Hello Dante? What Level Is This?

[dryrunguy]

From the latest Johns Hopkins Health Security newsletter:

HHS Cancels Moderna’s $590M Award to Develop, License Vaccines for Pandemic Flu Threats

HHS has canceled a $590 million contract with Moderna to develop, test, and license vaccines for pandemic flu threats, including the H5N1 bird flu virus. The contract, originally signed under the Biden administration, aimed to leverage Moderna’s mRNA technology for rapid vaccine production—an approach experts say is crucial for pandemic preparedness. The agency said investment in the mRNA platform “was not scientifically or ethically justifiable,” citing concerns about the technology’s safety. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is a vaccine skeptic, has been particularly critical of mRNA vaccines, despite the platform having been proved safe and effective. Health experts warn the move undermines U.S. readiness for future flu pandemics, as existing alternatives rely on slower, traditional vaccine methods.

Moderna to explore alternatives

The decision comes as Moderna announced promising early trial results showing strong immune responses to its H5N1 vaccine candidate. The move by HHS throws uncertainty onto the vaccine’s future, though the company said it will explore alternatives for late-stage development and manufacturing. Moderna last week pulled its application seeking approval for a combination COVID/flu shot, as it no longer expected approval this year due to the need for more data on the flu vaccine. Also last week, the company submitted an application to the FDA for review of its updated COVID-19 vaccine targeting the LP.8.1 variant.

Global COVID Activity Picks Up in Some Regions; HHS Unilaterally Narrows COVID Vaccine Recommendations

Global COVID-19 activity is rising, particularly in the WHO regions of the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific, the health agency said this week. The new NB.1.8.1 variant, first identified in China, accounts for nearly 11% of sequenced cases as of mid-May and has been detected in the U.S. Last week, the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) designated NB.1.8.1 as a variant under monitoring, noting that the variant is only slightly more immune-evasive than the currently predominant LP.8.1 sublineage. There are no reports of more severe disease, and current vaccines are expected to remain effective, the group noted.

Federal vaccine recommendations change

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., flanked by the heads of the FDA and NIH, announced this week in a video on X that he is unilaterally rescinding federal recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in healthy children and pregnant women from CDC’s immunization schedule. COVID vaccination was recommended for all people older than six months of age. The announcement bypassed the usual CDC and expert advisory processes, catching agency officials off guard and causing confusion, as the guidance contradicts some of the language in a New England Journal of Medicine article published last week outlining the FDA’s new COVID vaccine policy. The FDA will continue the current vaccine approval process for adults aged 65 or older and younger people with preexisting conditions that put them at higher risk of severe disease. Notably, however, the agency will now require vaccine manufacturers to conduct additional large studies to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the shots for children and younger healthy adults.

Confusion and concern

These abrupt policy shifts have raised concern among public health officials, women’s health and infectious disease experts, and patients and health advocates, who warn it could limit vaccine access, undermine individual choice, and negatively impact health—especially since pregnancy is a known risk factor for severe COVID-19 complications. Many insurers rely on federal recommendations to determine vaccine coverage, so the changes could make it more difficult to get vaccinated if people have to pay out of pocket. Hundreds of people in the U.S. continue to die each week from COVID, according to CDC data. Last month, an average of about 360 people died of the disease per week.

[ponchi101]

The only thing that is needed is for Tiny to name a Flat-Earther head of NASA.

[dryrunguy]

The only thing that is needed is for Tiny to name a Flat-Earther head of NASA.

Your comment reminded me that, back on the old TAT, we had a thread called "Tennis Books That Won't Sell"... It was hilarious reading.

[ti-amie]

RFK Jr’s ‘Maha’ report found to contain citations to nonexistent studies
Failures uncovered as US health secretary touted ‘gold-standard’ science in health report ordered by Trump team

Joseph Gedeon in Washington
Thu 29 May 2025 12.56 EDT

Robert F Kennedy Jr’s flagship health commission report contains citations to studies that do not exist, according to an investigation by the US publication Notus.

The report exposes glaring scientific failures from a health secretary who earlier this week threatened to ban government scientists from publishing in leading medical journals.

The 73-page “Make America healthy again” report – which was commissioned by the Trump administration to examine the causes of chronic illness, and which Kennedy promoted it as “gold-standard” science backed by more than 500 citations – includes references to seven studies that appear to be entirely invented, and others that the researchers say have been mischaracterized.

Two supposed studies on ADHD medication advertising simply do not exist in the journals where they are claimed to be published. Virginia Commonwealth University confirmed to Notus that researcher Robert L Findling, listed as an author of one paper, never wrote such an article, while another citation leads only to the Kennedy report itself when searched online.

Harold J Farber, a pediatric specialist supposedly behind research on asthma overprescribing, told Notus he never wrote the cited paper and had never worked with the other listed authors.

The US Department of Health and Human Services has not immediately responded to a Guardian request for comment.

The citation failures come as Kennedy, a noted skeptic of vaccines, criticized medical publishing this week, branding top journals the Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine and Jama as “corrupt” and alleging they were controlled by pharmaceutical companies. He outlined plans for creating government-run journals instead.

Beyond the phantom studies in Kennedy’s report, Notus found it systematically misrepresented existing research.

For example, one paper was claimed to show that talking therapy was as effective as psychiatric medication, but the statistician Joanne McKenzie said this was impossible, as “we did not include psychotherapy” in the review.

The sleep researcher Mariana G Figueiro also said her study was mischaracterized, with the report incorrectly stating it involved children rather than college students, and citing the wrong journal entirely.

The Trump administration asked Kennedy for the report in order to look at chronic illness causes, from pesticides to mobile phone radiation. Kennedy called it a “milestone” that provides “evidence-based foundation” for sweeping policy changes.

A follow-up “Make our children healthy again strategy” report is due in August, raising concerns about the scientific credibility underpinning the administration’s health agenda.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... rt-studies

rogeralien.bsky.social
‪@rogeralien.bsky.social‬

Follow
When you don’t know who wrote it & the sources don’t exist, then it means that they had #ChatGPT write it based on the prompts entered. It complied with the instructions to deliver a report that had the requested conclusions in it, even though they were made up. That’s one of the problems with #ai

[dryrunguy]

There's quite a bit of evidence about the effectiveness of talk therapy that could have been cited instead, though I don't recall anything that compares it to other forms of treatment. So I'm guessing the point Kennedy or his cronies really wanted to grind was related to a beef with medication. Which wouldn't surprise me at all. In any case, it's not just about understanding science (which they don't). It's also about properly interpreting and communicating science.

And if you don't understand science or know how to interpret it, you don't need AI to get it wrong. You can get it wrong just fine on your own.

[ti-amie]

‘Well, we all are going to die': Joni Ernst spars with town hall crowd over Medicaid
The Iowa senator shocked constituents Friday when she defended Republicans’ reconciliation package.

By Cheyanne M. Daniels

05/30/2025 12:26 PM EDT

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst is the latest Republican to face an angry crowd of constituents, sparring with town hall attendees over President Donald Trump’s signature piece of legislation.

Constituents on Friday gathered in Butler County, Iowa, to hear Ernst defend the Trump administration’s work, including efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency and Republicans’ congressional priorities.

But when a constituent questioned Ernst about the reconciliation bill, things became heated. The woman, who said she had previously emailed Ernst’s office with her concerns, argued the bill’s proposed cuts seemed neither “compassionate” nor “fiscally responsible.” She accused Ernst of supporting a “tax shelter” for the wealthy.

As the audience applauded the woman, she continued, expressing concerns about the bill’s proposed cuts to SNAP benefits and Medicaid spending. Ernst said those who would lose Medicaid were not currently eligible for Medicaid.

“You are arguing — when you’re arguing about illegals that are receiving Medicaid benefits, 1.4 million, 1.4 million they’re not — they are not eligible so they will be coming off,” Ernst said. One audience member could then be heard shouting, “People are going to die.”

“Well, we all are going to die,” Ernst responded.

Audience members gasped and booed the senator, but Ernst seemed unbothered.

“Listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable,” Ernst said as constituents continued to shout at her.

House Republicans passed the reconciliation bill — which Trump dubbed the “big beautiful bill” — after weeks of internal debate. Only two Republicans sided with Democrats in voting against the bill. But the bill faces another battle in the Senate, where Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) previously compared it to the Titanic and said he’s going to make sure it sinks in the upper chamber.

Initial estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has found that the bill could lead to 7.6 million people going uninsured.

“If you don’t want to listen, that’s fine but what I’m doing is going through and telling you that those that are not eligible, those that are working and have benefits elsewhere, then they should receive those benefits elsewhere. Leave those dollars for those that are eligible for Medicaid,” Ernst continued.

Republicans from around the nation have faced hostile crowds of constituents in the months following Trump’s election.

Some GOP leaders — including Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson — have offered unsubstantiated claims that people at the town halls are paid protesters. “The videos you saw of the town halls were for paid protesters in many of those places,” Johnson told CNN’s Kaitlin Collins earlier this year. “This is an old playbook that they pulled out and ran, and it made it look like that what is happening in Washington is unpopular.”

House Republicans’ campaign arm also advised members in March to not hold in-person town halls.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/3 ... l-00376747




The entire video is interesting but the part about Medicaid starts about 8m in.

[ti-amie]

Mrs. Betty Bowers‬
‪@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social‬
· 1h
Next time someone in Congress glibly dismisses your need for healthcare, remember that they have some of the best healthcare in the country. And it was paid for by YOU. (And therefore free to them and their families)

[ti-amie]

MSM is not covering this


Aaron Rupar
‪@atrupar.com‬



Trump repost on Truth Social: “There is no #JoeBiden - executed in 2020.
#Biden clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see.
>#Democrats dont know the difference.”



I'm sure a new fresh hell will open later tonight or tomorrow.

[ti-amie]

Mrs. Betty Bowers‬
‪@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social‬
· 1h
Next time someone in Congress glibly dismisses your need for healthcare, remember that they have some of the best healthcare in the country. And it was paid for by YOU. (And therefore free to them and their families)

BTW she apologized...while walking through a cemetery...

[ti-amie]

[skatingfan]

[mmmm8]

Wow. The ones detaining him are apparently FBI officers.

[ti-amie]

Not to worry. She met with him later...

/s

[dryrunguy]

This will be an unpopular opinion, but I'm thinking about the "clean hands" doctrine here. It was an ugly spectacle. And while Padilla's intentions were probably noble (and his anger understandable), he did, in fact, appear aggressive and was moving toward Noem in a manner where his intentions were dubious. He obviously didn't deserve all he got, but his hands aren't clean here either. And that will be a problem.

There's also no escaping the gender lens here, either. A man moving toward a woman while yelling is... not good optics. Even if she's a pathological liar and the scum of the Earth. Not good optics.

[dryrunguy]

The NY Times just sent this out.

::

The nation has been here before — or has it?
By Adam Nagourney

Tanks will roll down Constitution Avenue in Washington this weekend to celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday. Demonstrations are being staged in all 50 states to protest immigration raids and President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles. And war has widened in the Middle East after Israel’s lethal attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities and its leaders.

The nation is a cauldron of anxiety and anger as it enters the weekend at a moment recalling some of the darkest periods of its history.

This country has faced — and survived — spasms of tension and disruption before. Debate and disagreement, as well as military and even domestic conflict, are knitted into its history and DNA, from the Civil War to the antiwar demonstrations of the 1960s (not to mention two World Wars, the assassinations of four presidents and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks).

But two things, many historians suggest, distinguish this moment from other troubled times in our past. The first is the sheer number of conflagrations taking place at once — not only in the United States but also around the world. In Los Angeles, a U.S. senator, Alex Padilla of California, a Democrat, was pushed to the ground and handcuffed Thursday after trying to confront Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, about the immigration raids. Hours later, Israel launched its first airstrikes on Iran, and Iran retaliated Friday, launching scores of missiles, some of which broke through air defenses in and around Tel Aviv.

“We live in highly disruptive times,” said Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University and the founding director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. Even before this week, Naftali argued, the world order was destabilized as Trump tore up trade deals and foreign alliances, and the United States, Russia and China moved to “take advantage of worldwide changes for their own interests, adding to the velocity of disruption.”

The second thing is Trump himself. At fraught moments like this, it normally falls to the president to step up as the reassuring figure, whether it was George W. Bush heading to downtown Manhattan after the destruction of the Twin Towers in 2001, or Bill Clinton going to Oklahoma City after a truck bomb destroyed a nine-story federal building and killed 168 people in 1995.

Not Trump. When Gov. Gavin Newsom, Democrat of California, protested the dispatching of the National Guard to Los Angeles, the president responded by ordering even more members of the guard to the city, followed by a contingent of Marines. When told that the “No Kings” weekend protests might spill into Washington on Saturday, Trump warned that anyone trying to interfere with his military parade, which coincides with his 79th birthday, will be met with “a very big force.”

“What really stands out to me now is that the biggest source of chaos is the president himself,” said Julian Zelizer, a professor of political history at Princeton University. “Rather than acting as a force to try to bring some kind of reconciliation, calm and stability, he is fueling the fires.”

Naftali argued that Trump could “end most of the tension single-handedly.”

“But he revels in confrontation, and he is resentful and vengeful in a way he wasn’t quite in 2017,” Naftali said. He added, “No wonder many Americans are on edge when our commander in chief is determined to put tanks on the streets of D.C. and eager to declare emergencies to send masked and armed federal or federalized forces almost everywhere else.”

Perhaps the fact that the nation has endured difficult times before should offer a note of comfort.

But perhaps not. “The fact these moments have happened before signals the fragility of the democracy, rather than its inevitable ability to endure,” Zelizer said.

Enjoy your weekend.