Inflation Is the GOP’s Problem Now. Will Voters Look Past It?

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

Exchanges on the M&A and IPO landscape. Exchanges on the dynamics affecting global trade. For the sharpest analysis on finance, business, and the economy, count on exchanges, the Goldman Sachs podcast. Listen now.

Coby Byram (0:16)

Keep bringing them, keep bringing them, we got it.

SPEAKER_1 (0:18)

We got an extra person.

Sabrina Siddiqui (0:19)

The volunteers here at Betty Lou's Pantry in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley are getting ready for the next day's food drive.

Chris Page (0:27)

Oh, did you get the rest of the side dishes, Chuck? Did you count these?

Sabrina Siddiqui (0:30)

They're moving empty banana boxes that will soon be filled with donated food driven in from around the area. The president of the nonprofit that runs Betty Lou's, Chris Page, says he's seen more need from visitors in recent years, as grocery prices have gone up and after the Trump administration made cuts to SNAP, or food stamps, as part of last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Chris Page (0:54)

I could tell from, in many cases, just the panic on their face. You know, I mean, I remember talking to a few that literally were in tears, I mean, you know, over what was happening.

Sabrina Siddiqui (1:04)

Page told me the pantry in Coopersburg recently decided to double the grocery store gift cards they give people every month up to a $50 value, specifically because of higher prices.

Chris Page (1:17)

You'd be real surprised with the type of people, their personal situations, and the challenges, especially today, you know, with the cost of everything, you know, with gas and food. And it is a real challenge.

Sabrina Siddiqui (1:33)

Post-pandemic inflation hasn't let up when it comes to groceries, while an open-ended war in Iran continues to drive up the cost of gas. I wanted to find out how those higher prices are factoring into voters' concerns in this year's midterm elections, including the race for a competitive seat here in Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district.

I'm Sabrina Siddiqui, and this is What's News Sunday. Today and over the next several weeks, we'll be hitting the road to report on the cost of everything from manufacturing to food to housing, and to see what the rising cost of living could mean for who will control Congress next year. In this episode, I talk to everyday voters as well as some of the candidates in a Democratic primary coming up this Tuesday. Then, I'll talk to Republican Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, who will be defending his seat against that primary's winner this November. This is The Cost-of-Living Election Part 2

Heather Byram (2:36)

Thanks for coming to visit us.

Sabrina Siddiqui (2:38)

Of course, of course. One family that benefits greatly from Betty Lou's Pantry is Heather and Kobe Byram.

Heather Byram (2:44)

This is our food pantry world. We got a bunch of different foods that we're gracious for.

Sabrina Siddiqui (2:51)

We're standing at their home pantry in nearby Hellertown. Heather tells us all the shelf-stable goods here came from Betty Lou's.

Heather Byram (2:59)

This is our food bank. This is our saving grace. We got the rice and the potatoes, and we got all the cereals up top and some of the sweet treats as cakes.

Sabrina Siddiqui (3:10)

The Byrams get most of their fresh food from the grocery store, but they've turned to food banks too because they find it harder and harder to afford groceries to say nothing of a meal out.

Heather Byram (3:20)

Some people like to go out to eat all the time. We definitely can't afford that.

So my option is to set out a nice table, put a candle out, make it look like a restaurant type thing, and serve food that way. Because that's all we have as the little person.

Sabrina Siddiqui (3:38)

The Byrams are Trump supporters. They don't blame the president for their financial struggles. Do you feel like prices have gotten better, worse, or stayed the same since President Trump took office?

Heather Byram (3:49)

Well, they were going up even before him. And then when he got to office, he said also it was going to hurt before it gets better.

So, I know that whatever he's doing, yeah, it is hurting us a little bit, but it was hurting us long before he was president, and it kept going up.

Sabrina Siddiqui (4:07)

Heather's husband, Coby, works for a company that fixes buildings that have been damaged by fires or storms. He also supported Trump, but he's a little more critical of the administration.

Coby Byram (4:18)

I believe that both sides have their evil doings, because, you know, as the rich get rich or the poor get poor.

It's just basically the way it is. And then in my views about Trump, it's 50-50. You know, I could say that he has done a lot for our country, and he hasn't done enough for our country.