J. Offir, PhD
@joffirphd.bsky.social
Ph.D. in social psychology. Former researcher in pandemic behavioral risk reduction (non-pharma intervention). Only here to keep up. @[email protected]
Someone here just asked me about engagement suppression, but while I was responding, the comment to which I was responding was deleted. So here is what I wrote:
November 23, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Someone here just asked me about engagement suppression, but while I was responding, the comment to which I was responding was deleted. So here is what I wrote:
Do you know a trans/NB person (youth or adult) or parent/caretaker who is seeking support within a spiritual community?
The Unitarian Universalist Assoc. has launched an online monthly support program for trans people & their family members. Find info & register here:
www.uua.org/lgbtq/thewoo...
The Unitarian Universalist Assoc. has launched an online monthly support program for trans people & their family members. Find info & register here:
www.uua.org/lgbtq/thewoo...
November 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Do you know a trans/NB person (youth or adult) or parent/caretaker who is seeking support within a spiritual community?
The Unitarian Universalist Assoc. has launched an online monthly support program for trans people & their family members. Find info & register here:
www.uua.org/lgbtq/thewoo...
The Unitarian Universalist Assoc. has launched an online monthly support program for trans people & their family members. Find info & register here:
www.uua.org/lgbtq/thewoo...
Leadership like this is why, when my husband and I prepared to leave our Midwest college town, I told him, "Pick a coast - any coast."
November 21, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Leadership like this is why, when my husband and I prepared to leave our Midwest college town, I told him, "Pick a coast - any coast."
Of course; we already knew this, even before Kennedy made it a given by saying the opposite.
A huge (N > 26,000) decades-long study has "now found no link between ingesting recommended levels of fluoride and lower cognitive skills in the U.S."
1/3
www.scientificamerican.com/article/mass...
A huge (N > 26,000) decades-long study has "now found no link between ingesting recommended levels of fluoride and lower cognitive skills in the U.S."
1/3
www.scientificamerican.com/article/mass...
November 20, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Of course; we already knew this, even before Kennedy made it a given by saying the opposite.
A huge (N > 26,000) decades-long study has "now found no link between ingesting recommended levels of fluoride and lower cognitive skills in the U.S."
1/3
www.scientificamerican.com/article/mass...
A huge (N > 26,000) decades-long study has "now found no link between ingesting recommended levels of fluoride and lower cognitive skills in the U.S."
1/3
www.scientificamerican.com/article/mass...
Please, Kennedy Curse, let this man go skiing for the holidays. Please.
"The amount of aluminum in vaccines is less than that found in infant formula and breast milk and has not been found to be harmful....There is, however, significant evidence...
1/2
www.scientificamerican.com/article/rfk-...
"The amount of aluminum in vaccines is less than that found in infant formula and breast milk and has not been found to be harmful....There is, however, significant evidence...
1/2
www.scientificamerican.com/article/rfk-...
November 20, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Please, Kennedy Curse, let this man go skiing for the holidays. Please.
"The amount of aluminum in vaccines is less than that found in infant formula and breast milk and has not been found to be harmful....There is, however, significant evidence...
1/2
www.scientificamerican.com/article/rfk-...
"The amount of aluminum in vaccines is less than that found in infant formula and breast milk and has not been found to be harmful....There is, however, significant evidence...
1/2
www.scientificamerican.com/article/rfk-...
I am not enjoying this Thursday one bit.
Just as "dozens of countries have been calling for a phaseout of oil, gas and coal at the United Nations climate conference..., an event that the [US] is skipping," the Trump admin today "announced a plan to allow new...
1/2
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/c...
Just as "dozens of countries have been calling for a phaseout of oil, gas and coal at the United Nations climate conference..., an event that the [US] is skipping," the Trump admin today "announced a plan to allow new...
1/2
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/c...
November 20, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I am not enjoying this Thursday one bit.
Just as "dozens of countries have been calling for a phaseout of oil, gas and coal at the United Nations climate conference..., an event that the [US] is skipping," the Trump admin today "announced a plan to allow new...
1/2
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/c...
Just as "dozens of countries have been calling for a phaseout of oil, gas and coal at the United Nations climate conference..., an event that the [US] is skipping," the Trump admin today "announced a plan to allow new...
1/2
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/c...
Really clear messaging from the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. At this point, it's not going to convince a ton of people to start masking, but it may encourage folks who already mask to keep it up - & it may remind others that masking is an expert-recommended NPI, not a weird obsession.
November 19, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Really clear messaging from the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene. At this point, it's not going to convince a ton of people to start masking, but it may encourage folks who already mask to keep it up - & it may remind others that masking is an expert-recommended NPI, not a weird obsession.
2/ "The researchers found that the cuts disproportionately affected trials focused on infectious diseases, such as covid-19 and HIV; prevention; and behavioral interventions. More than 100 of the canceled grants were for cancer research."
November 18, 2025 at 4:25 AM
2/ "The researchers found that the cuts disproportionately affected trials focused on infectious diseases, such as covid-19 and HIV; prevention; and behavioral interventions. More than 100 of the canceled grants were for cancer research."
2/ if you get this ask, don't call them, because it's a House bill - you need to call your Representative.
The bill has been languishing in the House Committee on Energy & Commerce for months; I checked. Its chair is Brett Guthrie (R-KY): (202) 225-3641. Tell them to send it to the floor, already.
The bill has been languishing in the House Committee on Energy & Commerce for months; I checked. Its chair is Brett Guthrie (R-KY): (202) 225-3641. Tell them to send it to the floor, already.
November 17, 2025 at 10:30 PM
2/ if you get this ask, don't call them, because it's a House bill - you need to call your Representative.
The bill has been languishing in the House Committee on Energy & Commerce for months; I checked. Its chair is Brett Guthrie (R-KY): (202) 225-3641. Tell them to send it to the floor, already.
The bill has been languishing in the House Committee on Energy & Commerce for months; I checked. Its chair is Brett Guthrie (R-KY): (202) 225-3641. Tell them to send it to the floor, already.
Hmmm - maybe they saw this week's approval #s.
"Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), said Sunday the Trump administration is holding 'discussions' on extending subsidies offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)."
thehill.com/homenews/560...
"Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), said Sunday the Trump administration is holding 'discussions' on extending subsidies offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)."
thehill.com/homenews/560...
November 17, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Hmmm - maybe they saw this week's approval #s.
"Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), said Sunday the Trump administration is holding 'discussions' on extending subsidies offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)."
thehill.com/homenews/560...
"Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), said Sunday the Trump administration is holding 'discussions' on extending subsidies offered under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)."
thehill.com/homenews/560...
How loooow can he go? Keep it rolling, down that hill...
November 17, 2025 at 12:06 AM
How loooow can he go? Keep it rolling, down that hill...
Actually, no; both the popularity of the ACA and plan enrollment have *increased* since the ACA marketplace began - including since the individual mandate repeal in 2017. As of 2024, there were close to twice as many enrollees as in 2015; likewise, ACA popularity has grown considerably since 2017.
November 16, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Actually, no; both the popularity of the ACA and plan enrollment have *increased* since the ACA marketplace began - including since the individual mandate repeal in 2017. As of 2024, there were close to twice as many enrollees as in 2015; likewise, ACA popularity has grown considerably since 2017.
3/ One more bar chart - again,to know what it means, we'd need to look at interactions of these views with type of doctor & doc demographics, type of practice, patient factors & demographics, etc. Negative impact to whom, exactly, & why do they think (or not think) so?
November 16, 2025 at 4:53 AM
3/ One more bar chart - again,to know what it means, we'd need to look at interactions of these views with type of doctor & doc demographics, type of practice, patient factors & demographics, etc. Negative impact to whom, exactly, & why do they think (or not think) so?
2/ What we need to know know isn't so much what doctors think in general (which doesn't carry much meaning), but who thinks what, & when & why they think one thing vs. another. ("It's not whether, but when" - that's my own saying, so please use with attribution.)
More charts:
More charts:
November 16, 2025 at 4:53 AM
2/ What we need to know know isn't so much what doctors think in general (which doesn't carry much meaning), but who thinks what, & when & why they think one thing vs. another. ("It's not whether, but when" - that's my own saying, so please use with attribution.)
More charts:
More charts:
Physicians Evaluate Telemedicine Report 2025: you can find a lot of poll results here: www.medscape.com/slideshow/Te...
Here's a sampling. Note that generalizing/drawing conclusions from these data would be a pretty iffy thing to do, because the survey & analysis were pretty (very) crude. ...
1/x
Here's a sampling. Note that generalizing/drawing conclusions from these data would be a pretty iffy thing to do, because the survey & analysis were pretty (very) crude. ...
1/x
November 16, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Physicians Evaluate Telemedicine Report 2025: you can find a lot of poll results here: www.medscape.com/slideshow/Te...
Here's a sampling. Note that generalizing/drawing conclusions from these data would be a pretty iffy thing to do, because the survey & analysis were pretty (very) crude. ...
1/x
Here's a sampling. Note that generalizing/drawing conclusions from these data would be a pretty iffy thing to do, because the survey & analysis were pretty (very) crude. ...
1/x
2/ public opinion poll about family life in the US."
"This year was the first time in the survey’s 11-year run that Americans said finances were the top reason they capped, or planned to cap, the size of their family. They cited it twice as often as any other factor...."
Wait 'til they see 2026.
"This year was the first time in the survey’s 11-year run that Americans said finances were the top reason they capped, or planned to cap, the size of their family. They cited it twice as often as any other factor...."
Wait 'til they see 2026.
November 15, 2025 at 10:18 AM
2/ public opinion poll about family life in the US."
"This year was the first time in the survey’s 11-year run that Americans said finances were the top reason they capped, or planned to cap, the size of their family. They cited it twice as often as any other factor...."
Wait 'til they see 2026.
"This year was the first time in the survey’s 11-year run that Americans said finances were the top reason they capped, or planned to cap, the size of their family. They cited it twice as often as any other factor...."
Wait 'til they see 2026.
I think that not all H5 strains are HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza). See this from the CDC, for example:
November 15, 2025 at 3:18 AM
I think that not all H5 strains are HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza). See this from the CDC, for example:
I will never not be pissed off about this. Not ever.
Cartoon by Brendan Loper for the New Yorker.
Cartoon by Brendan Loper for the New Yorker.
November 12, 2025 at 3:04 AM
I will never not be pissed off about this. Not ever.
Cartoon by Brendan Loper for the New Yorker.
Cartoon by Brendan Loper for the New Yorker.
Note that Tammy Baldwin did try to get a one year ACA subsidy extension amendment passed in the bill tonight; every Republican voted against it. Just something to remind your GOP family members at the Thanksgiving dinner table.
www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...
www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...
November 11, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Note that Tammy Baldwin did try to get a one year ACA subsidy extension amendment passed in the bill tonight; every Republican voted against it. Just something to remind your GOP family members at the Thanksgiving dinner table.
www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...
www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...
🚨 Bluesky won't post the actual text (just the link) when I try to repost this, so here it is as an image. Call Schumer, & also your own Senators (contact info for them is in my post below) - NOW. If Dems cave on this, it will have far-reaching implications. The Repubs will never compromise again.
November 9, 2025 at 10:21 PM
🚨 Bluesky won't post the actual text (just the link) when I try to repost this, so here it is as an image. Call Schumer, & also your own Senators (contact info for them is in my post below) - NOW. If Dems cave on this, it will have far-reaching implications. The Repubs will never compromise again.
In honor of my mom's life, here are images of some of the books she authored:
November 9, 2025 at 10:00 PM
In honor of my mom's life, here are images of some of the books she authored:
4/ younger folks who have those conditions can get vaccinated against shingles (from age 18, in both Australia & the US). Just for that reason, it would, in fact, be pretty inexplicable if they'd found no increased risk of shingles following covid hospitalization.
(See the red box, below)
(See the red box, below)
November 9, 2025 at 9:28 PM
4/ younger folks who have those conditions can get vaccinated against shingles (from age 18, in both Australia & the US). Just for that reason, it would, in fact, be pretty inexplicable if they'd found no increased risk of shingles following covid hospitalization.
(See the red box, below)
(See the red box, below)
I don't normally post memes, but this is a good one (despite the absence of a closing parenthesis).
November 9, 2025 at 7:19 PM
I don't normally post memes, but this is a good one (despite the absence of a closing parenthesis).
Here's the actual USDA memo to states warning them not to issue SNAP benefits on their own, along with the bulls**, completely unhinged notice at the top of the USDA page blaming Dems for the shutdown & consequences to SNAP, & going on about "illegals" and "gender mutilation."
November 9, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Here's the actual USDA memo to states warning them not to issue SNAP benefits on their own, along with the bulls**, completely unhinged notice at the top of the USDA page blaming Dems for the shutdown & consequences to SNAP, & going on about "illegals" and "gender mutilation."