Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ferric Fang, MD @fangferric.bsky.social · 23m

“Compared to other advanced industrial democracies, the US federal government is actually understaffed… It won’t be long before crucial agency missions start to fail.”

The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 2h

The Trump administration is threatening to use the shutdown to permanently reduce the size of the civil service. It’s already culling the best and brightest from the federal workforce for a rounding error’s worth in savings, Robert P. Beschel Jr. argues:

The Worst Way to Cut Government Spending

The Trump administration is culling the best and brightest from the federal workforce for a rounding error’s worth in savings.

bit.ly

1

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 5h

President Trump’s $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas will have major consequences for tech companies and financial firms. But the effects of the new fee will also ripple across the U.S. education system.

Trump’s H-1B Visa Fee Could Strain Universities and Schools

Higher education leaders and public-school superintendents say they depend on skilled foreign workers to fill critical roles.

nyti.ms

8 27 70

Ferric Fang, MD @fangferric.bsky.social · 1d

"It is not that I fail to understand the pressures leaders face... But remaining quiet is misguided. Silence may protect an institution from becoming an early target, but history shows that it increases the likelihood that that institution and many others will be become targets over time."

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 1d

I just emailed my "Silence" essay to the Presidents/Chancellors and Provosts of the 9 Compact universities as well as those from the 4 orgs with which I have been formally affiliated.

The essay can be found here:

jeremymberg.github.io/jeremyberg.g...

and here:

www.linkedin.com/posts/jeremy...

1 3

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

Nature @nature.com · 1d

Antimicrobial resistance is projected to cause 39 million deaths worldwide over the next 25 years

go.nature.com/42x5KHD

The rise of ‘nightmare bacteria’: antimicrobial resistance in six charts

Data reveal how the global challenge to reduce deaths and infections from drug-resistant bacteria is not going according to plan.

go.nature.com

3 45 74

Ferric Fang, MD @fangferric.bsky.social · 1d

And here’s a free second opinion:
What he said.

1

Ferric Fang, MD @fangferric.bsky.social · 1d

"Universities that accept this bargain will be selling their souls for nothing but a promise of safety that will surely be broken in turn."

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

A Deal That Would End Universities’ Independence

The free-speech provisions of the so-called compact are an exercise in contradiction.

www.theatlantic.com

1 4

Ferric Fang, MD @fangferric.bsky.social · 1d

Makes about as much sense as requiring people to order the bacon, lettuce and tomato separately and assemble their own sandwich. Ask kids if they would rather have three shots or just one.

Some things are better together.

STAT @statnews.com · 2d

“I call on vaccine manufacturers to develop safe monovalent vaccines to replace the combined MMR and ‘break up the MMR shot into three totally separate shots’.”
Acting CDC director calls for MMR vaccine to be broken up into 3 shots www.statnews.com/2025/10/06/t...

Acting CDC director calls for MMR vaccine to be broken up into 3 shots

There's no evidence that breaking up the MMR shot would make the immunization safer or more effective.

www.statnews.com

4

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

Paul Offit @pauloffit.bsky.social · 1d

open.substack.com/pub/pauloffi...
In the midst of a measles epidemic that killed 3 people, RFK Jr. reminds us that vaccines don't save lives.

RFK Jr.: “Vaccines Don’t Save Lives”

In a recent post on X, RFK Jr. said that vaccines are overrated.

open.substack.com

9 31 77

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 1d

“Now it’s unclear how, or if, the NIH will foster open conversations around scientific and ethical issues involving novel biotechnologies. The loss of NExTRAC is part of a pattern of shedding scientific expertise and patient perspectives in the name of slimming down the federal government.”

They advised federal health agencies on the ethics and impact of scientific research. They’re no longer wanted

The Trump administration has been shedding scientific expertise and patient perspectives in the name of slimming down the federal government.

www.statnews.com

8 15

Ferric Fang, MD @fangferric.bsky.social · 1d

There's a man who has his priorities straight

1

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 1d

“Secretary Kennedy is entitled to his views. But he is not entitled to put people’s health at risk.”

Six former surgeons general condemn RFK Jr.

Opinion | Six surgeons general: RFK Jr. is a threat to the health of Americans

It was our duty in office to warn of dangers when we found them. We’re doing that again today.

www.washingtonpost.com

69 1K 3.3K

Ferric Fang, MD @fangferric.bsky.social · 1d

www.wiley.com/en-us/Thinki...

Thinking about Science: Good Science, Bad Science, and How to Make It Better

Thinking about Science: Good Science, Bad Science, and How to Make It Better A riveting exploration of the world of science, diving headfirst into its triumphs and tribulations. Penn...

www.wiley.com

2

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

Timothy McBride @mcbridetd.bsky.social · 1d

There Are Now Two CDCs insidemedicine.substack.com/p/there-are-...

There are now two CDC's.

Can the agency survive?

insidemedicine.substack.com

1 6

Ferric Fang, MD @fangferric.bsky.social · 1d

1955

1

Ferric Fang, MD @fangferric.bsky.social · 2d

CDC has formally endorsed COVID vaccination for anyone over 6 months of age after discussing risks/benefits with a provider.

STAT @statnews.com · 2d

The CDC has accepted advisers' recommendations on Covid vaccinations, though there may still be uncertainty in some states about whether a prescription is needed to access them.
www.statnews.com/2025/10/06/c...

CDC approves updated Covid-19, chickenpox vaccine recommendations

The CDC has accepted advisers' recommendations on Covid vaccinations, though there may still be uncertainty in some states about whether a prescription is needed to access them.

www.statnews.com

2 4

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

Dimitri Drekonja, MD, MS @dimitridrekonja.bsky.social · 2d

The only healthcare policies I can think of from his party are:
-Restricting women's access to reproductive care
-Restricting care for transgender people

The ACA was passed in March 2010; 15 years later, there is still no plan besides "kill the ACA"

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 2d

Mike Johnson: "Let me look right into the camera and tell you very clearly: Republicans are the ones concerned about healthcare. Republicans are the party working around the clock everyday to fix healthcare. This is not talking points for us: we've done it."

66 250 1.1K

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

Ian L Morgan @ianlmorgan.bsky.social · 2d

This is a great op-ed by Dr. Stanley about the effects of anti-science politicized attacks on "gain-of-function" research. Much of this research poses little risk and has huge benefits for people across the globe. If your research has been affected, please consider writing an op-ed like Dr. Stanley.

The NIH ordered me to stop my ‘dangerous’ gain-of-function research. It isn’t dangerous at all

Safe gain-of-function research is necessary to identify new treatments for diseases like for tuberculosis — but the NIH has imposed unfounded stops.

www.statnews.com

20 45

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

Maya Sen @mayasen.bsky.social · 2d

Universities should at some point step in to articulate a positive vision of higher ed & scientific research to our fellow countrymen

But that cannot be done under coercion

1 2 11

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

Joshua Weitz @joshuasweitz.bsky.social · 2d

Another excellent piece by @carolynyjohnson.bsky.social et al. that raises the question: what is the administration doing other than dismantling for dismantling's sake?

🎁

wapo.st/4q1M3ly

Trump slashed funding for universities that helped create these vital drugs

Medications that prevent HIV, shrink tumors and treat seizures were invented with government funding. At research universities, that money is now canceled or in jeopardy.

wapo.st

7 12

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

Prof Gavin Yamey @gavinyamey.bsky.social · 2d

The recent ACIP meeting, chaired by the Great Barrington Declaration author & RFK Jr booster Martin Kulldorff, was "rushed, politicized, & destructive to the credibility of America's most important public health institution...it fell short on every count"

www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/the-...

Opinion | Trusted Vaccine Guidance Has Collapsed — Along With the Rule of Law

Government independence, transparency, and legal integrity must be restored

www.medpagetoday.com

1 26 72

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

Benjamin Balthaser @blbalthaser.bsky.social · 3d

The Great Barrington Dec. aka the “let covid rip” policy, legitimated the death of over a million Americans, is disabling of tens of millions more, & failed to achieve its own instrumental goal, ending the pandemic. It did succeed hwvr in gutting public health & eroding public trust in science

Five years ago today, we authored the Great Barrington Declaration, arguing for focused protection instead of lockdowns. A wholehearted thank you to the almost one million co-signers. We were proven right.

15 69 230

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

Caitlin Rivers @cmyeaton.bsky.social · 3d

The government shutdown interrupted CDC's disease updates, so Team Force of Infection spent our Saturday going to the websites of all 50 health departments to check on Covid-19, flu and RSV. caitlinrivers.substack.com/p/cdc-data-i...

CDC data interrupted, so we went state by state

A look at Covid-19, flu and RSV trends in each state

caitlinrivers.substack.com

11 70 180

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

Andrea Junker @strandjunker.com · 3d

“Terrible things are happening outside. Poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart. Men, women, and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared.”

Diary of Anne Frank
January 13, 1943

250 8K 17K

Ferric Fang, MD @fangferric.bsky.social · 3d

Fun fact: Peyton Rous discovered the first cancer-causing virus in 1911– but didn’t receive the Nobel Prize until 1966, when he was 87 years old. It can be to be tough to be ahead of your time.

Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation @laskerfdn.bsky.social · 3d

#LaskerLaureate Peyton Rous born #OTD in 1879. He was recognized for his work on the causes of cancers, the source of antibodies, and the mechanism of blood cell generation and destruction. 🧪 ow.ly/zp3b50KH2pY

2 1 4

Reposted by Ferric Fang, MD

Megan Ranney MD MPH @meganranney.bsky.social · 3d

Watch to the end 😭

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 3d

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

7 51 120