Michelle Rathman Chief Dot Connector
@mrbimpact.bsky.social
Podcasting about policy and the impact on quality of life. (theruralimpact.com ) 30+years in health care (urban and rural.) Speaker, strategist, writer, collaborator solving complex issues, passion for cooking, grand mothering, dog mothering & golfing.
Now this—Embarrassing Breach at F.B.I. Fuels Fears of Harm to Its Employees www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/u...
Embarrassing Breach at F.B.I. Fuels Fears of Harm to Its Employees (Gift Article)
In an internal memo, the F.B.I. said it believed the hackers may have stolen sensitive information on all of its employees.
nytimes.com
‘Zombified’ C.D.C., Hobbled by Cuts, Struggles to Fulfill Scientific Mission www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/h...
‘Zombified’ C.D.C., Hobbled by Cuts, Struggles to Fulfill Scientific Mission
The agency has lost its independence and nearly a third of its staff, as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and associates have tightened control.
nytimes.com
Trump Proposes $810 Million in Education and Health Cuts, Defying Congress www.nytimes.com/2026/09/25/u...
Trump Proposes $810 Million in Education and Health Cuts, Defying Congress
The attempted clawback represents the second time in as many years that the White House has sought to cancel funding approved by lawmakers.
nytimes.com
I don’t understand how every American isn’t talking about this. It is unconscionable.
Mother Jones@motherjones.com · 3d agoJohn Roberts has spent his entire career trying to kill the Voting Rights Act. Now his Republican-appointed majority is dusting off arguments once used to destroy Reconstruction to roll back the gains made during the civil rights era. The latest from @AriBerman & @pemalevy: tinyurl.com/3m6nawpj
All of this. I’m seriously sick of this lawlessness.
Arbaz Kakkar5@arbazkakkar5.bsky.social · 5d agoI don’t want peaceful politics after the 2026 midterms,nor after the 2028 presidential election! I expect the political criminals to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,and our constitutional laws to be strengthened for the future generations!
You cannot get any more divorced from the "real world" than Andreessen, Altman, Cowen, et al.
Faine Greenwood@faineg.com · 6d agoBig names in AI and Silicon Valley tech announced yesterday that they're launching a boarding academy for 16 to 22 year olds. (Would you trust the people in this scene with keeping an eye on minors?) theacademysf.com
What's your rural impact? Sponsorship helps sustain a platform where important rural issues are explored, diverse perspectives are heard and listeners are encouraged to turn knowledge into action. Help us keep the conversations going: theruralimpact.com/podcast-sponsorship-information
NEW EPISODE 🎙️ From data centers to solar grazing, Episode 91 explores how land use and energy development are shaping rural America. Hear from Commissioners Jason Strouf and John Shafer and farmer/writer Rebekah Pierce. 🎧 theruralimpact.com #TheRuralImpact #RuralAmerica
Good morning butterflies. Today we’re talking land use, data centers and solar grazing! 🎧👇 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
The Rural Impact
Politics Podcast · Updated Biweekly · A Podcast that Connects the Dots between Policy and Rural Everything.
podcasts.apple.com
America's Long History of Falling for Hucksters and Their Outlandish Promises www.medpagetoday.com/publichealth...
America's Long History of Falling for Hucksters and Their Outlandish Promises
One physician says there's a simple, poignant reason why: 'People really don't want to die'
medpagetoday.com
A second lawsuit has been filed with respect to the Trump Administration's flawed interpretation of the medically frail provision of the Medicaid work reporting requirement coming to a neighborhood near you on 1/1/27. Thank you to the plaintiffs and litigators!
National Health Law Program@nhelp.bsky.social · 2w agoBREAKING🚨@nhelp.bsky.social, @democracyforward.org & our partners filed a lawsuit to protect Medicaid access for people with serious health conditions. Learn more about the case and the people impacted: healthlaw.org/news/medicai...
We will be tracking the change in child uninsured rate from the Census CPS data coming tomorrow and have quick analysis. However, our usual work analyzing Census ACS data for our annual report is delayed b/c for the 1st time the ACS is not coming out this week. The Bureau has "delayed" the data 😜
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities@centeronbudget.bsky.social · 2w agoTomorrow, the Census Bureau will release new data on income, poverty, and health insurance in 2025. Here’s what our experts will be watching for in the latest data: www.cbpp.org/research/pov...
Federal law protecting children from losing coverage is being violated in Florida and tens of thousands of kids are losing CHIP. The Trump Administration is not enforcing the law. Still no answers from DeSantis administration on KidCare disenrollments, challenges floridaphoenix.com/2026/09/14/s...
Still no answers from DeSantis administration on KidCare disenrollments, challenges • Florida Phoenix
The administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis is still not giving firm answers on when — or whether — it intends to expand a safety-net healthcare program for low-income children that the Florida Legislatur...
floridaphoenix.com
Been a busy few weeks on the road so no episode of @ruralimpactpodcast.bsky.social today BUT stay tuned for 9/24 becuase we're diving back into land use for data centers, renewables and agri-grazing! youtu.be/avFqAMwrPaQ?...
Coming up Next! #podcast
YouTube video by The Rural Impact
youtu.be
Check your voter registration. Vote in every election and make sure that it cannot be denied! Clean house of all the deplorables.
Federal minimum wage in: 2009: $7.25 2010: $7.25 2011: $7.25 2012: $7.25 2013: $7.25 2014: $7.25 2015: $7.25 2016: $7.25 2017: $7.25 2018: $7.25 2019: $7.25 2020: $7.25 2021: $7.25 2022: $7.25 2023: $7.25 2024: $7.25 2025: $7.25 2026: $7.25 Folks, it's time to raise the damn wage already.
If you have yet to give @ruralimpactpodcast.bsky.social 🎧or joined our community on m.youtube.com/@TheRuralImp... know that we invite you to expand your rural lens.
The Rural Impact Podcast@ruralimpactpodcast.bsky.social · 4w agoRural voices deserve a place in the conversations shaping our future. Sponsoring The Rural Impact helps elevate rural perspectives across healthcare, education, policy, economic development, and more. Help amplify rural voices: theruralimpact.com/podcast-sponsorship-information
Take your rural impact with you. Our reusable Shop Rural tote is a simple way to show your support for rural communities wherever you go. Shop The Rural Impact collection: https://theruralimpact-shop.fourthwall.com/
On the left Apple Maps. We’re done On the right I just started using @mapquest.com again. Hello old friend.
Our Medicaid tracker is updated and # of kids enrolled since Jan 2025 in ths US is now ⬇️ 2.45 million. That's a lot. Why is this important? When Medicaid child enrollment declines, the # of uninsured kids typically goes up.
The Trump administration FAA is a disaster. Airlines cannot depend on flight controllers, airspace is being messed up by a cluster of misinformation, flights are delayed, not updated because of incompetence. Take note. Airlines need to be able to rely on the FAA and right now. It is a crapshoot. 
NEW EPISODE: What does rural health transformation mean when communities are also facing growing pressure on coverage and access Tune in https://tinyurl.com/2v5mxrdc and listen as @mrbimpact.bsky.social talks with Leslie Dach of Protect Our Care. #RuralHealth
A preview of the chaos to come when Medicaid work reporting requirements sweep the nation in 2027. Nebraska which began implementing in June just got approval for counties to be exempt that had tornados, storms etc. last spring! www.centralnebraskatoday.com/2026/08/26/4...
Counties affected by wildfires, severe weather receive Temporary Disaster Hardship for Medicaid work requirements
NEBRASKA - The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced today that recent federal act...
centralnebraskatoday.com
Must listen. Another lesson in believe their actions not their words. 
MeidasTouch@meidastouch.com · last mo.Dr. Vin Gupta, an actual health expert, just dismantled RFK Jr.’s entire health agenda piece by piece. Medicaid cuts. NIH trials canceled. Environmental protections gutted. "Lots of marketing, little substance" on food policy.
In a world that can feel pretty rotten right now, strive to be more like Dolly. If you have not read this book by Sarah Smarsh please do so. I pulled it off my shelf to read again tonight. 💕💕💕
