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Julie Rovner

@julierovner.bsky.social

9.1K followers 720 following 260 posts

Chief Washington Correspondent KFF Health News, Host "What the Health?" podcast/horseperson/corgimomx2/unapologetic Michigan fan.

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Julie Rovner is an American journalist and author. Currently the Chief Washington Correspondent for Kaiser Health News (KHN) and host of its podcast, "What the Health", Rovner previously reported for National Public Radio, National Journal's Congress Daily, Congressional Quarterly, and The Lancet. .. more

Public Health 35%

Economics 33%

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Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 20h

on this week's #WTHealth: shutdown fallout, vaccine changes, a new generic abortion pill and more; with @alicemiranda.bsky.social, @sarahkarlin-smith.bsky.social and CNN's Tami Luhby. Plus Sarah Grusin of @nhelp.bsky.social on immigrants and federal health programs:
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Starting To Feel the Shutdown’s Bite - KFF Health News

The government shutdown continues with no end in sight, and while it theoretically should not affect entitlement programs, the lapse of some related authorizations — like for Medicare telehealth progr...

kffhealthnews.org

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Reposted by David S. Cohen, Julie Rovner

Susan Rinkunas @susanrinkunas.com · 20h

NEW: 51 Senators urge RFK Jr. and Marty Makary to end telemedicine prescriptions of the abortion drug mifepristone— and to suspend its distribution as an "imminent hazard" under Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Collins and Murkowski only GOP members not to sign
justthenews.com/sites/defaul...

screenshot of letter dated 10/9/25
Today, your agencies have all the information they need to bring an end to previous Democrat-administrations’ abortion drug regulations while a comprehensive review is conducted. As a starting point,
we recommend the following:
1. Suspend the approval of any new generic versions of mifepristone pending the outcome of the REMS safety review;
2. Commit to ensuring that all generic versions of mifepristone are included in the ongoing reevaluation of prior REMS approvals;
3. Reinstate the in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone and all its generic versions;
4. Suspend the distribution of mifepristone and all generic versions as an “imminent hazard” under Section 505(e) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA); and
5. Withdraw FDA guidance permitting pharmacy distribution of mifepristone and all its generic versions.

We are committed to continuing to work together to give a voice to the voiceless and protect women from the dangerous effects of unregulated access to chemical abortion drugs. The life, safety, freedom, and health of millions of Americans, born and unborn, depend on it.

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Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 2d

Sir, you signed the law guaranteeing back pay for furloughed workers in 2018...

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Q: Is it the White House's position that furloughed workers should get backpay?

TRUMP: I would say it depends on who we're talking about

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Reposted by Julie Rovner

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Q: Is it the White House's position that furloughed workers should get backpay?

TRUMP: I would say it depends on who we're talking about

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Reposted by Julie Rovner

David A. Weinberg @davidaweinberg.bsky.social · 3d

"Court judge Diane Goodstein... had reportedly received death threats for weeks related to her work". "[A]t least three members of her family, including her husband... and their son, have been hospitalized with serious injuries." time.com/7323442/sout...

House of South Carolina Judge Criticized by Trump Administration Burns Down

Authorities are investigating a fire at the home of a South Carolina judge who had reportedly received death threats in what could be the latest incident of political violence across the country.

time.com

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Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 5d

Rally. He’s working on his masters title. Leg 6 of 10.

Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 5d

Wally says “Aspen isn’t the only one in this family who can win blue ribbons!”

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Reposted by Ken Caldeira, Lesley A. Hall, Julie Rovner

Maggie Astor @maggieastor.bsky.social · 7d

Important to remember that stories about children killed by vaccine-preventable diseases when they're too young to be vaccinated are, beneath that, stories about the loss of herd immunity.

This baby caught whooping cough from somebody. That somebody was probably old enough to be vaccinated.

Mississippi Free Press @mississippifreepress.org · 7d

“A lot of times, you know, babies don’t cough; they just stop breathing,” warned Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Dan Edney as he discussed Mississippi's first infant death from whooping cough in 13 years.

Mississippi Baby Dies of Whooping Cough Amid Rising Cases

A baby in Mississippi has died of whooping cough for the first time since 2012. The baby was less than two months old—too young for vaccination.

buff.ly

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Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 7d

brand new #WTHealth podcast up! @shefali.bsky.social, @laurenweberhp.bsky.social, and @rachelcohrs.bsky.social on the shutdown, the Rx announcement, and the latest vaccine news. Plus, a "bill of the month" with Cara Anthony.
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Democrats Make This Shutdown About the ACA - KFF Health News

The foreshadowed federal shutdown came after Congress failed to pass required spending bills, with Democrats demanding Republicans renew the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies in exchange for thei...

kffhealthnews.org

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Reposted by James Goodwin, Julie Rovner

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 8d

Your occasional reminder that Russ Vought, who is claiming the right to fire civil servants for whatever reason he sees it, once refused to quit a political appointment position even after Trump had lost.

russ vought saying "no, its a three year term" when Biden asks for his resignation on the naval academy visitors board

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Reposted by Julie Rovner

David Dayen @ddayen.bsky.social · 8d

If you saw "Trump Rx" and immediately thought "Trump Steaks" and other grifts, well, you're right. You will not even be able to buy anything on Trump Rx; it's just a funnel to existing corporate patient assistance sites that don't touch the structural factors that keep drug prices high. From me:

‘TrumpRx’ Is Another Pretend Solution for High Drug Prices

The proposed government website will just refer people to the drug companies, which use direct-to-consumer pricing to distract from continued high profits.

prospect.org

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Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 8d

lots of people getting this completely or slightly wrong. Here's a helpful backgrounder on emergency medicaid:
healthlaw.org/wp-content/u...

healthlaw.org

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Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 8d

reupping my explanation of how the shutdown impacts health programs with the aid of my corgis...

www.youtube.com/shorts/N4VvV...

How Federal Shutdown Hits Health Agencies, Explained to Aspen the Corgi

YouTube video by KFF Health News

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Julie Rovner

Joey Fishkin @fishkin.bsky.social · 9d

BTW I do also think the first and last page, responding to a slightly menacing postcard that judge received, are worth everyone reading.

The judge is deliberately modeling democracy itself, in how he responds to a person who appears more committed to his favored president than to democracy.

Post card dated June 19, 2025
(On file in Chambers)

19 | June 2025
Trump has pardons and tanks . . . .
What do you have?

Dear Mr. or Ms. Anonymous,
Alone, I have nothing but my
sense of duty.
Together, We the People of the
United States –- you and me --
have our magnificent Constitution.
Here’s how that works out in a specific case --

I hope you found this
helpful. Thanks for writing.
It shows you care. You
should.
Sincerely & respectfully,
Bill Young
P.S. The next time you’re in
Boston [the postmark on the card
is from the Philadelphia area]
stop in at the Courthouse and
watch your fellow citizens, sitting
as jurors, reach out for justice.
It is here, and in courthouses
just like this one, both state and
federal, spread throughout our land
that our Constitution is most vibrantly
alive, for it is well said that “Where a
jury sits, there burns the lamp of
liberty.”

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Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 10d

had a great chat with fellow Michigan fan @janecoaston.bsky.social about what the shutdown/health care fight is all about. Thanks for having me!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dmcg...

Millions are About To Lose Healthcare: The Government Shutdown Explained

YouTube video by What A Day

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Timothy Snyder, Jonathan Wolff, Catherine Lutz , and 3 more Timothy Snyder, Jonathan Wolff, Catherine Lutz, James Cameron, Julie Rovner, Aviel Roshwald

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 10d

Trump to generals: "Last month, I signed an executive order to provide training for a quick reaction force that can help quell civil disturbances. This is gonna be a big thing for the people in this room, because it's the enemy from within & we have to handle it before it gets out of control"

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Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 11d

The HHS contingency shutdown plan is now posted: www.hhs.gov/about/budget...

www.hhs.gov

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Reposted by Julie Rovner

Timothy McBride @mcbridetd.bsky.social · 13d

145 Firings Followed Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

A wide range of occupations have been fired or disciplined
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/u...

A Broad Wave of Firings Followed Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

www.nytimes.com

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Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 14d

i guess this needs updating (from 2023)
www.youtube.com/shorts/CFmKP...

What Happens to Health Programs if the Federal Government Shuts Down?

YouTube video by KFF Health News

www.youtube.com

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Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 14d

On this week's #WTHealth podcast: Former CDC official @drdemetre.bsky.social on the ACIP meeting and autism announcement...plus @sandhyawrites.bsky.social and @annaedney.bsky.social on the rest of this week's health news. Have a listen:
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Public Health Further Politicized Under the Threat of More Firings - KFF Health News

In a rambling news conference that shocked public health experts, President Donald Trump — without scientific evidence — blamed the over-the-counter drug acetaminophen, and too many childhood vaccines...

kffhealthnews.org

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Reposted by Laia Balcells, Robert Black, Smith , and 12 more Laia Balcells, Robert Black, Smith, Alan Richardson, David R. Miller, Aaron Sojourner, Gerald Friedman, Stephen Ryan, James Goodwin, Olivier Jourdan, Julie Rovner, Césari Laurent, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe, James M. Thomas

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 15d

Vance: "If you want stop political violence, stop telling your supporters that everybody who disagrees with you is a Nazi."

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Reposted by Alessandro Rigolon, Julie Rovner, David Darmofal

NPR @npr.org · 20d

BREAKING NEWS: The group voted to require people who want a shot to be briefed on harms and benefits and tried but failed to pass a requirement for a prescription.

CDC advisers vote to add new COVID vaccines rules that could discourage uptake

The group voted to require people who want a shot to be briefed on harms and benefits and tried but failed to pass a requirement for a prescription.

n.pr

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Reposted by Julie Rovner

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 20d

NPR: “Regarding Antifa…”
TRUMP: “Who are you with?”
NPR: “NPR.”
TRUMP: “You’re still here? Won’t be for long… does Antifa have anything to do with your network?”

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Reposted by Julie Rovner

Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 20d

The chaos from the first day of a meeting of the federal vaccine committee appointed by RFK Jr. bled into the second day, as the panel reversed one decision and indefinitely postponed a vote on a hepatitis B vaccine they had already deferred once.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/19/h...

Vaccine Panel Postpones One Vote and Reverses Another Amid Confusion

www.nytimes.com

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Julie Rovner @julierovner.bsky.social · 21d

on this week's #WTHealth podcast: @sangerkatz.bsky.social, @alicemiranda.bsky.social, and @joannekenen.bsky.social on the CDC hearing, shutdown countdown, and more. Plus an interview with Troyen Brennan on his new book on primary care: kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Ousted CDC Officials Clap Back at RFK Jr. - KFF Health News

The recently fired head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told senators that health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered her to fire top officials and agree to approve changes to na...

kffhealthnews.org

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Reposted by Julie Rovner

Sarah Karlin-Smith @sarahkarlin-smith.bsky.social · 23d

Houry is asked who decided the agenda for ACIP meeting tomorrow and Friday. - Houry says this is first time since she was at CDC where political appointees answerable to the secretary set agenda for scientific meeting.

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, Julie Rovner

Tom & Lorenzo @tomandlorenzo.bsky.social · 23d

I think one of the better, more subtle tributes to Robert Redford's life is the string of utterly iconic female co-stars who've come forward to eulogize him; each of them take-no-shit types like Fonda and Streisand, and every one of them without a single bad thing to say. A model for male behavior

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Reposted by Julie Rovner

Thanh Neville, MD, MSHS @thanhneville.medsky.social · 23d

A friend sent me this. Apparently, if you are a Koala, you can get a chlamydia vax. But if you are a citizen of the US, vaccines are getting taken away…

Australia approves world-first vaccine to save koalas from chlamydia

A regulator has approved a world-first vaccine to protect koalas from chlamydia infections, which are causing infertility and death in the iconic native species.

www.latimes.com

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Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Julie Rovner

Andy Carvin @acarv.in · 23d

@archive.org preserved the original study, which you can find here. web.archive.org/web/20250911...

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