Barbara E Johnston MD
@bejohnston1.bsky.social
Internal med, HIV and general med in NYC and Durham NC, I live now in Colorado, working , part time. Lifelong activist, gearing up again to defend LGBTQ, women, refugees, Black Lives Matter. Nature, the environment, even biking and fun are important too
Reposted by Barbara E Johnston MD
The reasons healthcare is expensive are straightforward, and the list does not include Obamacare cepr.net/publications...
Why Is Healthcare Expensive?
Americans overpay for healthcare due to drug patents, private insurance waste, and inflated medical salaries—despite Obamacare slowing cost growth.
cepr.net
November 3, 2025 at 4:52 PM
The reasons healthcare is expensive are straightforward, and the list does not include Obamacare cepr.net/publications...
Done with addition.
Don't @*&% with public health! Over the weekend, #Trump, #Vought and #RFKJr fired hundreds of staffers at the Centers for Disease Control leaving our premier public health agency in tatters. Get on the phone, write to your members of Congress. This will not stand! actionnetwork.org/letters/writ...
Write to Congress: CDC Employees must be Reinstated
**Please write now to your Senators and Representative demanding that ALL CDC employees be reinstated as part of any agreement to reopen the government.** Late on Friday, October 10, the Trump Admin...
actionnetwork.org
October 13, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Done with addition.
We are at risk for millions to lose their health coverage and access to healthcare. Takes seconds to send a letter or minutes if you add something
URGENT! Write your Democratic Senators and Reps with a plea to stand firm in the budget negotiations. If we don’t prevail now, we will end up with huge budget cuts to public health programs and workforce and loss of health care access for millions.
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...
Tell Democrats to Stand Up for Public Health in the Budget
With negotiations on a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open past September 30th at a standstill, Defend Public Health believes that House and Senate Democrats MUST play ha...
actionnetwork.org
September 26, 2025 at 2:27 AM
We are at risk for millions to lose their health coverage and access to healthcare. Takes seconds to send a letter or minutes if you add something
Reposted by Barbara E Johnston MD
Demetre Daskalakis' resignation letter. One for the history books. www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/the-resign...
The Resignation Letter Of Dr. Demetre C. Daskalakis Of The Centers For Disease Control
"FIRE HIM"- wrote Senator Patty Murray tonight about the deeply malevolent Robert Kennedy after a day of extraordinary chaos
www.hopiumchronicles.com
August 28, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Demetre Daskalakis' resignation letter. One for the history books. www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/the-resign...
Reposted by Barbara E Johnston MD
Thread of the day
I get quite emotional about the USPSTF—they represent the BEST of science, the BEST of evidence, a kind of “church/shul/temple” when it comes to transparency, rigor & conflicts of interest
RFK Jr is doing SO MUCH to make people sicker & at ⬆️ risk of death—he makes my blood boil
I get quite emotional about the USPSTF—they represent the BEST of science, the BEST of evidence, a kind of “church/shul/temple” when it comes to transparency, rigor & conflicts of interest
RFK Jr is doing SO MUCH to make people sicker & at ⬆️ risk of death—he makes my blood boil
1/ This is a long 🧵, so buckle up & I hope you read till the end.
The HHS Secretary, is planning to remove all 16 members of the USPSTF the expert panel that decides which preventive services (cancer screenings, HIV prevention meds) must be covered by insurers under the Affordable Care Act.
The HHS Secretary, is planning to remove all 16 members of the USPSTF the expert panel that decides which preventive services (cancer screenings, HIV prevention meds) must be covered by insurers under the Affordable Care Act.
July 26, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Thread of the day
I get quite emotional about the USPSTF—they represent the BEST of science, the BEST of evidence, a kind of “church/shul/temple” when it comes to transparency, rigor & conflicts of interest
RFK Jr is doing SO MUCH to make people sicker & at ⬆️ risk of death—he makes my blood boil
I get quite emotional about the USPSTF—they represent the BEST of science, the BEST of evidence, a kind of “church/shul/temple” when it comes to transparency, rigor & conflicts of interest
RFK Jr is doing SO MUCH to make people sicker & at ⬆️ risk of death—he makes my blood boil
Good trouble in Estes Park
July 17, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Good trouble in Estes Park
Superior CO Tesla demonstrators still showing out
June 28, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Superior CO Tesla demonstrators still showing out
Classic bully behavior. Trump saw an opportunity to pile on and get credit, with Iran in a weakened state, even though nothing materially changed except that Israel attacked them
Schiff: "It's not an operation that should've ever been authorized by the president in the absence of intelligence showing that Iran had made the decision to break out and build a bomb."
June 22, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Classic bully behavior. Trump saw an opportunity to pile on and get credit, with Iran in a weakened state, even though nothing materially changed except that Israel attacked them
Reposted by Barbara E Johnston MD
Thank you @msnbc.com
This is the news story of the day, not Trump's masturbation parade.
This is the news story of the day, not Trump's masturbation parade.
June 14, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Thank you @msnbc.com
This is the news story of the day, not Trump's masturbation parade.
This is the news story of the day, not Trump's masturbation parade.
Reposted by Barbara E Johnston MD
"Gold standard science" brought to you by AI- hallucinations and citations of papers that do not exist!
These people are as dishonest as they are reckless.
nymag.com/intelligence...
These people are as dishonest as they are reckless.
nymag.com/intelligence...
Did RFK Jr.’s Crew Use AI to Write Error-Filled MAHA Report?
MAHA’s big report on chronic disease in children cites studies and articles by authors who say they don’t exist.
nymag.com
May 29, 2025 at 10:26 PM
"Gold standard science" brought to you by AI- hallucinations and citations of papers that do not exist!
These people are as dishonest as they are reckless.
nymag.com/intelligence...
These people are as dishonest as they are reckless.
nymag.com/intelligence...
I cringe at being from the US right now
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/u...
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/u...
Trump Lectures South African President in Televised Oval Office Ambush
www.nytimes.com
May 21, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I cringe at being from the US right now
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/u...
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/u...
Reposted by Barbara E Johnston MD
HASSAN: What is habeas corpus?
NOEM: Habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country
HASSAN: That's incorrect
NOEM: Habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country
HASSAN: That's incorrect
May 20, 2025 at 2:16 PM
HASSAN: What is habeas corpus?
NOEM: Habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country
HASSAN: That's incorrect
NOEM: Habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country
HASSAN: That's incorrect
Insanity
There is overwhelming evidence that covid is associated w worse pregnancy outcomes and complications. There is evidence that children especially those w comorbidities benefit from covid vaccines. When shots are not recommended insurance can refuse to cover the cost.
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
www.wsj.com/health/healt...
Exclusive | HHS to Stop Recommending Routine Covid Shots for Children, Pregnant Women
CDC currently recommends that everyone six months and older receive the vaccines
www.wsj.com
May 15, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Insanity
Reposted by Barbara E Johnston MD
The most important statement from today’s hearings.
May 14, 2025 at 9:40 PM
The most important statement from today’s hearings.
Reposted by Barbara E Johnston MD
Horrible. Prasad is an unqualified crank and liar.
Makary, Bhattacharya, and Prasad in charge of our key health agencies is like oil CEOs running env protection, or Fox talking heads running the military.
Impeach, convict, remove.
There’s no fixing US science w/out getting Trump out.
Makary, Bhattacharya, and Prasad in charge of our key health agencies is like oil CEOs running env protection, or Fox talking heads running the military.
Impeach, convict, remove.
There’s no fixing US science w/out getting Trump out.
Vinay Prasad tapped to run FDA center that regulates vaccines, gene therapies www.statnews.com/2025/05/06/v... via @lizzylawrence.bsky.social , @matthewherper.bsky.social , and @jasonmast.bsky.social for @statnews.com
Vinay Prasad tapped to run FDA center that regulates vaccines, gene therapies
Vinay Prasad will be the next director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, after Peter Marks was forced out.
www.statnews.com
May 6, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Horrible. Prasad is an unqualified crank and liar.
Makary, Bhattacharya, and Prasad in charge of our key health agencies is like oil CEOs running env protection, or Fox talking heads running the military.
Impeach, convict, remove.
There’s no fixing US science w/out getting Trump out.
Makary, Bhattacharya, and Prasad in charge of our key health agencies is like oil CEOs running env protection, or Fox talking heads running the military.
Impeach, convict, remove.
There’s no fixing US science w/out getting Trump out.
I couldn’t get to demonstrations today so called my Colorado politicians: Stop the dismantling of NIOSH, the agency protecting workers health; NO ONE , not refugees, not immigrants should be kidnapped without due process and sent to a concentration camp in ANY country.
May 1, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I couldn’t get to demonstrations today so called my Colorado politicians: Stop the dismantling of NIOSH, the agency protecting workers health; NO ONE , not refugees, not immigrants should be kidnapped without due process and sent to a concentration camp in ANY country.
The Covid.gov site is unhinged.
Lab Leak: The True Origins of Covid-19
THE ORIGIN “The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2” publication — which was used repeatedly by public health officials and the media to discredit the lab leak
Covid.gov
April 26, 2025 at 12:08 AM
The Covid.gov site is unhinged.
Reported DOGE coming to NOAA in Boulder. HANDS OFF ( Pop up demonstration I now just keep a variety of signs in my car ready to go)
April 21, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Reported DOGE coming to NOAA in Boulder. HANDS OFF ( Pop up demonstration I now just keep a variety of signs in my car ready to go)
No Kings! Hands off in Boulder!
Save Democracy! Save Science!
Save Democracy! Save Science!
April 19, 2025 at 8:25 PM
No Kings! Hands off in Boulder!
Save Democracy! Save Science!
Save Democracy! Save Science!
Timeline reset. Spring in Boulder! (Till the next snow)
April 9, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Timeline reset. Spring in Boulder! (Till the next snow)
Gave.
USAID was cut off, people not paid for work done, HIV meds abruptly stopped, no time / opportunity for alternate plans.
USAID was cut off, people not paid for work done, HIV meds abruptly stopped, no time / opportunity for alternate plans.
Friends and former USAID global public health professionals have launched an emergency campaign to support high-impact local HIV organizations with stop gap funding. Please consider supporting to directly help them continue HIV services in the near term while they plan for the future. 🧵1
A Crisis in Care: Urgent Funding Needed to Sustain Lifesaving HIV Services - GlobalGiving
The abrupt termination of USAID-supported HIV programs has created a devastating crisis for vulnerable communities, leaving children, families, and at-risk populations without essential services. Thes...
www.globalgiving.org
April 9, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Gave.
USAID was cut off, people not paid for work done, HIV meds abruptly stopped, no time / opportunity for alternate plans.
USAID was cut off, people not paid for work done, HIV meds abruptly stopped, no time / opportunity for alternate plans.
Reposted by Barbara E Johnston MD
Must read deep dive by Gina Kolata into the chaos at the National Institutes of Health that the Trump administration is causing.
“This is like Russian roulette. You don’t know what’s coming.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/h...
“This is like Russian roulette. You don’t know what’s coming.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/h...
‘Chaos and Confusion’ at the N.I.H., the Crown Jewel of American Science (Gift Article)
Senior scientists at the National Institutes of Health fear that research on conditions like obesity, heart disease and cancer will be undermined by President Trump’s policies.
www.nytimes.com
March 24, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Must read deep dive by Gina Kolata into the chaos at the National Institutes of Health that the Trump administration is causing.
“This is like Russian roulette. You don’t know what’s coming.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/h...
“This is like Russian roulette. You don’t know what’s coming.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/h...
#teslatakedown Weekly Superior CO demo (it grew after this) Nice to hear all the honking, including from the Tesla drivers
March 22, 2025 at 7:28 PM
#teslatakedown Weekly Superior CO demo (it grew after this) Nice to hear all the honking, including from the Tesla drivers
Reposted by Barbara E Johnston MD
Reps.Pocan & Kelly along with Senators Gillibrand & Merkley urge administration to save CDC's Division of HIV Prevention, in a bicameral letter. HIVMA signed on as an endorsing organization; we thank these lawmakers for their leadership! #SaveHIVFunding #TheFightForOurLives Read here: bit.ly/4l2YEm3
March 21, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Reps.Pocan & Kelly along with Senators Gillibrand & Merkley urge administration to save CDC's Division of HIV Prevention, in a bicameral letter. HIVMA signed on as an endorsing organization; we thank these lawmakers for their leadership! #SaveHIVFunding #TheFightForOurLives Read here: bit.ly/4l2YEm3