Gwen Brandt
@dancnlizard.bsky.social
geriatrician, family medicine trained, gamer, outdoor enthusiast, wife to an ER doc, mother, she/her
Michigan Aotearoa/NZ
Michigan Aotearoa/NZ
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
“This is the strongest critique of New Zealand CERD has ever issued. Unlike the 2017 review, which acknowledged progress, this report finds virtually no positive steps on Māori rights or racial equity.”
Pretty clear why the coalition have been so eager to discredit the UN.
Pretty clear why the coalition have been so eager to discredit the UN.
It's so bad, we now have an article in the international edition of The Guardian.
“unprecedented in both its length and its language”
@evacorlett.bsky.social doing some of her best work, again.
#nzpol
“unprecedented in both its length and its language”
@evacorlett.bsky.social doing some of her best work, again.
#nzpol
UN report sounds alarm over Māori rights in New Zealand
UN committee raised concerns over government policies including scrapping the Māori Health Authority and funding cuts for Indigenous services
www.theguardian.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:03 AM
“This is the strongest critique of New Zealand CERD has ever issued. Unlike the 2017 review, which acknowledged progress, this report finds virtually no positive steps on Māori rights or racial equity.”
Pretty clear why the coalition have been so eager to discredit the UN.
Pretty clear why the coalition have been so eager to discredit the UN.
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
Thank you NZ Greens for saying this so clearly.
December 8, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Thank you NZ Greens for saying this so clearly.
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
Know your rights. Protect your neighbors.
New York is — and always will be — a city for all immigrants.
New York is — and always will be — a city for all immigrants.
December 7, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Know your rights. Protect your neighbors.
New York is — and always will be — a city for all immigrants.
New York is — and always will be — a city for all immigrants.
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
Read this: www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...
December 7, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Read this: www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
The 14th Amendment doesn’t mince words — birthright citizenship is a constitutionally protected right.
We’re fighting at the Supreme Court against President Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship.
We’re fighting at the Supreme Court against President Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship.
December 6, 2025 at 7:12 PM
The 14th Amendment doesn’t mince words — birthright citizenship is a constitutionally protected right.
We’re fighting at the Supreme Court against President Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship.
We’re fighting at the Supreme Court against President Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship.
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
ICE raided a James Beard award winning restaurant & because the chef/owner was prepared, left emptyhanded:
December 5, 2025 at 3:24 PM
ICE raided a James Beard award winning restaurant & because the chef/owner was prepared, left emptyhanded:
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
No one deserves to starve.
No one deserves to starve.
No one deserves to starve.
Most SNAP recipients work. They need SNAP because corporations refuse to pay a living wage.
The rest are disabled, elderly or unpaid caregivers.
People should be fed. Period.
No one deserves to starve.
No one deserves to starve.
Most SNAP recipients work. They need SNAP because corporations refuse to pay a living wage.
The rest are disabled, elderly or unpaid caregivers.
People should be fed. Period.
December 5, 2025 at 6:03 AM
No one deserves to starve.
No one deserves to starve.
No one deserves to starve.
Most SNAP recipients work. They need SNAP because corporations refuse to pay a living wage.
The rest are disabled, elderly or unpaid caregivers.
People should be fed. Period.
No one deserves to starve.
No one deserves to starve.
Most SNAP recipients work. They need SNAP because corporations refuse to pay a living wage.
The rest are disabled, elderly or unpaid caregivers.
People should be fed. Period.
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
For anyone who believes the private sector can replace public investment in science: no, it's never going to come close.
It will never be cheaper to not have cures for diseases or to be beholden to someone for them. Health is a public service.
It will never be cheaper to not have cures for diseases or to be beholden to someone for them. Health is a public service.
Antiviral drug abandoned by pharma shows promise against dengue
A daily pill can prevent the crippling disease, but its maker won’t bring it to market
www.science.org
December 5, 2025 at 2:36 PM
For anyone who believes the private sector can replace public investment in science: no, it's never going to come close.
It will never be cheaper to not have cures for diseases or to be beholden to someone for them. Health is a public service.
It will never be cheaper to not have cures for diseases or to be beholden to someone for them. Health is a public service.
👇👇
The CDC is compromised and is advocating against evidence-based public health.
This is a pro-death and pro-disease recommendation.
This is a pro-death and pro-disease recommendation.
This regressive move will literally kill people. It's making kids' liver cancer great again. And it's a sign of more harm to come.
CDC panel recommends delaying birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c... via @statnews.com
CDC panel recommends delaying birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine www.statnews.com/2025/12/05/c... via @statnews.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:09 PM
👇👇
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
Bad framing: ACIP voted to scrap the universal hepatitis B vaccine recommendation for newborns.
Accurate framing: Anti-vax conspiracy theorists appointed to ACIP by Robert Kennedy Jr., who made a fortune as an anti-vax profiteer, voted to expose babies to a preventable, incurable, deadly illness.
Accurate framing: Anti-vax conspiracy theorists appointed to ACIP by Robert Kennedy Jr., who made a fortune as an anti-vax profiteer, voted to expose babies to a preventable, incurable, deadly illness.
December 5, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Bad framing: ACIP voted to scrap the universal hepatitis B vaccine recommendation for newborns.
Accurate framing: Anti-vax conspiracy theorists appointed to ACIP by Robert Kennedy Jr., who made a fortune as an anti-vax profiteer, voted to expose babies to a preventable, incurable, deadly illness.
Accurate framing: Anti-vax conspiracy theorists appointed to ACIP by Robert Kennedy Jr., who made a fortune as an anti-vax profiteer, voted to expose babies to a preventable, incurable, deadly illness.
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
ACIP voted to stop recommending the Hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, even though only 1/2 of infant Hep B infections come from the birthing parent and infant infections run a 90% risk of chronic Hepatitis B which is a/w cirrhosis and liver cancer. I wrote about the importance of Hep B vaccination 👇
These are the top 5 questions/concerns I’ve gotten about the press conference on autism:
-the “Harvard” study tho
-what about “trusting the science”?
-shouldn’t we warn people even if it’s just a correlation?
-but Tylenol said don’t take it!
-Hep B vaccine for newborns
Asked and answered 👇
-the “Harvard” study tho
-what about “trusting the science”?
-shouldn’t we warn people even if it’s just a correlation?
-but Tylenol said don’t take it!
-Hep B vaccine for newborns
Asked and answered 👇
You asked. Here are the answers.
In the wake of the disastrous press conference on Tylenol and autism, a lot of you had questions about why I and so many other physicians have been so forcefully countering what was said.
arghavan.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:53 PM
ACIP voted to stop recommending the Hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, even though only 1/2 of infant Hep B infections come from the birthing parent and infant infections run a 90% risk of chronic Hepatitis B which is a/w cirrhosis and liver cancer. I wrote about the importance of Hep B vaccination 👇
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
As a member of the rainbow community I don’t think it’s okay that Labour still hasn’t put out an official press release supporting the trans community - regardless of whether they end up in a coalition with NZ First, I’ll remember that they didn’t use their platform - despite their stated values.
December 5, 2025 at 4:06 AM
As a member of the rainbow community I don’t think it’s okay that Labour still hasn’t put out an official press release supporting the trans community - regardless of whether they end up in a coalition with NZ First, I’ll remember that they didn’t use their platform - despite their stated values.
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
A startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s venture capital firm just got a $620M loan from the DoD, months after the Pentagon gave a major drone contract to ANOTHER Trump Jr.-backed company.
This is what kleptocracy looks like. https://popular.info/p/update-trump-jr-backed-startup-receives
This is what kleptocracy looks like. https://popular.info/p/update-trump-jr-backed-startup-receives
UPDATE: Trump Jr.-backed startup receives $620 million Pentagon loan
In October, Popular Information reported that the Pentagon awarded a contract to Unusual Machines, an obscure drone comp
popular.info
December 5, 2025 at 12:22 AM
A startup backed by Donald Trump Jr.'s venture capital firm just got a $620M loan from the DoD, months after the Pentagon gave a major drone contract to ANOTHER Trump Jr.-backed company.
This is what kleptocracy looks like. https://popular.info/p/update-trump-jr-backed-startup-receives
This is what kleptocracy looks like. https://popular.info/p/update-trump-jr-backed-startup-receives
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
NEW: The FDA’s new top drug regulator is “utterly unqualified” say experts.
Tracy Beth Høeg is a physical medicine doctor who became a right-wing star for her opposition to COVID-19 mitigation measures and questioning of the mRNA vaccines.
More here:
www.importantcontext.news/p/utterly-un...
Tracy Beth Høeg is a physical medicine doctor who became a right-wing star for her opposition to COVID-19 mitigation measures and questioning of the mRNA vaccines.
More here:
www.importantcontext.news/p/utterly-un...
“Utterly Unqualified”: Embattled FDA Taps Vaccine Opponent For Top Drug Regulator Position
Dr. Tracy Beth Høeg is a familiar name on the medical fringes.
www.importantcontext.news
December 4, 2025 at 10:59 PM
NEW: The FDA’s new top drug regulator is “utterly unqualified” say experts.
Tracy Beth Høeg is a physical medicine doctor who became a right-wing star for her opposition to COVID-19 mitigation measures and questioning of the mRNA vaccines.
More here:
www.importantcontext.news/p/utterly-un...
Tracy Beth Høeg is a physical medicine doctor who became a right-wing star for her opposition to COVID-19 mitigation measures and questioning of the mRNA vaccines.
More here:
www.importantcontext.news/p/utterly-un...
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
This is the story tonight. Every Dem who was in that room should be telling us what they saw.
Himes: "What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service ... any American who sees the video that I saw will see the US military attacking shipwrecked sailors."
December 4, 2025 at 10:37 PM
This is the story tonight. Every Dem who was in that room should be telling us what they saw.
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
The Association of Psychotherapists:
“This development overrides clinical judgment. It denies families a say in their own children’s healthcare, and it sets a dangerous precedent where politicians, not doctors, control treatment.
This ban will not protect young people — it will hurt many.”
“This development overrides clinical judgment. It denies families a say in their own children’s healthcare, and it sets a dangerous precedent where politicians, not doctors, control treatment.
This ban will not protect young people — it will hurt many.”
Government Ban On Puberty Blockers Puts Young Lives At Risk
Judgements and decisions around prescribing puberty blocker medications are clinical decisions which involve important and complex considerations.
www.scoop.co.nz
December 4, 2025 at 8:46 PM
The Association of Psychotherapists:
“This development overrides clinical judgment. It denies families a say in their own children’s healthcare, and it sets a dangerous precedent where politicians, not doctors, control treatment.
This ban will not protect young people — it will hurt many.”
“This development overrides clinical judgment. It denies families a say in their own children’s healthcare, and it sets a dangerous precedent where politicians, not doctors, control treatment.
This ban will not protect young people — it will hurt many.”
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
ACIP member Evelyn Griffin just mentioned “functional medicine” followed by a stream of nonsense.
Functional medicine has been widely discredited. It’s a rebrand of “alternative medicine”.
As Tim Minchin said, “alternative medicine that works is called MEDICINE”.
Functional medicine has been widely discredited. It’s a rebrand of “alternative medicine”.
As Tim Minchin said, “alternative medicine that works is called MEDICINE”.
December 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
ACIP member Evelyn Griffin just mentioned “functional medicine” followed by a stream of nonsense.
Functional medicine has been widely discredited. It’s a rebrand of “alternative medicine”.
As Tim Minchin said, “alternative medicine that works is called MEDICINE”.
Functional medicine has been widely discredited. It’s a rebrand of “alternative medicine”.
As Tim Minchin said, “alternative medicine that works is called MEDICINE”.
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
When your country's collective ability to bullshit on the internet is extensive enough to shape AI slop.
December 4, 2025 at 12:40 AM
When your country's collective ability to bullshit on the internet is extensive enough to shape AI slop.
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
More than 1 million bags of shredded cheese is being recalled because they may contain metal fragments.
This is what happens when you cut food safety standards and gut the FDA
If you have cheese by the Great Lakes Cheese Co sold at Walmart, Publix or Aldi…check recall alerts
This is what happens when you cut food safety standards and gut the FDA
If you have cheese by the Great Lakes Cheese Co sold at Walmart, Publix or Aldi…check recall alerts
1.5 million bags of shredded cheese have been recalled. Check your fridge for these brands
Shredded cheeses sold in stores such as Target, Walmart and Aldi have been recalled in 31 states, including California, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
www.latimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 11:02 PM
More than 1 million bags of shredded cheese is being recalled because they may contain metal fragments.
This is what happens when you cut food safety standards and gut the FDA
If you have cheese by the Great Lakes Cheese Co sold at Walmart, Publix or Aldi…check recall alerts
This is what happens when you cut food safety standards and gut the FDA
If you have cheese by the Great Lakes Cheese Co sold at Walmart, Publix or Aldi…check recall alerts
👇👇
What is lost in a lot of these headlines is the fact that these institutions are vanishing. This is a huge loss for everyone who may ever use a therapeutic medicine in the future. And it isn’t just limited to us unlucky Americans; destroying institutions like the US FDA will have global consequences
Four people familiar with the decision told Politico that Rick Pazdur, the top drug regulator at the FDA, submitted his resignation Tuesday, further roiling an agency that’s been upended by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
December 3, 2025 at 8:16 PM
👇👇
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
As part of its genocide in Gaza, Israel created the largest cohort of child amputees in modern history.
But the purple is pretty.
But the purple is pretty.
![Israel Foreign Ministry @IsraelMFA
X.com
We illuminated the Foreign Ministry in purple in honor of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities - a reminder of our commitment to inclusion, accessibility and a society where everyone can participate.
[photo of the exterior of a building surrounded by palms and bathed in purple light]
#DisabilityInclusion
#Accessibility](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gvda6fem6r7selm4gzjjww4a/bafkreifvthr5ate4grkyzcsrcjqcc5sdk6u4m66he2a2yeyhjl7bdxghuq@jpeg)
December 3, 2025 at 6:33 PM
As part of its genocide in Gaza, Israel created the largest cohort of child amputees in modern history.
But the purple is pretty.
But the purple is pretty.
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
The #ACIP meets tomorrow to assault on vaccines that protect children. They will be debating the birth dose of the hep B vaccine. I wrote about this previously but we cannot say it enough stopping the birth dose is unethical given the many benefits.
bktitanji.substack.com/p/the-hepati...
bktitanji.substack.com/p/the-hepati...
The Hepatitis B Vaccine: Why the Birth Dose Matters and Why We Must Defend It
Defending science, saving newborn lives, and keeping the world on track to end Hepatitis B
bktitanji.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:51 PM
The #ACIP meets tomorrow to assault on vaccines that protect children. They will be debating the birth dose of the hep B vaccine. I wrote about this previously but we cannot say it enough stopping the birth dose is unethical given the many benefits.
bktitanji.substack.com/p/the-hepati...
bktitanji.substack.com/p/the-hepati...
Reposted by Gwen Brandt
This is an ethnic cleansing campaign
Officials prepare immigration operation in Minnesota that would focus on Somali immigrants, source tells AP, as Trump says he doesn't want Somalis in U.S.
Federal authorities plan operation in Minnesota focusing on Somali immigrants, AP source says
Federal authorities are preparing an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, focusing on Somali immigrants living unlawfully in the U.S.
bit.ly
December 3, 2025 at 12:27 AM
This is an ethnic cleansing campaign