Walker Bragman
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walkerbragman.bsky.social
Walker Bragman
@walkerbragman.bsky.social
34K followers 1K following 8.6K posts
He/Him. Dad. Journo tracking dark money and attacks on public health. JD, ADHD, occasional cartoonist.

Co-founder of Accountability Journalism Institute. Accountabilityjournalism.org

Signal: walkerbragman.44

Reporting: https://www.importantcontext.news
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walkerbragman.bsky.social
Walker Bragman @walkerbragman.bsky.social · Jun 2
NEW: Important Context spoke with a dozen people working at NIH about Director Jay Bhattacharya.

The descriptions were universally unflattering, painting the health economist as ineffectual, dishonest, ideological, arrogant, and uncommitted to science.

www.importantcontext.news/p/out-of-his...
“Out Of His Depth,” “Sold His Soul,” “Clueless”: NIH Staffers Speak Out About Director Bhattacharya
Widespread dissatisfaction over the NIH’s “continuous free fall” has people speaking out.
www.importantcontext.news
Reposted by Walker Bragman
donmoyn.bsky.social
Quick reminder that when Elon Musk was in government, he lied about massive fraud, and did so to eliminate safety net programs as well as government capacity to oversee real fraud.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/musks-frau...
December 29, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Walker Bragman
juliametraux.bsky.social
Wrote about how disappointing it is that Jon Stewart punched down on people masking at @motherjones.com, when people should mind their own business and leave mask wearers be. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Hey Jon Stewart, jokes about wearing masks aren't funny
Critics of the Daily Show host say he's a hypocrite.
www.motherjones.com
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 PM
walkerbragman.bsky.social
NIH Director boosts post from Andrew Kaczynski thanking people for helping him raise $200,000 for childhood cancer research.

Kaczynski’s daughter Francesca died from pediatric brain cancer in 2020.

In March, the National Cancer Institute will stop funding the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium.
Jay Bhattacharya reposted Andrew Kaczynski @ @KFILE •1d A big thank you to everyone who helped us reach our goal of $200,000 this year for childhood cancer research. We are so grateful for the legacy you are helping us build for Francesca through the Infant Brain Tumor Program and the $3.7 million dollars you helped us raise to date.
December 29, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Reposted by Walker Bragman
pjavidan.bsky.social
The way neofascist regimes literally describe themselves when condemning their alleged foes is equal parts Orwellian and comical

Bhattacharya’s career wouldn’t be where it is without the disinformation-censorship regime that is Covid contrarianism—a prelude to the comprehensive anti-science of MAHA
walkerbragman.bsky.social Walker Bragman @walkerbragman.bsky.social · 14h
I know there’s a lot happening right now, but we shouldn’t lose sight of how nutty it is to see something like this coming from the director of the National Institutes of Health.
Jay Bhattacharya @@DrJBhattacharya •2d One of the worst sins of the disinformation-censorship regime is hubris. It relies on the folly that a small cabal of poorly trained bureaucrats and their pet scientists possesses the unerring capacity to distinguish true from false on every complex scientific topic. It's nuts. An image of Icarus with his wings smoldering in free fall accompanies the post.
December 29, 2025 at 10:20 AM
walkerbragman.bsky.social
I know there’s a lot happening right now, but we shouldn’t lose sight of how nutty it is to see something like this coming from the director of the National Institutes of Health.
Jay Bhattacharya @@DrJBhattacharya •2d One of the worst sins of the disinformation-censorship regime is hubris. It relies on the folly that a small cabal of poorly trained bureaucrats and their pet scientists possesses the unerring capacity to distinguish true from false on every complex scientific topic. It's nuts. An image of Icarus with his wings smoldering in free fall accompanies the post.
December 29, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Reposted by Walker Bragman
accountabilityji.bsky.social
How did a "free speech" group help right-wing dark money interests gut protections for trans and nonbinary students?
Our investigation follows the money to reveal a coordinated legal attack on student civil rights.

www.accountabilityjournalism.org/dark-money/h...
How a Free Speech Group Helped Right-Wing Dark Money Undermine Protections for Trans and Nonbinary Students — AJI
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression weighed in on a case brought by Parents Defending Education in Ohio. This piece has been updated from its original email version. A prominent fr...
www.accountabilityjournalism.org
December 28, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Reposted by Walker Bragman
junlper.beer
it’s crazy how obvious it is that donald trump has been actively part of the epstein coverup for half a decade now and he’s just still the president
elizabethjacobs.bsky.social Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 1d
Julie K. Brown is a reporter for the Miami Herald who did groundbreaking work on Epstein beginning in 2018, including groundbreaking work on the disgusting coverup by Alex Acosta.

Her travel itinerary was released with some of the Epstein files. It appears the DOJ was monitoring her in 2019.
Post from Julie K Brown that says Does somebody at the DOJ want to tell me why my American Airlines booking information and flights in July 2019 are part of the Epstein files (attached to a grand jury subpoena)? As the flight itinerary includes my maiden name (and I did book this flight) why was the DOJ monitoring me? Record Locato American Arlines CONPIDENTIAL for official
December 29, 2025 at 5:38 AM
walkerbragman.bsky.social
This thread. Oh my god this thread.

Read it. Especially if you’re a reporter.

Pursue justice. Journalism—or law, for that matter—not grounded in the pursuit of justice is worthless.
billiejsweeney.bsky.social Billie Jean Sweeney @billiejsweeney.bsky.social · 1d
This comment is pernicious. It was made during a v public disagreement w the author of new piece critical of FIRE. The comment tries to disqualify any journalist who opposes injustice from covering injustice.

That is wrongheaded, especially at this v dangerous moment for the US.
December 29, 2025 at 5:34 AM
walkerbragman.bsky.social
Jon Stewart is actually really bad on public health stuff.

He promoted COVID lab leak conspiracy nonsense, giving liberals the permission structure needed to embrace it.

This fits squarely in with that. Dude clearly internalized a lot of bad info.
juliusgoat.bsky.social A.R. Moxon @juliusgoat.bsky.social · 1d
Jon Stewart and the pod saves guys mocking people who wear masks while talking about What Is To Be Done is exactly what Jon Stewart and the pod saves guys are, it's the most Jon Stewart and pod saves guys thing possible.
December 28, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Reposted by Walker Bragman
jimalwine.bsky.social
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 27, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Reposted by Walker Bragman
katestarbird.bsky.social
The celebration and digital metastasization of conspiratorial thinking culminating with the U.S. head of health and human services believing that and governing as if modern diseases don’t emerge naturally, pandemics are all manmade, and science (not the complexities of nature) is to blame.
December 28, 2025 at 7:39 PM
walkerbragman.bsky.social
Kennedy is ramping up his attacks on vaccines. Conspiracy theories are central to that agenda of undermining faith in public health, medicine, and experts.

www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
RFK Jr. Claims 'Vaccine Research' Likely Responsible for HIV and the Spanish Flu
Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed vaccine research was responsible for diseases like HIV, RSV, Lyme disease, and the Spanish flu.
www.rollingstone.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by Walker Bragman
walkerbragman.bsky.social
ICYMI: I wrote about FIRE.

The group supported a lawsuit by a far-right group against an Ohio school board over its anti-bullying policy, arguing it violated the rights of students who wished to misgender their trans/nonbinary peers.

FIRE has a long record of siding with anti-trans folks/groups.
December 27, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Reposted by Walker Bragman
nickkodama.bsky.social
bluesky is where elder millennials enjoying internet retirement meet younger millennials with untreated depression
December 28, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Reposted by Walker Bragman
juliametraux.bsky.social
I’d argue that being disabled makes me an insightful disability reporter.
walkerbragman.bsky.social Walker Bragman @walkerbragman.bsky.social · 1d
I’m just going to say this (not diving back into an argument or attacking anyone):

The idea that journalists cannot accurately or fully report on topics they have strong feelings about is silly.
December 28, 2025 at 5:08 PM
walkerbragman.bsky.social
I’m just going to say this (not diving back into an argument or attacking anyone):

The idea that journalists cannot accurately or fully report on topics they have strong feelings about is silly.
December 28, 2025 at 3:39 PM
walkerbragman.bsky.social
Now this is a great cartoon.
December 28, 2025 at 5:26 AM
walkerbragman.bsky.social
Opens with “I’m not taking the time to read the article” but feels confident enough to criticize my work.
December 28, 2025 at 12:50 AM
walkerbragman.bsky.social
ICYMI: I wrote about FIRE.

The group supported a lawsuit by a far-right group against an Ohio school board over its anti-bullying policy, arguing it violated the rights of students who wished to misgender their trans/nonbinary peers.

FIRE has a long record of siding with anti-trans folks/groups.
December 27, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Reposted by Walker Bragman
eoinhiggins.bsky.social
Some ~personal news~
Yes, I'm being sued by Matt Taibbi
Does that make me the realest free speech warrior?
open.substack.com
December 27, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Walker Bragman
walkerbragman.bsky.social
At a time when transgender Americans are under attack at the federal, state, and local level, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) teamed up with the Manhattan Institute to support a lawsuit by Parents Defending Education targeting a school board policy protecting trans kids.
December 27, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Reposted by Walker Bragman
walkerbragman.bsky.social
NEW: A prominent free speech group helped right-wing dark money score a legal win against an Ohio school board and its anti-bullying policy, which protected transgender and nonbinary students.

www.importantcontext.news/p/how-a-free...
How a Free Speech Group Helped Right-Wing Dark Money Undermine Protections for Trans and Nonbinary Students
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression weighed in on a case brought by Parents Defending Education in Ohio.
www.importantcontext.news
December 26, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Walker Bragman
nberlat.bsky.social
this is bizarre on Ken's part. he was accurately and fully quoted. more, Walker made his position on the case quite clear before Ken provided the quote.

hard to see any takeaway except that Ken's being an asshole.
walkerbragman.bsky.social Walker Bragman @walkerbragman.bsky.social · 3d
The email / the story / the response form the source
W me Dec 22 to Kenneth v ... Just to follow up, I want to make sure l understand your perspective. You agree with the dissent? Also, does it concern you that this civil liberties group is joining two anti-LGBTQIA+ right-wing groups in this lawsuit? • •• Kenneth White Dec 22 to me v ... I think the dissent makes a very plausible case that allowing students to misgender peers is inherently disruptive in the way that using racial slurs at them would be. I talk about disruption because that's the metric for the First Amendment caselaw on school free speech --not morals, manners, decency, etc. But school speech caselaw is a bit of a mess so it's not an absolute clear call. I think your second question reflects a gulf in the way we view civil liberties issues that makes it unlikely we will have a productive conversation. Kenneth White, of the law firm Brown White & Osborn, said he thought the Sixth Circuit dissent in the Ohio case made a "very plausible case that allowing students to misgender peers is inherently disruptive in the way that using racial slurs at them would be." "But school speech caselaw is a bit of a mess so it's not an absolute clear call," he added, noting that disruption is the standard for school speech-not morality, manners, or decency. W me 11:20 AM to Kenneth v Thank you for speaking with me. https://www.importantcontext.news/p/how-a- free-speech-group-helped-right • • • K Kenneth White 11:25 AM to me v That's an out of context and misleading quote. Please don't ever contact me under any circumstances ever again. I was foolish to engage with you. Get Outlook for iOS ... W me 11:30 AM to Kenneth v ..• I asked you if you agreed with the dissent and you literally said: "I think the dissent makes a very plausible case that allowing students to misgender peers is inherently disruptive in the way that using racial slurs at them would be. I talk about disruption because that's the metric for the First Amendment caselaw on school free speech --not morals, manners, decency, etc." That's what I used. Best, Kenneth White 11:31 AM to me v Whatever you say, Bari Weiss. Get Outlook for ios •..
December 27, 2025 at 9:48 AM
walkerbragman.bsky.social
I will drop this.

But before I do, I have to note that it is excruciatingly clear that Ken is really mad that my reporting highlighted FIRE’s ties to big right-wing money.

He’s comparing the revelations of publicly available tax filings as something akin to a “Pharma-Rothschild conspiracy.”
Your Last Merry Popehat @kenwhit... • 11h Let me put it to you this way, Jonathan. Say someone wrote to you and said "hey I am a journalist writing about how vaccines are a Big Pharma-Rothschild conspiracy to alter American DNA" and you were temporarily stupid like me and responded instead of ignoring the hackery.../1 ₫ 4 97 Your Last Merry Popehat @kenwhit... • 11h /2....and patiently and tersely pushed back on the clumsy agenda, and at one point about some question wrote "yes, there were some reported problems with that one vaccine, which were corrected," and then they wrote their piece about the Rothschilds and conspiracy and quoted you to imply ... ①3 137 贝 ① Your Last Merry Popehat @kenwhit... • 11h /3...that you supported their hackery? Now, you would be primarily to blame, for responding to someone with such a stubborn agenda, but wouldn't you also be pissed off at the hackery? 4 37 183 ••.
December 27, 2025 at 6:08 AM
walkerbragman.bsky.social
At a time when transgender Americans are under attack at the federal, state, and local level, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) teamed up with the Manhattan Institute to support a lawsuit by Parents Defending Education targeting a school board policy protecting trans kids.
December 27, 2025 at 5:03 AM