Vanessa Parks
@vanessaparks.bsky.social
Behavioral/social scientist at RAND, focused on disasters, infrastructure, housing, and healthcare. And also birds, books, and running. Opinions are my own.
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
New data can help shape policies that address veterans' needs, close gaps in support, and foster better understanding of the veteran population and their families. ⬇️
Data to Help Support America's Veterans
Updated analyses of U.S. veteran demographics, mental health, and labor market outcomes provide timely evidence to guide policies, services, and interventions that address the evolving needs of the ve...
www.rand.org
November 13, 2025 at 8:43 PM
New data can help shape policies that address veterans' needs, close gaps in support, and foster better understanding of the veteran population and their families. ⬇️
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
The different race, ethnicity and origin category names in the U.S. census have often changed in a reflection of changing politics and public attitudes. Explore those changes, from the first census in 1790 to the latest count in 2020.
What Census Calls Us
Explore the different race, ethnicity and origin categories used in the U.S. decennial census, from the first one in 1790 to the latest count in 2020.
www.pewresearch.org
November 13, 2025 at 6:04 PM
The different race, ethnicity and origin category names in the U.S. census have often changed in a reflection of changing politics and public attitudes. Explore those changes, from the first census in 1790 to the latest count in 2020.
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
Even if folks think this about religion, the dismissive mocking attitude toward *studying* religion is part of the problem. Love it or hate it, religion matters A LOT and isn’t going away anytime soon.
November 2, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Even if folks think this about religion, the dismissive mocking attitude toward *studying* religion is part of the problem. Love it or hate it, religion matters A LOT and isn’t going away anytime soon.
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
Here's a quick 11 min chat about low birth rates and population panic. I'll pile on with the note that the United States is one of only eight countries in the world to not offer a paid federal maternity leave (along with Suriname, Papua New Guinea, and five South Pacific island nations).
On Here & Now @wbur.org @npr.org, ASA Member Karen Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social @uncpopcenter.bsky.social discussed politicians leveraging concern about low birth rates to justify policies that limit rights for women, non-Christians, people of color, & the LGBTQIA+ community.
The state of the pronatalist movement
The pronatalist movement, which claims to be rectifying what some of its members describe as the likely collapse of civilization due to population decline.
bit.ly
November 4, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Here's a quick 11 min chat about low birth rates and population panic. I'll pile on with the note that the United States is one of only eight countries in the world to not offer a paid federal maternity leave (along with Suriname, Papua New Guinea, and five South Pacific island nations).
Heather is such a fantastic choice to lead this new division at RAND! I’m excited for her leadership.
If you've ever wondered how the places we live, learn, and work are all connected, RAND's Heather Schwartz has some answers.
Five Questions: Heather Schwartz on Connecting Schools, Jobs, and Infrastructure for Stronger Communities
Heather Schwartz, vice president and director of RAND Education, Employment, and Infrastructure, heads a team of experts tackling real-world challenges from classrooms and careers to housing affordabi...
www.rand.org
November 4, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Heather is such a fantastic choice to lead this new division at RAND! I’m excited for her leadership.
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
This panel will be such a resource! Veterans connected to the VA are just a subset of veterans and are, in many ways, different from those who aren’t.
We're pleased to announce the launch of the Veterans Insight Panel, a partnership between RAND and @norc.org. This new resource will capture what most veteran research misses: the voices of veterans who aren't already connected to services from the VA.
National Panel Launches to Address Gaps in Veterans Data
RAND and NORC at the University of Chicago, two of the nation's leading research organizations, launched today the Veterans Insight Panel, a national data resource to capture what most veteran researc...
bit.ly
October 28, 2025 at 3:10 PM
This panel will be such a resource! Veterans connected to the VA are just a subset of veterans and are, in many ways, different from those who aren’t.
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
With Medicaid cutbacks on the horizon, millions in the U.S. are expected to go uninsured. In the Mississippi Delta region — one of the poorest places in the U.S. — people are stressed and mad.
In the rural South where Medicaid has been a lifeline, residents brace for cuts
With Medicaid cutbacks on the horizon, millions in the U.S. are expected to go uninsured. In the Mississippi Delta region — one of the poorest places in the U.S. — people are stressed and mad.
n.pr
October 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
With Medicaid cutbacks on the horizon, millions in the U.S. are expected to go uninsured. In the Mississippi Delta region — one of the poorest places in the U.S. — people are stressed and mad.
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
Insurance now makes up 20% of today's mortgage payment -- up from 8% in the 2000s.
Climate change is worsening the insurance crisis. Some states have solutions
As the homeowners insurance crisis gets worse, some state-led efforts are tackling the problem.
www.usatoday.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Insurance now makes up 20% of today's mortgage payment -- up from 8% in the 2000s.
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
📣 The "U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters" data is back today through @climatecentral.org! And more soon!
➡️ Explore our new interactive website at www.climatecentral.org/climate-serv..., which is now updated through the first half of 2025 & totaling over $101 billion from 14 events.
➡️ Explore our new interactive website at www.climatecentral.org/climate-serv..., which is now updated through the first half of 2025 & totaling over $101 billion from 14 events.
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
📣 The "U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters" data is back today through @climatecentral.org! And more soon!
➡️ Explore our new interactive website at www.climatecentral.org/climate-serv..., which is now updated through the first half of 2025 & totaling over $101 billion from 14 events.
➡️ Explore our new interactive website at www.climatecentral.org/climate-serv..., which is now updated through the first half of 2025 & totaling over $101 billion from 14 events.
Recent RAND research suggests that about 40% of Americans provide some kind of unpaid care for another adult. These tips are likely going to be important for you at some time in your life.
Family caregivers offer their wit, wisdom and survival tips for the hardest unpaid job in America.
A caregiver's survival guide: Advice from people who've been there
Family caregivers offer their wit, wisdom and survival tips for the hardest unpaid job in America.
n.pr
October 20, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Recent RAND research suggests that about 40% of Americans provide some kind of unpaid care for another adult. These tips are likely going to be important for you at some time in your life.
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
New research alert: Medicaid covers nearly 40% of treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), but recent “unwinding” of pandemic-era enrollment protections led many to lose coverage nationwide. How did this affect life-saving buprenorphine treatment?
September 30, 2025 at 2:10 PM
New research alert: Medicaid covers nearly 40% of treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), but recent “unwinding” of pandemic-era enrollment protections led many to lose coverage nationwide. How did this affect life-saving buprenorphine treatment?
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
SCOOP: The Trump administration has installed a new acting director of the Census Bureau, @npr.org has learned. George Cook takes over the federal government’s largest statistical agency after it's been thrust into the middle of a renewed attempt by President Trump to alter the national head count
The Census Bureau is now headed by a Trump official in an acting position
George Cook is the Trump administration's new acting director of the Census Bureau, which has been thrust into the middle of a renewed attempt by President Trump to alter the national head count.
www.npr.org
September 19, 2025 at 6:14 PM
SCOOP: The Trump administration has installed a new acting director of the Census Bureau, @npr.org has learned. George Cook takes over the federal government’s largest statistical agency after it's been thrust into the middle of a renewed attempt by President Trump to alter the national head count
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
People were forced to leave their pets behind during Hurricane Katrina, creating an unprecedented animal welfare crisis that has shaped the country's disaster response ever since.
A lesson learned after pets were left behind in Hurricane Katrina: Save the animals
People were forced to leave their pets behind during Hurricane Katrina, creating an unprecedented animal welfare crisis that has shaped the country's disaster response ever since.
n.pr
August 29, 2025 at 6:16 PM
People were forced to leave their pets behind during Hurricane Katrina, creating an unprecedented animal welfare crisis that has shaped the country's disaster response ever since.
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
Unfortunately, Bluesky is unavailable in Mississippi right now, due to a new state law that requires age verification for all users.
While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.
While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.
August 22, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Unfortunately, Bluesky is unavailable in Mississippi right now, due to a new state law that requires age verification for all users.
While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.
While intended for child safety, we think this law poses broader challenges & creates significant barriers that limit free speech & harm smaller platforms like ours.
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
Scoop: The U.S. billion-dollar disaster database is set to return this fall over at @climatecentral.org. They've hired the former NOAA scientist who ran the project for 10+ years www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Researchers Are Resurrecting Billion-Dollar Disaster Tool Trump Killed
Nonprofit Climate Central has hired the scientist behind a key database of costly weather disasters to rebuild it.
www.bloomberg.com
August 5, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Scoop: The U.S. billion-dollar disaster database is set to return this fall over at @climatecentral.org. They've hired the former NOAA scientist who ran the project for 10+ years www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Because so few people purchase flood insurance, costs are extremely high for the people who need it most.
Climate change is increasing the risk of dangerous floods. But people often balk at the cost of flood insurance, especially since many doubt they need protection.
Flood risk is widespread in the U.S. Few people have insurance for it
Climate change is increasing the risk of dangerous floods. But people often balk at the cost of flood insurance, especially since many doubt they need protection.
n.pr
July 14, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Because so few people purchase flood insurance, costs are extremely high for the people who need it most.
RIP Sophie you will always be famous.
To commemorate 10 years of SOPHIE's debut, World Cafe put together a mix of "proto-hyperpop" tracks.
10 songs that were hyperpop before the subgenre was born
To commemorate 10 years of SOPHIE's debut, World Cafe put together a mix of "proto-hyperpop" tracks.
n.pr
July 10, 2025 at 1:03 PM
RIP Sophie you will always be famous.
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
Evergreen reminder that wind turbines are not even remotely a leading cause of human-driven bird mortality. This is classic concern trolling in the interest of fossil fuels - if they really cared about birds they'd focus on domestic cats and building glass. And what's not shown here: climate change.
July 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Evergreen reminder that wind turbines are not even remotely a leading cause of human-driven bird mortality. This is classic concern trolling in the interest of fossil fuels - if they really cared about birds they'd focus on domestic cats and building glass. And what's not shown here: climate change.
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
Here's the ultra-short read on the Mamdani logo design www.gq.com/story/zohran...
!["It's not the classic Dem blue, Republican red. We wanted [the logo to feel like] a yellow taxi cab, something that really represents New York City," said Katie Riley, Mamdani's deputy campaign manager. The wordmark was hand-drawn by graphic designer Aneesh Bhoopathy, a former member of the Queens DSA who is now based in Philadelphia. According to Riley, the design also took inspiration from city street signs and old Bollywood movie posters. "It's bright and colorful and joyful," she said.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qrllvid7s54k4hnwtqxwetrf/bafkreibfs44lvvoa3nk37ntulda3ekkrzfvptvjljw7ctskekixzqkth7a@jpeg)
June 25, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Here's the ultra-short read on the Mamdani logo design www.gq.com/story/zohran...
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social is a great example of how far you can go if you genuinely center your campaign in an engaging way around the issue that voters overwhelmingly say in surveys they care the most about
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyL4...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyL4...
NYC is Suffering from Halalflation
YouTube video by Zohran Mamdani for NYC
www.youtube.com
June 25, 2025 at 2:20 AM
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social is a great example of how far you can go if you genuinely center your campaign in an engaging way around the issue that voters overwhelmingly say in surveys they care the most about
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyL4...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyL4...
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
Video captured the moment a road buckled and sent a car flying as a heatwave impacted Missouri on Sunday.
June 23, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Video captured the moment a road buckled and sent a car flying as a heatwave impacted Missouri on Sunday.
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
Bisexual flag: Purple-breasted Cotinga
📷 Tomaz Melo, eBird
📷 Tomaz Melo, eBird
June 1, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Bisexual flag: Purple-breasted Cotinga
📷 Tomaz Melo, eBird
📷 Tomaz Melo, eBird
Super timely report as cuts to FEMA loom.
77% of Americans say stricter building standards are a good idea for communities at high risk of extreme weather. And 64% think it is a good idea for government to provide financial assistance for people in these communities to rebuild in the wake of extreme weather events.
May 30, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Super timely report as cuts to FEMA loom.
Reposted by Vanessa Parks
Hahaha Oneil Cruz is eating an Uncrustable after hitting an enormous home run
May 28, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Hahaha Oneil Cruz is eating an Uncrustable after hitting an enormous home run