Lauren Cortez, MS, MPH, DrPHc

As public health professionals we’re trained to interpret harmful outcomes as systemic, structural, or rooted in misinformation rather than personal malice. The actions taken by this administration make that framing harder to maintain.

Truly remarkable.

The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.

Well, well, well….

oh commuters just found the motherlode of ice agents at a suburban hotel, including, potentially, bovino himself. a bunch of confirmed ICE and CBP cars from the bovino convoy there. spring hill suites in maple grove.

people of the twin cities, do with this info what you will.

Alex Pretti, Renee Good, and Keith Porter Jr. were murdered. Marimar Martinez was shot. Mahmoud Khalil was arrested and jailed.

The next could be you.

What’s at stake isn’t just our democracy. It’s also your safety and security and that of your loved ones.

This is personal — to every one of us.

“Freedom is not free. We have to work at it. Nurture it. Protect it. Even sacrifice for it.”

“Heartbroken but also very angry… sickening lies by the administration… reprehensible and disgusting… Alex is clearly not holding a gun… please get the truth out about our son, he was a good man…”

👇👇👇👇

WHO removing Us Flag

Screenshot of an X.com post by Gavin Newsom (@GavinN…) with text: “Censoring books. Rewriting history. Attacking independent institutions. Using military force against American citizens. This is what authoritarianism looks like. Wake up.” Below is a video thumbnail of Newsom speaking at the World Economic Forum with a blue WEF backdrop.

Are we paying attention yet, America?

I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning. Minnesota has had it. This is sickening.

The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.

White Fear Check out this great listen on Audible.com. White fear has shaped our democracy and society from the beginning—and today, it’s more intense and visible than ever. To neutralize it, we must first under...

Readers who found value in Stay Woke by Dr. Tehama Lopez Bunyasi, How to Be an Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, and White Tears/Brown Scars by Dr. Ruby Hamad will likely appreciate White Fear: How the Browning of America Is Making White Folks Lose Their Minds by Leah Lakins and Roland Martin.

That’s the fact… If one does not get due process, none of us will.

“Obliteration Day”
“Recession Day”
“Liquidation Day”

The Economist goes with #RuinationDay 🇺🇸

@economist.com
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...

I find it outrageous as well.

Slashing VA funds will have dire consequences on veterans, advocacy groups warn More than a half-dozen veterans service groups presented their legislative priorities at a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs committees and warned Congress that health care and o...

www.stripes.com/veterans/202...

Trump Fires Joint Chiefs Chairman Amid Flurry of Dismissals at Pentagon The decision to fire Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., a four-star fighter pilot, upends a tradition in which the Joint Chiefs chairman traditionally remains in place as administrations change.

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/u...

Senate rejects PACT Act protections, sending 'signal' that benefits could be cut, vet group says The Senate rejected a measure to protect veteran toxic exposure benefits which vet groups say are a “signal” for larger potential cuts.

The Senate rejected a measure to protect veteran toxic exposure benefits which vet groups say are a “signal” for larger potential cuts.

taskandpurpose.com/news/senate-...

Military Drops Recruiting Efforts at Prestigious Black Engineering Awards Event Until this week, Army Recruiting Command had a public partnership with the Black Engineer of the Year Awards, or BEYA, an annual conference that draws students, academics and professionals in science,...

www.military.com/daily-news/2...

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Opinion | I Shudder to Imagine Kennedy Running Our Health Agencies. (Gift Article) We have to go toe-to-toe with this administration and resist its attacks on public health.

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/o...

Behind Closed Doors, Trudeau Says Trump Threat to Take Over Canada Is Real Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in a talk with business leaders, said Canada’s wealth of critical minerals are behind Mr. Trump’s comments about making its northern neighbor a U.S. state.

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/w...

Measles outbreak expands in West Texas around county with low vaccination rate | CNN A measles outbreak is growing in a rural area of West Texas where vaccination rates are well below the recommended level.

www.cnn.com/2025/02/07/h...

I’m excited for fake agency DOGE to get to the Space X and Tesla contracts worth billions. That will save a ton!

The Young, Inexperienced Engineers Aiding Elon Musk’s Government Takeover Engineers between 19 and 24, most linked to Musk’s companies, are playing a key role as he seizes control of federal infrastructure.

www.wired.com/story/elon-m...

If you are a federal employee, it is advised to set your social media accounts to private to prevent outside viewership, as reports suggest that loyalty screenings have begun.

Congress? Hello—federal workers here. We are struggling to fight all of this on our own.