Monique Morrissey
@moniquemorrissey.bsky.social
Labor economist at pro-worker Economic Policy Institute. Low tolerance for infighting. Otherwise happy to hear from you on this new-to-me site, especially if you make me laugh. Views my own. Daughter of a French-Canadian immigrant. No random DMs. (she/her)
Pinned
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) shuts down USAID and State Dept. seeks to absorb parts of the agency and eliminate the rest
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk and a team of his followers, entered the offices of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), shuttering much ...
www.epi.org
ICYMI, @epi.org has two new resources for researchers and anyone tracking Trump actions:
data.epi.org
www.epi.org/policywatch/
#EconSky
data.epi.org
www.epi.org/policywatch/
#EconSky
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
FUN FACT FRIDAY: SOCIAL SECURITY EDITION 📣
Did you know: In 2025, millionaires (and billionaires, and trillionaires) pay the same for Social Security as someone earning $176,100? 😲
Say it ain't so @moniquemorrissey.bsky.social
1/
Did you know: In 2025, millionaires (and billionaires, and trillionaires) pay the same for Social Security as someone earning $176,100? 😲
Say it ain't so @moniquemorrissey.bsky.social
1/
Should high earners support scrapping Social Security’s cap on taxable earnings?
Earnings above a cap aren’t subject to the payroll taxes that fund Social Security. As a result, billionaires pay the same tax as someone earning $176,100 in 2025 (the cap is indexed to the average wa...
www.epi.org
December 12, 2025 at 1:58 PM
FUN FACT FRIDAY: SOCIAL SECURITY EDITION 📣
Did you know: In 2025, millionaires (and billionaires, and trillionaires) pay the same for Social Security as someone earning $176,100? 😲
Say it ain't so @moniquemorrissey.bsky.social
1/
Did you know: In 2025, millionaires (and billionaires, and trillionaires) pay the same for Social Security as someone earning $176,100? 😲
Say it ain't so @moniquemorrissey.bsky.social
1/
This may seem counterintuitive, but 70% of workers who would pay more in Social Security taxes if the taxable maximum was lifted should support "scrap the cap" because they'd be worse off with benefit cuts. It's also the right thing to do, of course. New from @epi.org. www.epi.org/blog/should-...
Should high earners support scrapping Social Security’s cap on taxable earnings?
Earnings above a cap aren’t subject to the payroll taxes that fund Social Security. As a result, billionaires pay the same tax as someone earning $176,100 in 2025 (the cap is indexed to the average wa...
www.epi.org
December 12, 2025 at 1:44 PM
This may seem counterintuitive, but 70% of workers who would pay more in Social Security taxes if the taxable maximum was lifted should support "scrap the cap" because they'd be worse off with benefit cuts. It's also the right thing to do, of course. New from @epi.org. www.epi.org/blog/should-...
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
Tonight’s repeal of Utah’s ban of teacher collective bargaining is a historic step in the right direction to return respect and dignity to the workers of Utah. Here's my full statement.
www.aft.org/press-releas...
www.aft.org/press-releas...
AFT Utah and the AFT on the Repeal of Utah’s Public Sector Collective Bargaining Ban
SALT LAKE CITY—AFT Utah President Brad Asay and AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after the state legislature repealed a law, HB 267, that banned public employee unions fro...
www.aft.org
December 10, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Tonight’s repeal of Utah’s ban of teacher collective bargaining is a historic step in the right direction to return respect and dignity to the workers of Utah. Here's my full statement.
www.aft.org/press-releas...
www.aft.org/press-releas...
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
The Senate failed to extend ACA premium subsidies again today. @kdoc-writes.bsky.social and I show that these subsidies kept 2 million people out of poverty last year. #EconSky
www.epi.org/blog/new-mea...
www.epi.org/blog/new-mea...
New measure of poverty shows that undoing ACA subsidies will push millions into economic insecurity: Communities of color would be hit hardest by Trump’s health care affordability crisis
A new measure of poverty that accounts for health care needs and resources being developed by the U.S. Census Bureau—the Health Inclusive Poverty Measure (HIPM)—shows that poverty affects even more pe...
www.epi.org
December 11, 2025 at 7:33 PM
The Senate failed to extend ACA premium subsidies again today. @kdoc-writes.bsky.social and I show that these subsidies kept 2 million people out of poverty last year. #EconSky
www.epi.org/blog/new-mea...
www.epi.org/blog/new-mea...
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
There must be a million iconic images of nature they could have chosen, but in a personalist regime you are forced to carry the image of the man damaging the national parks you are visiting
Here's what some of the new National Park Service passes will look like, starting Jan 1
December 11, 2025 at 8:51 PM
There must be a million iconic images of nature they could have chosen, but in a personalist regime you are forced to carry the image of the man damaging the national parks you are visiting
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
Really enjoyed this discussion between @pkrugman.bsky.social and @hcrichardson.bsky.social. Something Paul said that I want to highlight: negativity bias affects both right and left. I discuss this in my book as well. Some thoughts.
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
Live with Heather Cox Richardson
A recording from Paul Krugman and Heather Cox Richardson's live video
open.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Really enjoyed this discussion between @pkrugman.bsky.social and @hcrichardson.bsky.social. Something Paul said that I want to highlight: negativity bias affects both right and left. I discuss this in my book as well. Some thoughts.
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
Hey! @pkrugman.bsky.social calls @epi.org “left leaning but scrupulously honest” [contrasting us with Heritage, which he notes has tons more funding]. We’re of course big fans of his and @hcrichardson.bsky.social.
Really enjoyed this discussion between @pkrugman.bsky.social and @hcrichardson.bsky.social. Something Paul said that I want to highlight: negativity bias affects both right and left. I discuss this in my book as well. Some thoughts.
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
Live with Heather Cox Richardson
A recording from Paul Krugman and Heather Cox Richardson's live video
open.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Hey! @pkrugman.bsky.social calls @epi.org “left leaning but scrupulously honest” [contrasting us with Heritage, which he notes has tons more funding]. We’re of course big fans of his and @hcrichardson.bsky.social.
🚨Big news!🚨https://aflcio.org/press/releases/labor-movement-delivers-bipartisan-victory-house-passes-bill-restore-federal-workers
Labor Movement Delivers Bipartisan Victory as House Passes Bill to Restore Federal Workers’ Union Rights | AFL-CIO
Republicans and Democrats Successfully Use Discharge Petition for Vote to Overturn Trump Executive Order
aflcio.org
December 11, 2025 at 11:12 PM
🚨Big news!🚨https://aflcio.org/press/releases/labor-movement-delivers-bipartisan-victory-house-passes-bill-restore-federal-workers
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
Trump 0-3 on indicting Tish James and just had his ass handed to him by Indiana Republican legislators he threatened and bullied. Also new low in AP poll at 36% approval.
December 11, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Trump 0-3 on indicting Tish James and just had his ass handed to him by Indiana Republican legislators he threatened and bullied. Also new low in AP poll at 36% approval.
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
🚨 Federal jobs data may have vastly overstated jobs creation, swinging US from net job creation to net job loss over past 6 months
“The real number could be something more like a loss of 20,000 jobs a month”
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
“The real number could be something more like a loss of 20,000 jobs a month”
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
Fed Chair Jerome Powell Says U.S. May Be Drastically Overstating Jobs Numbers
Powell said that Fed staffers believe federal data could be overstating job creation by up to 60,000 jobs a month—which suggests the jobs market might be shrinking.
www.wsj.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:36 AM
🚨 Federal jobs data may have vastly overstated jobs creation, swinging US from net job creation to net job loss over past 6 months
“The real number could be something more like a loss of 20,000 jobs a month”
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
“The real number could be something more like a loss of 20,000 jobs a month”
www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
NEW: On behalf of SEIU District 1199NE, Rhode Island Alliance for Retired Americans and two voters, my law firm has filed to intervene to fight DOJ’s lawsuit seeking Rhode Island’s complete, unredacted voter registration list. www.democracydocket.com/cases/rhode-...
🚨 United States of America v. Amore
Learn more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:48 PM
NEW: On behalf of SEIU District 1199NE, Rhode Island Alliance for Retired Americans and two voters, my law firm has filed to intervene to fight DOJ’s lawsuit seeking Rhode Island’s complete, unredacted voter registration list. www.democracydocket.com/cases/rhode-...
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
The fact that we already have Health Savings Accounts and the most marketized health care system in the world, and it is also the most expensive system does not seem to put a dent in these guy's theories of health economics
Roger Marshall: "We want patients to become consumers again. We want patients to see what the actual prices are. We believe that if we would add the price tags to this bill, that it would save the country a trillion dollars a year."
December 11, 2025 at 1:21 AM
The fact that we already have Health Savings Accounts and the most marketized health care system in the world, and it is also the most expensive system does not seem to put a dent in these guy's theories of health economics
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
Couple of things here:
1. Trump says he took another cognitive test recently
2. In front of "large numbers of doctors and experts"
3. He called the examinations "long...and very boring"
4. If you're given 3 cognitive exams in one year by panels of doctors, something is VERY wrong with you
1. Trump says he took another cognitive test recently
2. In front of "large numbers of doctors and experts"
3. He called the examinations "long...and very boring"
4. If you're given 3 cognitive exams in one year by panels of doctors, something is VERY wrong with you
December 10, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Couple of things here:
1. Trump says he took another cognitive test recently
2. In front of "large numbers of doctors and experts"
3. He called the examinations "long...and very boring"
4. If you're given 3 cognitive exams in one year by panels of doctors, something is VERY wrong with you
1. Trump says he took another cognitive test recently
2. In front of "large numbers of doctors and experts"
3. He called the examinations "long...and very boring"
4. If you're given 3 cognitive exams in one year by panels of doctors, something is VERY wrong with you
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
When you go see your doctor, your care shouldn’t be overruled by an algorithm.
Several major Medicare (dis)Advantage providers—privatized for-profit corporations like UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and CVS—have already started using AI in their prior authorization processes.
Several major Medicare (dis)Advantage providers—privatized for-profit corporations like UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and CVS—have already started using AI in their prior authorization processes.
December 10, 2025 at 9:11 PM
When you go see your doctor, your care shouldn’t be overruled by an algorithm.
Several major Medicare (dis)Advantage providers—privatized for-profit corporations like UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and CVS—have already started using AI in their prior authorization processes.
Several major Medicare (dis)Advantage providers—privatized for-profit corporations like UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and CVS—have already started using AI in their prior authorization processes.
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
Oh, and it earned the Silver Anthem Award for Best Use of Data, DEIB. ☺️
Thank you to the Darkhorse team and to Anthem Awards for lifting up the work built to help lift up workers. ❤️
Thank you to the Darkhorse team and to Anthem Awards for lifting up the work built to help lift up workers. ❤️
December 10, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Oh, and it earned the Silver Anthem Award for Best Use of Data, DEIB. ☺️
Thank you to the Darkhorse team and to Anthem Awards for lifting up the work built to help lift up workers. ❤️
Thank you to the Darkhorse team and to Anthem Awards for lifting up the work built to help lift up workers. ❤️
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
Earlier this year, EPI partnered with @darkhorseviz.bsky.social to bring nearly 40 years of data, analysis, and research to life for everyday users. Their team brought design, data, and purpose together in the State of Working America Data Library.
Try right now at data.epi.org 1/
Try right now at data.epi.org 1/
December 10, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Earlier this year, EPI partnered with @darkhorseviz.bsky.social to bring nearly 40 years of data, analysis, and research to life for everyday users. Their team brought design, data, and purpose together in the State of Working America Data Library.
Try right now at data.epi.org 1/
Try right now at data.epi.org 1/
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
ICYMI: We've got another (super rare!) successful discharge petition in the House forcing a floor vote THIS WEEK to restore federal workers' union rights.
Tell your member of Congress to pass the bipartisan Protect America's Workforce Act!
Tell your member of Congress to pass the bipartisan Protect America's Workforce Act!
December 10, 2025 at 12:50 AM
ICYMI: We've got another (super rare!) successful discharge petition in the House forcing a floor vote THIS WEEK to restore federal workers' union rights.
Tell your member of Congress to pass the bipartisan Protect America's Workforce Act!
Tell your member of Congress to pass the bipartisan Protect America's Workforce Act!
She’s also an SEIU member.
Huge Win for Rümeysa Öztürk!
“I hope one day we can create a world where everyone uses education to learn, connect, civically engage and benefit others – rather than criminalize and punish those whose opinions differ from our own.”
- Rümeysa Öztürk
AAUP stands in solidarity with Rümeysa Öztürk!
“I hope one day we can create a world where everyone uses education to learn, connect, civically engage and benefit others – rather than criminalize and punish those whose opinions differ from our own.”
- Rümeysa Öztürk
AAUP stands in solidarity with Rümeysa Öztürk!
Tufts student can resume research after Trump officials revoked her visa, judge rules
Rümeysa Öztürk was arrested in March amid White House’s crackdown on foreign students’ pro-Palestinian advocacy
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 12:23 AM
She’s also an SEIU member.
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
CONFIRMED: Eileen Higgins, a Democrat, will be the new mayor of Miami.
She'll be the city's first Democratic mayor since the 1990s. She flipped the office from Republicans, and does so easily. She leads the DeSantis-endorsed Emilio González 59/41 right now with most ballots counted.
She'll be the city's first Democratic mayor since the 1990s. She flipped the office from Republicans, and does so easily. She leads the DeSantis-endorsed Emilio González 59/41 right now with most ballots counted.
December 10, 2025 at 12:18 AM
CONFIRMED: Eileen Higgins, a Democrat, will be the new mayor of Miami.
She'll be the city's first Democratic mayor since the 1990s. She flipped the office from Republicans, and does so easily. She leads the DeSantis-endorsed Emilio González 59/41 right now with most ballots counted.
She'll be the city's first Democratic mayor since the 1990s. She flipped the office from Republicans, and does so easily. She leads the DeSantis-endorsed Emilio González 59/41 right now with most ballots counted.
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
A federal judge just blocked the Trump admin from making broad warrantless immigration arrests in DC. The court found DHS was using “arrest first, ask questions later” tactics and misrepresenting the law.
A big win for due process and basic fairness.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
A big win for due process and basic fairness.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Judge limits warrantless immigration arrests in DC
The judge ruled the arrests require probable cause showing a suspect is likely to escape before a warrant can be obtained.
www.politico.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:25 AM
A federal judge just blocked the Trump admin from making broad warrantless immigration arrests in DC. The court found DHS was using “arrest first, ask questions later” tactics and misrepresenting the law.
A big win for due process and basic fairness.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
A big win for due process and basic fairness.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
1. CNN and CNBC recently announced partnerships with Kalshi, a prediction market that lets you place bets on the news.
Now, every story is a casino game.
Although Kalshi's popularity has exploded, it remains relatively small and vulnerable to political manipulation.
Now, every story is a casino game.
Although Kalshi's popularity has exploded, it remains relatively small and vulnerable to political manipulation.
The casino-fication of news
New partnerships between the prediction market Kalshi and cable TV networks will transform every news event into a betting opportunity.
popular.info
December 8, 2025 at 4:03 PM
1. CNN and CNBC recently announced partnerships with Kalshi, a prediction market that lets you place bets on the news.
Now, every story is a casino game.
Although Kalshi's popularity has exploded, it remains relatively small and vulnerable to political manipulation.
Now, every story is a casino game.
Although Kalshi's popularity has exploded, it remains relatively small and vulnerable to political manipulation.
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
Earlier this year @cmcnich.bsky.social and @tcfdotorg.bsky.social's Lauren McFerran wrote about the Trump administration's attack on independent agencies.
These actions will have a sweeping impact and undermine the safety and wellbeing of workers, consumers, and the public.
These actions will have a sweeping impact and undermine the safety and wellbeing of workers, consumers, and the public.
Trump’s assault on independent agencies endangers us all
Summary Independent agencies were carefully designed by Congress to ensure that those charged with safeguarding critically important public interests—like workers’ rights, product safety, or household...
www.epi.org
December 8, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Earlier this year @cmcnich.bsky.social and @tcfdotorg.bsky.social's Lauren McFerran wrote about the Trump administration's attack on independent agencies.
These actions will have a sweeping impact and undermine the safety and wellbeing of workers, consumers, and the public.
These actions will have a sweeping impact and undermine the safety and wellbeing of workers, consumers, and the public.
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
Must read from @martinomalley.bsky.social:
"After President Donald Trump unleashed Elon Musk and DOGE on the Social Security Administration, the agency lost more staff in a shorter period of time than ever before in its 90-year history....The agency has been gutted."
"After President Donald Trump unleashed Elon Musk and DOGE on the Social Security Administration, the agency lost more staff in a shorter period of time than ever before in its 90-year history....The agency has been gutted."
Trump broke his promise to protect a lifeline for 71 million Americans
President Donald Trump and Elon Musk's DOGE initiative devastated Social Security Administration staffing levels, threatening essential services for millions of Americans.
www.foxnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Must read from @martinomalley.bsky.social:
"After President Donald Trump unleashed Elon Musk and DOGE on the Social Security Administration, the agency lost more staff in a shorter period of time than ever before in its 90-year history....The agency has been gutted."
"After President Donald Trump unleashed Elon Musk and DOGE on the Social Security Administration, the agency lost more staff in a shorter period of time than ever before in its 90-year history....The agency has been gutted."
Who wears smug-indulgent face better, Kevin Hassett or Mike Johnson?
SORKIN: Trump said he's going to be part of making the decision about Netflix's transaction with Warner Brothers. Presidents prior have never declared their involvement in these decisions
HASSETT: He's just very interested in making sure there's a lot of analysis so we make the right choice
HASSETT: He's just very interested in making sure there's a lot of analysis so we make the right choice
December 8, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Who wears smug-indulgent face better, Kevin Hassett or Mike Johnson?
Reposted by Monique Morrissey
So love wobbegongs. Everything is good about the wobbegong. Its name. Its flattened Oscar the Grouch face. Its frondy bits. Its lazy life as a hungry rug. And it’s a shark. Outstanding animal 10/10
The Tasselled Wobbegong is a master of disguise that can eat a fish almost as big as itself in one gulp. It's classified as a shark, but when it lays on the sea floor it looks like a harmless rug if you manage to see it. But with powerful jaws and sharp teeth they are no fish to mess with.
December 8, 2025 at 9:49 AM
So love wobbegongs. Everything is good about the wobbegong. Its name. Its flattened Oscar the Grouch face. Its frondy bits. Its lazy life as a hungry rug. And it’s a shark. Outstanding animal 10/10