Maggie Astor
@maggieastor.bsky.social
Reporter at The New York Times writing about the intersection of health and politics, especially in marginalized communities. NYT Guild steward. No, not one of those Astors.
Pinned
Maggie Astor
@maggieastor.bsky.social
· Aug 14
Homeless and Burning in America’s Hottest City
www.nytimes.com
ICYMI: My dispatch from Phoenix about extreme heat's toll on unhoused people.
People are passing out from dehydration, getting third-degree burns from the sidewalk, being hospitalized for heat-related illness and more. One woman was in an accident and the ground burned her foot down to the bone.
People are passing out from dehydration, getting third-degree burns from the sidewalk, being hospitalized for heat-related illness and more. One woman was in an accident and the ground burned her foot down to the bone.
I'm a former political reporter and a former copy editor, so I think it's fair to say I'm pretty knowledgeable about both US politics and the English language, but I've spent the past five minutes trying to parse the second sentence here and I'm still not 100% sure I've done so correctly
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 3:48 AM
I'm a former political reporter and a former copy editor, so I think it's fair to say I'm pretty knowledgeable about both US politics and the English language, but I've spent the past five minutes trying to parse the second sentence here and I'm still not 100% sure I've done so correctly
Reposted by Maggie Astor
As expected, Canada has lost its measles-free status because of the long-running outbreak there. With it goes the #measles elimination status of the entire zone of the Americas, the only division of the #WHO to ever have achieved measles elimination. www.statnews.com/2025/11/10/m...
Canada loses measles elimination status — as does the entire Americas region
Canada has formally lost its measles elimination status, the country’s public health agency announced, triggering the loss of that status throughout all of the Americas.
www.statnews.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
As expected, Canada has lost its measles-free status because of the long-running outbreak there. With it goes the #measles elimination status of the entire zone of the Americas, the only division of the #WHO to ever have achieved measles elimination. www.statnews.com/2025/11/10/m...
Would you believe this blanket was once draped neatly over the back of the sofa
November 9, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Would you believe this blanket was once draped neatly over the back of the sofa
Reposted by Maggie Astor
Also if you're like, what what the heck is going on? I got you. I helped put together this timeline of the two dozen stories I've done about the work Trump has done to block funding to SNAP. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/u...
A Timeline of the Legal Saga Surrounding SNAP Payments
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Also if you're like, what what the heck is going on? I got you. I helped put together this timeline of the two dozen stories I've done about the work Trump has done to block funding to SNAP. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/u...
Reposted by Maggie Astor
NEW: The Trump admin told states it must immediately "undo" the work to provide full food stamp benefits, or face penalties. The feds sent this in a late-night memo, only adding to the chaos and confusion around SNAP. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/b...
Trump Administration Demands States ‘Undo’ Work to Send Full Food Stamps
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:27 PM
NEW: The Trump admin told states it must immediately "undo" the work to provide full food stamp benefits, or face penalties. The feds sent this in a late-night memo, only adding to the chaos and confusion around SNAP. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/b...
This was a strange week — my anniversary of going on medical leave after ignoring warning signs for months and collapsing over the finish line of the election. I felt that visceral sensation of “this time last year I was…,” which was uncomfortable because this time last year I was a wreck. But... 1/
November 8, 2025 at 7:17 PM
This was a strange week — my anniversary of going on medical leave after ignoring warning signs for months and collapsing over the finish line of the election. I felt that visceral sensation of “this time last year I was…,” which was uncomfortable because this time last year I was a wreck. But... 1/
An interesting thing I've noticed since masking stopped being common: When I see another masked person, even a stranger, we often exchange eye contact and a nod. Like, oh that's nice, there's one other person in this room who definitely isn't judging me and was probably also feeling awkwardly alone.
Sometimes when people ask me why I’m wearing a mask I say I’m traveling or have some important thing soon and can’t afford to get sick and miss it and that’s pretty much always true but I think it would be nice if it were more normalized to just say “I don’t want to get sick” and leave it at that
November 8, 2025 at 5:07 PM
An interesting thing I've noticed since masking stopped being common: When I see another masked person, even a stranger, we often exchange eye contact and a nod. Like, oh that's nice, there's one other person in this room who definitely isn't judging me and was probably also feeling awkwardly alone.
WHY IS IT ALREADY DARK
I know I complained about this yesterday, but it hasn't gotten better and I just find that rude
I know I complained about this yesterday, but it hasn't gotten better and I just find that rude
November 3, 2025 at 10:10 PM
WHY IS IT ALREADY DARK
I know I complained about this yesterday, but it hasn't gotten better and I just find that rude
I know I complained about this yesterday, but it hasn't gotten better and I just find that rude
No one told me that adulthood would involve getting excited about enrolling in next year's FSA
November 3, 2025 at 3:15 PM
No one told me that adulthood would involve getting excited about enrolling in next year's FSA
I like Kit Kats. My husband likes Reese's. We had a bag of each left over from Halloween. Guess which of us has more self-restraint
November 3, 2025 at 1:21 AM
I like Kit Kats. My husband likes Reese's. We had a bag of each left over from Halloween. Guess which of us has more self-restraint
Why did the sun set one hour earlier but it feels like it's been dark for a thousand hours
November 3, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Why did the sun set one hour earlier but it feels like it's been dark for a thousand hours
"Where are the Dodgers from again? I always think of them as Brooklyn but I know that's not right" — my husband
November 2, 2025 at 4:34 AM
"Where are the Dodgers from again? I always think of them as Brooklyn but I know that's not right" — my husband
Welp
I haven't been watching, but all I want now is for the game to reach 2am. Maybe we loop back to January 2020 and the pandemic never happens or something
they must end this game before the daylight savings clock adjustment. nobody knows what will happen if baseball gets into the time shift. we could get stuck in the time wormhole forever
November 2, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Welp
I haven't been watching, but all I want now is for the game to reach 2am. Maybe we loop back to January 2020 and the pandemic never happens or something
they must end this game before the daylight savings clock adjustment. nobody knows what will happen if baseball gets into the time shift. we could get stuck in the time wormhole forever
November 2, 2025 at 4:12 AM
I haven't been watching, but all I want now is for the game to reach 2am. Maybe we loop back to January 2020 and the pandemic never happens or something
It's a four month journey to the other side
November 2, 2025 at 2:27 AM
It's a four month journey to the other side
Today in poorly designed pre-appointment forms
(I'm fine, just getting some mild knee pain checked out)
(I'm fine, just getting some mild knee pain checked out)
November 1, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Today in poorly designed pre-appointment forms
(I'm fine, just getting some mild knee pain checked out)
(I'm fine, just getting some mild knee pain checked out)
Reposted by Maggie Astor
This is flat out false. SNAP cannot be used for that. It’s not permitted under federal law and no states have an exemption for it.
ROB SCHMITT: People are using SNAP benefits to get their nails done, to get their weaves and their hair. This is a really ugly program.
SEN. RON JOHNSON: That program needs to be dramatically reformed.
SEN. RON JOHNSON: That program needs to be dramatically reformed.
November 1, 2025 at 4:23 PM
This is flat out false. SNAP cannot be used for that. It’s not permitted under federal law and no states have an exemption for it.
I would love to see a breakdown of how much it costs to increase police patrols in grocery stores versus how much it would cost to compensate stores to give SNAP recipients free food while benefits are suspended
California police boost patrols at grocery stores as millions set to lose SNAP benefits
California police boost patrols at grocery stores as millions set to lose SNAP benefits
www.foxla.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I would love to see a breakdown of how much it costs to increase police patrols in grocery stores versus how much it would cost to compensate stores to give SNAP recipients free food while benefits are suspended
Eating candy for lunch, as one does
November 1, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Eating candy for lunch, as one does
At least 50% of NBC's gymnastics commentary
“When you make contact, it’s a lot better than when you swing and miss”
—Professional Baseball Commentator
—Professional Baseball Commentator
November 1, 2025 at 1:46 AM
At least 50% of NBC's gymnastics commentary
I am not getting anywhere near enough trick-or-treaters for the amount of candy I bought. Come on, kids!
The trick-or-treaters who visit me tomorrow should thank the coworker who just waddled by my desk in an enormous costume, because if not for him I would 100% have forgotten to buy candy
October 31, 2025 at 11:18 PM
I am not getting anywhere near enough trick-or-treaters for the amount of candy I bought. Come on, kids!
Am I losing my mind or is 40 Across in the Friday crossword in the wrong tense?
October 31, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Am I losing my mind or is 40 Across in the Friday crossword in the wrong tense?
The trick-or-treaters who visit me tomorrow should thank the coworker who just waddled by my desk in an enormous costume, because if not for him I would 100% have forgotten to buy candy
October 30, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The trick-or-treaters who visit me tomorrow should thank the coworker who just waddled by my desk in an enormous costume, because if not for him I would 100% have forgotten to buy candy
Reposted by Maggie Astor
one of my favorite things is when the subject of a piece threatens a journalist and the journalist responds by casually printing everything very matter of factly
October 30, 2025 at 2:11 PM
one of my favorite things is when the subject of a piece threatens a journalist and the journalist responds by casually printing everything very matter of factly