Joan Stephenson
@joan3rdcoast.bsky.social
Science & medical writer/editor. Movie / music / comedy / travel / ethnic foods buff. Fan of the scientific method & freedom of the press.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Such a fun film to produce, with a truly great cast & crew. It was thanks to the late, great Jim Jacks that we were able to get the film made. He fought for our little film and so many others, including films by the Coen Brothers, Kevin Smith and Richard Linklater.
Lots of mentions of Tremors here tonight. I guess it must be showing somewhere. Just a perfectly written and acted creature feature.
a man with long hair is smiling with the words " you got that right " below him
ALT: a man with long hair is smiling with the words " you got that right " below him
media.tenor.com
February 15, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Such a fun film to produce, with a truly great cast & crew. It was thanks to the late, great Jim Jacks that we were able to get the film made. He fought for our little film and so many others, including films by the Coen Brothers, Kevin Smith and Richard Linklater.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
The American Medical Association and a leading public health research group focused on vaccines are teaming up to create a system to review vaccine safety and effectiveness, mirroring a role long played by the CDC.
AMA joins effort to launch vaccine science review amid CDC turmoil
The American Medical Association and a partner group are taking on a new role in reviewing vaccine safety and effectiveness as the CDC’s review process faces criticism.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:30 PM
The American Medical Association and a leading public health research group focused on vaccines are teaming up to create a system to review vaccine safety and effectiveness, mirroring a role long played by the CDC.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Absolutely staggeringly stupid. We have come so close to completely eradicating polio (only ever done this once before with smallpox). It's so easy for these diseases to regain a foothold. If you're not old enough to remember - it causes paralysis and death mainly affecting young children.
The chair of a federal vaccine advisory panel charted a new course for the committee in a podcast released Thursday, suggesting the public might want to reconsider the use of polio vaccines. www.statnews.com/2026/01/22/v...
Top CDC vaccine adviser questions need for polio shot, other longstanding recommendations
The chair of a federal vaccine advisory panel charted a new course for the committee in a podcast released Thursday, questioning longstanding recommendations.
www.statnews.com
January 23, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Absolutely staggeringly stupid. We have come so close to completely eradicating polio (only ever done this once before with smallpox). It's so easy for these diseases to regain a foothold. If you're not old enough to remember - it causes paralysis and death mainly affecting young children.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
The Prime Minister of Belgium speaks:
January 20, 2026 at 12:47 PM
The Prime Minister of Belgium speaks:
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
People not in Minnesota: please read this excellent summary of what life is like in Minneapolis since the murderous scum ICE swarmed here. And more are on their way. By local reporter / writer / bike dude / legend @dbrauer.net .
January 13, 2026 at 10:38 PM
People not in Minnesota: please read this excellent summary of what life is like in Minneapolis since the murderous scum ICE swarmed here. And more are on their way. By local reporter / writer / bike dude / legend @dbrauer.net .
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
January 6, 2026 at 9:21 PM
A public health tragedy. Yet another reason to grieve these days.
BREAKING: The U.S. drops the number of vaccines it recommends for every child in an unprecedented overhaul of childhood health protections.
US drops the number of vaccines it recommends for every child
The U.S. took the unprecedented step Monday of dropping the number of vaccines it recommends for every child — leaving other immunizations, such as flu shots, open to families to choose but without clear guidance.
bit.ly
January 5, 2026 at 7:23 PM
A public health tragedy. Yet another reason to grieve these days.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
A month into my new job, my first real scoop.
Exposing thousands of babies to “a significant risk” of hepatitis B “in a low-income country with limited health care resources” would be “wildly unethical and a disgraceful use of American taxpayer money,” @angierasmussen.bsky.social said.
Exposing thousands of babies to “a significant risk” of hepatitis B “in a low-income country with limited health care resources” would be “wildly unethical and a disgraceful use of American taxpayer money,” @angierasmussen.bsky.social said.
CDC awards $1.6 million for new hepatitis B vaccine study in Guinea-Bissau. Although the award recipients aren't named, the grant seems tailored to Danish researchers whose work is championed by anti-vaxxers but challenged by mainstream scientists.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
CDC awards $1.6 million for hepatitis B vaccine study, likely to controversial Danish researchers
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 18, 2025 at 4:14 PM
A month into my new job, my first real scoop.
Exposing thousands of babies to “a significant risk” of hepatitis B “in a low-income country with limited health care resources” would be “wildly unethical and a disgraceful use of American taxpayer money,” @angierasmussen.bsky.social said.
Exposing thousands of babies to “a significant risk” of hepatitis B “in a low-income country with limited health care resources” would be “wildly unethical and a disgraceful use of American taxpayer money,” @angierasmussen.bsky.social said.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
#CDC social media silence during 2025 #measles outbreak left void filled by news media, study suggests
The CDC posted just 10 times on social media during the biggest outbreak in three decades.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/m...
The CDC posted just 10 times on social media during the biggest outbreak in three decades.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/m...
December 15, 2025 at 10:35 PM
#CDC social media silence during 2025 #measles outbreak left void filled by news media, study suggests
The CDC posted just 10 times on social media during the biggest outbreak in three decades.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/m...
The CDC posted just 10 times on social media during the biggest outbreak in three decades.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/m...
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Unfortunately, I can confirm that this is true.
I have known Carl for 2 decades and he is smart, dedicated, and quite apolitical, focused on science and getting stuff done on important problems.
Huge unnecessary loss of leadership and expertise.
I have known Carl for 2 decades and he is smart, dedicated, and quite apolitical, focused on science and getting stuff done on important problems.
Huge unnecessary loss of leadership and expertise.
Hearing news that Carl Dieffenbach, the Director of the Division of AIDS at #NIH (NIAID), has been removed from his position because he was "not aligned with HHS/OMB."
Russell Vought continues to remove great scientists as part of the Project 2025 mission to politicize and destroy NIH.
🧪 1/
Russell Vought continues to remove great scientists as part of the Project 2025 mission to politicize and destroy NIH.
🧪 1/
November 24, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Unfortunately, I can confirm that this is true.
I have known Carl for 2 decades and he is smart, dedicated, and quite apolitical, focused on science and getting stuff done on important problems.
Huge unnecessary loss of leadership and expertise.
I have known Carl for 2 decades and he is smart, dedicated, and quite apolitical, focused on science and getting stuff done on important problems.
Huge unnecessary loss of leadership and expertise.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
“Do you know how to read?”
“No. It is one of the black arts.”
He nodded. “But a useful one,” he said.
“No. It is one of the black arts.”
He nodded. “But a useful one,” he said.
November 8, 2025 at 4:15 PM
“Do you know how to read?”
“No. It is one of the black arts.”
He nodded. “But a useful one,” he said.
“No. It is one of the black arts.”
He nodded. “But a useful one,” he said.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
This seems ripe for federal scrutiny hahaha who am I kidding?
Have I mentioned that this company sucks?
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Have I mentioned that this company sucks?
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show
Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show.
www.reuters.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM
This seems ripe for federal scrutiny hahaha who am I kidding?
Have I mentioned that this company sucks?
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Have I mentioned that this company sucks?
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Medicare and Medicaid coverage of GLP-1s for obesity, and price reductions for cash paying patients, are significant developments. But, deals like this without regulation to back them up may not be lasting.
November 6, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Medicare and Medicaid coverage of GLP-1s for obesity, and price reductions for cash paying patients, are significant developments. But, deals like this without regulation to back them up may not be lasting.
I'm a longtime admirer of Marion Nestle, who has been an important, sharp, and sensible voice in the field of nutrition. Free link. wapo.st/3LnXp3q
At 89, she’s a top nutrition expert. Here’s what she eats in a day.
Marion Nestle’s blunt nutrition advice, sharp criticism of food companies and popular books have made her one of the most recognizable names in nutrition.
wapo.st
November 6, 2025 at 6:34 PM
I'm a longtime admirer of Marion Nestle, who has been an important, sharp, and sensible voice in the field of nutrition. Free link. wapo.st/3LnXp3q
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
On halloween there’s nothing spookier than a future without CDC
October 31, 2025 at 8:31 PM
On halloween there’s nothing spookier than a future without CDC
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hurricane Hunters have spent the past week diving into the eye of Melissa — a storm of historic ferocity — to gather life-saving data.
And, with the government shut down, they have done it all without pay.
https://cnn.it/47Mqkqt
And, with the government shut down, they have done it all without pay.
https://cnn.it/47Mqkqt
October 31, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hurricane Hunters have spent the past week diving into the eye of Melissa — a storm of historic ferocity — to gather life-saving data.
And, with the government shut down, they have done it all without pay.
https://cnn.it/47Mqkqt
And, with the government shut down, they have done it all without pay.
https://cnn.it/47Mqkqt
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
From an Evanston resident filming an arrest at Oakton/Asbury ~an hour ago:
"He was being very violent with her, I said ‘You got to stop that,’ and he said, ‘Step back or I’ll fucking shoot you.‘ I step back, and then I continue to record, at which point he turned around and pointed a gun at me.”
"He was being very violent with her, I said ‘You got to stop that,’ and he said, ‘Step back or I’ll fucking shoot you.‘ I step back, and then I continue to record, at which point he turned around and pointed a gun at me.”
October 31, 2025 at 6:28 PM
From an Evanston resident filming an arrest at Oakton/Asbury ~an hour ago:
"He was being very violent with her, I said ‘You got to stop that,’ and he said, ‘Step back or I’ll fucking shoot you.‘ I step back, and then I continue to record, at which point he turned around and pointed a gun at me.”
"He was being very violent with her, I said ‘You got to stop that,’ and he said, ‘Step back or I’ll fucking shoot you.‘ I step back, and then I continue to record, at which point he turned around and pointed a gun at me.”
Utter incompetence and stupidity.
Citing a Trump executive order banning "gender ideology," the VA is withholding coverage and treatment for male veterans with breast cancer, an increasing condition among veterans exposed to toxic chemicals during service. 100 male veterans a year are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Citing Trump Order on “Biological Truth,” VA Makes It Harder for Male Veterans With Breast Cancer to Get Coverage
A Department of Veterans Affairs memo obtained by ProPublica erects new roadblocks to care for veterans with the rare but deadly cancer. The agency cites no new science but relies on an executive orde...
www.propublica.org
October 30, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Utter incompetence and stupidity.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
former ACIP expert @kevinault.bsky.social explains what’s at risk
October 27, 2025 at 2:32 PM
former ACIP expert @kevinault.bsky.social explains what’s at risk
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Women derive more benefit from physical activity than men with respect to reduction of cardiovascular risk and related mortality, and can achieve protection at lower levels of engagement. From ~85,000 participants, open-access (blue=men)
nature.com/articles/s44...
nature.com/articles/s44...
October 27, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Women derive more benefit from physical activity than men with respect to reduction of cardiovascular risk and related mortality, and can achieve protection at lower levels of engagement. From ~85,000 participants, open-access (blue=men)
nature.com/articles/s44...
nature.com/articles/s44...
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
October 20, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
I noticed the abysmal downplaying of protests in the NY Times. I would like to have been a fly on the wall at the editorial meeting when the editors were mapping out page 1 content and placement.
Even in a digital era, the choices editors make about the Sunday front page say a great deal about their priorities
October 19, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I noticed the abysmal downplaying of protests in the NY Times. I would like to have been a fly on the wall at the editorial meeting when the editors were mapping out page 1 content and placement.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Shameful of the NYT to be burying No Kings on its homepage. It’s the biggest story of the day and it is appropriately leading every other new site even WSJ.
October 18, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Shameful of the NYT to be burying No Kings on its homepage. It’s the biggest story of the day and it is appropriately leading every other new site even WSJ.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
