They say it's a myth, but I've seen strange things afoot at the Circle K during a full moon.

Everyone supposedly knows someone who talked to Mitch McConnell. It reminds me of REO Speedwagon. 🎶Heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who heard it from another Mitch was still kickin around. 🎶

I just heard an ad from a progressive super PAC attacking a local progressive candidate because he openly disagrees with establishment democrats. What kind of 🐎 💩 is this? Apparently, one cannot be progressive if we disagree with other dems. That's not progressive, it's control.

The People vs The Powerful: @sanders.senate.gov, @aoc.bsky.social, @wewill2026.bsky.social @abdulelsayed.bsky.social So excited! The energy is palpable.

So, let's talk about Lindsey Graham's now open senate seat. South Carolina has elected only 2 men to this U.S. Senate seat since 1954. Over 70 years. Let that sink in for a minute. Before... Disneyland (1955) The Interstate Highway System (1956) The Beatles (1960) Barbie (1959) ZIP codes (1963)

US Senator Lindsey Graham passed away... Anyways, has anyone figured out how to fold a fitted sheet without accidentally opening a portal to Narnia?

I love the fact that Mitch is doing what Coke tried to do in the 70s. He's bringing us all together in our mutual hate for the Turtle. Coke tried to sell us on teaching the world to sing. This Mitch fiasco is teaching the world to meme.

And the Weekend at Mitchie's movie has officially jumped the shark. It's hilarious to see a bunch of people trying to pretend that they talked to him. What? Through a Ouija board? The only thing funnier than those guys are the memes and posts. I especially like this one from Massie.

A message for my representative.

It's time for my annual watching of 1776. DICKINSON: Be careful, sir. History will brand Mr. Adams and his followers as traitors HANCOCK: Traitors, Mr. Dickinson? To what? The British crown? Or the British half-crown? Fortunately, there are not enough men of property in America to dictate policy

Thinking today about William Henry Harrison, who gave the longest inaugural address in U.S. history, got sick soon after, and was dead 31 days later. Anyway, I hear 47 is threatening a very long speech soon. History is such a fascinating subject.

Do you remember in A Christmas Story when Ralphie gets his decoder ring only to find the message was, 'be sure to drink your Ovaltine'? That's like filling out agency forms and waiting for help, only to get another letter asking for more info. No wonder people give up without ever getting a cent.

When a client becomes "noncompliant," don't treat it as a character flaw but as the symptom it is. In some areas of social work, accountability is mandated. CPS, court-connected work, and other systems have different stakes. So no, we can’t always say “it’s okay.” But we can still avoid shame.

Some clients are not ready for change. Sometimes the kindest, most honest thing is saying: “If this isn’t the right time, we can close your case now and you can come back when you’re ready.” Closure does not have to be punishment. Sometimes it is a pressure release valve.

Humans are rarely black and white. We are shades of gray with messy histories, emotional trauma, and backgrounds that can make things harder than they seem. Our work with clients should reflect that.

Mutual aid is vital to our communities. It’s neighbors uniting under a shared promise...'we keep us safe.' It's how wars and hardships are survived and civilizations flourish. As Virginian delegate Carter Braxton wrote in April 1776, "A true saying of a Wit – We must hang together or separately."

Wording matters when reaching out to clients. “Tell me if you need help” can put someone in the position of admitting failure. “Tell me how I can be helpful” assumes support is normal. And support should be normal.

For every $1 billion in new SNAP benefits distributed, households are able to redirect about $0.7 billion toward other things. Having food needs met allows people to use wages for other important stuff like gas, clothing, and diapers. Freeing up funds frees Americans.

Happy 🌈Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈 all you fabulous people!! I had too much fun with @naswmi.bsky.social at our local Pride festival. It is hot but the heat isn't stopping us from celebrating.

When an involuntary client becomes "noncompliant" you can say: “One of our agreements was that you would do X. I want to help you. What do you need from me to meet your responsibilities?” That’s accountability without humiliation.

SNAP spending helps generate over $4.5 billion in state and federal tax revenue. That's because SNAP dollars flow straight into grocery stores and retailers, helping support jobs in related industries. Those tax revenues help fund public services we all rely on.

www.nationalgrocers.org

New Economic Data Underscores SNAP’s Critical Role in Supporting American Jobs and Local Economies - National Grocers Association

twp.ai

Increased SNAP participation is linked to lower Medicaid and public health care costs. When people are fed, they're less likely to visit the ER, more likely to avoid costly hospitalizations, and better able to manage chronic conditions. Fed Americans are healthier Americans.

www.ncoa.org

7 Ways SNAP Supports Better Health for Older Adults

twp.ai

Kids who grow up in food secure homes tend to show up to school more focused, with fewer behavior issues, and they miss fewer days. Research links SNAP access in childhood to stronger test scores and higher graduation rates. Supporting SNAP benefits just makes good sense. https://twp.ai/4hqgvc

When a client thanks me, I say I'm doing my job and I mean it. Social workers don't empower people, we support people to empower themselves. They put in the hard work to change their own lives and we provide the tools. Being part of their journey is a privilege and an honor. I love this work!

In 1990, homeownership could be achieved at the median age of 30 with an average of 3.2 years of savings, and home prices were about 3.1x the median household income. Today, it takes 10 years at 40 & prices are >5x the income. Next time someone tells you to just cut costs & save, show them the math.

Clients that don't follow through, miss appointments, or seem to lack motivation are often labeled as “noncompliant.” Behaviors are like the visible part of an iceberg...the outside manifestation of what is going on inside themselves. A missed meetong is info. It is not a full character assessment.

When social workers label someone “noncompliant” too quickly, they lose... ...the ability to model accountability. ...the ability to help. ...the clear lens of what they’re seeing. When dealing with non-compliance go back to the principles of empathy, accountability, curiosity, dignity, & respect.

When history calls, some people get Springsteen and some people get 💩

Democrats@democrats.org · 2mo ago

Obama’s Presidential Center is opening tomorrow. Trump’s concert was canceled entirely.

This is a reminder that burnout isn't a sign of weakness. It's more about staffing issues, low pay, high workload, trauma exposure, and unrealistic expectations. Agencies need to get on board. Pizza parties are cool and all, but real self-care comes from better working conditions.

Social workers have a duty to the truth. It's so much more than just stating a fact. It means seeing the world and ourselves with a clear mind. Our strengths; our challenges; our biases. It all matters. Admitting that the world we know may not be the same world for others is hard but necessary.