Brian Wasik
@brianrwasik.bsky.social
Virologist. Evolutionary biologist.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
This is a powerful line of questioning from Senator Hassan and an outrageous answer from Director Bhattacharya.
"If there were disruptions then it is the responsibility of the researchers that were managing the patients, not the NIH" because "I ordered that ... there would be continuity of care."
"If there were disruptions then it is the responsibility of the researchers that were managing the patients, not the NIH" because "I ordered that ... there would be continuity of care."
February 3, 2026 at 4:25 PM
This is a powerful line of questioning from Senator Hassan and an outrageous answer from Director Bhattacharya.
"If there were disruptions then it is the responsibility of the researchers that were managing the patients, not the NIH" because "I ordered that ... there would be continuity of care."
"If there were disruptions then it is the responsibility of the researchers that were managing the patients, not the NIH" because "I ordered that ... there would be continuity of care."
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Oh look, Podcast Jay lied to Senate.
www.medpagetoday.com/publichealth...
www.medpagetoday.com/publichealth...
February 3, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Oh look, Podcast Jay lied to Senate.
www.medpagetoday.com/publichealth...
www.medpagetoday.com/publichealth...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
CHAIRMAN CASSIDY (R-LA): We're both professors. Education is the way you address trust.
Saying the MMR should be divided into three doses for no scientific reason...is not going to increase trust. It's going to decrease complete immunization rates. We know that from experience.
Saying the MMR should be divided into three doses for no scientific reason...is not going to increase trust. It's going to decrease complete immunization rates. We know that from experience.
February 3, 2026 at 4:57 PM
CHAIRMAN CASSIDY (R-LA): We're both professors. Education is the way you address trust.
Saying the MMR should be divided into three doses for no scientific reason...is not going to increase trust. It's going to decrease complete immunization rates. We know that from experience.
Saying the MMR should be divided into three doses for no scientific reason...is not going to increase trust. It's going to decrease complete immunization rates. We know that from experience.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
BHATTACHARYA: Denmark has strong trust in public health. That's what we're trying to do. Re-establish that public trust.
B-R: I agree on the public trust piece, and that's what is concerning me: Instead of modernizing the NIH, we're actually going backwards to a time we didn't even have vaccines.
B-R: I agree on the public trust piece, and that's what is concerning me: Instead of modernizing the NIH, we're actually going backwards to a time we didn't even have vaccines.
February 3, 2026 at 4:42 PM
BHATTACHARYA: Denmark has strong trust in public health. That's what we're trying to do. Re-establish that public trust.
B-R: I agree on the public trust piece, and that's what is concerning me: Instead of modernizing the NIH, we're actually going backwards to a time we didn't even have vaccines.
B-R: I agree on the public trust piece, and that's what is concerning me: Instead of modernizing the NIH, we're actually going backwards to a time we didn't even have vaccines.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
One observation: Several senators brought up terminated grants. Bhattacharya kept saying the agency hasn't cut any funds. That is false.
When he says no funds have been cut, he means NIH spent all its allocated money, as required by law. In fact, a watchdog found NIH illegally impounded funds.
When he says no funds have been cut, he means NIH spent all its allocated money, as required by law. In fact, a watchdog found NIH illegally impounded funds.
February 3, 2026 at 5:23 PM
One observation: Several senators brought up terminated grants. Bhattacharya kept saying the agency hasn't cut any funds. That is false.
When he says no funds have been cut, he means NIH spent all its allocated money, as required by law. In fact, a watchdog found NIH illegally impounded funds.
When he says no funds have been cut, he means NIH spent all its allocated money, as required by law. In fact, a watchdog found NIH illegally impounded funds.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
I spoke with several VA staffers, most in Minneapolis, who say they've heard almost nothing from VA leadership after Alex Pretti was killed. They report low morale, blocked memorials and a feeling that the VA is downplaying it. New from me @taskandpurpose.com taskandpurpose.com/news/veteran...
Veterans Affairs personnel say ‘silence is deafening’ from leaders after Alex Pretti’s death
Several VA employees report silence and slow responses from national leadership after Pretti was killed last month.
taskandpurpose.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:59 PM
I spoke with several VA staffers, most in Minneapolis, who say they've heard almost nothing from VA leadership after Alex Pretti was killed. They report low morale, blocked memorials and a feeling that the VA is downplaying it. New from me @taskandpurpose.com taskandpurpose.com/news/veteran...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Chuck Negron, a founding member of the soul-rock sensations Three Dog Night, has died.
Chuck Negron, lead singer on 'Joy to the World' and other Three Dog Night hits, dies at 83
Chuck Negron, a founding member of the soul-rock sensations Three Dog Night, has died. Negron sang lead on such hits as “One” and “Just an Old Fashioned Love Song” and hollered the immortal opening line “Jeremiah was a bullfrog!”
bit.ly
February 3, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Chuck Negron, a founding member of the soul-rock sensations Three Dog Night, has died.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
That is false. Hundreds of trials were suspended bc of the COVID-19 pandemic, but trials were not terminated en masse due to changes in "agency priorities" — that happened for the first time under the Trump administration and Bhattacharya's watch.
February 3, 2026 at 3:55 PM
That is false. Hundreds of trials were suspended bc of the COVID-19 pandemic, but trials were not terminated en masse due to changes in "agency priorities" — that happened for the first time under the Trump administration and Bhattacharya's watch.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Reposting w/alt text.
Iranians are experiencing collective trauma. Thousands have been killed/injured, the economy is crippled & the threat of a wider conflict is real. It’s especially difficult for those living in Iran, as many have lost (or fear losing) loved ones. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Iranians are experiencing collective trauma. Thousands have been killed/injured, the economy is crippled & the threat of a wider conflict is real. It’s especially difficult for those living in Iran, as many have lost (or fear losing) loved ones. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
February 3, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Reposting w/alt text.
Iranians are experiencing collective trauma. Thousands have been killed/injured, the economy is crippled & the threat of a wider conflict is real. It’s especially difficult for those living in Iran, as many have lost (or fear losing) loved ones. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Iranians are experiencing collective trauma. Thousands have been killed/injured, the economy is crippled & the threat of a wider conflict is real. It’s especially difficult for those living in Iran, as many have lost (or fear losing) loved ones. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
This is another one of the reasons I’m so deeply troubled by the fabulous new plan to just pivot to private philanthropy.
Billionaires will not save science
Billionaires will not save science
From 2019: Jeffrey Epstein liked to describe himself as a “science philanthropist,” and academics liked to take his money.
As more of Epstein’s enablers are uncovered, it’s worth asking why it was so easy for him to infiltrate science in the first place.
Read more from @lopatto.bsky.social:
As more of Epstein’s enablers are uncovered, it’s worth asking why it was so easy for him to infiltrate science in the first place.
Read more from @lopatto.bsky.social:
Jeffrey Epstein infiltrated science because it was ready to accommodate him
What could “nerd tunnel vision” possibly mean?
www.theverge.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:45 PM
This is another one of the reasons I’m so deeply troubled by the fabulous new plan to just pivot to private philanthropy.
Billionaires will not save science
Billionaires will not save science
Reposted by Brian Wasik
What DOJ is doing is making its attorneys go before the same judges over and over again with the same deficient argument in habeas petitions challenging immigration detention. They're losing nearly every case and torching their reputations in front of federal judges.
BREAKING: 8 more U.S. Attorneys in MN resign from Trump’s DOJ in protest as backlash grows.
This isn’t normal; isn’t routine reshuffling. It’s a rebellion.
Last month, 6 veteran prosecutors quit in protest. Normal staffing for the MN DOJ’s office is around 50 attorneys. They’re down to just 9.
This isn’t normal; isn’t routine reshuffling. It’s a rebellion.
Last month, 6 veteran prosecutors quit in protest. Normal staffing for the MN DOJ’s office is around 50 attorneys. They’re down to just 9.
February 3, 2026 at 2:47 PM
What DOJ is doing is making its attorneys go before the same judges over and over again with the same deficient argument in habeas petitions challenging immigration detention. They're losing nearly every case and torching their reputations in front of federal judges.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
RFK Jr. ordered the CDC to remove another webpage that fact checks pseudoscientific claptrap in order to pander to one of his buddies who is selling something.
February 3, 2026 at 2:31 PM
RFK Jr. ordered the CDC to remove another webpage that fact checks pseudoscientific claptrap in order to pander to one of his buddies who is selling something.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
I’m really glad that Harvard is pushing back against the Trump administration’s lawless demands, but I sure hope their justification is broader than wariness of “backlash from liberal students and faculty.” What about defending higher education from autocrats and standing up for academic freedom?
February 3, 2026 at 11:22 AM
I’m really glad that Harvard is pushing back against the Trump administration’s lawless demands, but I sure hope their justification is broader than wariness of “backlash from liberal students and faculty.” What about defending higher education from autocrats and standing up for academic freedom?
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Fascist Russia used around 60 missiles in last night’s attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. It’s clear the “energy truce” was a sham to give Moscow time to produce enough weapons for a big attack. It’s used up its stocks and is using weapons almost as soon as they’re made.
For 7 hours, Russians targeted cities and regions all over Ukraine with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones, targeting homes, infrastructure, commercial buildings, there are casualties.
Rescue efforts continue all over the country.
Rescue efforts continue all over the country.
February 3, 2026 at 7:29 AM
Fascist Russia used around 60 missiles in last night’s attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. It’s clear the “energy truce” was a sham to give Moscow time to produce enough weapons for a big attack. It’s used up its stocks and is using weapons almost as soon as they’re made.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
This huge @wsj.com scoop about a UAE government-linked company agreeing to invest $500m in the Trump family’s crypto company makes the 1st term concerns about foreign officials staying in Trump’s DC hotel seem quaint by comparison. 🎁🔗
‘Spy Sheikh’ Bought Secret Stake in Trump Company
$500 million investment for 49% of World Liberty came months before U.A.E. won access to tightly guarded American AI chips.
www.wsj.com
February 1, 2026 at 4:07 PM
This huge @wsj.com scoop about a UAE government-linked company agreeing to invest $500m in the Trump family’s crypto company makes the 1st term concerns about foreign officials staying in Trump’s DC hotel seem quaint by comparison. 🎁🔗
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Trump is now demanding One Billion Dollars from Harvard, threatening criminal punishment, and insinuating Harvard’s president was chosen because of his religion (?)
February 3, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Trump is now demanding One Billion Dollars from Harvard, threatening criminal punishment, and insinuating Harvard’s president was chosen because of his religion (?)
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Putting on my suit and tie and going on America Erwache to describe a 234 year old basic requirement of the constitution for lawful searches and seizures as a “nonstarter.”
Rep. Mark Harris: "Some of these things are nonstarters. Having judicial warrants? To me, hat's a nonstarter. Being able to make off their mask, putting them at risk? That's a nonstarter. I would say anything that's going to hamstring the work of ICE, that's just not going to go anywhere."
February 3, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Putting on my suit and tie and going on America Erwache to describe a 234 year old basic requirement of the constitution for lawful searches and seizures as a “nonstarter.”
Reposted by Brian Wasik
In the last 48 hours, Musk's reactions to the Epstein release show exactly why he bought Twitter.
He's used the platform to call coverage of his emails with Epstein as "lies," elevated his fans who have defended him, and gotten positive reinforcement from his AI chatbot.
He's used the platform to call coverage of his emails with Epstein as "lies," elevated his fans who have defended him, and gotten positive reinforcement from his AI chatbot.
February 2, 2026 at 1:31 AM
In the last 48 hours, Musk's reactions to the Epstein release show exactly why he bought Twitter.
He's used the platform to call coverage of his emails with Epstein as "lies," elevated his fans who have defended him, and gotten positive reinforcement from his AI chatbot.
He's used the platform to call coverage of his emails with Epstein as "lies," elevated his fans who have defended him, and gotten positive reinforcement from his AI chatbot.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
They're literally running out of lawyers in a state where the district judges are practically at war with the administration.
BREAKING: 8 more U.S. Attorneys in MN resign from Trump’s DOJ in protest as backlash grows.
This isn’t normal; isn’t routine reshuffling. It’s a rebellion.
Last month, 6 veteran prosecutors quit in protest. Normal staffing for the MN DOJ’s office is around 50 attorneys. They’re down to just 9.
This isn’t normal; isn’t routine reshuffling. It’s a rebellion.
Last month, 6 veteran prosecutors quit in protest. Normal staffing for the MN DOJ’s office is around 50 attorneys. They’re down to just 9.
February 3, 2026 at 5:16 AM
They're literally running out of lawyers in a state where the district judges are practically at war with the administration.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
An incredible ongoing saga which highlights that Trump’s attacks on elite higher education has always been about the whims of the president, and the desire of his cronies and billionaire allies to bring universities “to heel,” rather than the rule of law. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
Trump Is Said to Have Dropped Demand for Cash From Harvard
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:17 AM
An incredible ongoing saga which highlights that Trump’s attacks on elite higher education has always been about the whims of the president, and the desire of his cronies and billionaire allies to bring universities “to heel,” rather than the rule of law. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
For too long the media has lost trust with the average American, we’ve prioritized the voices of elites at the expense of the working man. So please, once again, we must support this weird Epstein files freak I hired.
“.. Weiss insists she does not want to cut ties with Attia over his links to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and sees it as giving in to the mob.”
@calderone.bsky.social #$PSKY
www.thewrap.com/creative-con...
@calderone.bsky.social #$PSKY
www.thewrap.com/creative-con...
February 3, 2026 at 12:26 AM
For too long the media has lost trust with the average American, we’ve prioritized the voices of elites at the expense of the working man. So please, once again, we must support this weird Epstein files freak I hired.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Judge Reyes starts with a comparison: George Washington versus Kristi Noem.
![[start quotation] MEMORANDUM OPINION
On December 2, 1783, then-Commander-in-Chief George Washington penned: “America is open to receive not only the Opulent & respected Stranger, but the oppressed & persecuted of
all Nations & Religions.”1
More than two centuries later, Congress reaffirmed President
Washington’s vision by establishing the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. See 8
U.S.C. § 1254a (TPS statute). It provides humanitarian relief to foreign nationals in the United
States who come from disaster-stricken countries. It also brings in substantial revenue, with TPS
holders generating $5.2 billion in taxes annually. See Part VI.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem has a different take."[end quotation]
Underneath is a screenshot of a tweet, which reads: " Secretary Kristi Noem
@Sec_Noem
I just met with the President.
I am recommending a full travel ban on every damn country that's been flooding our nation with killers, leeches, and entitlement junkies.
Our forefathers built this nation on blood, sweat, and the unyielding love of freedom-not for foreign invaders to slaughter our heroes, suck dry our hard-earned tax dollars, or snatch the benefits owed to AMERICANS.
WE DON'T WANT THEM. NOT ONE.
6:52 PM
Dec 1, 2025
13.2M Views](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2vtbmhmrwzbqcfv4we4uxzzt/bafkreibseafaz2alyw7z2wcopu7uht4x26giiuqqov5cznw34rhdgqub7u@jpeg)
February 3, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Judge Reyes starts with a comparison: George Washington versus Kristi Noem.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
FWIW the majority of players liked it, and one gave this quote:
February 2, 2026 at 8:15 PM
FWIW the majority of players liked it, and one gave this quote:
Reposted by Brian Wasik
One of the most prominent firms repping Epstein survivors identified "thousands of redaction failures on behalf of nearly 100 individual survivors."
The lawyers rip DOJ's "institutional incompetence."
The lawyers rip DOJ's "institutional incompetence."
![Within the past 48 hours, the undersigned alone has reported thousands of redaction failures on behalf of nearly 100 individual survivors whose lives have been turned upside down by DOJ's latest release.
[...]
"There is no conceivable degree of institutional incompetence sufficient to explain the scale, consistency, and persistence of the failures that occurred - particularly where the sole task ordered by the Court and repeatedly emphasized by DOJ was simple: redact known victim names before publication.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:353gzbhcjbznfxegvayffqek/bafkreick6fu5fywyfueeiy3xnrzwpkvose637pmssro6h63gaoa24uypca@jpeg)
February 2, 2026 at 9:13 PM
One of the most prominent firms repping Epstein survivors identified "thousands of redaction failures on behalf of nearly 100 individual survivors."
The lawyers rip DOJ's "institutional incompetence."
The lawyers rip DOJ's "institutional incompetence."
Reposted by Brian Wasik
the scorpion promised me the ride of my life
ICE Employees Vent on Reddit, Saying They're Not Getting Paid and Still No Insurance Despite Promises
Staff claim promised bonuses and insurance have failed to materialise, with some reporting they cannot afford medical care for sick children
www.ibtimes.co.uk/ice-employee...
Staff claim promised bonuses and insurance have failed to materialise, with some reporting they cannot afford medical care for sick children
www.ibtimes.co.uk/ice-employee...
ICE employees on Reddit complain about late salaries and missing insurance, despite promises made upon hiring
ICE employees have reported delayed pay and missing health insurance on Reddit, while critics question how staff tolerate dangerous duties for little or no compensation.
www.ibtimes.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 9:29 PM
the scorpion promised me the ride of my life