Ms.Smith, Esq.
@mssmithesq.bsky.social
civil rights attorney. parent of two wild things. sometimes runner. DC by way of Baltimore & Kentucky. i like food. formerly: civil legal aid; middle school teacher.
Pinned
Ms.Smith, Esq.
@mssmithesq.bsky.social
· Nov 22
Hiiii first post here! Head nods to the #lawtwitter #edutwitter folks, who I think I'm slowly finding. Also looking around for the #DC & #baltimore crowds. Cautiously optimistic about doing more chatting and less lurking over here, but we'll see! 😬😅
It's the most wonderful (lunch) time of the year.
November 28, 2025 at 6:42 PM
It's the most wonderful (lunch) time of the year.
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
As we all wait for Callais to come down, our piece showing that Shelby County increased the racial turnout gap in most of the covered parts of the country has cleared the replication check and is incoming at JOP.
Gutting the VRA was bad, actually.
Gutting the VRA was bad, actually.
November 24, 2025 at 12:47 AM
As we all wait for Callais to come down, our piece showing that Shelby County increased the racial turnout gap in most of the covered parts of the country has cleared the replication check and is incoming at JOP.
Gutting the VRA was bad, actually.
Gutting the VRA was bad, actually.
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
" If you know someone who has been detained and released by ICE, our REBUILD Program provides FREE therapy to help them regain stability and support." www.darknessrisingproject.org/help-me-find...
REBUILD - Darkness Rising Project
Need help finding a Black therapist? We can help.
www.darknessrisingproject.org
November 22, 2025 at 10:32 PM
" If you know someone who has been detained and released by ICE, our REBUILD Program provides FREE therapy to help them regain stability and support." www.darknessrisingproject.org/help-me-find...
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
I received this email about Democrats caving to end the shutdown from one of the SNAP recipients I spoke to:
November 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I received this email about Democrats caving to end the shutdown from one of the SNAP recipients I spoke to:
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
Remember when they said the reason they caved in March was so they could get a better deal in September lmao
November 10, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Remember when they said the reason they caved in March was so they could get a better deal in September lmao
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.
No matter how they voted last night, every one of them has a say in maintaining Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin as their caucus leaders. Every one of them is accountable here.
No matter how they voted last night, every one of them has a say in maintaining Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin as their caucus leaders. Every one of them is accountable here.
November 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.
No matter how they voted last night, every one of them has a say in maintaining Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin as their caucus leaders. Every one of them is accountable here.
No matter how they voted last night, every one of them has a say in maintaining Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin as their caucus leaders. Every one of them is accountable here.
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
New — While some states have received SNAP benefits for November and USDA is supposedly pushing through all federal payments soon, that doesn’t erase the psychological terror of the last few weeks.
I spoke with 20+ SNAP recipients in 16 states about preparing for a possible future with no food:
I spoke with 20+ SNAP recipients in 16 states about preparing for a possible future with no food:
The voices of SNAP
Recipients have become political pawns. They explained, in their own words, what Trump withholding funds has been like.
www.thehandbasket.co
November 7, 2025 at 10:55 PM
New — While some states have received SNAP benefits for November and USDA is supposedly pushing through all federal payments soon, that doesn’t erase the psychological terror of the last few weeks.
I spoke with 20+ SNAP recipients in 16 states about preparing for a possible future with no food:
I spoke with 20+ SNAP recipients in 16 states about preparing for a possible future with no food:
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
here is my story about how Zohran's focus on community amid the loneliness epidemic helped young people connect their politics to an organizing infrastructure, that interviewed ZM, and does not use the NYT's framing of "they don't know how to make friends" :-) and also ran 4 days before NYT's lol
Zohran Mamdani's Establishment-Fighting Campaign Built Community for Young People
“What Mamdani has done is not only inspire and mobilize young people, but he has exposed the establishment and some of their calcified views of participation and inclusion.”
www.teenvogue.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:14 PM
here is my story about how Zohran's focus on community amid the loneliness epidemic helped young people connect their politics to an organizing infrastructure, that interviewed ZM, and does not use the NYT's framing of "they don't know how to make friends" :-) and also ran 4 days before NYT's lol
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
November 5, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
2026 is going to be a good year to run for office, no matter how long the odds. runforwhat.net
November 5, 2025 at 1:35 AM
2026 is going to be a good year to run for office, no matter how long the odds. runforwhat.net
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
A 2020 study found that Amazon—which shares owner Jeff Bezos with The Washington Post—is one of the largest employers of people on SNAP.
As SNAP funds froze, mayors and governors have pledged to supplement the missing federal assistance, while federal judges ruled Friday that the Trump administration should use contingency funds to keep food aid running despite the government shutdown.
Uncertainty hits after vulnerable Americans woke up to a SNAP freeze
Amid a benefits pause, nonprofit groups plan to work extra hours to get food out to vulnerable residents, and local community members are also stepping up.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:23 PM
A 2020 study found that Amazon—which shares owner Jeff Bezos with The Washington Post—is one of the largest employers of people on SNAP.
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
I'm looking to speak to people who rely on SNAP about what this past week has been like. If that's you, please reach out, or pass along to others. Can be anonymous.
Signal: marisakabas.04
Email: mkwrites4000@proton.me
Signal: marisakabas.04
Email: mkwrites4000@proton.me
November 3, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I'm looking to speak to people who rely on SNAP about what this past week has been like. If that's you, please reach out, or pass along to others. Can be anonymous.
Signal: marisakabas.04
Email: mkwrites4000@proton.me
Signal: marisakabas.04
Email: mkwrites4000@proton.me
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
I just spoke with Capital Area Food Bank CEO Radha Muthiah about how they are preparing for a possible lapse in SNAP funding. She told me that for every meal they provide, SNAP provides *nine*.
"The magnitude of the SNAP program is significant," she says.
"The magnitude of the SNAP program is significant," she says.
Today @mayorbowser.dc.gov says no final decision has been made yet on whether D.C. will cover the cost of SNAP benefits should federal funding lapse this weekend as expected. She's waiting for the outcome of a court hearing on a lawsuit filed by 25 states (including D.C.) on it.
October 29, 2025 at 8:31 PM
I just spoke with Capital Area Food Bank CEO Radha Muthiah about how they are preparing for a possible lapse in SNAP funding. She told me that for every meal they provide, SNAP provides *nine*.
"The magnitude of the SNAP program is significant," she says.
"The magnitude of the SNAP program is significant," she says.
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
Really appreciate that World Central Kitchen reached out to me as a donor in the DC area with info about how they are supporting feds and their families in DC, and to spread the news about their meal services. Here’s deets. wck.org/relief/shutd...
World Central Kitchen | WCK Serving Meals to Federal Workers During U.S. Government Shutdown
World Central Kitchen’s Relief Team is serving hot meals to federal workers in Washington, D.C., as the U.S. government shutdown nears its fourth week.
wck.org
October 28, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Really appreciate that World Central Kitchen reached out to me as a donor in the DC area with info about how they are supporting feds and their families in DC, and to spread the news about their meal services. Here’s deets. wck.org/relief/shutd...
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
The Walton family (who own Walmart) are worth over $400 billion, yet many of their employees are on SNAP.
Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP.
The people who need help are not the problem.
It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.
Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP.
The people who need help are not the problem.
It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.
October 27, 2025 at 9:08 PM
The Walton family (who own Walmart) are worth over $400 billion, yet many of their employees are on SNAP.
Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP.
The people who need help are not the problem.
It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.
Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP.
The people who need help are not the problem.
It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
SNAP isn't about "people who don't work." It's about people who don't get paid enough to live.
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
October 27, 2025 at 12:48 AM
SNAP isn't about "people who don't work." It's about people who don't get paid enough to live.
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
Whenever people complain about the number of folks relying on food stamps, it is worth reminding them that SNAP is, by too large of a degree, a subsidy for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage and their political allies who reject public policy prescriptions to reduce income inequality.
October 27, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Whenever people complain about the number of folks relying on food stamps, it is worth reminding them that SNAP is, by too large of a degree, a subsidy for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage and their political allies who reject public policy prescriptions to reduce income inequality.
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
If you have it please donate cash to the food banks. $10 in their hands will feed more people than the $10 worth of canned goods you can buy for retail prices. Also check on your elders. Many of them will not admit they rely on these programs so grocery gift cards or a surprise bag of staples
US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month reut.rs/3WohHMk
US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Saturday that food benefits under one of the country's biggest social assistance programs will not be issued next month amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
reut.rs
October 26, 2025 at 3:37 PM
If you have it please donate cash to the food banks. $10 in their hands will feed more people than the $10 worth of canned goods you can buy for retail prices. Also check on your elders. Many of them will not admit they rely on these programs so grocery gift cards or a surprise bag of staples
Reposted by Ms.Smith, Esq.
Calling D.C. middle and high school student artists! The DC Public Library and the Pulitzer Center are looking for original artwork for an open-call exhibition titled, Freedom and Resistance: Through the Eyes of D.C. Youth.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4o5ZjEh
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4o5ZjEh
October 25, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Calling D.C. middle and high school student artists! The DC Public Library and the Pulitzer Center are looking for original artwork for an open-call exhibition titled, Freedom and Resistance: Through the Eyes of D.C. Youth.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4o5ZjEh
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4o5ZjEh
Today's mission (after all the kid activities) was a cozy gift basket for a former professor. My must-have centerpiece: a copy of @shanders.bsky.social 's Company. Got the *last* copy @loyaltybooks.bsky.social at the DC Pop-Up at The Parks, a SIGNED hardcover!! Great win-win day for shopping local.
October 20, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Today's mission (after all the kid activities) was a cozy gift basket for a former professor. My must-have centerpiece: a copy of @shanders.bsky.social 's Company. Got the *last* copy @loyaltybooks.bsky.social at the DC Pop-Up at The Parks, a SIGNED hardcover!! Great win-win day for shopping local.