The latest from my son on how this week has been for him as a SNAP recipient. Thanks @governorwalz.mn.gov for the November SNAP benefits that my son just received yesterday and thanks @smith.senate.gov & @amyklobuchar.com for fighting for affordable healthcare, SNAP, and ending this chaos! @dfl.org

What could the loss of ACA enhanced premium tax credits mean for different households? And how much more could people pay if the tax credits expire? Our analysis explores the potential financial impact for both middle- and low-income households: https://on.kff.org/4nzRd5X

This happened! I spoke at Rep. McCollum's Listening Session about the impacts to Medicaid & our healthcare yesterday. Thanks @mccollum.house.gov for inviting me to share my story. Here's my testimony and the recording - justinsmithwrites.com/2025/09/25/t... #Medicaid #Disability #Healthcare

Ever so proud of my son, @justinsmithwrites.bsky.social for sharing his experience at @mccollum.house.gov healthcare & Medicaid listening session. If you have a chance, listen to the entire recording - very powerful! The recording & Justin's testimony is in his blogpost.

I recently convened a panel of Minnesota's top healthcare experts to discuss how Trump's Big Ugly Law is harming Minnesotans' care and leading to hospital closures. In DC, I'll continue to oppose all Republican efforts to take away food, healthcare, and basic government services.

Thing I think about a lot How long does it take people to realize they’re on the wrong side of history?

You know what I love about @mprnews.org? Hearing my favorite retired history Professor Peter Rachleff from @macalestercollege.bsky.social in this story about the 1934 Teamster's strike in Minneapolis! Time to increase my sustaining membership! @cathywurzer.bsky.social www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

“The need for care does not go away when funding gets decreased or disappears. It just means that those of us with disabilities and our families will struggle more than we already do.” says @justinsmithwrites.bsky.social www.startribune.com/minnesotans-... #Disability #DisabilityRights #Medicaid

Justin Smith is a 26-year-old Roseville resident who has cerebral palsy, and he relies on Medicaid and SNAP to live independently. President Trump’s Big Ugly Bill would rip away his health care and food assistance to give tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires.

Thanks @mccollum.house.gov for your unwavering support for #Medicaid and #SNAP. My son @justinsmithwrites.bsky.social has worked so hard to build his independent life and needs these services to make it work. #Disability

"decision-makers have no idea how much money a custom software project should cost" 18F saved the government millions. Random DOGE techbros won't be able to do the same without deep experience. By @bluesky.sboots.ca

Math is hard... but Google is free.

When I looked away from the stunning sunrise... Loving Devil Track Lake near Grand Marais!

"The changes are sweeping and likely to impact a substantial number of Minnesotans. Currently, 1.2 million people here access health care thanks to #Medicaid... also pays for many elderly people’s long-term care and #disability services." @jburcum.bsky.social www.startribune.com/burcum-big-b...

This is what we’ve been saying. Without a federal department of education enforcing these laws, they will go unheeded. IDEA only matters if the feds make it matter.

We can read - we’re not "claiming" millions will lose health insurance. It’s in the damn bill. Thanks for the free air time anyways, Fox News.

Spent some moments with this little killdeer near White Bear Lake on my early morning bike ride. Love springtime in MN! #birds

This

Thanks @bobbidempsey.bsky.social for sharing my son's story. “Between threatened cuts to services at both the federal & state levels, to put it bluntly, as a person with cerebral palsy, I’m beyond frightened,” says @justinsmithwrites.bsky.social. #Medicaid #SSI #SNAP changewire.org/100-day-chec...

Here's my great-great G'pa's Alien Enemy Registration Card from 1918 found tucked away in my great-great G'ma's German Bible a century later. He immigrated to the US in 1905, started a family business in 1912 that lasted almost a century. Can't believe the Alien Enemies Act is being used today!

This 👇

From conservative David Brooks: “Right now, Trumpism is dividing civil society; if done right, the civic uprising can begin to divide the forces of Trumpism.” tinyurl.com/5n6jhwtj

I'm one of those lucky 1/4 of eligible who has a housing voucher to help pay rent for my wheelchair accessible apartment. Without it, I will be forced to move. @smith.senate.gov my life as I know it will fall apart if I don't have a housing voucher, SSI, Medicaid, and SNAP.

Absolutely a cruel move @smith.senate.gov. If my son loses his voucher, he won't be able to afford his accessible apartment and will indeed be facing a very cruel move. Here's what he wrote when he finally got that housing voucher: justinsmithwrites.com/2022/12/03/r...

@governorwalz.mn.gov & MN House are balancing budget on backs of people with disabilities "Reducing funding for human services will not only harm those who rely on these essential services but could also lead to increased costs in the future." www.startribune.com/at-whose-exp...

I have a disability and don't play video games all day... I depend on Medicaid to help me live in my community. I fell off Medicaid for 3 weeks this year because my county was behind in renewals. Who's going to be managing and overseeing all these new work requirements? #HandsOff #ProtectMedicaid

Axios: In less than a week, many Americans will no longer be able to apply for Social Security on the phone, setting the stage for disruptions & upheaval for millions of seniors. The abrupt change increases the likelihood that eligible people will miss out on benefits www.axios.com/2025/04/08/s...

Guess where I was yesterday? Hanging out with about 25,000 energetic Minnesotans at our state capitol in St. Paul! @indivistwincities.bsky.social #HandsOff @50501movement.bsky.social @amyklobuchar.com @mccollum.house.gov @mn50501.bsky.social justinsmithwrites.com/2025/04/06/h...

Making our voices heard at #HandsOff at the MN State Capitol with my son @justinsmithwrites.bsky.social

Have questions about ADA accessibility needs for today? Find answers to ADA parking, drop off location and seating here: indivisibletwincities.org/hands-off-ra...

Bringing on the courage! My family will be out on Saturday making our voices heard!

I'm right there with you @justinsmithwrites.bsky.social!

I know where I'm going to be on Saturday! Making my voice heard! Thanks @indivistwincities.bsky.social for providing the ADA accessibility information on indivisibletwincities.org/hands-off-ra...!

April 1, 2025

The #1 topic for calls to my office today? Cory Booker’s floor speech. So yeah… I’d say people are listening to him.

"This is a moral moment in America. What are we going to do?" Thank you for trying to protect all that we hold dear in this country and standing up for all of us! @booker.senate.gov

Thank you for giving me hope and courage @booker.senate.gov! It's easy to feel alone when facing the fear that comes with holding your son's hand in the hospital and not knowing the future of Medicaid on which he depends for healthcare and disability services. #ProtectMedicaid #CoryBooker

'Enough is enough" - Thank you @booker.senate.gov!

Thanks Senator Corey Booker for advocating for people with disabilities receiving SSI and showing the urgency for protecting Medicaid and Social Security. My disabled son depends on SSI, Medicaid, SNAP, and a housing voucher to live in his community. We are beyond frightened...

Just as we warned, breakdowns at Social Security are happening already—reported in a brand new must-read from the Post. (gift link) wapo.st/4hM5MAn

Found some fraud and abuse… www.nytimes.com/2025/03/23/u...

I accidentally looked at my July 2024 article titled #Project2025 and the Threat to #Disabled People" www.lflegal.com/2024/07/proj... They revealed the blueprint; it's supporters won, and now it's happening in real time. Even though I wrote this damn article, it's so much worse than I envisioned.

Watched this with my 86 and 87-yr old parents last night. Social security is their only income. They'd miss the check and would complain. Pretty sure they're not fraudsters, just regular people who worked hard their whole lives.

We have spent a lot of time @ Gillette Children's over the years. #MedicaidMatters

New Urban Institute estimates of mandatory #Medicaid work requirements. At least 4.6-5.2 milion people would lose Medicaid coverage but would be significantly higher if work requirements apply beyond Medicaid expansion, some exemptions aren't automatically provided: www.urban.org/research/pub...

A memo has just leaked revealing that the Trump administration is planning to sabotage the Social Security Administration. Their plan would gut the agency’s claims process, potentially preventing millions of Americans from getting their earned benefits. Per @juddlegum.bsky.social:

"The most obvious attack on that government is the attempt to undermine Social Security, a system by which Congress in 1935 pulled Americans together to support the nation’s most vulnerable." @hcrichardson.bsky.social

Love my son & his latest blog: "Because of IDEA, I was able to be included with my peers in my local school and received a free, appropriate education. This was my right! Before IDEA, I may not have been able to go to school or would have been warehoused." @justinsmithwrites.bsky.social

"Because of IDEA, I was able to be included with my peers in my local school and received a free, appropriate education. This was my right!" You're right @justinsmithwrites.bsky.social - the Dept of Ed cuts are a terrible idea!

Here's what IDEA meant for me! Glad I live in #Minnesota, @governorwalz.mn.gov! justinsmithwrites.com/2025/03/16/t...