Marcia Brown
@marciabrown.bsky.social
Journalist covering food and agriculture at POLITICO. DC based, Ohio raised. Read my newsletter: https://substack.com/@marciagbrown?r=2i5en&utm_medium=ios
Contact me: marciabrown@politico dot com
Signal: marciagbrown.68
Protonmail: mgb19 at proton dot me
Contact me: marciabrown@politico dot com
Signal: marciagbrown.68
Protonmail: mgb19 at proton dot me
Massachusetts governor says she'll fully fund SNAP benefits in November.
November 7, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Massachusetts governor says she'll fully fund SNAP benefits in November.
UPDATE -->
White House spox clarifies that the administration will still send SNAP benefits despite Trump's Post.
White House spox clarifies that the administration will still send SNAP benefits despite Trump's Post.
November 4, 2025 at 8:19 PM
UPDATE -->
White House spox clarifies that the administration will still send SNAP benefits despite Trump's Post.
White House spox clarifies that the administration will still send SNAP benefits despite Trump's Post.
Spent some time reporting this morning at a food distribution site in Virginia for furloughed federal workers.
One DOD employees said it was her first time using a food bank.
“I usually donate. The roles are reversed,” she said.
One DOD employees said it was her first time using a food bank.
“I usually donate. The roles are reversed,” she said.
October 31, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Spent some time reporting this morning at a food distribution site in Virginia for furloughed federal workers.
One DOD employees said it was her first time using a food bank.
“I usually donate. The roles are reversed,” she said.
One DOD employees said it was her first time using a food bank.
“I usually donate. The roles are reversed,” she said.
Outside the USDA building in Washington, DC, furloughed federal workers, activists and lawmakers are holding a rally and food drive to press USDA to keep SNAP afloat during the government shutdown.
October 30, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Outside the USDA building in Washington, DC, furloughed federal workers, activists and lawmakers are holding a rally and food drive to press USDA to keep SNAP afloat during the government shutdown.
INBOX: The National Association of Social Workers sent a petition to President Trump and Congress urging them to fund SNAP, the nation's largest anti-hunger program, before it goes dark Nov. 1.
October 30, 2025 at 4:04 PM
INBOX: The National Association of Social Workers sent a petition to President Trump and Congress urging them to fund SNAP, the nation's largest anti-hunger program, before it goes dark Nov. 1.
The National Grocers Association is now calling on Congress to end the shutdown and fund SNAP and WIC before the funding cliff on Saturday.
The group warns that if the program goes dark, it “could lead to reduced employee hours, perishable food losses, and declining sales.
The group warns that if the program goes dark, it “could lead to reduced employee hours, perishable food losses, and declining sales.
October 29, 2025 at 8:05 PM
The National Grocers Association is now calling on Congress to end the shutdown and fund SNAP and WIC before the funding cliff on Saturday.
The group warns that if the program goes dark, it “could lead to reduced employee hours, perishable food losses, and declining sales.
The group warns that if the program goes dark, it “could lead to reduced employee hours, perishable food losses, and declining sales.
Taking some time off! Be back next week when the government is probably still shut down.
October 21, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Taking some time off! Be back next week when the government is probably still shut down.
Public Citizen files a Hatch Act complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel alleging violations by USDA and other federal agencies.
www.citizen.org/news/seven-m...
Here's what's currently on USDA's website.
www.citizen.org/news/seven-m...
Here's what's currently on USDA's website.
October 2, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Public Citizen files a Hatch Act complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel alleging violations by USDA and other federal agencies.
www.citizen.org/news/seven-m...
Here's what's currently on USDA's website.
www.citizen.org/news/seven-m...
Here's what's currently on USDA's website.
Gone to NC for the weekend!
August 9, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Gone to NC for the weekend!
Last week, we reported that USDA was ending the Regional Food Business Centers. Here's what it was like when Nixon got the news.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
July 22, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Last week, we reported that USDA was ending the Regional Food Business Centers. Here's what it was like when Nixon got the news.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
And here’s Shapiro on Fetterman’s beach vacation comments:
July 1, 2025 at 12:01 AM
And here’s Shapiro on Fetterman’s beach vacation comments:
Caught up with him on a dairy farm in Carlisle, PA.
He also hooped and ate some ice cream.
He also hooped and ate some ice cream.
June 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Caught up with him on a dairy farm in Carlisle, PA.
He also hooped and ate some ice cream.
He also hooped and ate some ice cream.
Vegetable and legume consumption fell to its lowest level in 35 years in 2024, according to USDA's Economic Research Service.
(Availability is a proxy for domestic consumption.)
ers.usda.gov/data-product...
(Availability is a proxy for domestic consumption.)
ers.usda.gov/data-product...
June 26, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Vegetable and legume consumption fell to its lowest level in 35 years in 2024, according to USDA's Economic Research Service.
(Availability is a proxy for domestic consumption.)
ers.usda.gov/data-product...
(Availability is a proxy for domestic consumption.)
ers.usda.gov/data-product...
Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) urged the Trump administration to drop a proposal to move key rural development programs at USDA to the Small Business Administration.
We first reported the admin was considering the proposal. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
We first reported the admin was considering the proposal. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
June 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) urged the Trump administration to drop a proposal to move key rural development programs at USDA to the Small Business Administration.
We first reported the admin was considering the proposal. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
We first reported the admin was considering the proposal. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Scoop from me in today's Weekly Agriculture:
USDA is weighing moving major capital programs within its Rural Development arm to the Small Business Administration. USDA spokesperson called the briefing memo POLITICO reviewed "pre-decisional."
Link here: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
USDA is weighing moving major capital programs within its Rural Development arm to the Small Business Administration. USDA spokesperson called the briefing memo POLITICO reviewed "pre-decisional."
Link here: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
June 23, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Scoop from me in today's Weekly Agriculture:
USDA is weighing moving major capital programs within its Rural Development arm to the Small Business Administration. USDA spokesperson called the briefing memo POLITICO reviewed "pre-decisional."
Link here: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
USDA is weighing moving major capital programs within its Rural Development arm to the Small Business Administration. USDA spokesperson called the briefing memo POLITICO reviewed "pre-decisional."
Link here: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
The MAHA report praised this federal nutrition program. Trump wants to cut it.
My latest story in yesterday's West Wing Playbook:
@politico.com
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
My latest story in yesterday's West Wing Playbook:
@politico.com
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
June 18, 2025 at 4:16 PM
The MAHA report praised this federal nutrition program. Trump wants to cut it.
My latest story in yesterday's West Wing Playbook:
@politico.com
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
My latest story in yesterday's West Wing Playbook:
@politico.com
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Caught up with @mikegrunwald.bsky.social about his forthcoming book, We Are Eating the Earth.
Full interview behind the paywall: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Excerpt in Weekly Ag: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Full interview behind the paywall: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Excerpt in Weekly Ag: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
June 16, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Caught up with @mikegrunwald.bsky.social about his forthcoming book, We Are Eating the Earth.
Full interview behind the paywall: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Excerpt in Weekly Ag: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Full interview behind the paywall: subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Excerpt in Weekly Ag: www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Timeline cleanser with our very handsome doggo.
June 13, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Timeline cleanser with our very handsome doggo.
Yesterday, Ben Johansen and I reported that USDA was planning to cancel international food aid grants in the McGovern-Dole program.
Today, we learned that those cancellation notices have gone out, per source.
Read in front of the paywall in West Wing Playbook
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Today, we learned that those cancellation notices have gone out, per source.
Read in front of the paywall in West Wing Playbook
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
May 21, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Yesterday, Ben Johansen and I reported that USDA was planning to cancel international food aid grants in the McGovern-Dole program.
Today, we learned that those cancellation notices have gone out, per source.
Read in front of the paywall in West Wing Playbook
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Today, we learned that those cancellation notices have gone out, per source.
Read in front of the paywall in West Wing Playbook
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
The Trump administration has installed new banners at the Agriculture Department.
It's the only federal department office building on the National Mall.
It's the only federal department office building on the National Mall.
May 14, 2025 at 5:21 PM
The Trump administration has installed new banners at the Agriculture Department.
It's the only federal department office building on the National Mall.
It's the only federal department office building on the National Mall.
This is why I still love print magazines: pancake spread in New York Mag!
May 10, 2025 at 1:31 PM
This is why I still love print magazines: pancake spread in New York Mag!
Bayer, which makes the pesticide glyphosate, has an interactive exhibit in Washington, DC’s Union Station advertising the chemical’s benefits and warning that, without it, food prices will go up more.
Bayer is facing thousands of lawsuits from plaintiffs who say glyphosate caused their cancer.
Bayer is facing thousands of lawsuits from plaintiffs who say glyphosate caused their cancer.
May 7, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Bayer, which makes the pesticide glyphosate, has an interactive exhibit in Washington, DC’s Union Station advertising the chemical’s benefits and warning that, without it, food prices will go up more.
Bayer is facing thousands of lawsuits from plaintiffs who say glyphosate caused their cancer.
Bayer is facing thousands of lawsuits from plaintiffs who say glyphosate caused their cancer.
April 25, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Statement from Sandra Eskin, one of the lead Biden officials who worked on the regulation:
April 24, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Statement from Sandra Eskin, one of the lead Biden officials who worked on the regulation:
April 23, 2025 at 8:11 PM