Mandi Spishak-Thomas
@aspishakthomas.com
Research professor @ Rutgers studying Medicaid. Social worker and health policy wonk. Union organizer (AAUP-AFT) and member of Brooklyn CB6. Baseball #LFGM and WNBA🗽enthusiast. Free 🇵🇸. ACAB. Still 😷. she/her.
aspishakthomas.com
aspishakthomas.com
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Mandi Spishak-Thomas
@aspishakthomas.com
· Sep 15
Longstanding evidence shows that insuring children, regardless of immigration status, improves access to preventive care, reduces uncompensated care costs, and enhances long-term health outcomes.
Covering Uninsured Children: State Solutions for Immigrant Children | Milbank Memorial Fund
As of 2023, nearly 3 million children in the United States remained uninsured, largely due to immigration-related exclusions in public insurance programs like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insura...
www.milbank.org
New blog out today for @milbankfund.bsky.social where we reflect on state-funded solutions to insurance coverage for children, regardless of immigration status. To date, 15 states have a policy covering immigrant children and 7 have gone a step further to include undocumented adults or older adults.
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
Say it with us 🗣️: What's disgusting? Union busting!
We're FOURTEEN DAYS into our national ULP strike. Thousands of workers in over 65 cities are out on strike, and this is just the beginning. #nocontractnocoffee
We're FOURTEEN DAYS into our national ULP strike. Thousands of workers in over 65 cities are out on strike, and this is just the beginning. #nocontractnocoffee
November 26, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Say it with us 🗣️: What's disgusting? Union busting!
We're FOURTEEN DAYS into our national ULP strike. Thousands of workers in over 65 cities are out on strike, and this is just the beginning. #nocontractnocoffee
We're FOURTEEN DAYS into our national ULP strike. Thousands of workers in over 65 cities are out on strike, and this is just the beginning. #nocontractnocoffee
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
Hannah's work shows that, when the minimum wage increases, schedule unpredictability goes up too. Perhaps not surprising (but very hard to show)--as the wage goes up, workers pay in other ways. She is on the market and has a number of very cool and important papers!
hannahfarkas.github.io
hannahfarkas.github.io
Excited to see my JMP cited in the Economist—it highlights the tradeoffs workers could face with a higher minimum wage and suggests more worker protections like Fair Workweek laws could be important alongside minimum wage increases
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
November 25, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Hannah's work shows that, when the minimum wage increases, schedule unpredictability goes up too. Perhaps not surprising (but very hard to show)--as the wage goes up, workers pay in other ways. She is on the market and has a number of very cool and important papers!
hannahfarkas.github.io
hannahfarkas.github.io
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
The #TransitDog of the day is Muppet, who loves the new Court Street protected bike lane.💜
Not only do boulders ensure pedestrian islands remain for pedestrians (not cars), but they also provide a much needed place to sit.
In a world where benches and public seating are basically nonexistent, the boulders offer a welcome reprieve for dogs and humans alike!
In a world where benches and public seating are basically nonexistent, the boulders offer a welcome reprieve for dogs and humans alike!
November 25, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The #TransitDog of the day is Muppet, who loves the new Court Street protected bike lane.💜
Muppet is loving the new Court Street protected bike lane, be like Muppet!
Not only do boulders ensure pedestrian islands remain for pedestrians (not cars), but they also provide a much needed place to sit.
In a world where benches and public seating are basically nonexistent, the boulders offer a welcome reprieve for dogs and humans alike!
In a world where benches and public seating are basically nonexistent, the boulders offer a welcome reprieve for dogs and humans alike!
November 25, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Muppet is loving the new Court Street protected bike lane, be like Muppet!
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
Gender-affirming care saves lives
1. A landmark study was just published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
Study In The Journal Of Pediatrics Finds Trans Youth Care Lowers Suicidality, Few Detransition
The groundbreaking study found that suicidality dropped for transgender youth receiving hormone therapy by nearly 70%, with only 7 patients of 432 discontinuing treatment.
www.erininthemorning.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Gender-affirming care saves lives
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
I like cursing and research suggests that people who curse are highly intelligent. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
November 24, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I like cursing and research suggests that people who curse are highly intelligent. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
Condé Nast illegally fired @goodbyealma.bsky.social from Bon Appétit for asking questions to a human resources manager. She explains what happened and why we can't let Condé get away with retaliating against union employees.
https://bit.ly/4o2TFSp
https://bit.ly/4o2TFSp
If Condé Nast Can Illegally Fire Me, No Union Worker Is Safe
The Trump administration is making employers think they can ignore their legal obligations and trample on the rights of workers.
bit.ly
November 20, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Condé Nast illegally fired @goodbyealma.bsky.social from Bon Appétit for asking questions to a human resources manager. She explains what happened and why we can't let Condé get away with retaliating against union employees.
https://bit.ly/4o2TFSp
https://bit.ly/4o2TFSp
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
Yesterday, striking baristas took action at Starbucks’ biggest distribution center that serves the entire east coast.
Today, union stores in 25+ MORE cities are joining our national, open-ended ULP strike!
Our union isn’t slowing down… in fact, we’re just getting started. #NoContractNoCoffee $SBUX
Today, union stores in 25+ MORE cities are joining our national, open-ended ULP strike!
Our union isn’t slowing down… in fact, we’re just getting started. #NoContractNoCoffee $SBUX
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Yesterday, striking baristas took action at Starbucks’ biggest distribution center that serves the entire east coast.
Today, union stores in 25+ MORE cities are joining our national, open-ended ULP strike!
Our union isn’t slowing down… in fact, we’re just getting started. #NoContractNoCoffee $SBUX
Today, union stores in 25+ MORE cities are joining our national, open-ended ULP strike!
Our union isn’t slowing down… in fact, we’re just getting started. #NoContractNoCoffee $SBUX
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
When people complain about the new bike lane and say, “we support a bike lane just not this way” (which we hear a lot on CB6), this is why it needs to be protected and not just a lane in traffic. The second a bike lane is not protected it becomes a secondary place for cars to park, as pictured here.
November 17, 2025 at 3:13 PM
When people complain about the new bike lane and say, “we support a bike lane just not this way” (which we hear a lot on CB6), this is why it needs to be protected and not just a lane in traffic. The second a bike lane is not protected it becomes a secondary place for cars to park, as pictured here.
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
The big day has finally arrived, thanks to the new protected Court Street bike lane there are beautiful new crosswalks at Court & Douglass St! It’s a great day to be a pedestrian looking to safely cross Court Street 😎
(New curb cuts hopefully coming soon, DOT?????)
(New curb cuts hopefully coming soon, DOT?????)
November 17, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The big day has finally arrived, thanks to the new protected Court Street bike lane there are beautiful new crosswalks at Court & Douglass St! It’s a great day to be a pedestrian looking to safely cross Court Street 😎
(New curb cuts hopefully coming soon, DOT?????)
(New curb cuts hopefully coming soon, DOT?????)
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
Every major US city is run by the cops. The fact that the public is fine with this is the only issue.
November 16, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Every major US city is run by the cops. The fact that the public is fine with this is the only issue.
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
Glad I got to become disabled in a world that already had Alice Wong @sfdirewolf.bsky.social in it. I learned so much from her incredible writing & activism. May her memory be a blessing, & may we all continue her work.
Easiest way to do it? WEAR A MASK. Protect yourself & the vulnerable around you.
Easiest way to do it? WEAR A MASK. Protect yourself & the vulnerable around you.
November 15, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Glad I got to become disabled in a world that already had Alice Wong @sfdirewolf.bsky.social in it. I learned so much from her incredible writing & activism. May her memory be a blessing, & may we all continue her work.
Easiest way to do it? WEAR A MASK. Protect yourself & the vulnerable around you.
Easiest way to do it? WEAR A MASK. Protect yourself & the vulnerable around you.
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
November 15, 2025 at 6:15 AM
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
Private equity firm Sycamore Partners bought Walgreens.
Now Walgreens has stopped giving most workers paid vacation on Thanksgiving, Christmas and other major holidays.
Private equity takeovers are a disaster for workers, and customers.
Now Walgreens has stopped giving most workers paid vacation on Thanksgiving, Christmas and other major holidays.
Private equity takeovers are a disaster for workers, and customers.
November 14, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Private equity firm Sycamore Partners bought Walgreens.
Now Walgreens has stopped giving most workers paid vacation on Thanksgiving, Christmas and other major holidays.
Private equity takeovers are a disaster for workers, and customers.
Now Walgreens has stopped giving most workers paid vacation on Thanksgiving, Christmas and other major holidays.
Private equity takeovers are a disaster for workers, and customers.
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
Ventured further down Court Street this morning close to Hamilton, arguably the most important part of the new bike lane given BQE traffic and the general car chaos that area is known for.
Here we already see missing and broken flex posts further underscoring why harder barriers are better.
Here we already see missing and broken flex posts further underscoring why harder barriers are better.
November 14, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Ventured further down Court Street this morning close to Hamilton, arguably the most important part of the new bike lane given BQE traffic and the general car chaos that area is known for.
Here we already see missing and broken flex posts further underscoring why harder barriers are better.
Here we already see missing and broken flex posts further underscoring why harder barriers are better.
Just last night I was almost hit on a walk with my dog when a driver came flying up a small residential street, blowing past a stop sign to turn left. Solidarity to all of the peds and cyclists out here fighting for our lives 🙏
so uhhhhh is anyone going to do anything about the epidemic of drivers just blasting through red lights these days? @timdonnelly.com investigates: nygroove.nyc/why-does-no-...
Society broke down and all, but you really still need to stop at red lights
I can't believe we need to explain this one, but it seems that we really do
nygroove.nyc
November 13, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Just last night I was almost hit on a walk with my dog when a driver came flying up a small residential street, blowing past a stop sign to turn left. Solidarity to all of the peds and cyclists out here fighting for our lives 🙏
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
today’s information came out piecemeal, and people should be able to share their own situations on their own time, but I could share this much ^ as it is pretty cut and dry on the facts.
Teen Vogue also no longer has any trans staffers as of today.
Teen Vogue also no longer has any trans staffers as of today.
November 3, 2025 at 11:28 PM
today’s information came out piecemeal, and people should be able to share their own situations on their own time, but I could share this much ^ as it is pretty cut and dry on the facts.
Teen Vogue also no longer has any trans staffers as of today.
Teen Vogue also no longer has any trans staffers as of today.
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
Monumental update on Court Street. DOT has begun to put boulders in the pedestrian islands !! Restricting the ability for cars/trucks to bowl the flex posts over AND giving pedestrians a place to sit and relax (shown here).
November 12, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Monumental update on Court Street. DOT has begun to put boulders in the pedestrian islands !! Restricting the ability for cars/trucks to bowl the flex posts over AND giving pedestrians a place to sit and relax (shown here).
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
This work is so important, especially in the context of how modestly (if at all) outreach efforts improve retention.
Also important: the work requirements that need to be implemented by the end of next year may prove much harder to automate than standard eligibility redeterminations
Also important: the work requirements that need to be implemented by the end of next year may prove much harder to automate than standard eligibility redeterminations
New at Can We Still Govern? New Medicaid work requirements will see an estimated 5 million lose coverage.
Small investments in in-house tech capacity could allow states to start preparing now to expand automatic renewal of clients. Here is the evidence 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-a-van-...
Small investments in in-house tech capacity could allow states to start preparing now to expand automatic renewal of clients. Here is the evidence 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-a-van-...
Lessons from Pandemic Era Medicaid Automation for Work Requirements
Small tech capacity investments offer big returns
donmoynihan.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
This work is so important, especially in the context of how modestly (if at all) outreach efforts improve retention.
Also important: the work requirements that need to be implemented by the end of next year may prove much harder to automate than standard eligibility redeterminations
Also important: the work requirements that need to be implemented by the end of next year may prove much harder to automate than standard eligibility redeterminations
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
"We don't want people to go hungry or miss another paycheck. But we *are* okay with them dying a little more slowly, without healthcare."
This is so bleak.
This is so bleak.
November 10, 2025 at 3:15 AM
"We don't want people to go hungry or miss another paycheck. But we *are* okay with them dying a little more slowly, without healthcare."
This is so bleak.
This is so bleak.
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
Incredibly bittersweet to be published in Teen Vogue this weekend after devastating layoffs, including my editor for this piece. It’s about how beauty influencers have fallen into and become part of the alt-right pipeline targeting girls and women
www.teenvogue.com/story/womano...
www.teenvogue.com/story/womano...
The 'Womanosphere' Is Coming for Teen Girls
How beauty and wellness influencers are part of a misinformation ecosystem pushing traditional values on girls.
www.teenvogue.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Incredibly bittersweet to be published in Teen Vogue this weekend after devastating layoffs, including my editor for this piece. It’s about how beauty influencers have fallen into and become part of the alt-right pipeline targeting girls and women
www.teenvogue.com/story/womano...
www.teenvogue.com/story/womano...
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
Leftists really have to prioritize public libraries in budget fights.
November 8, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Leftists really have to prioritize public libraries in budget fights.
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
NEWS — The Oregon Department of Human Services has issued 100% of November SNAP benefits, per an alert on their website. I've received reports that the funds have already hit recipients' EBT accounts.
www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/Pa...
www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/Pa...
November 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM
NEWS — The Oregon Department of Human Services has issued 100% of November SNAP benefits, per an alert on their website. I've received reports that the funds have already hit recipients' EBT accounts.
www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/Pa...
www.oregon.gov/odhs/news/Pa...
Reposted by Mandi Spishak-Thomas
It’s been a pleasure working with Lex and everyone in the politics vertical at Teen Vogue. I’m heartbroken that my column, Disability Visibility, is gone. Teen Vogue was one of the few places that published disabled journalists regularly. I just spent the last 2 months working on my next column
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 6, 2025 at 5:28 AM
It’s been a pleasure working with Lex and everyone in the politics vertical at Teen Vogue. I’m heartbroken that my column, Disability Visibility, is gone. Teen Vogue was one of the few places that published disabled journalists regularly. I just spent the last 2 months working on my next column