Oni Blackstock, MD MHS

Aurora Borealis

The Aurora Borealis is probably my favorite Borealis.

#ScholarSunday Thread 265 (3/1/26) – Black and White and Read All Over March has come in with more administration lyin’, which means all the more reason to share my 265th #ScholarSunday thread of public scholarly writing, podcasts, new & forthcoming books from the last w...

March has come in with more administration lyin’, which means all the more reason to share my 265th #ScholarSunday thread of public scholarly writing, podcasts, new & forthcoming books from the last week. Add more below, share as widely as you can, & solidarity, all! 🗃️ +

Idaho group seeks clothing donations to help farmworkers during March event The Idaho Organization of Resource Councils urges local participation in a clothing drive to support farmworkers in honor of César Chávez.

Donations will be accepted through March 25 and distributed on March 27. Items most needed: bandanas or scarves, hats and caps, long‑sleeved shirts, gloves, and work boots or rubber boots.

It's held in part to honor of American labor leader César Chávez born on March 31
www.ktvb.com/article/news...

Internet connectivity in Iran is now in a near-complete shutdown, down about 98% vs the previous week. The disruption began around 07:00 UTC, following reports of military strikes — and in past incidents the government has responded with nationwide Internet shutdowns.

Screenshot of a Health Affairs Forefront webpage article. The headline reads, “New York City And State Have Passed AI Laws—Now Communities Must Lead,” by Oni J. Blackstock, dated February 24, 2026. Related topics listed at the top include artificial intelligence, decision making, public health, and health disparities. Below the title is a large header image showing a blurred medical/clinical background overlaid with white connected digital icons (including people, a microscope, a robot arm, a smartphone with a brain graphic, a wheelchair symbol, and an apple) surrounding a large central “Ai” symbol, suggesting AI in healthcare and public health.

The federal government is trying to deregulate AI.

In the last three months, both NYC & NYS have passed AI oversight laws. For these to be successful, communities need to lead and have decision-making power.

🔈Read my new op-ed on participatory AI governance!

www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...

Screenshot of a webpage headline: “What Matters to You?” How Oni Blackstock, M.D., Practices Hope. Subheading reads “Episode 37 of The Future of HIV Care, a Podcast From TheBodyPro,” with a link label “Podcast: The Future of HIV Care.” Byline shows Feb 26, 2026, and author Myles Helfand, Executive Editor.

🗣️ Talked with @TheBodyPro's @myhelfy.bsky.social about my path to HIV, my work at NYC Health Dept & what I'm building with Health Justice.

We got into "what matters to you?" vs "what's the matter with you?" and finding the next step forward in hard times.

🎧 www.thebodypro.com/podcast/hiv/...

Circular logo reading “HIV Is Not a Crime Awareness Day.” The design features a red awareness ribbon flowing across bold black letters “HIV” inside a black ring. On the right side, a silhouetted figure with raised arms appears in a gesture of empowerment or advocacy. The color scheme is red, black, and white.

Tomorrow, Feb 2/28, is HIV Is Not A Crime Awareness Day.

In >30 states, people are being imprisoned due to their HIV status w/ increasing charges or punishments because the person has HIV.

Black men are disproportionately impacted by HIV crim laws - an example of anti-Black structural homophobia.

BREAKING — 51 Iranian children are dead after a strike hits Minab girls elementary school in Iran.

It’s not lost on me that this is happening during Ramadan and during fasting hrs.

Massive data center project in Doña Ana County facing one hurdle DOÑA ANA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – A massive project in Doña Ana County is still facing one hurdle before it can officially move forward, but hundreds of workers have already started working, prep…

My governor keeps inviting businesses to #newmexico we have no water. And now this!

www.krqe.com/news/new-mex...

El Paso reports 17 measles cases, most of them at ICE detention facility Four measles cases were reported in the city of El Paso, while the other 13 cases were reported at ICE's Camp East Montana detention facility.

El Paso has measles.

There is a total of 17 cases, 13 of which are in a migrant detention camp that consists of tents on the grounds of Fort Bliss.

Millions Of Small Businesses Soon Changing Hands As Baby Boomers Retire In ‘Great Ownership Transfer,’ Report Says Six million businesses are set to be transferred from the baby boomer generation, according to McKinsey.

Six million businesses are set to be transferred from the baby boomer generation, according to McKinsey.

When an auroral substorm occurs out of nowhere while you are aurora chasing… pure magic!

Absolutely shameful.

A ‘Terrible’ Night: Harvard Custodians Say They Scoured for Places to Sleep During Latest Blizzard | News | The Harvard Crimson As a snowstorm engulfed campus late Sunday, Harvard custodians working around-the-clock snow removal shifts said they were left scrambling for places to sleep, even as the University provided overnigh...

Richest university in the world and the janitors removing snow from campus during a blizzard had to sleep on the floor and in closets when they were stuck on campus overnight. Harvard's treatment of its workers remains absolutely shameful.

These laws are not up to date with the science of undetectable = untransmittable (U=U). #HIVIsNotACrime

*Feb 28 - not Feb 2/28:)

*crim = criminalization

Circular logo reading “HIV Is Not a Crime Awareness Day.” The design features a red awareness ribbon flowing across bold black letters “HIV” inside a black ring. On the right side, a silhouetted figure with raised arms appears in a gesture of empowerment or advocacy. The color scheme is red, black, and white.

Tomorrow, Feb 2/28, is HIV Is Not A Crime Awareness Day.

In >30 states, people are being imprisoned due to their HIV status w/ increasing charges or punishments because the person has HIV.

Black men are disproportionately impacted by HIV crim laws - an example of anti-Black structural homophobia.

"What Matters to You?" How Oni Blackstock Practices Hope

Also available on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6GXQ...

"Also in folks' podcatcher of choice if they follow 'The Future of HIV Care'" per @myhelfy.bsky.social.

Oppose Nomination of Casey Means for Surgeon General The Senate HELP Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the nomination of Casey Means to serve as U.S. Surgeon General on Wednesday, February 25th. While we were hoping this nomination was dead, i...

"We must speak loudly and clearly: Casey Means is totally unqualified to serve as U.S. Surgeon General and must be rejected by the Senate. She is a “health influencer,” not board certified in any specialty and not licensed to practice medicine."

Sign on here:
actionnetwork.org/letters/oppo...

Ebony Alert issued for 3 counties after disappearance of teen girl in Elk Grove Authorities said the 17-year-old was last seen Feb. 5 and could be in the Sacramento area or the Bay Area.

Authorities said the 17-year-old was last seen Feb. 5 and could be in the Sacramento area or the Bay Area.

How Ithaca is Leading New York State’s ‘Multifaceted’ Reparation Efforts Ithaca is leading New York State’s reparation efforts with a passed proposal that will allocate $50,000 of Ithaca’s 2025 budget to funding a study on reparations for Black residents.

“It's been true throughout our history that when Black people get free, we all get free... We're going to have to ensure that the legislature and the governor follow through on those recommendations." - @avtorres4.bsky.social

www.cornellsun.com/article/2026...

Heightism What I tell parents of abnormally short children

Friends — I’m very short. At my zenith I was 4 feet, 11 inches. From time to time, worried parents of abnormally short children phone or email me seeking reassurance. Here's what I tell them.

https://robertreich.substack.com/p/heightism

Florida uses emergency rule to cut patients off AIDS medication The state filed the changes the day before a legal hearing with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

Florida uses emergency rule to cut patients off AIDS medication

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Cruelty is the point. Always has been.

Free Leqaa Kordia! Leqaa Kordia has now spent over 300 days locked away in a Texas immigration detention center — 1,500 miles from her home in New Jersey. She is a kind, peaceful Palestinian woman who has never committe...

Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian woman who protested the genocide at Columbia, is still at Prairieland Detention Facility in TX, having been abducted by ICE in March 2025. She, and all who remain captive in these torture chambers also deserve our collective outrage and action.
chuffed.org/project/free...

Today marks 14 years since 17-year-old, unarmed Trayvon Martin was shot and killed while walking home.

14 years later, we’re still demanding a country where our children can walk home in peace — without being treated like a threat.

Begging my comrades in IL to stop this.

"What Matters to You?" How Oni Blackstock Practices Hope

Also available on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6GXQ...

"Also in folks' podcatcher of choice if they follow 'The Future of HIV Care'" per @myhelfy.bsky.social.

Screenshot of a webpage headline: “What Matters to You?” How Oni Blackstock, M.D., Practices Hope. Subheading reads “Episode 37 of The Future of HIV Care, a Podcast From TheBodyPro,” with a link label “Podcast: The Future of HIV Care.” Byline shows Feb 26, 2026, and author Myles Helfand, Executive Editor.

🗣️ Talked with @TheBodyPro's @myhelfy.bsky.social about my path to HIV, my work at NYC Health Dept & what I'm building with Health Justice.

We got into "what matters to you?" vs "what's the matter with you?" and finding the next step forward in hard times.

🎧 www.thebodypro.com/podcast/hiv/...