Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
@merlinc2.bsky.social
Assoc Professor, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health | merlinc16.com | Lakers, Gaga, UConn WBB NYLiberty Fan | Author, All Health Politics is Local | Working on a Book for WW Norton "Who Dies?" on social dets of public health | Co-PI ToxicDocs.org
My take on the backlash to DEI/health equity in the health sciences in @nejm.org roundtable: www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Pursuing Health Equity in the United States | NEJM
This video roundtable explores the distinction and relationship between diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and the pursuit of health equity, and the hurdles for improving health equity in...
www.nejm.org
November 18, 2025 at 9:45 PM
My take on the backlash to DEI/health equity in the health sciences in @nejm.org roundtable: www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
there is a world in which it would make sense for Dems to cave and help reopen the government, for example, if we just got crushed in VA/NJ and voters were blaming us for the shutdown
we are not in that world. we are in the opposite world. trump is taking all the blame and flailing. jesus christ
we are not in that world. we are in the opposite world. trump is taking all the blame and flailing. jesus christ
November 10, 2025 at 2:03 AM
there is a world in which it would make sense for Dems to cave and help reopen the government, for example, if we just got crushed in VA/NJ and voters were blaming us for the shutdown
we are not in that world. we are in the opposite world. trump is taking all the blame and flailing. jesus christ
we are not in that world. we are in the opposite world. trump is taking all the blame and flailing. jesus christ
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
Ezra Klein's NYT column leans on the trope of Manchin being better than a GOP senator in WV. He doesn't mention Manchin blocking the Build Back Better Act or For the People Act in 2021.
Here I mention three Senate races where voters might have turned out for universal programs that Manchin killed:
Here I mention three Senate races where voters might have turned out for universal programs that Manchin killed:
Billionaire-Backed Democrats Killed the Build Back Better Act ⑉ Brick House
The dark money group No Labels is reportedly loading up on billionaire donors to support conservative Democrats in elections ahead.
thebrick.house
November 2, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Ezra Klein's NYT column leans on the trope of Manchin being better than a GOP senator in WV. He doesn't mention Manchin blocking the Build Back Better Act or For the People Act in 2021.
Here I mention three Senate races where voters might have turned out for universal programs that Manchin killed:
Here I mention three Senate races where voters might have turned out for universal programs that Manchin killed:
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
I propose that we all agree to apologize to her if she does, in fact, cure all diseases by the end of the century.
And in the interim, we should mock this for the absurdly self-aggrandizing, utterly un-self-aware bullshit it is.
And in the interim, we should mock this for the absurdly self-aggrandizing, utterly un-self-aware bullshit it is.
Priscilla Chan reveals the piece of health advice she ignores.
In the full interview, Chan discusses how she plans to cure all diseases by the end of the century, how she’s always been a nerd and why she almost transferred out of Harvard. 🎥 on.wsj.com/43o4O8S
In the full interview, Chan discusses how she plans to cure all diseases by the end of the century, how she’s always been a nerd and why she almost transferred out of Harvard. 🎥 on.wsj.com/43o4O8S
October 24, 2025 at 3:07 AM
I propose that we all agree to apologize to her if she does, in fact, cure all diseases by the end of the century.
And in the interim, we should mock this for the absurdly self-aggrandizing, utterly un-self-aware bullshit it is.
And in the interim, we should mock this for the absurdly self-aggrandizing, utterly un-self-aware bullshit it is.
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
Kudos to Sally Kornbluth/MIT for rejecting the government’s attempt at corrupting higher ed. Others should quickly follow suit. Even the folks at Cato agree—this isn’t a tough call!
October 12, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Kudos to Sally Kornbluth/MIT for rejecting the government’s attempt at corrupting higher ed. Others should quickly follow suit. Even the folks at Cato agree—this isn’t a tough call!
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
US public health is in crisis. In this special JHPPL issue edited by @oberlanderunc.bsky.social & @sarahgollust.bsky.social, you’ll find articles that help contextualize the erosion of public health infrastructure & adoption of policies harmful to public health. read.dukeupress.edu/jhppl/advanc...
Advance Publication | Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law | Duke University Press
read.dukeupress.edu
October 8, 2025 at 6:06 PM
US public health is in crisis. In this special JHPPL issue edited by @oberlanderunc.bsky.social & @sarahgollust.bsky.social, you’ll find articles that help contextualize the erosion of public health infrastructure & adoption of policies harmful to public health. read.dukeupress.edu/jhppl/advanc...
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
@merlinc2.bsky.social offers historical context for current public health backlash. Drawing on vax campaigns, air pollution control & occupational safety, public health traditions have been hard to eliminate once entrenched though 2nd Trump Admin may be different read.dukeupress.edu/jhppl/articl...
Public Health Under Attack: Continuity, Discontinuity, and History | Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law | Duke University Press
read.dukeupress.edu
October 8, 2025 at 6:16 PM
@merlinc2.bsky.social offers historical context for current public health backlash. Drawing on vax campaigns, air pollution control & occupational safety, public health traditions have been hard to eliminate once entrenched though 2nd Trump Admin may be different read.dukeupress.edu/jhppl/articl...
Chris Mannix arguments about the WNBA and revenue. He’s so ignorant.
October 8, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Chris Mannix arguments about the WNBA and revenue. He’s so ignorant.
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
"[D]espair is the wrong choice. Much of Trump’s power is illusory. It depends on the rest of civil society obeying in advance and preemptively kowtowing to his threats."
@davidoatkins.bsky.social share why "there are good reasons to be hopeful."
@davidoatkins.bsky.social share why "there are good reasons to be hopeful."
Quit Being All Gloom and Doom. MAGA Has Not Won
MAGA has not won. Trump’s power is weaker than it looks, and American democracy is more resilient than the doomers believe.
washingtonmonthly.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:30 PM
"[D]espair is the wrong choice. Much of Trump’s power is illusory. It depends on the rest of civil society obeying in advance and preemptively kowtowing to his threats."
@davidoatkins.bsky.social share why "there are good reasons to be hopeful."
@davidoatkins.bsky.social share why "there are good reasons to be hopeful."
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
Five— five!!— grafs until the NYT suggests to readers it might not be lawful.
Complete and total abidication of their responsibility to readers to inform and not parrot propaganda.
Complete and total abidication of their responsibility to readers to inform and not parrot propaganda.
President Trump will sign an executive order on Friday renaming the Department of Defense the Department of War, the name the agency held until shortly after World War II, the White House said.
Trump Is Renaming the Defense Department the Department of War
The president is turning back the clock to the name the agency held until shortly after World War II.
nyti.ms
September 4, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Five— five!!— grafs until the NYT suggests to readers it might not be lawful.
Complete and total abidication of their responsibility to readers to inform and not parrot propaganda.
Complete and total abidication of their responsibility to readers to inform and not parrot propaganda.
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
To sum up the judge's ruling:
- The Trump administration's freezing of Harvard funds on or after 4/14 is arbitrary and capricious, and is set aside. It also violated the First Amendment.
- The administration is also forbidden from implementing any freeze or termination of Harvard federal funding
- The Trump administration's freezing of Harvard funds on or after 4/14 is arbitrary and capricious, and is set aside. It also violated the First Amendment.
- The administration is also forbidden from implementing any freeze or termination of Harvard federal funding
September 3, 2025 at 8:31 PM
To sum up the judge's ruling:
- The Trump administration's freezing of Harvard funds on or after 4/14 is arbitrary and capricious, and is set aside. It also violated the First Amendment.
- The administration is also forbidden from implementing any freeze or termination of Harvard federal funding
- The Trump administration's freezing of Harvard funds on or after 4/14 is arbitrary and capricious, and is set aside. It also violated the First Amendment.
- The administration is also forbidden from implementing any freeze or termination of Harvard federal funding
I’m in this documentary on the history of smog, airing tonight on PBS: American Experience at 9 pm. And streaming here www.pbs.org/wgbh/america... check it out!
Trailer | CLEARING THE AIR: THE WAR ON SMOG | AMERICAN EXPERIENCE | PBS
YouTube video by American Experience | PBS
youtu.be
August 26, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I’m in this documentary on the history of smog, airing tonight on PBS: American Experience at 9 pm. And streaming here www.pbs.org/wgbh/america... check it out!
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
In the NIH funding case, Justice Gorsuch (joined by Justice Kavanaugh) claimed that this was the third time in recent weeks that lower courts had "defied" a #SCOTUS ruling.
As today's "One First" explains, that claim is not only nonsense; it's enabling a dangerous anti-court narrative on the right:
As today's "One First" explains, that claim is not only nonsense; it's enabling a dangerous anti-court narrative on the right:
174. Justice Gorsuch's Attack on Lower Courts
Just like the earlier rulings that Justice Gorsuch claims lower courts are defying, his concurrence in the NIH grant cutoffs case would be a lot more convincing if it showed more of its work.
www.stevevladeck.com
August 25, 2025 at 11:46 AM
In the NIH funding case, Justice Gorsuch (joined by Justice Kavanaugh) claimed that this was the third time in recent weeks that lower courts had "defied" a #SCOTUS ruling.
As today's "One First" explains, that claim is not only nonsense; it's enabling a dangerous anti-court narrative on the right:
As today's "One First" explains, that claim is not only nonsense; it's enabling a dangerous anti-court narrative on the right:
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
"ChatGPT is great for brainstorming!"
Actually we have a tool for that already! It's called thinking. We use our brain. It's called brainstorming! Clue is in the name.
Actually we have a tool for that already! It's called thinking. We use our brain. It's called brainstorming! Clue is in the name.
July 31, 2025 at 7:49 PM
"ChatGPT is great for brainstorming!"
Actually we have a tool for that already! It's called thinking. We use our brain. It's called brainstorming! Clue is in the name.
Actually we have a tool for that already! It's called thinking. We use our brain. It's called brainstorming! Clue is in the name.
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
Senate Approps proposes a $400 million increase to the NIH budget, pushing back on the by $18 billion (40%) decrease proposed in the President's budget. Watch this space.
I’ll take every bit of good news I can get. “Senators from both parties endorsed a $400 million increase to the budget of the National Institutes of Health… in an Appropriations Committee vote that represents a clear rebuke of President Trump’s plan to dramatically reduce the agency’s spending.”
Senate committee endorses NIH budget increase, rebuking Trump administration’s proposed 40% cut
Senators from both parties endorsed a $400 million increase to the budget of the National Institutes of Health on Thursday
www.statnews.com
July 31, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Senate Approps proposes a $400 million increase to the NIH budget, pushing back on the by $18 billion (40%) decrease proposed in the President's budget. Watch this space.
This Mystics team is going to be monstrous in a couple seasons. Leonsis needs to find a way to break this ridiculous agreement with the city and get them to a real stadium.
July 11, 2025 at 1:41 AM
This Mystics team is going to be monstrous in a couple seasons. Leonsis needs to find a way to break this ridiculous agreement with the city and get them to a real stadium.
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
The last 24 hours have been hard to believe. The outpouring of love & support has made me tear up again and again. My heart can barely contain it all.
I thank everyone who has fought alongside us and helped make this moment possible. You are making a better future possible.
I thank everyone who has fought alongside us and helped make this moment possible. You are making a better future possible.
June 25, 2025 at 12:29 PM
The last 24 hours have been hard to believe. The outpouring of love & support has made me tear up again and again. My heart can barely contain it all.
I thank everyone who has fought alongside us and helped make this moment possible. You are making a better future possible.
I thank everyone who has fought alongside us and helped make this moment possible. You are making a better future possible.
Mahmood is a social science god, what are you talking about
What does ZOHRAN MAMDANI have in common with ANDERSON COOPER and LARRY HAGMAN but with very few others?
They’re all famous men with famous mothers but *not* famous fathers.
Surely there are others but who?
They’re all famous men with famous mothers but *not* famous fathers.
Surely there are others but who?
June 23, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Mahmood is a social science god, what are you talking about
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
Judge Young’s written order released today, finding the Trump administration’s terminations of NIH grants illegal, null and void, along with validating the partial list of 16 AG state’s list of terminated grants. (This still omits the APHA /ACLU grant list- they proposed to keep under seal).
Judge Young's final order has been posted.
I have not yet had a chance to read it you, but go at it.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
1/n
I have not yet had a chance to read it you, but go at it.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
1/n
storage.courtlistener.com
June 23, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Judge Young’s written order released today, finding the Trump administration’s terminations of NIH grants illegal, null and void, along with validating the partial list of 16 AG state’s list of terminated grants. (This still omits the APHA /ACLU grant list- they proposed to keep under seal).
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
Vote Gabby Williams for All-Star!
June 21, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Vote Gabby Williams for All-Star!
I worry this thinking just amounts to fatalism. We have to use all of liberal democracy’s levers, and the legal system on this score is working a lot better than I expected.
Again, lawsuits are great, & this is good. But Article III cannot solve this unprecedented Article I constitutional crisis. We know this bc Trump openly defies the courts every day.
Also, again, the second this stuff is codified in a new bill, it's curtains for 🇺🇸 higher ed
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Also, again, the second this stuff is codified in a new bill, it's curtains for 🇺🇸 higher ed
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
BREAKING: A federal judge in Massachusetts (the Reagan-appointed William Young) has declared the Trump administration's cuts to NIH grants — ostensibly over Trump's EOs on gender ideology and DEI — are "illegal" and "void." He's ordering many grants restored.
June 16, 2025 at 10:20 PM
I worry this thinking just amounts to fatalism. We have to use all of liberal democracy’s levers, and the legal system on this score is working a lot better than I expected.
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
BREAKING: A federal judge reversed National Institutes of Health's terminations of hundreds of critical research grants that were canceled because of their alleged connection to disfavored topics, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender identity.
This is a major win for public health.
This is a major win for public health.
June 16, 2025 at 9:46 PM
BREAKING: A federal judge reversed National Institutes of Health's terminations of hundreds of critical research grants that were canceled because of their alleged connection to disfavored topics, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender identity.
This is a major win for public health.
This is a major win for public health.
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
NEW: Harvard is the fifth largest employer in Massachusetts - Trump's retaliatory funding freeze against Harvard is an attack on our state and our economy.
Today, I'm filing a brief urging the courts to stand against this unlawful action and protect academic freedom.
Today, I'm filing a brief urging the courts to stand against this unlawful action and protect academic freedom.
June 9, 2025 at 7:46 PM
NEW: Harvard is the fifth largest employer in Massachusetts - Trump's retaliatory funding freeze against Harvard is an attack on our state and our economy.
Today, I'm filing a brief urging the courts to stand against this unlawful action and protect academic freedom.
Today, I'm filing a brief urging the courts to stand against this unlawful action and protect academic freedom.
Reposted by Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD
the nytimes doesn't get LA and never will
June 9, 2025 at 3:37 AM
the nytimes doesn't get LA and never will