Irena Hwang, PhD
@irenatfh.bsky.social
Data reporter currently at @nytimes.com, formerly at @propublica.org. Trained in STEM, obsessed with stories.
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
1/ Last week, we delivered a letter to @propublica.org's board members, urging them to direct management to agree to a fair contract now. www.propublicaguild.org/updates/to-t...
To the ProPublica Board: We Need a Fair Contract Now — ProPublica Guild
Last week, we reached out to ProPublica’s board of directors to raise serious concerns about ProPublica’s harmful disciplinary process as well as our collective interest in getting a fair contract now...
www.propublicaguild.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM
1/ Last week, we delivered a letter to @propublica.org's board members, urging them to direct management to agree to a fair contract now. www.propublicaguild.org/updates/to-t...
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
🚨 ACTION: The U.S. should welcome foreign journalists—not kick them out.
DHS is trying to gut the journalist I visa program and weaken press freedom at home and abroad.
▶️ Will you join over 13,000 and submit your own comment?:
newsguild.org/action-newsg...
DHS is trying to gut the journalist I visa program and weaken press freedom at home and abroad.
▶️ Will you join over 13,000 and submit your own comment?:
newsguild.org/action-newsg...
ACTION: NewsGuild-CWA joins calls on DHS to withdraw journalist visa proposal | The NewsGuild - TNG-CWA
The NewsGuild-CWA calls on DHS to withdraw its proposed rule that would change the I visa program for foreign journalists working in the United States.
newsguild.org
September 25, 2025 at 5:22 PM
🚨 ACTION: The U.S. should welcome foreign journalists—not kick them out.
DHS is trying to gut the journalist I visa program and weaken press freedom at home and abroad.
▶️ Will you join over 13,000 and submit your own comment?:
newsguild.org/action-newsg...
DHS is trying to gut the journalist I visa program and weaken press freedom at home and abroad.
▶️ Will you join over 13,000 and submit your own comment?:
newsguild.org/action-newsg...
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
We ❤️ @ire.org! @propublica.org employees wore buttons & flyered at the IRE gala to rally support for our fight for a fair contract.
The future of investigative journalism depends on protecting the workers who make it possible.
You can help by signing our petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
The future of investigative journalism depends on protecting the workers who make it possible.
You can help by signing our petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
September 15, 2025 at 11:46 PM
We ❤️ @ire.org! @propublica.org employees wore buttons & flyered at the IRE gala to rally support for our fight for a fair contract.
The future of investigative journalism depends on protecting the workers who make it possible.
You can help by signing our petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
The future of investigative journalism depends on protecting the workers who make it possible.
You can help by signing our petition: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
In the episode, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis touches on:
- RFKJ turning down briefings from the CDC
- Vaccine policy changed without input from CDC leaders
- CDC leaders denied access to data after policy changes were made
- Worry that public health policy will be driven by ideology, not science
- RFKJ turning down briefings from the CDC
- Vaccine policy changed without input from CDC leaders
- CDC leaders denied access to data after policy changes were made
- Worry that public health policy will be driven by ideology, not science
There is a growing sense of despair inside the CDC, which is reeling after mass layoffs. A former CDC official explains why he chose to take a stand.
Listen to "The Daily."
Listen to "The Daily."
The C.D.C.’s Vaccine Chief on Why Quitting Was His Only Option
There is a growing sense of despair inside the public health agency, which is reeling after mass layoffs.
nyti.ms
August 29, 2025 at 2:19 PM
In the episode, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis touches on:
- RFKJ turning down briefings from the CDC
- Vaccine policy changed without input from CDC leaders
- CDC leaders denied access to data after policy changes were made
- Worry that public health policy will be driven by ideology, not science
- RFKJ turning down briefings from the CDC
- Vaccine policy changed without input from CDC leaders
- CDC leaders denied access to data after policy changes were made
- Worry that public health policy will be driven by ideology, not science
"Dr. Daniel Jernigan, who led the center that oversees emerging diseases and vaccine safety, said he decided to resign before he was dismissed, in part hoping that doing so would allow Dr. Monarez to continue as the director."
After six months of turmoil, the loss of the new director and a round of high-profile resignations marks a new low at the CDC
(Gift article)
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/h...
(Gift article)
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/h...
Inside the C.D.C., a Growing Sense of Despair
www.nytimes.com
August 29, 2025 at 2:04 PM
"Dr. Daniel Jernigan, who led the center that oversees emerging diseases and vaccine safety, said he decided to resign before he was dismissed, in part hoping that doing so would allow Dr. Monarez to continue as the director."
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
"She had two lines in the sand ... One was anything that was deemed illegal. And the second was anything that she felt flew in the face of science. And she says she was asked to do both of those.”
www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
Inside the CDC director's ouster: Kennedy demanded acceptance of new vaccine policies; Susan Monarez refused
Susan Monarez’s resistance to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s moves to assert control over vaccine guidance is at the center of her dismissal as CDC director
www.statnews.com
August 28, 2025 at 4:49 PM
"She had two lines in the sand ... One was anything that was deemed illegal. And the second was anything that she felt flew in the face of science. And she says she was asked to do both of those.”
www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
www.statnews.com/2025/08/28/c...
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
CDC director Susan Monarez declined to fire agency leaders or to accept all recommendations from a vaccine advisory panel made over by Mr. Kennedy, according to people with knowledge of the events.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/h...
Kennedy Sought to Fire C.D.C. Director Over Vaccine Policy
www.nytimes.com
August 28, 2025 at 8:20 PM
CDC director Susan Monarez declined to fire agency leaders or to accept all recommendations from a vaccine advisory panel made over by Mr. Kennedy, according to people with knowledge of the events.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/h...
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
1/ Yesterday, the FDA changed the license for the #Covidvaccine.
The vaccine label has been limited to everyone over 65 and for those 6 months through 64 years old with at least one condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. This is a deep dive to bring you up to date👇
The vaccine label has been limited to everyone over 65 and for those 6 months through 64 years old with at least one condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. This is a deep dive to bring you up to date👇
August 28, 2025 at 2:05 PM
1/ Yesterday, the FDA changed the license for the #Covidvaccine.
The vaccine label has been limited to everyone over 65 and for those 6 months through 64 years old with at least one condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. This is a deep dive to bring you up to date👇
The vaccine label has been limited to everyone over 65 and for those 6 months through 64 years old with at least one condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. This is a deep dive to bring you up to date👇
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
a heartbreaking - gutting - overview of the scientists we have lost so far under this administration by my colleagues @bxroberts.org @anniewaldman.bsky.social and @pratheekrebala.bsky.social
projects.propublica.org/federal-heal...
projects.propublica.org/federal-heal...
Gutted: How Deeply Trump Has Cut Federal Health Agencies
More than 20,500 workers have left or been pushed out of federal health agencies, a ProPublica analysis found. Staffers say the cuts will leave their agencies less equipped to conduct studies, perform...
projects.propublica.org
August 21, 2025 at 1:50 PM
a heartbreaking - gutting - overview of the scientists we have lost so far under this administration by my colleagues @bxroberts.org @anniewaldman.bsky.social and @pratheekrebala.bsky.social
projects.propublica.org/federal-heal...
projects.propublica.org/federal-heal...
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
NEW: In March, the Trump administration announced a massive purge of workers at the nation's health agencies.
We asked them how many workers were laid off, pushed out or left.
They refused to give us numbers.
So we conducted our own analysis... 🧵
projects.propublica.org/federal-heal...
We asked them how many workers were laid off, pushed out or left.
They refused to give us numbers.
So we conducted our own analysis... 🧵
projects.propublica.org/federal-heal...
August 21, 2025 at 11:40 AM
NEW: In March, the Trump administration announced a massive purge of workers at the nation's health agencies.
We asked them how many workers were laid off, pushed out or left.
They refused to give us numbers.
So we conducted our own analysis... 🧵
projects.propublica.org/federal-heal...
We asked them how many workers were laid off, pushed out or left.
They refused to give us numbers.
So we conducted our own analysis... 🧵
projects.propublica.org/federal-heal...
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
I'm a science journalist for @statnews.com looking to talk with folks who applied to biomedical Ph.D. programs and had offers rescinded earlier this year. What have you been up to since then? You can reach me at jonathan.wosen@statnews.com or via Signal (username jwosen.27). #journorequest
August 20, 2025 at 7:43 PM
I'm a science journalist for @statnews.com looking to talk with folks who applied to biomedical Ph.D. programs and had offers rescinded earlier this year. What have you been up to since then? You can reach me at jonathan.wosen@statnews.com or via Signal (username jwosen.27). #journorequest
"GPT-4o had been known for its sycophantic style, flattering its users to the point that OpenAI had tried to tone it down even before GPT-5’s release... The extent to which people were attached to GPT-4o’s style seems to have taken even Mr. Altman by surprise."
The URL for this story changed — use this gift link to read it! www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/b...
August 20, 2025 at 3:17 PM
"GPT-4o had been known for its sycophantic style, flattering its users to the point that OpenAI had tried to tone it down even before GPT-5’s release... The extent to which people were attached to GPT-4o’s style seems to have taken even Mr. Altman by surprise."
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
HHS staffers implore RFK Jr. to ‘stop spreading inaccurate health information’ in wake of CDC shooting. Story by @megtirrell.bsky.social www.cnn.com/2025/08/20/h...
HHS staffers implore RFK Jr. to ‘stop spreading inaccurate health information’ in wake of CDC shooting | CNN
More than 750 current and former staffers at the US Health and Human Services implored Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in a letter Wednesday to “stop spreading inaccurate health information” after a ...
www.cnn.com
August 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
HHS staffers implore RFK Jr. to ‘stop spreading inaccurate health information’ in wake of CDC shooting. Story by @megtirrell.bsky.social www.cnn.com/2025/08/20/h...
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
My latest on the Health Sec who promised to figure out what causes autism and the autism research that's been stopped along the way www.propublica.org/article/rfk-...
RFK Jr. Vowed to Find the Environmental Causes of Autism. Then He Shut Down Research Trying to Do Just That.
While touting a $50 million initiative to identify the causes of autism, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is helping lead an administration that is rolling back protections against pollution and toxic chemicals,...
www.propublica.org
August 20, 2025 at 10:58 AM
My latest on the Health Sec who promised to figure out what causes autism and the autism research that's been stopped along the way www.propublica.org/article/rfk-...
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
1/ Popping back in with another #fallvaccine update. 👇
In case you missed it, Friday (or soon after) the FDA is expected to license the Covid-19 vaccine. Word is that the label will be restricted to adults 65+ and people at high risk.
But a few organizations have made different recommendations.
In case you missed it, Friday (or soon after) the FDA is expected to license the Covid-19 vaccine. Word is that the label will be restricted to adults 65+ and people at high risk.
But a few organizations have made different recommendations.
August 20, 2025 at 2:11 PM
1/ Popping back in with another #fallvaccine update. 👇
In case you missed it, Friday (or soon after) the FDA is expected to license the Covid-19 vaccine. Word is that the label will be restricted to adults 65+ and people at high risk.
But a few organizations have made different recommendations.
In case you missed it, Friday (or soon after) the FDA is expected to license the Covid-19 vaccine. Word is that the label will be restricted to adults 65+ and people at high risk.
But a few organizations have made different recommendations.
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
It looks like officers stopping a Massachusetts family as they drive home from church on Mother’s Day, shattering their window, and letting the kids in the back of the car watch as their dad is forced to kneel, then slammed chest-first to the ground. 9/
August 7, 2025 at 10:01 PM
It looks like officers stopping a Massachusetts family as they drive home from church on Mother’s Day, shattering their window, and letting the kids in the back of the car watch as their dad is forced to kneel, then slammed chest-first to the ground. 9/
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
So “Is this legal?” may be the wrong question. “Is this normal?” was the better one. We did eventually find 8 instances of ICE and Border Patrol smashing car windows in the decade before Trump’s second presidency. But we’ve found nearly 50 instances in the six+ months since. 5/
August 7, 2025 at 10:01 PM
So “Is this legal?” may be the wrong question. “Is this normal?” was the better one. We did eventually find 8 instances of ICE and Border Patrol smashing car windows in the decade before Trump’s second presidency. But we’ve found nearly 50 instances in the six+ months since. 5/
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
THREAD: All over the country, immigration officers are smashing car windows to get at the people inside.
As we began tracking incidents, my @propublica.org colleague @nicolefoy.bsky.social and I had two questions: First, is this legal?
Second, is it, well, normal? Was this happening before? 1/
As we began tracking incidents, my @propublica.org colleague @nicolefoy.bsky.social and I had two questions: First, is this legal?
Second, is it, well, normal? Was this happening before? 1/
August 7, 2025 at 10:01 PM
THREAD: All over the country, immigration officers are smashing car windows to get at the people inside.
As we began tracking incidents, my @propublica.org colleague @nicolefoy.bsky.social and I had two questions: First, is this legal?
Second, is it, well, normal? Was this happening before? 1/
As we began tracking incidents, my @propublica.org colleague @nicolefoy.bsky.social and I had two questions: First, is this legal?
Second, is it, well, normal? Was this happening before? 1/
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
We can't address health disparities if we can't study them. These actions will harm so many communities.
With Deep N.I.H. Cuts, Research Into Health Disparities Falters www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/h... via @nytimes.com CC: @irenatfh.bsky.social @sarahpeitzmeier.bsky.social @sungheelee.bsky.social
With Deep N.I.H. Cuts, Research Into Health Disparities Falters www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/h... via @nytimes.com CC: @irenatfh.bsky.social @sarahpeitzmeier.bsky.social @sungheelee.bsky.social
With Deep N.I.H. Cuts, Research Into Health Disparities Falters
In its campaign against “woke” science, the Trump administration has closed down studies and programs focused on the gaps between racial and socioeconomic groups.
www.nytimes.com
August 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM
We can't address health disparities if we can't study them. These actions will harm so many communities.
With Deep N.I.H. Cuts, Research Into Health Disparities Falters www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/h... via @nytimes.com CC: @irenatfh.bsky.social @sarahpeitzmeier.bsky.social @sungheelee.bsky.social
With Deep N.I.H. Cuts, Research Into Health Disparities Falters www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/h... via @nytimes.com CC: @irenatfh.bsky.social @sarahpeitzmeier.bsky.social @sungheelee.bsky.social
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
AHA executive director Sarah Weicksel appeared on @wbur.org's Here & Now today to speak about the sweeping review of the Smithsonian ordered by President Trump. 🗃️
What one historian says White House vetting of Smithsonian means for U.S. cultural institutions
The White House said it wants to ensure the museums show the "unity, progress and enduring values that define the American story."
www.wbur.org
August 13, 2025 at 8:13 PM
AHA executive director Sarah Weicksel appeared on @wbur.org's Here & Now today to speak about the sweeping review of the Smithsonian ordered by President Trump. 🗃️
"New York City’s hospitals... depend heavily on international residents... At Brookdale, the rate of visa-holding residents is even higher, in part because the hospital has challenges attracting American medical graduates." by @annaoakes.bsky.social www.thecity.nyc/2025/08/14/b...
Visa Whiplash Threatens Foreign Doctors Who Keep This Brooklyn Hospital Running
Residents at Brookdale Hospital mostly come from overseas, working in jobs American medical students overlook.
www.thecity.nyc
August 14, 2025 at 2:37 PM
"New York City’s hospitals... depend heavily on international residents... At Brookdale, the rate of visa-holding residents is even higher, in part because the hospital has challenges attracting American medical graduates." by @annaoakes.bsky.social www.thecity.nyc/2025/08/14/b...
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
I spoke with Kari Jordan and Erin Becker of The Carpentries about why they declined a $1.5M NSF grant intended to expand data science training. Their decision highlights the growing intersection of #science, #DEI, and federal policy.
Read the full story on Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
Read the full story on Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
Nonprofit Refuses $1.5M Science Grant Due To New Federal DEI Rules
A coding nonprofit turned down a $1.5M NSF grant after new DEI restrictions, highlighting the clash between federal policy and scientific community values.
www.forbes.com
August 8, 2025 at 2:41 PM
I spoke with Kari Jordan and Erin Becker of The Carpentries about why they declined a $1.5M NSF grant intended to expand data science training. Their decision highlights the growing intersection of #science, #DEI, and federal policy.
Read the full story on Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
Read the full story on Forbes: www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
Our New York members took their lunch outside today to demand that @propublica.org management agree to a fair discipline and performance evaluation system ✊
August 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Our New York members took their lunch outside today to demand that @propublica.org management agree to a fair discipline and performance evaluation system ✊
Reposted by Irena Hwang, PhD
NEW: In June, ProPublica reported that the FDA has given more than 20 foreign factories a special pass to send drugs to the U.S. even though they were made at plants the agency had banned.
Today, we’re publishing a list of those exempted drugs.
Today, we’re publishing a list of those exempted drugs.
The FDA Let Substandard Factories Ship These Medications to the U.S.
ProPublica identified more than 150 products that were exempted from import bans since 2013. Our list provides the names of the drugs or ingredients and their manufacturers, many of which are no longe...
www.propublica.org
August 12, 2025 at 11:51 AM
NEW: In June, ProPublica reported that the FDA has given more than 20 foreign factories a special pass to send drugs to the U.S. even though they were made at plants the agency had banned.
Today, we’re publishing a list of those exempted drugs.
Today, we’re publishing a list of those exempted drugs.