Sigrid Berg

The MMR vaccine is one of the most stunningly effective medical therapeutics in existence. It’s also safer than most of your everyday activities. This is simply an attempt to stop people from vaccinating.

Florida Decided There Were Too Many Children The state’s elimination of vaccine mandates is a courageous first step toward decluttering itself of any excess kids.

www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...

This “explicit” is a weird editorial choice. The constitution gives the president no power over this at all. It’s not ambiguous.

RFK Jr: “If you’ve ever compared an unvaccinated kid to a vaccinated kid… you see the bright eyes, the engagement, the social interactions, the curiosity. And you compare them to the child who even had one or two vaccines, and they’re completely different.“

This man is an existential threat.

I am absolutely certain that's what they signed up for.

"Honey, I'm leaving home for several weeks. Take care of our kids by yourself. My country has called me up for duty. The park in DC is dirty."

This is your Democratic campaign message for 2026

America now

Just unbelievably stupid. I had no idea how dumb fascism would be when it came to America.

Trump on January 6: Nancy Pelosi stopped me from sending the DC National Guard to protect the Capitol.

Trump tomorrow: the President of the United States has complete control over the DC National Guard.

Make it make sense.

Just think of all the money we waste on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, FEMA, EPA, Veterans Benefits and children's cancer research! --Louis XIV and Melania Antoinette Trump

RFK Jr must resign and I believe those of us who work in healthcare, public health, health research, or any related field should demand his resignation

The medical equivalent of this

Resident: The BUN today was 91

Attending: That is too high you are fired

More than two dozen retired senior US
military officers and 22 former US ambassadors are among those telling a federal court that dismantling VOA is "unlawful and unwise," as it helped achieve important foreign policy goals and confirmed America's role as a beacon of democracy and freedom. #SaveVOA

John Dinkelman Lots to process here folks... While I suspected that, as the president-elect of the (former) "collective bargaining unit" (aka: "union"), I might be targeted for separation in dreaded DOGE-induced State Department layoffs, it still came as a bit of a surprise that I, along with hundreds of others, received my "pink slip" this morning from the Department of State. But it was the sense of "here's your notice, clear your things by 5:00 pm, and don't let the door hit you on the way out" feeling of it all that really took me back. After devoting one's entire professional life to an organization, you'd think there would be a bit more, shall we say, nobility in the process. But alas, 'twas not to be.

Enough of this licking wounds. I'm fine. Really. The things that REALLY matter in my life - the long-term things - are all well. The wife has yet to sue for divorce. The kids don't recoil in fear at the sound of my voice. And the Bishop has not sought my excommunication - at least not today. So, my life at the end of a 37-year run, I have nothing to do but thank the United States Government for the opportunity to represent my country around the world. Perhaps it is mounting geriatric cynicism but... what kind of message has all this sent to those still devoted full time to the "diplomatic element of national power?" Will those considering entering such a profession - one that demands a similar level of responsibility, commitment, flexibility, judgement, dedication, and overtime as comparable private sector jobs that pay much more - look favorably on such a career? Especially with the understanding that the customary expectations of career progression and security that comes (came) with federal service are no more? I'll leave that decision to them and hope that our nation can still attract the high caliber of diverse (yes, I said it), dedicated, patriotic Americans to staff the halls of our Embassies overseas and see to our national interests in the ways that ONLY the Foreign Service can.

Not to mention those who are still IN the Service. Can they really feel on Monday morning that they work for an organization that "has their backs?" While I hope so, I'm not so sure. Again, that's up to them. For all those in the Foreign Service - Departments of State, Commerce, Agriculture, USAID, APHIS, or USAGM - I promise you that, starting this Tuesday, I will do all I can to hold leadership's feet to the fire to make sure they live up to the commitments they have made to you and your families. AFSA remains the Professional Association of the Foreign Service. It will do everything it can to make sure the professional standards we live by remain the standard the world's diplomats aspire to. I look forward to doing my part in this new chapter of my service to my country - and to you. Regards, -dink-

🇺🇸 A Different Kind of Outrage 😲

Everone at Foggy Bottom knows Dink. The joke is that he joined right after Benjamin Franklin. Most recently, after almost 4 decades of service, he was elected to head AFSA (the union for U.S. diplomats).

He was fired yesterday.

The disrespect is intentional.

Summary Table of the massive defunding of biomedical research in the United States
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Sickle cell researcher fights back, calling NIH grant termination "racist" and "discriminatory" A researcher at Duke University, speaks out after her NIH grant for sickle cell research was terminated. The $750,000 funding cut, justified by NIH as a move against diversity, equity, and inclusion i...

So research for any disease that predominantly affects non-white people will no longer be funded because it's DEI? Sickle cell can be a devastating disease, with significant impact on qualify of life and lifespan. This was incredibly meaningful, relevant research.

www.wral.com/lifestyle/he...

Social Security letter on taxes sends confusing message, some experts say The Social Security Administration says most won’t pay federal income taxes on their benefits. But Congress didn’t directly exempt those payments from taxes.

And here comes the propaganda.... wapo.st/45PTJzB

‘Extremely disturbing and unethical’: new rules allow VA doctors to refuse to treat Democrats, unmarried veterans Trump order allows VA staff to decline providing healthcare to patients based on political affiliation or marital status

More making America great again.... www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Independent US vaccine body is planned after RFK Jr’s mass firing of CDC advisory panel “High level” discussions are underway to establish an independent US vaccine committee following the dismissal of 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s advisory committee on i...

This could be good news.... www.bmj.com/content/389/...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new CDC advisory committee is proof that America’s anti-vaccine era is truly beginning, Katherine J. Wu writes. https://theatln.tc/mnkSz8WC

If this is how this administration responds to a Senator with a question, you can only imagine what they're doing to farmworkers, to cooks, and to day laborers throughout California and across the country.

We will hold this administration accountable.

Today they have crossed a deep red line.

We, the people, must hold the president and his appointees accountable for this outrageous abuse against American liberty.

These RFK Jr hires have MASSIVE conflicts of interest.

Kulldorf, and all the Great Barrington people, took money from anti-science anti-vax billionaires through AIER, which is the rightwing billionaire thinktank that hosted the GBR.

@aoc.bsky.social should skewer RFK Jr. on this.

Martin Kulldorff & @MartinKu...•9/10/23 S.•• "One of the most disturbing images of the Covid-19 pandemic was when a teacher .. forced a mask on a crying toddler .. In some ways, the U.S. government.. treated all of us like toddlers, compelling us to endure draconian Covid measures" - @HRaleighspeaks

RFK Jr’s ACIP pick, Martin Kulldorff, said one of the most disturbing images from the pandemic was a toddler crying about having to wear a mask. I see toddlers cry about everything all the time, and I found it far more disturbing to see refrigerator trucks full of body bags outside of the hospitals…

The “fluoride removal” bit is a solution in search of a problem.

Fluoride levels in Florida are completely safe, help prevent cavities, and keep kids in school.

Where’s the evidence it’s been remotely harmful? There isn’t any.

No ethics, no morals, all smoke and mirrors.

COVID vaccine protected kids from long COVID Instead of special protection against long COVID, vaccines kept children and adolescents from developing the condition by blocking COVID-19 infections in the first place.

An almost equally important impact on prevention of long Covid in children www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-re...

theconversation.com/vaccination-...

May 9, 2025 Yesterday afternoon, President Donald Trump withdrew his nomination for interim U.S.

May 9, 2025