Liz Essley Whyte
@lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
1.4K followers 140 following 65 posts
Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, covering the intersection of health + D.C. | Signal = JournoLiz.80 | Email = [email protected]
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Reposted by Liz Essley Whyte
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RFK Jr., HHS to Link Autism to Tylenol Use in Pregnancy and Folate Deficiencies

"Kennedy has promised to reveal the cause of autism. 'By September we will know what has caused the autism epidemic.'"

"Critics panned the promise as an impossible timeline" for a valid scientific inquiry.
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
Four major HHS leaders have been ousted this summer. One was rehired.

Meanwhile, the MAHA movement backing Kennedy is impatient for bolder action on vaccines, pesticides and more.

Natalie Andrews and I take you inside it all 👇
The Turmoil Inside MAHA Is About More Than Just Vaccines
Disparate factions are sparring over some of RFK Jr.’s biggest priorities. A top FDA scientist is hired, ousted, then hired again.
www.wsj.com
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
“Processed food is poison,” Kennedy said, recounting how tribes had drifted from traditional food. “Processed foods are literally killing them. They’re part of a genocide that is centuries old.”

RFK Jr.'s latest challenge: bringing MAHA to Alaska www.wsj.com/us-news/alas...
RFK Jr.’s Latest Challenge: Bring MAHA to Alaska
The health secretary met with rural Alaska Natives, who often have limited access to fresh food.
www.wsj.com
Reposted by Liz Essley Whyte
Reposted by Liz Essley Whyte
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
RFK Jr. and Mehmet Oz are fighting to save roughly 400 Canadian ostriches.

So far their pleas have gone nowhere.

“We don’t take our public health advice from RFK and Dr. Oz,” said David Eby, the leader of British Columbia’s provincial government. www.wsj.com/world/americ...
Why America Is Rallying to Save 400 Canadian Ostriches
Plan to euthanize birds prompts RFK Jr. and other U.S. officials to come to the animals’ defense; an offer from Dr. Oz
www.wsj.com
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
NEW

The Trump administration has put a halt on ALL new research grants flowing from the National Institutes of Health (Billions of $$), setting up a battle with lawmakers

t.co/GEM6JmLCcG

via me @nidhisubs.bsky.social and Ken Thomas
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-administration-puts-new-chokehold-on-billions-in-health-research-funding-19660215?st=PPZi65
t.co
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
NEW from me and Anna Mathews

Medicare drug plan premiums are set to rise.

The Trump administration is aiming to soften the blow by keeping some Biden subsidies (though not all) and negotiating with insurers

www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Exclusive | Medicare Part D Drug Plan Premiums Set to Rise
Trump Administration aims to soften the blow by negotiating with insurers.
www.wsj.com
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
New exclusive 🗞️

Health secretary RFK Jr. plans to oust the members of an advisory panel that recommends which cancer screenings, HIV drugs and other preventive services insurers must cover at no cost

www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Exclusive | RFK Jr. to Oust Advisory Panel on Cancer Screenings, HIV Prevention Drugs
The task force determines which preventive services insurers must cover at no cost to patients.
www.wsj.com
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
The Trump administration is weighing kicking hospitals out of Medicaid if they do not cease offering gender-related care (surgeries, puberty blockers, hormones) to children and teenagers

See the list of 9 children's hospitals that got letters from Dr. Oz... 👇
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Exclusive | Trump Administration Weighs Eliminating Funds for Hospitals Offering Gender Care to Minors
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a top federal health official, leads the administration’s efforts to crack down on the treatments for young people.
www.wsj.com
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
As RFK Jr.'s new immunization panel met in Atlanta and announced it would reconsider the childhood vaccine schedule, CDC director nominee Susan Monarez was on the Hill saying that vaccines save lives

With Dominique Mosbergen: www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
RFK Jr.’s New Vaccine Advisers to Re-Examine Shot Advice for Children
Panel’s new chairman questions hepatitis B vaccine timing, even as CDC nominee says vaccines save lives.
www.wsj.com
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
In addition: the new vaccines chief at FDA overruled career staff in narrowing a Moderna vaccine approval

& more info about the current life and times of FDA

www.wsj.com/health/healt...
MAHA Redo at FDA Includes Fast-Tracking Some Drugs, More Use of AI
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary faces declining staff morale as he remakes the agency.
www.wsj.com
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
The new FDA commissioner plans to start new fast-track drug approval process that would reward companies that support "national priorities."

And lots of other news in my story today:
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
MAHA Redo at FDA Includes Fast-Tracking Some Drugs, More Use of AI
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary faces declining staff morale as he remakes the agency.
www.wsj.com
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
RFK Jr.'s picks for the CDC's key immunizations panel include a board member of an anti-vaccine organization, a management professor who has called for Covid-19 shots to be taken off the market, a doctor who raised doubts about vaccines on the Joe Rogan podcast. www.wsj.com/health/healt...
RFK Jr. Names Eight Vaccine Panel Replacements, Including Covid-Shot Skeptics
The new composition of the influential advisory committee comes days after the health secretary dismissed the panel’s 17 previous members,
www.wsj.com