Rick Berke

Part 2 of STAT's 10-part look at how the Trump admin has gutted American science. 🩺 🧪 #MedSky #ScienceSky Grateful that we have @statnews.com taking this story on with their dedicated crew of medical science and #biotech journalists.

RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots.

RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel is laying the groundwork for more scrutiny of childhood shots www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c... via @statnews.com @danielpayne.bsky.social @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

What West Virginia teens lost when CDC cuts ended their fight against Big Tobacco What West Virginia teens lost when CDC cuts ended their fight against Big Tobacco.

Powerful reporting on the impact of CDC cuts by @sarah-todd.bsky.social
What West Virginia teens lost when CDC cuts ended their fight against Big Tobacco www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/i... via @statnews.com

U.K. pledges to boost pharma payments, will avoid U.S. tariffs on drugs The United States and United Kingdom announced a high-level agreement Monday under which the U.K. is expected to pay more for medicines.

U.K. pledges to boost pharma payments, will avoid U.S. tariffs on drugs www.statnews.com/2025/12/01/u... via @statnews.com @danielpayne.bsky.social

What if RFK Jr. reacted to his cousin’s terminal cancer as JFK reacted to his baby’s death? When President Kennedy’s newborn son died in 1963, it galvanized research. A new Kennedy family tragedy should spur RFK Jr. to support cancer research, not cut it.

What if RFK Jr. reacted to his cousin’s terminal cancer as JFK reacted to his baby’s death? www.statnews.com/2025/11/26/t... via @statnews.com

STAT@ASH: Standing on Medicine's Threshold We’re on the ground at the 67th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting — join us live.

STAT will be on the ground at #ASH25. Join us Dec. 5 in Orlando for STAT@ASH: Standing on Medicine’s Threshold — an evening of conversation with leading voices in hematology and biotech. www.statnews.com/event/stat-a...

James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.

A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.

Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."

Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
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How Children’s Health Defense plans to cement its agenda beyond RFK Jr. Children’s Health Defense is leveraging its ties to HHS to lock in legal and cultural shifts that could shape policy long after RFK Jr. leaves.

How Children’s Health Defense plans to cement its agenda beyond RFK Jr. www.statnews.com/2025/11/08/r... via @statnews.com @danielpayne.bsky.social

Trump announces deal with Lilly, Novo to expand access to weight loss drugs, cut prices Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, Eli Lilly's Zepbound to be sold at discounted prices on TrumpRx, covered by Medicare.

BREAKING: Trump announces deal with Lilly, Novo to expand access to weight loss drugs, cut prices www.statnews.com/2025/11/06/t... via @statnews.com @danielpayne.bsky.social @elaineywchen.bsky.social

Appeals court judges seem skeptical of Trump administration's defense of capping NIH overhead payments Appeals court judges’ questions and comments suggested they may be skeptical of Trump administration changes to research overhead payments

Appeals court judges seem skeptical of Trump administration’s defense of capping NIH overhead payments www.statnews.com/2025/11/05/n... via @statnews.com @jonathanwosen.bsky.social

Arena BioWorks, an ambitious biomedical institute backed by billionaires, abruptly shuts down Exclusive: Arena Bioworks, the buzzy research institute that launched with $500 million to support a decade of scientific R&D, is abruptly shutting down, STAT has learned.

SCOOP: Arena BioWorks, an ambitious biomedical institute backed by billionaires, abruptly shuts down www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/a... via @statnews.com

In Texas, the nation's MAHA capital, many are frustrated with the status quo in health care Texas is the MAHA capital of the country — offering a look at health policies that may soon roll across the country.

In Texas, the nation’s MAHA capital, many are frustrated with the status quo in health care www.statnews.com/2025/11/03/m... via @statnews.com @isabellacueto.bsky.social

Medicare finalizes rule to lower payments for surgeries This move is a blow to the powerful physician lobby that has long controlled how procedures are priced.

Medicare finalizes rule to lower payments for surgeries www.statnews.com/2025/11/01/m... via @statnews.com @tarabannow.bsky.social

States reject Dr. Oz’s claims of Medicaid spending on undocumented immigrants Officials from Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington say CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz posted incorrect figures about their Medicaid spending on X.

States reject Dr. Oz’s claims of Medicaid spending on undocumented immigrants
Sharp reporting by @danielpayne.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/11/01/d... via @statnews.com

Hope and ‘no regrets’: How pancreatic cancer surgeon Dr. Michael Zinner faced a pancreatic cancer diagnosis Hope and ‘no regrets’: How pancreatic cancer surgeon Dr. Michael Zinner faced a pancreatic cancer diagnosis

Hope and ‘no regrets’: How pancreatic cancer surgeon Dr. Michael Zinner faced a pancreatic cancer diagnosis www.statnews.com/2025/10/27/h... via @statnews.com

Trump, Pfizer, and the art of a drug pricing deal The Trump administration’s posture toward the pharma industry has largely been driven by threats, and a tense negotiation over prices. On Tuesday, in the Oval Office, there was talk of friendship.

Trump, Pfizer, and the art of a drug pricing deal www.statnews.com/2025/09/30/w... via @statnews.com @matthewherper.bsky.social

Harvard public health school confronts severe financial crisis, seeks corporate sponsors Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health faces a harsh new reality: the government is shifting away from funding public health.

Harvard public health school confronts severe financial crisis, seeks corporate sponsors www.statnews.com/2025/09/28/h... via @statnews.com

Perimenopause is the new buzzword in the business of women’s health Perimenopause brings real symptoms and a booming market of supplements, apps, and therapies. What’s hype, what’s helpful, and what women need to know.

Perimenopause is the new buzzword in the business of women’s health www.statnews.com/2025/09/29/p... via @statnews.com @sarah-todd.bsky.social

FDA aims to expand use of leucovorin as RFK Jr. touts it as autism treatment The Trump administration is touting leucovorin as a treatment for autism.

FDA aims to expand use of leucovorin as RFK Jr. touts it as autism treatment www.statnews.com/2025/09/22/f... via @statnews.com @danielpayne.bsky.social @drewqjoseph.bsky.social

CDC reverses telework pause that sparked complaints over its impact on workers with disabilities The CDC has rescinded a policy issued on Monday that paused remote work for employees, including those with disabilities

This follows great reporting by @rosebroderick.bsky.social CDC reverses telework pause that sparked complaints over its impact on workers with disabilities www.statnews.com/2025/09/19/c... via @statnews.com

FDA approves ultra-rare disease drug that became a symbol of uncertainty over regulatory standards After months of uncertainty, the FDA offered accelerated approval for a treatment for Barth syndrome.

FDA approves ultra-rare disease drug that became a symbol of uncertainty over regulatory standards www.statnews.com/pharmalot/20... via @statnews.com @pharmalot.bsky.social

FDA warning letters show how it intends to ratchet up pressure over drug ads The FDA's crackdown on drug advertising is unprecedented, but some experts questioned whether the agency has the staff to carry it out.

FDA warning letters show how it intends to ratchet up pressure over drug ads www.statnews.com/2025/09/17/f... via @statnews.com @pharmalot.bsky.social @lizzylawrence.bsky.social

Trump says CDC is ‘being ripped apart’ over Covid products, calls for drugmakers to prove their benefits President Trump on Monday urged pharma companies to publicly prove that their Covid-19 products work, saying in a Truth Social post that the CDC is "being ripped apart over this question.”

Trump says CDC is ‘being ripped apart’ over Covid products, calls for drugmakers to prove their benefits www.statnews.com/2025/09/01/t... via @statnews.com @danielpayne.bsky.social @matthewherper.bsky.social

Trump says CDC is ‘being ripped apart’ over Covid products, calls for drugmakers to prove their benefits President Trump on Monday urged pharma companies to publicly prove that their Covid-19 products work, saying in a Truth Social post that the CDC is "being ripped apart over this question.”

New: Trump weighs in on the “mess” at CDC

www.statnews.com/2025/09/01/t...

Inside the American Medical Association's sudden strategy shift in Washington The AMA has shifted from a behind-the-scenes lobbying strategy to more forceful public advocacy against President Trump's health care policies.

Inside the American Medical Association’s sudden strategy shift in Washington www.statnews.com/2025/08/13/a... via @statnews.com @theresagaff.bsky.social

Insecure about their looks, more men than ever are getting plastic surgery Insecure about their looks, more men than ever are getting plastic surgery.

Insecure about their looks, more men than ever are getting plastic surgery www.statnews.com/2025/08/12/w... via @statnews.com

I just packed Narcan for my daughter’s dorm room. Public health made it possible Narcan didn’t just magically show up on pharmacy shelves. It exists because people made it happen.

Quite the talker: "I just packed Narcan for my daughter’s dorm room. Public health made it possible''
www.statnews.com/2025/08/11/p... via @statnews.com

Vinay Prasad returns to the FDA, weeks after his ouster HFO HFO Vinay Prasad returns to a top FDA role just weeks after his abrupt dismissal.

Another swerve in the news: Vinay Prasad returns to the FDA, two weeks after his ouster www.statnews.com/2025/08/09/v... via @statnews.com @lizzylawrence.bsky.social

MAGA influencers take a sudden interest in Medicare Advantage reforms, echoing a dark money group It's not clear why right wing influencers are suddenly pushing back against Medicare reforms.

MAGA influencers take a sudden interest in Medicare Advantage reforms, echoing a dark money group www.statnews.com/2025/08/01/m... via @statnews.com @caseyross.bsky.social

Kevin Hall, uncensored: Top nutrition scientist on clashing with MAHA and what he actually eats 'They’re not interested in the science': Former NIH nutrition scientist Kevin Hall on how his work with MAHA fell apart.

Kevin Hall can now speak freely. He's the top nutrition scientist who is clashing with MAHA www.statnews.com/2025/07/30/k... via @statnews.com