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Benjamin Mason Meier

@benjaminmasonmeier.bsky.social

2.9K followers 190 following 160 posts

Professor of Global Health Policy at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill | Working at the intersection of #GlobalHealth & #HumanRights benjaminmasonmeier.com

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Political science 31%

Sociology 23%

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier

Global Strategy Lab @gstrategylab.bsky.social · 1d

GSL is proud to announce its new Global Health Law program, with Dr. @roojinhabibi.org as inaugural Research Director. This program will build capacity through law research, teaching & practice, examining the unique role of law in addressing global health challenges.

🔎Learn more: bit.ly/436vgnl

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier

UNRISD @unrisd.org · 2d

With deep sadness, we remember Catarina de Albuquerque, a pioneering human rights advocate who advanced water and sanitation as fundamental rights. Her legacy shapes global policy and lives worldwide. May her memory guide us in the pursuit of justice, dignity, and equality for all

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier, Stacy D. VanDeveer, Katherine Brickell

Sarah J. Jackson @sjjphd.bsky.social · 2d

Discussing this phenomenon w/ a group of profs. Someone morbidly joked, “& northern profs are fleeing the country.” The next person said…”even if we were all willing & able to abandon this place there are not enough jobs for us globally and the U.S. employs a huge # of international scholars too.”

‘Fear and hopelessness’: study finds one in four professors consider leaving US south

Survey by American Association of Professors shows nearly quarter of respondents are switching due to states’s politics

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Katiesaurus @katiesaurusseven.bsky.social · 2d

Not surprisingly, "work requirements" poll well with lawmakers and the public because there's a naïve assumption that the system is fair. There is also a lack of awareness -- and concern -- about the vulnerable people who slip through the bureaucratic cracks.

Opinion | Medicaid Work Requirements Will Devastate People With Invisible Disabilities

ME/CFS and long COVID patients must qualify as 'medically frail'

link.broadcaster3.medpagetoday.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier, Lisa Diedrich

Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 3d

More are united around a simple message: RFK Jr should not be HHS Sec. His decisions undermine our public health capacity and put lives and health at risk.

As 6 former Surgeon Generals argue:

"He has rejected science, misled the public and compromised the health of Americans."

🎁
wapo.st/3VTALll

Opinion | Six surgeons general: RFK Jr. is a threat to the health of Americans

It was our duty in office to warn of dangers when we found them. We’re doing that again today.

wapo.st

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier

ProfKFH @profkfh.bsky.social · 4d

“Measles virus can remain infectious in the air in a confined area for up to two hours after the sick person has left the area.”

www.wrdw.com/2025/10/03/s...

SAFETY ALERT: S.C. confirms full-blown outbreak of measles

South Carolina officially has a measles outbreak, even while Georgia deals with a cluster of cases as low vaccination rates in the region raise concerns.

www.wrdw.com

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Reposted by Scott L. Greer, Benjamin Mason Meier

Miranda Yaver @mirandayaver.bsky.social · 5d

For some added context on why people in marketplace plans will face higher premiums, here’s my @msnbc.com analysis: www.msnbc.com/msnbc/amp/rc...

From a policy perspective, this is very bad, and people will suffer. From a political perspective, Dems need to let voters see how harmful R policies are

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier

Larry Hunter @proflhunter.bsky.social · 5d

The dismantling of US science continues. RFKJr fired the director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, basically for believing in the germ theory of disease.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/h...

Kennedy Fires N.I.H. Scientist Who Filed Whistle-Blower Complaint

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier, Diane Ravitch, Peter Jacobs

Karen Benjamin Guzzo @karenguzzo.bsky.social · 5d

I missed this earlier this week, but the Directors of NIAID, NICHD, NIMHD, & NINR were all fired. The NIAID Director, Mazzaro, was likely fired in retaliation for speaking out against the anti-vaccine moves made by the administration.

Kennedy Fires N.I.H. Scientist Who Filed Whistle-Blower Complaint

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier, Samantha Brennan, Brian Keegan

Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 6d

Now we have the Trump Administration's "nice university ya' got there, shame if anything should happen to it" campaign centered around a mafia-style protection racket they call "The Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education." Did we help make it happen? 1/ www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...

Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier, Steven S. Smith

Barb McQuade @barbmcquade.bsky.social · 7d

Trump’s university “compact” is extortion.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...

Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion (Gift Article)

There seems to be no limit to the president’s odious attempts to control higher education.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier, Jonathan Wolff, Elizabeth Stokoe , and 2 more Benjamin Mason Meier, Jonathan Wolff, Elizabeth Stokoe, Nazita Lajevardi, Paul Nightingale

Dr Paul Dorfman @drpauldorfman.bsky.social · 7d

#Solar becomes main source of electricity in the #EU for first time. More than half of the EU’s #electricity in the second quarter of 2025 came from #RenewableEnergy
www.independent.co.uk/tech/solar-p...

Solar becomes main source of electricity in the EU for first time

More than half of the EU’s electricity in the second quarter of 2025 came from renewable energy

www.independent.co.uk

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier

Matthew Kavanagh @matthewkavanagh.bsky.social · 13d

Don’t you dare teach students about empirical reality…
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...

Texas Tech Moves to Limit Academic Discussion to 2 Genders

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier

Cristian Farias @cristianfarias.com · 13d

Say goodbye to the separation of powers.

Top line: The Supreme Court grabs power from Congress, which decides what to do with money that belongs to all of us, and hands it to Donald Trump. Forever.

(This money will never reach its intended recipients.)

www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p...

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 13d

UPDATE: 25 states plus DC have taken actions to protect COVID-19 vaccine access.

Two regional public health alliances have formed: The Northeast Public Health Collaborative and the West Coast Health Alliance.

There are several midwest and mountain states who have collaboration potential.

Map: 25 States Plus DC Have Taken Actions To Protect COVID-19 Vaccine Access

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @drtedros.who.int · 13d

My thanks and congratulations to world leaders for showing their strong support for #UNGA political declaration on noncommunicable diseases and mental health: bit.ly/4mH6S2L

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier, Smith, Geneviève Gore

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · 14d

It’s one thing to withdraw from global health

It’s another thing to block other nations from global initiatives and goals

NO ONE COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE SO MUCH POWER!!!

healthpolicy-watch.news/un-declarati...

BREAKING: UN Declaration On Noncommunicable Diseases Fails To Win Approval After US Foils Consensus - Health Policy Watch

NEW YORK CITY - A painstakingly negotiated Political Declaration on Noncommunicable Diseases with overwhelming support from UN member states failed to win

healthpolicy-watch.news

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier

Marta Schaaf ❌ 👑 @martaschaaf.bsky.social · 19d

13.5% of the population in the richest country in the world experiences food insecurity. This will grow following devastating cuts to food stamps - but as part of the regime’s war on information and transparency,
We are going to stop counting. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/u...

Trump Administration to Stop Measuring Food Insecurity

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier

Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 19d

I'm probably late to the party here but has anyone else noticed that the US vaccine-finder website vaccines.gov is now broken?

Vaccines.gov

The functionality of this website may be impacted while it is being updated.

Find a pharmacy near you. Enter 5-digit zip code.

Valid codes return "Please enter a valid 5-digit ZIP Code" in multiple browsers.

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Benjamin Mason Meier @benjaminmasonmeier.bsky.social · 20d

"The U.N. is streamlining as it copes with the fallout from U.S. foreign aid cuts under President Donald Trump that have gutted humanitarian agencies."
This abandonment of U.S. leadership in global health will undermine global governance & cause unnecessary death.
www.reuters.com/business/hea...

Reposted by Nicole Dubilier, Benjamin Mason Meier, Amir Attaran , and 4 more Nicole Dubilier, Benjamin Mason Meier, Amir Attaran, Michael Kevane, Alan Richardson, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Timothy D. McBride

Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 20d

"My thoughts turned to David Rose, who volunteered to try to prevent another such attack on our country, and then, when back home, ran toward danger once again to help his fellow Americans."
www.thebulwark.com/p/a-hero-dav...

A Hero We Didn’t Deserve

Remembering David Rose who ran towards danger.

www.thebulwark.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier, Smith

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 20d

“What we’re seeing is what happens when individuals who have don’t have a basic understanding about how vaccines are delivered are making these crucial policy decisions for the American public. They don’t know what they’re doing” -Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of AAP’s Committee on Infectious Diseases

CDC committee votes on COVID-19 shots amid widespread criticism

After a contentious discussion that at times referenced discredited theories, low-quality data and desperate pleas from physicians and patients to rely upon sound science, a key committee of the U.S.

www.latimes.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier

morgaine-pendragon.bsky.social @morgaine-pendragon.bsky.social · 27d

abc11.com/post/nc-covi...

Governor Josh Stein announces increase in COVID-19 vaccine access

North Carolina leaders are expanding access to the COVID-19 vaccine after the FDA has limited who can get the new boosters.

abc11.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · 27d

How is this happening in the year 2025???

Louisiana is undergoing its worst whooping cough outbreak since 1990

www.wbrz.com/news/cassidy...

Cassidy asks Kennedy to promote vaccines targeting whooping cough after major outbreak

BATON ROUGE — Sen. Bill Cassidy said Friday that Louisiana is undergoing its worst whooping cough outbreak since 1990 and called on the nation's vaccine-leery health secretary to promote vaccinations.

www.wbrz.com

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, Mark A. Lemley, Benjamin Mason Meier

Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · Sep 10

“Because the court is not explaining its shadow docket rulings, judges lack any meaningful guidance about what to do in future cases, Georgia State University law professor Anthony Michael Kreis said.”

www.reuters.com/legal/govern...

Judges vexed by Supreme Court 'shadow docket' rulings in Trump cases

An extraordinary spat is occurring within the U.S. judiciary concerning a flurry of Supreme Court decisions.

www.reuters.com

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier, Mary Jane Curry

Governor Tim Walz @governorwalz.mn.gov · Sep 9

Vaccines are one of the greatest public health achievements in modern medicine.

Protecting access is vital to the health and safety of Minnesotans.

www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Walz counters federal vaccine moves with state-level order to maintain broad access

Minnesota moves to maintain access to vaccines after federal guidance last week ordered limitations on who has access to the COVID-19 booster shot.

www.mprnews.org

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier

Krutika Kuppalli, MD FIDSA @krutikakuppalli.bsky.social · Sep 6

🚨 Ebola outbreak – Kasai, DRC

-Index case: pregnant female died 25 Aug of organ failure
- 28 suspects, 15 deaths (CFR 54%), 4 hcw’s
- Most ≥15 yrs
- Sequencing: new spillover event
- 2,000 Ervebo doses deployed for ring vaccination & frontline workers

@who.int DON 👇

www.who.int/emergencies/...

Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

On 1 September 2025, WHO received an alert from the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) regarding suspected cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Bulape Health Zone, K...

www.who.int

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Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier

Benjamin Mason Meier @benjaminmasonmeier.bsky.social · Sep 5

Another day of turmoil in UNC's politically established "conservative" school, reaffirming the earlier critique from the American Association of University Professors of "defective leadership, mission drift, and shocking procedural irregularities."
www.chronicle.com/article/a-le...

A Leader of UNC’s Civic Life School Is Fired, Adding to Turmoil

The school, created by trustees and state lawmakers to provide space for conservative thought, is riven with infighting and plagued by leadership turnover.

www.chronicle.com

Reposted by Benjamin Mason Meier, Karen O’Leary

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · Sep 4

Imagine if RFK and co destroy childhood vaccination in the US?

A 50% decline in childhood vaccination could result in 51.2 million measles cases over a 25-y period, 9.9 million rubella cases, 4.3 million polio cases, 10.3 million hospitalizations, and 159 200 deaths

jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Modeling Reemergence of Vaccine-Eliminated Infectious Diseases Under Declining Vaccination in the US

This study estimates the number of cases and complications in the US under scenarios of declining childhood vaccination for measles, rubella, poliomyelitis, and diphtheria.

jamanetwork.com

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