SMcDonnell
@smcdonnell.bsky.social
Preventive Medicine Physician & Epidemiologist. EIS '93. Textile art, Photography, Chickens, New England.
I thought donor was symptomatic with cognitive changes BUT his sudden death was classified as heart attack and he was not tested. Testing is not routinely included because it is so rare.
Rabies is one of those diseases that keeps me up at night too.
Rabies is one of those diseases that keeps me up at night too.
I have questions about rabies from organ transplantation. Wouldn't rabies as the cause of death for the potential donor be known and hence exclude them from donation? Unless, they died of another reason before developing rabies? (I have a rabies paranoia) www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...
Human-to-Human Rabies Transmission via Solid Organ...
This report describes the public health response to a patient who died after transplantation with an organ from a donor with undiagnosed rabies.
www.cdc.gov
December 8, 2025 at 11:45 PM
I thought donor was symptomatic with cognitive changes BUT his sudden death was classified as heart attack and he was not tested. Testing is not routinely included because it is so rare.
Rabies is one of those diseases that keeps me up at night too.
Rabies is one of those diseases that keeps me up at night too.
absolutely chilling.
The news has entirely failed to grasp the unprecedented scope of the ICE and DHS budgets. Nothing like it in modern history. A galaxy of public/private surveillance and caging institutions for $100,000,000,000s unleashed on a public that will be forever changed. www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...
ICE Wants to Go After Dissenters as well as Immigrants
The Trump administration is being open about its plans to violate Americans’ First and Fourth Amendment rights.
www.brennancenter.org
December 8, 2025 at 7:22 PM
absolutely chilling.
It is a scam against the American public and parents. The Hep B vaccine works.
Today is a dark day for American science and biomedicine. My comments in @nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/h...
December 5, 2025 at 5:14 PM
It is a scam against the American public and parents. The Hep B vaccine works.
Fascinating article/podcast about Australia banning social media for kids <16 yrs. This is an experiment worth trying.
www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/202...
www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/202...
Is This the End of Kids on Social Media?
Australia is about to ban young teens from most platforms. The rest of the world is watching.
www.theatlantic.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Fascinating article/podcast about Australia banning social media for kids <16 yrs. This is an experiment worth trying.
www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/202...
www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/202...
My family and friends are Somali and Afghan -- they are not garbage. No one is garbage.
Trump said he doesn’t want Somali immigrants in the U.S., calling them “garbage,” saying they “contribute nothing,” and claiming they “ripped off that state (MN) for billions of dollars”
Trump said he doesn’t want Somali immigrants in the U.S., calling them “garbage,” saying they “contribute nothing,” and claiming they “ripped off that state (MN) for billions of dollars”
December 3, 2025 at 1:16 AM
My family and friends are Somali and Afghan -- they are not garbage. No one is garbage.
Trump said he doesn’t want Somali immigrants in the U.S., calling them “garbage,” saying they “contribute nothing,” and claiming they “ripped off that state (MN) for billions of dollars”
Trump said he doesn’t want Somali immigrants in the U.S., calling them “garbage,” saying they “contribute nothing,” and claiming they “ripped off that state (MN) for billions of dollars”
Reposted by SMcDonnell
The war will end when Russia stops fighting. Therefore, pressure has to be put on Russia, so that they stop believing that they will win. Why is that so hard to understand?
November 27, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The war will end when Russia stops fighting. Therefore, pressure has to be put on Russia, so that they stop believing that they will win. Why is that so hard to understand?
Reposted by SMcDonnell
Reposted by SMcDonnell
good work guys you picked a fight in which Dems can stand up out of their permanent defensive crouch and go “our guy is a fucking astronaut and you’re an alcoholic tv host”
Gallego to Hegseth: "You will never ever be half the man that Sen. Kelly is. You, sir, are a coward. And the fact that you are following this order from the president shows how big of a coward you are. I can't wait until you are no longer the secretary of defense."
November 24, 2025 at 9:49 PM
good work guys you picked a fight in which Dems can stand up out of their permanent defensive crouch and go “our guy is a fucking astronaut and you’re an alcoholic tv host”
No words.
However horrifying you think this article will be, it’s worse.
These woo groups, from “freebirth” to antivax to “unschooling” to MAHA, all take advantage of legitimately traumatic interactions with healthcare and educational systems to con parents. It’s snake oil, and children die.
These woo groups, from “freebirth” to antivax to “unschooling” to MAHA, all take advantage of legitimately traumatic interactions with healthcare and educational systems to con parents. It’s snake oil, and children die.
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
November 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
No words.
Reposted by SMcDonnell
More clever example of what I was going for here www.theatlantic.com/health/2025/...
Do Childhood Vaccines Cause Tornadoes?
It hasn’t been ruled out.
www.theatlantic.com
November 22, 2025 at 12:48 AM
More clever example of what I was going for here www.theatlantic.com/health/2025/...
Reposted by SMcDonnell
Here’s how to turn off Gemini AI
on an iPhone.
on an iPhone.
November 20, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Here’s how to turn off Gemini AI
on an iPhone.
on an iPhone.
Well done, "we must now direct our energies to understanding this new constellation of power, as well as the pathways available for opponents to respond", in the short and long term. Many of our precious norms need to become laws and enforceable.
The Eric Schickler essay in Larry Bartel's symposium on "What Trump Has Taught Us About Political Science" is one of the most insightful pieces I've read in 2025.
US institutions turned out to be weak, and we have to rethink conventional wisdom.
open access: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
US institutions turned out to be weak, and we have to rethink conventional wisdom.
open access: academic.oup.com/psq/advance-...
November 20, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Well done, "we must now direct our energies to understanding this new constellation of power, as well as the pathways available for opponents to respond", in the short and long term. Many of our precious norms need to become laws and enforceable.
A useful and heartbreaking account. Thank you.
oh man.
November 19, 2025 at 4:58 PM
A useful and heartbreaking account. Thank you.
We need wonky right now.... lots of wonky.
Wonky but important question for understanding the effects of proposals to convert ACA premium tax credits to health savings accounts: How big would the contributions be? Would they vary by income, age, and geography in the same way as the premium tax credits?
November 19, 2025 at 2:59 PM
We need wonky right now.... lots of wonky.
Today I had the good fortune to hear a talk by the Maine State Economist. She, Amanda Rector, was invited by Maine Health (DoraAnne Mills). Covered a lot of ground. Here is one eye-popping chart about projected health care premiums in rural Maine if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits expire.
November 19, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Today I had the good fortune to hear a talk by the Maine State Economist. She, Amanda Rector, was invited by Maine Health (DoraAnne Mills). Covered a lot of ground. Here is one eye-popping chart about projected health care premiums in rural Maine if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits expire.
THIS!
They’re going to regulate whistles before guns aren’t they?
November 19, 2025 at 12:30 AM
THIS!
The recidivism rate is amazing. Almost NOT random.
There are like 3 “Trump helps pedos” stories JUST THIS WEEK
"A man pardoned by President Donald Trump for storming the Capitol was arrested on child molestation charges, according to Florida officials, who said he tried to use an anticipated Jan. 6 payout to silence the victim."
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
November 19, 2025 at 12:16 AM
The recidivism rate is amazing. Almost NOT random.
The term elite is too broad. Do we mean super-rich with few community values and entitled sense that they don't need to follow rules?
“What we’ve already seen of the Epstein emails offers a remarkable window into the bipartisan decadence and depravity of many of our elites. Democrats should run against not just Trump and the GOP, but against elites in general in 2026, and I dare say in 2028.”
www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-eps...
www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-eps...
Trump’s Epstein Humiliation Grows
The president saw defeat and ran. But that doesn’t mean the fight over releasing the files is over.
www.thebulwark.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:53 PM
The term elite is too broad. Do we mean super-rich with few community values and entitled sense that they don't need to follow rules?
Yes stop talking about "Immigrants" as a group and talk about our neighbors, friends, and workers.
Often overlooked, Trump has canny outbreaks of performative moderation at critical moments. And as Trump’s argument with Ingraham suggests, this shows Democrats where to divide MAGA further. trib.al/TV4gUWO
November 16, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Yes stop talking about "Immigrants" as a group and talk about our neighbors, friends, and workers.
When AI Coaches Cross the Line
The FDA is considering regulating mental health chatbots. Study shows that chatbots gave advice that violated clinical guidelines with harmful suggestions to users in distress. AI system should face oversight and liability
www.eurekalert.org/news-release...
The FDA is considering regulating mental health chatbots. Study shows that chatbots gave advice that violated clinical guidelines with harmful suggestions to users in distress. AI system should face oversight and liability
www.eurekalert.org/news-release...
New study: AI chatbots systematically violate mental health ethics standards
Researchers at Brown University found that AI chatbots routinely violate core mental health ethics standards, underscoring the need for legal standards and oversight as use of these tools increases.
www.eurekalert.org
November 16, 2025 at 1:18 AM
When AI Coaches Cross the Line
The FDA is considering regulating mental health chatbots. Study shows that chatbots gave advice that violated clinical guidelines with harmful suggestions to users in distress. AI system should face oversight and liability
www.eurekalert.org/news-release...
The FDA is considering regulating mental health chatbots. Study shows that chatbots gave advice that violated clinical guidelines with harmful suggestions to users in distress. AI system should face oversight and liability
www.eurekalert.org/news-release...
This is important. Thanks for the analysis. We need to know about fairness and how rules are made and implemented.
After Ghislaine Maxwell lied to Todd Blanche, someone waived her sex offender status and moved her to Club Fed with "OUT" custody - allowing her to work outside the prison walls. 3 months ago, I got her Bureau of Prisons points screen as proof. We still don't know who approved all this.
BREAKING: EXCLUSIVE: Senator Whitehouse asked the BOP for Ghislaine Maxwells sex offender waiver, custody level, transfer code, and security point score. I have them. She's also been granted the ability to leave the facility for work assignments. My latest: www.muellershewrote.com/p/exclusive-...
November 14, 2025 at 1:48 AM
This is important. Thanks for the analysis. We need to know about fairness and how rules are made and implemented.
YES! Seeing is believing (or maybe a step towards it)
We need videos from optical gas imaging cameras for CO₂ emissions.
What you see without an OGI camera vs what you see with an OGI camera.
What you are seeing in a plume of methane and VOCs.
You can see how it is so easy for them to ignore the ongoing systemic methane pollution.
What you are seeing in a plume of methane and VOCs.
You can see how it is so easy for them to ignore the ongoing systemic methane pollution.
November 13, 2025 at 6:30 PM
YES! Seeing is believing (or maybe a step towards it)
The GOP vision: Think of a health care system and take out "health", "care" and "system" and make sure it makes rich people richer.
It’s been ten years
FOX NEWS: So what would Trumpcare look like?
DR OZ: Well, these are all ideas that we're still working on
DR OZ: Well, these are all ideas that we're still working on
November 11, 2025 at 7:34 PM
The GOP vision: Think of a health care system and take out "health", "care" and "system" and make sure it makes rich people richer.
Today as Chair of the Residency Advisory Committee in Preventive Medicine our meeting is a bit like a funeral. But YLE is succor - we shall make it a wake. yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/infant-for...
Infant formula botulism cluster, black box warning for HRT, flu is waking up, new blood pressure guidelines, and more
This is your weekly Dose.
yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Today as Chair of the Residency Advisory Committee in Preventive Medicine our meeting is a bit like a funeral. But YLE is succor - we shall make it a wake. yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/infant-for...
Reposted by SMcDonnell
HEY MAINERS – re: last night's Senate vote that so many feel dark about. It was a vote for cloture, NOT a vote to end the shutdown, but to move the bill w/agreed changes. Not an end to ACA, not pass the bill or open the gov't.
We must still CALL/EMAIL/WRITE Senators. #RESIST
Please listen here:
We must still CALL/EMAIL/WRITE Senators. #RESIST
Please listen here:
Government Shutdown: What's REALLY Happening? Eliza Explains! #shorts
YouTube video by Eliza Orlins
www.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:09 PM
HEY MAINERS – re: last night's Senate vote that so many feel dark about. It was a vote for cloture, NOT a vote to end the shutdown, but to move the bill w/agreed changes. Not an end to ACA, not pass the bill or open the gov't.
We must still CALL/EMAIL/WRITE Senators. #RESIST
Please listen here:
We must still CALL/EMAIL/WRITE Senators. #RESIST
Please listen here: