Stephanie M. Lee
@stephaniemlee.bsky.social
Senior writer at @chronicle.com, writing about scholarship, scholars, and society. [email protected] / Signal: stephaniemlee.07 / stephaniemlee.com / San Francisco
Pinned
Jonathan Haidt Started a Social-Media War. Did He Win?
When a study challenged his bestselling book’s thesis — that social media harms kids — the New York University psychologist fired back. That was just the beginning.
www.chronicle.com
Hi! I'm at The Chronicle of Higher Education, where I write about debates and interesting people in the world of academic research. I used to be an investigative science reporter at BuzzFeed News.
My latest story: www.chronicle.com/article/jona...
I'm always looking for ideas — DM/email me!
My latest story: www.chronicle.com/article/jona...
I'm always looking for ideas — DM/email me!
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
If you were interested in this NYT piece from a couple of days ago, read our coverage of Epstein's links with Krauss and other scientists at BuzzFeed News from 2018 and 2019:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pete...
www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pete...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pete...
www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pete...
Celebrity Atheist Lawrence Krauss Accused Of Sexual Misconduct For Over A Decade
Lawrence Krauss is a famous atheist and liberal crusader — and, in certain whisper networks, a well-known problem. With women coming forward alleging sexual harassment, will his “skeptic” fanbase beli...
www.buzzfeednews.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:40 AM
If you were interested in this NYT piece from a couple of days ago, read our coverage of Epstein's links with Krauss and other scientists at BuzzFeed News from 2018 and 2019:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pete...
www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pete...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/u...
www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pete...
www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pete...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
exclusive: Rick Pazdur, the official just tapped by Trump administration to be FDA's top drug regulator has privately warned that some of the agency's new initiatives could be illegal and dangerous.
w @rachelroubein.bsky.social
w @rachelroubein.bsky.social
Top FDA drug regulator raises alarms about expediting approvals
Richard Pazdur, who assumed his new role this month, has warned that new Trump administration initiatives could be illegal and pose a risk to public health.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:22 PM
exclusive: Rick Pazdur, the official just tapped by Trump administration to be FDA's top drug regulator has privately warned that some of the agency's new initiatives could be illegal and dangerous.
w @rachelroubein.bsky.social
w @rachelroubein.bsky.social
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
NEW: The leading organization for music scholars — the American Musicological Society — is facing an uproar from hundreds of its members, who are threatening a boycott unless it meets a chorus of demands. www.chronicle.com/article/why-...
Why a Musicology Society’s Members Are in Revolt
The leading organization for music scholars is facing an uproar from hundreds of members, who are threatening a boycott unless it meets a chorus of demands.
www.chronicle.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:55 PM
NEW: The leading organization for music scholars — the American Musicological Society — is facing an uproar from hundreds of its members, who are threatening a boycott unless it meets a chorus of demands. www.chronicle.com/article/why-...
NEW: The leading organization for music scholars — the American Musicological Society — is facing an uproar from hundreds of its members, who are threatening a boycott unless it meets a chorus of demands. www.chronicle.com/article/why-...
Why a Musicology Society’s Members Are in Revolt
The leading organization for music scholars is facing an uproar from hundreds of members, who are threatening a boycott unless it meets a chorus of demands.
www.chronicle.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:55 PM
NEW: The leading organization for music scholars — the American Musicological Society — is facing an uproar from hundreds of its members, who are threatening a boycott unless it meets a chorus of demands. www.chronicle.com/article/why-...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
Jeffrey Epstein’s close ties to researchers and higher education has long been well documented. Newly released documents reveal researchers Epstein supported long turned to Epstein for advice on research, personal relationships, and even sexual harassment allegations. https://chroni.cl/44kNSR4
Jeffrey Epstein’s Inbox Reveals His Deep Ties to Prominent Researchers
In emails between the disgraced financier and researchers he supported, they asked for funding, expressed gratitude, and sought advice on how to deal with sexual-misconduct allegations.
chroni.cl
November 19, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Jeffrey Epstein’s close ties to researchers and higher education has long been well documented. Newly released documents reveal researchers Epstein supported long turned to Epstein for advice on research, personal relationships, and even sexual harassment allegations. https://chroni.cl/44kNSR4
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
#BREAKING: Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Summers Will Not Finish Semester of Teaching as Harvard Investigates Epstein Ties | News | The Harvard Crimson
Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey E. Epstein.
www.thecrimson.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:30 AM
#BREAKING: Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
After a bird flu outbreak tore through Midwestern barns, killing millions of chickens and spiking egg prices, the federal government didn’t investigate if the virus was airborne.
So ProPublica did.
Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/bird...
So ProPublica did.
Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/bird...
What the U.S. Government Is Dismissing That Could Seed a Bird Flu Pandemic
Egg producers suspect bird flu is traveling through the air. After a disastrous Midwestern outbreak early this year, we tested that theory and found that where the wind blew, the virus followed. Vacci...
www.propublica.org
November 18, 2025 at 6:53 PM
After a bird flu outbreak tore through Midwestern barns, killing millions of chickens and spiking egg prices, the federal government didn’t investigate if the virus was airborne.
So ProPublica did.
Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/bird...
So ProPublica did.
Absolutely terrifying reporting from @natlash.bsky.social:
www.propublica.org/article/bird...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
Former Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino has turned to podcasting to tell her story since losing tenure and leaving Harvard after being accused of manipulating data.
Evan H.C. Epstein and Graham W. Lee report.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Evan H.C. Epstein and Graham W. Lee report.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
‘In Defense of Francesca Gino’: HLS Professor Lawrence Lessig Uses Podcast to Tell Former HBS Professor’s Side in Tenure Denial Story | News | The Harvard Crimson
Former Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino, together with Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig, have turned to podcasting to tell her story since her tenure was revoked last…
www.thecrimson.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Former Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino has turned to podcasting to tell her story since losing tenure and leaving Harvard after being accused of manipulating data.
Evan H.C. Epstein and Graham W. Lee report.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Evan H.C. Epstein and Graham W. Lee report.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
So it seems Krauss forwarded an email from me to him asking for responses to allegations against him to Jeffrey Epstein, asking Epstein for advice on how to respond.
Here's Krauss emailing Epstein about the allegations detailed to him in @peteraldhous.com's email. Notably, Krauss does not deny #6 (that he groped a woman's breast during a selfie).
November 13, 2025 at 3:58 AM
So it seems Krauss forwarded an email from me to him asking for responses to allegations against him to Jeffrey Epstein, asking Epstein for advice on how to respond.
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
New from me: Are the deals to save research funding good for research?
More and more scientists at Cornell, Columbia, and elsewhere are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented—some say mistaken—arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com/article/are-...
More and more scientists at Cornell, Columbia, and elsewhere are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented—some say mistaken—arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com/article/are-...
Are the Deals to Save Research Funding Good For Research?
More and more scientists are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented — some say mistaken — arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:49 PM
New from me: Are the deals to save research funding good for research?
More and more scientists at Cornell, Columbia, and elsewhere are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented—some say mistaken—arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com/article/are-...
More and more scientists at Cornell, Columbia, and elsewhere are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented—some say mistaken—arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com/article/are-...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
When former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers was pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, he turned to a longtime associate for guidance: Jeffrey E. Epstein.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
As Summers Sought Clandestine Relationship With Woman He Called a Mentee, Epstein Was His ‘Wing Man’ | News | The Harvard Crimson
When former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers was pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, he turned to a longtime associate for guidance: convicted sex offender…
www.thecrimson.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:45 AM
When former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers was pursuing a romantic relationship with a woman he described as a mentee, he turned to a longtime associate for guidance: Jeffrey E. Epstein.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
New from me: Are the deals to save research funding good for research?
More and more scientists at Cornell, Columbia, and elsewhere are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented—some say mistaken—arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com/article/are-...
More and more scientists at Cornell, Columbia, and elsewhere are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented—some say mistaken—arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com/article/are-...
Are the Deals to Save Research Funding Good For Research?
More and more scientists are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented — some say mistaken — arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:49 PM
New from me: Are the deals to save research funding good for research?
More and more scientists at Cornell, Columbia, and elsewhere are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented—some say mistaken—arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com/article/are-...
More and more scientists at Cornell, Columbia, and elsewhere are going back to work after their universities struck unprecedented—some say mistaken—arrangements with the Trump administration.
www.chronicle.com/article/are-...
"The report highlights a fundamental tension: If colleges that expand access to underserved students don’t have the capacity to adequately support them, are they setting up those students, and themselves, for failure?" www.chronicle.com/article/peop...
A ‘Steep Decline’ in Students’ Academic Preparation at UC-San Diego Struck a Nerve
Faculty members published a new report documenting the subpar math and writing skills of the first-year class at one of the nation’s most selective institutions.
www.chronicle.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:11 PM
"The report highlights a fundamental tension: If colleges that expand access to underserved students don’t have the capacity to adequately support them, are they setting up those students, and themselves, for failure?" www.chronicle.com/article/peop...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
Amid an escalating debate over who exactly gets to decide who will lead Virginia's flagship, former president James E. Ryan -- who left amid DOJ scrutiny of UVA -- has decided now's the time to enter the fray.
For @chronicle.com: www.chronicle.com/article/stun...
For @chronicle.com: www.chronicle.com/article/stun...
‘Stunned and Angry’: James Ryan Gives First Detailed Account of His Ouster at UVa
In an expansive letter, the former University of Virginia president told the story of his resignation, blasting board members and saying the government had pledged to “bleed UVA white.”
www.chronicle.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Amid an escalating debate over who exactly gets to decide who will lead Virginia's flagship, former president James E. Ryan -- who left amid DOJ scrutiny of UVA -- has decided now's the time to enter the fray.
For @chronicle.com: www.chronicle.com/article/stun...
For @chronicle.com: www.chronicle.com/article/stun...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
According to a source, Jenna Norton, who led a letter criticizing Trump's decimation of the NIH (see below), has been placed on administrative leave. She's the first at NIH to be put on leave, joining EPA officials who criticized Trump policies.
www.pbs.org/newshour/nat...
www.pbs.org/newshour/nat...
NIH scientists publish letter criticizing Trump's deep cuts in public health research
The letter addresses the termination of 2,100 research grants valued at more than $12 billion and some of the human costs that have resulted, such as cutting off medication regimens to participants in...
www.pbs.org
November 13, 2025 at 8:58 PM
According to a source, Jenna Norton, who led a letter criticizing Trump's decimation of the NIH (see below), has been placed on administrative leave. She's the first at NIH to be put on leave, joining EPA officials who criticized Trump policies.
www.pbs.org/newshour/nat...
www.pbs.org/newshour/nat...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
After a bruising 42-day shutdown, the government has finally reopened. We took a look at what's next for federal science—how quickly things will get back up to speed and whether there will be long-term consequences.
With Jeff Tollefson and @alexwitze.bsky.social:
With Jeff Tollefson and @alexwitze.bsky.social:
The US government shutdown is over: what’s next for scientists
Government researchers are heading back to work, but questions about the size of research-budget cuts will extend into next year.
www.nature.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:40 PM
After a bruising 42-day shutdown, the government has finally reopened. We took a look at what's next for federal science—how quickly things will get back up to speed and whether there will be long-term consequences.
With Jeff Tollefson and @alexwitze.bsky.social:
With Jeff Tollefson and @alexwitze.bsky.social:
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
RFK Jr. has said he does not want to take vaccines away from Americans. But at a closed-door meeting of vaccine scientists in September, a top official at the FDA suggested doing just that. Here's how Vinay Prasad and Tracy Beth Høeg are reshaping vaccine regulation:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/f...
How two top FDA officials are quietly upending vaccine regulations
Vinay Prasad and Tracy Beth Høeg mix skepticism with new ways to define risk in pursuing sweeping changes to vaccine policy at the FDA.
www.statnews.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM
RFK Jr. has said he does not want to take vaccines away from Americans. But at a closed-door meeting of vaccine scientists in September, a top official at the FDA suggested doing just that. Here's how Vinay Prasad and Tracy Beth Høeg are reshaping vaccine regulation:
www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/f...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
A new “California Foundation for Science and Health Research” would become the state-run equivalent of the National Institutes of Health or the National Science Foundation.
Scientists and state Democrats seek $23 billion bond to backstop Trump research cuts
A new “California Foundation for Science and Health Research” would become the state-run equivalent of the National Institutes of Health or the National Science Foundation.
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 10:30 PM
A new “California Foundation for Science and Health Research” would become the state-run equivalent of the National Institutes of Health or the National Science Foundation.
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
Three German universities offering post-docs for researchers "who cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure. "
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
Early Career Rescue Fellowship
www.uni-konstanz.de
November 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Three German universities offering post-docs for researchers "who cannot conduct or continue their work in the USA appropriately because of actual political pressure. "
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
www.uni-konstanz.de/zukunftskoll...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
I like how the caption on this photo reads as if he's making a claim that could not be independently verified.
November 6, 2025 at 8:19 PM
I like how the caption on this photo reads as if he's making a claim that could not be independently verified.
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
I spoke to CNN about how demoralizing it was to watch Stanford leadership stay silent while contrarians on campus launched unscientific attacks to stifle Stanford researchers. Now, those attacks have gone nationwide and much of MAHA leadership have ties to Stanford.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/p...
The Trump-MAHA-Stanford nexus of US health policy | CNN Politics
In early 2022, Stanford medical student Santiago Sanchez set out to organize a campus debate with Jay Bhattacharya — a professor at the university whose outspoken denunciations of pandemic lockdowns m...
www.cnn.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I spoke to CNN about how demoralizing it was to watch Stanford leadership stay silent while contrarians on campus launched unscientific attacks to stifle Stanford researchers. Now, those attacks have gone nationwide and much of MAHA leadership have ties to Stanford.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/p...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
now they've done it www.wsj.com/world/europe...
Italian Pasta Is Poised to Disappear From American Grocery Shelves
The Trump administration is set to impose duties of 107% on Italian pasta imports, among most punitive of the tariffs it has levied.
www.wsj.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:51 PM
now they've done it www.wsj.com/world/europe...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
James Watson has died. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:43 PM
James Watson has died. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
"Cornell is the fourth institution to achieve an agreement with the Trump administration to restore federal money, following Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Brown University." www.chronicle.com/article/corn...
Cornell Will Pay $60 Million and Provide Admissions Data in Deal to Restore Federal Funding
The university, which had seen hundreds of millions of dollars frozen, said the deal “will enable us to return to our teaching and research in restored partnership with federal agencies.”
www.chronicle.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:28 PM
"Cornell is the fourth institution to achieve an agreement with the Trump administration to restore federal money, following Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Brown University." www.chronicle.com/article/corn...