Liz Essley Whyte
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lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
Liz Essley Whyte
@lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
1.4K followers 140 following 66 posts
Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, covering the intersection of health + D.C. | Signal = JournoLiz.80 | Email = [email protected]
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lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
NEW: Top RFK Jr. confidante Calley Means is taking a permanent role in the Trump administration

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Exclusive | Top Kennedy Adviser Calley Means to Join Trump Administration
The MAHA leader will take on a senior role at the Department of Health and Human Services.
www.wsj.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Reposted by Liz Essley Whyte
clancyny.bsky.social
[I missed this at the time. Ck it out if you want to get caught up quickly.]

Video from Sept. 19th after the CDC's vaccine panel met and voted on new guidance for immunization.

@lizessleywhyte.bsky.social does a great job summarizing events. And interviews @drdebhoury.bsky.social. 4 minutes long.
Former CDC Leader Says Vaccine Panel’s Decisions Are ‘Concerning’
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine panel voted on new guidance for immunizations. Debra Houry, the agency’s former chief medical officer, explains her concerns for public health ...
www.wsj.com
October 6, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by Liz Essley Whyte
handle.invalid
excellently reported — and deeply revealing — piece by @lizessleywhyte.bsky.social

www.wsj.com/health/healt...
RFK Jr.’s Team Wanted to Tout an Autism Therapy. He Went After Tylenol Instead.
The heads of key health agencies advocated for putting the emphasis on leucovorin, but Kennedy became convinced that he had a moral duty to get the word out about the risk of acetaminophen.
www.wsj.com
September 25, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Reposted by Liz Essley Whyte
clancyny.bsky.social
Gift link!

RFK Jr., HHS to Link Autism to Tylenol Use in Pregnancy and Folate Deficiencies

"Kennedy has promised to reveal the cause of autism. 'By September we will know what has caused the autism epidemic.'"

"Critics panned the promise as an impossible timeline" for a valid scientific inquiry.
September 5, 2025 at 6:02 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
News 🚨:

The much-anticipated autism report from RFK Jr.'s HHS will point to Tylenol during pregnancy, folate deficiency, among other possible causes of autism.

With
@nidhisubs.bsky.social
Link👇
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Exclusive | RFK Jr., HHS to Link Autism to Tylenol Use in Pregnancy and Folate Deficiencies
Kennedy’s autism report, touted by Trump, will suggest that using the pain reliever during pregnancy may be linked to the developmental disorder.
www.wsj.com
September 5, 2025 at 5:55 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
Four major HHS leaders have been ousted this summer. One was rehired.

Meanwhile, the MAHA movement backing Kennedy is impatient for bolder action on vaccines, pesticides and more.

Natalie Andrews and I take you inside it all 👇
The Turmoil Inside MAHA Is About More Than Just Vaccines
Disparate factions are sparring over some of RFK Jr.’s biggest priorities. A top FDA scientist is hired, ousted, then hired again.
www.wsj.com
September 2, 2025 at 3:04 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
“Processed food is poison,” Kennedy said, recounting how tribes had drifted from traditional food. “Processed foods are literally killing them. They’re part of a genocide that is centuries old.”

RFK Jr.'s latest challenge: bringing MAHA to Alaska www.wsj.com/us-news/alas...
RFK Jr.’s Latest Challenge: Bring MAHA to Alaska
The health secretary met with rural Alaska Natives, who often have limited access to fresh food.
www.wsj.com
August 10, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Reposted by Liz Essley Whyte
nidhisubs.bsky.social
The Trump administration is blocking funding for a swath of public health programs run by the CDC, the latest flashpoint in a push by the White House to withhold money already approved by Congress www.wsj.com/politics/pol... w @lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
Exclusive | Trump Administration Blocks Funding for CDC Health Programs
The White House budget office recently reversed a decision to freeze about $15 billion in research funding for the NIH.
www.wsj.com
August 1, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Reposted by Liz Essley Whyte
mcjomcg.bsky.social
The Trump administration is blocking funding for public health programs run by the CDC, the latest push by the White House to withhold money already approved by Congress @nidhisubs.bsky.social and @lizessleywhyte.bsky.social‬ report for @wsj.com www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Exclusive | Trump Administration Blocks Funding for CDC Health Programs
The White House budget office recently reversed a decision to freeze about $15 billion in research funding for the NIH.
www.wsj.com
August 1, 2025 at 9:06 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
RFK Jr. and Mehmet Oz are fighting to save roughly 400 Canadian ostriches.

So far their pleas have gone nowhere.

“We don’t take our public health advice from RFK and Dr. Oz,” said David Eby, the leader of British Columbia’s provincial government. www.wsj.com/world/americ...
Why America Is Rallying to Save 400 Canadian Ostriches
Plan to euthanize birds prompts RFK Jr. and other U.S. officials to come to the animals’ defense; an offer from Dr. Oz
www.wsj.com
July 30, 2025 at 6:18 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
NEW
The White House is blocking the NIH from awarding new research grants for the rest of the fiscal year

Chokes off billions in research funding

Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol... with @nidhisubs.bsky.social
Trump Administration Puts New Chokehold on Billions in Health-Research Funding
The National Institutes of Health can’t award grants to outside researchers under a new White House restriction.
www.wsj.com
July 29, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Reposted by Liz Essley Whyte
nidhisubs.bsky.social
The White House has put new limits on NIH awards to scientists, potentially restricting billions in grants

www.wsj.com/politics/pol... New with @lizessleywhyte.bsky.social and Ken Thomas
Trump Administration Puts New Chokehold on Billions in Health-Research Funding
The National Institutes of Health can’t award grants to outside researchers under a new White House restriction.
www.wsj.com
July 29, 2025 at 11:55 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
NEW

The Trump administration has put a halt on ALL new research grants flowing from the National Institutes of Health (Billions of $$), setting up a battle with lawmakers

t.co/GEM6JmLCcG

via me @nidhisubs.bsky.social and Ken Thomas
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-administration-puts-new-chokehold-on-billions-in-health-research-funding-19660215?st=PPZi65
t.co
July 29, 2025 at 11:52 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
NEW

The Trump administration aims to cut spending on Biden-era subsidies for Medicare drug plans by about 40% www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Exclusive | Medicare Part D Drug Plan Premiums Set to Rise
Trump Administration aims to soften the blow by negotiating with insurers.
www.wsj.com
July 28, 2025 at 8:24 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
NEW from me and Anna Mathews

Medicare drug plan premiums are set to rise.

The Trump administration is aiming to soften the blow by keeping some Biden subsidies (though not all) and negotiating with insurers

www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Exclusive | Medicare Part D Drug Plan Premiums Set to Rise
Trump Administration aims to soften the blow by negotiating with insurers.
www.wsj.com
July 28, 2025 at 8:23 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
New exclusive 🗞️

Health secretary RFK Jr. plans to oust the members of an advisory panel that recommends which cancer screenings, HIV drugs and other preventive services insurers must cover at no cost

www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Exclusive | RFK Jr. to Oust Advisory Panel on Cancer Screenings, HIV Prevention Drugs
The task force determines which preventive services insurers must cover at no cost to patients.
www.wsj.com
July 25, 2025 at 9:02 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
A new bill would require hospitals to disclose more information about how they handle extremely premature births.

The legislation is in part prompted by our Wall Street Journal investigation last year. www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Exclusive | Bill Would Force Hospitals to Warn If They Aren’t Equipped to Save Premature Babies
A Wall Street Journal investigation found parents had been told nothing could be done for their infants even when other nearby hospitals could offer care.
www.wsj.com
July 24, 2025 at 2:17 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
Details on the drama that led to the departure of two members of RFK Jr.'s inner circle

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
RFK Jr.’s Top Ranks Rocked by Personality Clashes
Ouster of Kennedy’s chief of staff came with White House backing
www.wsj.com
July 16, 2025 at 8:03 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
The Trump administration is weighing kicking hospitals out of Medicaid if they do not cease offering gender-related care (surgeries, puberty blockers, hormones) to children and teenagers

See the list of 9 children's hospitals that got letters from Dr. Oz... 👇
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Exclusive | Trump Administration Weighs Eliminating Funds for Hospitals Offering Gender Care to Minors
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a top federal health official, leads the administration’s efforts to crack down on the treatments for young people.
www.wsj.com
June 30, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Reposted by Liz Essley Whyte
nidhisubs.bsky.social
RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel Has a New Approach: Question Everything www.wsj.com/health/healt... @lizessleywhyte.bsky.social reports from Atlanta
RFK Jr.’s Vaccine Panel Has a New Approach: Question Everything
Immunizations “are not all good or bad,” says the chair of the overhauled panel.
www.wsj.com
June 27, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Reposted by Liz Essley Whyte
nidhisubs.bsky.social
Trump Administration Weighs Eliminating Funds for Hospitals Offering Gender Care to Minors
www.wsj.com/health/healt... @lizessleywhyte.bsky.social reports
Exclusive | Trump Administration Weighs Eliminating Funds for Hospitals Offering Gender Care to Minors
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a top federal health official, leads the administration’s efforts to crack down on the treatments for young people.
www.wsj.com
June 30, 2025 at 12:29 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
As RFK Jr.'s new immunization panel met in Atlanta and announced it would reconsider the childhood vaccine schedule, CDC director nominee Susan Monarez was on the Hill saying that vaccines save lives

With Dominique Mosbergen: www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
RFK Jr.’s New Vaccine Advisers to Re-Examine Shot Advice for Children
Panel’s new chairman questions hepatitis B vaccine timing, even as CDC nominee says vaccines save lives.
www.wsj.com
June 25, 2025 at 6:40 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
The new FDA commissioner plans to start new fast-track drug approval process that would reward companies that support "national priorities."

And lots of other news in my story today:
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
MAHA Redo at FDA Includes Fast-Tracking Some Drugs, More Use of AI
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary faces declining staff morale as he remakes the agency.
www.wsj.com
June 17, 2025 at 12:31 PM
lizessleywhyte.bsky.social
RFK Jr.'s picks for the CDC's key immunizations panel include a board member of an anti-vaccine organization, a management professor who has called for Covid-19 shots to be taken off the market, a doctor who raised doubts about vaccines on the Joe Rogan podcast. www.wsj.com/health/healt...
RFK Jr. Names Eight Vaccine Panel Replacements, Including Covid-Shot Skeptics
The new composition of the influential advisory committee comes days after the health secretary dismissed the panel’s 17 previous members,
www.wsj.com
June 12, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Reposted by Liz Essley Whyte
nidhisubs.bsky.social
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new picks for a key vaccine panel include vocal skeptics of immunizations www.wsj.com/health/healt... @lizessleywhyte.bsky.social and Dominique Mosbergen report
RFK Jr. Names Eight Vaccine Panel Replacements, Including Covid-Shot Skeptics
The new composition of the influential advisory committee comes days after the health secretary dismissed the panel’s 17 previous members,
www.wsj.com
June 11, 2025 at 11:31 PM