Elizabeth Lower-Basch
@elowerbasch.bsky.social
Free agent policy wonk, expert on access to public benefits. GrayCatPolicy.com Happy to provide pro-bono support to grassroots groups. Democracy defender, spouse, friend, mom to adult children. Rivers are my happy place. Fairfax, VA. She/her.
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
Grijalva: That is why I will sign the discharge petition right now to release the Epstein files. Justice cannot wait another day.
November 12, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Grijalva: That is why I will sign the discharge petition right now to release the Epstein files. Justice cannot wait another day.
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
I will make sure every single person remembers that the same Republicans who did everything in their power to make tax breaks for billionaires PERMANENT refused to even negotiate ONE YEAR of health care tax credits for working families, at a tiny fraction of that cost.
November 12, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I will make sure every single person remembers that the same Republicans who did everything in their power to make tax breaks for billionaires PERMANENT refused to even negotiate ONE YEAR of health care tax credits for working families, at a tiny fraction of that cost.
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
Read about WHY Ketanji Brown Jackson stayed the SNAP order. Her move is probably the best solution for getting SNAP benefits approved quickly. open.substack.com/pub/stevevla...
190. SNAP WTF?
A very quick explainer on what (and why) Justice Jackson issued an "administrative stay" in the SNAP case late on Friday night, and on what's likely to happen next
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Read about WHY Ketanji Brown Jackson stayed the SNAP order. Her move is probably the best solution for getting SNAP benefits approved quickly. open.substack.com/pub/stevevla...
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
I need you all to know that my mother sent me this. 🤣 That is all.
November 8, 2025 at 2:24 AM
I need you all to know that my mother sent me this. 🤣 That is all.
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
You simply cannot make this stuff up. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/b...
How the Trump Administration Is Giving Even More Tax Breaks to the Wealthy
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:56 AM
You simply cannot make this stuff up. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/b...
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
WaPo editorial page: It is not our job to endorse a candidate in a national election
Also WaPo editorial page: It is our job to complain repeatedly about a mayoral candidate in an entirely different city
Also WaPo editorial page: It is our job to complain repeatedly about a mayoral candidate in an entirely different city
October 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM
WaPo editorial page: It is not our job to endorse a candidate in a national election
Also WaPo editorial page: It is our job to complain repeatedly about a mayoral candidate in an entirely different city
Also WaPo editorial page: It is our job to complain repeatedly about a mayoral candidate in an entirely different city
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
The same guy after Trump won:
-"even his opponents should make it their business to help him succeed" (11/6/24)
-"The public spoke with a clear voice" (12/14/24)
-"even his opponents should make it their business to help him succeed" (11/6/24)
-"The public spoke with a clear voice" (12/14/24)
When Republicans win elections: The people have spoken, we must let them implement their agenda.
When Democrats win elections: This totalitarian FREAK must be prevented from implementing the policies he ran on
nypost.com/2025/11/05/o...
When Democrats win elections: This totalitarian FREAK must be prevented from implementing the policies he ran on
nypost.com/2025/11/05/o...
November 6, 2025 at 9:48 PM
The same guy after Trump won:
-"even his opponents should make it their business to help him succeed" (11/6/24)
-"The public spoke with a clear voice" (12/14/24)
-"even his opponents should make it their business to help him succeed" (11/6/24)
-"The public spoke with a clear voice" (12/14/24)
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
McConnell is now defining "irreparable harm" for the gov't.
McConnell orders the administration to make FULL SNAP payments to states by tomorrow.
Court grants plaintiffs' order for second TRO. The administration decided not to use full Sec 32 funds to fund SNAP....
McConnell orders the administration to make FULL SNAP payments to states by tomorrow.
Court grants plaintiffs' order for second TRO. The administration decided not to use full Sec 32 funds to fund SNAP....
November 6, 2025 at 8:53 PM
McConnell is now defining "irreparable harm" for the gov't.
McConnell orders the administration to make FULL SNAP payments to states by tomorrow.
Court grants plaintiffs' order for second TRO. The administration decided not to use full Sec 32 funds to fund SNAP....
McConnell orders the administration to make FULL SNAP payments to states by tomorrow.
Court grants plaintiffs' order for second TRO. The administration decided not to use full Sec 32 funds to fund SNAP....
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
McConnell: "When you can't fix irreparable harm, you've lost the benefit of using your discretion."
Becker is getting really agitated and kind of yelling at the judge. He's still blaming the states for not getting the payments out. Says this is the first he's hearing that this has been a problem
Becker is getting really agitated and kind of yelling at the judge. He's still blaming the states for not getting the payments out. Says this is the first he's hearing that this has been a problem
November 6, 2025 at 8:47 PM
McConnell: "When you can't fix irreparable harm, you've lost the benefit of using your discretion."
Becker is getting really agitated and kind of yelling at the judge. He's still blaming the states for not getting the payments out. Says this is the first he's hearing that this has been a problem
Becker is getting really agitated and kind of yelling at the judge. He's still blaming the states for not getting the payments out. Says this is the first he's hearing that this has been a problem
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
Raids inside day cares had been off limits until this year, when, on his first day in office, President Donald Trump removed that protection.
The arrest reportedly took place in front of children.
19thnews.org/2025/11/chil...
The arrest reportedly took place in front of children.
19thnews.org/2025/11/chil...
‘I have papers’: Child care worker detained by ICE officers inside a Chicago day care
Raids inside day cares had been off limits until this year, when, on his first day in office, President Donald Trump removed that protection.
19thnews.org
November 5, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Raids inside day cares had been off limits until this year, when, on his first day in office, President Donald Trump removed that protection.
The arrest reportedly took place in front of children.
19thnews.org/2025/11/chil...
The arrest reportedly took place in front of children.
19thnews.org/2025/11/chil...
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
NEW: Millions of poor Americans could see $0 in SNAP benefits even after the Trump admin agreed to resume partial benefits in response to a court order. This is because of the way the government has interpreted the directive, which could also delay aid for weeks. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/u...
Some SNAP Recipients May Not Receive Food Stamps Under White House Policy
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:27 PM
NEW: Millions of poor Americans could see $0 in SNAP benefits even after the Trump admin agreed to resume partial benefits in response to a court order. This is because of the way the government has interpreted the directive, which could also delay aid for weeks. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/u...
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
Remember the lesson to watch what people DO rather than what they SAY?
The Trump Admin has promised to help people afford basic needs like food, health care & housing but they are DOING the exact opposite.
No family needed to miss November SNAP benefits. USDA can fix this.
The Trump Admin has promised to help people afford basic needs like food, health care & housing but they are DOING the exact opposite.
No family needed to miss November SNAP benefits. USDA can fix this.
Why does a 50% cut to maximum SNAP benefits = a ~60% cut in average benefits?
A household's SNAP benefit = Maximum benefit - 30% of net income
Most SNAP households have some income & get less than the maximum. A 50% cut to the maximum is a much greater % cut to their benefits.
A household's SNAP benefit = Maximum benefit - 30% of net income
Most SNAP households have some income & get less than the maximum. A 50% cut to the maximum is a much greater % cut to their benefits.
We estimate that USDA’s plan will result in a roughly 60% cut in average benefits. Because of how the SNAP benefit calculation works, USDA's plan to cut maximum benefits for each household size by 50% results in a deeper cut to average benefits—and a much deeper cut than needed.
November 5, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Remember the lesson to watch what people DO rather than what they SAY?
The Trump Admin has promised to help people afford basic needs like food, health care & housing but they are DOING the exact opposite.
No family needed to miss November SNAP benefits. USDA can fix this.
The Trump Admin has promised to help people afford basic needs like food, health care & housing but they are DOING the exact opposite.
No family needed to miss November SNAP benefits. USDA can fix this.
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
Sensing a theme in megabill implementation: The Trump Administration is once again putting even more people at risk of losing SNAP benefits unnecessarily & setting states up to fail by issuing unclear guidance with unrealistic implementation timelines.
Last Friday, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) finally provided states guidance on how to implement the harsh, anti-immigrant restrictions to food assistance in the harmful Republican megabill.
fns-prod.azureedge.us
November 4, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Sensing a theme in megabill implementation: The Trump Administration is once again putting even more people at risk of losing SNAP benefits unnecessarily & setting states up to fail by issuing unclear guidance with unrealistic implementation timelines.
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
New data: CBPP analyzed USDA’s contingency fund spending plan & found it is only going to release 2/3 of the funding they committed to in court filings, cutting families’ SNAP benefits far more than necessary, violating USDA’s own regulations & shortchanging millions of families.
November 5, 2025 at 4:40 PM
New data: CBPP analyzed USDA’s contingency fund spending plan & found it is only going to release 2/3 of the funding they committed to in court filings, cutting families’ SNAP benefits far more than necessary, violating USDA’s own regulations & shortchanging millions of families.
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
Came here to say this, but Jamelle Bouie has this covered. 👇
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
the other thing about this is that there is no reason to pit these candidates against each other? each are good fits for their respective electorates and each shows the value of vigorous campaigns focused on the stated material problems of voters.
November 5, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Came here to say this, but Jamelle Bouie has this covered. 👇
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
When the Democratic tent includes candidates like Spanberger and Mamdani, there is no crisis, or fight, for the party. IT’S A COALITION, NOT A POINT ESTIMATE.
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
Last night, we went to the USDA building to send a big message to Trump: Half isn't good enough—FULLY fund SNAP. Trump has the power to stop this but chooses politics over people. One in eight families rely on SNAP, and half funding means hunger. Don't starve families so you can play politics.
November 4, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Last night, we went to the USDA building to send a big message to Trump: Half isn't good enough—FULLY fund SNAP. Trump has the power to stop this but chooses politics over people. One in eight families rely on SNAP, and half funding means hunger. Don't starve families so you can play politics.
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
Timely (grim) new NBER working paper: Households screened out of SNAP "suffer tangible downstream economic consequences. Specifically, we find that process-related denials increase debt and delinquencies, and decrease credit scores."
www.nber.org/papers/w34434
www.nber.org/papers/w34434
November 3, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Timely (grim) new NBER working paper: Households screened out of SNAP "suffer tangible downstream economic consequences. Specifically, we find that process-related denials increase debt and delinquencies, and decrease credit scores."
www.nber.org/papers/w34434
www.nber.org/papers/w34434
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
Remember, they're currently arguing that Biden's pardons are illegitimate because he signed the actual forms with an autopen.
Trump, meanwhile, repeatedly insists he knows nothing at all about one of his very controversial pardons. Never heard of the guy!
Sorta seems like a problem.
Trump, meanwhile, repeatedly insists he knows nothing at all about one of his very controversial pardons. Never heard of the guy!
Sorta seems like a problem.
O'DONNELL: Why did you pardon Changpeng Zhao?
TRUMP: Are you ready? I don't know who he is
O'DONNELL: His crypto exchange Binance helped facilitate a $2b purchase of World Liberty Financial's stablecoin. And they you pardoned him.
TRUMP: Here's the thing -- I know nothing about it
TRUMP: Are you ready? I don't know who he is
O'DONNELL: His crypto exchange Binance helped facilitate a $2b purchase of World Liberty Financial's stablecoin. And they you pardoned him.
TRUMP: Here's the thing -- I know nothing about it
November 3, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Remember, they're currently arguing that Biden's pardons are illegitimate because he signed the actual forms with an autopen.
Trump, meanwhile, repeatedly insists he knows nothing at all about one of his very controversial pardons. Never heard of the guy!
Sorta seems like a problem.
Trump, meanwhile, repeatedly insists he knows nothing at all about one of his very controversial pardons. Never heard of the guy!
Sorta seems like a problem.
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
Meanwhile USDA Sec Rollins is trying to change the subject —the subject being Trump's decision to withhold food aid from 40M people—by claiming the admin is focused on rooting out SNAP fraud.
To be fair, no one can fraudulently receive benefits if no one receives benefits, period
To be fair, no one can fraudulently receive benefits if no one receives benefits, period
November 2, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Meanwhile USDA Sec Rollins is trying to change the subject —the subject being Trump's decision to withhold food aid from 40M people—by claiming the admin is focused on rooting out SNAP fraud.
To be fair, no one can fraudulently receive benefits if no one receives benefits, period
To be fair, no one can fraudulently receive benefits if no one receives benefits, period
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
The racist and misogynist myth of the “Welfare Queen” is alive and well. The focus on SNAP has brought it back to national prominence. But please note: It never, ever went away. It shows up all the time. The entire trope around undeserving people has a poisonous line through our policies.
Exhibit A
Exhibit A
So there were some AI-generated videos that purported to show Black women ranting about SNAP benefits, and... Fox News is reporting on this like these are real people. They're not! They're AI!
This is truly insane. Total unreality. www.foxnews.com/media/snap-b...
This is truly insane. Total unreality. www.foxnews.com/media/snap-b...
November 1, 2025 at 10:11 PM
The racist and misogynist myth of the “Welfare Queen” is alive and well. The focus on SNAP has brought it back to national prominence. But please note: It never, ever went away. It shows up all the time. The entire trope around undeserving people has a poisonous line through our policies.
Exhibit A
Exhibit A
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
👀 @WPLN asking the right questions!
@GovBillLee is playing hunger games with Tennessee families
@GovBillLee is playing hunger games with Tennessee families
November 1, 2025 at 1:13 AM
👀 @WPLN asking the right questions!
@GovBillLee is playing hunger games with Tennessee families
@GovBillLee is playing hunger games with Tennessee families
Reposted by Elizabeth Lower-Basch
Today’s rulings confirm what’s been clear all along: the Administration has been sitting on billions of available dollars that it is legally required to use to fund November benefits for the 1 in 8 Americans who need SNAP to afford their groceries.
October 31, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Today’s rulings confirm what’s been clear all along: the Administration has been sitting on billions of available dollars that it is legally required to use to fund November benefits for the 1 in 8 Americans who need SNAP to afford their groceries.