Rachel Cohen Booth
@rcobooth.bsky.social
Vox reporter - covering housing, homelessness, family policy trying to prod productively
It seems like this is probably a more specific case about this organization itself and some accusations of abuse, but people might be surprised to know how many anti-abortion groups are against organ donation.
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 4h agoRFK Jr: "I'm announcing that HHS has begun the decertification of Network for Hope, the organ procurement organization."
hi bluesky, i am logging back in after a really special time on maternity leave. i'm back at Vox today. will be around here more now and please do help me cope with the transition by saying hi and sending me all your great tips/story ideas email: rcohen.booth@voxmedia.com, or Signal: 202-681-6194
my last article for a few months is about parental leave — and why U.S advocates should consider pushing for it as a standalone program (like every other country has) rcobooth.substack.com/p/parental-l...
Parental leave for all
new parenthood and the path to national parental leave
rcobooth.substack.com
“I started this story thinking it was about the state of feminized forms of activism in 2026. I’m ending it thinking that a lot of the questions opened up by the Women’s March haven’t been answered yet.” Read @annanorth.bsky.social on ‘craftivism’ www.vox.com/the-highligh...
Want to fight fascism? Join a knitting circle.
The resurgence of resistance crafting.
vox.com
The all-in-one approach to paid family + medical leave has been failing in Congress for 30+ years. Even when it passes in blue states, too many new parents are left out. A stand-alone parental leave benefit would reflect how other countries have gone about it gift link: www.vox.com/the-highligh...
DCHA Executive Director Keith Pettigrew was just hired as CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority: chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...
Chicago Housing Authority appoints Keith Pettigrew as new CEO
The agency has been without a CEO for 16 months, and its vote also marks a win for the board over Mayor Brandon Johnson, who pushed for the appointment of retired Ald. Walter Burnett.
chicago.suntimes.com
I spoke with Vox about the assault on transgender rights. www.vox.com/policy/48276...
The fight over transgender rights in America has entered a new phase
The policy fight is moving well beyond sports and youth medicine. The political response hasn’t caught up.
vox.com
In my newsletter I wrote about my Vox piece on the expanding fight over trans rights and some personal reflections on the reporting rcobooth.substack.com/p/were-in-a-...
We're in a new stage of restrictions for transgender Americans
The policy fight is moving well beyond school sports and youth gender medical treatment, but the political class is slow to catch up
rcobooth.substack.com
“The reason I got a vasectomy is to make sure my girlfriend could be cared for if she wasn’t able to have the same options,” he said. “And me doing my part to help our relationship and our future, that is masculine: helping your partner.”
The snip shift: March Madness used to drive vasectomies. Now abortion bans do.
Once marketed as an excuse to watch basketball, vasectomies are now a way men say they can support their partners after the fall of Roe v. Wade.
19thnews.org
As opponents of trans rights set their eyes on targets well beyond youth gender medicine & school sports, Democrats still haven't figured out what they want to say. They know they need to say more, but there's no real plan right now www.vox.com/policy/48276...
The fight over transgender rights in America has entered a new phase
The policy fight is moving well beyond sports and youth medicine. The political response hasn’t caught up.
vox.com
There's growing consensus among Democrats that @abigailspanberger.com handled anti-trans attacks far better than the party did in 2024. But she was still ultimately vague, and Democrats will have to figure out where they stand on the escalating restrictions.
Vox@vox.com · 5mo agoThe policy fight is moving well beyond sports and youth medicine. The political response hasn't caught up. www.vox.com/policy/48276...
As this piece alludes to, we've found that there are a few simple things pro-equality candidates can do to win, even in an age of relentless anti-trans hit pieces: - Share your story early and often - Lead with your values - Address good-faith concerns directly - Turn the tables - Go big
Rachel Cohen Booth@rcobooth.bsky.social · 5mo agoNew: The legal attacks on transgender Americans are moving fast beyond questions of school sports and youth gender medicine. Democrats are getting caught flatfooted, as they're still debating how to respond to the wedge issues @vox.com gift link: www.vox.com/policy/48276...
There are effectively 2 theories of the case One is that silence on sports and minors made it easier for conservatives to push far broader restrictions. The other is there's no middle ground, and every concession just becomes grounds for the next attack
Rachel Cohen Booth@rcobooth.bsky.social · 5mo agoNew: The legal attacks on transgender Americans are moving fast beyond questions of school sports and youth gender medicine. Democrats are getting caught flatfooted, as they're still debating how to respond to the wedge issues @vox.com gift link: www.vox.com/policy/48276...
New: The legal attacks on transgender Americans are moving fast beyond questions of school sports and youth gender medicine. Democrats are getting caught flatfooted, as they're still debating how to respond to the wedge issues @vox.com gift link: www.vox.com/policy/48276...
"Average regular gasoline prices nationally were around $3.68 a gallon on Saturday, according to AAA, a 23% increase from before the war started at the end of February." www.wsj.com/politics/ele...
The GOP Stronghold Where Anxiety Over the War Is Already on the Ballot
Most polls since the start of the U.S.-Israel bombing campaign find that the U.S. involvement in Iran is unpopular.
wsj.com
this @giladedelman.bsky.social piece on snoring and snoring treatments was very fun to read www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
The Cure for Snoring
A journey into my larynx
theatlantic.com
I start at the Atlantic next week, But I got an early start: www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026...
The Wrecking of the Kennedy Center
America’s Trumpiest arts administrator leaves the institution renamed, nearly closed, and wildly unpopular.
theatlantic.com
nice @bryanrwalsh.bsky.social overview on 5 big takeaways from @jenniferdoleac.bsky.social's new book on criminal justice reform www.vox.com/future-perfe...
These reforms could transform criminal justice for people — and they cost almost nothing
Crime is falling to historic lows. This economist knows how to make it plunge even faster.
vox.com
Americans think nearly half of social media users post toxic/fake content. the actual number is closer to 3-7%. a small group of highly active users produces most of the harmful posts, but the misperception itself makes people feel worse about the state of the U.S academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
"Now, along with access to birth control, abortions and testing for sexually transmitted infections, patients can order an IV hydration after a night of drinking—or smooth crow’s feet. They might soon be able to get laser hair removal and cosmetic fillers." www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Exclusive | Planned Parenthood Wants You to Get Your Botox at Its Clinic
Facing a $100 million revenue gap after federal budget cuts, one California affiliate looks beyond reproductive health to attract a new clientele.
wsj.com
What kind of “fighter” do Democratic voters want in 2026? @christianpaz.bsky.social on today's Senate primary in Texas and what the party might take from James Talarico's bid www.vox.com/politics/480...
"The previously undisclosed records obtained by The Post show that, as the whistleblower said, ICE last year removed about 240 hours from its basic training program, or more than 40 percent of instructional time." www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
ICE training was slashed, records show, corroborating whistleblower claims
Previously unreported records also offer new details about what was cut from ICE’s basic training program. Concerns about the quality of ICE agents’ training have mounted for months.
washingtonpost.com
a great @jerusalem.bsky.social a great piece. a common way to dismiss big structural problems is to dismiss regulations underpinning the structure as "small-bore"-sounding details www.theargumentmag.com/p/stop-calli...
Messaging isn’t everything in public policy, even if some people talk about it that way. But it is part of the puzzle. A new study finds that reframing a $1,493 tax credit as “five weeks of groceries” increased website visits by 25 percent among eligible adults journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
it's all so misleading because virtually all meds carry some risk for some people. You could react poorly to the pill & poorly to Miregard (a non-hormonal IUD) but do well on Mirena (a hormonal IUD) and nuva ring (a lower dose hormonal option). Endless combinations of these bsky.app/profile/atru...
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 5mo agoMURRAY: You called birth control pills 'a disrespect of life.' You also claimed it has 'horrifying health risks.' But there decades of evidence showing it's safe and effective. Should women trust the FDA or you? CASEY MEANS: Are you aware of what the side effects of what hormonal contraception are?
and they'll continue to blur the line between abortion and birth control www.vox.com/24087411/ant...
Gillian Branstetter@gbbranstetter.bsky.social · 5mo agoThey won't start with banning birth control. First they'll lie about it. Then dictate who can prescribe it, use it, fund it, in what forms, and for how long. Suddenly, your doctor won't call you back. I know this is what they'll do because it's what they're doing to transgender healthcare right now.
I have 3 weeks left of book leave, and wrote up some things I've learned along the way — about thinking about research and structure, about getting two dozen rejections on my last proposal, and why it's really fine to not love writing rcobooth.substack.com
I can’t stress this enough. The state of 4th Amendment law is that the cops can’t force you to type in a passcode but they can force you to swipe your finger or present your face. Never stop using passcodes/passwords to unlock your devices. And consider additional code to unlock Signal.
Runa Sandvik@runasand.bsky.social · 6mo agoThe FBI was able to access Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's Signal messages because she used Signal on her work laptop. The laptop accepted Touch ID for authentication, meaning the agents were allowed to require her to unlock it. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Guys if you see observers thank them. There’s real stress and burnout in the ranks right now. People understand they are waking up every day to chase and monitor federal thugs who can execute them. But they keep doing it nonstop to protect their neighbors