Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kristen Sager Cincotta @kscincotta.bsky.social · 6h

I manage the comms for my son’s middle school. In order to compile the weekly newsletter, I have to check ~23 different sources (inboxes, messaging apps, webpages, FB pages, etc) to make sure I don’t miss anything. Objectively INSANE.

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Kristen Sager Cincotta @kscincotta.bsky.social · 8h

The value in many of these datasets is the ability to track longterm (multi-year and even multi-decade) trends. Even if a future administration reinstates them, there will ALWAYS be data gaps that weaken what can be learned.

Alt CDC (they/them) @altcdc.altgov.info · 8h

More CDC Cuts :: NCHS Edition 📊🔫

At least 1/3 of the staff at the National Center for Health Statistics has been cut (and remain cut). This is catastrophic for our nation’s health data.

Say goodbye to national health statistics that you can trust, healthcare surveys, NHANES and data systems.

Kristen Sager Cincotta @kscincotta.bsky.social · 9h

Aah!! Love seeing your faces. We had plans to go to the parade today but kiddo is aching from his vaccine shots yesterday. It’s such a beautiful day today, I wish we were there!!

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Kristen Sager Cincotta @kscincotta.bsky.social · 9h

Setting aside that all of this is highly illegal…

This is yet another example of this administration overtly stating that some people are more worthy and deserving than others and it is INFURIATING that people are not calling this out more.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 12h

WELKER: During the 2019 shutdown when Trump was president, no federal workers were laid off. Why are these firings necessary?

VANCE: Who do we care more about- federal bureaucrats or the troops getting the payment they need?

WELKER: But layoffs are a priority?

VANCE: They have forced us to choose

Reposted by Kristen Sager Cincotta

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 12h

a key thing about vought — and all of these guys — is that they have a totally top down and hierarchical vision of the world. they believe that the cultural changes they hate can be turned off by destroying the federal government because they can’t imagine that they emerged bottom-up in society

Thomas Zimmer @thomaszimmer.bsky.social · 12h

What he’s railing against is a profound shift in culture, status… He’s obsessed with the idea that America is controlled by a leftist “ruling elite” - but “elite” isn’t defined socio-economically or by political power, it means something like: Getting to define “real America” and who gets to belong.

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Kristen Sager Cincotta @kscincotta.bsky.social · 9h

About fucking time.

Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 11h

Sens. Schumer, Merkley, Murray, and Peters are calling for the resignation of OMB Director Russell Vought.

"By impounding billions of dollars … and aggressively pursuing the illegal use of pocket rescissions, Vought has done everything in his power to gut the federal government piece by piece."

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Reposted by Kristen Sager Cincotta

Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon) @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social · May 30

No words

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Mark Histed @markhisted.org · 1d

So to summarize:

- There is a pattern where Vought makes the RIFs too wide, apparently to flood the zone with sh*t and see who will draw protests.
- They restore some people after outrage and work by us.
- But we are still left with many who remain fired at the end.

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Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 1d

All of the credit for the destruction of the CDC and the health and safety of the United States goes to the Republican Congress and the MAGA voters who elected them.

If they ever realize what they have done, it will be far too late.

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Kristen Sager Cincotta @kscincotta.bsky.social · 1d

Was waiting to hear about this. There are people at SAMHSA that are very important to me and I’m waiting on edge to hear what happened to them.

NPR @npr.org · 1d

EXCLUSIVE: Sources tell NPR that more than 100 employees have been laid off at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had some cuts reversed late Saturday.

Trump slashes mental health agency as shutdown drags on

Sources tell NPR that more than 100 employees have been laid off at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had some cuts reversed late Saturday.

n.pr

Reposted by Kristen Sager Cincotta

Rachel Hall-Clifford, PhD, MPH, MSc @rahallclifford.bsky.social · 1d

Our public health heroes don't deserve this rollercoaster of cruelty and incompetence

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 1d

Update from @apoorvanyt.bsky.social Trump Administration Will Rehire Scores of Experts Fired in Error. Gift link: nyti.ms/48JjSSf

Trump Administration Will Rehire Scores of Experts Fired in Error

Friday’s layoffs swept up scientists involved in responding to the measles outbreak and running an influential journal. An official acknowledged the mistakes on Saturday.

nyti.ms

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Kristen Sager Cincotta @kscincotta.bsky.social · 1d

Vought has never, ever hidden his endgame.

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 1d

worth reading vought's 2022 essay where he lays this out, focusing on his complaint that congress can shape policy against the wishes of the president americanmind.org/salvo/renewi...

Renewing American Purpose

Statesmanship in a post-Constitutional moment

americanmind.org

Reposted by Kristen Sager Cincotta

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 1d

worth reading vought's 2022 essay where he lays this out, focusing on his complaint that congress can shape policy against the wishes of the president americanmind.org/salvo/renewi...

Renewing American Purpose

Statesmanship in a post-Constitutional moment

americanmind.org

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Reposted by Kristen Sager Cincotta

Senator Patty Murray @murray.senate.gov · 1d

Make sure everyone knows: these mass firings are NOT because of the shutdown.

Trump doesn’t have to fire any of these people—he’s choosing to do it as an intimidation tactic.

Difficult to overstate how stupid and reckless this is.

Mass CDC cuts hit staff dealing with measles, Ebola and disease forecasting

Another round of mass layoffs has struck CDC. The agency had already been cut during a reorganization this year, and more employees are now being shed amid the government shutdown.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Caitlin Rivers @cmyeaton.bsky.social · 1d

I can't get over how the CDC layoffs are coming less than two months after the attempted mass shooting. The agency is being taken apart brick by brick. The public servants there do not deserve this.

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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 1d

There’s a March for Health and Science being organized in DC for Wednesday, November 5.

MARCH FOR HEALTH & SCIENCE
Washington DC, November 5@4PM

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Kristen Sager Cincotta @kscincotta.bsky.social · 1d

They have made it very clear, for a very long time, that they are in fact against the concept of “public good”.

Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 1d

The only way this sort of thing makes sense is if they are against the entire concept of a “public good.” That is, something paid for by the public via taxes, owned by the public via government, and benefitting the public as a whole.

Sara Partridge, Ph.D. @sarapartridge.bsky.social · 1d

There are reports that the *entire* office of special education at the US Dept of Education has been cut. These hardworking folks ensure kids with disabilities get equal access to a quality education.

America’s children deserve better than this.

Kristen Sager Cincotta @kscincotta.bsky.social · 1d

Well said.

Tom & Lorenzo @tomandlorenzo.bsky.social · 1d

Certain celebrity deaths are harder to process than others because the person in question was so full of life and creativity and originality that you just assume it's never going to end.

Reposted by Kristen Sager Cincotta

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 1d

“We can give $20 billion to Argentina but we can’t afford the CDC’s measles experts” is a hell of an argument

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Kristen Sager Cincotta @kscincotta.bsky.social · 1d

Genuinely shocking and so, so sad.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 1d

Breaking News: Diane Keaton, who played some 100 movie and TV roles and won the best-actress Oscar for “Annie Hall,” has died at 79. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/m...

Diane Keaton is smiling and looking to her right. She is wearing a black jacket, a white blouse, a black hat and glasses. A headline reads: "1946-2025: Diane Keaton." Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Reposted by Kristen Sager Cincotta

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 1d

They have fired the staff of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and 70 Epidemic Intelligence Service officers, who are disease detectives that respond to outbreaks around the world.

I cannot emphasize enough how dangerous it is to dismantle our disease surveillance infrastructure.

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Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock @warnock.senate.gov · 1d

People are not pawns. The latest CDC layoffs are another example of this Administration going after our health—this time by firing scientists working to prevent chronic & respiratory disease.

I’m working to reopen the gvt, reverse these reckless cuts, & fund health care.

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Kristen Sager Cincotta @kscincotta.bsky.social · 1d

Everything is terrible, especially at the CDC. But as of 90 minutes ago, we are a FULLY vaccinated household, with flu + COVID onboard for all three of us. And NO ONE can take that away.

Man smiles with eyes squinted showing off two bandaids on his left arm following flu + COVID vaccines.

Woman smiles wearing a “Fund Science” shirt and showing off two bandaids on her left arm after flu + COVID vaccines.

Middle school child smiles while making a muscle to show off the bandaid on his left arm following flu + COVID vaccines.

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 1d

a russ vought special

Sara Partridge, Ph.D. @sarapartridge.bsky.social · 1d

There are reports that the *entire* office of special education at the US Dept of Education has been cut. These hardworking folks ensure kids with disabilities get equal access to a quality education.

America’s children deserve better than this.

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Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 1d

"Roughly 70 Epidemic Intelligence Service officers — the so-called “disease detectives” who respond to outbreaks around the globe — received layoff notices"

There is no 'make healthy' objective here, but there will be costs and consequences, to readiness, safety, and lives.

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 1d

FULL STORY HERE: Emails began flooding CDC inboxes late Friday night announcing dozens of layoffs. HR people brought back from furlough to oversee the RIFs. Disease detectives, entire Washington office, global health, injury prevention, MMWR staff among those hit.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...

Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials

www.nytimes.com

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