Mocked, Josh Hawley’s plan for 1-hour fast and prayer session draws food aid criticism

Hawley’s proposed Capitol session

Hawley’s plan for a one-hour fasting and prayer session drew mockery after Republican colleagues suffered defeats in the midterm elections. One critic, Tommy Vietor, a former Barack Obama staffer, responded sarcastically, “A whole hour?” Christopher Hale, a Catholic who has worked in Democratic politics, contrasted the proposed session with the 40 days and nights that Christians believe Jesus fasted in the desert. Hale wrote that Hawley and MAGA would give the nation only an hour.

Criticism over food assistance cuts

Representative Gwen Moore, a Wisconsin Democrat, criticized Hawley’s support for cutting food assistance. She wrote on X that he had voted to make children and older people fast involuntarily, then suggested the hour-long session might help him understand the hardship faced by Americans.

Hawley supported President Donald Trump’s spending bill, signed in July 2025, which cut taxes and reduced benefits for people receiving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The article says more than five million Americans lost SNAP benefits over the past year after the bill imposed restrictions.

Election losses and party response

Democrats won enough seats to take control of the House and Senate, in results described as a “blue tsunami.” The losses have prompted Republican leaders, including Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, to shift blame toward other Republicans or voters. The article says Republicans, and Trump, have discussed the Iran war and rising gas prices as factors that hurt the party in the midterms, but the party has mainly resorted to finger-pointing. Trump has signaled openness to working with Democrats on some issues, while saying he would veto legislation he dislikes.