Caitlin Gilbert
@caitlingilbert.bsky.social
@washingtonpost.com data reporter👩🏻💻
neuroscience/genomics PhD 🧠
caitlin.gilbert@washpost.com ✉️
caitlingilbert.24 on signal
@caitlingilbertdata on tiktok/ig
🎭⚽️🎮 + other intrusive thoughts
https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/caitlin-gilbert/
neuroscience/genomics PhD 🧠
caitlin.gilbert@washpost.com ✉️
caitlingilbert.24 on signal
@caitlingilbertdata on tiktok/ig
🎭⚽️🎮 + other intrusive thoughts
https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/caitlin-gilbert/
Pinned
Here’s how TikTok ‘power users’ end up scrolling 4 hours a day or more
Washington Post reporters analyzed data from over 800 TikTok users to learn how the app turns people into power users, some of whom spend hours per day scrolling.
wapo.st
🤳EXCLUSIVE: We analyzed real data from over 800 U.S. TikTok users to reveal how the app transforms casual users into power users.
Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social
wapo.st/4obueib
Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social
wapo.st/4obueib
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
High quality rip of the 60 Minutes CECOT segment: drive.google.com/file/d/1lKjJ...
cecot-60mins.mp4
drive.google.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:43 PM
High quality rip of the 60 Minutes CECOT segment: drive.google.com/file/d/1lKjJ...
have a huge project running next week and my personal treat for when that’s out/done is Avowed sitting in my Steam library 😌
December 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM
have a huge project running next week and my personal treat for when that’s out/done is Avowed sitting in my Steam library 😌
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
BREAKING: US. plans to stop recommending most childhood vaccines, defer to doctors, per sources familiar. HHS consulted w chief science officer and top FDA official. Me and @rachel_roubein
1/4
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
1/4
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
U.S. plans to stop recommending most childhood vaccines, defer to doctors
The plan, which is not finalized, suggests children get fewer shots and shifts to a model telling parents to consult doctors to make their own vaccine choices.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:59 PM
BREAKING: US. plans to stop recommending most childhood vaccines, defer to doctors, per sources familiar. HHS consulted w chief science officer and top FDA official. Me and @rachel_roubein
1/4
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
1/4
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
extremely important update: store.ign.com/products/exp...
December 17, 2025 at 3:34 PM
extremely important update: store.ign.com/products/exp...
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
We used 1,100 real users' data to help re-create TikTok’s algorithm, and then made a map, allowing you to explore the hidden divides that decide what content you see - and what you don't.
Awesome work by @fox.computer, Leslie Shapiro & @jeremybmerrill.com:
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/i...
Awesome work by @fox.computer, Leslie Shapiro & @jeremybmerrill.com:
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/i...
Are you in TikTok’s cat niche? What 121,000 videos reveal
We re-created TikTok’s algorithm based on 1,100 users’ feeds. Explore which topics are in your feed and see what the algorithm is least likely to show you.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
We used 1,100 real users' data to help re-create TikTok’s algorithm, and then made a map, allowing you to explore the hidden divides that decide what content you see - and what you don't.
Awesome work by @fox.computer, Leslie Shapiro & @jeremybmerrill.com:
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/i...
Awesome work by @fox.computer, Leslie Shapiro & @jeremybmerrill.com:
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/i...
congrats to expedition 33 on cleaning up at the game awards but where the hell is the official esquie plush at, sandfall???
December 13, 2025 at 8:13 PM
congrats to expedition 33 on cleaning up at the game awards but where the hell is the official esquie plush at, sandfall???
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
!!!
The Post obtained hot mic comments by the chair of RFK Jr.'s CDC vaccine committee.
"We feel like a little bit like puppets on a string as opposed to really being an independent advisory panel" wapo.st/4atob4M
The Post obtained hot mic comments by the chair of RFK Jr.'s CDC vaccine committee.
"We feel like a little bit like puppets on a string as opposed to really being an independent advisory panel" wapo.st/4atob4M
December 5, 2025 at 8:10 PM
!!!
The Post obtained hot mic comments by the chair of RFK Jr.'s CDC vaccine committee.
"We feel like a little bit like puppets on a string as opposed to really being an independent advisory panel" wapo.st/4atob4M
The Post obtained hot mic comments by the chair of RFK Jr.'s CDC vaccine committee.
"We feel like a little bit like puppets on a string as opposed to really being an independent advisory panel" wapo.st/4atob4M
From @lenasun.bsky.social and @davidovalle.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
one of three dissenting panelists: “We will see hepatitis B infections come back…The vaccine is so effective, it does not make sense in my mind to change the immunization schedule.”
one of three dissenting panelists: “We will see hepatitis B infections come back…The vaccine is so effective, it does not make sense in my mind to change the immunization schedule.”
CDC panel makes most sweeping revision to child vaccine schedule under RFK Jr.
The panel voted to eliminate a long-standing recommendation for every newborn to receive a hepatitis B shot, excluding those born to mothers testing negative.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:47 PM
From @lenasun.bsky.social and @davidovalle.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
one of three dissenting panelists: “We will see hepatitis B infections come back…The vaccine is so effective, it does not make sense in my mind to change the immunization schedule.”
one of three dissenting panelists: “We will see hepatitis B infections come back…The vaccine is so effective, it does not make sense in my mind to change the immunization schedule.”
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
Big change: FDA to impose strict new vaccine requirements under RFK Jr ally
Vinay Prasad signaled changes to annual flu shots, concurrent vaccines + more
Prasad said his team found link between covid-19 shots and kids' deaths, necessitating a new approach overall
with @rachelroubein.bsky.social
Vinay Prasad signaled changes to annual flu shots, concurrent vaccines + more
Prasad said his team found link between covid-19 shots and kids' deaths, necessitating a new approach overall
with @rachelroubein.bsky.social
FDA to impose strict new vaccine requirements, claiming child covid shot deaths
Vinay Prasad, the nation’s top vaccine regulator, said his team concluded that coronavirus shots were linked to children’s deaths, necessitating a new approach.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Big change: FDA to impose strict new vaccine requirements under RFK Jr ally
Vinay Prasad signaled changes to annual flu shots, concurrent vaccines + more
Prasad said his team found link between covid-19 shots and kids' deaths, necessitating a new approach overall
with @rachelroubein.bsky.social
Vinay Prasad signaled changes to annual flu shots, concurrent vaccines + more
Prasad said his team found link between covid-19 shots and kids' deaths, necessitating a new approach overall
with @rachelroubein.bsky.social
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
Exclusive: Hegseth ordered everyone killed in the first alleged drug boat strike on Sept. 2, prompting a second hit to finish off survivors in the water in a mission led by SEAL Team 6. Ordering no quarter could legally perilous www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Exclusive: Hegseth ordered everyone killed in the first alleged drug boat strike on Sept. 2, prompting a second hit to finish off survivors in the water in a mission led by SEAL Team 6. Ordering no quarter could legally perilous www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
normal people: so excited for the holiday to spend time with family and get a break from work
me: finally I have uninterrupted time to watch the latest 4+ hr defunctland video
me: finally I have uninterrupted time to watch the latest 4+ hr defunctland video
November 26, 2025 at 6:33 PM
normal people: so excited for the holiday to spend time with family and get a break from work
me: finally I have uninterrupted time to watch the latest 4+ hr defunctland video
me: finally I have uninterrupted time to watch the latest 4+ hr defunctland video
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
TRUMP they still have that Phantom of the Opera musical on Broadway
MAMDANI it's an immersive theatrical experience now. it's called Masquerade
TRUMP that Phantom's a jerk, isn't he
MAMDANI it's an immersive theatrical experience now. it's called Masquerade
TRUMP that Phantom's a jerk, isn't he
November 21, 2025 at 9:51 PM
TRUMP they still have that Phantom of the Opera musical on Broadway
MAMDANI it's an immersive theatrical experience now. it's called Masquerade
TRUMP that Phantom's a jerk, isn't he
MAMDANI it's an immersive theatrical experience now. it's called Masquerade
TRUMP that Phantom's a jerk, isn't he
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
The frontline CDC staff first asked to change the vaccines-autism website to promote a false link between the two wouldn't do so, @lenasun.bsky.social discovered wapo.st/3X9Mr43
CDC in turmoil after agency backpedals on rejecting vaccines-autism link
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), who voted to confirm Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after he pledged not to remove language stating vaccines do not cause autism from the CDC website, condemne...
wapo.st
November 21, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The frontline CDC staff first asked to change the vaccines-autism website to promote a false link between the two wouldn't do so, @lenasun.bsky.social discovered wapo.st/3X9Mr43
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
RFK Jr had committed to Bill Cassidy, as a condition to win his vote, that he would keep website language.
Cassidy in February: “If confirmed… CDC will not remove statements on their website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism.”
Note the language in second photo.
Cassidy in February: “If confirmed… CDC will not remove statements on their website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism.”
Note the language in second photo.
November 20, 2025 at 2:42 AM
RFK Jr had committed to Bill Cassidy, as a condition to win his vote, that he would keep website language.
Cassidy in February: “If confirmed… CDC will not remove statements on their website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism.”
Note the language in second photo.
Cassidy in February: “If confirmed… CDC will not remove statements on their website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism.”
Note the language in second photo.
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
Tracking the spread of bird flu using genetic markers, satellite imagery, property records, and more reminds me of John Snow’s Cholera investigation/map. Howe’s Hens is the modern day Broad Street Pump. Amazing work from @natlash.bsky.social & @chrisalcantara.com. www.propublica.org/article/meth...
November 18, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Tracking the spread of bird flu using genetic markers, satellite imagery, property records, and more reminds me of John Snow’s Cholera investigation/map. Howe’s Hens is the modern day Broad Street Pump. Amazing work from @natlash.bsky.social & @chrisalcantara.com. www.propublica.org/article/meth...
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
So so excited to welcome the very talented @chrishacker.me to @wpdatateam.bsky.social!! Chris is our team's newest hire, joining us as a computational journalist embedded on the national desk. 🙌
November 11, 2025 at 4:28 PM
So so excited to welcome the very talented @chrishacker.me to @wpdatateam.bsky.social!! Chris is our team's newest hire, joining us as a computational journalist embedded on the national desk. 🙌
stellar coverage of the CHD conference this past weekend from @laurenweberhp.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
‘God is an anti-vaxxer’: Inside the conference celebrating RFK Jr.’s rise
An anti-vaccine conference in Austin celebrated Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s rise to political power, highlighting his influence in Trump’s Washington.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:04 PM
stellar coverage of the CHD conference this past weekend from @laurenweberhp.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
Of the 6 million veterans receiving disability payments last year, about 1.5 million were designated 100 percent disabled — a nearly ninefold increase since 2021. A whole industry has popped up around getting people to 100% by @caitlingilbert.bsky.social, @reinlwapo.bsky.social & Craig Whitlock:
The unregulated industry that coaches veterans to pile on benefits
The number of vets receiving 100 percent disability ratings has surged in recent years. For-profit firms, influencers and the VA play a large role in the trend.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Of the 6 million veterans receiving disability payments last year, about 1.5 million were designated 100 percent disabled — a nearly ninefold increase since 2021. A whole industry has popped up around getting people to 100% by @caitlingilbert.bsky.social, @reinlwapo.bsky.social & Craig Whitlock:
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
Meta earns $3.5 billion every six months from showing Faceboon and Instagram users 15 billion “higher legal risk” scam ad impressions a day, internal documents state.
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Meta earns $3.5 billion every six months from showing Faceboon and Instagram users 15 billion “higher legal risk” scam ad impressions a day, internal documents state.
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
my poll site this morning in Brooklyn was the most packed I’ve ever seen it (there were actual lines!) for *any* election in the past five years
November 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
my poll site this morning in Brooklyn was the most packed I’ve ever seen it (there were actual lines!) for *any* election in the past five years
October 30, 2025 at 2:46 AM
plugging the great Industry soundtracks from Nathan Micay as *excellent* music for coding
October 28, 2025 at 2:45 PM
plugging the great Industry soundtracks from Nathan Micay as *excellent* music for coding
Reposted by Caitlin Gilbert
Such an amazing article and very well-written. Really happy I got to chat with @caitlingilbert.bsky.social about the problems of social media, specifically TikTok. The harm of TikTok constantly engaging its users can be linked to studies showing that overuse of social media decreases well-being.
🤳EXCLUSIVE: We analyzed real data from over 800 U.S. TikTok users to reveal how the app transforms casual users into power users.
Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social
wapo.st/4obueib
Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social
wapo.st/4obueib
Here’s how TikTok ‘power users’ end up scrolling 4 hours a day or more
Washington Post reporters analyzed data from over 800 TikTok users to learn how the app turns people into power users, some of whom spend hours per day scrolling.
wapo.st
October 15, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Such an amazing article and very well-written. Really happy I got to chat with @caitlingilbert.bsky.social about the problems of social media, specifically TikTok. The harm of TikTok constantly engaging its users can be linked to studies showing that overuse of social media decreases well-being.
third time seeing this beauty for jane krakowski’s debut as mary 😌
October 14, 2025 at 11:20 PM
third time seeing this beauty for jane krakowski’s debut as mary 😌