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
For @chronicle.com, I wrote about a secret provost club. Well, formerly. www.chronicle.com/article/high...
Higher Ed’s Secret Provost Club
In 10U, chief academic officers at private research universities gather, share ideas, and commiserate.
www.chronicle.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:18 AM
For @chronicle.com, I wrote about a secret provost club. Well, formerly. www.chronicle.com/article/high...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
NEW: NeurIPS,one of the world’s top academic AI conferences, accepted research papers with 100+ AI-hallucinated citations, new report claims
fortune.com/2026/01/21/n...
fortune.com/2026/01/21/n...
NeurIPS papers contained 100+ AI-hallucinated citations, new report claims | Fortune
An analysis of NeurIPS 2025 papers by startup GPTZero reveals how AI-generated citations are slipping into elite academic research.
fortune.com
January 21, 2026 at 2:11 PM
NEW: NeurIPS,one of the world’s top academic AI conferences, accepted research papers with 100+ AI-hallucinated citations, new report claims
fortune.com/2026/01/21/n...
fortune.com/2026/01/21/n...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
Another expression of concern for former Stanford president Marc Tessier-Lavigne. Four of his papers have been retracted.
retractiondatabase.org/RetractionSe...
retractiondatabase.org/RetractionSe...
Editorial Expression of Concern: En passant neurotrophic action of an intermediate axonal target in the developing mammalian CNS - Nature
Nature - Editorial Expression of Concern: En passant neurotrophic action of an intermediate axonal target in the developing mammalian CNS
www.nature.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:27 PM
Another expression of concern for former Stanford president Marc Tessier-Lavigne. Four of his papers have been retracted.
retractiondatabase.org/RetractionSe...
retractiondatabase.org/RetractionSe...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
Kai's write up and @cailinmeister.bsky.social's thread do a great job of summarizing our results. Rather than cover them a third time, I thought I'd clarify some misconceptions over our piece and COIS more broadly that keep cropping up scattered across replies. 🧵🧪
One of the issues that has come up again and again in my reporting on misinformation and social media is the massive influence social media companies have on research in the field.
Last night a preprint dropped that tries to get at this with some numbers. My piece in @science.org (and 🧪🧵 coming):
Last night a preprint dropped that tries to get at this with some numbers. My piece in @science.org (and 🧪🧵 coming):
Nearly a third of social media research has undisclosed ties to industry, preprint claims
Industry-linked studies were also more likely to focus on particular topics, suggesting these ties may be skewing the field
www.science.org
January 19, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Kai's write up and @cailinmeister.bsky.social's thread do a great job of summarizing our results. Rather than cover them a third time, I thought I'd clarify some misconceptions over our piece and COIS more broadly that keep cropping up scattered across replies. 🧵🧪
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
Who is the Big Tobacco of today?
In new work, we find 50% of high profile social media papers are connected to big tech through funding, collaboration and employment. Most connections aren't disclosed. @jbakcoleman.bsky.social @jevinwest.bsky.social @carlbergstrom.com 1
arxiv.org/abs/2601.11507
In new work, we find 50% of high profile social media papers are connected to big tech through funding, collaboration and employment. Most connections aren't disclosed. @jbakcoleman.bsky.social @jevinwest.bsky.social @carlbergstrom.com 1
arxiv.org/abs/2601.11507
Industry Influence in High-Profile Social Media Research
To what extent is social media research independent from industry influence? Leveraging openly available data, we show that half of the research published in top journals has disclosable ties to indus...
arxiv.org
January 19, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Who is the Big Tobacco of today?
In new work, we find 50% of high profile social media papers are connected to big tech through funding, collaboration and employment. Most connections aren't disclosed. @jbakcoleman.bsky.social @jevinwest.bsky.social @carlbergstrom.com 1
arxiv.org/abs/2601.11507
In new work, we find 50% of high profile social media papers are connected to big tech through funding, collaboration and employment. Most connections aren't disclosed. @jbakcoleman.bsky.social @jevinwest.bsky.social @carlbergstrom.com 1
arxiv.org/abs/2601.11507
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
EXCLUSIVE: In my 1st @rollingstone.com story, internal
@hhsofficial.bsky.social emails show how 2 Danish scientists accused of "questionable research practices" got a $1.6 million grant aligned w/ Sec. Kennedy's theories to study HepB vaccine in Guinea-Bissau: rollingstone.com/politics/pol... /1
@hhsofficial.bsky.social emails show how 2 Danish scientists accused of "questionable research practices" got a $1.6 million grant aligned w/ Sec. Kennedy's theories to study HepB vaccine in Guinea-Bissau: rollingstone.com/politics/pol... /1
HHS Gave a $1.6 Million Grant to a Controversial Vaccine Study. These Emails Show How That Happened
Two Danish researchers faced accusations of “questionable research practices” as RFK Jr.’s top appointees made their study a “funding priority”
rollingstone.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:31 PM
EXCLUSIVE: In my 1st @rollingstone.com story, internal
@hhsofficial.bsky.social emails show how 2 Danish scientists accused of "questionable research practices" got a $1.6 million grant aligned w/ Sec. Kennedy's theories to study HepB vaccine in Guinea-Bissau: rollingstone.com/politics/pol... /1
@hhsofficial.bsky.social emails show how 2 Danish scientists accused of "questionable research practices" got a $1.6 million grant aligned w/ Sec. Kennedy's theories to study HepB vaccine in Guinea-Bissau: rollingstone.com/politics/pol... /1
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
This study is like the Schrodinger's Cat of vaccine research. The Africa CDC says it's been canceled. HHS says it's not.
Controversial CDC Vaccine Study in Guinea-Bissau May Be Canceled
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Controversial CDC Vaccine Study in Guinea-Bissau May Be Canceled
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Controversial CDC Vaccine Study in Guinea-Bissau May Be Canceled
www.cidrap.umn.edu
January 15, 2026 at 10:42 PM
This study is like the Schrodinger's Cat of vaccine research. The Africa CDC says it's been canceled. HHS says it's not.
Controversial CDC Vaccine Study in Guinea-Bissau May Be Canceled
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Controversial CDC Vaccine Study in Guinea-Bissau May Be Canceled
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
We have the CDC-funded Hepatitis Vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau protocol.
It’s worse than you thought.
Check it out, first in Inside Medicine…
with @pauloffit.bsky.social David Boulware and others.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
It’s worse than you thought.
Check it out, first in Inside Medicine…
with @pauloffit.bsky.social David Boulware and others.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
Scoop: The leaked protocol of the CDC-funded Hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau. “This is another Tuskegee.”
The protocol reveals that the trial will withhold the Hepatitis B birth dose from thousands—without placebos, without universal maternal screening, and with endpoints critics call indefensible.
insidemedicine.substack.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:57 AM
We have the CDC-funded Hepatitis Vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau protocol.
It’s worse than you thought.
Check it out, first in Inside Medicine…
with @pauloffit.bsky.social David Boulware and others.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
It’s worse than you thought.
Check it out, first in Inside Medicine…
with @pauloffit.bsky.social David Boulware and others.
insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-the-...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, sent hundreds of letters late Tuesday to nonprofits informing them their grants had been cut because their programs “no longer effectuates” the agency’s priorities. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...
Trump administration slashes grants for mental health, addiction
The extent of the SAMHSA cuts remains unclear but appear to broadly target more than 2,000 grants totaling nearly $2 billion.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:00 PM
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA, sent hundreds of letters late Tuesday to nonprofits informing them their grants had been cut because their programs “no longer effectuates” the agency’s priorities. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
Is the Republican chairman of U. of Florida’s Board of Trustees the only thing standing between Gator Nation and a full-fledged MAGA takeover? www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
Inside a GOP Megadonor’s Inner-Party Feud Over a Red-State Flagship
Mori Hosseini is the most powerful person at the University of Florida. Can he prevent a MAGA takeover?
www.chronicle.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Is the Republican chairman of U. of Florida’s Board of Trustees the only thing standing between Gator Nation and a full-fledged MAGA takeover? www.chronicle.com/article/the-...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
This is an outrage. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Read @hannahnatanson.bsky.social's work:
* www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
* www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
* www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Read @hannahnatanson.bsky.social's work:
* www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
* www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
* www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
F.B.I. Searches Home of Washington Post Journalist for Classified Documents
www.nytimes.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
Confirming the NYT's reporting: FBI agents arrived at Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's home this morning and conducted a search. Natanson penned this outstanding first-person piece last month about being "the federal government whisperer." www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
I am The Post’s ‘federal government whisperer.’ It’s been brutal.
One reporter’s effort to show how Trump was transforming government brought her 1,168 new sources — and nearly broke her.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Confirming the NYT's reporting: FBI agents arrived at Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's home this morning and conducted a search. Natanson penned this outstanding first-person piece last month about being "the federal government whisperer." www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
I stand with @hannahnatanson.bsky.social, a terrific reporter whose excellent coverage speaks for itself.
FBI executes search warrant at Washington Post reporter’s home
The reporter, Hannah Natanson, covers the federal workforce and has been part of The Post’s most sensitive coverage of the first year of the second Trump administration.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:17 PM
I stand with @hannahnatanson.bsky.social, a terrific reporter whose excellent coverage speaks for itself.
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
It would appear I am now a columnist at Inside Higher Ed. My first piece focuses on McCarthyism, censorship, and our current moment in higher education. This is an essay I started nearly 6 months ago so I'm glad to finally share it with y'all.
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...
Censorship Arrives on Campus
In her debut column, “Echoes in the Quad,” higher education policy scholar Dominique J. Baker explores how the political oppression of the McCarthy era reverberates in the stifling of academic freedom...
www.insidehighered.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:24 PM
It would appear I am now a columnist at Inside Higher Ed. My first piece focuses on McCarthyism, censorship, and our current moment in higher education. This is an essay I started nearly 6 months ago so I'm glad to finally share it with y'all.
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...
"Professor suspended after Japanese university finds fishy results in sushi paper" retractionwatch.com/2026/01/12/p...
Professor suspended after Japanese university finds fishy results in sushi paper
Iwate University A university in Japan has suspended a fishery science professor for a month after its investigation found fabrication in a retracted paper on fish freezing. According to the …
retractionwatch.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:39 PM
"Professor suspended after Japanese university finds fishy results in sushi paper" retractionwatch.com/2026/01/12/p...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
“We can no longer lend our credibility to an organization that has lost its integrity… each of us independently reached the decision to resign in protest of the actions of an administration that treats science not as a process for building knowledge, but as a means to advance its political agenda.”
The NIH has lost its scientific integrity. So we left
“We can no longer lend our credibility to an organization that has lost its integrity,” write four scientists and administrators who recently resigned from the NIH.
www.statnews.com
January 10, 2026 at 2:07 PM
“We can no longer lend our credibility to an organization that has lost its integrity… each of us independently reached the decision to resign in protest of the actions of an administration that treats science not as a process for building knowledge, but as a means to advance its political agenda.”
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
For anyone interested in the new Dietary Guidelines, here's a breakdown and my thoughts:
kcklatt.substack.com/p/ambiguous-...
kcklatt.substack.com/p/ambiguous-...
Ambiguous DGAs & The Rancher's Pyramid
Tame on the surface, more underneath
kcklatt.substack.com
January 8, 2026 at 3:40 PM
For anyone interested in the new Dietary Guidelines, here's a breakdown and my thoughts:
kcklatt.substack.com/p/ambiguous-...
kcklatt.substack.com/p/ambiguous-...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
Panel behind new dietary guidelines had financial ties to beef, dairy industries, via @statnews.com
Panel behind new dietary guidelines had financial ties to beef, dairy industries
The industry connections of an advisory panel for the new dietary guidelines are notable, especially in light of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s criticism of corporate influence.
www.statnews.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Panel behind new dietary guidelines had financial ties to beef, dairy industries, via @statnews.com
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
Don't forget to register! TOMORROW @healthjournalism.org hosts a webinar with Expert Vaccine Analysis Team re the MAJOR overhaul to the #CDC rec'd children's #immunization schedule. Find out what #vaccine recs changed, what it means & if insurance will cover them healthjournalism.org/event/big-ch...
Big changes to the CDC's childhood vaccine schedule: What you need to know
This week, the CDC shifted six vaccines on the childhood vaccine schedule from "recommended" to "shared clinical decision-making."
healthjournalism.org
January 8, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Don't forget to register! TOMORROW @healthjournalism.org hosts a webinar with Expert Vaccine Analysis Team re the MAJOR overhaul to the #CDC rec'd children's #immunization schedule. Find out what #vaccine recs changed, what it means & if insurance will cover them healthjournalism.org/event/big-ch...
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).
January 8, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Martin Peterson's creative response to being banned from teaching Plato (shared with his permission).
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
NOW: Crowd continues to grow in Minneapolis at a vigil where a federal agent shot and killed Renee Good this morning.
“SAY HER NAME!”
“RENEE GOOD!”
“SAY HER NAME!”
“RENEE GOOD!”
January 7, 2026 at 11:22 PM
NOW: Crowd continues to grow in Minneapolis at a vigil where a federal agent shot and killed Renee Good this morning.
“SAY HER NAME!”
“RENEE GOOD!”
“SAY HER NAME!”
“RENEE GOOD!”
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
My very smart colleagues are doing excellent coverage of the ICE shooting in Minneapolis today. I would urge you to follow along with local sources familiar with the area and the residents here.
Live: Mayor Frey blasts ICE in fiery response to fatal shooting
The mayor called for calm after a fatal shooting by an immigration agent in south Minneapolis. ICE said the agent acted defensively.
www.startribune.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:06 PM
My very smart colleagues are doing excellent coverage of the ICE shooting in Minneapolis today. I would urge you to follow along with local sources familiar with the area and the residents here.
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
NEW: Publishers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announce they are shutting down the newspaper on May 3, 2026.
Hours ago, the Supreme Court of the US declined to extend a stay on a court order for the paper to pay its journalists following the end of a 3-year strike.
Hours ago, the Supreme Court of the US declined to extend a stay on a court order for the paper to pay its journalists following the end of a 3-year strike.
January 7, 2026 at 6:31 PM
NEW: Publishers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announce they are shutting down the newspaper on May 3, 2026.
Hours ago, the Supreme Court of the US declined to extend a stay on a court order for the paper to pay its journalists following the end of a 3-year strike.
Hours ago, the Supreme Court of the US declined to extend a stay on a court order for the paper to pay its journalists following the end of a 3-year strike.
a huge victory for universities, worth billions of dollars: Trump can’t cap indirect-cost rates on NIH grants, appeals court rules
www.chronicle.com/blogs/the-tr... via @andyandy.bsky.social
www.chronicle.com/blogs/the-tr... via @andyandy.bsky.social
Trump Can’t Cap Overhead Rate on NIH Grants to Research Universities, Appeals Court Rules
The ruling is a victory for higher-education associations who challenged the proposed 15-percent cap, calling it illegal and claiming it would devastate the research enterprise.
www.chronicle.com
January 6, 2026 at 6:29 PM
a huge victory for universities, worth billions of dollars: Trump can’t cap indirect-cost rates on NIH grants, appeals court rules
www.chronicle.com/blogs/the-tr... via @andyandy.bsky.social
www.chronicle.com/blogs/the-tr... via @andyandy.bsky.social
Reposted by Stephanie M. Lee
Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has revealed that he’s helping Francesca Gino, the honesty researcher who was fired from Harvard for research misconduct. “We will provide whatever resources she needs to clear her name,” he wrote.
New from me: www.chronicle.com/article/an-i...
New from me: www.chronicle.com/article/an-i...
An Influential Billionaire Is Funding a Disgraced Scientist’s Fight Against Harvard
Bill Ackman said on X that he’s been backing Francesca Gino, the embattled honesty researcher, in her lawsuit against Harvard since June 2024.
www.chronicle.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has revealed that he’s helping Francesca Gino, the honesty researcher who was fired from Harvard for research misconduct. “We will provide whatever resources she needs to clear her name,” he wrote.
New from me: www.chronicle.com/article/an-i...
New from me: www.chronicle.com/article/an-i...