Myles Helfand
@myhelfy.bsky.social
he/him | exec editor of TheBody and TheBodyPro | journalism-ing for HIV communities since aught-one | unsecret gamer | personality type: Mets fan
Pinned
Myles Helfand
@myhelfy.bsky.social
· Feb 4
We've put together an initial report, on TheBodyPro, of federal HIV resources that have been removed and where alternative sources can be located. It's just a start, so tips and notes are welcome. Cheers to @larrybuhl.bsky.social for his initial reporting here!
www.thebodypro.com/hiv/hiv-data...
www.thebodypro.com/hiv/hiv-data...
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I think apart from undermining the fight against HIV, trump also knows on World AIDS Day he can't hide from the violence he has committed by slashing treatment, prevention and research in the U.S. and around the world.
His White House is full of cowards, *hiding* from World AIDS Day.
His White House is full of cowards, *hiding* from World AIDS Day.
1/ ⚠️ Breaking: At CDC, we've been told the US Government will not officially commemorate World AIDS Day this year. No explanation given.
November 25, 2025 at 9:47 PM
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This! @emilybass.bsky.social's headline in her blog is really good - it grabs attention and is technically true as a federal thing - but as she notes, the federal gov't didn't invent #WorldAIDSDay and the community certainly doesn't need their permission to mark it substack.com/inbox/post/1...
November 25, 2025 at 8:49 PM
This! @emilybass.bsky.social's headline in her blog is really good - it grabs attention and is technically true as a federal thing - but as she notes, the federal gov't didn't invent #WorldAIDSDay and the community certainly doesn't need their permission to mark it substack.com/inbox/post/1...
Reposted by Myles Helfand
A regular reminder that HHS Secretary RFK Jr is an AIDS denialist who uttered this egregious falsehood about #HIV to a journalist just two years ago:
"There are much better candidates than HIV for what causes AIDS" nymag.com/intelligence...
"There are much better candidates than HIV for what causes AIDS" nymag.com/intelligence...
1/ ⚠️ Breaking: At CDC, we've been told the US Government will not officially commemorate World AIDS Day this year. No explanation given.
November 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
A regular reminder that HHS Secretary RFK Jr is an AIDS denialist who uttered this egregious falsehood about #HIV to a journalist just two years ago:
"There are much better candidates than HIV for what causes AIDS" nymag.com/intelligence...
"There are much better candidates than HIV for what causes AIDS" nymag.com/intelligence...
Yep, that's one word for it
Wow.
1/ ⚠️ Breaking: At CDC, we've been told the US Government will not officially commemorate World AIDS Day this year. No explanation given.
November 25, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Yep, that's one word for it
Reposted by Myles Helfand
Dieffenbach was 'detailed' to an NIH institute (Fogarty) that has much less authority, in a lesser role. This is a way to move him out.
November 24, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Dieffenbach was 'detailed' to an NIH institute (Fogarty) that has much less authority, in a lesser role. This is a way to move him out.
Reposted by Myles Helfand
Hearing news that Carl Dieffenbach, the Director of the Division of AIDS at #NIH (NIAID), has been removed from his position because he was "not aligned with HHS/OMB."
Russell Vought continues to remove great scientists as part of the Project 2025 mission to politicize and destroy NIH.
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Russell Vought continues to remove great scientists as part of the Project 2025 mission to politicize and destroy NIH.
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November 24, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Hearing news that Carl Dieffenbach, the Director of the Division of AIDS at #NIH (NIAID), has been removed from his position because he was "not aligned with HHS/OMB."
Russell Vought continues to remove great scientists as part of the Project 2025 mission to politicize and destroy NIH.
🧪 1/
Russell Vought continues to remove great scientists as part of the Project 2025 mission to politicize and destroy NIH.
🧪 1/
Reposted by Myles Helfand
Since last year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance, at least 55 trans folk have been lost to violence in the U.S., according to the Trans Murder Monitoring Project.
Let remembrance turn to resolve, to make a world where every life is respected and cherished.
tdor.translivesmatter.info
Let remembrance turn to resolve, to make a world where every life is respected and cherished.
tdor.translivesmatter.info
November 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Since last year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance, at least 55 trans folk have been lost to violence in the U.S., according to the Trans Murder Monitoring Project.
Let remembrance turn to resolve, to make a world where every life is respected and cherished.
tdor.translivesmatter.info
Let remembrance turn to resolve, to make a world where every life is respected and cherished.
tdor.translivesmatter.info
It’s such a bummer. (I know that’s a huge understatement; it’s just the word in my head right now.) It is so surreal, as a health journalist, to acknowledge that the CDC is no longer a reliable primary source of information for a story or a “what you need to know” article unless the page is pre-2025
This is basically the destruction of trust in our public health institutions…
If there was any doubt at all that the CDC is fully destroyed, this page on autism and vaccines on its website confirms it. It's now just another vessel of dangerous health misinformation. I have no words. This is beyond sad.
November 20, 2025 at 1:40 PM
It’s such a bummer. (I know that’s a huge understatement; it’s just the word in my head right now.) It is so surreal, as a health journalist, to acknowledge that the CDC is no longer a reliable primary source of information for a story or a “what you need to know” article unless the page is pre-2025
Reposted by Myles Helfand
This sounds reasonable but is 100% wrong. Whether you or agree or disagree with a study is completely immaterial. What matters is whether the study was conducted properly and generates valid results. And it's impolitic to say but it's true: you have to have some level of expertise to judge that.
JD Vance: "Science as practiced in its best form is that if you disagree with it, then you ought to criticize it and you ought to argue against it."
November 12, 2025 at 5:57 PM
This sounds reasonable but is 100% wrong. Whether you or agree or disagree with a study is completely immaterial. What matters is whether the study was conducted properly and generates valid results. And it's impolitic to say but it's true: you have to have some level of expertise to judge that.
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With record sales of its Biktarvy and PrEP drug Descovy and the debut of Yeztugo, its six-month injectable for PrEP, Gilead Sciences reported $7.3 billion in 3rd-quarter sales—$5.3 billion of it from its HIV business. Also, Biktarvy gets an extended lease on life.
positivelyaware.com/gilead-3q-sales
positivelyaware.com/gilead-3q-sales
November 10, 2025 at 4:42 PM
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Reposted by Myles Helfand
See the film and my update on the ongoing, pointless, man-made loss of life here: bsky.app/profile/agaw...
Today @TheNewYorker released our short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” online.
It traces the ongoing effects of the sudden shutdown of US foreign aid through the story of one mother in Kenya as she seeks to save her daughter from sickness and starvation. 🎥 1/ www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
It traces the ongoing effects of the sudden shutdown of US foreign aid through the story of one mother in Kenya as she seeks to save her daughter from sickness and starvation. 🎥 1/ www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
www.newyorker.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:34 PM
See the film and my update on the ongoing, pointless, man-made loss of life here: bsky.app/profile/agaw...
Reposted by Myles Helfand
I helped make a film, out this week, called “Rovina’s Choice,” about the deaths this man without conscience or accountability has caused — already 600,000, ⅔ of them children.
November 6, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I helped make a film, out this week, called “Rovina’s Choice,” about the deaths this man without conscience or accountability has caused — already 600,000, ⅔ of them children.
Reposted by Myles Helfand
HIVMA and fellow members of the Emergency HIV Clinical Response Task Force warn that proposed federal funding cuts could severely disrupt HIV prevention, care, and treatment nationwide.
Learn more in the new data brief: https://bit.ly/3LnWEHt
Learn more in the new data brief: https://bit.ly/3LnWEHt
National HIV Clinician Survey Warns of HIV Service Disruptions
bit.ly
November 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
HIVMA and fellow members of the Emergency HIV Clinical Response Task Force warn that proposed federal funding cuts could severely disrupt HIV prevention, care, and treatment nationwide.
Learn more in the new data brief: https://bit.ly/3LnWEHt
Learn more in the new data brief: https://bit.ly/3LnWEHt
Reposted by Myles Helfand
Putting on my public health hat.
While there are some notable exceptions, note that this map of NYC roughly tracks patterns for poverty, HIV, diabetes, etc.
It also represents the power of the people.
While there are some notable exceptions, note that this map of NYC roughly tracks patterns for poverty, HIV, diabetes, etc.
It also represents the power of the people.
November 5, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Putting on my public health hat.
While there are some notable exceptions, note that this map of NYC roughly tracks patterns for poverty, HIV, diabetes, etc.
It also represents the power of the people.
While there are some notable exceptions, note that this map of NYC roughly tracks patterns for poverty, HIV, diabetes, etc.
It also represents the power of the people.
Reposted by Myles Helfand
#BHIVA issues update to #HIV guidelines for adults. We explain the main changes here:
i-base.info/htb/52587
#HIVsky #HIVguidelines #HIVtreatment #HIVpositive #PLWH #HIVscience #Undetectable #UequalsU #InjectableART #LongActingART #abacavir #cabotegravir @bhiva.bsky.social @bashhuk.bsky.social
i-base.info/htb/52587
#HIVsky #HIVguidelines #HIVtreatment #HIVpositive #PLWH #HIVscience #Undetectable #UequalsU #InjectableART #LongActingART #abacavir #cabotegravir @bhiva.bsky.social @bashhuk.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 4:07 PM
#BHIVA issues update to #HIV guidelines for adults. We explain the main changes here:
i-base.info/htb/52587
#HIVsky #HIVguidelines #HIVtreatment #HIVpositive #PLWH #HIVscience #Undetectable #UequalsU #InjectableART #LongActingART #abacavir #cabotegravir @bhiva.bsky.social @bashhuk.bsky.social
i-base.info/htb/52587
#HIVsky #HIVguidelines #HIVtreatment #HIVpositive #PLWH #HIVscience #Undetectable #UequalsU #InjectableART #LongActingART #abacavir #cabotegravir @bhiva.bsky.social @bashhuk.bsky.social
"We are also watching a tide of rapidly diversifying HIV leadership. And it’s coming at a time when the stakes have never been higher—and the political situation may have never been more challenging—for the communities that this leadership represents." —Ace Robinson www.thebody.com/hiv/hiv-new-...
This Moment Calls for a New Brand of Heroes in HIV—And They’ve Arrived
We’re watching a tide of rapidly diversifying HIV leadership. And it’s coming at a time when the stakes have never been higher—and the political situation may have never been more challenging—for the ...
www.thebody.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:47 PM
"We are also watching a tide of rapidly diversifying HIV leadership. And it’s coming at a time when the stakes have never been higher—and the political situation may have never been more challenging—for the communities that this leadership represents." —Ace Robinson www.thebody.com/hiv/hiv-new-...
Reposted by Myles Helfand
🗓️ June 5, 1981: five cases of Pneumocystis Pneumonia, one report, a global awakening.
💙 The MMWR gave voice to what became the HIV/AIDS epidemic—and countless public-health moments since.
🕯️ Honoring the science and reporting that save lives.
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview...
#MMWR #CDCSavesLives
💙 The MMWR gave voice to what became the HIV/AIDS epidemic—and countless public-health moments since.
🕯️ Honoring the science and reporting that save lives.
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview...
#MMWR #CDCSavesLives
October 23, 2025 at 5:56 PM
🗓️ June 5, 1981: five cases of Pneumocystis Pneumonia, one report, a global awakening.
💙 The MMWR gave voice to what became the HIV/AIDS epidemic—and countless public-health moments since.
🕯️ Honoring the science and reporting that save lives.
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview...
#MMWR #CDCSavesLives
💙 The MMWR gave voice to what became the HIV/AIDS epidemic—and countless public-health moments since.
🕯️ Honoring the science and reporting that save lives.
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview...
#MMWR #CDCSavesLives
Hard to beat Aidsmap if you want to stay abreast of EACS (or Glasgow, in even-numbered years) highlights! These meetings always contain at least a handful of valuable new data drops relevant to HIV clinical care, treatment, and prevention.
EACS 2025, organised by @eacsociety.bsky.social, is currently taking place in Paris, France. As well as publishing news from #EACS2025, we'll be sending out a summary bulletin next week (in English only). Make sure you've subscribed! https://www.aidsmap.com/subscribe
October 17, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Hard to beat Aidsmap if you want to stay abreast of EACS (or Glasgow, in even-numbered years) highlights! These meetings always contain at least a handful of valuable new data drops relevant to HIV clinical care, treatment, and prevention.
Reposted by Myles Helfand
#Breaking: Medicare payments to doctors paused as government shutdown drags on www.statnews.com/2025/10/15/c...
Medicare payments to doctors paused as government shutdown drags on
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is pausing Medicare payments to doctors, as negotiations tied to the government shutdown drag on.
www.statnews.com
October 15, 2025 at 10:34 PM
#Breaking: Medicare payments to doctors paused as government shutdown drags on www.statnews.com/2025/10/15/c...
From @jeremyfaust.bsky.social: “I was also told that RIF’d editors of the CDC’s flagship scientific journal, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report have all been recalled, as well as leaders and staffers in several other centers and divisions.” open.substack.com/pub/insideme...
Breaking News: RIFs in reverse. Some CDC workers have been brought back, in latest whiplash.
This is breaking news.
open.substack.com
October 12, 2025 at 12:30 AM
From @jeremyfaust.bsky.social: “I was also told that RIF’d editors of the CDC’s flagship scientific journal, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report have all been recalled, as well as leaders and staffers in several other centers and divisions.” open.substack.com/pub/insideme...
Reposted by Myles Helfand
Infectious diseases hit red states. Overdoses too. And cancer. And traffic injuries. And congenital diseases. In some of these cases, red states are affected more heavily bc they lack Medicaid expansion and/or protective laws.
Destroying the CDC serves no one. No one.
Destroying the CDC serves no one. No one.
NEW: @CDCgov hit hard by massive firings that several staff describe to me as a “bloodbath.”
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
Among those RIFd:
—leadership of the center for immunization and respiratory diseases;
—leadership of global health center
—leadership of the measles outbreak response; 1/4
October 11, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Infectious diseases hit red states. Overdoses too. And cancer. And traffic injuries. And congenital diseases. In some of these cases, red states are affected more heavily bc they lack Medicaid expansion and/or protective laws.
Destroying the CDC serves no one. No one.
Destroying the CDC serves no one. No one.
Reposted by Myles Helfand
>> which is the lesson!
Fighting back against Vought is worth it & is essential. In this case, Vought is still trying to choke out apportionment of PEPFAR funds. We won't stop until it those life saving funds are released & until Vought's reign is ended /END www.politico.com/live-updates...
Fighting back against Vought is worth it & is essential. In this case, Vought is still trying to choke out apportionment of PEPFAR funds. We won't stop until it those life saving funds are released & until Vought's reign is ended /END www.politico.com/live-updates...
Global AIDS funding to be pulled from Trump clawbacks request
The White House is backing off $400 million in proposed PEPFAR cuts due to GOP objections.
www.politico.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:53 PM
>> which is the lesson!
Fighting back against Vought is worth it & is essential. In this case, Vought is still trying to choke out apportionment of PEPFAR funds. We won't stop until it those life saving funds are released & until Vought's reign is ended /END www.politico.com/live-updates...
Fighting back against Vought is worth it & is essential. In this case, Vought is still trying to choke out apportionment of PEPFAR funds. We won't stop until it those life saving funds are released & until Vought's reign is ended /END www.politico.com/live-updates...
Impressive, thorough walkthrough from @kff.org here! It's a little more geared toward folks who are immersed in policy/access than to people living with HIV who rely on ACA Marketplace plans or Ryan White care or the like, but a valuable resource regardless during an uncertain moment for care access
via @kff.org F - How Might Expiring Premium Tax Credits Impact People with HIV? www.kff.org/hiv-aids/how...
How Might Expiring Premium Tax Credits Impact People with HIV? | KFF
This issue brief provides an overview of the potential impact not extending enhanced ACA premium tax credits could have on people with HIV and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Enhanced credits have im...
www.kff.org
October 8, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Impressive, thorough walkthrough from @kff.org here! It's a little more geared toward folks who are immersed in policy/access than to people living with HIV who rely on ACA Marketplace plans or Ryan White care or the like, but a valuable resource regardless during an uncertain moment for care access
"'It’s not surprising, but it’s still incredibly disappointing,' says [ousted NIAID Director Jeanne] Marrazzo, who found her letter in a torn UPS Express package yesterday after returning from a week at the beach." www.science.org/content/arti...
After months in limbo, four NIH institute directors fired
Two leaders removed by Trump administration had hoped to stay at agency as in-house investigators
www.science.org
October 2, 2025 at 4:02 PM
"'It’s not surprising, but it’s still incredibly disappointing,' says [ousted NIAID Director Jeanne] Marrazzo, who found her letter in a torn UPS Express package yesterday after returning from a week at the beach." www.science.org/content/arti...