Media wish: stop describing such things as attacks on institutions, which need no food, shelter, medical care, etc. and have no capacity to suffer. These are attacks on *PEOPLE* (workers). (Aside: the time-honored way to change policy and minimize suffering is to do it slowly, with advanced notice.)

"The core strategy Republicans seem to be employing is to slow NIH spending as much as possible to generate budget surpluses, and then use those surpluses as justification for slashing the NIH budget." donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nih-bu...

A big difference is that the market of which we speak is not one in which the average American participates (e.g., grants and papers vs gasoline and groceries). We are, therefore, easily characterized as in an out-of-touch bubble, whether warranted or not (same for billionaires, by the way).

Study after study shows that Medicaid work requirements don't increase employment but do decrease insurance rates. GOP knows this. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...

Keep an eye on Fed Reserve and BLS data. Logical next targets if you wanted to invent your own "reality" (as the economy tanks). I'm sure there are other data sources I haven't thought of, but watch those too.

I predict clamp downs on all data access. For researchers that remain employed, consider data from health systems and other creative approaches (e.g., using Google/AI queries). Also, maybe some states/entitles will collaborate to cobble some things together.

ChatGPT, so grain of salt.

For my friends not in health policy land (with other jobs and busy lives) who want to know: Where's the list of non-jargon, non-belabored, easy-to-digest ways what is happening will affect them? (Yes, I am asking for my friends! I don't have time to explain it to everyone.)

Add AI to the massive disruptors.

Think of it this way: One day we'll be VERY excited that fire has been provided, having long forgotten that our stoves and ovens, and that which fuels them, were smashed.

A compassionate space for federal government workers. Details at the link: www.linkedin.com/posts/afrakt...

Thank you for naming why I went fetal for some time today. Actually, doing that with enough frequency that it's become a core workout.

Superb articulation of the value of VA research. Proud that it cites work by me and colleagues. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Social Security, a BFD. www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=... (Over half the sample had savings below $5000)

“'I’m ready to walk away if it comes to it,' she wrote to her manager... 'I get it,' the manager replied. 'Many of us are ready to walk away.'”
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/u...