Rainesford Stauffer
@rainesford.bsky.social
Freelance writer, reporter, author. Kentuckian.
rainesford.alexandra@gmail.com / Signal rstauff.20
www.rainesfordstauffer.com
rainesford.alexandra@gmail.com / Signal rstauff.20
www.rainesfordstauffer.com
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
As the Trump admin creates more chaos over funding SNAP benefits, uncertainty is taking a toll. Young people I spoke to while reporting described how profoundly stressful the chaos is: "Uncertainty over SNAP delays “builds this anxiety of, ‘Well, if this is going to be taken away, what else is?’”
More Young People Will Go Hungry Without SNAP
“We’re trying to make it, but it’s been hard.”
www.teenvogue.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
As the Trump admin creates more chaos over funding SNAP benefits, uncertainty is taking a toll. Young people I spoke to while reporting described how profoundly stressful the chaos is: "Uncertainty over SNAP delays “builds this anxiety of, ‘Well, if this is going to be taken away, what else is?’”
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Hi writers! I’m looking to assign a couple of features for Slate before the end of the year. If you have anything in mind that you think would be a fit please send me a pitch! Jenée.Desmond- harris@slate.com or dm me.
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
November 10, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Hi writers! I’m looking to assign a couple of features for Slate before the end of the year. If you have anything in mind that you think would be a fit please send me a pitch! Jenée.Desmond- harris@slate.com or dm me.
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
BREAKING: We won!
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
November 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
BREAKING: We won!
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
My brain has decided to start shutting down at 4pm as daylight does, so this bodes well for the rest of winter.
November 10, 2025 at 11:50 PM
My brain has decided to start shutting down at 4pm as daylight does, so this bodes well for the rest of winter.
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
OpEd: As a high school student, I see the struggles of our mountain communities, already hurt by floods, now suffering under SNAP delays.
As a Pike Co. student, I see the SNAP delays, and I see our people suffer | Opinion
OpEd: As a high school student, I see the struggles of our mountain communities, already hurt by floods, now suffering under SNAP delays.
bit.ly
November 10, 2025 at 4:20 PM
OpEd: As a high school student, I see the struggles of our mountain communities, already hurt by floods, now suffering under SNAP delays.
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
One of the last columns I pitched Teen Vogue was about young workers having to work multiple jobs/side hustles, etc. to get by and the immense toll that takes.
You shouldn’t need two jobs just to survive.
November 7, 2025 at 5:50 PM
One of the last columns I pitched Teen Vogue was about young workers having to work multiple jobs/side hustles, etc. to get by and the immense toll that takes.
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
This about knocked me flat: "However, I know the feeling of being at school and not being offered the same food as your friends, or being warned, “you don’t have any money left." Now, faces of all ages ask me: What will happen next? How will we afford to feed and clothe our families?"
As a Pike Co. student, I see the SNAP delays, and I see our people suffer | Opinion
OpEd: As a high school student, I see the struggles of our mountain communities, already hurt by floods, now suffering under SNAP delays.
www.kentucky.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
This about knocked me flat: "However, I know the feeling of being at school and not being offered the same food as your friends, or being warned, “you don’t have any money left." Now, faces of all ages ask me: What will happen next? How will we afford to feed and clothe our families?"
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Friends, I'm looking to speak with people who are upset about the Democrats' shutdown deal and who can speak about how increasing healthcare costs will impact them. If that's you, I can be reached via DM or at andrea.gonzalez@voxmedia.com. We can also protect people's identities as needed.
November 10, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Friends, I'm looking to speak with people who are upset about the Democrats' shutdown deal and who can speak about how increasing healthcare costs will impact them. If that's you, I can be reached via DM or at andrea.gonzalez@voxmedia.com. We can also protect people's identities as needed.
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
with the end of the shutdown looming, here's my look for @wired.com into what life has been like for EPA employees over the past five weeks: little to no heads up about who was getting furloughed next, important projects getting put on the back burner while deregulation moves forward:
The EPA Is in Chaos
“We learn who is furloughed when we send an email to someone and get the out-of-office message,” one employee tells WIRED.
www.wired.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:39 PM
with the end of the shutdown looming, here's my look for @wired.com into what life has been like for EPA employees over the past five weeks: little to no heads up about who was getting furloughed next, important projects getting put on the back burner while deregulation moves forward:
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
I spoke with SNAP workers about the chaos they saw went through when the Trump administration let benefits lapse and refused to fully fund the program
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Snap workers say Trump administration is ‘using country’s poorest as pawns’
Employees providing assistance to recipients expressed fears on how lack of aid will affect those who need it most
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I spoke with SNAP workers about the chaos they saw went through when the Trump administration let benefits lapse and refused to fully fund the program
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Lottie, a 15yo in Pike County, KY, writes for @kentucky.com about the impact of SNAP delays in her community, which is still recovering from flooding. Cars line up hours before the church where she volunteers begins giving out food: "I see this line growing longer and longer month after month..."
As a Pike Co. student, I see the SNAP delays, and I see our people suffer | Opinion
OpEd: As a high school student, I see the struggles of our mountain communities, already hurt by floods, now suffering under SNAP delays.
www.kentucky.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Lottie, a 15yo in Pike County, KY, writes for @kentucky.com about the impact of SNAP delays in her community, which is still recovering from flooding. Cars line up hours before the church where she volunteers begins giving out food: "I see this line growing longer and longer month after month..."
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
A new study shows rents for low-wage Atlanta tenants are rising *9 times* faster than for wealthy renters.
The affordability crisis is everywhere: housing, healthcare, food, electricity, survival itself.
And the party that won big on "affordability" last week just turned around and surrendered it.
The affordability crisis is everywhere: housing, healthcare, food, electricity, survival itself.
And the party that won big on "affordability" last week just turned around and surrendered it.
Study: Rents for low-wage Atlantans rose 9 times faster than for high earners
Rents for suburban workforce housing in the metro Atlanta region increased by almost 20%, while rents for luxury units increased by 2%, a study said.
www.ajc.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:13 PM
A new study shows rents for low-wage Atlanta tenants are rising *9 times* faster than for wealthy renters.
The affordability crisis is everywhere: housing, healthcare, food, electricity, survival itself.
And the party that won big on "affordability" last week just turned around and surrendered it.
The affordability crisis is everywhere: housing, healthcare, food, electricity, survival itself.
And the party that won big on "affordability" last week just turned around and surrendered it.
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
New evidence on how ICE is affecting student learning
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1erU5Oe0vJYdVjuqQi4sfhUGxS0BGjWl8/view?usp=drivesdk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1erU5Oe0vJYdVjuqQi4sfhUGxS0BGjWl8/view?usp=drivesdk
November 10, 2025 at 10:40 AM
New evidence on how ICE is affecting student learning
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1erU5Oe0vJYdVjuqQi4sfhUGxS0BGjWl8/view?usp=drivesdk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1erU5Oe0vJYdVjuqQi4sfhUGxS0BGjWl8/view?usp=drivesdk
As the Trump admin creates more chaos over funding SNAP benefits, uncertainty is taking a toll. Young people I spoke to while reporting described how profoundly stressful the chaos is: "Uncertainty over SNAP delays “builds this anxiety of, ‘Well, if this is going to be taken away, what else is?’”
More Young People Will Go Hungry Without SNAP
“We’re trying to make it, but it’s been hard.”
www.teenvogue.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
As the Trump admin creates more chaos over funding SNAP benefits, uncertainty is taking a toll. Young people I spoke to while reporting described how profoundly stressful the chaos is: "Uncertainty over SNAP delays “builds this anxiety of, ‘Well, if this is going to be taken away, what else is?’”
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
seems to me that those democrats inclined not to fight perceive themselves as living through a somewhat ordinary cycle of presidential overreach and backlash and not something much more significant and dangerous
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
seems to me that those democrats inclined not to fight perceive themselves as living through a somewhat ordinary cycle of presidential overreach and backlash and not something much more significant and dangerous
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
maybe it’s only another X wave but the upswing of screenshots of news stories with no link or byline or source (no alt text)… or posting photojournalists’ work w/o attribution or a link… just take 30 seconds before posting to tell us where it’s from. and if you don’t know why are you posting it??
November 8, 2025 at 11:23 PM
maybe it’s only another X wave but the upswing of screenshots of news stories with no link or byline or source (no alt text)… or posting photojournalists’ work w/o attribution or a link… just take 30 seconds before posting to tell us where it’s from. and if you don’t know why are you posting it??
What gets me, among other things, is thinking about how few of these Senators have likely ever really worried about healthcare. Gone without insurance just hoping nothing awful happens. Lost access to a medication because of cost. Panicked that a chronic illness would make it impossible to get care.
November 10, 2025 at 12:25 PM
What gets me, among other things, is thinking about how few of these Senators have likely ever really worried about healthcare. Gone without insurance just hoping nothing awful happens. Lost access to a medication because of cost. Panicked that a chronic illness would make it impossible to get care.
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Rafael Veraza was trying to leave a Sam’s Club parking lot when a federal agent drove alongside a line of cars, spraying chemical irritants occupants of the vehicles through open windows — including his 1-year-old daughter, Ariana.
“My daughter didn’t have to go through this."
“My daughter didn’t have to go through this."
1-year-old, pepper sprayed by federal agent in Cicero: 'My daughter didn't have to go through this'
Video shows federal agents spraying chemical irritants from a moving vehicle at a line of cars waiting to leave a Cicero Sam's Club on Saturday morning. The action appears to violate a judge's restric...
chicago.suntimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Rafael Veraza was trying to leave a Sam’s Club parking lot when a federal agent drove alongside a line of cars, spraying chemical irritants occupants of the vehicles through open windows — including his 1-year-old daughter, Ariana.
“My daughter didn’t have to go through this."
“My daughter didn’t have to go through this."
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Incredibly bittersweet to be published in Teen Vogue this weekend after devastating layoffs, including my editor for this piece. It’s about how beauty influencers have fallen into and become part of the alt-right pipeline targeting girls and women
www.teenvogue.com/story/womano...
www.teenvogue.com/story/womano...
The 'Womanosphere' Is Coming for Teen Girls
How beauty and wellness influencers are part of a misinformation ecosystem pushing traditional values on girls.
www.teenvogue.com
November 9, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Incredibly bittersweet to be published in Teen Vogue this weekend after devastating layoffs, including my editor for this piece. It’s about how beauty influencers have fallen into and become part of the alt-right pipeline targeting girls and women
www.teenvogue.com/story/womano...
www.teenvogue.com/story/womano...
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Here’s video of federal agents doing a drive by pepper spraying that hit a father and his one-year old on Saturday when the Feds were hitting Little Village and Cicero
November 9, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Here’s video of federal agents doing a drive by pepper spraying that hit a father and his one-year old on Saturday when the Feds were hitting Little Village and Cicero
Trump admin creating a back-and-forth arguing for the ability to NOT feed people on a Friday evening and Democrats willing to sacrifice healthcare on a Sunday evening. Meanwhile people are working and getting their kids ready for school tomorrow and just trying to get by.
November 9, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Trump admin creating a back-and-forth arguing for the ability to NOT feed people on a Friday evening and Democrats willing to sacrifice healthcare on a Sunday evening. Meanwhile people are working and getting their kids ready for school tomorrow and just trying to get by.
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Girl Scouts in a Chicago Suburb hosted a food drive. But the girls encountered masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with weapons.
"ICE turned it into a scary and what felt like an unsafe environment for us to be out with these kids"
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
"ICE turned it into a scary and what felt like an unsafe environment for us to be out with these kids"
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Masked ICE agents put damper on Oak Park Girl Scout food drive: ‘It’s heartbreaking as a mom’
Federal immigration agents were confronted in Oak Park on Saturday morning by residents blowing whistles as local Girl Scouts collect food for local pantries, rattling some girls and their parents.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Girl Scouts in a Chicago Suburb hosted a food drive. But the girls encountered masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with weapons.
"ICE turned it into a scary and what felt like an unsafe environment for us to be out with these kids"
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
"ICE turned it into a scary and what felt like an unsafe environment for us to be out with these kids"
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Groceries saw their biggest jump in nearly three years last month, a worrisome sign for inflation-weary shoppers. Tariffs are contributing to higher prices for imported staples like bananas and coffee.
Grocery prices have jumped up, and there's no relief in sight
Groceries saw their biggest jump in nearly three years last month, a worrisome sign for inflation-weary shoppers. Tariffs are contributing to higher prices for imported staples like bananas and coffee.
n.pr
November 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Groceries saw their biggest jump in nearly three years last month, a worrisome sign for inflation-weary shoppers. Tariffs are contributing to higher prices for imported staples like bananas and coffee.
Reposted by Rainesford Stauffer
Phillip Lewis, a 72-year-old cancer patient, said he was woken up and marched outside his home in his robe and underwear before federal officers even checked his ID.
He was not, it turned out, the man they were looking for.
By @wendicthomas.bsky.social & @kathsburgess.bsky.social
He was not, it turned out, the man they were looking for.
By @wendicthomas.bsky.social & @kathsburgess.bsky.social
“I Don’t Feel Safe”: Black Memphis Residents Report Harassment by Trump’s Police Task Force
A pastor was pulled over for looking lost. A 72-year-old was marched out in his bathrobe due to mistaken identity. Memphis’ mayor welcomed the federal law enforcement surge, but some residents say the...
www.propublica.org
November 9, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Phillip Lewis, a 72-year-old cancer patient, said he was woken up and marched outside his home in his robe and underwear before federal officers even checked his ID.
He was not, it turned out, the man they were looking for.
By @wendicthomas.bsky.social & @kathsburgess.bsky.social
He was not, it turned out, the man they were looking for.
By @wendicthomas.bsky.social & @kathsburgess.bsky.social