Michael Kessler
@mickessler.bsky.social
Global Health Media Consultant
#hiv #tb #infectiousdiseases #CRDs #drugpolicy #ncds #pandemics
#hiv #tb #infectiousdiseases #CRDs #drugpolicy #ncds #pandemics
Pinned
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
New report from the Global Commission on Drug Policy reinforcing pùblic health, decrim and regulation in place of the failed & futile War on Drugs response.
@niamhrelease.bsky.social @idpc.bsky.social @kirstensdf.bsky.social
New report from the Global Commission on Drug Policy reinforcing pùblic health, decrim and regulation in place of the failed & futile War on Drugs response.
@niamhrelease.bsky.social @idpc.bsky.social @kirstensdf.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Kessler
"If the US government persists down this current path...the world will inevitably witness a tragic increase in child deaths..."
Sobering warning from @drsethberkley.bsky.social @science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Sobering warning from @drsethberkley.bsky.social @science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
August 29, 2025 at 10:40 AM
"If the US government persists down this current path...the world will inevitably witness a tragic increase in child deaths..."
Sobering warning from @drsethberkley.bsky.social @science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Sobering warning from @drsethberkley.bsky.social @science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Michael Kessler
#IAS2025 first ever lenacapavir PrEP implementation study will be in Brazil! Will include a mobile PrEP unit in Sao Paolo to best reach communities who will benefit
@iasociety.bsky.social
@iasociety.bsky.social
July 16, 2025 at 11:05 AM
#IAS2025 first ever lenacapavir PrEP implementation study will be in Brazil! Will include a mobile PrEP unit in Sao Paolo to best reach communities who will benefit
@iasociety.bsky.social
@iasociety.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Kessler
Holy cow, as an American, I wasn't aware of the Horizon IT scandal. ~1,000 postal workers were wrongfully prosecuted for theft and other crimes, imprisoned, and forced to repay tens of thousands of pounds. 13 of them committed suicide! But it was an IT error! AI will make this worse.
At Least 13 People Died by Suicide Amid U.K. Post Office Scandal, Report Says
www.nytimes.com
July 11, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Holy cow, as an American, I wasn't aware of the Horizon IT scandal. ~1,000 postal workers were wrongfully prosecuted for theft and other crimes, imprisoned, and forced to repay tens of thousands of pounds. 13 of them committed suicide! But it was an IT error! AI will make this worse.
Reposted by Michael Kessler
The attempted assassination of a Colombian presidential hopeful has reignited fears of a return to a bloody past when organized crime and rebel groups murdered candidates, journalists, judges with impunity.
Latest for the @theguardian.com.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Latest for the @theguardian.com.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Assassination attempt in Colombia sparks fears of return to bloody past: ‘It’s a devastating moment’
Attack on presidential candidate is oreminiscent of some of the darkest chapters of the country’s history
www.theguardian.com
June 13, 2025 at 12:40 PM
The attempted assassination of a Colombian presidential hopeful has reignited fears of a return to a bloody past when organized crime and rebel groups murdered candidates, journalists, judges with impunity.
Latest for the @theguardian.com.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Latest for the @theguardian.com.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Reposted by Michael Kessler
Colombia’s female prison population has increased more than fivefold since 1991, largely driven by drug laws that disproportionately punish women.
Now Colombia is attempting a new approach – pivoting from punishment to rehabilitation.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel... @mickessler.bsky.social
Now Colombia is attempting a new approach – pivoting from punishment to rehabilitation.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel... @mickessler.bsky.social
‘People think prison is for rehabilitation. It is all lies’: could community service work better than jail?
Colombia has seen a surge in the number of female inmates – many poor, from rural areas and convicted of drug offences. Now a radical scheme could release thousands to support their families
www.theguardian.com
June 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Colombia’s female prison population has increased more than fivefold since 1991, largely driven by drug laws that disproportionately punish women.
Now Colombia is attempting a new approach – pivoting from punishment to rehabilitation.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel... @mickessler.bsky.social
Now Colombia is attempting a new approach – pivoting from punishment to rehabilitation.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel... @mickessler.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Kessler
Wow...such preparedness. I just can't handle all the winning. That's Ok, they'll say it was Biden's flu. Stand up for science. 🧪
RFK Jr’s Department of Health and Human Services has notified Moderna that it is canceling a nearly $600 million contract with the company to develop, test, and license vaccines for flu strains that could trigger future pandemics, including the dangerous H5N1 bird flu virus.
HHS cancels nearly $600 million Moderna contract on vaccines for flu pandemics
HHS has notified Moderna that it is canceling a nearly $600 million contract for vaccines for flu strains that could trigger future pandemics.
www.statnews.com
May 29, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Wow...such preparedness. I just can't handle all the winning. That's Ok, they'll say it was Biden's flu. Stand up for science. 🧪
Reposted by Michael Kessler
Scientists must lean into uncomfortable roles, like political advocacy, to defend scientific independence.
My thoughts from the 2025 Cambridge Disinformation Summit.
youtu.be/UgA44T1lEPE?...
My thoughts from the 2025 Cambridge Disinformation Summit.
youtu.be/UgA44T1lEPE?...
Univ of Cambridge Professor Jagolinzer on threats to research scientists
YouTube video by Cambridge Disinformation Summit
youtu.be
May 6, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Scientists must lean into uncomfortable roles, like political advocacy, to defend scientific independence.
My thoughts from the 2025 Cambridge Disinformation Summit.
youtu.be/UgA44T1lEPE?...
My thoughts from the 2025 Cambridge Disinformation Summit.
youtu.be/UgA44T1lEPE?...
Everyone working in #globalhealth should read this. Chaos historically follows #pandemics & we are now in an information war which means we need to be much better with our #scientific and #health #communications. More than ever we need more activist scientists too.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Science’s big problem is a loss of influence, not a loss of trust | Nature
Evidence shows that science and scientists remain highly trusted. But genuine scientific voices are not shouting loud enough over the noise to hold sway. Evidence shows that science and scientists remain highly trusted. But genuine scientific voices are not shouting loud enough over the noise to hold sway.
www.nature.com
April 18, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Everyone working in #globalhealth should read this. Chaos historically follows #pandemics & we are now in an information war which means we need to be much better with our #scientific and #health #communications. More than ever we need more activist scientists too.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Let’s not underestimate what a significant step forward around the Pandemic Agreement we saw early this morning. Multilateralism won out. There’s a way to go but gees given the global health turbulence and potential biomedical threats emerging this is an important win. We needed this.
April 16, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Let’s not underestimate what a significant step forward around the Pandemic Agreement we saw early this morning. Multilateralism won out. There’s a way to go but gees given the global health turbulence and potential biomedical threats emerging this is an important win. We needed this.
Reposted by Michael Kessler
Reposted by Michael Kessler
Surely given Jay Bhattacharya's concern about censorship and academic freedom, he will step in and promptly reverse this decision.
NIH to terminate or limit grants related to vaccine hesitancy and uptake www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
NIH to terminate or limit grants related to vaccine hesitancy and uptake
The order covers more than 40 awards to researchers around the country seeking to understand why vaccine acceptance has declined.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 10, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Surely given Jay Bhattacharya's concern about censorship and academic freedom, he will step in and promptly reverse this decision.
Reposted by Michael Kessler
Malcolm Turnbull wants Australia to face up to the realities of a new world of Trumpian disorder. Our governing class would prefer he kept quiet, @keanebernard.bsky.social writes.
Malcolm Turnbull is right. Silence won't protect us from Trump
Turnbull is willing to do what our political leaders won't: pursue a clear-eyed reassessment of what Trump's assault on the global order means for Australia.
www.crikey.com.au
March 11, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Malcolm Turnbull wants Australia to face up to the realities of a new world of Trumpian disorder. Our governing class would prefer he kept quiet, @keanebernard.bsky.social writes.
Reposted by Michael Kessler
As the U.S. Government endeavors to make tuberculosis great again, please consider preordering a signed copy of my book about our deadliest infection, its long history, and why in the 75 years since TB became curable, we've allowed over 150,000,000 people to die of the disease. everythingistb.com
March 10, 2025 at 12:46 PM
As the U.S. Government endeavors to make tuberculosis great again, please consider preordering a signed copy of my book about our deadliest infection, its long history, and why in the 75 years since TB became curable, we've allowed over 150,000,000 people to die of the disease. everythingistb.com
Reposted by Michael Kessler
He also baselessly claimed that natural immunity from measles and other diseases could protect people from cancer and cardiac disease.
RFK Jr. Makes Disturbing Claims Linking Measles To Poor Diet And Exercise
He also baselessly claimed that natural immunity from measles and other diseases could protect people from cancer and cardiac disease.
www.huffpost.com
March 11, 2025 at 1:44 AM
He also baselessly claimed that natural immunity from measles and other diseases could protect people from cancer and cardiac disease.
Reposted by Michael Kessler
Posted by @ianbremmer.com on another platform:
“Mexico president Sheinbaum with 85% approval, strongest leader of a major democracy. Hell of a turnout in Mexico City today.”
“Mexico president Sheinbaum with 85% approval, strongest leader of a major democracy. Hell of a turnout in Mexico City today.”
March 10, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Posted by @ianbremmer.com on another platform:
“Mexico president Sheinbaum with 85% approval, strongest leader of a major democracy. Hell of a turnout in Mexico City today.”
“Mexico president Sheinbaum with 85% approval, strongest leader of a major democracy. Hell of a turnout in Mexico City today.”
Reposted by Michael Kessler
apnews.com/article/trum...
Funding for new grants also slowed to a trickle after NIH halted grant application review meetings in January. At Duke, NIH grant and contract award notices plummeted, dropping from 166 in January and February of 2024 to 64 so far in 2025, according to the university.
Funding for new grants also slowed to a trickle after NIH halted grant application review meetings in January. At Duke, NIH grant and contract award notices plummeted, dropping from 166 in January and February of 2024 to 64 so far in 2025, according to the university.
Universities are facing big cuts to research funding. At Duke, it's a time for 'damage control'
Facing the potential loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding, Duke University is preparing for the worst.
apnews.com
March 9, 2025 at 1:13 AM
apnews.com/article/trum...
Funding for new grants also slowed to a trickle after NIH halted grant application review meetings in January. At Duke, NIH grant and contract award notices plummeted, dropping from 166 in January and February of 2024 to 64 so far in 2025, according to the university.
Funding for new grants also slowed to a trickle after NIH halted grant application review meetings in January. At Duke, NIH grant and contract award notices plummeted, dropping from 166 in January and February of 2024 to 64 so far in 2025, according to the university.
Reposted by Michael Kessler
Nearly half of women in Africa will be obese or overweight by 2030 – study
Nearly half of women in Africa will be obese or overweight by 2030 – study
Stigma, lack of treatment and disproportionate rise of the disease in women draws comparisons with HIV epidemic
An alarming rise in obesity in Africa has been compared with the HIV epidemic, with stigma and lack of treatment having a disproportionate…
www.theguardian.com
March 6, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Nearly half of women in Africa will be obese or overweight by 2030 – study
Reposted by Michael Kessler
Today at the “Stand up for Science” demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial.
March 7, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Today at the “Stand up for Science” demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial.
Reposted by Michael Kessler
"Wired gained 62,500 new subscribers in the United States during the first two weeks of February alone"
Not known for political coverage, Wired takes a leading role in tracking Elon Musk's team
The tech outlet Wired set up a new politics team in time for the presidential election — but its most impactful work is coming after the election is over.
apnews.com
February 26, 2025 at 4:19 PM
"Wired gained 62,500 new subscribers in the United States during the first two weeks of February alone"
Reposted by Michael Kessler
For the US to side with Russia and North Korea to oppose a UN resolution condemning the illegal invasion of Ukraine defies all common sense and adds insult to the countless injuries suffered by the brave Ukrainian people. edition.cnn.com/2025/02/24/p...
US joins Russia to vote against UN resolution condemning Russia’s war against Ukraine | CNN Politics
The United States joined Russia to vote against a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s war against Ukraine Monday in a stunning shift from years of US policy.
edition.cnn.com
February 25, 2025 at 9:29 AM
For the US to side with Russia and North Korea to oppose a UN resolution condemning the illegal invasion of Ukraine defies all common sense and adds insult to the countless injuries suffered by the brave Ukrainian people. edition.cnn.com/2025/02/24/p...
@caglauren.bsky.social Hello Cagla..am trying to reach you to discuss a media workshop we´d like invite you to. michael.kessler@intoon-media.com
February 26, 2025 at 10:04 AM
@caglauren.bsky.social Hello Cagla..am trying to reach you to discuss a media workshop we´d like invite you to. michael.kessler@intoon-media.com
Katie Dain, CEO, NCD Alliance:
“NCDs have already been under-prioritized. Anything on the bottom of the list is going to get even further de-prioritized.”
www.devex.com/news/how-usa...
“NCDs have already been under-prioritized. Anything on the bottom of the list is going to get even further de-prioritized.”
www.devex.com/news/how-usa...
How USAID's dismantling could impact noncommunicable diseases
The major halt in funding is expected to have “a ripple effect on all different health issues,” says Katie Dain, the CEO of the NCD Alliance. This could include a move from integrated health care back...
www.devex.com
February 12, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Katie Dain, CEO, NCD Alliance:
“NCDs have already been under-prioritized. Anything on the bottom of the list is going to get even further de-prioritized.”
www.devex.com/news/how-usa...
“NCDs have already been under-prioritized. Anything on the bottom of the list is going to get even further de-prioritized.”
www.devex.com/news/how-usa...
Prof Kenneth Ngure, President-elect of the @iasociety.bsky.social: “It’s like you’re having a car speeding on a highway. Then you apply emergency brakes. There are so many things that can go wrong.”
#endAIDS #savinglives #prevention #sciencematters
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
#endAIDS #savinglives #prevention #sciencematters
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Trump aid spending freeze halts leading malaria vaccine programme
Global collaboration with US researchers likely to be set back by years, including on spread of drug-resistant HIV
www.theguardian.com
February 2, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Prof Kenneth Ngure, President-elect of the @iasociety.bsky.social: “It’s like you’re having a car speeding on a highway. Then you apply emergency brakes. There are so many things that can go wrong.”
#endAIDS #savinglives #prevention #sciencematters
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
#endAIDS #savinglives #prevention #sciencematters
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Reposted by Michael Kessler
What does the US foreign aid freeze mean on the ground? @kaamilahmed.bsky.social and I heard about people going without vital medicine, refugee camps facing the loss of services and more. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Charities reeling from USAid freeze warn of ‘life or death’ effects
Abrupt order has done ‘serious damage’, say experts, with supply chains halted, HIV clinics struggling to source drugs and refugee camps facing loss of vital services
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2025 at 1:35 PM
What does the US foreign aid freeze mean on the ground? @kaamilahmed.bsky.social and I heard about people going without vital medicine, refugee camps facing the loss of services and more. www.theguardian.com/global-devel...