Bénédicte C
@benecal.bsky.social
Biosciences & Tech policy
Post about research, innovation, public health, politics & policy making, regulation, disinfo
She/Her/Antifacist
Post about research, innovation, public health, politics & policy making, regulation, disinfo
She/Her/Antifacist
Pinned
Whopper of the Week: Kennedy's “Unbiased” Vaccine Panel is actually packed with Anti-vaxxers | Defend Public Health
ACIP will meet in December and is considering some major changes to childhood vaccines. In June Secretary Kennedy fired the panel of experts and installed a group of vaccine cynics. To justify this ch...
www.defendpublichealth.org
Kennedy says his CDC panel is “unbiased.” But he fired all of the prior vaccine experts and replaced them with vaccine critics and cranks that will advance his anti-vaccine agenda.
👉 www.defendpublichealth.org/opinion/whop...
#PublicHealth #Vaccines #WhopperOfTheWeek
👉 www.defendpublichealth.org/opinion/whop...
#PublicHealth #Vaccines #WhopperOfTheWeek
Reposted by Bénédicte C
People love to minimize these;
"Just 3 pertussis deaths."
"Just 3 measles deaths."
"COVID deaths are rare in kids"
At some point it is ok (actually, required) to say: "we should prevent kids from dying if we have the tools to do so. And we do. Vaccines."
www.wlwt.com/article/kent...
"Just 3 pertussis deaths."
"Just 3 measles deaths."
"COVID deaths are rare in kids"
At some point it is ok (actually, required) to say: "we should prevent kids from dying if we have the tools to do so. And we do. Vaccines."
www.wlwt.com/article/kent...
Third Kentucky infant dies from whooping cough as statewide cases surge
A third Kentucky infant has died from whooping cough in the last 12 months, the Kentucky Department for Public Health said Monday.
www.wlwt.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
People love to minimize these;
"Just 3 pertussis deaths."
"Just 3 measles deaths."
"COVID deaths are rare in kids"
At some point it is ok (actually, required) to say: "we should prevent kids from dying if we have the tools to do so. And we do. Vaccines."
www.wlwt.com/article/kent...
"Just 3 pertussis deaths."
"Just 3 measles deaths."
"COVID deaths are rare in kids"
At some point it is ok (actually, required) to say: "we should prevent kids from dying if we have the tools to do so. And we do. Vaccines."
www.wlwt.com/article/kent...
Reposted by Bénédicte C
1/ ⚠️ Breaking: At CDC, we've been told the US Government will not officially commemorate World AIDS Day this year. No explanation given.
November 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM
1/ ⚠️ Breaking: At CDC, we've been told the US Government will not officially commemorate World AIDS Day this year. No explanation given.
Reposted by Bénédicte C
Literally every law or invention that exists to prevent people from being accidentally or intentionally killed by the natural or built environment is going to be on the chopping block for these people, because they are a death cult who worship the idea of death and want to kill you
November 25, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Literally every law or invention that exists to prevent people from being accidentally or intentionally killed by the natural or built environment is going to be on the chopping block for these people, because they are a death cult who worship the idea of death and want to kill you
Reposted by Bénédicte C
Ireland should be doing this too. There isn’t an alarm bell big enough to wake this government up. We should be in crisis mode, but instead it’s still shaking-developers’-hands-at-the-race-course, business as usual.
Iceland has designated the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) a national security concern and an existential threat.
Yet still fossil fuel usage continues to grow, and they barely agreed to *name* the problem at #COP30.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Yet still fossil fuel usage continues to grow, and they barely agreed to *name* the problem at #COP30.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Iceland deems possible Atlantic current collapse a security risk
Iceland has designated the potential collapse of a major Atlantic Ocean current system a national security concern and an existential threat, enabling its government to strategize for worst-case scenarios, the country's climate minister told Reuters.
www.reuters.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Ireland should be doing this too. There isn’t an alarm bell big enough to wake this government up. We should be in crisis mode, but instead it’s still shaking-developers’-hands-at-the-race-course, business as usual.
Reposted by Bénédicte C
Substack is spreading MAHA / RFK / antivax health disinformation, and that's an underrated part of why RFK Jr is currently in control of public health.
This stuff helped get Trump elected and RFK installed at HHS. Substack needs to stop it.
This stuff helped get Trump elected and RFK installed at HHS. Substack needs to stop it.
Substack has an antiscience health disinformation problem.
MAD recognizes the importance (& influence) of media ownership – which is why we are sounding warnings about Substack.
Our latest w/ @lavidagata.bsky.social
mediaanddemocracyproject.substack.com/p/substack-h...
MAD recognizes the importance (& influence) of media ownership – which is why we are sounding warnings about Substack.
Our latest w/ @lavidagata.bsky.social
mediaanddemocracyproject.substack.com/p/substack-h...
Substack has a Nazi problem AND a health disinformation problem
Substack creators and Substack audiences are supporting a platform that profits off of promoting dangerous antiscience content – at the expense of public health.
mediaanddemocracyproject.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Substack is spreading MAHA / RFK / antivax health disinformation, and that's an underrated part of why RFK Jr is currently in control of public health.
This stuff helped get Trump elected and RFK installed at HHS. Substack needs to stop it.
This stuff helped get Trump elected and RFK installed at HHS. Substack needs to stop it.
Reposted by Bénédicte C
Does anyone know WHAT “biotechnology” projects are likely to be included in the Genesis Mission announced by EO yesterday on AI driven “research”? I have some guesses…
Also WHO is the Assistant to the President on S&T?
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Also WHO is the Assistant to the President on S&T?
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Launching the Genesis Mission
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
November 25, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Does anyone know WHAT “biotechnology” projects are likely to be included in the Genesis Mission announced by EO yesterday on AI driven “research”? I have some guesses…
Also WHO is the Assistant to the President on S&T?
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Also WHO is the Assistant to the President on S&T?
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Hmmm. LA's Ivermectin pushing Surgeon General appointed #2 at CDC. Robert Malone of anti MRNA and ACIP fame gets a post at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
Any reason why so many deck chairs are getting rearranged through Louisiana?
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
Any reason why so many deck chairs are getting rearranged through Louisiana?
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
Scoop: The apparent new #2 at CDC is a top ivermectin prescriber who ended Louisiana’s vaccine-promotion media campaigns.
The current Surgeon General of Louisiana has made headlines recently, including for allegedly burying a whooping cough outbreak.
insidemedicine.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Hmmm. LA's Ivermectin pushing Surgeon General appointed #2 at CDC. Robert Malone of anti MRNA and ACIP fame gets a post at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
Any reason why so many deck chairs are getting rearranged through Louisiana?
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
Any reason why so many deck chairs are getting rearranged through Louisiana?
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
Does anyone know WHAT “biotechnology” projects are likely to be included in the Genesis Mission announced by EO yesterday on AI driven “research”? I have some guesses…
Also WHO is the Assistant to the President on S&T?
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Also WHO is the Assistant to the President on S&T?
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Launching the Genesis Mission
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
November 25, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Does anyone know WHAT “biotechnology” projects are likely to be included in the Genesis Mission announced by EO yesterday on AI driven “research”? I have some guesses…
Also WHO is the Assistant to the President on S&T?
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Also WHO is the Assistant to the President on S&T?
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Reposted by Bénédicte C
The estimated incidence of demyelination in patients receiving TNF-α inhibitors ranges from 0.02% to 0.2%
joii-journal.springeropen.com/articles/10....
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
joii-journal.springeropen.com/articles/10....
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Management of Uveitis Patients on Anti-TNF Agents Who Develop Demyelinating Disease – A Case Series - Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection
Background/Aims Anti-tumor necrosis factor (Anti-TNF) agents have proven beneficial for the treatment of chronic non-infectious uveitis, yet rare neurological complications and demyelinating disease c...
joii-journal.springeropen.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:44 AM
The estimated incidence of demyelination in patients receiving TNF-α inhibitors ranges from 0.02% to 0.2%
joii-journal.springeropen.com/articles/10....
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
joii-journal.springeropen.com/articles/10....
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Bénédicte C
Reposted by Bénédicte C
FDA 'Priority Voucher' Program Comes Under Congressional Scrutiny www.medpagetoday.com/publichealth...
FDA 'Priority Voucher' Program Comes Under Congressional Scrutiny
Sanders, Pallone say the program raises 'significant concerns' that it will enable corruption
www.medpagetoday.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:26 AM
FDA 'Priority Voucher' Program Comes Under Congressional Scrutiny www.medpagetoday.com/publichealth...
Reposted by Bénédicte C
In an email to staff filled with unsupported accusations about the quality of the center’s research, CBER Director Vinay Prasad said no resources or time should be spent on ongoing projects started before he joined the FDA until discussed with him. #healthpolicy
CBER Poised for Research Shakeup As Prasad Makes Unproven Claims About ‘Polluted Science’
In an email to staff filled with unsupported accusations about the quality of the center’s research, CBER Director Vinay Prasad said no resources or time should be spent on ongoing projects started be...
insights.citeline.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:30 PM
In an email to staff filled with unsupported accusations about the quality of the center’s research, CBER Director Vinay Prasad said no resources or time should be spent on ongoing projects started before he joined the FDA until discussed with him. #healthpolicy
Reposted by Bénédicte C
I hope that over time the use of modern dataviz tools becomes more common-place in scientific publishing. They can be very effective at first capturing attention in an engaging way, and then also allowing the reader to gain deeper insights than a static figure or detailed table.
🧵ends
🧵ends
November 25, 2025 at 1:30 AM
I hope that over time the use of modern dataviz tools becomes more common-place in scientific publishing. They can be very effective at first capturing attention in an engaging way, and then also allowing the reader to gain deeper insights than a static figure or detailed table.
🧵ends
🧵ends
Reposted by Bénédicte C
Even some MAHA supporters were frustrated by the lack of scientists.
One woman argued that you need the scientific establishment to enact change from within.
“But they’re seen as all corrupt by Kennedy and his inner circle,” she told me, who “want to punish them for their role in COVID”.
One woman argued that you need the scientific establishment to enact change from within.
“But they’re seen as all corrupt by Kennedy and his inner circle,” she told me, who “want to punish them for their role in COVID”.
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Even some MAHA supporters were frustrated by the lack of scientists.
One woman argued that you need the scientific establishment to enact change from within.
“But they’re seen as all corrupt by Kennedy and his inner circle,” she told me, who “want to punish them for their role in COVID”.
One woman argued that you need the scientific establishment to enact change from within.
“But they’re seen as all corrupt by Kennedy and his inner circle,” she told me, who “want to punish them for their role in COVID”.
Reposted by Bénédicte C
And then there was Bryan Johnson, a Silicon Valley multimillionaire known for his extreme anti-ageing ‘biohacks’, like receiving plasma from his teenage son.
Johnson, on a quest to live forever, wants “competing for the best biomarkers of anybody in the world” to be something of a new sport.
Johnson, on a quest to live forever, wants “competing for the best biomarkers of anybody in the world” to be something of a new sport.
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
And then there was Bryan Johnson, a Silicon Valley multimillionaire known for his extreme anti-ageing ‘biohacks’, like receiving plasma from his teenage son.
Johnson, on a quest to live forever, wants “competing for the best biomarkers of anybody in the world” to be something of a new sport.
Johnson, on a quest to live forever, wants “competing for the best biomarkers of anybody in the world” to be something of a new sport.
Ah yes JB known for his cutting edge contributions on absolutely nothing… casting aspersions on the funding agency that drove biomedical research into 21st C…
The NIH director told attendees the NIH doesn't do enough innovative research.
“What puts lives at risk is doing research that’s incremental,” Bhattacharya said. “All it does is advance the careers of the researchers that do it. It results in publications that don’t get used and aren’t replicable.”
“What puts lives at risk is doing research that’s incremental,” Bhattacharya said. “All it does is advance the careers of the researchers that do it. It results in publications that don’t get used and aren’t replicable.”
November 25, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Ah yes JB known for his cutting edge contributions on absolutely nothing… casting aspersions on the funding agency that drove biomedical research into 21st C…
Reposted by Bénédicte C
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Bénédicte C
The choice is between proactive responsibility and reactive crisis management. ELSI showed the former is possible; the power of AI demands that we translate these lessons into practice.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
An ELSI for AI: Learning from genetics to govern algorithms
In the United States, the summer of 2025 will be remembered as artificial intelligence’s (AI’s) cruel summer—a season when the unheeded risks and dangers of AI became undeniably clear. Recent months h...
www.science.org
September 11, 2025 at 9:44 PM
The choice is between proactive responsibility and reactive crisis management. ELSI showed the former is possible; the power of AI demands that we translate these lessons into practice.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Bénédicte C
🧵 The summer of 2025 has been AI's "cruel summer"—wrongful deaths, dangerous therapy chatbots, medical misinformation, facial recognition failures. These aren't isolated glitches but predictable harms from systems deployed without adequate oversight. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
An ELSI for AI: Learning from genetics to govern algorithms
In the United States, the summer of 2025 will be remembered as artificial intelligence’s (AI’s) cruel summer—a season when the unheeded risks and dangers of AI became undeniably clear. Recent months h...
www.science.org
September 11, 2025 at 8:48 PM
🧵 The summer of 2025 has been AI's "cruel summer"—wrongful deaths, dangerous therapy chatbots, medical misinformation, facial recognition failures. These aren't isolated glitches but predictable harms from systems deployed without adequate oversight. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Bénédicte C
Wow — Senators Van Hollen, Smith, Murphy, Sanders, Warren, Markey, Merkley, Heinrich have created an official internal "Fight Club."
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
Chuck Schumer Faces Pushback From a ‘Fight Club’ of Senate Democrats
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Wow — Senators Van Hollen, Smith, Murphy, Sanders, Warren, Markey, Merkley, Heinrich have created an official internal "Fight Club."
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
Reposted by Bénédicte C
"She said that lenacapavir has become a kind of diplomatic carrot — and stick.
Friendly, compliant governments, like Eswatini, have received early shipments, whereas South Africa or Nigeria — countries that have fallen out of favor with Trump — seem to have received the short end of the stick."
Friendly, compliant governments, like Eswatini, have received early shipments, whereas South Africa or Nigeria — countries that have fallen out of favor with Trump — seem to have received the short end of the stick."
The US is fast-tracking this important HIV drug — for everyone except South Africa
Why the Trump administration is cutting out a country that needs it most.
www.vox.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:22 AM
"She said that lenacapavir has become a kind of diplomatic carrot — and stick.
Friendly, compliant governments, like Eswatini, have received early shipments, whereas South Africa or Nigeria — countries that have fallen out of favor with Trump — seem to have received the short end of the stick."
Friendly, compliant governments, like Eswatini, have received early shipments, whereas South Africa or Nigeria — countries that have fallen out of favor with Trump — seem to have received the short end of the stick."
Reposted by Bénédicte C
This really should be bigger news.
November 25, 2025 at 3:26 AM
This really should be bigger news.
Reposted by Bénédicte C
Today, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
November 25, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Today, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
Reposted by Bénédicte C
WOW! Autism Society of America, The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, the Autism Science Foundation, the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network and Autism Speaks put out a statement denouncing the CDC changing its website on vaccines
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead...
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead...
Leading Autism and Disability Organizations Statement on CDC's Vaccines and Autism Page
As national organizations dedicated to advancing the well-being of autistic individuals and partners across the disability and public health sectors, we are deeply disappointed by the latest update to...
autisticadvocacy.org
November 24, 2025 at 11:18 PM
WOW! Autism Society of America, The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, the Autism Science Foundation, the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network and Autism Speaks put out a statement denouncing the CDC changing its website on vaccines
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead...
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead...
Reposted by Bénédicte C
Phil Knight is almost single handedly funding the OR GOP, one of the more extreme state GOPs in the country. Keep that in mind next time you’re in the market for sportswear or sneakers. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...
Nike co-founder Phil Knight makes record-setting donation to help elect Republicans
It is the single largest donation Knight has made to an Oregon candidate or political action committee.
www.oregonlive.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Phil Knight is almost single handedly funding the OR GOP, one of the more extreme state GOPs in the country. Keep that in mind next time you’re in the market for sportswear or sneakers. www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...