Laura K Smith
@lowercasesmith.bsky.social
Advocate, communicator, dog person, Minnesotan. Working at the intersection of health and social justice.
Reposted by Laura K Smith
A huge, monthslong data investigation from @NBCNews.com into childhood vaccination rates finds immunizations declining significantly. I was part of the dozens of journalists working on this story, which will be part of tonight’s NBC Nightly News broadcast. www.nbcnews.com/specials/vac...
September 15, 2025 at 9:15 PM
A huge, monthslong data investigation from @NBCNews.com into childhood vaccination rates finds immunizations declining significantly. I was part of the dozens of journalists working on this story, which will be part of tonight’s NBC Nightly News broadcast. www.nbcnews.com/specials/vac...
THANK YOU to the Minneapolis City Council for continuing your leadership on tobacco prevention! Raising the price of e-cigarettes will prevent youth addiction & encourage adults to quit. www.startribune.com/minneapolis-...
Minneapolis City Council hikes price of e-cigarettes to $25 minimum
Building on recent cigarette price increases, officials are now targeting youth vaping.
www.startribune.com
July 10, 2025 at 6:45 PM
THANK YOU to the Minneapolis City Council for continuing your leadership on tobacco prevention! Raising the price of e-cigarettes will prevent youth addiction & encourage adults to quit. www.startribune.com/minneapolis-...
The dog honor guard was so touching 😭
Rest in power, Hortmans 💗
Rest in power, Hortmans 💗
Former President Joe Biden checked in with the dog honor guard before paying his respects to Melissa and Mark Hortman.
June 27, 2025 at 9:37 PM
The dog honor guard was so touching 😭
Rest in power, Hortmans 💗
Rest in power, Hortmans 💗
Reposted by Laura K Smith
People in wheelchairs are getting arrested right now in the Russell Senate Office Building in DC. They showed up to tell Congress not to cut their Medicaid, because they cant afford health care without it. If you look closely you can see the zip ties on their hands. #WeWontGetOverLosingMedicaid
June 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
People in wheelchairs are getting arrested right now in the Russell Senate Office Building in DC. They showed up to tell Congress not to cut their Medicaid, because they cant afford health care without it. If you look closely you can see the zip ties on their hands. #WeWontGetOverLosingMedicaid
Reposted by Laura K Smith
This is heartbreaking.
(via someone at the St. Paul rally)
(via someone at the St. Paul rally)
June 14, 2025 at 6:02 PM
This is heartbreaking.
(via someone at the St. Paul rally)
(via someone at the St. Paul rally)
Reposted by Laura K Smith
With the tragic assassination of a Minnesota Democratic leader, I’m going to underline this point again.
I know there's a lot going on, but the Secretary of Homeland Security declaring that federal troops are in California and Los Angeles to "liberate" the state and city from its duly-elected leaders really is a fourteen-alarm fire.
It's mind-blowing how little attention this extraordinary statement has received. It's briefly mentioned in a couple news articles, but this MSNBC opinion piece is the only extended discussion of it I've seen: www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
June 14, 2025 at 3:37 PM
With the tragic assassination of a Minnesota Democratic leader, I’m going to underline this point again.
Reposted by Laura K Smith
Jesus.
The juxtaposition of these two posts back to back is just...
The juxtaposition of these two posts back to back is just...
June 14, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Jesus.
The juxtaposition of these two posts back to back is just...
The juxtaposition of these two posts back to back is just...
Reposted by Laura K Smith
It should not be lost on anyone that Minnesota Rep Melissa Hortman, who was shot to death in her home last night by an assassin, was a gun safety advocate who worked tirelessly to protect her constituents from gun violence.
June 14, 2025 at 4:18 PM
It should not be lost on anyone that Minnesota Rep Melissa Hortman, who was shot to death in her home last night by an assassin, was a gun safety advocate who worked tirelessly to protect her constituents from gun violence.
Reposted by Laura K Smith
Out of an abundance of caution my Department of Public Safety is recommending that people do not attend any political rallies today in Minnesota until the suspect is apprehended.
June 14, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Out of an abundance of caution my Department of Public Safety is recommending that people do not attend any political rallies today in Minnesota until the suspect is apprehended.
Reposted by Laura K Smith
Speaker Hortman was a bold and brave leader who made hard decisions and fought for the people of Minnesota every single day.
She and her husband Mark did not deserve to die. My heart goes out to their children.
She and her husband Mark did not deserve to die. My heart goes out to their children.
June 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Speaker Hortman was a bold and brave leader who made hard decisions and fought for the people of Minnesota every single day.
She and her husband Mark did not deserve to die. My heart goes out to their children.
She and her husband Mark did not deserve to die. My heart goes out to their children.
Thank you Senator @murray.senate.gov for highlighting Natalie Phelps’ story and advocating for clinical trials continuing without delay. youtu.be/uA_t_THg9fs?...
"NIH Cuts Will Hurt" RFK Jr. Admits When Pressed by Senator Murray on Harm to NIH Clinical Care
YouTube video by Senator Patty Murray
youtu.be
May 15, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Thank you Senator @murray.senate.gov for highlighting Natalie Phelps’ story and advocating for clinical trials continuing without delay. youtu.be/uA_t_THg9fs?...
Congratulations @aurinmpls.bsky.social and thank you for your leadership and service! 💫
I am proud to be DFL ENDORSED!
Thank you to Ward 12 Convention delegates for endorsing me with 77.7% of the vote on the first ballot!
Ward 12 DFLers believe in our vision for building a more healthy, safe, and connected community.
Onward to November! ☀️
AurinChowdhury.org/Join
Thank you to Ward 12 Convention delegates for endorsing me with 77.7% of the vote on the first ballot!
Ward 12 DFLers believe in our vision for building a more healthy, safe, and connected community.
Onward to November! ☀️
AurinChowdhury.org/Join
May 3, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Congratulations @aurinmpls.bsky.social and thank you for your leadership and service! 💫
Reposted by Laura K Smith
I am so excited to be your 12th Ward Council-member!
I’m asking for your support for the DFL endorsement & in November so that we can continue the work we’ve started to build a safe, healthy, connected, multi-generational, multiracial community here in the City of Minneapolis.✨ AurinChowdhury.org
I’m asking for your support for the DFL endorsement & in November so that we can continue the work we’ve started to build a safe, healthy, connected, multi-generational, multiracial community here in the City of Minneapolis.✨ AurinChowdhury.org
May 3, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I am so excited to be your 12th Ward Council-member!
I’m asking for your support for the DFL endorsement & in November so that we can continue the work we’ve started to build a safe, healthy, connected, multi-generational, multiracial community here in the City of Minneapolis.✨ AurinChowdhury.org
I’m asking for your support for the DFL endorsement & in November so that we can continue the work we’ve started to build a safe, healthy, connected, multi-generational, multiracial community here in the City of Minneapolis.✨ AurinChowdhury.org
What an honor to have these amazing women representing us at City Hall and the State Capitol! Thank you @aurinmpls.bsky.social and Rep. Sencer-Mura! 💗
May 3, 2025 at 5:36 PM
What an honor to have these amazing women representing us at City Hall and the State Capitol! Thank you @aurinmpls.bsky.social and Rep. Sencer-Mura! 💗
Reposted by Laura K Smith
I can't believe that someone seeking the DFL endorsement in 2025 is talking about "the desired amount of melanin" in campaign emails.
Shame on you, Becka Thompson.
Aurin Chowdhury was elected because she was the most qualified candidate and will be reelected for the same reason.
Grow up.
Shame on you, Becka Thompson.
Aurin Chowdhury was elected because she was the most qualified candidate and will be reelected for the same reason.
Grow up.
May 1, 2025 at 1:12 PM
I can't believe that someone seeking the DFL endorsement in 2025 is talking about "the desired amount of melanin" in campaign emails.
Shame on you, Becka Thompson.
Aurin Chowdhury was elected because she was the most qualified candidate and will be reelected for the same reason.
Grow up.
Shame on you, Becka Thompson.
Aurin Chowdhury was elected because she was the most qualified candidate and will be reelected for the same reason.
Grow up.
Hard pass on this BS
I can't believe that someone seeking the DFL endorsement in 2025 is talking about "the desired amount of melanin" in campaign emails.
Shame on you, Becka Thompson.
Aurin Chowdhury was elected because she was the most qualified candidate and will be reelected for the same reason.
Grow up.
Shame on you, Becka Thompson.
Aurin Chowdhury was elected because she was the most qualified candidate and will be reelected for the same reason.
Grow up.
May 3, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Hard pass on this BS
It’s abhorrent to see a candidate for city council using the politics of grievance, division and dog whistles to try to advance her campaign. GTFO 😠
May 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
It’s abhorrent to see a candidate for city council using the politics of grievance, division and dog whistles to try to advance her campaign. GTFO 😠
Psyched to support @aurinmpls.bsky.social for reelection to Minneapolis City Council! Let’s do this! 💫 🗳️ @mplsdfl.org
May 3, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Psyched to support @aurinmpls.bsky.social for reelection to Minneapolis City Council! Let’s do this! 💫 🗳️ @mplsdfl.org
Reposted by Laura K Smith
Dustin protected kids from tobacco products.
Arielle worked to make childbirth safer.
Amy made sure donor organs would get to critically ill patients.
Trump & Musk fired them all—& thousands more public health workers whose work was critical to keeping families & communities safe.
Arielle worked to make childbirth safer.
Amy made sure donor organs would get to critically ill patients.
Trump & Musk fired them all—& thousands more public health workers whose work was critical to keeping families & communities safe.
They Worked to Prevent Death. The Trump Administration Fired Them.
Public health teams are being gutted, imperiling efforts to safeguard organ donation and prevent maternal and infant death. Many workers expressed fear at what would happen to the work they left behin...
www.propublica.org
March 3, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Dustin protected kids from tobacco products.
Arielle worked to make childbirth safer.
Amy made sure donor organs would get to critically ill patients.
Trump & Musk fired them all—& thousands more public health workers whose work was critical to keeping families & communities safe.
Arielle worked to make childbirth safer.
Amy made sure donor organs would get to critically ill patients.
Trump & Musk fired them all—& thousands more public health workers whose work was critical to keeping families & communities safe.
Reposted by Laura K Smith
Incredible: Russ Vought’s daughter has cystic fibrosis and benefits from a “miracle drug” made possible by the National Institutes of Health—an agency Vought now aims to gut as part of the Project 2025 attack www.motherjones.com/politics/202... Scoop from @motherjones.com’s @metrauxjulia.bsky.social
Project 2025 is gutting medical funding that helped Russell Vought's own kid
Its architect's daughter has cystic fibrosis—and benefits from a "miracle drug" backed by an agency he's attacking.
www.motherjones.com
February 12, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Incredible: Russ Vought’s daughter has cystic fibrosis and benefits from a “miracle drug” made possible by the National Institutes of Health—an agency Vought now aims to gut as part of the Project 2025 attack www.motherjones.com/politics/202... Scoop from @motherjones.com’s @metrauxjulia.bsky.social
Thank you to everyone and anyone still taking precautions against COVID-19’s spread
apnews.com/article/covi...
apnews.com/article/covi...
January 19, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Thank you to everyone and anyone still taking precautions against COVID-19’s spread
apnews.com/article/covi...
apnews.com/article/covi...
Reposted by Laura K Smith
how can everything be so dumb and dangerous
January 7, 2025 at 9:22 PM
how can everything be so dumb and dangerous
Thank you @sahanjournal.bsky.social for speaking with me about how Minnesotans could be harmed by Trump & Republicans rolling back health care.
@protectourcare.org will continue to fight against cuts to Medicaid & Medicare, while protecting the Affordable Care Act!
sahanjournal.com/health/affor...
@protectourcare.org will continue to fight against cuts to Medicaid & Medicare, while protecting the Affordable Care Act!
sahanjournal.com/health/affor...
Minnesota leaders sound alarm over plans for ACA, Medicare
What’s the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), informally known as “Obamacare,” and Medicare in Minnesota? Here’s what experts and lawmakers are expecting after Trump’s victory.
sahanjournal.com
December 5, 2024 at 5:35 PM
Thank you @sahanjournal.bsky.social for speaking with me about how Minnesotans could be harmed by Trump & Republicans rolling back health care.
@protectourcare.org will continue to fight against cuts to Medicaid & Medicare, while protecting the Affordable Care Act!
sahanjournal.com/health/affor...
@protectourcare.org will continue to fight against cuts to Medicaid & Medicare, while protecting the Affordable Care Act!
sahanjournal.com/health/affor...
Experts continue to agree: confirming RFK Jr as HHS Secretary would endanger health and put lives at risk wapo.st/3B476PD
November 29, 2024 at 11:05 PM
Experts continue to agree: confirming RFK Jr as HHS Secretary would endanger health and put lives at risk wapo.st/3B476PD
Reposted by Laura K Smith
It takes until the *tenth paragraph* in this piece to introduce the phrase “thousands of children may die”
RFK Jr. wants to tackle chronic disease. Despite controversial views on vaccines, his focus on healthy food and taking on special interests may find broad support — and face political headwinds.
RFK Jr. wants to 'Make America Healthy Again.' He could face a lot of pushback
RFK Jr. wants to tackle chronic disease. Despite controversial views on vaccines, his focus on healthy food and taking on special interests may find broad support — and face political headwinds.
www.npr.org
November 15, 2024 at 8:22 PM
It takes until the *tenth paragraph* in this piece to introduce the phrase “thousands of children may die”