Helen Rottier
@helenrottier.bsky.social
PhD in Disability Studies. Disabled Dis-Epistemologies and Knowledge Production. Opinions are my own. she/her
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Not going to lie, just very much filled with dread on reporting on Medicaid cuts this year :(
Needless suffering sucks.
Needless suffering sucks.
January 5, 2026 at 1:51 AM
Not going to lie, just very much filled with dread on reporting on Medicaid cuts this year :(
Needless suffering sucks.
Needless suffering sucks.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
These guys are complete incompetents in all the ways that matter, but they do understand data politics.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), run by Oz and his boss, RFK Jr., will no longer require physicians to report vaccination rates.
Instead, they plan to start having doctors report if they’ve discussed “alternative” vaccine schedules.
Instead, they plan to start having doctors report if they’ve discussed “alternative” vaccine schedules.
CMS to stop requiring states to report childhood vaccination levels
www.cidrap.umn.edu
January 5, 2026 at 1:51 AM
These guys are complete incompetents in all the ways that matter, but they do understand data politics.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Keeping the social safety net as small and as punitive as possible helps to ensure that there will always be a steady stream of people for employers like Bezos to exploit--people in such a precarious position that have no choice but to take whatever underpaid, overworked job they can get.
No. No. No.
Punitive processes make narrowly targeted programs *less* efficient and *more* costly. Because more scrutiny requires more bureaucracy.
Punitive processes also make it *less* likely that people will get aid for which they qualify. Because of the roadblocks and stigma scrutiny creates.
Punitive processes make narrowly targeted programs *less* efficient and *more* costly. Because more scrutiny requires more bureaucracy.
Punitive processes also make it *less* likely that people will get aid for which they qualify. Because of the roadblocks and stigma scrutiny creates.
January 5, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Keeping the social safety net as small and as punitive as possible helps to ensure that there will always be a steady stream of people for employers like Bezos to exploit--people in such a precarious position that have no choice but to take whatever underpaid, overworked job they can get.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
It's a new year! Are you doomscrolling? There's a lot going on in the world right now, but that doesn't mean you need to keep looking at your phone more than you planned for.
Is there something else you need to do or an offline activity that would be more relaxing? How about going to bed early?
Is there something else you need to do or an offline activity that would be more relaxing? How about going to bed early?
January 5, 2026 at 2:20 AM
It's a new year! Are you doomscrolling? There's a lot going on in the world right now, but that doesn't mean you need to keep looking at your phone more than you planned for.
Is there something else you need to do or an offline activity that would be more relaxing? How about going to bed early?
Is there something else you need to do or an offline activity that would be more relaxing? How about going to bed early?
Reposted by Helen Rottier
goodnight, and remember: library late fees suck. they simply discourage library use. you should be glad if your library abolished them, and if it hasn’t, you should tell them it should. 📚
January 3, 2026 at 3:57 AM
goodnight, and remember: library late fees suck. they simply discourage library use. you should be glad if your library abolished them, and if it hasn’t, you should tell them it should. 📚
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Reminder for everyone operating at situationally-diminished capacity.
January 3, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Reminder for everyone operating at situationally-diminished capacity.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
I’m trying to keep up with my habit tracker but with a newborn and the deterioration of civil rights and international law, time has no meaning anymore.
January 4, 2026 at 1:05 PM
I’m trying to keep up with my habit tracker but with a newborn and the deterioration of civil rights and international law, time has no meaning anymore.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
You can be a punk library or a cop library; you can care about the people or the stuff.
Choose the people.
📚
Choose the people.
📚
The number of folx who are pro-late fees is INSANE.
January 4, 2026 at 12:05 PM
You can be a punk library or a cop library; you can care about the people or the stuff.
Choose the people.
📚
Choose the people.
📚
Reposted by Helen Rottier
I just learned about this one yesterday but I can tell it’s staying forever
January 4, 2026 at 2:12 AM
I just learned about this one yesterday but I can tell it’s staying forever
Reposted by Helen Rottier
I’m still gagged by how 8:30pm feels like 2am. I thought I’d be used to THE DARKNESS by January. 😫
January 4, 2026 at 1:36 AM
I’m still gagged by how 8:30pm feels like 2am. I thought I’d be used to THE DARKNESS by January. 😫
Reposted by Helen Rottier
There’s this thing wp in the US do when u remind them of the country’s well documented history of doing exactly what it just did in Venezuela.
They block. They run the other way. They ignore.
They can’t or don’t want to face the fact that this country has always been this way.
They block. They run the other way. They ignore.
They can’t or don’t want to face the fact that this country has always been this way.
January 4, 2026 at 2:42 AM
There’s this thing wp in the US do when u remind them of the country’s well documented history of doing exactly what it just did in Venezuela.
They block. They run the other way. They ignore.
They can’t or don’t want to face the fact that this country has always been this way.
They block. They run the other way. They ignore.
They can’t or don’t want to face the fact that this country has always been this way.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
It is in these ways people fall for propaganda. Real resistance isn’t writing resistance in your profile or going with the crowds. It is standing on principle especially when it means you have to go against the crowds bc the facts show something uncomfortable but that must be acknowledged 11/
January 3, 2026 at 7:38 PM
It is in these ways people fall for propaganda. Real resistance isn’t writing resistance in your profile or going with the crowds. It is standing on principle especially when it means you have to go against the crowds bc the facts show something uncomfortable but that must be acknowledged 11/
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Folks bypass things like the fact that NYPD activated drones and 30 cop cars for a demonstration of 1000 people in freezing weather today. The levels of surveillance and potential repression are taken as regular order in this country.
January 4, 2026 at 12:36 AM
Folks bypass things like the fact that NYPD activated drones and 30 cop cars for a demonstration of 1000 people in freezing weather today. The levels of surveillance and potential repression are taken as regular order in this country.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
time flies when you are doomscrolling
January 4, 2026 at 2:48 AM
time flies when you are doomscrolling
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Well, I have hit the wall. I do not want to be a “political communication” scholar anymore.
January 4, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Well, I have hit the wall. I do not want to be a “political communication” scholar anymore.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Instead of whatever this is, we should have a government getting lots of new homes and apartments built, lots of clean energy built, lots of high speed rail and transit and bike lanes built, human rights for everyone, economic & healthcare opportunities for all, & innovation that leads the world.
January 4, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Instead of whatever this is, we should have a government getting lots of new homes and apartments built, lots of clean energy built, lots of high speed rail and transit and bike lanes built, human rights for everyone, economic & healthcare opportunities for all, & innovation that leads the world.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Can’t be ashamed to be American when you get that America oppresses your people fundamentally.
Tkt Smart GIF
Alt: Guy tapping his head
media.tenor.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Can’t be ashamed to be American when you get that America oppresses your people fundamentally.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
We can hold compassion for the range of emotions Venezuelans may be experiencing — including positive emotions — and also be clear that regime change by a fascist superpower is dangerous, destabilizing, and sets precedents that will not stop at Venezuela. Those aren’t contradictory positions.
January 4, 2026 at 2:35 AM
We can hold compassion for the range of emotions Venezuelans may be experiencing — including positive emotions — and also be clear that regime change by a fascist superpower is dangerous, destabilizing, and sets precedents that will not stop at Venezuela. Those aren’t contradictory positions.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Saving this screenshot from Threads as a new reaction image
January 3, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Saving this screenshot from Threads as a new reaction image
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Don't forget folks: allowing yourself a vision of the future you'd want for our country and planet - not the one you'd settle for, not the one you fear, but the future of your dreams - isn't naive, it's a vital cognitive skill. That's how we articulate what we most value. What's worth fighting for.
Instead of whatever this is, we should have a government getting lots of new homes and apartments built, lots of clean energy built, lots of high speed rail and transit and bike lanes built, human rights for everyone, economic & healthcare opportunities for all, & innovation that leads the world.
January 4, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Don't forget folks: allowing yourself a vision of the future you'd want for our country and planet - not the one you'd settle for, not the one you fear, but the future of your dreams - isn't naive, it's a vital cognitive skill. That's how we articulate what we most value. What's worth fighting for.
Reposted by Helen Rottier
My whole life, advocating war has been fed to me as “the adult position,” akin to drinking your coffee black or reading the business section of the newspaper. Let’s be very clear — war is the childish nonsense of impulsive destructive idiots playing baby-brained video games with real human lives.
January 4, 2026 at 2:02 AM
My whole life, advocating war has been fed to me as “the adult position,” akin to drinking your coffee black or reading the business section of the newspaper. Let’s be very clear — war is the childish nonsense of impulsive destructive idiots playing baby-brained video games with real human lives.
chaos. pause. continue.
Sharing from my mom’s Substack (yes, I am the daughter mentioned) and trying to embrace the chaos, even though I would love some routine right now! #EmbraceTheChaos
Sharing from my mom’s Substack (yes, I am the daughter mentioned) and trying to embrace the chaos, even though I would love some routine right now! #EmbraceTheChaos
I resolve...
but my resolutions never work
substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:32 AM
chaos. pause. continue.
Sharing from my mom’s Substack (yes, I am the daughter mentioned) and trying to embrace the chaos, even though I would love some routine right now! #EmbraceTheChaos
Sharing from my mom’s Substack (yes, I am the daughter mentioned) and trying to embrace the chaos, even though I would love some routine right now! #EmbraceTheChaos
Reposted by Helen Rottier
*sliding up to you in a club bathroom* hey uh, you got any extra opiate of the masses. to share?
January 2, 2026 at 6:59 AM
*sliding up to you in a club bathroom* hey uh, you got any extra opiate of the masses. to share?
Reposted by Helen Rottier
Picnic table spread for dinner with friends. Leg of lamb, roast chicken, garlic pita pockets, hummus, feta, and salad. 🍽️🍜
January 2, 2026 at 4:35 AM
Picnic table spread for dinner with friends. Leg of lamb, roast chicken, garlic pita pockets, hummus, feta, and salad. 🍽️🍜
Reposted by Helen Rottier
In June I finished a poem about being suicidal and the tiniest things one can use as a carrot to keep themselves going, and here at the close of the year I am finally (mostly) ready to share it
December 31, 2025 at 10:42 PM
In June I finished a poem about being suicidal and the tiniest things one can use as a carrot to keep themselves going, and here at the close of the year I am finally (mostly) ready to share it