iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

In 2 months I will have a teenager, and in 3 months I will be 40, and I just really don't know how the next few years are gonna go, tbh.

000

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

USDA Secretary Rollins just told the Ag Approps subcommittee that WIC is "fully funded" in Trump's budget proposal. A mom who gets $10 to spend on fruit and veg for a child (for a month!) instead of the $26 she previously had might not agree.

010

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

I wrote this op ed last year when Trump's budget proposal included a ~70% cut to the WIC fruit and veg benefit. Last year, that proposal didn't make it through Approps, and WIC remained intact, so he's trying again this year. www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-e...

sacbee.com

Trump administration’s WIC cuts risk worsening food insecurity in California | Opinion

“These benefits nourish expecting parents and children and sustain small businesses, retailers and farms.”

011

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Nothing says Make America Healthy Again like trying (again) to cut the amount of fruits and vegetables that low-income pregnant people, infants and toddlers get, right?

010

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

My husband switched to a Light Phone back in 2019. No internet browser, no apps, no camera. He can call, text, and it also does GPS navigation, and that's it. He's not addicted to his phone, which is great, but it means I have to do all the QR code things.

110

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

My mom and dad both worked for USFS for most of my life, including on the Shasta Trinity National Forest and the Lassen National Forest, both of which are now slated to lose their research and development facilities. So glad they're retired, but so sad for their friends and community.

010

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Had to go give a talk in Berkeley this morning, and can I just say, long live the Capitol Corridor! Driving to the Bay Area sucks, Amtrak 4 life.

110

Reposted by Sarah Diaz

Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 29/03/2026

Food policing poor families isn't a win for nutrition--it's a loss for dignity and joy. As Brea Perry and I find in our research (see reply), low-income parents buy food treats for their kids because they want their kids to feel happy and normal--and they can't afford to do so in bigger ways.

241058381

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

They're not mutually exclusive, I'm sure assholes get dementia too!

010

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Big fan of Kassia St. Clair books for this kind of reading!

010

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

I have been really enjoying learning history stuff by reading about other stuff. History of textiles, history of color/pigments, history of gemstones, history of automobiles.

120

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

I came down with a fever, and my hot water heater exploded and flooded my garage. Inauspicious.

110

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

He just doesn't want to see them doing normal kid stuff, like playing sports?

110

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

I haven't picked up The Rose Field yet, I feel like I need to re-read the first two as a refresher, but The Secret Commonwealth was traumatic!

110

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Imagine you're just working at some federal department like you've been doing for years, minding your business, and next thing you know the President is talking about not only not paying you, but also sounds like a mob boss about to take a hit out on you.

010

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Ugh, I am so worried about this. 😕

010

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Working in maternal-child health and nutrition policy and having a spouse who is an environmental engineer in air quality and community environmental protection is just…a lot right now.

030

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

Apparently this is a thing! I have Blue Shield, but I heard Cigna is also failing to negotiate contracts with providers, and Aetna just tried to drop Sutter here in Sacramento. My situation resolved itself after a stressful month or two. www.sacbee.com/news/politic...

sacbee.com

UC Health, Blue Shield reach a deal to renew contract after months of negotiating

The insurer and health system reached an agreement that will enable 35,000 UC Davis patients to continue seeing their medical providers.

100

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Just got notified that my health insurance is dropping my healthcare provider effective July 1, and it will not be considered a qualifying event to choose another plan so that I can stay with my provider - I'll be randomly assigned a new provider. Doesn't seem like it should work that way?

120

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Long covid is now the most common chronic condition experienced by American children. That might have something to do with why chronic absenteeism has worsened across the country.

14112

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

See previous post about my kid wiping out a $6 lb of strawberries in one sitting. He’s older than WIC age, but even as a toddler, $10 in today’s food costs…maybe 3-4 days of produce?

020

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Make America Healthy Again, right guys?

030

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

My son ate a $6 lb of strawberries in one sitting yesterday after swim practice. SNAP benefits are $6 PER DAY. Feeding kids healthy food is prohibitively expensive and time-consuming sometimes/for some families, and it's out of touch to pretend it's not.

120

Reposted by Sarah Diaz

Santa Clara County Democratic Party @sccdp.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Every California GOP House member voted to gut food assistance and healthcare and take on massive debt to please Trump and give more money to billionaires. David Valadao (CD 22) cast the deciding vote (it passed 215-214). In his district 87% of kids and 67% of all residents rely on Medicaid.

0126

Reposted by Sarah Diaz

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

turns out the GOP budget bill adds so much to deficits that it will automatically trigger cuts to Medicare (not just Medicaid). Older voters unlikely to be happy about this when word gets out democrats-budget.house.gov/news/press-r...

democrats-budget.house.gov

CBO Confirms GOP Budget Bill Triggers Medicare Cuts

Republican Plan Adds to the Deficit, Will Trigger Automatic Cuts Under Federal Law

581285767

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

I'm from a county that only has two very small hospitals, few doctors providers, and over 20% of the population is covered by Medicaid. The idea that providers and services will remain in business and able to provide all the same care to non-Medicaid patients in the face of these cuts is wild.

010

Reposted by Sarah Diaz

No Kid Hungry @nokidhungry.org · 13/05/2025

Last night, the Republican leadership of the House Agriculture Committee released its portion of the budget reconciliation bill. The proposal is designed to reach $230 billion in cuts to USDA programs, like SNAP.

131

Reposted by Sarah Diaz

Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 25/04/2025

PhD Timeline xkcd.com/3081

5865977820438

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

One of my first jobs after college was as a home visitor for Early Head Start in a very under-resourced frontier county. I can't even explain all the ways that families depended on the program. My heart breaks for my former coworkers and the families they serve alike. www.kqed.org/news/1203596...

kqed.org

‘I Know the Power of Head Start’: Laid-Off Worker Fears for the Program’s Future | KQED

Head Start programs worry that the closure of a federal office in San Francisco could create delays in getting funding requests approved — and weaken their support system.

020

Reposted by Sarah Diaz

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

A brief overview of all the ways Trump is destroying the services that keep American children alive and well. These include programs that feed kids, teach them the alphabet, provide them medical care, guarantee their rights and shield them from abuse. wapo.st/4jcUg2f

wapo.st

Opinion | Donald Trump’s war on children

The administration is divesting from future generations. It will cost America dearly.

920379

Reposted by Sarah Diaz

No to RTO @notorto.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Attend the CA Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 hearing on April 22, 2025 and make a public comment: notorto.org/ca-assembly-... We need to pack the house and show that we are serious about NO to RTO!

notorto.org

CA Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on State Administration: April 22, 2025 1:30 PM – No to RTO

021

Reposted by Sarah Diaz

SEIU Local 1000 @seiu1000.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Facts: According to an April 29th 2024 request for audit by Assembly Member Josh Hoover, state telework “eliminated nearly 400,000 metric tons of carbon emissions, reduced traffic congestion, and saved workers hundreds of dollars per month in vehicle expenses." www.seiu1000.org/rto/

141

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

My mother, retired from the US Forest Service, received a notification today that future announcements regarding her federal 401k would be made via X. The link provided for the bulletin with more information was dead.

130

Reposted by Sarah Diaz

Charles Gaba ✡️ @charlesgaba.com · 10/04/2025

You can find these graphs for ALL 435 HOUSE DISTRICTS (436 including DC) as well as for ALL 50 STATES here, along w/data sources & methodology. I'm even working on adding HIGH-DEF PDF versions for printing out to 24"x36" poster boards! acasignups.net/piecharts

acasignups.net

Pie Charts Galore! Medicaid, CHIP, ACA & Medicare enrollment by Congressional District

Over the past couple of months I've compiled a master spreadsheet breaking out enrollment in ACA plans (Qualified Health Plans & Basic Health Plans), Medicaid/CHIP coverage (both traditional & via ACA...

32216

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

My favorite read of 2025 so far.

110

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

I finished this book of short stories last night, and it was truly unhinged (in a fun way, mostly).

010

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Tufts is my alma mater, and the video of a phd student being abducted this week was horrifying and gut wrenching, and somehow more shocking because it happened in a place I walked on the regular for years.

020

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

But we'll keep handwringing and wondering why millennials aren't having more children.

010

Reposted by Sarah Diaz

EdSource @edsource.org · 11/03/2025

Assembly Bill 65 would give California school employees full pay if they miss work because of a pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth and recover, and up to 14 weeks of paid leave for a pregnancy.

edsource.org

UPDATE: Legislator, teachers union not giving up on paid pregnancy leave for educators

The latest education news updates from EdSource.

043

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Since Newsom ordered the initial RTO 2 days a week, I don't think my husband has bought lunch once, and he also takes the light rail. Downtown parking and lunch on a regular basis would just be too big of a budget hit.

110

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

I'm whining, but one example: my spouse started running with our kid (and dog) every morning before work/school in 2020, and they have kept it up ever since. They will likely not be able to continue that, and it has been really important for them.

120

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

I'm not a state worker, but my spouse is, and this will blow up our mornings and evenings. My family will be less happy and healthy as a result of this, and I am 100% certain that we're not unique in that regard.

120

Reposted by Sarah Diaz

Andrew Sheeler @andrewsheeler.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Beyond disappointed to see the war on Work From Home (WFH) being waged here in California. WFH makes workers happier and more productive, and saves employers (and taxpayers) money. Don't take my word for it. Read for yourself.

bls.gov

The rise in remote work since the pandemic and its impact on productivity

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about dramatic changes in the work environment. Although 6.5 percent of workers in the private business sector worked primarily from home in 2019, the pandemic was the st...

2234

Sarah Diaz @itssarah.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Also unserious about retention and generally fostering goodwill and job satisfaction among state employees.

183