ben krohmal
@benkroh.bsky.social
not entirely uncongenial bioethicist. all of the caveats.
Reposted by ben krohmal
This fetid landmark, this historical stain on humanity is primarily due to the stunningly reckless obliteration of America's foreign assistance agency earlier this year.
Led by the richest man on earth. In secret, on a weekend. With zero analysis or discussion of its catastrophic impacts.
Led by the richest man on earth. In secret, on a weekend. With zero analysis or discussion of its catastrophic impacts.
For First Time in Decades, Child Deaths Will Rise This Year
Almost a quarter of a million more children around the world are projected to die in 2025 than in 2024.
www.wsj.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
This fetid landmark, this historical stain on humanity is primarily due to the stunningly reckless obliteration of America's foreign assistance agency earlier this year.
Led by the richest man on earth. In secret, on a weekend. With zero analysis or discussion of its catastrophic impacts.
Led by the richest man on earth. In secret, on a weekend. With zero analysis or discussion of its catastrophic impacts.
Reposted by ben krohmal
This is huge: “A drug that provides near-perfect protection against H.I.V. with shots just twice a year will be made available at $40 per patient annually in low- and middle-income countries, offering new hope… making lenacapavir a realistic choice in countries with constrained resources.”
Philanthropies Strike a Promising Deal to Turn Back H.I.V.
www.nytimes.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
This is huge: “A drug that provides near-perfect protection against H.I.V. with shots just twice a year will be made available at $40 per patient annually in low- and middle-income countries, offering new hope… making lenacapavir a realistic choice in countries with constrained resources.”
Reposted by ben krohmal
“These are not typical requests from a health secretary to a C.D.C. director. Not even close. None of us would have agreed to the secretary’s demands, and we applaud Dr. Monarez for standing up for the agency and the health of our communities.”
Op-ed written by 9 former CDC directors!
🧪 #IDsky
Op-ed written by 9 former CDC directors!
🧪 #IDsky
Opinion | We Ran the C.D.C.: Kennedy Is Endangering Every American’s Health
www.nytimes.com
September 1, 2025 at 6:37 PM
“These are not typical requests from a health secretary to a C.D.C. director. Not even close. None of us would have agreed to the secretary’s demands, and we applaud Dr. Monarez for standing up for the agency and the health of our communities.”
Op-ed written by 9 former CDC directors!
🧪 #IDsky
Op-ed written by 9 former CDC directors!
🧪 #IDsky
Reposted by ben krohmal
People in wheelchairs are getting arrested right now in the Russell Senate Office Building in DC. They showed up to tell Congress not to cut their Medicaid, because they cant afford health care without it. If you look closely you can see the zip ties on their hands. #WeWontGetOverLosingMedicaid
June 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
People in wheelchairs are getting arrested right now in the Russell Senate Office Building in DC. They showed up to tell Congress not to cut their Medicaid, because they cant afford health care without it. If you look closely you can see the zip ties on their hands. #WeWontGetOverLosingMedicaid
Reposted by ben krohmal
Wow.
Those of my followers who were to young for the part of the AIDS epidemic when there was no treatment, no PrEP, an no cure might not get how huge this is, but: it is huge.
Those of my followers who were to young for the part of the AIDS epidemic when there was no treatment, no PrEP, an no cure might not get how huge this is, but: it is huge.
Regulators Approve a Twice-Yearly Shot to Prevent H.I.V. Infection
www.nytimes.com
June 18, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Wow.
Those of my followers who were to young for the part of the AIDS epidemic when there was no treatment, no PrEP, an no cure might not get how huge this is, but: it is huge.
Those of my followers who were to young for the part of the AIDS epidemic when there was no treatment, no PrEP, an no cure might not get how huge this is, but: it is huge.
Meeting venues don’t really get any better than this.
June 16, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Meeting venues don’t really get any better than this.
Looking forward to GOP support for raising taxes on the rich, since apparently the prospect of more money doesn’t serve as an incentive for them (note that Hawley at least is somewhat consistent on this)
Hawley dismisses Trump lining his pockets with his memecoin: "Listen, I think nobody believes that Donald Trump can be bought. I mean, what does Donald Trump need more money for?"
May 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Looking forward to GOP support for raising taxes on the rich, since apparently the prospect of more money doesn’t serve as an incentive for them (note that Hawley at least is somewhat consistent on this)
Reposted by ben krohmal
3 days ago RFK Jr. told the CDC to stop recommending water fluoridation, claiming it was a neurotoxin (this is a lie).
Turns out he also just eliminated the CDC’s entire Lead Program, and now lead poisoned children in Milwaukee are just on their own. Lead IS a neurotoxin and harms brain development
Turns out he also just eliminated the CDC’s entire Lead Program, and now lead poisoned children in Milwaukee are just on their own. Lead IS a neurotoxin and harms brain development
CDC denies help for lead poisoning in Milwaukee schools due to layoffs
The CDC rejected a request for help "due to the complete loss" of their lead poisoning experts.
www.cbsnews.com
April 11, 2025 at 7:33 PM
3 days ago RFK Jr. told the CDC to stop recommending water fluoridation, claiming it was a neurotoxin (this is a lie).
Turns out he also just eliminated the CDC’s entire Lead Program, and now lead poisoned children in Milwaukee are just on their own. Lead IS a neurotoxin and harms brain development
Turns out he also just eliminated the CDC’s entire Lead Program, and now lead poisoned children in Milwaukee are just on their own. Lead IS a neurotoxin and harms brain development
Reposted by ben krohmal
It's not just the biggest peacetime tax increase in US history. It's also the most regressive tax increase in US history.
April 3, 2025 at 3:34 AM
It's not just the biggest peacetime tax increase in US history. It's also the most regressive tax increase in US history.
Reposted by ben krohmal
I’ve taken the Senate floor and will speak for as long as I’m physically able to lift the voices of Americans who are being harmed and not being heard in this moment of crisis. Watch here:
Live: Speaking on Trump, Musk, and America’s Moral Moment on the Senate Floor | Senator Cory Booker
YouTube video by Senator Cory Booker
youtube.com
March 31, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I’ve taken the Senate floor and will speak for as long as I’m physically able to lift the voices of Americans who are being harmed and not being heard in this moment of crisis. Watch here:
Reposted by ben krohmal
Imagine human bodies grown without complete brains, without consciousness.
These are "bodyoids."
And today in MIT Technology Review, researchers from Stanford University are ready to talk about them.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/25/1...
These are "bodyoids."
And today in MIT Technology Review, researchers from Stanford University are ready to talk about them.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/25/1...
Ethically sourced “spare” human bodies could revolutionize medicine
Human “bodyoids” could reduce animal testing, improve drug development, and alleviate organ shortages.
www.technologyreview.com
March 25, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Imagine human bodies grown without complete brains, without consciousness.
These are "bodyoids."
And today in MIT Technology Review, researchers from Stanford University are ready to talk about them.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/25/1...
These are "bodyoids."
And today in MIT Technology Review, researchers from Stanford University are ready to talk about them.
www.technologyreview.com/2025/03/25/1...
There is plenty of real government waste. But this administration has shown a preternatural ability to target for cuts neglected causes where we are already investing far too little.
NEW: The Defense Department is considering a 75% reduction in workforce targeting employees who work to prevent the spread of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, according to a draft proposal obtained by WIRED. 😕
Pentagon Cuts Threaten Programs That Secure Loose Nukes and Weapons of Mass Destruction
Documents obtained by WIRED show the US Department of Defense is considering cutting up to 75 percent of workers who stop the spread of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.
www.wired.com
March 6, 2025 at 9:50 PM
There is plenty of real government waste. But this administration has shown a preternatural ability to target for cuts neglected causes where we are already investing far too little.
Reposted by ben krohmal
NEW: The Defense Department is considering a 75% reduction in workforce targeting employees who work to prevent the spread of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, according to a draft proposal obtained by WIRED. 😕
Pentagon Cuts Threaten Programs That Secure Loose Nukes and Weapons of Mass Destruction
Documents obtained by WIRED show the US Department of Defense is considering cutting up to 75 percent of workers who stop the spread of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons.
www.wired.com
March 6, 2025 at 8:01 PM
NEW: The Defense Department is considering a 75% reduction in workforce targeting employees who work to prevent the spread of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, according to a draft proposal obtained by WIRED. 😕
Reposted by ben krohmal
So - I've actually led Ebola outbreak response at USAID.
This is bunk from Elon. They have laid off most of the experts, they're bankrupting most of the partner orgs, have withdrawn from WHO, and muzzled CDC.
What's left is a fig-leaf effort to cover their asses politically.
This is bunk from Elon. They have laid off most of the experts, they're bankrupting most of the partner orgs, have withdrawn from WHO, and muzzled CDC.
What's left is a fig-leaf effort to cover their asses politically.
Elon Musk: "We will make mistakes. We won't be perfect ... so for example, with USAID, one of the things we accidentally canceled very briefly was ebola prevention."
February 26, 2025 at 10:41 PM
So - I've actually led Ebola outbreak response at USAID.
This is bunk from Elon. They have laid off most of the experts, they're bankrupting most of the partner orgs, have withdrawn from WHO, and muzzled CDC.
What's left is a fig-leaf effort to cover their asses politically.
This is bunk from Elon. They have laid off most of the experts, they're bankrupting most of the partner orgs, have withdrawn from WHO, and muzzled CDC.
What's left is a fig-leaf effort to cover their asses politically.
Reposted by ben krohmal
RIP Tom L. Beauchamp III — one of the giants of bioethics | dailynous.com/2025/02/22/t...
Tom Beauchamp III (1939-2025) - Daily Nous
Tom L. Beauchamp III, professor emeritus of philosophy at Georgetown University and one of the most influential philosophers of bioethics, has died. Professor Beauchamp was well-known for his work on ...
dailynous.com
February 23, 2025 at 1:15 PM
RIP Tom L. Beauchamp III — one of the giants of bioethics | dailynous.com/2025/02/22/t...
Reposted by ben krohmal
Mass firings of HHS employees across HHS, without even knowing what those employees contributed in the mission of their offices is likely to lead to loss of HHS functions that are important to the country. 1/x
Here’s Where Trump’s Government Layoffs Are—As Firings At FAA Begin
The Trump administration has laid off thousands amid cost-cutting efforts.
www.forbes.com
February 17, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Mass firings of HHS employees across HHS, without even knowing what those employees contributed in the mission of their offices is likely to lead to loss of HHS functions that are important to the country. 1/x
100%
Trump is presenting himself as a born-again corruption fighter rooting out waste, fraud and abuse from all corners of the federal government — even as he is dismantling the government’s mechanisms for fighting corruption. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...
Trump and Musk Hunt for Corruption, Very Selectively
Spending that the White House does not like is being labeled fraudulent. At the same time, President Trump is rolling back anticorruption efforts and ethical standards for himself and allies like Elon...
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2025 at 1:01 AM
100%
Reposted by ben krohmal
THIS IS HUGE! Researchers at Stanford Medicine have devised an influenza vaccine that prompts immunity to ALL four major flu subtypes AND shows potential against bird flu, indicating a significant advancement in flu prevention and a potential increase in vaccine efficacy. Let’s talk about that! 🧪🧵⬇️
January 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
THIS IS HUGE! Researchers at Stanford Medicine have devised an influenza vaccine that prompts immunity to ALL four major flu subtypes AND shows potential against bird flu, indicating a significant advancement in flu prevention and a potential increase in vaccine efficacy. Let’s talk about that! 🧪🧵⬇️
Puzzled by this strange festive confluence about how properly to integrate latkes and Chinese food
December 25, 2024 at 7:20 PM
Puzzled by this strange festive confluence about how properly to integrate latkes and Chinese food