Justin Gero
@justingero.com
Public health communications professional writing about health, politics, and media: https://contagion.ghost.io/
My takeaway: public health is inherently political. If we accept that we can build coalitions and win these fights.
January 15, 2026 at 7:36 PM
My takeaway: public health is inherently political. If we accept that we can build coalitions and win these fights.
The Trump admin faced immediate pushback from national health leaders and lawmakers in both parties, who just authorized funding for addiction and mental health services last month.
January 15, 2026 at 7:36 PM
The Trump admin faced immediate pushback from national health leaders and lawmakers in both parties, who just authorized funding for addiction and mental health services last month.
January 15, 2026 at 12:53 PM
It's not one or the other with this group.
January 14, 2026 at 9:55 PM
It's not one or the other with this group.
Last June, RFK Jr. testified to Congress that he planned on moving SAMHSA into his new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). Congresswoman Madeline Dean asked: "Why would we, when we are finally seeing some success?"
NPR reports that he "didn't answer her question."
NPR reports that he "didn't answer her question."
January 14, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Last June, RFK Jr. testified to Congress that he planned on moving SAMHSA into his new Administration for a Healthy America (AHA). Congresswoman Madeline Dean asked: "Why would we, when we are finally seeing some success?"
NPR reports that he "didn't answer her question."
NPR reports that he "didn't answer her question."
This is awesome! Can we please connect Mostafavi with @ie-care.org? They are a great organization working to improve healthcare for neurodivergent people. They have programs to train clinicians and improve direct care in EDs and other clinical settings.
January 13, 2026 at 6:12 PM
This is awesome! Can we please connect Mostafavi with @ie-care.org? They are a great organization working to improve healthcare for neurodivergent people. They have programs to train clinicians and improve direct care in EDs and other clinical settings.
It's not that AI doesn't have a place in healthcare. There are a lot of interesting ideas, projects, and even currently helpful implementations. It's that LLMs can never give reliable medical advice because they do not understand what they are saying. They are word guessing machines.
January 13, 2026 at 1:49 PM
It's not that AI doesn't have a place in healthcare. There are a lot of interesting ideas, projects, and even currently helpful implementations. It's that LLMs can never give reliable medical advice because they do not understand what they are saying. They are word guessing machines.
CONTAGION is my new publication covering public health, politics, and media. If you're interested in this type of content, please subscribe! contagion.ghost.io#/portal/signup
Contagion
A publication covering the intersection of public health, media, and politics
contagion.ghost.io
January 12, 2026 at 2:49 PM
CONTAGION is my new publication covering public health, politics, and media. If you're interested in this type of content, please subscribe! contagion.ghost.io#/portal/signup
As someone who has worked in public health for 15 years, it's astonishing to see medical experts across the board urging patients to ignore CDC recommendations. I don't think people outside the field understand how huge that is.
January 12, 2026 at 2:49 PM
As someone who has worked in public health for 15 years, it's astonishing to see medical experts across the board urging patients to ignore CDC recommendations. I don't think people outside the field understand how huge that is.
Unfortunately, yes. It would be foolish to think the man who has crusaded against vaccines for 2 decades is done now.
January 11, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Unfortunately, yes. It would be foolish to think the man who has crusaded against vaccines for 2 decades is done now.
Is the data a lagging indicator here? I've been saying for close to a year that this is the worst job market in my 15-year career, all while TV pundits incredulously ask, "Are we in a recession?"
January 11, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Is the data a lagging indicator here? I've been saying for close to a year that this is the worst job market in my 15-year career, all while TV pundits incredulously ask, "Are we in a recession?"
Can you still call them "vaccine-skeptical" when they are straight-up banning vaccines?
Anti-vax, anti-science, anti-medicine.
Anti-vax, anti-science, anti-medicine.
February 8, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Can you still call them "vaccine-skeptical" when they are straight-up banning vaccines?
Anti-vax, anti-science, anti-medicine.
Anti-vax, anti-science, anti-medicine.