Sanders advocates government programs that aid everyone, whereas Warren advocates similar aid only for the poor.

The weakness of the latter is that the rich can organize the middle class to support cutting these programs and attaching onerous conditions — which is exactly what right-wing politicians do.

As for the waste of subsidizing a few rich people along with the many non-rich, it will be a small fraction of the total cost of these programs. A progressive tax on the rich will easily make up for it.