From Shake Shack to the L.A. Lakers: The Paycheck Protection Loan Controversy, ExplainedBy The Politics DeskThe U.S. created the Paycheck Protection Program to provide billions of dollars in relief to small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. But when the first round of funding quickly dried up, attention turned to the large, publicly traded companies that qualified for the loans, including chains such as Shake Shack and Potbelly. Facing scrutiny, read why some businesses are giving the money back, while others say they have no plan to do so.