Kristian G. Andersen
@kgandersen.bsky.social
Infectious diseases & genomics. Immunologist in (voluntary) exile. Minimal sarcasm. Fierce HOA (Hater of Acronyms). Personal account - opinions expressed are my own and not those of my employer.
Worth quoting "Harrison" from the NYTimes comments section who said this:
"A foreign war propped up on promises of freedom and democracy feels especially hollow here and now, when our president has so soundly abandoned those ideals at home."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
"A foreign war propped up on promises of freedom and democracy feels especially hollow here and now, when our president has so soundly abandoned those ideals at home."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
Opinion | Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Worth quoting "Harrison" from the NYTimes comments section who said this:
"A foreign war propped up on promises of freedom and democracy feels especially hollow here and now, when our president has so soundly abandoned those ideals at home."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
"A foreign war propped up on promises of freedom and democracy feels especially hollow here and now, when our president has so soundly abandoned those ideals at home."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
"Magical thinking has no place in public health. Every scientist and health care provider has a duty to speak up against these misguided policies and positions".
"... getting up and walking more" is 👍. As a pandemic preparedness strategy, however, a wee bit lacking.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
"... getting up and walking more" is 👍. As a pandemic preparedness strategy, however, a wee bit lacking.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Magical thinking will not prevent future pandemics or improve public health
For much of human history, infectious diseases were the main causes of morbidity and mortality. The sciences of public health, epidemiology, microbiology, and vaccine and drug development have dramati...
www.science.org
January 1, 2026 at 9:59 PM
"Magical thinking has no place in public health. Every scientist and health care provider has a duty to speak up against these misguided policies and positions".
"... getting up and walking more" is 👍. As a pandemic preparedness strategy, however, a wee bit lacking.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
"... getting up and walking more" is 👍. As a pandemic preparedness strategy, however, a wee bit lacking.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
Tracy Beth Høeg has no apparent experience with creating or regulating drugs, but she did make a name for herself casting doubt on some vaccines. Her appointment as the acting FDA drugs chief signifies a greater focus from Trump's FDA on (ending) vaccines. From me www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
‘She has no expertise’: the US medical community girds for Tracy Beth Høeg’s tenure at the FDA
The Danish American who doubted Covid shots is meant to lead drug regulation – but has focused on vaccines
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Tracy Beth Høeg has no apparent experience with creating or regulating drugs, but she did make a name for herself casting doubt on some vaccines. Her appointment as the acting FDA drugs chief signifies a greater focus from Trump's FDA on (ending) vaccines. From me www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Counting my blessings as we find a quiet camp for the night after a long, dusty, and rocky trail in the American Southwest.
December 31, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Counting my blessings as we find a quiet camp for the night after a long, dusty, and rocky trail in the American Southwest.
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
So @jeneeninterlandi.bsky.social is on the @nytimes.com editorial board. She has been a voice of reason for many years at the paper (as have many of their health/science reporters) on infectious diseases. This is a great piece from her to close out 2025. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/o...
Opinion | This Is the Damage Kennedy Has Done in Less Than a Year
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:38 AM
So @jeneeninterlandi.bsky.social is on the @nytimes.com editorial board. She has been a voice of reason for many years at the paper (as have many of their health/science reporters) on infectious diseases. This is a great piece from her to close out 2025. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/o...
"What does science matter when the health secretary openly peddles unfounded conspiracy theories?"
"What does research matter when evidence-based medicine is treated as optional, or worse, as ideological opposition?"
Essential reading.
www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco...
"What does research matter when evidence-based medicine is treated as optional, or worse, as ideological opposition?"
Essential reading.
www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco...
Opinion | The CDC Shooting Isn't What Broke Me
Continuing to show up to work at an agency I no longer trust is devastating
www.medpagetoday.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:15 PM
"What does science matter when the health secretary openly peddles unfounded conspiracy theories?"
"What does research matter when evidence-based medicine is treated as optional, or worse, as ideological opposition?"
Essential reading.
www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco...
"What does research matter when evidence-based medicine is treated as optional, or worse, as ideological opposition?"
Essential reading.
www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/seco...
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
Out today in @jidjournal.bsky.social, we share our experiences on @beaconbio.bsky.social, based at @buceid.bsky.social w partners @bucds.bsky.social @bostonchildrens.bsky.social w users in 170 countries & reports so far on over 600 outbreaks across 200 countries. academic.oup.com/jid/article/...
A BEACON for novel disease threats: Leveraging AI for informal event-based outbreak surveillance
The experience of a new free disease surveillance platform shows that the integration of large language models with human expertise into event-based inform
academic.oup.com
December 30, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Out today in @jidjournal.bsky.social, we share our experiences on @beaconbio.bsky.social, based at @buceid.bsky.social w partners @bucds.bsky.social @bostonchildrens.bsky.social w users in 170 countries & reports so far on over 600 outbreaks across 200 countries. academic.oup.com/jid/article/...
If you have been following the African swine fever "mystery" in Catalonia, you would have noticed that this had the early hallmarks of a "lab leak" from a nearby facility.
Turns out it wasn't, however.
h/t @acritschristoph.bsky.social @flodebarre.bsky.social
www.infobae.com/espana/2025/...
Turns out it wasn't, however.
h/t @acritschristoph.bsky.social @flodebarre.bsky.social
www.infobae.com/espana/2025/...
La Generalitat descarta que el origen del brote de peste porcina africana en Cataluña comenzara en un laboratorio de Barcelona
“La secuenciación genética nos dice que no coinciden las muestras de jabalí con las del IRTA-CResa”, ha declarado el conseller de Agricultura, Òscar Ordeig
www.infobae.com
December 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
If you have been following the African swine fever "mystery" in Catalonia, you would have noticed that this had the early hallmarks of a "lab leak" from a nearby facility.
Turns out it wasn't, however.
h/t @acritschristoph.bsky.social @flodebarre.bsky.social
www.infobae.com/espana/2025/...
Turns out it wasn't, however.
h/t @acritschristoph.bsky.social @flodebarre.bsky.social
www.infobae.com/espana/2025/...
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
I don't understand how we are still stigmatizing people for wearing masks during respiratory virus season in 2025. Really, people?
December 30, 2025 at 12:09 AM
I don't understand how we are still stigmatizing people for wearing masks during respiratory virus season in 2025. Really, people?
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
This thread sent me looking into the work of Patrick "PP" Laidlaw whose NIMR lab isolated flu virus in 1933 6 years after Thomas Rivers defined viruses as "obligate parasites in the sense their reproduction depends on living cells," - paving the way for vaccines that have saved millions of lives."
December 29, 2025 at 11:49 AM
This thread sent me looking into the work of Patrick "PP" Laidlaw whose NIMR lab isolated flu virus in 1933 6 years after Thomas Rivers defined viruses as "obligate parasites in the sense their reproduction depends on living cells," - paving the way for vaccines that have saved millions of lives."
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
December 29, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
Jay & Matt hope you watch their incredible pushup form instead of the $500M they gave themselves based on work that is definitively “dangerous gain-of-function” (DGOF) research. They also terminated grants doing similar work for being DGOF.
Hypocrites
rasmussenretorts.substack.com/p/workouts-f...
Hypocrites
rasmussenretorts.substack.com/p/workouts-f...
Workouts From the Cringe
Take the Matt and Jay Challenge: How much DGOF can you cancel before it comes out that you do it yourself?
rasmussenretorts.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Jay & Matt hope you watch their incredible pushup form instead of the $500M they gave themselves based on work that is definitively “dangerous gain-of-function” (DGOF) research. They also terminated grants doing similar work for being DGOF.
Hypocrites
rasmussenretorts.substack.com/p/workouts-f...
Hypocrites
rasmussenretorts.substack.com/p/workouts-f...
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
I wrote about this claim forever ago when he made it on Joe Rogan's show:
December 28, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I wrote about this claim forever ago when he made it on Joe Rogan's show:
He has stated the same for pretty much all other pandemics - HIV, COVID, Lyme, H1N1, you name it.
Which is weird for someone who doesn’t believe in germ theory…
Which is weird for someone who doesn’t believe in germ theory…
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stated that the 1918 flu pandemic was caused by a lab virus from vaccine research, a defective influenza vaccine. Let’s analyze what a lie this is. First, in 1918, 107 years ago, virology was in its infancy
December 29, 2025 at 1:23 AM
He has stated the same for pretty much all other pandemics - HIV, COVID, Lyme, H1N1, you name it.
Which is weird for someone who doesn’t believe in germ theory…
Which is weird for someone who doesn’t believe in germ theory…
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
Workouts From the Cringe
Take the Matt and Jay Challenge: How much DGOF can you cancel before it comes out that you do it yourself?
By @angierasmussen.bsky.social, who brings receipts.
bit.ly/48W0AZo
Take the Matt and Jay Challenge: How much DGOF can you cancel before it comes out that you do it yourself?
By @angierasmussen.bsky.social, who brings receipts.
bit.ly/48W0AZo
December 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Workouts From the Cringe
Take the Matt and Jay Challenge: How much DGOF can you cancel before it comes out that you do it yourself?
By @angierasmussen.bsky.social, who brings receipts.
bit.ly/48W0AZo
Take the Matt and Jay Challenge: How much DGOF can you cancel before it comes out that you do it yourself?
By @angierasmussen.bsky.social, who brings receipts.
bit.ly/48W0AZo
‘tis the season where one re-listens to the best piece of radio comedy ever performed - David Sedaris's "Santaland Diaries".
Never to be beaten.
www.thisamericanlife.org/47/christmas...
Never to be beaten.
www.thisamericanlife.org/47/christmas...
Christmas and Commerce - This American Life
The intersection of Christmas and retail, including David Sedaris's "Santaland Diaries."
www.thisamericanlife.org
December 27, 2025 at 7:10 PM
‘tis the season where one re-listens to the best piece of radio comedy ever performed - David Sedaris's "Santaland Diaries".
Never to be beaten.
www.thisamericanlife.org/47/christmas...
Never to be beaten.
www.thisamericanlife.org/47/christmas...
"Duel"; "marquee battle"; "rein in".
Sure, @nytimes.com - or as I like to think of it, Temu Fox News.
Sure, @nytimes.com - or as I like to think of it, Temu Fox News.
December 25, 2025 at 5:03 AM
"Duel"; "marquee battle"; "rein in".
Sure, @nytimes.com - or as I like to think of it, Temu Fox News.
Sure, @nytimes.com - or as I like to think of it, Temu Fox News.
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
December 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
This is genuinely horrifying. Fact-free far-right agitprop given accolades by credible media across the political spectrum.
Congratulations to Stephen Macedo & Frances Lee, whose book In Covid's Wake has been recognized as:
⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year
Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year
Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
December 24, 2025 at 5:00 AM
This is genuinely horrifying. Fact-free far-right agitprop given accolades by credible media across the political spectrum.
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
What our leading public health officials think
His view on the future is pretty bleak. He thinks much of what public health has achieved in the US will be dismantled:
"We've entered this, like, dark age and it's going to get worse. It is going to get so much worse."
"We've entered this, like, dark age and it's going to get worse. It is going to get so much worse."
December 24, 2025 at 1:57 AM
What our leading public health officials think
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
His view on the future is pretty bleak. He thinks much of what public health has achieved in the US will be dismantled:
"We've entered this, like, dark age and it's going to get worse. It is going to get so much worse."
"We've entered this, like, dark age and it's going to get worse. It is going to get so much worse."
December 23, 2025 at 12:18 PM
His view on the future is pretty bleak. He thinks much of what public health has achieved in the US will be dismantled:
"We've entered this, like, dark age and it's going to get worse. It is going to get so much worse."
"We've entered this, like, dark age and it's going to get worse. It is going to get so much worse."
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
Daskalakis says that for him the lasting memory of 2025 will be the attack on the CDC on August 8, during which the police officer David Rose was killed.
"That was one of my moments where I was like, we've crossed a threshold."
And he does not mince words about who he sees as responsible: RFK jr.
"That was one of my moments where I was like, we've crossed a threshold."
And he does not mince words about who he sees as responsible: RFK jr.
December 23, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Daskalakis says that for him the lasting memory of 2025 will be the attack on the CDC on August 8, during which the police officer David Rose was killed.
"That was one of my moments where I was like, we've crossed a threshold."
And he does not mince words about who he sees as responsible: RFK jr.
"That was one of my moments where I was like, we've crossed a threshold."
And he does not mince words about who he sees as responsible: RFK jr.
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led a path of gutting and destruction of public, global health, and medical research resources, among others.
How much did it save in federal spending?
Nothing...it led to an increase
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
How much did it save in federal spending?
Nothing...it led to an increase
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
How Did DOGE Disrupt So Much While Saving So Little?
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led a path of gutting and destruction of public, global health, and medical research resources, among others.
How much did it save in federal spending?
Nothing...it led to an increase
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
How much did it save in federal spending?
Nothing...it led to an increase
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
ScienceInsider: NIH official resigns after flap over risks of seasonal flu virus study
Another outstanding NIAID leader gone. John Beigel.
▶️https://bit.ly/4j9NoDz
by @cohenjon.bsky.social
Another outstanding NIAID leader gone. John Beigel.
▶️https://bit.ly/4j9NoDz
by @cohenjon.bsky.social
NIH official resigns after flap over risks of seasonal flu virus study
Agency may be expanding list of pathogens subject to dangerous “gain-of-function” regulations
bit.ly
December 24, 2025 at 12:56 AM
ScienceInsider: NIH official resigns after flap over risks of seasonal flu virus study
Another outstanding NIAID leader gone. John Beigel.
▶️https://bit.ly/4j9NoDz
by @cohenjon.bsky.social
Another outstanding NIAID leader gone. John Beigel.
▶️https://bit.ly/4j9NoDz
by @cohenjon.bsky.social
Reposted by Kristian G. Andersen
We are recruiting two postdoc roles to work with #DeZiNetwork on dengue, Zika, and other emerging arboviruses:
🔬 Viral Computational Genomics
🔗 Apply here: lnkd.in/eq-dqCJb
🧪 Viral Genomics and Immunology
🔗 Apply here: lnkd.in/eMEKWb9b
More on DeZi here: lnkd.in/edwBg-qX
Deadline: 15 Jan 2026
🔬 Viral Computational Genomics
🔗 Apply here: lnkd.in/eq-dqCJb
🧪 Viral Genomics and Immunology
🔗 Apply here: lnkd.in/eMEKWb9b
More on DeZi here: lnkd.in/edwBg-qX
Deadline: 15 Jan 2026
LinkedIn
This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn
lnkd.in
December 23, 2025 at 9:50 AM
We are recruiting two postdoc roles to work with #DeZiNetwork on dengue, Zika, and other emerging arboviruses:
🔬 Viral Computational Genomics
🔗 Apply here: lnkd.in/eq-dqCJb
🧪 Viral Genomics and Immunology
🔗 Apply here: lnkd.in/eMEKWb9b
More on DeZi here: lnkd.in/edwBg-qX
Deadline: 15 Jan 2026
🔬 Viral Computational Genomics
🔗 Apply here: lnkd.in/eq-dqCJb
🧪 Viral Genomics and Immunology
🔗 Apply here: lnkd.in/eMEKWb9b
More on DeZi here: lnkd.in/edwBg-qX
Deadline: 15 Jan 2026