Matthew Borus
@matthewborus.bsky.social
Sociologist, social work faculty
Posting topics include community, disability, social welfare, Chicago, social movements, organizing, policy, the state, labor, coffee, and various nerdy side trips. Personal account
Posting topics include community, disability, social welfare, Chicago, social movements, organizing, policy, the state, labor, coffee, and various nerdy side trips. Personal account
Pinned
Matthew Borus
@matthewborus.bsky.social
· Feb 26
Cutting Medicaid and federal programs are among 4 key Trump administration policy changes that could make life harder for disabled people
Tracking disability policies has long been challenging − this will become a harder task under the Trump administration.
theconversation.com
New from me: A look at four (of many) areas where Trump and his GOP allies threaten to roll back disability policy:
-Disability rights at work
-Cuts to the federal workforce
-Education
-Health care, both in terms of the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid
Please check it out!
-Disability rights at work
-Cuts to the federal workforce
-Education
-Health care, both in terms of the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid
Please check it out!
As if social media coming out of Homeland Security wasn’t bad enough, they’re bringing over a 21-year-old who’s been posting far right content at the Department of Labor.
Good article with quotes from folks who used to use gov social media to, y’know, serve the public.
Good article with quotes from folks who used to use gov social media to, y’know, serve the public.
Homeland Security Hires Labor Dept. Aide Whose Posts Raised Alarms
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:57 PM
As if social media coming out of Homeland Security wasn’t bad enough, they’re bringing over a 21-year-old who’s been posting far right content at the Department of Labor.
Good article with quotes from folks who used to use gov social media to, y’know, serve the public.
Good article with quotes from folks who used to use gov social media to, y’know, serve the public.
Reposted by Matthew Borus
Scoop: Top FDA official Vinay Prasad overruled the agency’s reviewers when he refused to accept Moderna’s application for a new influenza vaccine, STAT has learned.
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...
Prasad overruled FDA staff to reject Moderna's flu vaccine application
The rejection is the latest instance of Vinay Prasad overruling career FDA scientists to place vaccines under harsher scrutiny.
www.statnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Scoop: Top FDA official Vinay Prasad overruled the agency’s reviewers when he refused to accept Moderna’s application for a new influenza vaccine, STAT has learned.
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...
www.statnews.com/2026/02/11/m...
We have a groundbreaking technology that could prevent untold death and suffering.
But its development is being hindered because HHS is led by a eugenicist roadkill enthusiast and an assortment of cranks and quacks who think their own self-serving contrarianism trumps established health science.
But its development is being hindered because HHS is led by a eugenicist roadkill enthusiast and an assortment of cranks and quacks who think their own self-serving contrarianism trumps established health science.
“They are refusing to review a new vaccine with a more flexible technology, while creating a real risk we will not have traditional vaccines for next year," @doritreiss.bsky.social said.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
FDA declines to review Moderna application for new flu vaccine
Moderna requests meeting to discuss refusal as decision could have implications for all new and updated vaccines
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:20 AM
We have a groundbreaking technology that could prevent untold death and suffering.
But its development is being hindered because HHS is led by a eugenicist roadkill enthusiast and an assortment of cranks and quacks who think their own self-serving contrarianism trumps established health science.
But its development is being hindered because HHS is led by a eugenicist roadkill enthusiast and an assortment of cranks and quacks who think their own self-serving contrarianism trumps established health science.
If Ring’s goal is to pull at the heartstrings of dog lovers (like me!) to legitimize surveillance, this critique from @weratedogs.com is a very important counterpunch.
February 10, 2026 at 8:23 PM
If Ring’s goal is to pull at the heartstrings of dog lovers (like me!) to legitimize surveillance, this critique from @weratedogs.com is a very important counterpunch.
Hey friends in sociology, org theory, public policy, and related fields…
If I want to find research that studies and theorize the role of nonprofit organizations (like legal aid/legal services) that help people navigate government programs, where might I look at? Particular authors or debates?
If I want to find research that studies and theorize the role of nonprofit organizations (like legal aid/legal services) that help people navigate government programs, where might I look at? Particular authors or debates?
February 10, 2026 at 8:18 PM
Hey friends in sociology, org theory, public policy, and related fields…
If I want to find research that studies and theorize the role of nonprofit organizations (like legal aid/legal services) that help people navigate government programs, where might I look at? Particular authors or debates?
If I want to find research that studies and theorize the role of nonprofit organizations (like legal aid/legal services) that help people navigate government programs, where might I look at? Particular authors or debates?
Reposted by Matthew Borus
If you’ve been vaguely worried but unsure how to talk about the kidnappings happening all around us, this might help.
February 10, 2026 at 3:09 PM
If you’ve been vaguely worried but unsure how to talk about the kidnappings happening all around us, this might help.
Reposted by Matthew Borus
Her community rallied so fast and so diligently. This is a victory to uphold and celebrate. Reminds everyone that it's worth fighting back.
An immigration court dropped its case against Turkish graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk, a little less than a year after federal agents arrested her on a street near Tufts University
Immigration Court Drops Case Against Tufts Student Rumeysa Ozturk
The Turkish national had been arrested by plainclothes federal officers outside her apartment.
on.wsj.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Her community rallied so fast and so diligently. This is a victory to uphold and celebrate. Reminds everyone that it's worth fighting back.
Reposted by Matthew Borus
“$5.2 million from Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago for increasing H.I.V. prevention therapy among Black women”
The Trump administration plans to rescind $600 million in public health funds from four states led by Democrats because it finds the grants “inconsistent with agency priorities,” according to documents reviewed by the NYT
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/h...
Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/h...
Trump Administration to Cut $600 Million in Health Funding From Four States
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:12 AM
“$5.2 million from Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago for increasing H.I.V. prevention therapy among Black women”
A student loved Bad Bunny’s show and mentioned that she wanted to learn more about the electric grid stuff. I sent her an article. Gotta love a cultural performance that spurs further learning!
February 9, 2026 at 6:13 PM
A student loved Bad Bunny’s show and mentioned that she wanted to learn more about the electric grid stuff. I sent her an article. Gotta love a cultural performance that spurs further learning!
Bad Bunny: You should believe in yourself too. You’re worth more than you think.
Right-wing commentators, crying and screaming: The horrible message of this half-time show was an affront to American values!!
Right-wing commentators, crying and screaming: The horrible message of this half-time show was an affront to American values!!
February 9, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Bad Bunny: You should believe in yourself too. You’re worth more than you think.
Right-wing commentators, crying and screaming: The horrible message of this half-time show was an affront to American values!!
Right-wing commentators, crying and screaming: The horrible message of this half-time show was an affront to American values!!
Not to distract from OP's crucial point, but do people know/remember the violence of his 2016 rallies?
Any time a protester was heard, Trump would bellow "Get 'em out of here." The crowd would go wild as the person was thrown out, often getting hit on the way. It was a violent ritual expulsion.
Any time a protester was heard, Trump would bellow "Get 'em out of here." The crowd would go wild as the person was thrown out, often getting hit on the way. It was a violent ritual expulsion.
When I worked for Reason magazine during Trump's rise to power in 2016, I was explicitly forbidden by the editor in chief from writing about Trump's racism, or the violence and racism at his rallies.
It was a "sideshow," I was told.
It was a "sideshow," I was told.
Weird. I tried to warn libertarians about Trump
February 9, 2026 at 3:01 PM
Not to distract from OP's crucial point, but do people know/remember the violence of his 2016 rallies?
Any time a protester was heard, Trump would bellow "Get 'em out of here." The crowd would go wild as the person was thrown out, often getting hit on the way. It was a violent ritual expulsion.
Any time a protester was heard, Trump would bellow "Get 'em out of here." The crowd would go wild as the person was thrown out, often getting hit on the way. It was a violent ritual expulsion.
The Seahawks played good defense, but the Bears 40 years ago showed what Super Bowl defense can really look like.
(Also while demolishing the Pats.)
(Also while demolishing the Pats.)
February 9, 2026 at 4:12 AM
The Seahawks played good defense, but the Bears 40 years ago showed what Super Bowl defense can really look like.
(Also while demolishing the Pats.)
(Also while demolishing the Pats.)
Johnny Guitar (1954)
Name an anti fascist film
February 9, 2026 at 3:54 AM
Johnny Guitar (1954)
I did this yesterday. It took seconds.
You can do it while you watch football. It’s easy.
You can do it while you watch football. It’s easy.
If Starbucks won’t respect workers at the bargaining table, they don’t deserve our clicks or orders.
Our call to action is simple:
📱 Delete the Starbucks app. #DeleteTheApp
bit.ly/deletetheapp
Our call to action is simple:
📱 Delete the Starbucks app. #DeleteTheApp
bit.ly/deletetheapp
February 9, 2026 at 2:50 AM
I did this yesterday. It took seconds.
You can do it while you watch football. It’s easy.
You can do it while you watch football. It’s easy.
Story from an announcer about how one player won’t be told if his very pregnant wife goes into labor during the game, with a line about how he can always have another baby?!?
And it was presented as heartwarming?!?!
And it was presented as heartwarming?!?!
February 9, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Story from an announcer about how one player won’t be told if his very pregnant wife goes into labor during the game, with a line about how he can always have another baby?!?
And it was presented as heartwarming?!?!
And it was presented as heartwarming?!?!
From Chile all the way up to Canada. Amazing way to close a great show!
"God Bless America:" then he lists most of the countries in the hemisphere starting with Chile I think? this rules
February 9, 2026 at 1:36 AM
From Chile all the way up to Canada. Amazing way to close a great show!
Reposted by Matthew Borus
Remarkable to see sugarcane plantation work depicted in the Superbowl halftime show.
February 9, 2026 at 1:21 AM
Remarkable to see sugarcane plantation work depicted in the Superbowl halftime show.
Honestly, any pro team that asks Microsoft Copilot to recruit players deserves the losing season it’s asking for.
February 9, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Honestly, any pro team that asks Microsoft Copilot to recruit players deserves the losing season it’s asking for.
Reposted by Matthew Borus
"deprofessionalizing" fields that are majority-women...not by accident!
Public comments needed!
The admin wants to define grad programs in many "helping" fields (social work, nursing, teaching, etc) to no longer be "professional" degrees. This would mean major student loan restrictions: only $20,500/year. Tuition alone is often more.
Please comment by March 2!
The admin wants to define grad programs in many "helping" fields (social work, nursing, teaching, etc) to no longer be "professional" degrees. This would mean major student loan restrictions: only $20,500/year. Tuition alone is often more.
Please comment by March 2!
Reclassifying Social Work Degrees Will Harm Students, Communities, and the Profession
www.cswe.org
February 8, 2026 at 11:17 PM
"deprofessionalizing" fields that are majority-women...not by accident!
Public comments needed!
The admin wants to define grad programs in many "helping" fields (social work, nursing, teaching, etc) to no longer be "professional" degrees. This would mean major student loan restrictions: only $20,500/year. Tuition alone is often more.
Please comment by March 2!
The admin wants to define grad programs in many "helping" fields (social work, nursing, teaching, etc) to no longer be "professional" degrees. This would mean major student loan restrictions: only $20,500/year. Tuition alone is often more.
Please comment by March 2!
Reclassifying Social Work Degrees Will Harm Students, Communities, and the Profession
www.cswe.org
February 8, 2026 at 10:59 PM
Public comments needed!
The admin wants to define grad programs in many "helping" fields (social work, nursing, teaching, etc) to no longer be "professional" degrees. This would mean major student loan restrictions: only $20,500/year. Tuition alone is often more.
Please comment by March 2!
The admin wants to define grad programs in many "helping" fields (social work, nursing, teaching, etc) to no longer be "professional" degrees. This would mean major student loan restrictions: only $20,500/year. Tuition alone is often more.
Please comment by March 2!
I mean, we knew these folks didn’t care much about life.
So they really didn’t have to spread a preventable deadly disease to get the point across. But here we are.
So they really didn’t have to spread a preventable deadly disease to get the point across. But here we are.
February 8, 2026 at 6:57 PM
I mean, we knew these folks didn’t care much about life.
So they really didn’t have to spread a preventable deadly disease to get the point across. But here we are.
So they really didn’t have to spread a preventable deadly disease to get the point across. But here we are.
The temperature is supposed to hit 34 on Tuesday, and that may be the first time it tops freezing here in about two and a half weeks.
February 8, 2026 at 5:54 PM
The temperature is supposed to hit 34 on Tuesday, and that may be the first time it tops freezing here in about two and a half weeks.
Conservative: I felt so unsafe in that city!
Me: Holy shit! Were you hurt? Threatened?
C: LOL no...not that
Me: Street harassment? Get robbed? I'm sorry!
C: No, not that either
Me: So what happened?
C: I saw [gasp] poor people! On the street! You know the ones...
Me: Holy shit! Were you hurt? Threatened?
C: LOL no...not that
Me: Street harassment? Get robbed? I'm sorry!
C: No, not that either
Me: So what happened?
C: I saw [gasp] poor people! On the street! You know the ones...
February 7, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Conservative: I felt so unsafe in that city!
Me: Holy shit! Were you hurt? Threatened?
C: LOL no...not that
Me: Street harassment? Get robbed? I'm sorry!
C: No, not that either
Me: So what happened?
C: I saw [gasp] poor people! On the street! You know the ones...
Me: Holy shit! Were you hurt? Threatened?
C: LOL no...not that
Me: Street harassment? Get robbed? I'm sorry!
C: No, not that either
Me: So what happened?
C: I saw [gasp] poor people! On the street! You know the ones...
Got my annual covid shot today!
I usually get it in late December, but I was traveling, then sick with a non-covid bug, then starting the semester.
But today I got it, and I mention that because if you haven't had yours yet--or haven't had one in a few years--today is always a good day for it.
I usually get it in late December, but I was traveling, then sick with a non-covid bug, then starting the semester.
But today I got it, and I mention that because if you haven't had yours yet--or haven't had one in a few years--today is always a good day for it.
February 7, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Got my annual covid shot today!
I usually get it in late December, but I was traveling, then sick with a non-covid bug, then starting the semester.
But today I got it, and I mention that because if you haven't had yours yet--or haven't had one in a few years--today is always a good day for it.
I usually get it in late December, but I was traveling, then sick with a non-covid bug, then starting the semester.
But today I got it, and I mention that because if you haven't had yours yet--or haven't had one in a few years--today is always a good day for it.