Benjy Renton
@bhrenton.bsky.social
Research Associate at The Brown University School of Public Health focusing on pandemics and health policy. Formerly of Middlebury.
Due to the continued government shutdown, 42 million people who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will no longer get federal food benefits starting Saturday.
This program serves 1 in 8 Americans and 39% are children.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...
This program serves 1 in 8 Americans and 39% are children.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...
October 30, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Due to the continued government shutdown, 42 million people who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will no longer get federal food benefits starting Saturday.
This program serves 1 in 8 Americans and 39% are children.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...
This program serves 1 in 8 Americans and 39% are children.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...
In 1944, the USS LST-510 carried 200 soldiers and 70 vehicles (including tanks) and landed near Omaha Beach as part of the D-Day landings in Normandy.
Today, 81 years later, she shuttles passengers and cars between Long Island and Connecticut. What a cool piece of history.
Today, 81 years later, she shuttles passengers and cars between Long Island and Connecticut. What a cool piece of history.
June 16, 2025 at 2:13 AM
In 1944, the USS LST-510 carried 200 soldiers and 70 vehicles (including tanks) and landed near Omaha Beach as part of the D-Day landings in Normandy.
Today, 81 years later, she shuttles passengers and cars between Long Island and Connecticut. What a cool piece of history.
Today, 81 years later, she shuttles passengers and cars between Long Island and Connecticut. What a cool piece of history.
3. Already long ER wait times (an ER visit in Rhode Island is on average nearly 5 hours) would get longer.
In 2003 Oregon's Medicaid disenrolled 50,000 patients. The result? A 20% increase in ER visits. More visits = longer wait times.
www.annemergmed.com/article/S019...
In 2003 Oregon's Medicaid disenrolled 50,000 patients. The result? A 20% increase in ER visits. More visits = longer wait times.
www.annemergmed.com/article/S019...
June 3, 2025 at 12:27 AM
3. Already long ER wait times (an ER visit in Rhode Island is on average nearly 5 hours) would get longer.
In 2003 Oregon's Medicaid disenrolled 50,000 patients. The result? A 20% increase in ER visits. More visits = longer wait times.
www.annemergmed.com/article/S019...
In 2003 Oregon's Medicaid disenrolled 50,000 patients. The result? A 20% increase in ER visits. More visits = longer wait times.
www.annemergmed.com/article/S019...
3,310 degrees. Over 3,000 alumni. 11,000 families and guests. 15,000 attendees at Campus Dance. 13,000 seats on the Green. And 1 musical performance by Jon Batiste.
Brown's 257th Commencement was an incredible weekend — congratulations to the Class of 2025!
Brown's 257th Commencement was an incredible weekend — congratulations to the Class of 2025!
May 26, 2025 at 7:56 PM
3,310 degrees. Over 3,000 alumni. 11,000 families and guests. 15,000 attendees at Campus Dance. 13,000 seats on the Green. And 1 musical performance by Jon Batiste.
Brown's 257th Commencement was an incredible weekend — congratulations to the Class of 2025!
Brown's 257th Commencement was an incredible weekend — congratulations to the Class of 2025!
Scenes from across campus as we prepare for this weekend’s Commencement and Reunion.
May 22, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Scenes from across campus as we prepare for this weekend’s Commencement and Reunion.
"Oh my God, Rob's the Pope!"
Pope Leo XIV's brother Louis Prevost tells @kaitlancollins.bsky.social his initial reaction to yesterday's news that his brother was elected as pope.
An iconic interview.
Pope Leo XIV's brother Louis Prevost tells @kaitlancollins.bsky.social his initial reaction to yesterday's news that his brother was elected as pope.
An iconic interview.
May 10, 2025 at 2:23 AM
"Oh my God, Rob's the Pope!"
Pope Leo XIV's brother Louis Prevost tells @kaitlancollins.bsky.social his initial reaction to yesterday's news that his brother was elected as pope.
An iconic interview.
Pope Leo XIV's brother Louis Prevost tells @kaitlancollins.bsky.social his initial reaction to yesterday's news that his brother was elected as pope.
An iconic interview.
As the first day of the conclave passes on the way to a papal successor, it was an honor to be quoted next to His Holiness Pope Francis in @brianstelter.bsky.social’s Reliable Sources newsletter in January 2022.
May 7, 2025 at 11:06 PM
As the first day of the conclave passes on the way to a papal successor, it was an honor to be quoted next to His Holiness Pope Francis in @brianstelter.bsky.social’s Reliable Sources newsletter in January 2022.
Enjoyed being at @brownmedicine.bsky.social yesterday for Global Health Research Day and hearing from our great @brownpublichealth.bsky.social students involved in global health work.
April 30, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Enjoyed being at @brownmedicine.bsky.social yesterday for Global Health Research Day and hearing from our great @brownpublichealth.bsky.social students involved in global health work.
It was great to meet many new Brunonians at this week’s A Day on College Hill, the university’s annual event for accepted students. Welcome to Brown!
April 26, 2025 at 1:14 AM
It was great to meet many new Brunonians at this week’s A Day on College Hill, the university’s annual event for accepted students. Welcome to Brown!
Celebrating America’s sesquicentennial in Lexington, Massachusetts, where 250 years ago the first shots of the American Revolution were fired.
April 20, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Celebrating America’s sesquicentennial in Lexington, Massachusetts, where 250 years ago the first shots of the American Revolution were fired.
Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Dean’s Awards!
April 19, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Dean’s Awards!
Always love learning from our amazing students at Public Health Research Day.
April 9, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Always love learning from our amazing students at Public Health Research Day.
First week of South Coast Rail, connecting Boston and southeastern Massachusetts for the first time in nearly 70 years. Looks to be quite popular even on the first weekend — the first week’s rides are free. Previously, the nearest rail connection to Fall River was 30 mins away.
March 29, 2025 at 10:17 PM
First week of South Coast Rail, connecting Boston and southeastern Massachusetts for the first time in nearly 70 years. Looks to be quite popular even on the first weekend — the first week’s rides are free. Previously, the nearest rail connection to Fall River was 30 mins away.
Celebrating the rich contributions postdocs make to academic life at Brown.
March 28, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Celebrating the rich contributions postdocs make to academic life at Brown.
While in DC it was great to visit Bao Li, who was munching into his breakfast.
March 23, 2025 at 8:50 PM
While in DC it was great to visit Bao Li, who was munching into his breakfast.
It was great to speak with this fantastic group of Middlebury students who were in DC as part of this year’s global affairs and conflict transformation student trek. We had a fun discussion about the work we’ve been doing at Brown and getting into the health policy space.
March 22, 2025 at 11:49 PM
It was great to speak with this fantastic group of Middlebury students who were in DC as part of this year’s global affairs and conflict transformation student trek. We had a fun discussion about the work we’ve been doing at Brown and getting into the health policy space.
Welcome to our accepted MPH students!
March 22, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Welcome to our accepted MPH students!
Had some extra Tatte cookies for our fantastic crew on the way back from DC to Providence and was touched to receive this note from Captain Danielle. Thanks to Danielle, her first officer and Holly and Mary for their hard work through a night of delays. You are why we all fly.
March 21, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Had some extra Tatte cookies for our fantastic crew on the way back from DC to Providence and was touched to receive this note from Captain Danielle. Thanks to Danielle, her first officer and Holly and Mary for their hard work through a night of delays. You are why we all fly.
First signs of cherry blossoms in DC.
March 20, 2025 at 3:23 AM
First signs of cherry blossoms in DC.
New preprint from colleagues at Hopkins displays county-level MMR vaccination rates from 37 states and finds that 1501 of the 2266 counties (66%) have vaccination rates below 95%, with 425 reporting significant declines during the pandemic.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
March 17, 2025 at 12:28 PM
New preprint from colleagues at Hopkins displays county-level MMR vaccination rates from 37 states and finds that 1501 of the 2266 counties (66%) have vaccination rates below 95%, with 425 reporting significant declines during the pandemic.
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Celebrating pi day with our friends at the Data Science Institute.
March 15, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Celebrating pi day with our friends at the Data Science Institute.
Moments of cultural exchange between the US and Canada at the concert of Canadian musician Alan Doyle.
"It’s Friday night in the United States of America. It’s also Friday night in Canada. Imagine that. We’re the same."
Rapturous applause when the opening act said there were no tariffs on the merch.
"It’s Friday night in the United States of America. It’s also Friday night in Canada. Imagine that. We’re the same."
Rapturous applause when the opening act said there were no tariffs on the merch.
March 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Moments of cultural exchange between the US and Canada at the concert of Canadian musician Alan Doyle.
"It’s Friday night in the United States of America. It’s also Friday night in Canada. Imagine that. We’re the same."
Rapturous applause when the opening act said there were no tariffs on the merch.
"It’s Friday night in the United States of America. It’s also Friday night in Canada. Imagine that. We’re the same."
Rapturous applause when the opening act said there were no tariffs on the merch.
Australian snack haul.
March 7, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Australian snack haul.
Enjoyed meeting some of Australia’s most famous residents.
March 2, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Enjoyed meeting some of Australia’s most famous residents.