the sweeping changes, some states are already seeing a big drop in SNAP enrollment. Roughly five million Americans, including more than one million children, have already lost access to SNAP, guys.
ROBIN ROBERTS: And they so need this — these benefits.
JARVIS: Yes, especially with inflation now, Robin.
ROBERTS: Especially. All right. Thank you. Rebecca.
JARVIS: Yes.
(...)
