Copyright newsweek
Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cast member Bronwyn Newport received criticism online for posting about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits lapsing and then right away sharing how much she was going to decorate her house for Christmas. The Context SNAP funding has lapsed amid the ongoing government shutdown, with the Trump administration being in a court battle over how much payments should be during the shutdown. The Trump administration agreed to partially fund payments, but a judge ruled the administration needs to fully fund payments for November. The emergency fund for SNAP benefits isn’t enough to fully cover the cost of the program for November and the Trump administration has warned in legal filings that fully funding the program could put school lunch programs at risk. Approximately one in eight Americans, or about 42 million people, rely on SNAP. What To Know On Wednesday, Newport posted a video on her Instagram story about the lapse in funding for SNAP benefits and the impact it could have on people who rely on the money for buying groceries. She previously criticized the Trump administration for blaming the lapse in funding on Democrats wanting funding for “gender mutilation procedures” in exchange for reopening the government. Shortly after posting about the SNAP benefits, Newport posted an Instagram story about how she was going to go over-the-top for Christmas this year because she wasn’t home last year. She posted about how she was doing multiple Christmas trees around her house, and getting ready for the holidays early this year. The post sparked criticism, according to Newport, who reflected on some of the backlash she received in a post on her Instagram story on Thursday morning. She said she received a direct message from someone who said she shouldn’t be talking about SNAP benefits and then Christmas decor. The person explained her privilege and “how out of touch I sounded,” Newport wrote. At first, Newport said she wanted to be able to just share whatever she wanted. But she said that “sitting down with things” and considering what’s being said is better. “Sometimes criticism hurts because it’s true,” she wrote. While Newport plans to continue sharing her political opinions and what she’s doing to make her family happy, such as putting up Christmas decor early, she said she realized she can do more for other people. So, she asked organizations, hospitals, schools or anyone else that needs Christmas decors or items off an Amazon wish list to send her a direct message. She’s planning to pick 10 or 20 to work with. “I haven’t been spreading as much joy, certainly not as much as I used to,” Newport wrote on the post. Newsweek reached out to Newport to ask about how she’s picking the organizations to work with but did not receive a response in time for publication. Bronwyn Newport visits the IMDb Portrait Studio at Acura House of Energy on location at Sundance 2025 on January 26 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images for IMDb) What People Are Saying The Trump administration in a Friday court filing: “Instead, a single district judge has devised his own solution: ordering USDA to cover the SNAP shortfall by transferring billions of dollars that were appropriated for different, equally critical food-security programs—and to do so within just one business day (i.e., by today). This unprecedented injunction makes a mockery of the separation of powers. Courts hold neither the power to appropriate nor the power to spend.” Colleen Heflin, a professor of public administration and international affairs at Syracuse University, previously told Newsweek: “Increasing food bank funds will help many households served by SNAP, but some important groups are likely to be left out. Older adults and those with disabilities, groups that may have transportation and mobility barriers as well as hearing, sight, and cognitive impairment, can find it difficult to get to food distribution centers within tight time constraints. “In addition, to distribute more food quickly, many food banks will provide prepackaged boxes of food that may contain foods that older adults and those with health issues may not be able to eat because of concerns regarding sodium, sugar, carbohydrates, gluten, or other nutritional concerns. And some groups, such as veterans, often assume that other people that need the food more than they do and often do not seek out the assistance that is available.” What Happens Next? With the holidays approaching, Newport is likely to pick the organizations rather quickly and said she will also continue volunteering and speaking out because she chooses to use her platform to share...
