Tara C. Smith
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aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith
@aetiology.bsky.social
33K followers 2.8K following 5.2K posts

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

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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 Replies Media Videos

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2h
Yes. The bacterium is ancient and likely jumped around continents. The disease recognition happened largely by chance due to a cluster of cases, like hantavirus later on.
Genomic insights into the ancient spread of Lyme disease across North America - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Lyme disease, spread by ticks infected with the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, was first described in the 1970s, but its origins are obscure. Genomics of North American ticks points to an origin pre-d...
www.nature.com

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2h
Never enough racism for this admin.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2h
Our ped didn't get them in the office this year afaik (at least that's what they said in Sept). Kiddo got his flu shot there with his last HPV dose but COVID at CVS.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 3h
For conspiracy theorists? Yes. Scientists? No.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 3h
Oh god, Lyme too, of course. "Where did Lyme disease come from? I can tell you with a high degree of probability, it came from Lab 257 on Plum island, just outside of Connecticut, 25 miles from Lyme, Connecticut, where the first case was described."

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 3h
Thanks!

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 3h
I haven't watched the film he references but Kennedy was all into the "polio vaccine as source of HIV"/Hooper shit in his book and iirc does also suggest additional "lab leak" Africa conspiracy. Don't have the book home with me though to look.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 3h
Article on supposed vaccine deaths.
publichealthguy1.bsky.social public health guy 🦃 @publichealthguy1.bsky.social · 3h
“Dr. Prasad declined to be interviewed for this article.”
by-cjewett.bsky.social Christina Jewett @by-cjewett.bsky.social · 4h
NEW: The F.D.A. announced in an internal memo that 10 children died "because of" the Covid shot. Other experts want to see proof.

“This is a profound revelation,” Dr. Prasad's memo said. “For the first time, the U.S. F.D.A. will acknowledge that Covid-19 vaccines have killed American children.”

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 3h
Of course Hoeg led the "analysis."

Reposted by Smith

publichealthguy1.bsky.social
public health guy 🦃 @publichealthguy1.bsky.social · 3h
“Dr. Prasad declined to be interviewed for this article.”
by-cjewett.bsky.social Christina Jewett @by-cjewett.bsky.social · 4h
NEW: The F.D.A. announced in an internal memo that 10 children died "because of" the Covid shot. Other experts want to see proof.

“This is a profound revelation,” Dr. Prasad's memo said. “For the first time, the U.S. F.D.A. will acknowledge that Covid-19 vaccines have killed American children.”
F.D.A. Attributes 10 Children’s Deaths to Covid Vaccines
www.nytimes.com

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 4h
And look how well that worked for them.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 4h
Yep, another awful strain on them.

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 4h
While Makary spreads bullshit about the origin of HIV.

(To be clear, this has been thoroughly investigated and fits neither the timing nor the molecular epidemiology of HIV).
PDB: "if I were to ask you where did AIDS come from, what would you say? Makary: The film 'thank you Dr Fauci' explores a non-tradi narrative which has not gotten the attention it deserves and that is that [HIV] may very well have come from a lab in Africa"

Reposted by Smith

panaccindex.bsky.social
Pandemic 𓅃. Index @panaccindex.bsky.social · 4h
@sarahkarlin-smith.bsky.social have you seen this yet

Reposted by Smith

dricks.bsky.social
Delthia Ricks @dricks.bsky.social · 8h
Now, the CDC Museum's future is on the rocks. The museum doesn't have a director even though a former supervisor is trying to keep the doors open. One of the museum's most popular programs is Disease Detective Camp, a summer program for high school students 👇
CDC Museum's Future Is on the Rocks
'You can't just throw a museum away,' former staffer says
www.medpagetoday.com

Reposted by Smith

ameshaa.bsky.social
Amesh Adalja @ameshaa.bsky.social · 9h
In this piece I’m quoted about the upcoming influenza season and how everything is completely in disarray with RFK holding power over CDC www.salon.com/2025/11/28/r...
RFK is in charge of flu season — and trouble may be ahead - Salon.com
Viral mutations are driving a surge in illness. Can Americans trust the Trump admin for guidance?
www.salon.com

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 10h
Why would you steal someone else's work and use extra water/ energy when... they're already out there??

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 10h
Right? There are so many images that are purposely available for free. I was part of a group of folks who pushed for this back pre-pandemic and they're still up, all free! Encouraged to use! Lots of these in many areas of existence!
Stock Photos for Vaccines Are Notoriously Bad So We Created Our Own
Here's how you can download them for free.
www.self.com

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 10h
Saame. At least, all morning. I'm still messed up.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 11h
Yes. Definitely resume normal work duties tomorrow.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 12h
Indeed. (Wu not Hu though). I mean, I suppose the answer to this is "money and influence on/from the right" but I will never completely understand why they purposely damaged their own brand.

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Rosemary A. Joyce, Smith , and 6 more

rtodkelly.bsky.social
Schrödinger's Sneetch Belly @rtodkelly.bsky.social · 13h
A reminder for those who are not aware: "remigration" is the process of deporting all non-white people from a country. It includes citizens and is, by definition, ethnic cleansing.

And to be clear: this is not fake. I just screenshot it myself.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 13h
The Atlantic used to be one of my go-to media outlets. That changed during the pandemic, as explained here. Great piece.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 13h
Well time for me to be incorrect about what day of the week it is until life returns to normal on Monday.

Reposted by Cheryl Peters, Smith

joho.bsky.social
Jonathan Howard @joho.bsky.social · 20h
. @theatlantic.com has some some of the best writers around.

But, under the guise of being moderate and nuanced, they were also perfectly happy to elevate right disinformation talking points to numb people to the risks of COVID and MAHA.

My latest.

sciencebasedmedicine.org/if-the-atlan...
If The Atlantic Wishes to Honestly Understand the Origins of MAHA, They Need to Investigate The Atlantic.
The Atlantic has some of the best writers around. But they were also eager to launder right-wing talking points under the guise of a being liberal, reasonable, and moderate publication, able to see a
sciencebasedmedicine.org

Reposted by Smith

shematologist.medsky.social
Shematologist, MD @shematologist.medsky.social · 1d
Team ID #meal-iodosis says they’ll take anyone who believes in vaccines so if that’s you, donate and log at HCWvsHunger.org

#HCWvsHunger

Reposted by Smith

mostlybree.kitrocha.com
Bree @mostlybree.kitrocha.com · 1d
If you are having a rough year and are worried you can't get gifts for the people in your life, you can sign up here and submit your wishlist.

If you are someone who has a little bit extra and wants to give someone else joy? Find one & buy them something!

shelflovepodcast.com/holiday-fair...
Holiday Fairies
Romancelandia holiday fairies is a mutual aid effort for the romance novel reader community.
shelflovepodcast.com

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

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 1d
I'm so sorry.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 1d
I was a bad photographer today so that was the only one I took. 2 are mine (pictured, not from today) and final one is a chihuahua mix but sadly no pics of her.
Two small mutts sitting next to each other and looking up. One is a black and white Boston terrier mix and the other a gray/brown schnauzer mutt.