Melissa Bender
@melissabender.bsky.social
Photographer | freelance photojournalist | MD/MPH
Reposted by Melissa Bender
I'm grateful to @60minutes.bsky.social featuring our study published @justsecurity.org.
Link to the study (on the 'presumption of regularity'): www.justsecurity.org/120547/presu...
Link to the study (on the 'presumption of regularity'): www.justsecurity.org/120547/presu...
October 20, 2025 at 12:09 AM
I'm grateful to @60minutes.bsky.social featuring our study published @justsecurity.org.
Link to the study (on the 'presumption of regularity'): www.justsecurity.org/120547/presu...
Link to the study (on the 'presumption of regularity'): www.justsecurity.org/120547/presu...
Reposted by Melissa Bender
“We found over 35 cases in which the judges have specifically said what the government is providing…false information. It might be intentionally false information, including false sworn declarations time and again," says Ryan Goodman, law professor at New York University.
October 19, 2025 at 11:43 PM
“We found over 35 cases in which the judges have specifically said what the government is providing…false information. It might be intentionally false information, including false sworn declarations time and again," says Ryan Goodman, law professor at New York University.
Reposted by Melissa Bender
🚨BREAKING: IDSA, along with AAP, APHA, ACP and others, has filed a lawsuit against HHS/Secretary Kennedy to stop unlawful changes to vaccine policy and defend public health.
We refuse to stand by while America’s public health safeguards are torn apart. bit.ly/4lm7UkW
We refuse to stand by while America’s public health safeguards are torn apart. bit.ly/4lm7UkW
July 7, 2025 at 5:19 PM
🚨BREAKING: IDSA, along with AAP, APHA, ACP and others, has filed a lawsuit against HHS/Secretary Kennedy to stop unlawful changes to vaccine policy and defend public health.
We refuse to stand by while America’s public health safeguards are torn apart. bit.ly/4lm7UkW
We refuse to stand by while America’s public health safeguards are torn apart. bit.ly/4lm7UkW
Reposted by Melissa Bender
Come for the conversation.
Starting at 12 noon ET today
Topics:
- What just happened: Supreme Court's Alien Enemies Act due process ruling
- Looking ahead: What exactly is in judges' toolkits to enforce their orders in face of contempt by administration officials
⤵️Direct link to YouTube Live⤵️
Starting at 12 noon ET today
Topics:
- What just happened: Supreme Court's Alien Enemies Act due process ruling
- Looking ahead: What exactly is in judges' toolkits to enforce their orders in face of contempt by administration officials
⤵️Direct link to YouTube Live⤵️
The End Game
YouTube video by Ryan Goodman
www.youtube.com
May 17, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Come for the conversation.
Starting at 12 noon ET today
Topics:
- What just happened: Supreme Court's Alien Enemies Act due process ruling
- Looking ahead: What exactly is in judges' toolkits to enforce their orders in face of contempt by administration officials
⤵️Direct link to YouTube Live⤵️
Starting at 12 noon ET today
Topics:
- What just happened: Supreme Court's Alien Enemies Act due process ruling
- Looking ahead: What exactly is in judges' toolkits to enforce their orders in face of contempt by administration officials
⤵️Direct link to YouTube Live⤵️
Reposted by Melissa Bender
Secretary Rubio was silent on this weekend's #WorldPressFreedomDay - breaking from Blinken, Pompeo, others.
But Rubio championed the day as Senator.
An astonishing weekend with DC Circuit backing Trump's dismantling of congressionally-mandated global media outlets
I dissect it all. In The Know. ⤵️
But Rubio championed the day as Senator.
An astonishing weekend with DC Circuit backing Trump's dismantling of congressionally-mandated global media outlets
I dissect it all. In The Know. ⤵️
Court Backs Trump Attack on Global Press Freedoms
YouTube video by Ryan Goodman
youtu.be
May 4, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Secretary Rubio was silent on this weekend's #WorldPressFreedomDay - breaking from Blinken, Pompeo, others.
But Rubio championed the day as Senator.
An astonishing weekend with DC Circuit backing Trump's dismantling of congressionally-mandated global media outlets
I dissect it all. In The Know. ⤵️
But Rubio championed the day as Senator.
An astonishing weekend with DC Circuit backing Trump's dismantling of congressionally-mandated global media outlets
I dissect it all. In The Know. ⤵️
Reposted by Melissa Bender
I'm thrilled to announce that we are adding Substack to @justsecurity.org's reach and to enhance engagement with our audiences.
🙏Please join us there too! And encourage others to join as well.
🥳Here's my first Newsletter!
❤️We aim to keep all our content free for all subscribers.
🙏Please join us there too! And encourage others to join as well.
🥳Here's my first Newsletter!
❤️We aim to keep all our content free for all subscribers.
April 17 | Stay in the Know with Ryan Goodman on Just Security’s Trump Administration Litigation Tracker
Welcome to the first installment of the Trump Administration Litigation Tracker Newsletter!
justsecurity.substack.com
April 17, 2025 at 4:03 PM
I'm thrilled to announce that we are adding Substack to @justsecurity.org's reach and to enhance engagement with our audiences.
🙏Please join us there too! And encourage others to join as well.
🥳Here's my first Newsletter!
❤️We aim to keep all our content free for all subscribers.
🙏Please join us there too! And encourage others to join as well.
🥳Here's my first Newsletter!
❤️We aim to keep all our content free for all subscribers.
Reposted by Melissa Bender
I look at close to 100 stories a week and even more outside of work. I’ve done this ten years.
This is among the most horrific things I’ve ever read — testimony from dying children whose access to medicine has been cut off by the Trump administration.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
This is among the most horrific things I’ve ever read — testimony from dying children whose access to medicine has been cut off by the Trump administration.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
Haunted by hopelessness: 12 Zambians share their stories as HIV drugs run out
Mothers and children, husbands and wives, doctors, truck drivers and religious leaders are all grappling with the fallout from the sudden U.S. cuts in aid.
www.npr.org
April 17, 2025 at 1:58 AM
I look at close to 100 stories a week and even more outside of work. I’ve done this ten years.
This is among the most horrific things I’ve ever read — testimony from dying children whose access to medicine has been cut off by the Trump administration.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
This is among the most horrific things I’ve ever read — testimony from dying children whose access to medicine has been cut off by the Trump administration.
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
Tens of thousands marched from Bryant Park to Madison Square Park in NYC on April 5, 2025 to protest the administration of President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk.
(Photos by Melissa Bender/ NurPhoto)
#HandsOff #HandsOff2025 #trump
#doge #elonmusk #photojournalism
(Photos by Melissa Bender/ NurPhoto)
#HandsOff #HandsOff2025 #trump
#doge #elonmusk #photojournalism
April 5, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Tens of thousands marched from Bryant Park to Madison Square Park in NYC on April 5, 2025 to protest the administration of President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk.
(Photos by Melissa Bender/ NurPhoto)
#HandsOff #HandsOff2025 #trump
#doge #elonmusk #photojournalism
(Photos by Melissa Bender/ NurPhoto)
#HandsOff #HandsOff2025 #trump
#doge #elonmusk #photojournalism
“Hands Off! Our Public Postal Service!” National Day of Action in midtown Manhattan and simultaneously in cities across the nation. Protesters denounced the Trump/Musk/DOGE efforts to privatize the U.S. postal service.
Photos by me, 3/20/2025
@apwu.bsky.social @aflcio.org #usps #apwu
Photos by me, 3/20/2025
@apwu.bsky.social @aflcio.org #usps #apwu
March 21, 2025 at 8:20 PM
“Hands Off! Our Public Postal Service!” National Day of Action in midtown Manhattan and simultaneously in cities across the nation. Protesters denounced the Trump/Musk/DOGE efforts to privatize the U.S. postal service.
Photos by me, 3/20/2025
@apwu.bsky.social @aflcio.org #usps #apwu
Photos by me, 3/20/2025
@apwu.bsky.social @aflcio.org #usps #apwu
International Women’s Day March in NYC
People gather in Union Square Park, New York City for the International Women’s Day march on March 8, 2025. Demonstrations were held around the world in defense of women’s rights.
(Photo by Melissa Bender/ NurPhoto)
#IWD2025 #InternationalWomensDay #IWD
People gather in Union Square Park, New York City for the International Women’s Day march on March 8, 2025. Demonstrations were held around the world in defense of women’s rights.
(Photo by Melissa Bender/ NurPhoto)
#IWD2025 #InternationalWomensDay #IWD
March 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM
International Women’s Day March in NYC
People gather in Union Square Park, New York City for the International Women’s Day march on March 8, 2025. Demonstrations were held around the world in defense of women’s rights.
(Photo by Melissa Bender/ NurPhoto)
#IWD2025 #InternationalWomensDay #IWD
People gather in Union Square Park, New York City for the International Women’s Day march on March 8, 2025. Demonstrations were held around the world in defense of women’s rights.
(Photo by Melissa Bender/ NurPhoto)
#IWD2025 #InternationalWomensDay #IWD
More images from the #TeslaTakedown protest outside the Manhattan Tesla showroom on 3/8/2025. A few hundred people denounced billionaire Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts and layoffs, with six arrests.
#doge #trump #tesla #musk
#doge #trump #tesla #musk
March 9, 2025 at 8:34 PM
More images from the #TeslaTakedown protest outside the Manhattan Tesla showroom on 3/8/2025. A few hundred people denounced billionaire Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts and layoffs, with six arrests.
#doge #trump #tesla #musk
#doge #trump #tesla #musk
Several hundred demonstrated outside a Manhattan Tesla showroom on 3/8/2025. Some entered the dealership; six were arrested. Fierce opposition is growing toward to the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Musk.
#teslatakedown #doge #trump #tesla #elonmusk
#teslatakedown #doge #trump #tesla #elonmusk
March 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Several hundred demonstrated outside a Manhattan Tesla showroom on 3/8/2025. Some entered the dealership; six were arrested. Fierce opposition is growing toward to the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Musk.
#teslatakedown #doge #trump #tesla #elonmusk
#teslatakedown #doge #trump #tesla #elonmusk
Columbia University professor and Nobel laureate Martin Chalfie: “I strongly believe in DEI!”
Demonstrators gather in NYC and across the nation in the name of science.
March 7, 2025
#standupforscience2025 @standupforscience.bsky.social
Demonstrators gather in NYC and across the nation in the name of science.
March 7, 2025
#standupforscience2025 @standupforscience.bsky.social
March 8, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Columbia University professor and Nobel laureate Martin Chalfie: “I strongly believe in DEI!”
Demonstrators gather in NYC and across the nation in the name of science.
March 7, 2025
#standupforscience2025 @standupforscience.bsky.social
Demonstrators gather in NYC and across the nation in the name of science.
March 7, 2025
#standupforscience2025 @standupforscience.bsky.social
March 8, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Hundreds of scientists and supporters gather in Washington Square Park, NYC — and in over 30 cities nationwide — on March 7, 2025 to protest the Trump/Musk attack on science.
#standupforscience2025 @standupforscience.bsky.social
#standupforscience2025 @standupforscience.bsky.social
March 8, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Hundreds of scientists and supporters gather in Washington Square Park, NYC — and in over 30 cities nationwide — on March 7, 2025 to protest the Trump/Musk attack on science.
#standupforscience2025 @standupforscience.bsky.social
#standupforscience2025 @standupforscience.bsky.social
Scenes from the President’s day anti-Trump-agenda protest on 17, 2025 in NYC. ThousandS marched from Union Sq to Washington Sq Park — and similar protests took place across the U.S. — as part of the “50501 movement,” an organized response to actions by the Trump administration.
February 19, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Scenes from the President’s day anti-Trump-agenda protest on 17, 2025 in NYC. ThousandS marched from Union Sq to Washington Sq Park — and similar protests took place across the U.S. — as part of the “50501 movement,” an organized response to actions by the Trump administration.
Reposted by Melissa Bender
On Friday night, HHS ordered CDC to take down all flu vaccine campaign materials from its website. Materials are starting to come down.
For example, a campaign explaining that flu shot can reduce flu severity from "wild to mild" is now offline. Left image is from Friday, right is now
Meanwhile...
For example, a campaign explaining that flu shot can reduce flu severity from "wild to mild" is now offline. Left image is from Friday, right is now
Meanwhile...
February 16, 2025 at 5:30 PM
On Friday night, HHS ordered CDC to take down all flu vaccine campaign materials from its website. Materials are starting to come down.
For example, a campaign explaining that flu shot can reduce flu severity from "wild to mild" is now offline. Left image is from Friday, right is now
Meanwhile...
For example, a campaign explaining that flu shot can reduce flu severity from "wild to mild" is now offline. Left image is from Friday, right is now
Meanwhile...
Reposted by Melissa Bender
CDC source:
“We just had word that all our fellows and post doc staff are laid off effective immediately. The famous Epidemic Intelligence Service, aka the Disease Detectives, is no more. That’s 1260 staff.
They are calling this ‘Phase 1’.”
“We just had word that all our fellows and post doc staff are laid off effective immediately. The famous Epidemic Intelligence Service, aka the Disease Detectives, is no more. That’s 1260 staff.
They are calling this ‘Phase 1’.”
February 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM
CDC source:
“We just had word that all our fellows and post doc staff are laid off effective immediately. The famous Epidemic Intelligence Service, aka the Disease Detectives, is no more. That’s 1260 staff.
They are calling this ‘Phase 1’.”
“We just had word that all our fellows and post doc staff are laid off effective immediately. The famous Epidemic Intelligence Service, aka the Disease Detectives, is no more. That’s 1260 staff.
They are calling this ‘Phase 1’.”
Reposted by Melissa Bender
1/This may truly blowup #KashPatel nomination
On left:
Patel Testimony: "I'm not aware" of purge inside DOJ/FBI and "don't know what's going on."
On right:
Whistleblowers tell Senate that Patel was directing the purge!
Contemporaneous note: “KP wants movement at FBI, reciprocal actions for DOJ”
On left:
Patel Testimony: "I'm not aware" of purge inside DOJ/FBI and "don't know what's going on."
On right:
Whistleblowers tell Senate that Patel was directing the purge!
Contemporaneous note: “KP wants movement at FBI, reciprocal actions for DOJ”
February 11, 2025 at 5:47 PM
1/This may truly blowup #KashPatel nomination
On left:
Patel Testimony: "I'm not aware" of purge inside DOJ/FBI and "don't know what's going on."
On right:
Whistleblowers tell Senate that Patel was directing the purge!
Contemporaneous note: “KP wants movement at FBI, reciprocal actions for DOJ”
On left:
Patel Testimony: "I'm not aware" of purge inside DOJ/FBI and "don't know what's going on."
On right:
Whistleblowers tell Senate that Patel was directing the purge!
Contemporaneous note: “KP wants movement at FBI, reciprocal actions for DOJ”
Federal judge blocks Trump’s attempt to slash NIH funding; imposes biweekly judicial overview to monitor for compliance.
Judges aren't kidding around.
Federal judge not only just blocked Trump administration's attempt to cut NIH's funding of indirect costs (emergency motion for TRO was earlier today).
The judge has also imposed a reporting requirement to ensure compliance.⬇️
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Federal judge not only just blocked Trump administration's attempt to cut NIH's funding of indirect costs (emergency motion for TRO was earlier today).
The judge has also imposed a reporting requirement to ensure compliance.⬇️
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 10, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Federal judge blocks Trump’s attempt to slash NIH funding; imposes biweekly judicial overview to monitor for compliance.
Reposted by Melissa Bender
A federal judge in Massachusetts has just blocked Trump administration's move to cut NIH's funding of indirect costs
A hearing is now scheduled for Feb. 21 in case, which was brought by 22 states earlier today
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
A hearing is now scheduled for Feb. 21 in case, which was brought by 22 states earlier today
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
![A screenshot of text that reads in part: 'ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF STATES’ EX PARTE EMERGENCY MOTION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER ANGEL KELLEY, D.J. Plaintiff States’ Ex Parte Emergency Motion For Temporary Restraining Order [Dkt. 4] is GRANTED. Defendants and their officers, employees, servants, agents, appointees, and successors are hereby enjoined from taking any steps to implement, apply, or enforce the Rate Change Notice (NOT-OD-25- 068) within Plaintiff States until further order is issued by this Court. Counsel for Defendants shall file a status report with the Court within 24 hours of the entry of this Order, and at biweekly intervals thereafter, confirming the regular disbursement and obligation of federal financial assistance funds and reporting all steps that NIH, HHS and their officers, employees, servants, agents, appointees, and successors have taken to comply with the Court’s temporary restraining order. Defendants’ opposition to the Motion is due by Friday, February](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:uxvc5nwyutzf5gtu4x7jqyk3/bafkreib3p6spe427s4mlcv6f7lv6d3pbybuu2onntwd3ptnolalqtde3ku@jpeg)
February 10, 2025 at 10:34 PM
A federal judge in Massachusetts has just blocked Trump administration's move to cut NIH's funding of indirect costs
A hearing is now scheduled for Feb. 21 in case, which was brought by 22 states earlier today
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
A hearing is now scheduled for Feb. 21 in case, which was brought by 22 states earlier today
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Melissa Bender
A good tool.
(Related question: does this benefit Big Pharma and corporations, if the federal government is increasingly investing less in research? Gives them more control/power?)
(Related question: does this benefit Big Pharma and corporations, if the federal government is increasingly investing less in research? Gives them more control/power?)
NIH IN YOUR STATE
“Select a state on the map to see the impact of NIH funding across America”
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
“Select a state on the map to see the impact of NIH funding across America”
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
NIH In Your State - United For Medical Research
Select a state on the map to see the impact of NIH funding across America.
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org
February 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM
A good tool.
(Related question: does this benefit Big Pharma and corporations, if the federal government is increasingly investing less in research? Gives them more control/power?)
(Related question: does this benefit Big Pharma and corporations, if the federal government is increasingly investing less in research? Gives them more control/power?)
Reposted by Melissa Bender
What happened to CDC's bird flu studies and why did they publish about wildfires instead?
Sources tell us Trump officials are now wielding unprecedented control over agency's flagship scientific journal
"The MMWR has lost its autonomy"
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-o...
Sources tell us Trump officials are now wielding unprecedented control over agency's flagship scientific journal
"The MMWR has lost its autonomy"
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-o...
Trump officials exerting unprecedented control over CDC scientific journal
"The MMWR has lost its autonomy," one health official told CBS News.
www.cbsnews.com
February 7, 2025 at 11:22 PM
What happened to CDC's bird flu studies and why did they publish about wildfires instead?
Sources tell us Trump officials are now wielding unprecedented control over agency's flagship scientific journal
"The MMWR has lost its autonomy"
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-o...
Sources tell us Trump officials are now wielding unprecedented control over agency's flagship scientific journal
"The MMWR has lost its autonomy"
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-o...
Reposted by Melissa Bender
For the Texans who wanted to touch the stove
February 8, 2025 at 8:44 PM
For the Texans who wanted to touch the stove