Brian Wasik
@brianrwasik.bsky.social
Virologist. Evolutionary biologist.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Farming animals for fur is not only cruel but also provides an ideal environment for viruses to mix and cross over into humans.
✍️ Jane Qiu
knowmag.org/4r8vPY0
✍️ Jane Qiu
knowmag.org/4r8vPY0
Why disease outbreaks on Chinese fur farms are a serious risk to public health
Farming animals for fur is not only cruel but also provides an ideal environment for viruses to mix and cross over into humans
knowmag.org
February 5, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Farming animals for fur is not only cruel but also provides an ideal environment for viruses to mix and cross over into humans.
✍️ Jane Qiu
knowmag.org/4r8vPY0
✍️ Jane Qiu
knowmag.org/4r8vPY0
Reposted by Brian Wasik
No, they did not increase trust in vaccines and CDC.
"..following the Trump administration’s announcement of changes to the recommended childhood vaccine schedule, the public’s trust in the CDC remains at its lowest point since the COVID-19 pandemic..."
www.kff.org/health-infor...
"..following the Trump administration’s announcement of changes to the recommended childhood vaccine schedule, the public’s trust in the CDC remains at its lowest point since the COVID-19 pandemic..."
www.kff.org/health-infor...
KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Trust in the CDC and Views of Federal Childhood Vaccine Schedule Changes | KFF
Weeks after the Trump administration reduced the number of childhood vaccine recommended for routine use, public trust in the CDC is at its lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic, and less than half are c...
www.kff.org
February 6, 2026 at 5:26 PM
No, they did not increase trust in vaccines and CDC.
"..following the Trump administration’s announcement of changes to the recommended childhood vaccine schedule, the public’s trust in the CDC remains at its lowest point since the COVID-19 pandemic..."
www.kff.org/health-infor...
"..following the Trump administration’s announcement of changes to the recommended childhood vaccine schedule, the public’s trust in the CDC remains at its lowest point since the COVID-19 pandemic..."
www.kff.org/health-infor...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
"They bought or inherited aging apartment buildings, hoping to bring home a little extra cash"
... bought, or inherited, whole ass apartment buildings
... bought, or inherited, whole ass apartment buildings
In a city packed with mighty real estate titans, they are the small ones.
New York landlords say they are at their breaking point as Mayor Zohran Mamdani begins to implement even more aggressive tenant-friendly policies.
New York landlords say they are at their breaking point as Mayor Zohran Mamdani begins to implement even more aggressive tenant-friendly policies.
NYC’s small landlords say they won’t survive Mamdani plan to freeze rent
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has criticized landlords and vowed to freeze what tenants in rent-stabilized apartments pay monthly.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:51 PM
"They bought or inherited aging apartment buildings, hoping to bring home a little extra cash"
... bought, or inherited, whole ass apartment buildings
... bought, or inherited, whole ass apartment buildings
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Unsurprising news for anyone who was following this event in 2019...
At least 1 US senator concerned that RFK Jr. lied to Congress.
Samoan officials later said his trip bolstered the cred of antivax activists ahead of a measles outbreak that sickened thousands & killed 83, mostly kids under 5. 🛟
At least 1 US senator concerned that RFK Jr. lied to Congress.
Samoan officials later said his trip bolstered the cred of antivax activists ahead of a measles outbreak that sickened thousands & killed 83, mostly kids under 5. 🛟
Newly revealed emails undermine RFK Jr testimony about 2019 Samoa trip ahead of measles outbreak
Kennedy later said the purpose of his trip had nothing to do with vaccines. US embassy and UN staff at the time said otherwise, emails show
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Unsurprising news for anyone who was following this event in 2019...
At least 1 US senator concerned that RFK Jr. lied to Congress.
Samoan officials later said his trip bolstered the cred of antivax activists ahead of a measles outbreak that sickened thousands & killed 83, mostly kids under 5. 🛟
At least 1 US senator concerned that RFK Jr. lied to Congress.
Samoan officials later said his trip bolstered the cred of antivax activists ahead of a measles outbreak that sickened thousands & killed 83, mostly kids under 5. 🛟
Reposted by Brian Wasik
study of every adult in Denmark over ~20 months finds a risk of long Covid of 0.16 percent, and that vaccination reduces the risk substantially www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
SARS-CoV-2 reinfections and subsequent risk of hospital-diagnosed post-acute sequelae in Denmark (2020–2022): a nationwide cohort study
Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), or long COVID, are a public health concern. While most recover from SARS-CoV-2 infections within weeks, some e…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:48 PM
study of every adult in Denmark over ~20 months finds a risk of long Covid of 0.16 percent, and that vaccination reduces the risk substantially www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Every time I re-read Trump v. United States, it feels like getting hit in the head with a mallet.
February 6, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Every time I re-read Trump v. United States, it feels like getting hit in the head with a mallet.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
it's not just that Mamdani is charming af (he is), it's that he is normalizing the idea that children are full members of society that we all share a collective responsibility for
From @acyn.bsky.social (posted on X)
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
"Reporter: Do any of you have a favorite animal?
Child: My favorite one is a gold snake that can move. It has gold eyes, and it has a super-duper tail…
Reporter: Mr. Mamdani, the second question for you.
Mamdani: Yes. It’s also the golden snake."
February 6, 2026 at 5:19 PM
it's not just that Mamdani is charming af (he is), it's that he is normalizing the idea that children are full members of society that we all share a collective responsibility for
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Also any news outlet quoting the president via his social media needs to stop doing that immediately since it’s the official position of the White House that the account does not represent him
So, quick question for the White House: If the racist post was put up by a White House staffer, how many people are posting using the president's name? Who are they? Who approves their posts? And why should anyone take anything coming from his account as coming from him if he's just staffing it out?
February 6, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Also any news outlet quoting the president via his social media needs to stop doing that immediately since it’s the official position of the White House that the account does not represent him
Reposted by Brian Wasik
This rhetorical framing is everywhere but it makes no sense. What does it mean for the left to "acknowledge" something?
Who is in charge of the acknowledgement? How do they make it? Do we all need to sign a letter or something?
Who is in charge of the acknowledgement? How do they make it? Do we all need to sign a letter or something?
When will the SJWs finally admit where babies come from
February 6, 2026 at 5:34 PM
This rhetorical framing is everywhere but it makes no sense. What does it mean for the left to "acknowledge" something?
Who is in charge of the acknowledgement? How do they make it? Do we all need to sign a letter or something?
Who is in charge of the acknowledgement? How do they make it? Do we all need to sign a letter or something?
Reposted by Brian Wasik
My Op Ed in Today's Washington Post: "The long-lasting effects of viruses — and the anti-vaccine movement. For some people, a viral infection can have devastating long-term effects."
wapo.st/4qjFtWk
wapo.st/4qjFtWk
February 6, 2026 at 3:37 PM
My Op Ed in Today's Washington Post: "The long-lasting effects of viruses — and the anti-vaccine movement. For some people, a viral infection can have devastating long-term effects."
wapo.st/4qjFtWk
wapo.st/4qjFtWk
Reposted by Brian Wasik
The long-lasting effects of viruses — and the anti-vaccine movement: Dr. @scottgottliebmd.bsky.social had cancer caused by EBV, and remind us that viruses can leave life-long harms and risks, and vaccines that prevent infections prevent those, too. @postopinions.bsky.social wapo.st/4qjFtWk
Opinion | A viral infection can have devastating effects. I experienced this firsthand.
The consequences of the anti-vaccine movement reach beyond today’s controversies.
wapo.st
February 6, 2026 at 5:23 PM
The long-lasting effects of viruses — and the anti-vaccine movement: Dr. @scottgottliebmd.bsky.social had cancer caused by EBV, and remind us that viruses can leave life-long harms and risks, and vaccines that prevent infections prevent those, too. @postopinions.bsky.social wapo.st/4qjFtWk
Reposted by Brian Wasik
So, first of all, of course it was Trump.
But even if they were telling the truth, "We give staffers who post videos of the Obamas as apes access to the agenda-setting, decree-sending, market-moving account of the president of the United States" is not the exculpatory statement they think it is.
But even if they were telling the truth, "We give staffers who post videos of the Obamas as apes access to the agenda-setting, decree-sending, market-moving account of the president of the United States" is not the exculpatory statement they think it is.
February 6, 2026 at 5:36 PM
So, first of all, of course it was Trump.
But even if they were telling the truth, "We give staffers who post videos of the Obamas as apes access to the agenda-setting, decree-sending, market-moving account of the president of the United States" is not the exculpatory statement they think it is.
But even if they were telling the truth, "We give staffers who post videos of the Obamas as apes access to the agenda-setting, decree-sending, market-moving account of the president of the United States" is not the exculpatory statement they think it is.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Three-time Trump voter: I'm looking at this awful picture of the Obamas. What an embarrassment to our country. He is not worthy of the presidency. He takes bribes blatantly, and now he's being a racist blatantly. He's pathetic as a president, and I want to apologize for supporting this rotten man.
February 6, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Three-time Trump voter: I'm looking at this awful picture of the Obamas. What an embarrassment to our country. He is not worthy of the presidency. He takes bribes blatantly, and now he's being a racist blatantly. He's pathetic as a president, and I want to apologize for supporting this rotten man.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
i like that the press corps will have no follow up questions to this, like who the staffer posting Official Government Communications at 1am is supposed to be, and what consequences they are supposed to have suffered for doing this
POLITICO reporting that the White House has now claimed the ape video was an accident and removed it.
February 6, 2026 at 5:45 PM
i like that the press corps will have no follow up questions to this, like who the staffer posting Official Government Communications at 1am is supposed to be, and what consequences they are supposed to have suffered for doing this
Reposted by Brian Wasik
1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
February 6, 2026 at 5:42 PM
1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
can't help but think there is probably a corrosive effect of having sex trafficker-elite emails unveiled for months on end as one of the biggest cultural/news stories of the last year— unearthing an inexcusable moral rot in the upper echelons of power—but without any real accountability/justice
February 5, 2026 at 6:03 PM
can't help but think there is probably a corrosive effect of having sex trafficker-elite emails unveiled for months on end as one of the biggest cultural/news stories of the last year— unearthing an inexcusable moral rot in the upper echelons of power—but without any real accountability/justice
Reposted by Brian Wasik
One of the antagonists in my book on John Doar is a segregationist judge in Mississippi named Harold Cox.
In 1964, Cox called black plaintiffs in his courtroom "a bunch of chimpanzees," a public comment which generated national outrage and a congressional effort to impeach him.
Today? Meh.
In 1964, Cox called black plaintiffs in his courtroom "a bunch of chimpanzees," a public comment which generated national outrage and a congressional effort to impeach him.
Today? Meh.
February 6, 2026 at 1:24 PM
One of the antagonists in my book on John Doar is a segregationist judge in Mississippi named Harold Cox.
In 1964, Cox called black plaintiffs in his courtroom "a bunch of chimpanzees," a public comment which generated national outrage and a congressional effort to impeach him.
Today? Meh.
In 1964, Cox called black plaintiffs in his courtroom "a bunch of chimpanzees," a public comment which generated national outrage and a congressional effort to impeach him.
Today? Meh.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
What the hell is the New York Times doing?
In its article on Trump posting a video that included a clip of the Obamas as apes, NYT tries to help him come up with an excuse: "It was unclear if Mr. Trump was aware that the clip had been included in the video before he shared it."
WTF.
In its article on Trump posting a video that included a clip of the Obamas as apes, NYT tries to help him come up with an excuse: "It was unclear if Mr. Trump was aware that the clip had been included in the video before he shared it."
WTF.
February 6, 2026 at 1:20 PM
What the hell is the New York Times doing?
In its article on Trump posting a video that included a clip of the Obamas as apes, NYT tries to help him come up with an excuse: "It was unclear if Mr. Trump was aware that the clip had been included in the video before he shared it."
WTF.
In its article on Trump posting a video that included a clip of the Obamas as apes, NYT tries to help him come up with an excuse: "It was unclear if Mr. Trump was aware that the clip had been included in the video before he shared it."
WTF.
I live in a Chain Sandwich desert, but I travel, and Jersey Mike's is the only one I wish was here. Dibella's is a good regional peer.
Used to love Potbellys over a decade ago in Chicagoland. Last time had it was in an airport and I was devastated.
Used to love Potbellys over a decade ago in Chicagoland. Last time had it was in an airport and I was devastated.
potbelly is the new quizno's (derogatory), jersey mike's is the new subway (complimentary), firehouse subs is the new blimpie (derogatory)
February 6, 2026 at 1:27 PM
I live in a Chain Sandwich desert, but I travel, and Jersey Mike's is the only one I wish was here. Dibella's is a good regional peer.
Used to love Potbellys over a decade ago in Chicagoland. Last time had it was in an airport and I was devastated.
Used to love Potbellys over a decade ago in Chicagoland. Last time had it was in an airport and I was devastated.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Opinion: I treated children for rotavirus in Denmark. The Danish vaccine schedule is no model for the U.S. www.statnews.com/2026/02/06/d...
I treated children for rotavirus in Denmark. The Danish vaccine schedule is no model for the U.S.
In Denmark, pediatrician Michael Thwing once saw nearly 20 infants admitted simultaneously with rotavirus. His experience in the U.S. has been completely different.
www.statnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Opinion: I treated children for rotavirus in Denmark. The Danish vaccine schedule is no model for the U.S. www.statnews.com/2026/02/06/d...
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Anti-black animus has been the guiding principle of Trump’s entire life, personal and political. While *he’s* hardly made any effort to conceal it, our media and political class have often stepped in on his behalf.
I’m not linking but I just read a columnist (one of my favorites) say Trump “has no ideology beyond his own power.”
Ten years in, this trope should die. Trump's ideology is white supremacist and that goes a long way in explaining his imperialism and protectionism.
Ten years in, this trope should die. Trump's ideology is white supremacist and that goes a long way in explaining his imperialism and protectionism.
January 9, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Anti-black animus has been the guiding principle of Trump’s entire life, personal and political. While *he’s* hardly made any effort to conceal it, our media and political class have often stepped in on his behalf.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
They’re trying to run the Kilmar Abrego Garcia playbook with a five year old boy in a bunny hat because nobody can find peace if they embarrass the Trump administration publicly. Normal people didn’t like it with Garcia and they really aren’t going to like it for Liam.
BREAKING: The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
DHS has requested expedited deportation proceedings against family of Liam Conejo Ramos
The federal government has filed a motion seeking to end asylum claims for the family of Liam Conejo Ramos, according to the lawyer representing the family.
www.mprnews.org
February 6, 2026 at 2:51 AM
They’re trying to run the Kilmar Abrego Garcia playbook with a five year old boy in a bunny hat because nobody can find peace if they embarrass the Trump administration publicly. Normal people didn’t like it with Garcia and they really aren’t going to like it for Liam.
Reposted by Brian Wasik
But then Adam Smith would be woke in today’s narcissistic death cult of economic thought that we’ve got going .
February 6, 2026 at 12:25 PM
But then Adam Smith would be woke in today’s narcissistic death cult of economic thought that we’ve got going .
Reposted by Brian Wasik
Pour one out for every professional political pundit, writer, consultant whatever that has spent the last decade trying to pretend that the Trump phenomenon was about trade or opiates and not a big chunk of white america losing its mind over having a black president bsky.app/profile/kyle...
A screenshot from a video posted on Trump's Truth Social account: truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
February 6, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Pour one out for every professional political pundit, writer, consultant whatever that has spent the last decade trying to pretend that the Trump phenomenon was about trade or opiates and not a big chunk of white america losing its mind over having a black president bsky.app/profile/kyle...
THE defining thing that married Donald Trump to the Republican Party was his racist 'birther' tirades against Obama.
Its been 18 years of one straight linear thread and still some people furrow their brow and act confused.
Its been 18 years of one straight linear thread and still some people furrow their brow and act confused.
February 6, 2026 at 12:23 PM
THE defining thing that married Donald Trump to the Republican Party was his racist 'birther' tirades against Obama.
Its been 18 years of one straight linear thread and still some people furrow their brow and act confused.
Its been 18 years of one straight linear thread and still some people furrow their brow and act confused.