Possible Clues:

• Shredded Southern barbecue dish that's depicted in this puzzle's circles
• BBQ meat taken off the menu?
• Shredded barbecued meat
• Slow-cooked sandwich meat
• MAIN COURSE
• Barbecue menu item, or what's going on with the theme answers
• Trendy grub was first to be garnished with mash (or kale, initially)
• Messy sandwich filler ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled letters
• Reneged on politically motivated funding?
• Barbecue serving