Justin Smith Writes

I recently convened a panel of Minnesota's top healthcare experts to discuss how Trump's Big Ugly Law is harming Minnesotans' care and leading to hospital closures. In DC, I'll continue to oppose all Republican efforts to take away food, healthcare, and basic government services.

Thank you Representative McCollum! It was amazing to share my story at this listening session!

This happened… Last Friday, I was contacted by Representative Betty McCollum’s Office to be part of a panel that happened yesterday to talk about the impacts of HR1 on Medicaid and our healthcare system. I,…

This happened! I spoke at Rep. McCollum's Listening Session about the impacts to Medicaid & our healthcare yesterday. Thanks @mccollum.house.gov for inviting me to share my story. Here's my testimony and the recording - justinsmithwrites.com/2025/09/25/t...
#Medicaid #Disability #Healthcare

Newsy stuff Do something! Write a letter to the editor, go to a rally (yes, I was at the No King’s March in St. Paul on Saturday), call your elected officials at all levels (County Commissioners will be …

Share this post! #savemedicaid #disability @mccollum.house.gov @smith.senate.gov @amyklobuchar.com
justinsmithwrites.com/2025/06/18/n...

Minnesotans with disabilities feared state balancing budget “on our backs.” Here’s what happened. Legislators looked to services for people with disabilities and seniors to save costs, but didn’t go as far as some thought they might.

“The need for care does not go away when funding gets decreased or disappears. It just means that those of us with disabilities and our families will struggle more than we already do.” says @justinsmithwrites.bsky.social

www.startribune.com/minnesotans-...

#Disability #DisabilityRights #Medicaid

Thanks for being my awesome Representative and doing what you can to protect the programs I need to live in my community! @mccollum.house.gov

Justin Smith is a 26-year-old Roseville resident who has cerebral palsy, and he relies on Medicaid and SNAP to live independently. President Trump’s Big Ugly Bill would rip away his health care and food assistance to give tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires.

Oh, and The Kids Aren't Alright by The Offspring

The American Dream is Killing Me, Green Day

WEMBLEY!!! @afcwimbledon1889.bsky.social #afcw #COYD

A Fair Amount of Stress and a Win It has been a very stressful time in my life as of late and it was important to me that I share my story with reporter, Bobbi Dempsey, for this article in ChangeWire. Check it out and please share …

It has been a very stressful time in my life as of late and it was important to me that I share my story with ChangeWire. Check it out and please share with others! As I’ve said often of late, the fear is real!
justinsmithwrites.com/2025/05/04/a...

#Medicaid #Housing #SNAP #SSI #DisabilityRights

100-Day Check-In: Stressful Times for Those in Safety Net Programs - Changewire People who rely on programs like SNAP and Medicaid share how they feel about this presidential administration so far – and what they worry about most now

Thanks @bobbidempsey.bsky.social for sharing my son's story. “Between threatened cuts to services at both the federal & state levels, to put it bluntly, as a person with cerebral palsy, I’m beyond frightened,” says @justinsmithwrites.bsky.social.
#Medicaid #SSI #SNAP
changewire.org/100-day-chec...

Alien Enemy Registration card for August Schulze from 1918

Black and white headshot of August Schulze with thumbprint from alien enemies registration card.

Here's my great-great G'pa's Alien Enemy Registration Card from 1918 found tucked away in my great-great G'ma's German Bible a century later. He immigrated to the US in 1905, started a family business in 1912 that lasted almost a century. Can't believe the Alien Enemies Act is being used today!

I'm one of the lucky 1/4 of eligible families who has a housing voucher to help pay rent for my wheelchair accessible apartment. Without it, I will be forced to move. My life as I know it will fall apart without a housing voucher, SSI, and Medicaid.

I'm one of those lucky 1/4 of eligible who has a housing voucher to help pay rent for my wheelchair accessible apartment. Without it, I will be forced to move. @smith.senate.gov my life as I know it will fall apart if I don't have a housing voucher, SSI, Medicaid, and SNAP.

Medicaid = my healthcare and disability services that help me live in my community.

I have a disability and don't play video games all day... I depend on Medicaid to help me live in my community. I fell off Medicaid for 3 weeks this year because my county was behind in renewals. Who's going to be managing and overseeing all these new work requirements? #HandsOff #ProtectMedicaid

Hands Off! Making my voice heard at Hands Off rally at the MN State Capitol!

Guess where I was yesterday? Hanging out with about 25,000 energetic Minnesotans at our state capitol in St. Paul! @indivistwincities.bsky.social #HandsOff @50501movement.bsky.social @amyklobuchar.com @mccollum.house.gov @mn50501.bsky.social
justinsmithwrites.com/2025/04/06/h...

I'm going to go buy groceries with my SNAP benefits while I still can. Thanks for fighting for us Senator Smith!

Bringing the courage with my mom on Saturday! @indivistwincities.bsky.social

I know where I'm going to be on Saturday! Making my voice heard! Thanks @indivistwincities.bsky.social for providing the ADA accessibility information on indivisibletwincities.org/hands-off-ra...!

Thanks @mccollum.house.gov and Gillette Children's! I've spent a lot of time there over the years! #ProtectMedicaid

This is my hand and thankful for Medicaid for my healthcare and services that help me live in my community. Thanks @booker.senate.gov for fighting to #ProtectMedicaid
Sidenote - I'm feeling much better and back home again!

This is insulting! The very things people with actual disabilities need to survive - SSI, Medicaid, SNAP, etc. are under under threat - and this is what state Republicans think is important?

Thank you for writing this! This is going to be harmful to kids with disabilities who need special education services like I did.

Because of IDEA, I was included w/ my peers in my local school. This was my right! Before IDEA, I may not have been able to go to school – or would have been warehoused! Thanks @vgoodman.bsky.social & @americanprogress.bsky.social for this important reporting! justinsmithwrites.com/2025/03/16/t...

Here's what IDEA meant for me! Glad I live in #Minnesota, @governorwalz.mn.gov! justinsmithwrites.com/2025/03/16/t...

Terrible IDEA! I have no idea how the cuts in the Department of Education will impact students with disabilities, but I expect current students will not have the educational opportunities and special education se…

I have no idea how the cuts in the Department of Ed will impact students with disabilities, but expect current students will not have the educational opportunities and special education services I received. #IDEA #Disability justinsmithwrites.com/2025/03/16/t...

The re-emergence of old bad ideas such as that vaccines cause autism (they don’t!) Other examples of things that I thought were settled but are now apparently up for debate again include same-sex marriage, protections for disabled people and the use of the “r-word.”

"...progress is at best incremental and contingent. And yet, lately I’ve been repeatedly startled about the re-emergence of old bad ideas, about how many hard-won victories are now revealed as tenuous and partial and illuminate the struggle ahead of us." Thanks for this @lollardfish.bsky.social

Tim Walz (@timwalz) on Threads Teachers want to teach. But Trump’s cuts are leaving teachers without the resources they need to ensure every student receives a quality education.

Thank god I was included in school and wasn't warehoused. I even ended up giving one of the speeches at my high school graduation using my communication device. Protect special education! #Disability #IDEA www.threads.net/@timwalz/pos...