Bram Sable-Smith
@realbrambo.bsky.social
Writing about abortion, guns, insulin, trans health care and the Midwest for KFF Health News
Signal: Brambo.11
Signal: Brambo.11
Ready for Halloween!
October 30, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Ready for Halloween!
The wreckage from the tornado in St. Louis on Friday was unbelievable and I've been surprised how little attention and coverage it's received nationally.
May 19, 2025 at 4:38 PM
The wreckage from the tornado in St. Louis on Friday was unbelievable and I've been surprised how little attention and coverage it's received nationally.
Urgent: New Pope raised by a Cardinals fan, and was "never ever" a Cubs fan
wgntv.com/news/pope-le...
wgntv.com/news/pope-le...
May 8, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Urgent: New Pope raised by a Cardinals fan, and was "never ever" a Cubs fan
wgntv.com/news/pope-le...
wgntv.com/news/pope-le...
The $880 billion in cuts are called for in a budget resolution passed along party lines in April.
But even some Republicans who voted for the measure have spoken out against cutting Medicaid.
MO Sen. Josh Hawley posted this before voting for the resolution.
But even some Republicans who voted for the measure have spoken out against cutting Medicaid.
MO Sen. Josh Hawley posted this before voting for the resolution.
May 7, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The $880 billion in cuts are called for in a budget resolution passed along party lines in April.
But even some Republicans who voted for the measure have spoken out against cutting Medicaid.
MO Sen. Josh Hawley posted this before voting for the resolution.
But even some Republicans who voted for the measure have spoken out against cutting Medicaid.
MO Sen. Josh Hawley posted this before voting for the resolution.
“I really and truly don’t know what I would do if we lost the Medicaid home care. I have no plan whatsoever,” Sandra told me.
May 7, 2025 at 5:38 PM
“I really and truly don’t know what I would do if we lost the Medicaid home care. I have no plan whatsoever,” Sandra told me.
The nursing help allows Sandra to work and gives her a break from being the go-to-person for providing care 24 hours a day, day after day, year after year.
“It is not sustainable for anyone to do infinite, 24-hour care without dire physical health, mental health, and financial consequences."
“It is not sustainable for anyone to do infinite, 24-hour care without dire physical health, mental health, and financial consequences."
May 7, 2025 at 5:38 PM
The nursing help allows Sandra to work and gives her a break from being the go-to-person for providing care 24 hours a day, day after day, year after year.
“It is not sustainable for anyone to do infinite, 24-hour care without dire physical health, mental health, and financial consequences."
“It is not sustainable for anyone to do infinite, 24-hour care without dire physical health, mental health, and financial consequences."
One likely place states would look to cut are the Medicaid programs that are optional, like nearly all in-home services.
That's what worries Sandra Smith in Crestwood, Missouri.
Her daughter Sarah gets 13 hours of daily in-home nursing care.
Sandra takes nights and covers when nurses are sick.
That's what worries Sandra Smith in Crestwood, Missouri.
Her daughter Sarah gets 13 hours of daily in-home nursing care.
Sandra takes nights and covers when nurses are sick.
May 7, 2025 at 5:38 PM
One likely place states would look to cut are the Medicaid programs that are optional, like nearly all in-home services.
That's what worries Sandra Smith in Crestwood, Missouri.
Her daughter Sarah gets 13 hours of daily in-home nursing care.
Sandra takes nights and covers when nurses are sick.
That's what worries Sandra Smith in Crestwood, Missouri.
Her daughter Sarah gets 13 hours of daily in-home nursing care.
Sandra takes nights and covers when nurses are sick.
As lawmakers consider work requirements for Medicaid, a new analysis from Missouri finds 67% of working age adults are employed.
bpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/sites.wustl....
bpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/sites.wustl....
April 15, 2025 at 8:40 PM
As lawmakers consider work requirements for Medicaid, a new analysis from Missouri finds 67% of working age adults are employed.
bpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/sites.wustl....
bpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/sites.wustl....
Paul Wheelan struggled to get medical care in a Russian prison.
Then when he was returned home, he struggled to get medical care in the American health care system.
Then when he was returned home, he struggled to get medical care in the American health care system.
April 10, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Paul Wheelan struggled to get medical care in a Russian prison.
Then when he was returned home, he struggled to get medical care in the American health care system.
Then when he was returned home, he struggled to get medical care in the American health care system.
The Bureau didn't respond to my requests for comment. The White House sent me this statement
March 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The Bureau didn't respond to my requests for comment. The White House sent me this statement
A Trump executive order aims to halt all federal spending on gender affirming care.
The Bureau of Prisons memo said a court order stops them from fully implementing that EO for now.
But they laid out restrictions.
Full memo: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
The Bureau of Prisons memo said a court order stops them from fully implementing that EO for now.
But they laid out restrictions.
Full memo: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
March 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
A Trump executive order aims to halt all federal spending on gender affirming care.
The Bureau of Prisons memo said a court order stops them from fully implementing that EO for now.
But they laid out restrictions.
Full memo: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
The Bureau of Prisons memo said a court order stops them from fully implementing that EO for now.
But they laid out restrictions.
Full memo: storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Cristina received a commitment from the Feds to recognize permanent gender-affirming surgery as medically necessary treatments for gender dysphoria.
Courts have ruled that deliberate indifference to inmates medical needs violates the 8th Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment...
Courts have ruled that deliberate indifference to inmates medical needs violates the 8th Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment...
March 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Cristina received a commitment from the Feds to recognize permanent gender-affirming surgery as medically necessary treatments for gender dysphoria.
Courts have ruled that deliberate indifference to inmates medical needs violates the 8th Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment...
Courts have ruled that deliberate indifference to inmates medical needs violates the 8th Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishment...
“Just because you commit a crime doesn’t mean you deserve to have violence against you,” said Michelle García, deputy legal director of the ACLU of Illinois and one of the attorneys who ultimately represented Cristina (pictured here).
March 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
“Just because you commit a crime doesn’t mean you deserve to have violence against you,” said Michelle García, deputy legal director of the ACLU of Illinois and one of the attorneys who ultimately represented Cristina (pictured here).
Trans prisoners are 10 times more likely to face sexual victimization than other inmates. Cristina experienced the violence first hand.
It's one reason she and handful of other trans female inmates have been moved to female facilities.
The Trump admin aims to relocate those inmates
It's one reason she and handful of other trans female inmates have been moved to female facilities.
The Trump admin aims to relocate those inmates
March 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Trans prisoners are 10 times more likely to face sexual victimization than other inmates. Cristina experienced the violence first hand.
It's one reason she and handful of other trans female inmates have been moved to female facilities.
The Trump admin aims to relocate those inmates
It's one reason she and handful of other trans female inmates have been moved to female facilities.
The Trump admin aims to relocate those inmates
Cristina Iglesias filed a lawsuit in 2019 that changed the course of treatment for herself and other trans inmates in federal custody.
In 2021, after 25+ years in male prisons, she was transferred to a women's one. And in 2022, she reached a landmark settlement with the Feds to get surgery
In 2021, after 25+ years in male prisons, she was transferred to a women's one. And in 2022, she reached a landmark settlement with the Feds to get surgery
March 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Cristina Iglesias filed a lawsuit in 2019 that changed the course of treatment for herself and other trans inmates in federal custody.
In 2021, after 25+ years in male prisons, she was transferred to a women's one. And in 2022, she reached a landmark settlement with the Feds to get surgery
In 2021, after 25+ years in male prisons, she was transferred to a women's one. And in 2022, she reached a landmark settlement with the Feds to get surgery
I like this spam text that gets right to the point
March 13, 2025 at 7:35 PM
I like this spam text that gets right to the point
Yet another example of someone acting like a silly goose in the Brentwood Target parking lot.
March 12, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Yet another example of someone acting like a silly goose in the Brentwood Target parking lot.
A lot of people on Medicaid in SEMO
February 28, 2025 at 1:29 PM
A lot of people on Medicaid in SEMO
Sarai Holguin quickly made peace with the bullet that lodged in her knee, but then it fell out on it's own!
At a gathering of survivors in October, she spoke of "resilience."
“To try to put the tragic moment we all lived behind us and move on, we must remember the beautiful moments.”
At a gathering of survivors in October, she spoke of "resilience."
“To try to put the tragic moment we all lived behind us and move on, we must remember the beautiful moments.”
February 11, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Sarai Holguin quickly made peace with the bullet that lodged in her knee, but then it fell out on it's own!
At a gathering of survivors in October, she spoke of "resilience."
“To try to put the tragic moment we all lived behind us and move on, we must remember the beautiful moments.”
At a gathering of survivors in October, she spoke of "resilience."
“To try to put the tragic moment we all lived behind us and move on, we must remember the beautiful moments.”
He can walk now and run a bit, bit it gets painful.
Before the parade he played semipro football. Now he's not sure if he'll ever play competitive again.
“A lot more than football has been stolen from me in this last year. Like my whole life has been stolen from me. I really hate that part of it.”
Before the parade he played semipro football. Now he's not sure if he'll ever play competitive again.
“A lot more than football has been stolen from me in this last year. Like my whole life has been stolen from me. I really hate that part of it.”
February 11, 2025 at 3:38 PM
He can walk now and run a bit, bit it gets painful.
Before the parade he played semipro football. Now he's not sure if he'll ever play competitive again.
“A lot more than football has been stolen from me in this last year. Like my whole life has been stolen from me. I really hate that part of it.”
Before the parade he played semipro football. Now he's not sure if he'll ever play competitive again.
“A lot more than football has been stolen from me in this last year. Like my whole life has been stolen from me. I really hate that part of it.”
Jacob Gooch (center) hasn't been back to work since the parade.
He hoped the bone in his foot that was shattered by a bullet would fuse together by July so he could go back to work.
But it didn’t heal correctly and he had surgery in August, followed by weeks of recovery.
His work released him.
He hoped the bone in his foot that was shattered by a bullet would fuse together by July so he could go back to work.
But it didn’t heal correctly and he had surgery in August, followed by weeks of recovery.
His work released him.
February 11, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Jacob Gooch (center) hasn't been back to work since the parade.
He hoped the bone in his foot that was shattered by a bullet would fuse together by July so he could go back to work.
But it didn’t heal correctly and he had surgery in August, followed by weeks of recovery.
His work released him.
He hoped the bone in his foot that was shattered by a bullet would fuse together by July so he could go back to work.
But it didn’t heal correctly and he had surgery in August, followed by weeks of recovery.
His work released him.
A pastor at her church referred her to the in house therapist at a sister congregation. It's been incredibly helpful.
She logged her emotions on this app every day and watched them improve, slowly but surely.
She logged her emotions on this app every day and watched them improve, slowly but surely.
February 11, 2025 at 3:38 PM
A pastor at her church referred her to the in house therapist at a sister congregation. It's been incredibly helpful.
She logged her emotions on this app every day and watched them improve, slowly but surely.
She logged her emotions on this app every day and watched them improve, slowly but surely.
Emily Tavis has found support through her church.
But flashbacks sneak up on her.
She was on a date in December and realized they were driving past the intersection where a bullet ripped through her leg.
“Oh f—,” she said, holding back tears and a panic attack until they were out of view.
But flashbacks sneak up on her.
She was on a date in December and realized they were driving past the intersection where a bullet ripped through her leg.
“Oh f—,” she said, holding back tears and a panic attack until they were out of view.
February 11, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Emily Tavis has found support through her church.
But flashbacks sneak up on her.
She was on a date in December and realized they were driving past the intersection where a bullet ripped through her leg.
“Oh f—,” she said, holding back tears and a panic attack until they were out of view.
But flashbacks sneak up on her.
She was on a date in December and realized they were driving past the intersection where a bullet ripped through her leg.
“Oh f—,” she said, holding back tears and a panic attack until they were out of view.