Ben Chrisinger
Assistant Professor in Community Health at Tufts, formerly faculty @ DSPI Oxford. I study place and health, especially food and welfare. #SNAPmatters
facultyprofiles.tufts.edu/benjamin-chrisinger
- I’ve had “God Loves a Terrier” stuck in my head for days and I hope it never goes. A balm in tough times.
- Great analysis and resource on food prices resource from @willmasters.bsky.social @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social. As with many things MAHA, a mixed bag. Via @sarah-todd.bsky.social @statnews.com
- say more about this work though
- Massive administrative changes are underway for SNAP. A good summary in @jama.com Health Forum: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... 🥗 🛟
- Give it a rest, guys. 🙄
- “And yet this is where we find ourselves. There has to be an end to this type of cruelty.”
- The “$3 per healthy meal” idea is just another way of saying “poor folks are just doing poverty wrong.” It’s also setting up an argument that SNAP is too generous. 🥗
- Reposted by Ben Chrisinger[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by Ben ChrisingerGrocery. An old-fashioned word. But a beautiful word.
- SNAP instability means food insecurity. There’s no way around it. 🥗
- In the “things I don’t want my tax dollars paying for” outrage arena I’m really struggling to see how poor folks buying a soda makes the list right now. 🥗
- SNAP restriction goalposts are already moving. Of 9 states with January 2026 implementation dates, 4 (FL, ID, LA, OK) have pushed to February or later. 🥗
- Update: 6 more states (VA, HI, SC, OK, MO, ND) will now be joining the 12 already approved to implement SNAP restrictions in 2026. 🛟 🥗
- Quick browse seems like these are pretty much in line with what's already been proposed (described in this brief open access article). Still need to dig into the details!
- Reposted by Ben Chrisinger[This post could not be retrieved]
- Happy sober holiday season to all who celebrate!
- Reposted by Ben ChrisingerThis is one of the most important documents produced this year. At a time when many of our professional organizations are punting, @aaup.org has been leading on EdTech, AI, academic freedom & faculty governance. I'm humbled to be joining the team that authored this report.
- Recently spoke with TuftsNow about SNAP during the shutdown, and why this worries me about the program’s future:
- Withholding SNAP administrative funds is a serious matter for states. It sets up a dynamic where fed govt delivers benefits but state systems struggle to get them to participants. During Nov SNAP fiasco many states spent their own funds to help participants. But that can’t be the norm. 🥗
- Real question: do cities get paid by Waymo to operate “self-driving” cars on their streets? Do they have the authority to say no (imagine there might be some state variability)?
- Before we make another AI startup can we first make a duvet cover that can go in the dryer with sheets. Thx
- Next month, 9 states will add additional food restrictions to SNAP (with 3 more later in 2026). Will be important to watch how these get implemented and evaluated. #HAScholar 🥗 🛟
- Reposted by Ben ChrisingerExcited to share a new paper out in HRJ where we explore the concept of ‘atmosphere’ within SCS spaces and how it influences service engagement. A huge thanks to my co-authors @bchrisinger.bsky.social, @gwshorter.bsky.social and @dkhumphreys.bsky.social for their support and guidance on this work.
- Come work with me on this incredible project and dataset! We’re interested in candidates from a wide range of fields. See the post for additional info. Please share with your networks! #academicsky #phdsky
- The Center for the Humanities at Tufts University, in partnership with the American Medical Directories Project, invites applications for a 12-month postdoctoral fellowship beginning September 1, 2026. Learn more: humanities.tufts.edu/postdoctoral...
- Reposted by Ben ChrisingerICYMI Dept of Education will no longer considers these professional degrees: Nursing Public health Social work Physician assistant Occupational therapy Physical therapy Audiology Speech-language pathology Social work Counseling & therapy Health Admin A smaller health workforce makes us all sicker
- Twelve states will be adding new food restrictions to SNAP next year. I unpack these policies in some new research in Health Affairs Scholar (open access). tl;dr - wide range in food definitions, justifications for restriction, and plans to evaluate. 🥗 🛟 📊🩺
- This would be incredibly bad 🥗 🛟
- After enacting the deepest #SNAP cuts in history & needlessly disrupting benefits during the shutdown, the Trump Administration is quietly advancing draft regulations to take SNAP away from millions more people – primarily working families with kids, seniors & disabled people.
- Reading/writing email: boring. Reading AI-generated email / writing reply I don’t know will be read by a human: MILLION TIMES WORSE.
- The efficiency gains are so marginal, the discourtesy so great
- Right, and the writers?
- Reposted by Ben ChrisingerSNAP experts say the exact time people can expect their benefits may vary by state. But they anticipate a fairly quick process, since states and Electronic Benefit Transfer vendors have been preparing for this moment.
- Reposted by Ben ChrisingerWAPO: “.. The Agriculture Department is preparing to fire an employee in the division that handles food benefits after she publicly warned that the shutdown could have negative impacts on the millions of Americans who rely on the federal government ..” www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
- As a sober person I feel excluded
- SNAP wonks: help me figure this out! AL is telling folks reduced SNAP amounts are because of a "change in the Thrifty Food Plan" (see link). TFP is a GOP target (sets SNAP benefit amts) & "Big Beautiful Bill" limited how often it can be updated... dhr.alabama.gov/november-sna... #econsky 🛟 🥗
- ... but I'm not seeing anything in all of the recent USDA memos talking about TFP as rationale for the 50% then 35% benefit reductions. Also - if the partial benefit calculations USDA asked states to use is a pilot test for a less-generous TFP of the future, this is cause for concern.
- Withholding cash assistance from low-income folks is an economic own-goal. What do these households do with benefits? SPEND THEM. On goods and services in every county and state across the country.
- Reposted by Ben ChrisingerThanks to @massgovernor.bsky.social Maura Healey for standing up for Massachusetts residents who rely on SNAP to put food on the table! In a time when many are facing uncertainty and anxiety due to the ongoing chaos surrounding SNAP, her leadership ensures EBT cards are fully funded.
- Even when November SNAP benefits are restored, don't forget that new work requirements will considerably shrink the eligible population. Benefit amounts (under a recalculated Thrifty Food Plan) are also being targeted. Watch the space. 🥗 🛟
- If this earlier research holds true, I'm guessing that coverage of November SNAP being withheld was more about hunger in left-leaning outlets and more about costs and work on the right.
- Reposted by Ben ChrisingerOp-ed: SNAP reduces hunger, lifts children out of poverty, improves health outcomes, and supports local economies. It is one of the most effective anti-poverty tools this country has ever created.
- Can I just say having a federal FOOD AS MEDICINE discussion while also doing legal gymnastics to KEEP FOOD FROM PEOPLE is just 🤯
- For folks on the academic job market this year: Remember that rejection is the *most common* experience. It’s hard out there. Even in better times excellent candidates are rejected. Impossible to know exactly why we get rejected. Just stay focused on your good work. Keep going. #academicsky
