isabellacueto.bsky.social
Isabella Cueto
@isabellacueto.bsky.social
2K followers 170 following 120 posts
Reporter covering chronic disease, MAHA y más for STAT. 📱isabellacueto.03 on Signal ✉️ [email protected] 🔗 https://www.statnews.com/staff/isabella-cueto/
www.statnews.com
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Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · May 20
How do you solve a chronic disease crisis? It depends on what you care about most. That's what RFK Jr. will have to decide soon.

Our new project splits the nation's health into 9 "priorities." Choose your adventure based on your top concerns.

Dive in: www.statnews.com/2025/05/20/k...
A Mike Reddy illustration-collage of the priorities.
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isabellacueto.bsky.social
Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · 8d
For decades, federal courts have ruled "that immigration agents cannot detain people without having a specific, factual basis for believing a person is in the country illegally." But a recent emergency ruling by the Supreme Court lowers that bar: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/u...
‘I’m From Here!’: U.S. Citizens Are Ending Up in Trump’s Dragnet
www.nytimes.com
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jazmineulloa.bsky.social
Jazmine Ulloa @jazmineulloa.bsky.social · 9d
As immigration agents have escalated their tactics, US citizens, many of them Latino men, have been stopped and in some cases taken into custody by law enforcement officers. Allison, Jenny and I took a closer look at the encounters. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/29/u...
‘I’m From Here!’: U.S. Citizens Are Ending Up in Trump’s Dragnet
www.nytimes.com
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isabellacueto.bsky.social
Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · 8d
Excruciating read. When HIV and antimalarial drugs were stranded, children died, Post reporters found.
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
Trump’s USAID pause stranded lifesaving drugs. Children died waiting.
USAID antimalarial and HIV supplies valued at nearly $140 million were delayed in the first half of the year or not delivered at all due to the Trump administration’s foreign aid pause, The Post found...
www.washingtonpost.com
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isabellacueto.bsky.social
Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · 19d
MAHA influencers dubbed this week's hearing — which featured stunning testimony from ousted CDC officials — a "nothingburger" while simultaneously urging supporters to flood lawmakers with calls & post select clips to social media.
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isabellacueto.bsky.social
Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · 19d
The MAHA influencer narrative vs. Cassidy's actual words during the Sept. 17 hearing.

Kennedy appeared before the Senate earlier this month. He's been invited back to answer to allegations from former CDC leaders that he is exerting undue political influence.
A tweet from Sayer JI says, "BREAKING: In just 24 hours, grassroots America forced Sen. Cassidy to completely reverse course and invite RFK Jr. to testify. This wasn't luck. It was the collapse of a $2 million pharma-backed operation—exposed, confronted, and defeated by an awakened public. Here's how we won" Highlighted text reads: "We've heard allegations related to ACIP here today that will need to be addressed. I don't prejudge. I don't know if you're telling the truth or not, and when Secretary Kennedy comes, I'm keeping an open mind."
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rosebroderick.bsky.social
O. Rose Broderick @rosebroderick.bsky.social · 19d
BREAKING: After a week of uproar from employees, STAT has learned that the CDC has rescinded this telework pause. Story and details forthcoming.
rosebroderick.bsky.social
O. Rose Broderick @rosebroderick.bsky.social · 22d
BREAKING: The CDC is temporarily ending remote work. The decision leaves scores of employees in the lurch, even forcing people with disabilities with high-support needs to come into the office. #disability

www.statnews.com/2025/09/16/c...
CDC temporarily revokes remote work approvals for employees with disabilities
The CDC revoked permission for employees with disabilities to work from home, at least temporarily
www.statnews.com
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isabellacueto.bsky.social
Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · 19d
If you don't have bandwidth to sit through, like, 16 hours of this key ACIP meeting, STAT reporters have got you covered. Helpful write-ups of the major points: www.statnews.com
STAT
Reporting from the frontiers of health and medicine
www.statnews.com
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sarah-todd.bsky.social
Sarah Todd @sarah-todd.bsky.social · 22d
Surgeon general nominee Casey Means' ties to the supplement industry were already a cause of concern for some critics. New disclosures show how much money she made from promoting them (story by me and @isabellacueto.bsky.social):

www.statnews.com/2025/09/16/c...
Surgeon general nominee Casey Means discloses financial ties to supplement industry
Surgeon general nominee Casey Means earned hundreds of thousands of dollars promoting supplements, per new financial disclosure statements.
www.statnews.com
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elizabethcooney.bsky.social
elizabethcooney.bsky.social @elizabethcooney.bsky.social · 21d
News from a tense hearing, reported by @danielpayne.bsky.social and @isabellacueto.bsky.social at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2025/09/17/m...
Ousted CDC director says Kennedy plans to change pediatric vaccine schedule
Ousted CDC director Susan Monarez told lawmakers that her boss, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., told her he plans to change the childhood vaccine schedule this month.
www.statnews.com
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danielpayne.bsky.social
Daniel Payne @danielpayne.bsky.social · 21d
The key takeaways from an important Senate hearing today, w/ @isabellacueto.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/09/17/m...
Three key takeaways from the Senate hearing on CDC director’s firing and RFK Jr.’s vaccine agenda
WASHINGTON — A Wednesday Senate hearing aimed to answer questions about the exodus of top leaders from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last
www.statnews.com
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isabellacueto.bsky.social
Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · 28d
V interesting study out today in Lancet finds global chronic disease mortality declined from 2000 to 2019 (yay!) but progress slowed over that period. The US was among the slowest of its peers in the end, with rising mortality in key areas. My story:

www.statnews.com/2025/09/10/c...
Risk of dying from chronic disease in the U.S. declined, but there are caveats, study says
While there has been progress against chronic disease, the U.S. has been backsliding against big killers like heart disease.
www.statnews.com
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isabellacueto.bsky.social
Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · 28d
Study presented in Congress as 'smoking gun' that vaccines cause disease is deeply flawed and wouldn't pass peer review as-is, a Stanford epidemiologist writes in STAT.

"The study repeatedly conflates absence of diagnosis with absence of disease." www.statnews.com/2025/09/09/a...
RFK Jr. ally’s ‘smoking gun’ study on vaccines and chronic illness is fundamentally flawed
Bogus study on vaccines and chronic illness presented at Senate presents “a dangerous precedent for how science is weighed in policymaking,” infectious disease expert writes.
www.statnews.com
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danielpayne.bsky.social
Daniel Payne @danielpayne.bsky.social · 29d
The next MAHA report is here. @isabellacueto.bsky.social reporting

www.statnews.com/2025/09/09/r...
Kennedy makes his formal pitch to fight chronic disease in new MAHA report
MAHA's strategy to reduce childhood chronic disease sidesteps new regulations in favor of new studies, cultural messaging, and voluntary industry compliance.
www.statnews.com
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jasonmast.bsky.social
Jason Mast @jasonmast.bsky.social · 28d
Love this tracker from @isabellacueto.bsky.social and @jaspar.bsky.social chronicling all of RFK's promises on chronic disease and public and how much he's delivered — or not — on them
www.statnews.com/2025/09/10/r...
Tracking RFK Jr.’s promises to remake health in America
STAT introduces a goals and promises tracker for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again movement — successes, incompletes, and fails.
www.statnews.com
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isabellacueto.bsky.social
Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · Sep 4
A glimpse at how Kennedy's MAHA media machine is working to dominate the "narrative" on social media: blasting out select clips and quotes to fans + influencers and asking them to share.

The one on CDC autism data is called the "most important video on X today."
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jasonukman.bsky.social
Jason Ukman @jasonukman.bsky.social · Sep 4
Miss today's three-hour-long slugfest of a hearing with RFK Jr.? @danielpayne.bsky.social and @isabellacueto.bsky.social didn't, and have you covered with the big takeaways.

Via @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2025/09/04/h...
The big takeaways from health secretary RFK Jr.’s contentious Senate hearing
A Senate hearing offered no sign that health secretary RFK Jr. intends to slow down his effort to upend U.S. health agencies. Here are some takeaways.
www.statnews.com
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isabellacueto.bsky.social
Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · Sep 4
Missed the RFK Jr. hearing before the Senate today? Our liveblog with key moments + context: www.statnews.com/2025/09/04/h...
Kennedy faces off with senators, defends firing CDC director at hearing
HHS Secretary will testify before the Senate today following an upheaval at the CDC. Follow STAT's live updates for key moments and analysis.
www.statnews.com
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alexhogan.bsky.social
Alex Hogan @alexhogan.bsky.social · Sep 4
The CDC has a full-blown crisis on its hands. A *lot* happened at the agency in the last week. In this new video, I break down the wild sequence of firings and resignations, and the aftermath. I also learn why it is "Centers," plural (kinda obvious in retrospect.) @statnews.com youtu.be/hzc4YX39ry0
The crisis at CDC, explained
YouTube video by STAT
youtu.be
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isabellacueto.bsky.social
Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · Sep 4
More news. The Trump administration won't release final report tying moderate alcohol use with health risks, researchers involved w/ report confirm to STAT (first reported by Vox).

Another sign alcohol is not a part of MAHA.

www.statnews.com/2025/09/04/f...
Major report that tied moderate drinking to disease won’t be released, researchers say
A major government study of alcohol's health effects was supposed to inform national dietary guidelines. Kennedy appears to be dismissing the study.
www.statnews.com
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jasonukman.bsky.social
Jason Ukman @jasonukman.bsky.social · Sep 3
7 burning questions for RFK Jr. as he faces senators’ questions on CDC turmoil and more.

Very smart from @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social and @isabellacueto.bsky.social. Hearing opens tmrw morning.

www.statnews.com/2025/09/03/k...
7 burning questions for RFK Jr. as he faces senators’ questions on CDC turmoil and more
7 burning questions for RFK Jr. as he faces senators’ questions at a Thursday hearing on turmoil at the CDC and more.
www.statnews.com
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jonathanwosen.bsky.social
Jonathan Wosen @jonathanwosen.bsky.social · Aug 28
If there remained any doubt about whether RFK Jr. would go “wild on health,” as Trump promised last year, the ouster of top leaders at the CDC has only solidified his standing, @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social and @isabellacueto.bsky.social write for @statnews.com
www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/k...
Amid chaos at CDC, Kennedy consolidates his power
RFK Jr. is reshaping the CDC and rewriting vaccine policies with little opposition.
www.statnews.com
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isabellacueto.bsky.social
Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · Sep 3
I took a trip up to a Pa. farmers market where even the poorest shoppers could get gleaming ears of corn, muscular tomatoes & fresh bread. To MAHA, this is the ultimate pharmacy. But federal programs that put it within reach for many are now facing cuts.

www.statnews.com/2025/09/03/w...
At the farmers market, slashed benefits threaten MAHA’s food-as-medicine goal
Regenerative agriculture. Organic produce. But less government help to buy healthy food. Welcome to the Chambersburg, Pa., farmer's market.
www.statnews.com
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isabellacueto.bsky.social
Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · Aug 25
MAHA turned 1 over the weekend, and it's hard to believe it's only been one year since Kennedy endorsed Trump and kickstarted this movement.

I talked with nearly two dozen people to try and make sense of all that has happened — or not. Lots to unpack!
www.statnews.com/2025/08/25/r...
As MAHA turns 1, a fired-up movement is still figuring out how to fulfill its promises
"That is so brilliant. Why didn’t we think of this before?" As MAHA turns 1, STAT examines the growth of the movement and takes stock of its challenges.
www.statnews.com
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alexhogan.bsky.social
Alex Hogan @alexhogan.bsky.social · Aug 20
New video- @brittanytrang.com just wrote a great new piece about how the use of AI by doctors could increase medical bills. She joined me to talk about it in the newest STATus Report. @statnews.com
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isabellacueto.bsky.social
Isabella Cueto @isabellacueto.bsky.social · Aug 15
So, what's in that leaked version of the MAHA Commission report? We break it down: www.statnews.com/2025/08/15/m...
Draft of major MAHA report calls for more education, less regulation — and offers few policies
A draft of RFK Jr.'s much-awaited strategy for a healthier America softens rhetoric on agricultural chemicals and stresses education on food and fitness.
www.statnews.com
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