Daniel Payne
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danielpayne.bsky.social
Daniel Payne
@danielpayne.bsky.social
30K followers 270 following 200 posts
Washington Correspondent @statnews.com
daniel.payne (at) statnews (dot) com
Signal: danielp.100
@politico.com / Ole Miss alum
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danielpayne.bsky.social
Today's vaccine news is part of a much larger — potentially far more impactful — agenda:

www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/t...
Trump and RFK Jr. are mulling their most disruptive vaccine policies yet — alarming manufacturers
Trump and Kennedy are considering removing aluminum from vaccines and breaking up shots that protect against multiple diseases.
www.statnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
danielpayne.bsky.social
The Trump administration has plans for 16 new initiatives at the CDC — many of which match RFK Jr.'s priorities

www.statnews.com/2025/11/20/c...
Trump administration lists 16 new CDC initiatives, from hepatitis B testing to bolstering workforce
The list offers a view into the administrations plans for the CDC, an agency battered by job cuts and resignations.
www.statnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:28 PM
danielpayne.bsky.social
Under RFK Jr. — and despite the evidence — CDC reverses course on stance that vaccines don’t cause autism

www.statnews.com/2025/11/20/c...
Under RFK Jr., CDC reverses course on stance that vaccines don’t cause autism
A CDC website now promotes the debunked idea of a link between vaccines and autism.
www.statnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM
danielpayne.bsky.social
A must-read profile of RFK Jr., perhaps the most powerful force in American health care in decades:

www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/r...
How RFK Jr., America's celebrity health secretary, is steamrolling science
RFK Jr. is plowing ahead with sweeping changes to U.S. health care that have thrilled supporters, purged opponents, and horrified critics.
www.statnews.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Reposted by Daniel Payne
lizzylawrence.bsky.social
A couple excellent stories from my colleagues today. First up, an inside look into how RFK Jr. is managing HHS, from
@chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social, @caseyross.bsky.social, and @sarah-todd.bsky.social: www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/r...
How RFK Jr., America's celebrity health secretary, is steamrolling science
RFK Jr. is plowing ahead with sweeping changes to U.S. health care that have thrilled supporters, purged opponents, and horrified critics.
www.statnews.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:37 PM
danielpayne.bsky.social
New: The Trump administration is plotting what could be its most disruptive vaccine policies yet.

Internally, major vaccine manufacturers are terrified.

www.statnews.com/2025/11/18/t...
Trump and RFK Jr. are mulling their most disruptive vaccine policies yet — alarming manufacturers
Trump and Kennedy are considering removing aluminum from vaccines and breaking up shots that protect against multiple diseases.
www.statnews.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:58 PM
danielpayne.bsky.social
Inside the closed-door MAHA Summit, where industry executives, wellness influencers, and policymakers plotted their future in Trump's Washington

w/ @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/11/12/m...
Creatine-filled swag bags and an embrace from Vance: MAHA marks its ascendance in Trump’s Washington
Creatine-filled swag bags and an embrace from Vance: MAHA marks its ascendance in Trump’s Washington.
www.statnews.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Reposted by Daniel Payne
elizabethcooney.bsky.social
Come for the 'hush-hush,' stay for the 'eloquent rant,' from Allison DeAngelis and @danielpayne.bsky.social at @statnews.com

www.statnews.com/2025/11/11/m...
At ‘hush-hush’ MAHA summit, RFK Jr. and deputies to mix with biotech leaders
A who's who of MAHA federal officials will be speaking at an event, stacked with industry executives and activists, organized largely in secrecy.
www.statnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:46 PM
danielpayne.bsky.social
In a "hush-hush" MAHA summit, top health officials will mingle with industry leaders and activists

www.statnews.com/2025/11/11/m...
At ‘hush-hush’ MAHA summit, RFK Jr. and deputies to mix with biotech leaders
A who's who of MAHA federal officials will be speaking at an event, stacked with industry executives and activists, organized largely in secrecy.
www.statnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Reposted by Daniel Payne
statnews.com
Children’s Health Defense, the vaccine-skeptical organization once led by now-health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is playing the long game.
www.statnews.com/2025/11/08/r...
How Children’s Health Defense plans to cement its agenda beyond RFK Jr.
Children’s Health Defense is leveraging its ties to HHS to lock in legal and cultural shifts that could shape policy long after RFK Jr. leaves.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Reposted by Daniel Payne
jasonukman.bsky.social
How Children’s Health Defense plans to cement its agenda beyond RFK Jr.

@danielpayne.bsky.social on the ambitions of a group that is at once at the pinnacle of its success and fiercely opposed by many in medicine.

www.statnews.com/2025/11/08/r...
How Children’s Health Defense plans to cement its agenda beyond RFK Jr.
Children’s Health Defense is leveraging its ties to HHS to lock in legal and cultural shifts that could shape policy long after RFK Jr. leaves.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Reposted by Daniel Payne
rickberke.bsky.social
How Children’s Health Defense plans to cement its agenda beyond RFK Jr. www.statnews.com/2025/11/08/r... via @statnews.com @danielpayne.bsky.social
How Children’s Health Defense plans to cement its agenda beyond RFK Jr.
Children’s Health Defense is leveraging its ties to HHS to lock in legal and cultural shifts that could shape policy long after RFK Jr. leaves.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:59 PM
danielpayne.bsky.social
Children’s Health Defense is playing the long game, honing a strategy to cement its agenda beyond RFK Jr.'s tenure.

The public health implications are immense.

www.statnews.com/2025/11/08/r...
How Children’s Health Defense plans to cement its agenda beyond RFK Jr.
Children’s Health Defense is leveraging its ties to HHS to lock in legal and cultural shifts that could shape policy long after RFK Jr. leaves.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:34 PM
danielpayne.bsky.social
There are plenty of open questions about Trump's GLP-1 deal

www.statnews.com/2025/11/06/t...
7 burning questions about Trump’s big deal for cheaper weight loss drugs
Trump's weight loss drug announcement raises questions from the commercial market to Medicare.
www.statnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:49 PM
danielpayne.bsky.social
Trump announces deal with Lilly, Novo to expand access to weight loss drugs, cut prices

Details here:

www.statnews.com/2025/11/06/t...
Trump announces deal with Lilly, Novo to expand access to weight loss drugs, cut prices
Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, Eli Lilly's Zepbound to be sold at discounted prices on TrumpRx, covered by Medicare.
www.statnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Reposted by Daniel Payne
statnews.com
TOMORROW at 1pm ET: STAT reporters @jasonmast.bsky.social and Damian Garde unpack Jason’s recent investigation into how Moderna — once seen as a company that helped save the world — began to unravel.
www.statnews.com/event/modern...
The Once and Future Moderna
A live look at STAT’s reporting on the unraveling of Moderna with Jason Mast and Damian Garde.
www.statnews.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
danielpayne.bsky.social
News: Amid a MAHA insurgence in Washington, one health industry group is changing its approach.

Inside the Children's Hospital Association's new strategy:

www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/c...
Children’s hospital lobby shifts strategy amid MAHA’s rise in Washington
The Children's Hospital Association is expanding its lobbying to champion children's health more broadly.
www.statnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Reposted by Daniel Payne
statnews.com
#Breaking: Trump administration nears deals for cheaper weight-loss drugs with Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/t...
Trump administration nears deals for cheaper weight-loss drugs with Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly
A deal with Lilly and Novo would be significant for the administration’s push for lower drug prices for Americans.
www.statnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:02 PM
danielpayne.bsky.social
Trump administration nears deals for cheaper weight-loss drugs with Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly

www.statnews.com/2025/11/04/t...
Trump administration nears deals for cheaper weight-loss drugs with Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly
A deal with Lilly and Novo would be significant for the administration’s push for lower drug prices for Americans.
www.statnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:02 PM
danielpayne.bsky.social
FDA’s top drug regulator placed on leave amid investigation

via @lizzylawrence.bsky.social @adamfeuerstein.bsky.social

www.statnews.com/2025/11/02/f...
FDA’s top drug regulator placed on leave amid investigation
George Tidmarsh, the FDA's top drug regulator, has been placed on leave after being accused of abusing his regulatory authority, STAT has learned.
www.statnews.com
November 2, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Reposted by Daniel Payne
statnews.com
Dr. Oz posted that several states had spent large amounts on Medicaid coverage for undocumented immigrants. Some states are pushing back. www.statnews.com/2025/11/01/d...
States reject Dr. Oz’s claims of Medicaid spending on undocumented immigrants
Officials from Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington say CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz posted incorrect figures about their Medicaid spending on X.
www.statnews.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by Daniel Payne
rickberke.bsky.social
States reject Dr. Oz’s claims of Medicaid spending on undocumented immigrants
Sharp reporting by @danielpayne.bsky.social
www.statnews.com/2025/11/01/d... via @statnews.com
States reject Dr. Oz’s claims of Medicaid spending on undocumented immigrants
Officials from Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington say CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz posted incorrect figures about their Medicaid spending on X.
www.statnews.com
November 1, 2025 at 6:13 PM
danielpayne.bsky.social
Dr. Oz said yesterday that states made $1B+ in illegal Medicaid payments.

But several state officials tell me his figures are wrong — and one said CMS has privately acknowledged Oz’s post is incorrect.

www.statnews.com/2025/11/01/d...
States reject Dr. Oz’s claims of Medicaid spending on undocumented immigrants
Officials from Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington say CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz posted incorrect figures about their Medicaid spending on X.
www.statnews.com
November 1, 2025 at 5:16 PM
danielpayne.bsky.social
Health care is set to be a major issue in the midterms.

Democrats and Republicans are already testing new lines of attack.

www.statnews.com/2025/10/31/g...
Health care takes center stage in this year’s elections, a sign of midterm strategies to come
Health care has become a central issue in this year’s elections, a sign of parties' midterm strategies to come.
www.statnews.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by Daniel Payne
lizzylawrence.bsky.social
EXCLUSIVE: A slow-boiling feud between Vinay Prasad and his staff at the FDA is threatening the future of the center that regulates the nation’s vaccines, biological products, and blood supply. Read more here:
www.statnews.com/2025/10/31/v...
Under Vinay Prasad, employees at a key FDA center fear speaking out, look for the exits
Exclusive: Vinay Prasad has rattled FDA staff by expanding his power and pushing out senior leaders.
www.statnews.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:17 PM