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Tara C. Smith

@aetiology.bsky.social

32K followers 2.8K following 5K posts

Collector of social media sites. Infectious disease epidemiologist. Writes about vaccine hesitancy, science misinfo, zombies. Probably somewhere on a trail. Views own etc.

Videos

The Smith special counsel investigation was a special counsel investigation that was opened by U.S. attorney general Merrick Garland on November 18, 2022, three days after Donald Trump announced his campaign for the 2024 United States presidential election. The investigation was created to continue two investigations initiated by the Justice Department (DOJ) regarding former U.S. president Donald Trump. Garland appointed Jack Smith, a longtime federal prosecutor, to lead the independent investigations. Smith was tasked with investigating Trump's role in the January 6 United States Capitol attack and Trump's mishandling of government records, including classified documents. .. more

Political science 39%

Economics 19%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by Smith

Lena Sun @lenasun.bsky.social · 10h

NEW: More than half of the roughly 1,300 layoffs notices at @CDCgov have been rescinded. But analysts with top-secret clearance working on biodefense preparedness at another health agency have lost their jobs, per sources. Our story 1/4
@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Hundreds of CDC layoffs reversed, but biodefense preparedness staff hit

More than half of the roughly 1,300 CDC layoff notices have been rescinded, but workers at health agencies who work on biodefense and mental health still lost their jobs.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by Smith

Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · 12h

If you're wondering whether or not to get a flu shot, I didn't get one in time, and I just had a fever dream where I was in the Drew Carey Show because several days ago I was on the Wikipedia page for the Drew Carey Show. You don't have to do this to yourself.

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, John Horgan, Smith , and 4 more Anna O. Law, John Horgan, Smith, Rebecca Tushnet, David R. Miller, Scott A. Imberman, Mark Rice

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 12h

If you make "controversial statements" outside of classroom, that the President of the university dislikes, you can be summarily fired even if you are tenured.

Julie Greene @greeneland.bsky.social · 13h

I just learned, Thomas Alter, tenured professor, has been terminated effective immediately. Shame on Texas State! We mst build support for Tom. spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-tex...

Texas State upholds the firing of associate history professor Thomas Alter

Alter’s termination occurred on Sept. 10, stemming from his remarks at the Revolutionary Socialism Conference on Sept. 7.

spectrumlocalnews.com

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Reposted by Smith

Faine Greenwood @faineg.bsky.social · 14h

another day, another techbro who views old-timey farmers as people with real, stressful, physical-world jobs while not even contemplating the modern underpaid female child care worker

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Reposted by Smith, Richard M. Carpiano

Frank D’Elia @frankd7.bsky.social · 14h

Rural Trump voters:”President Donald Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill slashes nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid funding over the next decade.The administration says this cuts wasteful spending and will create a $50 billion fund…many health experts say that’s not nearly enough”
abcnews.go.com/US/loss-life...

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Reposted by Nandita Sharma, Joe R. Feagin, Sanford F. Schram , and 7 more Nandita Sharma, Joe R. Feagin, Sanford F. Schram, Smith, Nazita Lajevardi, James Goodwin, Christina Ho, Manisha Sinha, Aviel Roshwald, Jesse D. Berman

News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · 19h

NEW: There’s a disaster unfolding in Alaska right now. And no major network is covering it.

The remnants of Typhoon Halong battered western Alaska overnight. Homes, with people in them, have literally been swept into the Bering Strait.

At least 20 are missing. No comment from any federal agency.

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Reposted by Smith, David R. Miller

Olivia Messer @oliviamesser.bsky.social · 21h

In which John Oliver methodically unpacks how thin it is to claim you’re all about “the truth” when you’re only running essays don’t get properly fact-checked — and don’t hold up to even basic reporting scrutiny www.youtube.com/watch?v=gieT...

Bari Weiss: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

YouTube video by LastWeekTonight

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, Smith

Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 21h

“Dr. Paige’s husband, a chef, can support the family. But the sudden loss of her work, especially as Ebola rages on, has plunged her into a deep depression, she said.
To keep busy, she volunteers at an animal shelter and takes long walks…But she feels, she said, as if she were “walking through mud.”

They Fought Outbreaks Worldwide. Now They’re Fighting for New Lives.

www.nytimes.com

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Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 1d

They block anyone who questions the narrative.

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Reposted by Smith

Matt Friedman @friedmanlab.bsky.social · 1d

Spookiest decoration at the "Zoo Goes Boo" event at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids? Giant model of parasitoid wasps hatching from cocoons affixed to their caterpillar host.

Large model of a green caterpillar, the back of which is covered by dozens of white cocoons. Wasps can be seen emerging from some of the cocoons.

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Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Smith

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 1d

one thing perhaps worth emphasizing is that under federal law an escaped enslaved person was a criminal. an "illegal," you might say.

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Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 1d

I was just looking for this one on FB!

Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 1d

If you find out, let me know.

Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 1d

Right? Mama need the house re-sided.

Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 1d

Been doing this more than 20 years and I've yet to receive a dime. If you find the money fountain, let me know!

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Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 1d

Yep. And RFK Jr still gets millions in royalties from them.

Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 1d

No honey, we criticize you for free because you lie.

From MAHA Action, "Dr. Eric Berg just REVEALED the real reason behind the sudden wave of anti-RFK Jr. and MAHA content online.

Big Pharma is literally paying influencers $1,000 per post to attack the MAHA movement.

(Video from MAHA ACTION Weekly Media Hub)"

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Reposted by Smith

Jonathan Howard @joho.bsky.social · 1d

Here is some material Bari Weiss published regarding Covid.

So when anyone defends her in any way, what they are saying is that real world victims of medical disinformation don’t matter.

It’s all just a game to these pundits.

• Dr. Jay Bhattacharya: The Government Censored Me and Other Scientists. We Fought Back-and Won
• Dr. Jay Bhattacharya: Free Speech on Trial
• Dr. Marty Makary: Dr. Fauci's Legacy
• Drs. Tracy Hoeg and Marty Makary: U.S.
Public Health Agencies Aren't 'Following the Science,'
• Dr. Marty Makary: Officials Say, Universities' Covid Policies Defy Science and Reason,
• Drs. Vinay Prasad, Stefan Baral, Lucy McBride: Bringing Sanity to the Omicron Chaos, Talking To Three Doctors Who Have Been Islands Of Reason In A Sea Of Confusion.
• Dr. Vinay Prasad: Let Djokovic Play
• Dr. Vinay Prasad: We Have a Tripledemic.
Not of Disease, But of Fear,
• Drs. Vinay Prasad and John Mandrola: The Epidemic of #DiedSuddenly
• Dr. Vinay Prasad: How to Save Science From
Covid Politics
• Dr. Vinay Prasad: What RFK Jr. Gets Right— and What He Gets Wrong,
• Dr. Vinay Prasad: Vinay Prasad: Why Was My Talk at a Medical Conference Canceled?
• Dr. Vinay Prasad: Covid Vaccines Shouldn't Be 'Routine' for Kids.

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Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Smith, Julia Lynch , and 1 more Rosemary A. Joyce, Smith, Julia Lynch, Georg Weizsäcker

Ada Palmer @adapalmer.bsky.social · 1d

The WHO has verified the elimination of both measles & rubella in all Pacific Island countries, alongside rubella elimination in Japan. The achievement follows 2 decades of coordinated immunisation campaigns, regional surveillance, and high routine vaccine coverage. buff.ly/EpFb7HK
#ShareGoodNewsToo

Rubella elimination verified in Japan, and measles and rubella elimination verified in Pacific island countries and areas

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that the 21 Pacific island countries and areas that are part of the WHO Western Pacific Region have collectively been verified as having eliminated…

buff.ly

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Reposted by Erich Fromm, Martin Paul Eve, Smith , and 3 more Erich Fromm, Martin Paul Eve, Smith, Julia Lynch, Juan Ramón, Pádua Fernandes

Eric Reinhart @eric-reinhart.com · 1d

New article out this month on how doctors become fascists.

50% of German physicians joined the Nazi Party––twice the proportion of any other profession. US doctors today are arguably the most conservative in the world, and we're heading along a similar path.
drive.google.com/file/d/1CAk9...

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Reposted by Anna O. Law, Smith

Seema Jayachandran @seema.bsky.social · 1d

Congratulations, you're department chair.

Marjorie James Keenan @unenthusiast.com · 2d

In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

rm -rf ~/

hammancheez @hammancheez.bsky.social · 2d

"The chancellor approved it"

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Marjorie James Keenan @unenthusiast.com · 2d

In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

rm -rf ~/

hammancheez @hammancheez.bsky.social · 2d

"The chancellor approved it"

🫧 Spark Elation 🫧 @tyranny.sparklenoise.com · 2d

In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

“a supply chain attack”

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Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2d

I'm sorry. That's a lot of loss.

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Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks. This was a close friend's dad and had a very class reunion vibe in a tiny village in my school district.

Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2d

Third funeral in 6 months and I guess this is where middle age folks go to folks and see their friends.

(Thankfully funerals have not been for friends but for our parents. Feels like our 20s in reverse when we were attending each other's weddings).

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Reposted by Scott L. Greer, Smith, Alan Richardson , and 2 more Scott L. Greer, Smith, Alan Richardson, Silvia Secchi, David Darmofal

Jennifer Nuzzo, DrPH, SM @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social · 2d

Some of these people have now been fired and rehired TWICE since January. The current state of dysfunction is mind boggling.

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 2d

OOOPS! UPDATE: Two HHS officials tell me that disease detectives, measles response officers, global health officials and the MMWR staff were laid off by mistake and will be reinstated. But Washington office is still RIFed

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 3d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

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Reposted by Smith, Christina Pagel, Nancy M. Wingfield , and 3 more Smith, Christina Pagel, Nancy M. Wingfield, Aviel Roshwald, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, David Darmofal

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 2d

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 3d

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Reposted by Amy Bruckman, Tom Clark, Daniel W. Drezner , and 7 more Amy Bruckman, Tom Clark, Daniel W. Drezner, Smith, Alan Richardson, R. M. Wilson, Bessma Momani, Christina Ho, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Colin Woodard

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 2d

“We can give $20 billion to Argentina but we can’t afford the CDC’s measles experts” is a hell of an argument

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Reposted by Smith

Timothy McBride @mcbridetd.bsky.social · 2d

Trust in CDC under RFK Jr. falls to lowest in 5 years: Poll thehill.com/policy/healt...

thehill.com

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Reposted by Smith

Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 2d

The mass layoffs of federal workers on Friday night swept up the top two leaders of the federal measles response team, those working on Ebola and dozens of other infectious disease experts
(Gift article)

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/h...

C.D.C. Layoffs Included 2 Top Measles Experts Amid Rising Cases

www.nytimes.com

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