Matthew Cortland (they)
@matthewcort.land
Lawyer, advocate, writer, public health
Immunocompromised, chronically ill, disabled
Then: SSI, SNAP, Medicaid
Now: data & policy, disability, healthcare
🔗 matthewcort.land
🔗 It's A Hellscape 📰 patreon.com/mattbc
🏳️🌈 nonbinary
Immunocompromised, chronically ill, disabled
Then: SSI, SNAP, Medicaid
Now: data & policy, disability, healthcare
🔗 matthewcort.land
🔗 It's A Hellscape 📰 patreon.com/mattbc
🏳️🌈 nonbinary
Pinned
Just a reminder that patreon.com/mattbc is the primary place I live on the internet, and that the leadership of this platform have proven themselves to be morally bankrupt.
Get more from Matthew Cortland on Patreon
creating Shouldn't Need to Be a Lawyer
patreon.com
Reminder, if you have questions about something I’ve written, ask in the comments on the Patreon piece instead of bsky.
The reason why I'm so angry has a lot to do with the lives that will be lost — people are absolutely going to die as a direct result of Senate Democrats folding on health care. It also has a lot to do with the suffering that was endured — people were struggling to get by without food assistance. 🧵
November 11, 2025 at 6:58 AM
The reason why I'm so angry has a lot to do with the lives that will be lost — people are absolutely going to die as a direct result of Senate Democrats folding on health care. It also has a lot to do with the suffering that was endured — people were struggling to get by without food assistance. 🧵
November 11, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Reposted by Matthew Cortland (they)
The House is coming back on Wednesday, btw, to vote
November 11, 2025 at 4:41 AM
The House is coming back on Wednesday, btw, to vote
The House is not "back early" — the House isn't scheduled to come back tonight, or tomorrow — they're coming back Wednesday.
Your MoC hasn't voted against "Senate Amendment to H.R. 5371 – Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026" because there hasn't been a vote on it in the House
Your MoC hasn't voted against "Senate Amendment to H.R. 5371 – Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026" because there hasn't been a vote on it in the House
What I said. Republicans came back early. I'm glad my representatives in the Senate & House voted against it. I think the other Dems saw this as the best choice to move things along. Both views mattered. We'll find out how it goes. Full funding needs to go where it's supposed to go immediately.
November 11, 2025 at 4:40 AM
The House is not "back early" — the House isn't scheduled to come back tonight, or tomorrow — they're coming back Wednesday.
Your MoC hasn't voted against "Senate Amendment to H.R. 5371 – Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026" because there hasn't been a vote on it in the House
Your MoC hasn't voted against "Senate Amendment to H.R. 5371 – Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026" because there hasn't been a vote on it in the House
Reposted by Matthew Cortland (they)
What I promise — 100% promise — I don't need you to do is email me anonymous criticism of my "social media performance"
If you're someone whose advice I respected, I'd probably know who you are, and you'd certainly not be sending as an anonymous coward
If you're someone whose advice I respected, I'd probably know who you are, and you'd certainly not be sending as an anonymous coward
November 11, 2025 at 4:31 AM
What I promise — 100% promise — I don't need you to do is email me anonymous criticism of my "social media performance"
If you're someone whose advice I respected, I'd probably know who you are, and you'd certainly not be sending as an anonymous coward
If you're someone whose advice I respected, I'd probably know who you are, and you'd certainly not be sending as an anonymous coward
Just a note about my strategy:
I know how to appeal to a broader audience. And appealing to the broadest possible audience is absolutely not what I'm trying to do on this poorly run app.
About 2% of likely voters get their news from BlueSky — so it's not even the right place for broad appeal
I know how to appeal to a broader audience. And appealing to the broadest possible audience is absolutely not what I'm trying to do on this poorly run app.
About 2% of likely voters get their news from BlueSky — so it's not even the right place for broad appeal
November 11, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Just a note about my strategy:
I know how to appeal to a broader audience. And appealing to the broadest possible audience is absolutely not what I'm trying to do on this poorly run app.
About 2% of likely voters get their news from BlueSky — so it's not even the right place for broad appeal
I know how to appeal to a broader audience. And appealing to the broadest possible audience is absolutely not what I'm trying to do on this poorly run app.
About 2% of likely voters get their news from BlueSky — so it's not even the right place for broad appeal
Rick Scott was CEO of a large, for-profit healthcare company called HCA. While Rick Scott was CEO, HCA stole so much money from Medicare they were fined $1.7 Billion.
Rick Scott told me his plan would be to take all of the remaining ACA subsidies and redistribute them to HSA accounts and people can then buy whatever insurance a state certifies. Basically a repeal/replace.
He denied when I asked wouldn’t that create two-tiered system where sick pay much more…
He denied when I asked wouldn’t that create two-tiered system where sick pay much more…
November 11, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Rick Scott was CEO of a large, for-profit healthcare company called HCA. While Rick Scott was CEO, HCA stole so much money from Medicare they were fined $1.7 Billion.
I don't know what alternate reality you inhabit , but the party *was* united, united around stopping a catastrophic increase in ACA premiums leading to 5+ million uninsured, and a death spiral in the ACA market, and collapse of the service and delivery system.
Here's a thought. Perhaps it's time to stop with the back & forth haggling within the party and to focus on the issue at hand - making sure the safety nets that have been destroyed in the Big Bad Bill are fixed. Dems got them to return to DC. to do that. Then we can talk in-depth about leadership.
November 11, 2025 at 2:53 AM
I don't know what alternate reality you inhabit , but the party *was* united, united around stopping a catastrophic increase in ACA premiums leading to 5+ million uninsured, and a death spiral in the ACA market, and collapse of the service and delivery system.
Reposted by Matthew Cortland (they)
Could you ask him if he's high?
Hey, chronically ill people on social media are asking me to ask you if you're fucking high right now because you seem to be in your own little world
Hey, chronically ill people on social media are asking me to ask you if you're fucking high right now because you seem to be in your own little world
November 11, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Could you ask him if he's high?
Hey, chronically ill people on social media are asking me to ask you if you're fucking high right now because you seem to be in your own little world
Hey, chronically ill people on social media are asking me to ask you if you're fucking high right now because you seem to be in your own little world
Reposted by Matthew Cortland (they)
Kaine says he thinks Johnson will have no choice but to take up the subsidies if it passes through the Senate. "And if it comes out of here bipartisan, he cannot not take it up without having November 2026 make November 2025 look like a picnic."
November 11, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Kaine says he thinks Johnson will have no choice but to take up the subsidies if it passes through the Senate. "And if it comes out of here bipartisan, he cannot not take it up without having November 2026 make November 2025 look like a picnic."
Reposted by Matthew Cortland (they)
Hemp is defined as <0.3% delta-9 THC in dry weight. The minibus adds a ban on “any intermediate hemp-derived cannabinoid products which are marketed or sold as a final product or directly to an end consumer for personal or household use,” and sets a limit of 0.4 mg THC per container.
The shutdown deal includes a ban on hemp products that none of its negotiators debated in public.
Disappointing that only 24 senators voted against killing an amendment to strike that ban.
www.senate.gov/legislative/...
Disappointing that only 24 senators voted against killing an amendment to strike that ban.
www.senate.gov/legislative/...
November 11, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Hemp is defined as <0.3% delta-9 THC in dry weight. The minibus adds a ban on “any intermediate hemp-derived cannabinoid products which are marketed or sold as a final product or directly to an end consumer for personal or household use,” and sets a limit of 0.4 mg THC per container.
Reposted by Matthew Cortland (they)
There — I fixed the analysis so it is actually accurate to what happened when 8 Senate Dems caved instead of keeping up the righteous fight to deliver lower health care costs for Americans.
November 11, 2025 at 2:09 AM
There — I fixed the analysis so it is actually accurate to what happened when 8 Senate Dems caved instead of keeping up the righteous fight to deliver lower health care costs for Americans.
I'm a healthcare lawyer and this is insane.
Trump: "I want the money to go into an account for people where they buy their own health insurance. It's so good. The insurance will be better. It'll cost less. Everybody is gonna be happy. They're gonna feel like entrepreneurs. They're actually able to go out & negotiate their own insurance"
November 11, 2025 at 1:33 AM
I'm a healthcare lawyer and this is insane.
THIS is the person beating Senate Democrats.
INGRAHAM: Is a 50 year mortgage really a good idea?
TRUMP: It's not even a big deal. You go from 40 to 50 years. All it means is you pay less per month
TRUMP: It's not even a big deal. You go from 40 to 50 years. All it means is you pay less per month
November 11, 2025 at 1:29 AM
THIS is the person beating Senate Democrats.
So....you gonna pay the extra $500 a month in premiums I have to come up with (or I die)?
My promise to you: I will never stop fighting to protect your health care.
November 11, 2025 at 1:21 AM
So....you gonna pay the extra $500 a month in premiums I have to come up with (or I die)?
Reposted by Matthew Cortland (they)
really been thinking of turning pro - hope one of these random political experts i've never seen or heard of before - who find their way into my replies can give me some pointers on how to make it
November 11, 2025 at 12:48 AM
really been thinking of turning pro - hope one of these random political experts i've never seen or heard of before - who find their way into my replies can give me some pointers on how to make it
Would it be helpful if we did a talk on what an insurance death spiral is? And why ACA premiums entering a death spiral will mean that people who rely on employer-sponsored insurance will also be fucked?
Or do folks already have a good grasp on that?
Or do folks already have a good grasp on that?
November 11, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Would it be helpful if we did a talk on what an insurance death spiral is? And why ACA premiums entering a death spiral will mean that people who rely on employer-sponsored insurance will also be fucked?
Or do folks already have a good grasp on that?
Or do folks already have a good grasp on that?
Reposted by Matthew Cortland (they)
anyway, i'm really starting to take an interest in the hill and hope more random experts drop into my replies to grace me with their wisdom
November 11, 2025 at 12:40 AM
anyway, i'm really starting to take an interest in the hill and hope more random experts drop into my replies to grace me with their wisdom
Reposted by Matthew Cortland (they)
Were they beating that little girl?
No.
Were they culpable?
Yes. Yes, of course they were.
And if you don't understand that, I'm sorry but my replies aren't the place for you — you need remedial moral education and I don't have the patience today.
No.
Were they culpable?
Yes. Yes, of course they were.
And if you don't understand that, I'm sorry but my replies aren't the place for you — you need remedial moral education and I don't have the patience today.
November 11, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Were they beating that little girl?
No.
Were they culpable?
Yes. Yes, of course they were.
And if you don't understand that, I'm sorry but my replies aren't the place for you — you need remedial moral education and I don't have the patience today.
No.
Were they culpable?
Yes. Yes, of course they were.
And if you don't understand that, I'm sorry but my replies aren't the place for you — you need remedial moral education and I don't have the patience today.
Reposted by Matthew Cortland (they)
I think a lot about child abuse. (This won't be a surprise to anyone who knows me). When I was 18 or 19, there was a kid at summer camp who was being physically abused at 'home.'
And none of the adults, the actual adults, the people running the place, wanted to do anything about it.
And none of the adults, the actual adults, the people running the place, wanted to do anything about it.
November 11, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I think a lot about child abuse. (This won't be a surprise to anyone who knows me). When I was 18 or 19, there was a kid at summer camp who was being physically abused at 'home.'
And none of the adults, the actual adults, the people running the place, wanted to do anything about it.
And none of the adults, the actual adults, the people running the place, wanted to do anything about it.
Reposted by Matthew Cortland (they)
that photo ⤵️? it's actually of me closing out a senate dem livestream on healthcare, closing for Chuck Schumer, during Trump I
November 11, 2025 at 12:21 AM
that photo ⤵️? it's actually of me closing out a senate dem livestream on healthcare, closing for Chuck Schumer, during Trump I
All of these political experts in my replies and I've never run into a single one of them when I'm on the Hill doing a bicameral briefing on SNAP and Medicaid.
It's so goddamn strange, where are all of you vaunted experts hiding????
It's so goddamn strange, where are all of you vaunted experts hiding????
November 11, 2025 at 12:18 AM
All of these political experts in my replies and I've never run into a single one of them when I'm on the Hill doing a bicameral briefing on SNAP and Medicaid.
It's so goddamn strange, where are all of you vaunted experts hiding????
It's so goddamn strange, where are all of you vaunted experts hiding????
I don't know what world people like Geste live in, but Mike Johnson doesn't have to do anything that Donald Trump doesn't want him to do.
It's November 10th, and if you still haven't figured that out, you're simply not sophisticated enough for my replies
It's November 10th, and if you still haven't figured that out, you're simply not sophisticated enough for my replies
November 11, 2025 at 12:10 AM
I don't know what world people like Geste live in, but Mike Johnson doesn't have to do anything that Donald Trump doesn't want him to do.
It's November 10th, and if you still haven't figured that out, you're simply not sophisticated enough for my replies
It's November 10th, and if you still haven't figured that out, you're simply not sophisticated enough for my replies
I was working on changing the oil in our car this afternoon. I do it myself despite having objectively bad hands (no, really, it's in my problem list in mychart) bc the prices around here are far too high
Well, jokes on me bc there's a broken part & I need to drive to Massachusetts tomorrow for 🏥
Well, jokes on me bc there's a broken part & I need to drive to Massachusetts tomorrow for 🏥
November 10, 2025 at 11:45 PM
I was working on changing the oil in our car this afternoon. I do it myself despite having objectively bad hands (no, really, it's in my problem list in mychart) bc the prices around here are far too high
Well, jokes on me bc there's a broken part & I need to drive to Massachusetts tomorrow for 🏥
Well, jokes on me bc there's a broken part & I need to drive to Massachusetts tomorrow for 🏥
Your colleagues promised us — promised activists, promised social media influencers, promised organizations — that they were actually going to fight for the ACA, that it was non-negotiable.
You lied to us. You betrayed us. And this is your plan? I know you're not this stupid Sheldon.
You lied to us. You betrayed us. And this is your plan? I know you're not this stupid Sheldon.
The sooner we get past internal recriminations and back to fighting united, the better off we all are — the likelier our victory next November.
November 10, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Your colleagues promised us — promised activists, promised social media influencers, promised organizations — that they were actually going to fight for the ACA, that it was non-negotiable.
You lied to us. You betrayed us. And this is your plan? I know you're not this stupid Sheldon.
You lied to us. You betrayed us. And this is your plan? I know you're not this stupid Sheldon.