Justin Gero
@justingero.com
Public health communications professional writing about health, politics, and media: https://contagion.ghost.io/
WHIPLASH
On Wed, thousands of nonprofits were facing $2 billion in cuts without notice or a plan for what's next.
Less than 24 hours later, those cuts were reversed as abruptly as they were made.
contagion.ghost.io/trump-admin-...
On Wed, thousands of nonprofits were facing $2 billion in cuts without notice or a plan for what's next.
Less than 24 hours later, those cuts were reversed as abruptly as they were made.
contagion.ghost.io/trump-admin-...
Trump Admin. Reverses $2 Billion Cuts to Behavioral Health After Fierce 24-Hour Backlash
Devastating cuts to over 2,000 organizations were reversed in less than a day thanks to strong pushback from activists and lawmakers.
contagion.ghost.io
January 15, 2026 at 7:36 PM
WHIPLASH
On Wed, thousands of nonprofits were facing $2 billion in cuts without notice or a plan for what's next.
Less than 24 hours later, those cuts were reversed as abruptly as they were made.
contagion.ghost.io/trump-admin-...
On Wed, thousands of nonprofits were facing $2 billion in cuts without notice or a plan for what's next.
Less than 24 hours later, those cuts were reversed as abruptly as they were made.
contagion.ghost.io/trump-admin-...
There's a lot we don't know right now, but at the moment it looks like overnight the Trump admin abruptly cut $2B in funding for addiction, mental health, and homelessness - reportedly 2,800 grant programs.
This sucks!
From my newsletter: contagion.ghost.io/trump-admin-...
This sucks!
From my newsletter: contagion.ghost.io/trump-admin-...
Trump Admin. Abruptly Slashes Funding for Addiction, Homelessness, and Mental Health
The news hit the public health community like a shockwave, instantly shuttering lifesaving services and leaving many more people out of work.
contagion.ghost.io
January 14, 2026 at 9:52 PM
There's a lot we don't know right now, but at the moment it looks like overnight the Trump admin abruptly cut $2B in funding for addiction, mental health, and homelessness - reportedly 2,800 grant programs.
This sucks!
From my newsletter: contagion.ghost.io/trump-admin-...
This sucks!
From my newsletter: contagion.ghost.io/trump-admin-...
Est. up to $2 billion cut overnight for addiction, homelessness, and mental health services.
Whole organizations are being wiped out. A friend of mine started a job on Monday and was let go by Wednesday. No warning. No plan. No statement from SAMHSA.
Whole organizations are being wiped out. A friend of mine started a job on Monday and was let go by Wednesday. No warning. No plan. No statement from SAMHSA.
Just in: The Trump administration sent hundreds of letters Tuesday terminating federal grants supporting mental health and drug addiction services.
Trump administration sends letter wiping out addiction, mental health grants
The Trump administration sent hundreds of letters Tuesday terminating federal grants supporting mental health and drug addiction services.
n.pr
January 14, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Est. up to $2 billion cut overnight for addiction, homelessness, and mental health services.
Whole organizations are being wiped out. A friend of mine started a job on Monday and was let go by Wednesday. No warning. No plan. No statement from SAMHSA.
Whole organizations are being wiped out. A friend of mine started a job on Monday and was let go by Wednesday. No warning. No plan. No statement from SAMHSA.
The word guessing machine would like access to your personal medical records and apps.
What do you get?
- No privacy guarantee (not HIPAA compliant)
- Shouldn't use it for "diagnosis or treatment (OpenAI's warning)
- Has already given people dangerous medical advice that has left them hospitalized
What do you get?
- No privacy guarantee (not HIPAA compliant)
- Shouldn't use it for "diagnosis or treatment (OpenAI's warning)
- Has already given people dangerous medical advice that has left them hospitalized
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health, encouraging users to connect their medical records
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health, encouraging users to connect their medical records
But it’s “not intended for diagnosis or treatment.”
buff.ly
January 13, 2026 at 1:49 PM
The word guessing machine would like access to your personal medical records and apps.
What do you get?
- No privacy guarantee (not HIPAA compliant)
- Shouldn't use it for "diagnosis or treatment (OpenAI's warning)
- Has already given people dangerous medical advice that has left them hospitalized
What do you get?
- No privacy guarantee (not HIPAA compliant)
- Shouldn't use it for "diagnosis or treatment (OpenAI's warning)
- Has already given people dangerous medical advice that has left them hospitalized
Reposted by Justin Gero
@jordanklepper.bsky.social on the Trump administration's real-time reaction to the Minnesota ICE shooting, ditching empathy for a victim-blaming narrative
January 12, 2026 at 10:33 PM
@jordanklepper.bsky.social on the Trump administration's real-time reaction to the Minnesota ICE shooting, ditching empathy for a victim-blaming narrative
"Dangerous and unnecessary"
"Health policy malpractice"
"Reckless"
Health leaders, including professional medical associations, patient advocacy groups, and pediatric healthcare providers, are reacting to the CDC's new vaccine schedule. The tldr? They hate it.
contagion.ghost.io/dangerous-an...
"Health policy malpractice"
"Reckless"
Health leaders, including professional medical associations, patient advocacy groups, and pediatric healthcare providers, are reacting to the CDC's new vaccine schedule. The tldr? They hate it.
contagion.ghost.io/dangerous-an...
“Dangerous and Unnecessary;” How Health Leaders Are Reacting to CDC’s New Vaccine Schedule
RFK Jr. abruptly changed the number of recommended vaccines for children from 17 to 11, which health experts have called "dangerous and unnecessary."
contagion.ghost.io
January 12, 2026 at 2:49 PM
"Dangerous and unnecessary"
"Health policy malpractice"
"Reckless"
Health leaders, including professional medical associations, patient advocacy groups, and pediatric healthcare providers, are reacting to the CDC's new vaccine schedule. The tldr? They hate it.
contagion.ghost.io/dangerous-an...
"Health policy malpractice"
"Reckless"
Health leaders, including professional medical associations, patient advocacy groups, and pediatric healthcare providers, are reacting to the CDC's new vaccine schedule. The tldr? They hate it.
contagion.ghost.io/dangerous-an...
Vaccines are victims of their own success. In countries like the U.S. where we've had access to vaccines for decades, it's like we've lost our collective memory of the horrors of infectious disease.
I'm a firm believer that better public health literacy must include public health history.
I'm a firm believer that better public health literacy must include public health history.
The first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine is delivered to newborns for maximum protection. The U.S. has taken the vaccine off its list of recommended vaccines while other countries are racing to try to secure the lifesaving vaccine.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
RFK Jr. cast doubt on a key vaccine. This country can't wait to get it
The U.S. is cutting the Hepatitis B vaccine from its recommended list. But here's a place where the medical establishment — and a rapper — are eager to obtain it.
www.npr.org
January 11, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Vaccines are victims of their own success. In countries like the U.S. where we've had access to vaccines for decades, it's like we've lost our collective memory of the horrors of infectious disease.
I'm a firm believer that better public health literacy must include public health history.
I'm a firm believer that better public health literacy must include public health history.
I created a public health starter pack full of trusted experts, journalists, and institutions covering health and policy in the U.S.
Let me know who I missed so I can add them!
go.bsky.app/32MFzS3
Let me know who I missed so I can add them!
go.bsky.app/32MFzS3
January 11, 2026 at 2:52 PM
I created a public health starter pack full of trusted experts, journalists, and institutions covering health and policy in the U.S.
Let me know who I missed so I can add them!
go.bsky.app/32MFzS3
Let me know who I missed so I can add them!
go.bsky.app/32MFzS3
I started a newsletter to cover public health, politics, and media.
Not much to see at the moment, but I have a lot of content in the works. Please follow and let me know what you think!
contagion.ghost.io
Not much to see at the moment, but I have a lot of content in the works. Please follow and let me know what you think!
contagion.ghost.io
Contagion
A publication covering the intersection of public health, media, and politics
contagion.ghost.io
January 10, 2026 at 8:32 PM
I started a newsletter to cover public health, politics, and media.
Not much to see at the moment, but I have a lot of content in the works. Please follow and let me know what you think!
contagion.ghost.io
Not much to see at the moment, but I have a lot of content in the works. Please follow and let me know what you think!
contagion.ghost.io
Reposted by Justin Gero
Concerned about healthcare funding and programs for people with disabilities?
➡️ Here are 6 ways to send a message to your elected representatives. From @theverge.com
www.theverge.com/how-to/60620...
➡️ Here are 6 ways to send a message to your elected representatives. From @theverge.com
www.theverge.com/how-to/60620...
Six ways to send a message to your representatives
Let politicians know what you want.
www.theverge.com
February 8, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Concerned about healthcare funding and programs for people with disabilities?
➡️ Here are 6 ways to send a message to your elected representatives. From @theverge.com
www.theverge.com/how-to/60620...
➡️ Here are 6 ways to send a message to your elected representatives. From @theverge.com
www.theverge.com/how-to/60620...