Nsikan Akpan
@monscience.bsky.social
Highly melanated | YNWA | Health & Science Editor | PhD pathobiologist
Note: Don Lemon isn't alone.
"Journalists Don Lemon, Georgia Fort arrested in connection with church protest against ICE"
📝: Samantha Fischer
"Nekima Levy Armstrong, a Minneapolis civil rights attorney and racial justice advocate, was also arrested"
www.kare11.com/article/news...
"Journalists Don Lemon, Georgia Fort arrested in connection with church protest against ICE"
📝: Samantha Fischer
"Nekima Levy Armstrong, a Minneapolis civil rights attorney and racial justice advocate, was also arrested"
www.kare11.com/article/news...
Journalists Don Lemon, Georgia Fort arrested in connection with church protest against ICE
Lemon's attorney said he was taken into custody by federal officers Thursday night in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards.
www.kare11.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Note: Don Lemon isn't alone.
"Journalists Don Lemon, Georgia Fort arrested in connection with church protest against ICE"
📝: Samantha Fischer
"Nekima Levy Armstrong, a Minneapolis civil rights attorney and racial justice advocate, was also arrested"
www.kare11.com/article/news...
"Journalists Don Lemon, Georgia Fort arrested in connection with church protest against ICE"
📝: Samantha Fischer
"Nekima Levy Armstrong, a Minneapolis civil rights attorney and racial justice advocate, was also arrested"
www.kare11.com/article/news...
Bird flu detected on Pennsylvania egg farm; 1.5 million birds affected. 👀
www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
January 29, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Bird flu detected on Pennsylvania egg farm; 1.5 million birds affected. 👀
www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-po...
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
This week, the Trump administration finalized a new sweeping rule that broadens the Mexico City Policy.
@spsaki.bsky.social explains how the policy represents the most expansive—and potentially disruptive—version of ideological restrictions on foreign aid to date.
@spsaki.bsky.social explains how the policy represents the most expansive—and potentially disruptive—version of ideological restrictions on foreign aid to date.
Expanding the Mexico City Policy Undermines Global Health | Think Global Health
A new rule prohibits U.S. foreign assistance from projects supporting or discussing abortion, gender identity, diversity, equity, and inclusion
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
January 28, 2026 at 7:18 PM
This week, the Trump administration finalized a new sweeping rule that broadens the Mexico City Policy.
@spsaki.bsky.social explains how the policy represents the most expansive—and potentially disruptive—version of ideological restrictions on foreign aid to date.
@spsaki.bsky.social explains how the policy represents the most expansive—and potentially disruptive—version of ideological restrictions on foreign aid to date.
“Sorkin-ing”
January 27, 2026 at 7:33 PM
“Sorkin-ing”
"No test, no case" ...but also "no case, no case"
Guess you can't get criticized for causing low vaccine uptake if you stop tracking vaccine uptake.
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
Dozens of CDC databases are not being updated — most related to vaccines, study finds
The agency plays a key role in tracking disease spread and vaccination rates. Last year, it seemed to back away from some of that work, according to new research.
www.nbcnews.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:51 PM
"No test, no case" ...but also "no case, no case"
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
SCOOP: Palantir Defends Work With ICE to Staff Following Killing of Alex Pretti
WIRED obtained Slack conversations + an updated internal Palantir wiki defending the company's work for ICE to outraged workers.
More here:
www.wired.com/story/palant...
WIRED obtained Slack conversations + an updated internal Palantir wiki defending the company's work for ICE to outraged workers.
More here:
www.wired.com/story/palant...
Palantir Defends Work With ICE to Staff Following Killing of Alex Pretti
“In my opinion ICE are the bad guys. I am not proud that the company I enjoy so much working for is part of this,” one worker wrote on Slack.
www.wired.com
January 26, 2026 at 10:11 PM
SCOOP: Palantir Defends Work With ICE to Staff Following Killing of Alex Pretti
WIRED obtained Slack conversations + an updated internal Palantir wiki defending the company's work for ICE to outraged workers.
More here:
www.wired.com/story/palant...
WIRED obtained Slack conversations + an updated internal Palantir wiki defending the company's work for ICE to outraged workers.
More here:
www.wired.com/story/palant...
Bird flu antibodies found in cow in the Netherlands, a first outside of U.S. - Jon Cohen www.science.org/content/arti...
Bird flu antibodies found in cow in the Netherlands, a first outside of U.S.
Dead cat led to discovery, but officials stress no further spread of H5N1 has been detected
www.science.org
January 26, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Bird flu antibodies found in cow in the Netherlands, a first outside of U.S. - Jon Cohen www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
As the United States marks one year since a measles outbreak began in Texas, cases are still climbing. South Carolina reports 212 new cases in the past week, raising its total to 646.
Elsewhere, Mexico's outbreak has recorded 7,131 cases and 24 deaths.
Elsewhere, Mexico's outbreak has recorded 7,131 cases and 24 deaths.
Vaccine-Preventable Disease: A Global Tracker | Think Global Health
This map is updated weekly and visualizes outbreaks of nine childhood diseases in collaboration with the International Society for Infectious Diseases
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
January 21, 2026 at 9:07 PM
As the United States marks one year since a measles outbreak began in Texas, cases are still climbing. South Carolina reports 212 new cases in the past week, raising its total to 646.
Elsewhere, Mexico's outbreak has recorded 7,131 cases and 24 deaths.
Elsewhere, Mexico's outbreak has recorded 7,131 cases and 24 deaths.
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
That's all! Read my full story below. If I've missed anything or there's anything else that should be on my radar, reach out to me on Signal at mkozlov.01. You can stay anonymous.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Exclusive: key NIH review panels due to lose all members by the end of 2026
Thirteen of the agency’s advisory councils, which must review grant applications before funding is awarded, are on track to have no voting members.
www.nature.com
January 22, 2026 at 7:59 PM
That's all! Read my full story below. If I've missed anything or there's anything else that should be on my radar, reach out to me on Signal at mkozlov.01. You can stay anonymous.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
And the winner of best quote reply goes to...
The latest in 'Lie Down With Dogs, Get Up With Fleas' news.
January 22, 2026 at 8:58 PM
And the winner of best quote reply goes to...
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
mRNA cancer vaccine shows protection at 5-year follow-up, Moderna and Merck say arstechnica.com/health/2026/...
mRNA cancer vaccine shows protection at 5-year follow-up, Moderna and Merck say
The vaccines are tailor-made to target each patient's unique cancer.
arstechnica.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:14 PM
mRNA cancer vaccine shows protection at 5-year follow-up, Moderna and Merck say arstechnica.com/health/2026/...
“He, who has set up an independent lab in south Beijing, recently started talking again about human embryo editing—this time to prevent Alzheimer’s.” 👀
📝: Emily Mullin
www.wired.com/story/china-...
📝: Emily Mullin
www.wired.com/story/china-...
He Went to Prison for Gene-Editing Babies. Now He’s Planning to Do It Again
Chinese scientist He Jiankui wants to end Alzheimer’s and thinks Silicon Valley is conducting a “Nazi eugenic experiment.”
www.wired.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:45 PM
“He, who has set up an independent lab in south Beijing, recently started talking again about human embryo editing—this time to prevent Alzheimer’s.” 👀
📝: Emily Mullin
www.wired.com/story/china-...
📝: Emily Mullin
www.wired.com/story/china-...
Call me when they can lead to more leg room ... www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/t...
Weight-Loss Drugs Could Save U.S. Airlines $580 Million Per Year
www.nytimes.com
January 21, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Call me when they can lead to more leg room ... www.nytimes.com/2026/01/19/t...
Senior CDC official: Loss of measles elimination status in U.S. would be ‘cost of doing business’ 👀
📝: @helenbranswell.bsky.social / STAT
📝: @helenbranswell.bsky.social / STAT
Senior CDC official: Loss of measles elimination status in U.S. would be ‘cost of doing business’
The principal deputy director of the CDC said he would not view the loss of the United States' measles elimination status as a significant event.
www.statnews.com
January 20, 2026 at 11:17 PM
Senior CDC official: Loss of measles elimination status in U.S. would be ‘cost of doing business’ 👀
📝: @helenbranswell.bsky.social / STAT
📝: @helenbranswell.bsky.social / STAT
👀👀👀
There is one huge earmark: $270 million for the development of universal flu vaccines.
This is larger than some institutes for (in my view) a project very unlikely to bear fruit. The idea is to avoid annual flu shots with one vaccine.
The is also a pet project of NIH Deputy Matt Memoli.
5/5
This is larger than some institutes for (in my view) a project very unlikely to bear fruit. The idea is to avoid annual flu shots with one vaccine.
The is also a pet project of NIH Deputy Matt Memoli.
5/5
January 20, 2026 at 6:32 PM
👀👀👀
"New research indicates Americans bear 96% of U.S. tariff costs, with foreign exporters absorbing only 4% by lowering prices." - 📝: Tom Fairless / WSJ www.wsj.com/economy/trad...
Americans Are the Ones Paying for Tariffs, Study Finds
New research contradicts President Trump’s claim that foreigners are footing the bill.
www.wsj.com
January 19, 2026 at 10:15 PM
"New research indicates Americans bear 96% of U.S. tariff costs, with foreign exporters absorbing only 4% by lowering prices." - 📝: Tom Fairless / WSJ www.wsj.com/economy/trad...
Reposted by Nsikan Akpan
New U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule Creates Legal Peril www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/the-... @monscience.bsky.social @thinkglobalhealth.org
New U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule Creates Legal Peril | Think Global Health
A law professor weighs the legal protections for pediatricians and states following the rescheduling of certain childhood vaccines
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
January 17, 2026 at 5:33 PM
New U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule Creates Legal Peril www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/the-... @monscience.bsky.social @thinkglobalhealth.org
Come to learn about the legal quandaries surrounding the new U.S. vaccine schedule (courtesy of @doritreiss.bsky.social).
Stay for the comparison of vaccine schedules by country population size. www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/the-...
Stay for the comparison of vaccine schedules by country population size. www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/the-...
New U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule Creates Legal Peril | Think Global Health
A law professor weighs the legal protections for pediatricians and states following the rescheduling of certain childhood vaccines
www.thinkglobalhealth.org
January 16, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Come to learn about the legal quandaries surrounding the new U.S. vaccine schedule (courtesy of @doritreiss.bsky.social).
Stay for the comparison of vaccine schedules by country population size. www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/the-...
Stay for the comparison of vaccine schedules by country population size. www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/the-...
Kudos to Melody for sticking to the hunt and verifying this one!
UPDATE 2: A senior official in Guinea-Bissau said in a letter that the trial has been cancelled. Guinea-Bissau will continue its current vaccination schedule until the birth dose is implemented for all newborns, the letter said. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Controversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled
$1.6m project drew outrage over ethical questions about withholding vaccines proven to prevent disease
www.theguardian.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Kudos to Melody for sticking to the hunt and verifying this one!
The turns table ...
BREAKING: The controversial hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau has been *cancelled,* I can now report. A senior official with Africa CDC confirmed the cancellation and said GB officials are working to make sure any research is conducted ethically:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Controversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled
$1.6m project drew outrage over ethical questions about withholding vaccines proven to prevent disease
www.theguardian.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:01 PM
The turns table ...
“A Trump administration official has confirmed to NPR that sweeping cuts to mental health and addiction programs worth more than $2 billion are being reversed.” - 📝: Brian Mann
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
Trump administration rolls back $2 billion mental health, addiction grant cuts
Sweeping cuts to mental health and addiction programs worth more than $2 billion are being reversed. After a political backlash from Republicans and Democrats, the grant money will be restored.
www.npr.org
January 15, 2026 at 10:37 AM
“A Trump administration official has confirmed to NPR that sweeping cuts to mental health and addiction programs worth more than $2 billion are being reversed.” - 📝: Brian Mann
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
You can either have Medicaid or Greenland. You can't have both.
📝: Gordon Lubold, Courtney Kube, Abigail Williams and Monica Alba
www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...
📝: Gordon Lubold, Courtney Kube, Abigail Williams and Monica Alba
www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...
Buying Greenland could cost as much as $700 billion
The estimate is part of planning around Trump’s efforts to bring Greenland into the U.S. fold, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio tasked with crafting a proposal to purchase the semi-autonomous Dani...
www.nbcnews.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:50 PM
You can either have Medicaid or Greenland. You can't have both.
📝: Gordon Lubold, Courtney Kube, Abigail Williams and Monica Alba
www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...
📝: Gordon Lubold, Courtney Kube, Abigail Williams and Monica Alba
www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...
FBI executes search warrant at Washington Post reporter’s home - 📝 Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
FBI executes search warrant at Washington Post reporter’s home
The search came as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified government materials.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 14, 2026 at 5:28 PM
FBI executes search warrant at Washington Post reporter’s home - 📝 Perry Stein and Jeremy Roebuck
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
"She's like, I have great insurance — why don't we get married?" he says. "And I said, 'Well, that's so weird because I'm gay.'"
📝: Selena Simmons-Duffin
www.npr.org/2026/01/12/n...
📝: Selena Simmons-Duffin
www.npr.org/2026/01/12/n...
Marrying for health insurance? The ACA cost crisis forces some drastic choices
While Congress debates bringing back Affordable Care Act subsidies, many Americans have already made life-altering decisions to afford health care.
www.npr.org
January 13, 2026 at 3:50 PM
"She's like, I have great insurance — why don't we get married?" he says. "And I said, 'Well, that's so weird because I'm gay.'"
📝: Selena Simmons-Duffin
www.npr.org/2026/01/12/n...
📝: Selena Simmons-Duffin
www.npr.org/2026/01/12/n...