Micah Berman
@micahberman.bsky.social
Stephen F. Loebs Professor in Health Management Services and Policy & Professor of Law, Ohio State University
Public Health Law & Policy; Health Policy; Global Public Health; Tobacco Regulation
Public Health Law & Policy; Health Policy; Global Public Health; Tobacco Regulation
Every day it's something new. Another terrible precedent in the ongoing politicization of the FDA.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/t...
November 22, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Every day it's something new. Another terrible precedent in the ongoing politicization of the FDA.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/t...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/21/t...
Reposted by Micah Berman
Reposted by Micah Berman
There is no difference between Trump destroying the East Wing and using a wrecking ball on the Washington Monument or Smithsonian. Just because he (temporarily) lives there doesn't give him the right to demolish the White House without Congressional approval.
a live look at the demolition of the White House's East Wing for Trump's ballroom
October 22, 2025 at 7:12 PM
There is no difference between Trump destroying the East Wing and using a wrecking ball on the Washington Monument or Smithsonian. Just because he (temporarily) lives there doesn't give him the right to demolish the White House without Congressional approval.
Reposted by Micah Berman
An AP investigation found that more than 420 anti-science bills attacking longstanding public health protections – vaccines, milk safety and fluoride – have been introduced in statehouses this year, part of a campaign to enshrine a conspiracy theory-driven agenda into law. https://to.pbs.org/43dxCkD
Anti-science bills hit statehouses, attacking longstanding public health protections
More than 420 anti-science bills attacking longstanding public health protections – vaccines, milk safety and fluoride – have been introduced in statehouses across the U.S. this year.
to.pbs.org
October 21, 2025 at 8:31 PM
An AP investigation found that more than 420 anti-science bills attacking longstanding public health protections – vaccines, milk safety and fluoride – have been introduced in statehouses this year, part of a campaign to enshrine a conspiracy theory-driven agenda into law. https://to.pbs.org/43dxCkD
"Tiburon could become just the third municipality in the country to ban all sales of tobacco products. The idea originated from a group of high school students in town."
www.ktvu.com/news/tiburon...
www.ktvu.com/news/tiburon...
Bay Area city moves to ban sale of tobacco products
California already has some of the strictest smoking laws in the country, but this North Bay town will become just the third city — after Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach — to go this far.
www.ktvu.com
October 17, 2025 at 4:13 PM
"Tiburon could become just the third municipality in the country to ban all sales of tobacco products. The idea originated from a group of high school students in town."
www.ktvu.com/news/tiburon...
www.ktvu.com/news/tiburon...
Inside FDA, career staffers describe how political pressure is influencing their work www.statnews.com/2025/10/14/f... via @statnews.com
Inside FDA, career staffers describe how political pressure is influencing their work
Current and former FDA staff said the level of involvement of political officials in nitty-gritty regulatory matters is unprecedented.
www.statnews.com
October 14, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Inside FDA, career staffers describe how political pressure is influencing their work www.statnews.com/2025/10/14/f... via @statnews.com
Reposted by Micah Berman
“What we’re seeing is what happens when individuals who have don’t have a basic understanding about how vaccines are delivered are making these crucial policy decisions for the American public. They don’t know what they’re doing” -Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of AAP’s Committee on Infectious Diseases
CDC committee votes on COVID-19 shots amid widespread criticism
After a contentious discussion that at times referenced discredited theories, low-quality data and desperate pleas from physicians and patients to rely upon sound science, a key committee of the U.S.
www.latimes.com
September 19, 2025 at 8:48 PM
“What we’re seeing is what happens when individuals who have don’t have a basic understanding about how vaccines are delivered are making these crucial policy decisions for the American public. They don’t know what they’re doing” -Dr. Sean O’Leary, chair of AAP’s Committee on Infectious Diseases
Very well said -- with lessons for other fields as well.
"Fueling Jewish studies on the fumes of the Trump administration’s attack on higher education is not a win. It’s a trap, and one we fear will bring ill consequences to our field, our universities, and American Jews." Me, @ronitstahl.bsky.social, and Kate Rosenblatt. www.chronicle.com/article/jewi...
Jewish-Studies Scholars, Beware: Trump’s Deal Will Corrupt You
We must all resist being turned into court Jews.
www.chronicle.com
September 19, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Very well said -- with lessons for other fields as well.
Reposted by Micah Berman
If you believe free speech rights aren't important when the government is moving towards authoritarianism, you never actually believed free speech rights were important.
GOP Senator Cynthia Lummis: "Under normal times, in normal circumstances, I tend to think that the First Amendment should always be sort of the ultimate right... I don't feel that way anymore." www.semafor.com/article/09/1...
Kimmel’s suspension prompts free-speech Republicans to reconsider their boundaries
One Republican said she no longer considers the First Amendment to “be sort of the ultimate right,” as she would “in normal circumstances.”
www.semafor.com
September 19, 2025 at 12:44 AM
If you believe free speech rights aren't important when the government is moving towards authoritarianism, you never actually believed free speech rights were important.
Reposted by Micah Berman
Hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis, cancer, death
We have reduced its incidence among children by 99% — a huge achievement
Today RFK Jr’s hand-picked vaccine committee could unravel it www.thebulwark.com/p/rfk-jr-ken...
We have reduced its incidence among children by 99% — a huge achievement
Today RFK Jr’s hand-picked vaccine committee could unravel it www.thebulwark.com/p/rfk-jr-ken...
RFK Jr.’s Crusade Against Vaccines Hits Its Action Phase
His anti-vax–stacked advisory committee is expected to revise rules for life-saving hepatitis B vax.
www.thebulwark.com
September 18, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis, cancer, death
We have reduced its incidence among children by 99% — a huge achievement
Today RFK Jr’s hand-picked vaccine committee could unravel it www.thebulwark.com/p/rfk-jr-ken...
We have reduced its incidence among children by 99% — a huge achievement
Today RFK Jr’s hand-picked vaccine committee could unravel it www.thebulwark.com/p/rfk-jr-ken...
Reposted by Micah Berman
The professor has been fired and senior administrators removed from their post. No mention of this in the New York Times, The Free Press, The Atlantic or other outlets who drove the campus speech moral panic.
Texas A&M University System orders audit of all courses after gender identity lesson goes viral
Details: bit.ly/42jauQZ
Details: bit.ly/42jauQZ
September 10, 2025 at 11:59 AM
The professor has been fired and senior administrators removed from their post. No mention of this in the New York Times, The Free Press, The Atlantic or other outlets who drove the campus speech moral panic.
Reposted by Micah Berman
It should not be up to John Oliver to be publicly making the argument that university presidents should be making loudly & collectively on the news & in front of the US Capitol every day.
John Oliver: "While get the appeal of thinking just one more concession, one more payoff might safeguard your independence or let you live to fight another day, it's worth asking at what point have you compromised so much that
the thing you're supposed to be defending is gone."
the thing you're supposed to be defending is gone."
Trump vs. Higher Education: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
www.youtube.com
September 9, 2025 at 1:17 AM
It should not be up to John Oliver to be publicly making the argument that university presidents should be making loudly & collectively on the news & in front of the US Capitol every day.
Reposted by Micah Berman
As a lawyer, I'll tell you that there's nobody who knows this law better than Ryan and Brian. Sure looks like murder or war crime to me. But as a human, I'll tell you that the Rubio statement -- we could have stopped the boat but we blew it up to send a message -- is sickening and depraved.
1/ I worked at DoD. I literally cannot imagine lawyers coming up with a legal basis for lethal strike of suspected Venezuelan drug boat.
Hard to see how this would not be "murder" or war crime under international law that DoD considers applicable.
Read expert analysis by @bcfinucane.bsky.social⤵️
Hard to see how this would not be "murder" or war crime under international law that DoD considers applicable.
Read expert analysis by @bcfinucane.bsky.social⤵️
Legal Issues Raised by a Lethal U.S. Military Attack in the Caribbean
The Trump administration’s extraordinary lethal attack on this purported smuggling vessel raises significant potential legal issues.
www.justsecurity.org
September 3, 2025 at 10:09 PM
As a lawyer, I'll tell you that there's nobody who knows this law better than Ryan and Brian. Sure looks like murder or war crime to me. But as a human, I'll tell you that the Rubio statement -- we could have stopped the boat but we blew it up to send a message -- is sickening and depraved.
Truly no words to describe how stunningly irresponsible and dangerous this is.
BREAKING | DeSantis to make Florida first state to end all vaccine mandates for schools
DeSantis to make Florida first state to end all vaccine mandates for schools
www.independent.co.uk
September 3, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Truly no words to describe how stunningly irresponsible and dangerous this is.
Reposted by Micah Berman
The Ohio Capital Journal talked to two parents who send their children to private school — one who uses school vouchers and the other who refuses to use vouchers.
@ohiocapitaljournal.com bit.ly/3JVzlE1
@ohiocapitaljournal.com bit.ly/3JVzlE1
To use or not use private school vouchers — how two Ohio families made that decision • Ohio Capital Journal
The Ohio Capital Journal talked to two parents who send their children to private school, one who uses private school vouchers and the other who refuses to use vouchers.
bit.ly
August 29, 2025 at 1:25 PM
The Ohio Capital Journal talked to two parents who send their children to private school — one who uses school vouchers and the other who refuses to use vouchers.
@ohiocapitaljournal.com bit.ly/3JVzlE1
@ohiocapitaljournal.com bit.ly/3JVzlE1
Reposted by Micah Berman
Resignations of CDC staff directly related to misinformation, weaponizing of public health, which is coming from RFK Jr. Untenable situation for them to serve under these conditions.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
![In his resignation letter, Daskalakis wrote, “I am not able to serve in this role any longer because of the ongoing weaponizing of public health.”
Houry’s resignation letter spoke about the continued spread of misinformation around vaccines.
“Recently, the overstating of risks [of vaccines] and the rise of misinformation have cost lives, as demonstrated by the highest number of US measles cases in 30 years and the violent attack on our agency,” Houry wrote.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2rrp7amblhg3xoly5n5huiqv/bafkreiboml2a3p7qlqb4qmlbhb76rzanvnpkvlpw34wggsq6wsv27wvy5m@jpeg)
August 27, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Resignations of CDC staff directly related to misinformation, weaponizing of public health, which is coming from RFK Jr. Untenable situation for them to serve under these conditions.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
Reposted by Micah Berman
At @defendpublichealth.bsky.social, in anticipation of the next MAHA report, we wrote on what it would actually take to maker Americans healthy. It demands that we examine the root causes of illness, malnutrition, etc. & invest in health-promoting programs. www.defendpublichealth.org/resource/imp...
Improving the Health of Americans Together: An evidence-based framework for addressing the root causes of illness in the U.S | Defend Public Health
As an alternative to HHS Sec. Kennedy's flawed and dishonest "MAHA Report," Defend Public Health offers some key policies that would truly improve Americans’ health. This report is certainly not exhau...
www.defendpublichealth.org
August 13, 2025 at 11:06 AM
At @defendpublichealth.bsky.social, in anticipation of the next MAHA report, we wrote on what it would actually take to maker Americans healthy. It demands that we examine the root causes of illness, malnutrition, etc. & invest in health-promoting programs. www.defendpublichealth.org/resource/imp...
Perhaps there is more context, but numerous outlets reporting that CDC Director Monarez told CDC staff that "misinformation can be dangerous" without clarifying WHAT misinformation and WHO is spreading it.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
CDC director tells staff 'misinformation can be dangerous' in agency meeting
“We need to rebuild the trust together,” Susan Monarez said Tuesday, just days after a shooter fired close to 200 rounds that struck six buildings and killed an officer at the agency's campus.
www.nbcnews.com
August 13, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Perhaps there is more context, but numerous outlets reporting that CDC Director Monarez told CDC staff that "misinformation can be dangerous" without clarifying WHAT misinformation and WHO is spreading it.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
Reposted by Micah Berman
The data package HHS offered to defend Kennedy’s decision is not the work of U.S. government scientists… “The compilation originated as material for a book titled “TOXIC SHOT: Facing the Dangers of the COVID ‘Vaccines’,” an anthology of essays by prominent anti-vaxxers.” @jackiantonovich.bsky.social
Commentary: RFK Jr.'s cancellation of mRNA vaccine research is even worse than it first seemed
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. used discredited and misrepresented studies to justify canceling research into life-giving vaccines.
www.latimes.com
August 12, 2025 at 1:02 PM
The data package HHS offered to defend Kennedy’s decision is not the work of U.S. government scientists… “The compilation originated as material for a book titled “TOXIC SHOT: Facing the Dangers of the COVID ‘Vaccines’,” an anthology of essays by prominent anti-vaxxers.” @jackiantonovich.bsky.social
Reposted by Micah Berman
Disgraceful.
NEW: On Friday, a gunman shot up the CDC campus in Atlanta. He reportedly believed himself injured by the COVID-19 vaccine.
The following day, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya appeared on Steve Bannon’s War Room and called to end the mRNA platform while promoting misinformation about the shots.
The following day, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya appeared on Steve Bannon’s War Room and called to end the mRNA platform while promoting misinformation about the shots.
NIH Director Spreads Vaccine Misinformation One Day After CDC Shooting
Jay Bhattacharya called to end the mRNA platform on Steve Bannon’s War Room.
www.importantcontext.news
August 12, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Disgraceful.
Reposted by Micah Berman
Feel like this needs a spotlight: employees were told that the shooting at CDC, which left an officer dead and buildings riddled with bullets, was targeted at agency, @lenasun.bsky.social, @laurenweberhp.bsky.social and @tobiaraji.bsky.social report
Years of anti-CDC rhetoric has consequences
Years of anti-CDC rhetoric has consequences
August 9, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Feel like this needs a spotlight: employees were told that the shooting at CDC, which left an officer dead and buildings riddled with bullets, was targeted at agency, @lenasun.bsky.social, @laurenweberhp.bsky.social and @tobiaraji.bsky.social report
Years of anti-CDC rhetoric has consequences
Years of anti-CDC rhetoric has consequences
Reposted by Micah Berman
Textbook democratic erosion. No one fears challenging the government in a functioning liberal democracy.
August 6, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Textbook democratic erosion. No one fears challenging the government in a functioning liberal democracy.
Reposted by Micah Berman
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
Release from HHS: HHS will wind down its development of the mRNA vaccine development activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
August 5, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
Reposted by Micah Berman
Again, they’re not just canceling this funding going forward but revoking already-awarded grants for things like vaccines against H5N1 bird flu
Big “enlightenment reverts to mythology” hours
Big “enlightenment reverts to mythology” hours
"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the beginning of a coordinated wind-down of its mRNA vaccine development activities...."
cc: Sen. Bill Cassidy
cc: Sen. Bill Cassidy
August 6, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Again, they’re not just canceling this funding going forward but revoking already-awarded grants for things like vaccines against H5N1 bird flu
Big “enlightenment reverts to mythology” hours
Big “enlightenment reverts to mythology” hours