Bruce Lesley
@brucelesley.bsky.social
Proud father of 4. Child advocate. President of First Focus on Children & First Focus Campaign for Children. Basketball fanatic. Kids Can't Wait on Substack. #InvestInKids #VoteKids
Pinned
Bruce Lesley
@brucelesley.bsky.social
· Oct 31
Money Matters: The Nation’s Retreat from Kids
Federal spending on children has dropped to historic lows, but the steepest cuts are ahead.
brucelesley.substack.com
Money Matters: The Nation’s Retreat from Kids brucelesley.substack.com/p/money-matt...
First Focus on Children released our annual report yesterday, Children's Budget 2025. The findings show a 30+% decline in the share of federal funding to children from 2021 to Trump's FY 2026 budget proposal.
First Focus on Children released our annual report yesterday, Children's Budget 2025. The findings show a 30+% decline in the share of federal funding to children from 2021 to Trump's FY 2026 budget proposal.
After Cornell: Protecting Survivors of Sexual Assault at Every Age
brucelesley.substack.com/p/after-corn...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/after-corn...
After Cornell: Protecting Survivors of Sexual Assault at Every Age
Children deserve the same commitment to prevention, investigation, and accountability, and Congress has legislation ready to act on.
brucelesley.substack.com
October 2, 2026 at 3:49 PM
After Cornell: Protecting Survivors of Sexual Assault at Every Age
brucelesley.substack.com/p/after-corn...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/after-corn...
Reposted by Bruce Lesley
Today, UCS and @enviroprotnet.bsky.social led a coalition of over 75 children's environmental health experts and organizations, including the @ameracadpeds.bsky.social and @nrdc.org in calling on the EPA and RFK, Jr. to protect children nationwide.
ucs-documents.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
September 30, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Today, UCS and @enviroprotnet.bsky.social led a coalition of over 75 children's environmental health experts and organizations, including the @ameracadpeds.bsky.social and @nrdc.org in calling on the EPA and RFK, Jr. to protect children nationwide.
America.gov answers to recent child poverty trends.
September 29, 2026 at 9:02 PM
America.gov answers to recent child poverty trends.
Reposted by Bruce Lesley
In 2027 Seattle's minimum wage will be $22.14 per hour. That's more than THREE TIMES the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour—a rate that hasn't been raised since 2009. And yet somehow we're not the jobless wasteland orthodox economics would predict. Weird.
Seattle announces 2027 minimum wage
The minimum wage in Seattle will increase 3.9% next year.
www.seattletimes.com
September 29, 2026 at 4:03 AM
In 2027 Seattle's minimum wage will be $22.14 per hour. That's more than THREE TIMES the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour—a rate that hasn't been raised since 2009. And yet somehow we're not the jobless wasteland orthodox economics would predict. Weird.
Scotland Has a Child Poverty Target. Why Doesn't America?
brucelesley.substack.com/p/scotland-h...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/scotland-h...
Scotland Has a Child Poverty Target. Why Doesn't America?
Scotland is making progress on child poverty, and this week its Parliament doubled down on doing more. In the United States, the child poverty target hasn't even been reintroduced.
brucelesley.substack.com
September 27, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Scotland Has a Child Poverty Target. Why Doesn't America?
brucelesley.substack.com/p/scotland-h...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/scotland-h...
Changing Head Start Rules Would Rob Kids of Skills They Need for School and Life www.the74million.org/zero2eight/c...
Changing Head Start Rules Would Rob Kids of Skills They Need for School and Life
Posamentier & Adams: The result could be more chaotic kindergarten classes and diminished social readiness that will extend to HS and beyond.
www.the74million.org
September 26, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Changing Head Start Rules Would Rob Kids of Skills They Need for School and Life www.the74million.org/zero2eight/c...
‘Zombified’ C.D.C., Hobbled by Cuts, Struggles to Fulfill Scientific Mission www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/h...
‘Zombified’ C.D.C., Hobbled by Cuts, Struggles to Fulfill Scientific Mission
The agency has lost its independence and nearly a third of its staff, as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and associates have tightened control.
www.nytimes.com
September 26, 2026 at 1:16 PM
‘Zombified’ C.D.C., Hobbled by Cuts, Struggles to Fulfill Scientific Mission www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/h...
Reposted by Bruce Lesley
In El Paso, The Texas Tribune has been closely reporting on the expansion and oversight of immigration detention facilities, including Camp East Montana, the country’s largest ICE detention center. www.texastribune.org/2026/05/30/t...
ICE sued over “inhumane” conditions at Camp East Montana
The El Paso tent camp has seen at least three detainee deaths, a measles outbreak and nearly 50 detention standards violations in less than a year of operation.
www.texastribune.org
September 24, 2026 at 3:18 PM
In El Paso, The Texas Tribune has been closely reporting on the expansion and oversight of immigration detention facilities, including Camp East Montana, the country’s largest ICE detention center. www.texastribune.org/2026/05/30/t...
Congress Once Had a Dedicated Voice for Children and Families. It’s Long Past Time to Bring It Back.
brucelesley.substack.com/p/congress-o...
It is past time to bring back the House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families.
brucelesley.substack.com/p/congress-o...
It is past time to bring back the House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families.
Congress Once Had a Dedicated Voice for Children and Families. It’s Long Past Time to Bring It Back.
Every year, Congress devotes dedicated resources and sustained attention to veterans, to older Americans, to Native Americans, to small businesses, and to other constituencies with committee resources...
brucelesley.substack.com
September 24, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Congress Once Had a Dedicated Voice for Children and Families. It’s Long Past Time to Bring It Back.
brucelesley.substack.com/p/congress-o...
It is past time to bring back the House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families.
brucelesley.substack.com/p/congress-o...
It is past time to bring back the House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families.
Reposted by Bruce Lesley
Today marks two years since the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 came into force, enshrining children’s rights in law and giving our office new powers.
Head of Legal, Nick Hobbs, explains how we’re using them, what has changed and why children’s rights need defending.
Read: bit.ly/4vS2bI5
Head of Legal, Nick Hobbs, explains how we’re using them, what has changed and why children’s rights need defending.
Read: bit.ly/4vS2bI5
July 16, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Today marks two years since the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 came into force, enshrining children’s rights in law and giving our office new powers.
Head of Legal, Nick Hobbs, explains how we’re using them, what has changed and why children’s rights need defending.
Read: bit.ly/4vS2bI5
Head of Legal, Nick Hobbs, explains how we’re using them, what has changed and why children’s rights need defending.
Read: bit.ly/4vS2bI5
Reposted by Bruce Lesley
A heartfelt thank you to @brucelesley.bsky.social and Jenny Rudisill for so thoroughly explaining why efforts to deny or ignore this Medicaid decline is just plain wrong.
When 2.3 Million Children Disappear from Medicaid, Ask Why
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-23-mi...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-23-mi...
When 2.3 Million Children Disappear from Medicaid, Ask Why
Medicaid and CHIP enrollment has fallen by 2.3 million children. Georgetown is asking what happened to them. The Trump Administration and its defenders are hoping you ignore the evidence.
brucelesley.substack.com
September 23, 2026 at 8:52 PM
A heartfelt thank you to @brucelesley.bsky.social and Jenny Rudisill for so thoroughly explaining why efforts to deny or ignore this Medicaid decline is just plain wrong.
Reposted by Bruce Lesley
Seconding Edwin's post. @brucelesley.bsky.social does an excellent job responding to the partisan hacks at Paragon.
From @brucelesley.bsky.social a comprehensive dismantling of the Paragon Institute's attempt to explain away a well over 2 million decline in #Medicaid and CHIP enrollment among children since the start of the Trump Administration even before most of H.R. 1's massive Medicaid cuts take effect.
When 2.3 Million Children Disappear from Medicaid, Ask Why
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-23-mi...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-23-mi...
September 23, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Seconding Edwin's post. @brucelesley.bsky.social does an excellent job responding to the partisan hacks at Paragon.
Reposted by Bruce Lesley
👇👇👇 and many changes are happening in 2027, conveniently after the mid-terms.
The worst is truly yet to come
The worst is truly yet to come
When 2.3 Million Children Disappear from Medicaid, Ask Why
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-23-mi...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-23-mi...
When 2.3 Million Children Disappear from Medicaid, Ask Why
Medicaid and CHIP enrollment has fallen by 2.3 million children. Georgetown is asking what happened to them. The Trump Administration and its defenders are hoping you ignore the evidence.
brucelesley.substack.com
September 24, 2026 at 12:20 AM
👇👇👇 and many changes are happening in 2027, conveniently after the mid-terms.
The worst is truly yet to come
The worst is truly yet to come
Reposted by Bruce Lesley
"In what universe is it beneficial to anybody for a child not to have health insurance?"
When 2.3 Million Children Disappear from Medicaid, Ask Why
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-23-mi...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-23-mi...
When 2.3 Million Children Disappear from Medicaid, Ask Why
Medicaid and CHIP enrollment has fallen by 2.3 million children. Georgetown is asking what happened to them. The Trump Administration and its defenders are hoping you ignore the evidence.
brucelesley.substack.com
September 23, 2026 at 2:34 PM
"In what universe is it beneficial to anybody for a child not to have health insurance?"
Reposted by Bruce Lesley
From @brucelesley.bsky.social a comprehensive dismantling of the Paragon Institute's attempt to explain away a well over 2 million decline in #Medicaid and CHIP enrollment among children since the start of the Trump Administration even before most of H.R. 1's massive Medicaid cuts take effect.
When 2.3 Million Children Disappear from Medicaid, Ask Why
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-23-mi...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-23-mi...
When 2.3 Million Children Disappear from Medicaid, Ask Why
Medicaid and CHIP enrollment has fallen by 2.3 million children. Georgetown is asking what happened to them. The Trump Administration and its defenders are hoping you ignore the evidence.
brucelesley.substack.com
September 23, 2026 at 4:40 PM
From @brucelesley.bsky.social a comprehensive dismantling of the Paragon Institute's attempt to explain away a well over 2 million decline in #Medicaid and CHIP enrollment among children since the start of the Trump Administration even before most of H.R. 1's massive Medicaid cuts take effect.
When 2.3 Million Children Disappear from Medicaid, Ask Why
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-23-mi...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-23-mi...
When 2.3 Million Children Disappear from Medicaid, Ask Why
Medicaid and CHIP enrollment has fallen by 2.3 million children. Georgetown is asking what happened to them. The Trump Administration and its defenders are hoping you ignore the evidence.
brucelesley.substack.com
September 23, 2026 at 2:29 PM
When 2.3 Million Children Disappear from Medicaid, Ask Why
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-23-mi...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-23-mi...
Reposted by Bruce Lesley
Thank you, thank you to all of you who are showing up to defend The Kennedy Center! @officialtkc
September 20, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Thank you, thank you to all of you who are showing up to defend The Kennedy Center! @officialtkc
For the Children, Why Washington State Voters Should Vote NO on Initiative 001
brucelesley.substack.com/p/for-the-ch...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/for-the-ch...
For the Children, Why Washington State Voters Should Vote NO on Initiative 001
The debate is framed as parents versus government. But the children whose safety, privacy, and health are at stake are too often missing from the picture.
brucelesley.substack.com
September 20, 2026 at 6:00 PM
For the Children, Why Washington State Voters Should Vote NO on Initiative 001
brucelesley.substack.com/p/for-the-ch...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/for-the-ch...
If You Care About Children, We Are Your Advocates
brucelesley.substack.com/p/if-you-car...
My latest blog on why child advocacy is so desperately needed.
brucelesley.substack.com/p/if-you-car...
My latest blog on why child advocacy is so desperately needed.
If You Care About Children, We Are Your Advocates
What First Focus on Children does, why this work is personal to me, and why children need someone watching the decisions made in their name.
brucelesley.substack.com
September 9, 2026 at 7:56 PM
If You Care About Children, We Are Your Advocates
brucelesley.substack.com/p/if-you-car...
My latest blog on why child advocacy is so desperately needed.
brucelesley.substack.com/p/if-you-car...
My latest blog on why child advocacy is so desperately needed.
The President attacks New Mexico. 🤦🏼♂️
September 7, 2026 at 2:31 AM
The President attacks New Mexico. 🤦🏼♂️
Reposted by Bruce Lesley
Read First Focus on Children's press release at the link below. It links to our brief at the end.
#KidsFirst #ProtectChildren #AllMeansAll @brucelesley.bsky.social
firstfocus.org/news/first-f...
#KidsFirst #ProtectChildren #AllMeansAll @brucelesley.bsky.social
firstfocus.org/news/first-f...
First Focus on Children files amicus brief with U.S. Supreme Court to protect Colorado children
Brief argues banning transgender, LGBTQ+-family children from universal pre-K is illegal, harmful to children First Focus on Children has filed
firstfocus.org
September 4, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Read First Focus on Children's press release at the link below. It links to our brief at the end.
#KidsFirst #ProtectChildren #AllMeansAll @brucelesley.bsky.social
firstfocus.org/news/first-f...
#KidsFirst #ProtectChildren #AllMeansAll @brucelesley.bsky.social
firstfocus.org/news/first-f...
I had the pleasure of meeting Gloria Steinem when I was a child way back in 1974, when my mother, Bonnie Lesley, invited her to a fundraiser for the El Paso Women’s Political Caucus.
Here is a picture from that dinner with my mom sitting to her left. (1)
Here is a picture from that dinner with my mom sitting to her left. (1)
September 3, 2026 at 4:50 PM
I had the pleasure of meeting Gloria Steinem when I was a child way back in 1974, when my mother, Bonnie Lesley, invited her to a fundraiser for the El Paso Women’s Political Caucus.
Here is a picture from that dinner with my mom sitting to her left. (1)
Here is a picture from that dinner with my mom sitting to her left. (1)
A Child’s Citizenship Does Not Depend on a Parent’s Paperwork
brucelesley.substack.com/p/a-childs-c...
Here we go again. The Administration is proposing to gut birthright citizenship from another angle. Enough already.
brucelesley.substack.com/p/a-childs-c...
Here we go again. The Administration is proposing to gut birthright citizenship from another angle. Enough already.
A Child’s Citizenship Does Not Depend on a Parent’s Paperwork
After losing its effort to restrict birthright citizenship at the Supreme Court, the Trump Administration is seeking to restrict passports to children and to make them citizenship permission slips.
brucelesley.substack.com
September 2, 2026 at 7:07 PM
A Child’s Citizenship Does Not Depend on a Parent’s Paperwork
brucelesley.substack.com/p/a-childs-c...
Here we go again. The Administration is proposing to gut birthright citizenship from another angle. Enough already.
brucelesley.substack.com/p/a-childs-c...
Here we go again. The Administration is proposing to gut birthright citizenship from another angle. Enough already.
The Hidden Congressional Clawback
brucelesley.substack.com/p/the-hidden...
There is a program that you have probably never heard of, costing state governments $23.2 billion that they do not control, direct, operate, or even supervise. It is referred to as the Medicare prescription drug clawback.
brucelesley.substack.com/p/the-hidden...
There is a program that you have probably never heard of, costing state governments $23.2 billion that they do not control, direct, operate, or even supervise. It is referred to as the Medicare prescription drug clawback.
The Hidden Congressional Clawback
How a 2003 Medicare formula is costing states a record $23.2 billion this coming year and shortchanging children’s programs.
brucelesley.substack.com
August 31, 2026 at 7:34 AM
The Hidden Congressional Clawback
brucelesley.substack.com/p/the-hidden...
There is a program that you have probably never heard of, costing state governments $23.2 billion that they do not control, direct, operate, or even supervise. It is referred to as the Medicare prescription drug clawback.
brucelesley.substack.com/p/the-hidden...
There is a program that you have probably never heard of, costing state governments $23.2 billion that they do not control, direct, operate, or even supervise. It is referred to as the Medicare prescription drug clawback.
When ‘Parental Rights’ Means Letting a Child Die
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-paren...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-paren...
When 'Parental Rights' Means Letting a Child Die
In a new investigative report, ProPublica has identified at least 15 babies and children in Idaho who died between 2015 and 2025 from conditions doctors say were treatable, such as pneumonia, sepsis, ...
brucelesley.substack.com
August 27, 2026 at 8:31 PM
When ‘Parental Rights’ Means Letting a Child Die
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-paren...
brucelesley.substack.com/p/when-paren...