Matthew Kavanagh
@matthewkavanagh.bsky.social
Prof of Global Health and Law, Director, Center for Global Health Policy & Politics
Georgetown University
https://ghpp.georgetown.edu/profiles/matthew-m-kavanagh-phd/
Georgetown University
https://ghpp.georgetown.edu/profiles/matthew-m-kavanagh-phd/
I’m a social scientist. I work on health and disease. We have a lot to contribute that medical experts, physicians, hard scientists cannot. But key to good social science is epistemic humility.
Said another way: economist-backed pseudoscience from MAHA is still just pseudoscience @nytimes.com
Said another way: economist-backed pseudoscience from MAHA is still just pseudoscience @nytimes.com
Can you guess who authored this piece without looking at the byline? Who might not have any relevant expertise in nutrition, but would make it a habit of trying to hand it to RFKJ?
Opinion | Kennedy Is Telling Americans How to Eat. It’s Not Crazy Advice.
www.nytimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 1:41 PM
I’m a social scientist. I work on health and disease. We have a lot to contribute that medical experts, physicians, hard scientists cannot. But key to good social science is epistemic humility.
Said another way: economist-backed pseudoscience from MAHA is still just pseudoscience @nytimes.com
Said another way: economist-backed pseudoscience from MAHA is still just pseudoscience @nytimes.com
Reposted by Matthew Kavanagh
New article from our co-director @sharonannlynch.bsky.social in @plosglobalpublichealth.org: “Unlocking potential: Development finance reforms needed to support localized health product manufacturing.”
🔗Learn more here: shorturl.at/oblmX
@who.int
🔗Learn more here: shorturl.at/oblmX
@who.int
January 9, 2026 at 1:01 PM
New article from our co-director @sharonannlynch.bsky.social in @plosglobalpublichealth.org: “Unlocking potential: Development finance reforms needed to support localized health product manufacturing.”
🔗Learn more here: shorturl.at/oblmX
@who.int
🔗Learn more here: shorturl.at/oblmX
@who.int
Reposted by Matthew Kavanagh
“Mpox viruses have caused two public-health emergencies in the past three years, so we need to be paying attention to it.”
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Will mpox go global again? Research shows it's evolving in curious ways
Analyses of mpox clades currently in circulation provide clues to how the virus managed to spread worldwide in 2022 — and how it might go global again.
www.nature.com
January 8, 2026 at 12:28 PM
“Mpox viruses have caused two public-health emergencies in the past three years, so we need to be paying attention to it.”
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Matthew Kavanagh
Cooperation, not confrontation, is the path to real security.
The Global Public Investment Network warns that rising militarism undermines global security and prosperity, urging leaders to strengthen international cooperation instead.
Read more: globalpublicinvestment.net/news_press/c...
The Global Public Investment Network warns that rising militarism undermines global security and prosperity, urging leaders to strengthen international cooperation instead.
Read more: globalpublicinvestment.net/news_press/c...
Cooperation not confrontation is the route for true security, says Global Public Investment Network - Global Public Investment
globalpublicinvestment.net
January 7, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Cooperation, not confrontation, is the path to real security.
The Global Public Investment Network warns that rising militarism undermines global security and prosperity, urging leaders to strengthen international cooperation instead.
Read more: globalpublicinvestment.net/news_press/c...
The Global Public Investment Network warns that rising militarism undermines global security and prosperity, urging leaders to strengthen international cooperation instead.
Read more: globalpublicinvestment.net/news_press/c...
When the US decided to try to collapse the international system that of built over decades.
This is insane. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United
www.whitehouse.gov
January 8, 2026 at 5:47 AM
When the US decided to try to collapse the international system that of built over decades.
Reposted by Matthew Kavanagh
Earlier estimates suggested USAID program cancellations could lead to up to 700,000 additional deaths annually.
New analysis by @charlesjkenny.bsky.social and @justsand.bsky.social finds the toll could reach 1 million now and 1.6 million with future cuts. Learn more:
https://go.cgdev.org/4s0Z8w7
New analysis by @charlesjkenny.bsky.social and @justsand.bsky.social finds the toll could reach 1 million now and 1.6 million with future cuts. Learn more:
https://go.cgdev.org/4s0Z8w7
Update on Lives Lost from USAID Cuts
In this blog, we report on an update to our earlier estimates of the potential mortality impacts of the administration’s aid cuts. A similar approach to our original estimates using financial data to ...
go.cgdev.org
January 7, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Earlier estimates suggested USAID program cancellations could lead to up to 700,000 additional deaths annually.
New analysis by @charlesjkenny.bsky.social and @justsand.bsky.social finds the toll could reach 1 million now and 1.6 million with future cuts. Learn more:
https://go.cgdev.org/4s0Z8w7
New analysis by @charlesjkenny.bsky.social and @justsand.bsky.social finds the toll could reach 1 million now and 1.6 million with future cuts. Learn more:
https://go.cgdev.org/4s0Z8w7
This is why we need @janeese4dc.bsky.social as mayor here in DC. Build at least 10% more housing and rents fall notably.
A heck of a chart: in every single one of the 10 major US cities that built the most housing between 2017 and 2023, rents for older, existing units fell—often by quite a bit.
January 7, 2026 at 12:09 AM
This is why we need @janeese4dc.bsky.social as mayor here in DC. Build at least 10% more housing and rents fall notably.
Reposted by Matthew Kavanagh
Americans are struggling to afford housing, food, healthcare and so much more and our government’s answer is to use our taxpayer dollars to go to war — a war that makes everyone in DC and the country less safe.
Today’s attack is reckless, unconstitutional and Congress must act.
Today’s attack is reckless, unconstitutional and Congress must act.
January 4, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Americans are struggling to afford housing, food, healthcare and so much more and our government’s answer is to use our taxpayer dollars to go to war — a war that makes everyone in DC and the country less safe.
Today’s attack is reckless, unconstitutional and Congress must act.
Today’s attack is reckless, unconstitutional and Congress must act.
Flu is surging in the US right now. The CDC has run out of colors to depict the severity. But meanwhile RFK and HHS, through a process that breaks major governance norms in how arbitrary it was, decide to stop recommending kids get the flu vaccine.
January 6, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Flu is surging in the US right now. The CDC has run out of colors to depict the severity. But meanwhile RFK and HHS, through a process that breaks major governance norms in how arbitrary it was, decide to stop recommending kids get the flu vaccine.
Why are democrats so bad at politics?
January 6, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Why are democrats so bad at politics?
How not to make America healthy again
1). The US is in the middle of the worst flu season in a decade.
2). Pertussis cases are the highest they have been in 20 years.
3). Measles has rebounded and elimination status has been lost.
RFK.Jr. has not recommended vaccination, instead he is aggressively rolling back vaccine policy.
2). Pertussis cases are the highest they have been in 20 years.
3). Measles has rebounded and elimination status has been lost.
RFK.Jr. has not recommended vaccination, instead he is aggressively rolling back vaccine policy.
January 5, 2026 at 11:38 PM
How not to make America healthy again
Survey of world reactions to US actions. Calls for UN Security Council to be convened. Remarkable just how clear many governments are on Intl Law
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
World reacts to US strikes on Venezuela
Following are reactions to Saturday's U.S. strikes on Venezuela.
www.reuters.com
January 3, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Survey of world reactions to US actions. Calls for UN Security Council to be convened. Remarkable just how clear many governments are on Intl Law
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
Congrats
Gay doctor who resigned from CDC over “radical non-transparency” will lead historic health org www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/12/gay-...
Gay doctor who resigned from CDC over “radical non-transparency” will lead historic health org - LGBTQ Nation
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis led Biden's fight against Mpox and denounced Robert F. Kennedy Jr's anti-science agenda.
www.lgbtqnation.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Congrats
This👇! Framing “it seems personal freedom has become an even greater value in people’s health decision making” completely ignores how this equation was/is built by self-interested actors.
Push back w more science & information, will fail if we don’t build political strategy based on actors involved
Push back w more science & information, will fail if we don’t build political strategy based on actors involved
Bad-faith actors have used a well-worn playbook to undermine public health interventions and institutions to advance their commercial, political, and personal interests. We need to be careful not to conflate "meeting people where they are" with ceding scientific ground to these actors and agendas.
December 23, 2025 at 9:51 PM
This👇! Framing “it seems personal freedom has become an even greater value in people’s health decision making” completely ignores how this equation was/is built by self-interested actors.
Push back w more science & information, will fail if we don’t build political strategy based on actors involved
Push back w more science & information, will fail if we don’t build political strategy based on actors involved
Reposted by Matthew Kavanagh
Mitt Romney is in the New York Times saying we should tax the rich.
December 19, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Mitt Romney is in the New York Times saying we should tax the rich.
Thrilled to launch the Portuguese version of our report in Brasilia at @unaids.org board. Thank you @nisiatrindadelima.bsky.social for your leadership and vision on the Global Council and helping shape the research and the real, actionable solutions to break the inequality-pandemic cycle.
December 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Thrilled to launch the Portuguese version of our report in Brasilia at @unaids.org board. Thank you @nisiatrindadelima.bsky.social for your leadership and vision on the Global Council and helping shape the research and the real, actionable solutions to break the inequality-pandemic cycle.
Deeply inspired to meet President @lulaoficialbluesky.bsky.social and to discuss our research on the Inequality-Pandemic Cycle with Minister @padilhando.bsky.social.
Reminded by these remarkable leaders that just, people-centered governance is the response to the collapsing old order..
Reminded by these remarkable leaders that just, people-centered governance is the response to the collapsing old order..
December 19, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Deeply inspired to meet President @lulaoficialbluesky.bsky.social and to discuss our research on the Inequality-Pandemic Cycle with Minister @padilhando.bsky.social.
Reminded by these remarkable leaders that just, people-centered governance is the response to the collapsing old order..
Reminded by these remarkable leaders that just, people-centered governance is the response to the collapsing old order..
Reposted by Matthew Kavanagh
'With repeat "spillovers" into different species, #H5N1 might be edging closer to a random mutation that facilitates airborne transmission of a pathogen that seasonal-flu vx would not protect against.' @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
The quest to hatch a bird-flu vaccine
Although development of a jab for the H5N1 strain of avian flu is well under way, other strains are receiving less attention — and political obstacles to research could hamper progress.
www.nature.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:03 AM
'With repeat "spillovers" into different species, #H5N1 might be edging closer to a random mutation that facilitates airborne transmission of a pathogen that seasonal-flu vx would not protect against.' @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
This piece is worth a read by all the journalists reporting on the “lab leak” theory of COVID as if there wasn’t a serious, organized political strategy using the reality of uncertainty in an intentional, right wing project
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/u...
The Married Scientists Torn Apart by a Covid Bioweapon Theory
www.nytimes.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:46 PM
This piece is worth a read by all the journalists reporting on the “lab leak” theory of COVID as if there wasn’t a serious, organized political strategy using the reality of uncertainty in an intentional, right wing project
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/u...
Oh will you look at that, vaccines are superior to just letting everyone get sick… who could have predicted?
A study on 1.7 million people in Hong Kong shows superior hybrid immunity to Covid in people who got vaccinated before infection vs. people who got infected first. "Our findings are a direct rebuttal to arguments for natural immunity," the authors write. doi.org/10.1016/j.va...
Redirecting
doi.org
December 6, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Oh will you look at that, vaccines are superior to just letting everyone get sick… who could have predicted?
Inequality prolongs pandemics and undermines effective response.
Case in point: Maine tackling the state’s biggest HIV outbreak in memory
www.newscentermaine.com/article/news...
Case in point: Maine tackling the state’s biggest HIV outbreak in memory
www.newscentermaine.com/article/news...
US CDC staff assisting Penobscot County amid unprecedented HIV outbreak
A CDC team is in Penobscot County to address an unprecedented HIV outbreak linked to homelessness and drug use, aiming to shape Maine's long-term health response.
www.newscentermaine.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Inequality prolongs pandemics and undermines effective response.
Case in point: Maine tackling the state’s biggest HIV outbreak in memory
www.newscentermaine.com/article/news...
Case in point: Maine tackling the state’s biggest HIV outbreak in memory
www.newscentermaine.com/article/news...
This 👇
The center I'm lucky to lead at Duke just kicked off a 1 year study on ways to cut child mortality in half by 2050
It makes me sick to my stomach that RFK Jr & the Great Barrington Declaration dudes & the extreme anti-vaxx kooks are instituting policies that could drive a RISE in US child mortality
It makes me sick to my stomach that RFK Jr & the Great Barrington Declaration dudes & the extreme anti-vaxx kooks are instituting policies that could drive a RISE in US child mortality
Kennedy's zombie ACIP panel just voted to restrict hepatitis B vaccine for newborns. Experts say it will harm children for no reason. www.ms.now/news/rfk-cdc...
ACIP member Dr. Cody Meissner:
"'Do no harm' is a moral imperative. We are doing harm by changing this wording. And I vote no."
ACIP member Dr. Cody Meissner:
"'Do no harm' is a moral imperative. We are doing harm by changing this wording. And I vote no."
December 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
This 👇
Hello DC snow
December 5, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Hello DC snow
I wonder how we differentiate positive “country-led” moves from wealthy govts using that language for abandoning solidarity and responsibility? US, EU I think using this rhetoric quite cynically…
@katribertram.bsky.social on leadership for the new era of global health.
Watch the full conversation at open.substack.com/pub/singerp/...
Watch the full conversation at open.substack.com/pub/singerp/...
December 5, 2025 at 12:14 PM
I wonder how we differentiate positive “country-led” moves from wealthy govts using that language for abandoning solidarity and responsibility? US, EU I think using this rhetoric quite cynically…
Reposted by Matthew Kavanagh
"At least $5.9 trillion will be inherited by billionaire children over the next 15 years, the bank calculates."
Billionaires are inheriting record levels of wealth, UBS report finds reut.rs/3MFJWnW
Billionaires are inheriting record levels of wealth, UBS report finds
The spouses and children of billionaires inherited more wealth in 2025 than in any previous year since reporting began in 2015, according to UBS's Billionaire Ambitions Report published on Thursday.
reut.rs
December 4, 2025 at 12:43 PM
"At least $5.9 trillion will be inherited by billionaire children over the next 15 years, the bank calculates."