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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 11h

This story is the culmination of months of work from @laurenweberhp.bsky.social & @rachelroubein.bsky.social wapo.st/46LWoKQ

She left the medical mainstream and rose to be RFK Jr.’s surgeon general pick

Casey Means, the surgeon general nominee, has criticized the medical establishment. She could be put in position to change it.

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 11h

NEW: A Washington Post deep dive into surgeon general nominee Casey Means found she blurred sponsorship lines as she promoted supplements and products outside the medical mainstream.

Here’s one example.

And a gift link to read more: wapo.st/46LWoKQ

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Lauren Weber @laurenweberhp.bsky.social · 12h

She left the medical mainstream and rose to be RFK Jr.'s surgeon general pick

Read my and @rachelroubein.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com deep dive on Casey Means

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

She left the medical mainstream and rose to be RFK Jr.'s surgeon general pick

Casey Means, the surgeon general nominee, has criticized the medical establishment. She could be put in position to change it.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Fenit Nirappil

Caitlin Gilbert @caitlingilbert.bsky.social · 13h

Was so great to talk in-person about our latest TikTok reporting with Tom Llamas last night! Thanks to the great folks at NBC for having me.

Segment at 30:39: youtu.be/4jH6LmHI1UE?...

Top Story with Tom Llamas - Oct. 8 | NBC News NOW

YouTube video by NBC News

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 14h

I wonder how the Washington Post covers it www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

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Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 2d

“Secretary Kennedy is entitled to his views. But he is not entitled to put people’s health at risk.”

Six former surgeons general condemn RFK Jr.

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.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 3d

The CDC's acting director urges vaccine manufacturers to break up the MMR vaccine.

This is a longtime talking point of anti-vaccine activists

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Ashley Kirzinger @ashleykirzinger.bsky.social · 6d

Support for Congress to extend the enhanced premium tax credits remains very high, even among Republicans and MAGA supporters.

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 11d

It’s great to have a Portland-based reporter like @caseyparks.bsky.social to ground the news in reality www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

Hell? Here? For many Portlanders, the city is something closer to heaven. The trees stay green all year long. The coffee is good at every shop. You can get to a mountain or the Pacific Ocean in an hour, and if you don’t feel like traveling, there are bookstores and parks in every neighborhood, not to mention some of the best restaurants in the country.

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Lena Sun @lenasun.bsky.social · 12d

Important Read: Programs that many autistic people and their families depend on — through Medicaid, the Education Department and the Administration for Community Living — have been targeted for funding cuts by Trump administration. @caitjgibson.bsky.social

www.washingtonpost.com/parenting/20...

Families push back on Trump’s autism rhetoric: ‘We’re not a disease’

Parents fear that progress toward inclusion is under threat as political leaders call autism a “crisis.”

www.washingtonpost.com

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 13d

The anti-vaccine group founded by RFK Jr. on Trump going after the childhood immunization schedule:

“History is being made right now”

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🎃 public HELLth guy 🎃 @publichealthguy1.bsky.social · 13d

great article that highlights some of the critical research being lost

The scramble ensured the money flowed to labs and science, instead of returning the unspent funds to government coffers. NIH shifted its budgeting strategy in June toward awarding more grants their entire multiyear budget up front. But the budgeting technique comes at a cost. Hundreds of grants deemed excellent by peer review are being left on the table, leaving strong research on cancer, aging and diabetes unfunded.

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 16d

Andrew Wakefield, whose retracted study triggered the vaccines cause autism movement, takes a victory lap after Trump’s attack on vaccines yesterday.

More on the escalation of anti-vaccine rhetoric to the Oval Office: www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

An X post from Wakefield: President Trump adopts Wakefield recommendations on separating MMR and calls for major reforms in the childhood vaccine schedule.

In a bombshell White House briefing President Trump summarized his position on putting an end to the autism epidemic. Alongside all his senior health officials and advisers Trump committed to identifying the causes of the current autism epidemic.

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 16d

“That was the most dangerously irresponsible press conference in the realm of public health in American history"

Anti-vaccine rhetoric reached the Oval Office after Trump's prolonged, direct attack on the childhood immunization schedule www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Trump’s escalating attacks on vaccines shock public health leaders

Trump promoted long-debunked claims that vaccines can cause autism as he called for changes to the childhood immunization schedule sought by anti-vaccine activists.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 18d

Above the fold on the Sunday front page

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 19d

The head of a group of new RFK Jr. appointed vaccine advisers said their “enormous” knowledge about science should be obvious to listeners.

Then they went on to float cancer, autism and contaminated DNA among dangers of covid shots wapo.st/3I5qLSY

Vaccine panel tension exposes broader conflict about science under RFK Jr.

Members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices showed a tenuous grasp of process and cited flawed research as they revisited covid, hepatitis B and MMRV shots.

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Scott Nover @scottnover.bsky.social · 20d

NEW: The Pentagon told journalists it will require them to pledge they won’t gather any information — even unclassified — that hasn’t been expressly authorized for release, and will revoke the press credentials of those who do not obey. @washingtonpost.com

Pentagon demands journalists pledge to not obtain unauthorized material

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is imposing strict new rules that would severely limit the ability of journalists to report on the Pentagon.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 20d

The study that was apparently referenced was retracted link.springer.com/article/10.1...

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Prenatal Exposure to COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 Induces Autism-Like Behaviors in Male Neonatal Rats: Insights into WNT and BDNF Signaling Perturbations - Neurochemical Research

The COVID-19 pandemic catalyzed the swift development and distribution of mRNA vaccines, including BNT162b2, to address the disease. Concerns have arisen about the potential neurodevelopmental implica...

link.springer.com

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 20d

One of RFK Jr.'s vaccine advisers just asked coronavirus vaccine makers about a study linking mRNA coronavirus vaccines to autism-like behavior in baby rats.

The meeting shaping future of coronavirus vaccines is underway www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Vaccine panel delays vote to end recommendation of hepatitis B shot at birth

Vaccine advisers on ACIP are also considering who should receive updated coronavirus vaccines, a highly anticipated decision that influences access to shots.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 20d

here’s the clip of someone saying “you’re an idiot,” as Levi — one of RFK Jr’s handpicked vaccine advisers — suggests other scientists are being overconfident about vaccine safety data

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 20d

Very confusing what ACIP is trying to do on coronavirus vaccines www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Retsef Levi, the ACIP panelist who leads the coronavirus vaccine work group and has previously called for a halt to mRNA coronavirus vaccines, said the group wanted to address communicating risks and uncertainties of the shots to patients more consistently.

“We are going to focus on personalized risk-benefit analysis, and we’re going to very much stay away from the narratives or the statements about safe and effective,” said Levi, a professor of operations management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “We don’t believe that these are appropriate or scientific language to talk about the issues related to vaccination.”

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 20d

RFK Jr.'s vaccine advisers have backed away from their plans to stop recommending hepatitis B vaccination at birth, a policy credited for a drastic plunge in infections and nearly eliminating maternal-to-fetal transmission www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Vaccine panel delays vote to end recommendation of hepatitis B shot at birth

Vaccine advisers on ACIP are also considering who should receive updated coronavirus vaccines, a highly anticipated decision that influences access to shots.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 20d

The CDC vaccine advisory panel has started its meeting to decide coronavirus vaccine recommendations.

And in an unusual move, it has not publicized what recommendations it will vote on!
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

RFK Jr. vaccine advisers to consider coronavirus shot recommendations

Vaccine advisers on ACIP are considering who should receive updated coronavirus vaccines, a highly anticipated decision that influences access to shots.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 21d

BREAKING: Federal vaccine advisers appointed by RFK Jr. are planning a broad review of vaccines given during pregnancy.

@lenasun.bsky.social is at their meeting in Atlanta and reporting with Paige Winfield Cunningham wapo.st/3K9OBNV

CDC advisers to scrutinize vaccines given during pregnancy

The CDC is reviewing guidance for newborns to receive the hepatitis B vaccine, potentially the first major shift on routine childhood shots under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 22d

And this piece of context is often left out of coverage of RFK Jr.’s efforts to change the childhood vaccine schedule

“In his confirmation hearings, Kennedy told senators ‘I support the childhood schedule’” wapo.st/3I2IESn

Takeaways from fired CDC director’s Senate testimony

Susan Monarez told the Senate health committee that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressured her to back changes to the childhood vaccine schedule.

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