Sue Popkin
@sjpopkin.bsky.social
Institute Fellow & Co-Director Disability Equity Policy Initiative @UrbanInstitute. Views my own.
She was a true disability warrior
Alice Wong, a writer and activist who was born with muscular dystrophy and who fought relentlessly for equal rights and access for people with disabilities, died on Friday. She was 51. nyti.ms/4r9WqEr
November 15, 2025 at 10:45 PM
She was a true disability warrior
Reposted by Sue Popkin
💔 Alice Wong’s last words: “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”
We can never thank Alice enough for fighting all the good fights and especially all the hard fights. We all learned so much from your brilliance, your courage, and your indefatigable leadership. We will never forget you.
We can never thank Alice enough for fighting all the good fights and especially all the hard fights. We all learned so much from your brilliance, your courage, and your indefatigable leadership. We will never forget you.
November 15, 2025 at 6:53 PM
💔 Alice Wong’s last words: “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”
We can never thank Alice enough for fighting all the good fights and especially all the hard fights. We all learned so much from your brilliance, your courage, and your indefatigable leadership. We will never forget you.
We can never thank Alice enough for fighting all the good fights and especially all the hard fights. We all learned so much from your brilliance, your courage, and your indefatigable leadership. We will never forget you.
HUD is planning to ask PHAs to report the immigration status of public housing residents and voucher holders within 30 days. If the PHAs don’t—or can’t—comply, HUD has threatened to revoke their federal funding and eligibility.
www.urban.org/urban-wire/h...
www.urban.org/urban-wire/h...
HUD’s Data Request for Immigration Status Threatens Federal Housing Assistance Nationwide
HUD’s data request will have dire consequences for this small group of families and puts millions of other households at risk of losing their assistance.
www.urban.org
September 15, 2025 at 7:01 PM
HUD is planning to ask PHAs to report the immigration status of public housing residents and voucher holders within 30 days. If the PHAs don’t—or can’t—comply, HUD has threatened to revoke their federal funding and eligibility.
www.urban.org/urban-wire/h...
www.urban.org/urban-wire/h...
From our post: These are not radical ideas. They are proven, practical, and urgently needed.”
#disabilty #homelessness
#disabilty #homelessness
People experiencing #homelessness are nearly twice as likely to have a #disability — and that share is growing.
New federal policies threaten access to services that help people with disabilities and older adults avoid institutional care and homelessness.
New federal policies threaten access to services that help people with disabilities and older adults avoid institutional care and homelessness.
New Trump Policies Targeting Homelessness Threaten the Rights of People with Disabilities
New federal policies promoting involuntary institutionalization threaten the right to the home- and community-based services for disabled people and older adults that keep them out of institutional ca...
urbn.is
August 22, 2025 at 9:06 PM
From our post: These are not radical ideas. They are proven, practical, and urgently needed.”
#disabilty #homelessness
#disabilty #homelessness
People with #disabilities face a real risk of re-institutionalization. Our latest @urbaninstitute.bsky.social blog
#disability #homelessness
www.urban.org/urban-wire/n...
#disability #homelessness
www.urban.org/urban-wire/n...
New Trump Policies Targeting Homelessness Threaten the Rights of People with Disabilities
New federal policies promoting involuntary institutionalization threaten the right to the home- and community-based services for disabled people and older adults that keep them out of institutional ca...
www.urban.org
August 18, 2025 at 7:17 PM
People with #disabilities face a real risk of re-institutionalization. Our latest @urbaninstitute.bsky.social blog
#disability #homelessness
www.urban.org/urban-wire/n...
#disability #homelessness
www.urban.org/urban-wire/n...
Reposted by Sue Popkin
A growing number of states are passing laws that require companies to sell wheelchair parts to wheelchair users so they can fix it themselves or bring it to a mechanic to fix it for them.
My latest for @motherjones.com. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
My latest for @motherjones.com. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Wheelchair users are finally winning the right to repair
State laws are forcing private equity–backed firms—which can make buyers wait months—to allow DIY fixes.
www.motherjones.com
August 8, 2025 at 2:03 PM
A growing number of states are passing laws that require companies to sell wheelchair parts to wheelchair users so they can fix it themselves or bring it to a mechanic to fix it for them.
My latest for @motherjones.com. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
My latest for @motherjones.com. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Sue Popkin
Social Security is so desperate to improve phone answer speeds that they’re rerouting calls to people who can’t actually help.
This is the kind of “service” that makes people want to throw their phones out the window.
www.npr.org/2025/08/05/n...
This is the kind of “service” that makes people want to throw their phones out the window.
www.npr.org/2025/08/05/n...
Your call to a local Social Security office may be picked up by someone who can't help
Phone calls to local Social Security offices are currently being rerouted to other field offices — often to staff who don't have jurisdiction over the caller's case, employees say.
www.npr.org
August 5, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Social Security is so desperate to improve phone answer speeds that they’re rerouting calls to people who can’t actually help.
This is the kind of “service” that makes people want to throw their phones out the window.
www.npr.org/2025/08/05/n...
This is the kind of “service” that makes people want to throw their phones out the window.
www.npr.org/2025/08/05/n...
Reposted by Sue Popkin
Making sure people are able to have access to affordable AC is a disability justice issue.
July 13, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Making sure people are able to have access to affordable AC is a disability justice issue.
Reposted by Sue Popkin
The Trump administration said it will continue a program that allows certain employers to pay workers with disabilities below minimum wage, ending a Biden-era effort to phase out the practice.
Subminimum wage to stay in place for disabled workers
The Labor Department withdrew a rule that would have mandated minimum wage for disabled workers.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 11, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The Trump administration said it will continue a program that allows certain employers to pay workers with disabilities below minimum wage, ending a Biden-era effort to phase out the practice.
Reposted by Sue Popkin
To advance upward mobility in #communities, having access to #data that incorporates information about #disabilities is critical.
Learn more about current challenges with including disability data and how Urban’s Upward Mobility Initiative tools can help.
Learn more about current challenges with including disability data and how Urban’s Upward Mobility Initiative tools can help.
Including Disabled People in Upward Mobility: Leveraging Local Data
To support upward mobility from poverty, policymakers must specifically consider the unique challenges people with disabilities face when designing and implementing policies.
upward-mobility.urban.org
July 9, 2025 at 2:38 PM
To advance upward mobility in #communities, having access to #data that incorporates information about #disabilities is critical.
Learn more about current challenges with including disability data and how Urban’s Upward Mobility Initiative tools can help.
Learn more about current challenges with including disability data and how Urban’s Upward Mobility Initiative tools can help.
Reposted by Sue Popkin
GOP in Congress knows how to celebrate: By passing a bill that will massively cut Medicaid, drop food stamps from millions, fund a network of concentration camps, eliminate US efforts to counter climate change, & enact a huge transfer of wealth from the poorest to the wealthiest.
Happy 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July!
July 3, 2025 at 6:26 PM
GOP in Congress knows how to celebrate: By passing a bill that will massively cut Medicaid, drop food stamps from millions, fund a network of concentration camps, eliminate US efforts to counter climate change, & enact a huge transfer of wealth from the poorest to the wealthiest.
Happy 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July!
Reposted by Sue Popkin
The House just passed the budget. I'm a disabled person first before being a journalist. I'm so sorry to my disabled friends whose healthcare is now at risk.
July 3, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The House just passed the budget. I'm a disabled person first before being a journalist. I'm so sorry to my disabled friends whose healthcare is now at risk.
Reposted by Sue Popkin
Fewer disabled people may be able to take naps in their homes because they won't have home healthcare workers making sure their ventilators stay put due to their home and community based services getting cut and be forced to take naps in hospitals.
Lisa Murkowski voted YES. She says she’s going to take a nap now.
July 1, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Fewer disabled people may be able to take naps in their homes because they won't have home healthcare workers making sure their ventilators stay put due to their home and community based services getting cut and be forced to take naps in hospitals.
Reposted by Sue Popkin
Penn-Wharton estimates that mass deportation will cut hundreds of billions in Social Security's income, increasing the program's long-term shortfall and causing its trust fund reserves to deplete 6 months sooner.
budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu/issues/2025/...
budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu/issues/2025/...
The Impact of President Trump’s Deportation Policies: The Social Security Program — Penn Wharton Budget Model
Deporting unauthorized workers over 10 years cuts Social Security revenue, raises deficits by $133 billion (10 yrs) and $884 billion (30 yrs). The Trust Fund depletes 6 months earlier; 75-year deficit...
budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu
July 1, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Penn-Wharton estimates that mass deportation will cut hundreds of billions in Social Security's income, increasing the program's long-term shortfall and causing its trust fund reserves to deplete 6 months sooner.
budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu/issues/2025/...
budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu/issues/2025/...
Reposted by Sue Popkin
The reconciliation bill that GOP Senators are having a mighty difficult time passing would raise taxes on families making less than $30,000, in addition to stripping millions of households from Medicaid & cutting off food support.
The Joint Committee on Taxation is up late and busts out this striking distributional analysis of the Senate bill on taxes:
July 1, 2025 at 12:42 PM
The reconciliation bill that GOP Senators are having a mighty difficult time passing would raise taxes on families making less than $30,000, in addition to stripping millions of households from Medicaid & cutting off food support.
Reposted by Sue Popkin
Millions of people would lose health coverage and become uninsured under the Republican health agenda, including:
📍1,967,000 people in California
📍191,000 people in Colorado
📍156,000 people in Connecticut
📍49,000 people in DC
Policymakers should protect people’s health care, not cut it
📍1,967,000 people in California
📍191,000 people in Colorado
📍156,000 people in Connecticut
📍49,000 people in DC
Policymakers should protect people’s health care, not cut it
June 30, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Millions of people would lose health coverage and become uninsured under the Republican health agenda, including:
📍1,967,000 people in California
📍191,000 people in Colorado
📍156,000 people in Connecticut
📍49,000 people in DC
Policymakers should protect people’s health care, not cut it
📍1,967,000 people in California
📍191,000 people in Colorado
📍156,000 people in Connecticut
📍49,000 people in DC
Policymakers should protect people’s health care, not cut it
Yes!
Every single day I peek at social media and see some completely insane piece of news and say “what the fuck?!”
June 22, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Yes!
The latest from the #Disability Policy team at @urbaninstitute.bsky.social
A new #research report from the Urban Institute addresses the persistent employment disparities faced by workers of color with #disabilities and proposes strategies to improve their #economic mobility.
Learn more. urbn.is/3HDAGi0
Learn more. urbn.is/3HDAGi0
June 11, 2025 at 11:30 PM
The latest from the #Disability Policy team at @urbaninstitute.bsky.social
Not surprised. But terrified about the implications for us all #disability
Health Secretary RFK Jr. abruptly fires CDC vaccine advisory panel www.statnews.com/2025/06/09/r... via @statnews.com
Health Secretary RFK Jr. abruptly fires CDC vaccine advisory panel www.statnews.com/2025/06/09/r... via @statnews.com
Health secretary RFK Jr. abruptly fires CDC vaccine advisory panel
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken the extraordinary step of firing the expert panel that advises the CDC.
www.statnews.com
June 10, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Not surprised. But terrified about the implications for us all #disability
Health Secretary RFK Jr. abruptly fires CDC vaccine advisory panel www.statnews.com/2025/06/09/r... via @statnews.com
Health Secretary RFK Jr. abruptly fires CDC vaccine advisory panel www.statnews.com/2025/06/09/r... via @statnews.com
Reposted by Sue Popkin
New research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social shows that GOP's plan to extend 2017 tax cuts & cut Medicaid/SNAP would:
—Increase incomes by 4% for households with incomes >$200,000
—Reduce incomes for households making <$30,000—with a reduction of $15% for the poorest www.urban.org/research/pub...
—Increase incomes by 4% for households with incomes >$200,000
—Reduce incomes for households making <$30,000—with a reduction of $15% for the poorest www.urban.org/research/pub...
May 9, 2025 at 4:27 PM
New research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social shows that GOP's plan to extend 2017 tax cuts & cut Medicaid/SNAP would:
—Increase incomes by 4% for households with incomes >$200,000
—Reduce incomes for households making <$30,000—with a reduction of $15% for the poorest www.urban.org/research/pub...
—Increase incomes by 4% for households with incomes >$200,000
—Reduce incomes for households making <$30,000—with a reduction of $15% for the poorest www.urban.org/research/pub...
Reposted by Sue Popkin
New from me at @motherjones.com: Disability advocates, Medicaid recipients (ofc overlap with the first) and politicians are currently participating in a 24-hour vigil to save Medicaid, organized by @caringacross.org. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
24-hour vigil to save Medicaid takes over National Mall
"This is a matter of life and death for millions of people," said Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin.
www.motherjones.com
May 7, 2025 at 7:25 PM
New from me at @motherjones.com: Disability advocates, Medicaid recipients (ofc overlap with the first) and politicians are currently participating in a 24-hour vigil to save Medicaid, organized by @caringacross.org. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Sue Popkin
More poor disabled and chronically ill people who do not have the means to travel to Canada or Mexico will die if this happens.
With Makary, Hoeg, and now Prasad at FDA I do not believe there will be an updated COVID booster this fall.
May 6, 2025 at 6:44 PM
More poor disabled and chronically ill people who do not have the means to travel to Canada or Mexico will die if this happens.
Reposted by Sue Popkin
A new Urban report assesses disparities on health, #housing stability, and economic well-being, finding that adults with #disabilities were more likely than nondisabled adults to experience worse physical & #mentalhealth after severe storms & extreme heat waves.
Learn more. urbn.is/ClimateDisab...
Learn more. urbn.is/ClimateDisab...
May 2, 2025 at 2:29 PM
A new Urban report assesses disparities on health, #housing stability, and economic well-being, finding that adults with #disabilities were more likely than nondisabled adults to experience worse physical & #mentalhealth after severe storms & extreme heat waves.
Learn more. urbn.is/ClimateDisab...
Learn more. urbn.is/ClimateDisab...