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If you aren't checking out @statnews.com today, you're missing out. Our newsroom is on fire. So many important stories to read. www.statnews.com

Inside the fall of Vinay Prasad at the FDA Prasad's departure followed a campaign by a right-wing activist and a controversy over a rare disease drug.

. @lizzylawrence.bsky.social takes a look at the lead up to Vinay Prasad's abrupt departure from #FDA. The now former #CBER head "wasn’t able to outrun his firebrand persona," she writes.
www.statnews.com/2025/07/30/v...

YouTube video by STAT Did RFK Jr. break a promise he made to GOP Senator?

New video- my new @statnews.com colleague @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social and I chat about RFK Jr.'s dismissal of all the members of ACIP, CDC's vaccine advisory board. Also I'm going to be doing a video every week now so please wish me luck (and like & subscribe plz) youtu.be/brVDswDpaeQ

Former FDA Commissioner @scottgottliebmd.bsky.social suggests RFK Jr.'s proposal to perhaps allow H5N1 bird flu to spread freely through flocks is unwise — for birds and for humans. www.statnews.com/2025/03/20/h...

Are you affected by firings at federal health agencies? Have you been affected by firings at federal health agencies? @statnews would like to hear from you.

www.statnews.com/2025/02/14/f...

Boosting this! Please re-skeet!

Any intrepid (or highly skeptical) scientists out there using Google's AI co-scientist tool? Would love to talk to you about your experience.

✉️ brittany.trang@statnews.com
Signal: btrang.01

🧪⚗️⚛️🧬🔭🧫👩‍🔬 #science #chemsky #AcademicSky #AI #journorequest

Drug inspectors, AI experts, maternal health workers: Trump’s health agency cuts are far-reaching In interview after interview with STAT, those who were fired from federal health and science agencies, along with officials who remain, argued the cuts would be deeply felt.

The Trump-DOGE layoffs are rippling across federal health agencies, hitting medical regulators, AI experts, and people trying to improve Medicare and Medicaid. Stellar work from STAT's team on a holiday weekend.
www.statnews.com/2025/02/17/t...

The MAHA era is here. RFK Jr.’s troubles are only beginning The MAHA era has begun. But to execute his promises on health, RFK Jr. faces tough challenges on vaccines, chronic disease, and big business.

Welcome to the MAHA era: statnews.com/2025/02/05/r... by @isabellacueto.bsky.social

Sign up for AI Prognosis — a STAT+ newsletter from Brittany Trang Coming this February, Brittany Trang's new weekly newsletter unpacks the intersection of AI, health, and medicine.

TOMORROW
We are launching a brand new subscriber-only newsletter — AI Prognosis

Every week, have help understanding the rapidly changing nature of AI in health and medicine.

Penned by STAT's @brittanytrang.bsky.social

Subscribe now:
www.statnews.com/signup/ai-pr...

Experts fear disruptions at FDA as Trump offers buyouts and layoff reports swirl The FDA is always trying to staff up, and already struggles to fulfill some duties.

How Trump's buyouts and potential layoffs could undermine crucial work at the FDA: www.statnews.com/2025/02/07/f...
by @lizzylawrence.bsky.social

RFK Jr. likely to win confirmation to top Trump health role as key GOP senator says he’ll vote yes Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head Health and Human Services Department wins Sen. Bill Cassidy's support.

With Bill Cassidy's support, RFK Jr. is likely to become President Trump's top health official: www.statnews.com/2025/02/04/r...

How Trump’s tariffs may raise health care costs, from medical devices to prescription drugs Potential impacts of the tariffs include higher prices for drugs and medical supplies, and possible shortages.

How Trump's tariffs could increase health care costs: www.statnews.com/2025/02/02/t...

With little fanfare, Biden administration stacked vaccine advisory committee with new members With little fanfare, the Biden administration stacked a critical committee that helps set U.S. vaccination policy with new members before leaving office.

Biden took steps to protect a key vaccine advisory committee ahead of Trump/RFK Jr., but it may not be enough www.statnews.com/2025/01/31/v...

National Science Foundation suspends salary payments, leaving researchers unable to pay their bills An NSF online payment system remained down after the federal funding freeze was lifted, leaving early-career scientists scrambling to pay bills

“If the freeze is not stopped, I might lose my house."

Some NSF-funded postdocs are having trouble paying rent and credit card bills because their salaries were paused this week, even though the federal funding freeze memo was rescinded.

www.statnews.com/2025/01/30/t...

RFK Jr. and the case of the onesies: Concerns about vaccine views flare at confirmation hearing At a Senate confirmation hearing for RFK Jr. on Wednesday, there was discussion of abortion, Medicaid, and Covid-19. There was also discussion of onesies.

Bernie Sanders asked RFK Jr. about his former nonprofit's anti-vaccine onesies, underscoring ongoing questions about the nominees (changed?) views on shots www.statnews.com/2025/01/29/r... by @owermohle.bsky.social

RFK Jr. and the case of the onesies: Concerns about vaccine views flare at confirmation hearing At a Senate confirmation hearing for RFK Jr. on Wednesday, there was discussion of abortion, Medicaid, and Covid-19. There was also discussion of onesies.

"Are you supportive of these onesies??" Sen. Sanders
pressed RFK Jr. on onesies sold by the Children's Health Defense, which he chaired until recently.

The onesies are inscribed with “Unvaxxed, Unafraid” and “No vax. No problem.”

www.statnews.com/2025/01/29/r...

What to know about a controversial new study on fluoride and IQ Critics of a new study on water fluoridation and IQ are questioning its data and methodology.

A couple of minutes ago, RFK Jr. said

"I was called a conspiracy theorist because I said fluoride lowered IQ. Last week JAMA published a metareview of 87 studies saying there is a direct inverse correlation between IQ loss ..."

we covered that study (& why many researchers took issue w/ it)

RFK Jr. and the case of the onesies: Concerns about vaccine views flare at confirmation hearing At a Senate confirmation hearing for RFK Jr. on Wednesday, there was discussion of abortion, Medicaid, and Covid-19. There was also discussion of onesies.

RFK Jr. and the case of the onesies: Concerns about vaccine views flare at confirmation hearing. Via @owermohle.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/01/29/r...

Some very illuminating exchanges in here

Trump’s federal spending freeze sends Colorado officials scrambling, with billions at stake; state AG plans to sue A sudden freeze on federal spending by the Trump administration — set to take effect Tuesday — sent Colorado officials scrambling as they tried to figure out the extent and impact of the decision.…

If you're trying to keep up with how the Trump administration's directives are impacting Colorado, the @denverpost.com has you covered:

Trump’s federal spending freeze sends Colorado officials scrambling, with billions at stake; state AG plans to sue

www.denverpost.com/2025/01/28/d...

As some Medicaid sites freeze up, White House acts to clarify pause on grants and programs The White House Office of Management and Budget says its program freeze is limited, but states report widespread disruption in online Medicaid portals.

As some Medicaid sites freeze up, White House acts to clarify pause on grants and programs www.statnews.com/2025/01/28/f... via @statnews.com

As some Medicaid sites freeze up, White House acts to clarify pause on grants and programs The White House Office of Management and Budget says its program freeze is limited, but states report widespread disruption in online Medicaid portals.

So proud of @statnews.com team and the work done in the early days of the Trump administration to get readers answers to questions that very much affect their lives.

statnews.com/2025/01/28/f...

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As some Medicaid sites freeze up, White House acts to clarify pause on grants and programs The White House Office of Management and Budget says its program freeze is limited, but states report widespread disruption in online Medicaid portals.

Are Medicaid payments going to be paused? More confusion as sites freeze across the country. “It’s pretty obvious they just threw a big breaker switch on the federal government.” www.statnews.com/2025/01/28/f...

As some Medicaid sites freeze up, White House acts to clarify pause on grants and programs The White House Office of Management and Budget says its program freeze is limited, but states report widespread disruption in online Medicaid portals.

Sorting through more confusion, thanks to @rachelcohrs.bsky.social, @tarabannow.bsky.social, @bobjherman.bsky.social, @levfacher.bsky.social, and @aniloza.bsky.social at @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/01/28/f...

As some Medicaid sites freeze up, White House acts to clarify pause on grants and programs The White House Office of Management and Budget says its program freeze is limited, but states report widespread disruption in online Medicaid portals.

The Trump admin: Freezes federal grants, but "mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause." Meanwhile, states were locked out of their Medicaid fund accounts. Complete confusion for a program that covers 79 million people. www.statnews.com/2025/01/28/f...

As some Medicaid sites freeze up, White House acts to clarify pause on grants and programs The White House Office of Management and Budget says its program freeze is limited, but states report widespread disruption in online Medicaid portals.

Did the Trump administration mean to freeze Medicaid? According to a new memo, no.

But are Medicaid programs having trouble accessing money? From what we know now: Yes.

The @statnews.com team sorts out fact from fiction here:
🩺
www.statnews.com/2025/01/28/f...

As some Medicaid sites freeze up, White House acts to clarify pause on grants and programs The White House Office of Management and Budget says its program freeze is limited, but states report widespread disruption in online Medicaid portals.

New: Here's what we know about today's Medicaid chaos (yes, that's FIVE bylines). www.statnews.com/2025/01/28/f...

RFK Jr.’s step-by-step blueprint to question the safety of vaccines Vaccine policy looms over upcoming HHS confirmation hearings. We analyzed RFK Jr.’s views on liability protection, adverse event reporting, consent.

Significant @statnews.com reporting here on RFK Jr. and vaccine strategy by @rachelcohrs.bsky.social @owermohle.bsky.social. Confirmation hearings start tomorrow.

www.statnews.com/2025/01/28/r...

NIH clarifies restrictions on staff after Trump's broad freeze sparked chaos Ongoing clinical trials can continue, and scientists can keep publishing their findings, a memo shows.

New NIH acting director attempts to clarify for anxious staff what they can and cannot do during communication blackout—Ongoing clinical trials can continue, projects started before 1/20 can continue with procurement.

Exclusive from @owermohle.bsky.social :

www.statnews.com/2025/01/27/n...

NIH clarifies restrictions on staff after Trump's broad freeze sparked chaos Ongoing clinical trials can continue, and scientists can keep publishing their findings, a memo shows.

Trying to clear up some of the chaos: #NIH's acting director attempts to clarify for anxious staff what they can and cannot do during the new administration's "communications pause," @owermohle.bsky.social reports. www.statnews.com/2025/01/27/n...