Ben Howell
@howellben.bsky.social
General Internist, Addiction Medicine specialist - faculty SEICHE Center for Health & Justice; Yale Program in Addiction Medicine, Yale School of Medicine. Fan of decarceration & harm reduction & New Haven
https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/benjamin-howell/
https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/benjamin-howell/
Reposted by Ben Howell
Joined @ctpublic.bsky.social this morning to talk about the latest developments in vaccine policy—and a fair bit of historical context, too. www.ctpublic.org/show/where-w...
CT doctors react to CDC's changing pediatric vaccine recommendations
We’ll dig into the history of vaccines in America, check in with Connecticut doctors and ask the state's top public health official what's next.
www.ctpublic.org
December 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Joined @ctpublic.bsky.social this morning to talk about the latest developments in vaccine policy—and a fair bit of historical context, too. www.ctpublic.org/show/where-w...
What a stupid thing to ask & say. Currently raising a newborn wo ChatGPT. Friends & Reddit provides better & more advise than AI can.
Jimmy Fallon: "And do you use ChatGPT when raising your baby?"
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
December 9, 2025 at 3:56 PM
What a stupid thing to ask & say. Currently raising a newborn wo ChatGPT. Friends & Reddit provides better & more advise than AI can.
A HOF wo Bonds & Clemens & to a lesser degree Sheffield does not represent the best who played the game. We’ll never know who used PEDs in an era when many (most?) and its virtue signaling to freeze out some known folks.
The Contemporary Baseball Committee Tabs Kent While Moving Towards Burying Bonds, Clemens, and Sheffield blogs.fangraphs.com/the-contempo...
The Contemporary Baseball Committee Tabs Kent While Moving Towards Burying Bonds, Clemens, and Sheffield
The slugging second baseman was the lone candidate elected, while his longtime nemesis and the two other PED-linked candidates were snubbed in a manner detrimental to their long-term electoral hopes.
blogs.fangraphs.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:05 PM
A HOF wo Bonds & Clemens & to a lesser degree Sheffield does not represent the best who played the game. We’ll never know who used PEDs in an era when many (most?) and its virtue signaling to freeze out some known folks.
Reposted by Ben Howell
RFK Jr.'s claim that COVID vaccines are deadly? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. In this new extraordinarily large study, vaccinated individuals had a 74% lower risk of death from severe COVID-19 and a 25% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those unvaccinated. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination and 4-Year All-Cause Mortality Among Adults in France
This cohort study uses the data from all adults aged 18 to 59 years living in France on November 1, 2021, to evaluate whether there is an association of receipt of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine with long-t...
jamanetwork.com
December 7, 2025 at 8:08 PM
RFK Jr.'s claim that COVID vaccines are deadly? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. In this new extraordinarily large study, vaccinated individuals had a 74% lower risk of death from severe COVID-19 and a 25% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those unvaccinated. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Ben Howell
"North Carolina lawmakers have always wanted it both ways."
"They want to put a shocking number of people behind bars, but they don't want to pay for it."
"North Carolina has long expected imprisoned people to shoulder part of the cost of their incarceration."
#NorthCarolina #USA #Incarceration
"They want to put a shocking number of people behind bars, but they don't want to pay for it."
"North Carolina has long expected imprisoned people to shoulder part of the cost of their incarceration."
#NorthCarolina #USA #Incarceration
North Carolina Prison Officials Raise Prices for Those Who Can Least Afford It
An increased markup on canteen goods adds to the financial burden on incarcerated people and their families, highlighting how prison systems squeeze them for revenue.
boltsmag.org
December 3, 2025 at 1:50 PM
"North Carolina lawmakers have always wanted it both ways."
"They want to put a shocking number of people behind bars, but they don't want to pay for it."
"North Carolina has long expected imprisoned people to shoulder part of the cost of their incarceration."
#NorthCarolina #USA #Incarceration
"They want to put a shocking number of people behind bars, but they don't want to pay for it."
"North Carolina has long expected imprisoned people to shoulder part of the cost of their incarceration."
#NorthCarolina #USA #Incarceration
Reposted by Ben Howell
Using difference-in-differences analysis, we found a universal 15% increase in SNAP benefits was linked to a 20% reduction in the odds of child food insufficiency.
Hispanic American households experienced a 39% reduction, and large households showed a 33% reduction in child food insufficiency.
Hispanic American households experienced a 39% reduction, and large households showed a 33% reduction in child food insufficiency.
December 3, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Using difference-in-differences analysis, we found a universal 15% increase in SNAP benefits was linked to a 20% reduction in the odds of child food insufficiency.
Hispanic American households experienced a 39% reduction, and large households showed a 33% reduction in child food insufficiency.
Hispanic American households experienced a 39% reduction, and large households showed a 33% reduction in child food insufficiency.
Or you have a five year old?
your Music yearly wrap up should be accepted diagnostically idc
oh, you listened to the same song for 68 days in a row and played it 783 times?
you’re autistic babe
oh, you listened to the same song for 68 days in a row and played it 783 times?
you’re autistic babe
December 3, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Or you have a five year old?
Reposted by Ben Howell
Because of the hepatitis B birth dose and completion of the infant series of the vaccine, the U.S. has made significant progress in reducing chronic hepatitis B. Eliminating the birth dose would reverse this progress and put children's health at risk. Read more:
www.aap.org/en/news-room...
www.aap.org/en/news-room...
December 2, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Because of the hepatitis B birth dose and completion of the infant series of the vaccine, the U.S. has made significant progress in reducing chronic hepatitis B. Eliminating the birth dose would reverse this progress and put children's health at risk. Read more:
www.aap.org/en/news-room...
www.aap.org/en/news-room...
Reposted by Ben Howell
Reposted by Ben Howell
This Thanksgiving, countless families will sit down for dinner without their loved ones, as nearly 2 million people are confined behind bars, far away from home.
The harms of mass incarceration are felt by us all.
The harms of mass incarceration are felt by us all.
November 26, 2025 at 3:06 PM
This Thanksgiving, countless families will sit down for dinner without their loved ones, as nearly 2 million people are confined behind bars, far away from home.
The harms of mass incarceration are felt by us all.
The harms of mass incarceration are felt by us all.
Reposted by Ben Howell
"Alberta’s Compassionate Intervention Act — which will allow for the involuntary admission of people who use substances, even when they have[..]capacity to make decisions about their care — lacks sufficient evidence of effectiveness + poses substantial ethical concerns"
www.cmaj.ca/content/197/...
www.cmaj.ca/content/197/...
Involuntary treatment for substance use: application of Kass’ ethical framework to Alberta’s Compassionate Intervention Act
Key points
In Canada, more than 50 000 opioid-related deaths have occurred since September 2024, mostly in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario, where governments are all in various stages of develo...
www.cmaj.ca
November 25, 2025 at 9:40 PM
"Alberta’s Compassionate Intervention Act — which will allow for the involuntary admission of people who use substances, even when they have[..]capacity to make decisions about their care — lacks sufficient evidence of effectiveness + poses substantial ethical concerns"
www.cmaj.ca/content/197/...
www.cmaj.ca/content/197/...
Reposted by Ben Howell
After Biden commuted the sentences of 37 men on federal death row last year, the Trump administration is retaliating by sending them to the supermax. Prisoners are locked in cells smaller than a parking space 22-24 hours a day.
One prisoner told me he fears he won't make it out alive.
My latest:
One prisoner told me he fears he won't make it out alive.
My latest:
Death Row Prisoners Granted Clemency by Biden Brace for "Living Hell" Under Trump - Bolts
Trump officials are retaliating by imposing the harshest conditions in the entire federal prison system, including near total isolation.
boltsmag.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:36 PM
After Biden commuted the sentences of 37 men on federal death row last year, the Trump administration is retaliating by sending them to the supermax. Prisoners are locked in cells smaller than a parking space 22-24 hours a day.
One prisoner told me he fears he won't make it out alive.
My latest:
One prisoner told me he fears he won't make it out alive.
My latest:
Reposted by Ben Howell
As the article highlights, this will hit rural regions the hardest. Red states & red regions of blue states.
Immigrants make up a significant proportion of all the country's doctors. New policies are making it harder and less appealing for foreign-born physicians to come to the U.S. n.pr/4pt2A0r
'Nobody wants to come': What if the U.S. can no longer attract immigrant physicians?
Immigrants make up a significant proportion of all the country's doctors. New policies are making it harder and less appealing for foreign-born physicians to come to the U.S.
n.pr
November 24, 2025 at 11:57 AM
As the article highlights, this will hit rural regions the hardest. Red states & red regions of blue states.
Reposted by Ben Howell
Immigrants make up a significant proportion of all the country's doctors. New policies are making it harder and less appealing for foreign-born physicians to come to the U.S. n.pr/4pt2A0r
'Nobody wants to come': What if the U.S. can no longer attract immigrant physicians?
Immigrants make up a significant proportion of all the country's doctors. New policies are making it harder and less appealing for foreign-born physicians to come to the U.S.
n.pr
November 24, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Immigrants make up a significant proportion of all the country's doctors. New policies are making it harder and less appealing for foreign-born physicians to come to the U.S. n.pr/4pt2A0r
Reposted by Ben Howell
“Making incarcerated people pay for communication has a regressive effect on their well-being, on their improvement in prison, and after they are released,” says Wanda Betram, a spokesperson for the Prison Policy Initiative.
Priced Out of Phone Calls Home
The FCC blocked Biden-era limits on the exorbitant rates and fees charged by prison telecom companies, leaving incarcerated people and their families to fight for state-level reforms.
boltsmag.org
November 22, 2025 at 3:30 PM
“Making incarcerated people pay for communication has a regressive effect on their well-being, on their improvement in prison, and after they are released,” says Wanda Betram, a spokesperson for the Prison Policy Initiative.
Reposted by Ben Howell
NEW: Federal prison workers are jumping ship & heading to ICE for better pay + bonuses. Already BOP lost >1400 people this year, reversing all of 2024’s staffing gains. It’s an unintended consequence of Trump’s push for mass deportations
My 1st for @propublica.org
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
My 1st for @propublica.org
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
As Federal Prisons Run Low on Food and Toilet Paper, Corrections Officers Leave in Droves for ICE
Many of the problems the agency is facing now are not new, but staff and prisoners fear an exodus of officers could make life behind bars even worse.
www.propublica.org
November 21, 2025 at 6:38 PM
NEW: Federal prison workers are jumping ship & heading to ICE for better pay + bonuses. Already BOP lost >1400 people this year, reversing all of 2024’s staffing gains. It’s an unintended consequence of Trump’s push for mass deportations
My 1st for @propublica.org
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
My 1st for @propublica.org
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
Reposted by Ben Howell
This week was terrible: RFK Jr. put autism/vaccines at center of CDC website; ACIP is about to tank the birth dose of HBV vaccine; loans for public health/nursing degrees just got cut. I cannot express the white hot hatred I have for these people. Get on the phone. Call your representatives.
November 21, 2025 at 10:47 AM
This week was terrible: RFK Jr. put autism/vaccines at center of CDC website; ACIP is about to tank the birth dose of HBV vaccine; loans for public health/nursing degrees just got cut. I cannot express the white hot hatred I have for these people. Get on the phone. Call your representatives.
Reposted by Ben Howell
RFK Jr’s personal life has been in the spotlight this week. (And, look, I’m a human and a journalist — I get it.)
But what I think deserves more scrutiny: his role as a Cabinet secretary overseeing America’s public health system — with vast authority to affect our daily lives.
But what I think deserves more scrutiny: his role as a Cabinet secretary overseeing America’s public health system — with vast authority to affect our daily lives.
November 20, 2025 at 4:36 AM
RFK Jr’s personal life has been in the spotlight this week. (And, look, I’m a human and a journalist — I get it.)
But what I think deserves more scrutiny: his role as a Cabinet secretary overseeing America’s public health system — with vast authority to affect our daily lives.
But what I think deserves more scrutiny: his role as a Cabinet secretary overseeing America’s public health system — with vast authority to affect our daily lives.
Reposted by Ben Howell
The CDC website has been lobotomized. Where it once presented the decades of evidence debunking the false claims of a link between vaccines and autism, that has now been replaced with junk science.
November 20, 2025 at 6:23 PM
The CDC website has been lobotomized. Where it once presented the decades of evidence debunking the false claims of a link between vaccines and autism, that has now been replaced with junk science.
Reposted by Ben Howell
ICYMI: Check out Senator Looney’s interview on WNHH! With Republicans gutting the ACA and jacking up health care costs for thousands of CT families, Senator Looney explains why CT needs to look at a public option.
Looney Pushes Public Option www.newhavenindependent.org/2025/11/18/l...
Looney Pushes Public Option www.newhavenindependent.org/2025/11/18/l...
Looney Pushes Public Option - New Haven Independent
New Haven State Sen. Martin Looney isn't waiting until up to 50,000 people in Connecticut see their health insurance bills skyrocket at year's end.
www.newhavenindependent.org
November 19, 2025 at 3:12 PM
ICYMI: Check out Senator Looney’s interview on WNHH! With Republicans gutting the ACA and jacking up health care costs for thousands of CT families, Senator Looney explains why CT needs to look at a public option.
Looney Pushes Public Option www.newhavenindependent.org/2025/11/18/l...
Looney Pushes Public Option www.newhavenindependent.org/2025/11/18/l...
Reposted by Ben Howell
There are 4 articles on front of NYT on meetings between Trump & Mohammed bin Salman: none of them mention hotel Saudi is gifting Trump in exchange for US military support that they reported on in 1 (completely isolated) article 4 days ago.
100s of articles normalizing Trump >> 1 isolated article.
100s of articles normalizing Trump >> 1 isolated article.
November 19, 2025 at 3:13 PM
There are 4 articles on front of NYT on meetings between Trump & Mohammed bin Salman: none of them mention hotel Saudi is gifting Trump in exchange for US military support that they reported on in 1 (completely isolated) article 4 days ago.
100s of articles normalizing Trump >> 1 isolated article.
100s of articles normalizing Trump >> 1 isolated article.
Reposted by Ben Howell
Going to The Game? #Harvard and #Yale are rivals on the field but off the field, we’re working together with alumni from other schools around the country to defend academic freedom against the Trump administration’s authoritarianism. Come join us. yaledailynews.com/blog/2025/11...
Yale, Harvard alumni hosting tailgate for academic freedom at The Game
Alumni groups Stand Up for Yale and Crimson Courage will host a joint tailgate to gather signatures for a letter they plan to send to their universities’ presidents about protecting academic freedom.
yaledailynews.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Going to The Game? #Harvard and #Yale are rivals on the field but off the field, we’re working together with alumni from other schools around the country to defend academic freedom against the Trump administration’s authoritarianism. Come join us. yaledailynews.com/blog/2025/11...
Reposted by Ben Howell
Then they sat in the shade of a large tree and ate their chocolate ice cream cones together.
November 16, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Then they sat in the shade of a large tree and ate their chocolate ice cream cones together.