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Bryant Furlow

@bryantfurlow.bsky.social

I cover health care, public health policy, and medical research for The Lancet news desks and others. Investigative journalist and ProPublica LRN alum. #ElderCare #NursingHomes #AssistedLiving Image: Michele Banks @Artologica

3,339 Followers  |  4,333 Following  |  795 Posts  |  Joined: 12.11.2024
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Posts by Bryant Furlow (@bryantfurlow.bsky.social)

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Under Former Chemical Industry Insiders, Trump EPA Nearly Doubles Amount of Formaldehyde Considered Safe to Inhale Chemical industry lobbyists have long pushed the government to adopt a less stringent approach to gauging the cancer risk from chemicals, one that would help ease regulations on companies that make or...

For a deep dive into formaldehyde regulation under the Trump Administration, see ProPublican Sharon Lerner’s excellent Dec. 8 reporting: www.propublica.org/article/epa-...

26.02.2026 15:20 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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US EPA turning a blind eye to formaldehyde's cancer risks, critics contend A coalition of 13 Democratic state attorney generals is urging the Trump administration to drop a β€œdangerous and scientifically unsupported” revision to a federal formaldehyde-inhalation risk assessme...

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

26.02.2026 15:19 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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US EPA to roll back restrictions on upwind pollution Despite worsening ozone air pollution in much of the country, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to weaken a key safeguard against cross-state emissions that fuel it. The announcemen...

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

26.02.2026 15:17 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Climate change policy rollbacks ignore what the science is telling us loud and clear: climate change is driving a present and escalating public health emergency.

Weakening climate protections increases health risks for current and future generations.

πŸ‘‰ buff.ly/RRH2v0d

12.02.2026 20:30 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 16    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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πŸ†• Greater transparency for oncology clinical trials reporting

Chief Editors of The Lancet’s specialty journals discuss enhanced scrutiny in the reporting of oncology clinical trials

Read here: thelancet.com/journals/lan...

04.02.2026 09:57 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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πŸ”΄Online now: Ultra-hypofractionated versus conventionally fractionated radiotherapy for localised #prostatecancer (HYPO-RT-PC): 10-year outcomes of an open-label, randomised, phase 3, non-inferiority trial

thelancet.com/journals/lan...

06.02.2026 09:56 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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FBI raids home of Washington Post reporter in β€˜highly unusual and aggressive’ move Agents searched Hannah Natanson’s Virginia home and seized devices in inquiry tied to a classified materials case

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

14.01.2026 19:33 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 4/5

23.12.2025 01:29 β€” πŸ‘ 3711    πŸ” 1229    πŸ’¬ 21    πŸ“Œ 38
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Why scientists are rethinking the immune effects of SARS-CoV-2 β€œImmunity debt,” a theory to explain the global surge in non-covid infections since pandemic restrictions were lifted, is increasingly being challenged by emerging evidence. Nick Tsergas reports Myco...

Immunity debt's "...explanatory power has faded as the number of non-covid infections has kept rising each year...

A growing number of scientists believe that the SARS-CoV-2 virus may instead be subtly altering our immune systems." πŸ›ŸπŸ˜·medsky

07.12.2025 09:45 β€” πŸ‘ 192    πŸ” 97    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 8
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CMS Takes Action to Rescind Minimum Staffing Rule Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an interim final ruleΒ rescinding part of the minimum staffing rule in nursing homes, the most significant increase in protections for.....

Read more about the demise of the federal minimum nurse staffing rule for nursing homes here: theconsumervoice.org/news/cms-tak...

05.12.2025 12:03 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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β€˜Everywhere you go is short staffed’: New Mexico nursing homes in crisis - New Mexico In Depth New federal staffing standards meant to improve the care of millions of Americans in nursing homes could go into effect in as soon as two years. New Mexico’s nursing homes aren’t ready. Not even close...

This week, the Trump administration repealed safe minimum staffing rules for nursing homesβ€”and the CMS requirement that nursing homes have, well, a nurse (an RN on-site 24/7).

My 2023 report on the nursing home staffing crisis in New Mexico:

nmindepth.com/2023/everywh...

05.12.2025 12:01 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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US appeals court rejects Trump administration bid to halt grants for school mental health workers A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected the Trump administration’s bid to halt an order requiring it to release millions of dollars in grants meant to address the shortage of mental health worker...

ground.news/article/us-a...

05.12.2025 11:49 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Why is science under assault and what forces are behind it?

My review @thelancet.com of β€œScience under Siege” by @michaelemann.bsky.social & @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social

www.thelancet.com/callback?red...

29.11.2025 21:25 β€” πŸ‘ 134    πŸ” 42    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 2
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What Everyone Should Know About Fungi by Age 15

8️⃣ Mycorrhizal fungi extend root systems up to 100 times their normal reach, enabling plants to access hard-to-reach nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen.

See the top 10 list (www.spun.earth/articles/top...) and follow for new fungal facts.

07.11.2025 11:04 β€” πŸ‘ 30    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The myth of academic indoctrination

www.science.org/content/blog...

26.11.2025 20:50 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

There's a big divide in how Americans are thinking about vaccines:
♦️83% of Republicans don't want an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
πŸ”·64% of Democrats want to get or have already received an updated vaccine.
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/... πŸ§ͺ

25.11.2025 23:19 β€” πŸ‘ 85    πŸ” 39    πŸ’¬ 8    πŸ“Œ 17
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β€˜Alarm bells of the highest order’: APD chief's testimony reveals years of deleted police texts to avoid public records - City Desk ABQ Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina testified under oath that he and other high-ranking APD officials have been routinely deleting text messages about official business since 2018, violating state ...

citydesk.org/2025/11/24/a...

25.11.2025 23:08 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

πŸ’₯ πŸƒ 🧬 πŸ§ͺ Gene Therapy for Hunter Syndrome

24.11.2025 12:50 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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CRISPR unlocks a new way to defeat resistant lung cancer Scientists used CRISPR to disable the NRF2 gene, restoring chemotherapy sensitivity in lung cancer cells and slowing tumor growth. The technique worked even when only a fraction of tumor cells were ed...

How exciting!

CRISPR reversed chemotherapy resistance in lung cancer, making tumors more responsive to chemotherapy. Eventually this tool can be applied to other types of cancers.

CRISPR has so many applications.

πŸ§ͺ www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...

23.11.2025 21:46 β€” πŸ‘ 1019    πŸ” 276    πŸ’¬ 21    πŸ“Œ 9
Chart showing that since 2016, a vast majority of U.S. adults have said healthy children should be required to get the vaccine to attend public school because of the potential risks for others when children are not vaccinated. But support for school MMR requirements dropped from 82% in 2019 to 69% in 2025.

This decline is largely because of a steep slide in support among Republicans. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 79% of Republicans said healthy children should be required to get the MMR vaccine to attend school. This share sunk to 57% in 2023, then to 52% in 2025. In contrast, Democrats’ views on school MMR requirements have remained stable, with solid majority support.

Chart showing that since 2016, a vast majority of U.S. adults have said healthy children should be required to get the vaccine to attend public school because of the potential risks for others when children are not vaccinated. But support for school MMR requirements dropped from 82% in 2019 to 69% in 2025. This decline is largely because of a steep slide in support among Republicans. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 79% of Republicans said healthy children should be required to get the MMR vaccine to attend school. This share sunk to 57% in 2023, then to 52% in 2025. In contrast, Democrats’ views on school MMR requirements have remained stable, with solid majority support.

Republicans increasingly oppose requiring healthy kids to get MMR vaccines to attend public schools
2016 19%
2019 20%
2023 42%
2025 47%
www.pewresearch.org/science/2025... πŸ§ͺ

23.11.2025 22:30 β€” πŸ‘ 258    πŸ” 123    πŸ’¬ 32    πŸ“Œ 63
Chart shows far more Republicans than Democrats say parents with young children should have a major role in policy decisions about childhood vaccines

Previous Center work has found that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to support scientists playing an active role in policy debates about scientific issues. Similarly, a much larger share of Democrats (85%) than Republicans (62%) say medical scientists should have a major role in decisions about childhood vaccine policy.

Views are reversed when it comes to the role of parents with young children. Republicans are far more likely than Democrats to say parents of young children should have a major role in policy decisions about childhood vaccines (71% vs. 46%).

There are smaller partisan differences for the other groups we asked about. For example, 44% of Republicans say the general public should play a major role, compared with 30% of Democrats. And small shares in both parties say health insurance company leaders should have a major role (14% Republicans and 18% Democrats).

Chart shows far more Republicans than Democrats say parents with young children should have a major role in policy decisions about childhood vaccines Previous Center work has found that Democrats are more likely than Republicans to support scientists playing an active role in policy debates about scientific issues. Similarly, a much larger share of Democrats (85%) than Republicans (62%) say medical scientists should have a major role in decisions about childhood vaccine policy. Views are reversed when it comes to the role of parents with young children. Republicans are far more likely than Democrats to say parents of young children should have a major role in policy decisions about childhood vaccines (71% vs. 46%). There are smaller partisan differences for the other groups we asked about. For example, 44% of Republicans say the general public should play a major role, compared with 30% of Democrats. And small shares in both parties say health insurance company leaders should have a major role (14% Republicans and 18% Democrats).

Who should have a major role in making childhood vaccine policy decisions?
πŸ’‰Democrats are most likely to say medical scientists πŸ§ͺ
πŸ’‰Republicans are most likely to say parents

www.pewresearch.org/science/2025...

23.11.2025 23:23 β€” πŸ‘ 74    πŸ” 26    πŸ’¬ 12    πŸ“Œ 6
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Another reason RFK jr should resign

23.11.2025 17:29 β€” πŸ‘ 4981    πŸ” 1251    πŸ’¬ 349    πŸ“Œ 75
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Inducing immunity against cancer via the gut Could a microbe that can smuggle antigens into the immune system of the gut provide a simple way to treat cancers?

Yet another unique way to stimulate cellular immunity against cancer.

β€œUsing the gut immune system to induce cellular immunity is a unique approach,” Shirakawa notes. β€œAnd it should be very easy to extend it to other antigen proteins and also infectious diseases.”
#ScienceSunday

23.11.2025 12:05 β€” πŸ‘ 2981    πŸ” 823    πŸ’¬ 73    πŸ“Œ 43
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Imagine knowing your platform was a playground for predators, fueling teen depression, eating disorders, and suicide and deciding the best course of action was… absolutely nothing. Meta didn’t just β€œmiss” anything.

23.11.2025 20:28 β€” πŸ‘ 9963    πŸ” 4257    πŸ’¬ 726    πŸ“Œ 385

I see two

23.11.2025 23:17 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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β€˜This is censorship.’ Conference requires abstracts to comply with Trump anti-DEI order NASA-funded planetary science institute previously scrubbed hundreds of records from its archive

www.science.org/content/arti...

21.11.2025 14:41 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Vaccine Safety
MENU V
For Everyone
NOV. 19, 2025
KEY POINTS
β€’ The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.
β€’ Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities.
β€’ HHS has launched a comprehensive assessment of the causes of autism,
including investigations on plausible biologic mechanisms and potential causal links.

Vaccine Safety MENU V For Everyone NOV. 19, 2025 KEY POINTS β€’ The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism. β€’ Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities. β€’ HHS has launched a comprehensive assessment of the causes of autism, including investigations on plausible biologic mechanisms and potential causal links.

The U.S. government is now inarguably spreading medical disinformation that is going to kill babies preferentially.

Period.

This is an INTOLERABLE. UNPRECEDENTED. DANGEROUS. ATTACK. ON ALL OF US.

20.11.2025 03:29 β€” πŸ‘ 2937    πŸ” 1118    πŸ’¬ 108    πŸ“Œ 87
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Epstein-Barr virus reprograms autoreactive B cells as antigen-presenting cells in systemic lupus erythematosus Epstein-Barr virus reprograms autoreactive B cells as antigen-presenting cells to promote pathogenic antinuclear T and B cell responses in lupus.

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

14.11.2025 09:50 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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N.I.H. Worker Who Criticized Trump Health Policies Says She Is on Administrative Leave

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...

14.11.2025 09:21 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0