Tara C. Smith
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aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith
@aetiology.bsky.social
33K followers 2.8K following 5.1K posts

Collector of social media sites. Infectious disease epidemiologist. Writes about vaccine hesitancy, science misinfo, zombies. Probably somewhere on a trail. Views own etc.

Videos

The Smith special counsel investigation was a special counsel investigation that was opened by U.S. attorney general Merrick Garland on November 18, 2022, three days after Donald Trump announced his campaign for the 2024 United States presidential election. The investigation was created to continue two investigations initiated by the Justice Department (DOJ) regarding former U.S. president Donald Trump. Garland appointed Jack Smith, a longtime federal prosecutor, to lead the independent investigations. Smith was tasked with investigating Trump's role in the January 6 United States Capitol attack and Trump's mishandling of government records, including classified documents. .. more

Political science 39%
Economics 19%
Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Smith

shiplives.bsky.social
Matt Shipman (he/him) @shiplives.bsky.social · 4h
It is readily apparent that most lawmakers in the United States have never been poor; do not know any poor people; have never actually had a conversation with a poor person; and have no clear understanding of how poverty actually affects people’s health and opportunities.

Reposted by Smith, Andrew L. Whitehead

theradr.bsky.social
Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg @theradr.bsky.social · 5h
AUTHORS!!

Remember that case where a bunch of authors sued AI for stealing their work? And WON?

Well, the settlement money has been announced. Each WORK that got thefted will be compensated $3k (split 50/50 bw publisher + author). So authors will be compensated $1500 per WORK stolen.

More here:
Homepage | Bartz v Anthropic Settlement Site
www.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com

Reposted by Smith

mirandayaver.bsky.social
Miranda Yaver @mirandayaver.bsky.social · 6h
Here is my latest for @msnbc.com, on Trump's ill-advised concept of a plan for health care, which entails repealing the ACA, and redistributing private insurers' tax breaks to the people for what would essentially amount to an HSA, which is unhelpful if not wealthy. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Opinion | Trump’s new plan for Obamacare leaves Americans to fend for themselves
We finally know what “concepts of a plan” looks like – and it’s not good.
www.msnbc.com

Reposted by Smith

pjacobs.bsky.social
Peter Jacobs @pjacobs.bsky.social · 10h
The sneering about "socially distanced" is the real tell here. As NYC was suffering through the worst of the pandemic, Silver was whining that he couldn't go out to bars and restaurants. People rightly called out his ghoulish self centered views at the time and he'll never let that go.
jakemgrumbach.bsky.social Jake Grumbach @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social · 12h
the hipsters, they’re ordering double frufru mocha soy frappuccino. doesn’t anybody order a black coffee anymore
Jarvis @jarvis_best -14h What's the mood on Bluesky? 236 t797 2.6K Ill 402K On the Edge Nate Silver Nate Silver v @NateSilver538 X.com They're too busy burning American Eagle jeans at socially distanced bonfires to have noticed that the shutdown ended. 6:43 PM • 11/9/25 • 402K Views

Reposted by Smith

shannonomac.bsky.social
Shannon O’Mac @shannonomac.bsky.social · 10h
Called my congressional rep to tell them to fix the ACA subsidies before approving any deals.

Called my NY state senators and left an earful on their voicemails.

Sent in money to our local food bank.

Now going to make some cookies and shake off this political hellscape.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 11h
He at least didn't platform grifters repeatedly like Oprah did.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 11h
Donahue did harm too.
The Donahue Show and Vaccines
Explore the controversial segment on vaccines from the popular Donahue Show. Discover the arguments presented by anti-vaccine advocates and the impact they had.
vaxopedia.org

Reposted by Smith

gregggonsalves.bsky.social
Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 12h
From @zeblarson.bsky.social.
From Liberal Currents: "Propaganda, Rather than Pandemic Policies, Caused the War on Public Health--The backlash narrative ignores basic facts of the case."
www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-r...
Propaganda, Rather than Pandemic Policies, Caused the War on Public Health
The backlash narrative ignores basic facts of the case.
www.liberalcurrents.com

Reposted by Smith

sherrymason.bsky.social
Sherry Mason @sherrymason.bsky.social · 12h
Watching RFK Jr. press conference about menopause hormone therapy (MHT). He doesn't even get the name of the therapy right. Uses old misogynist label HRT.
Get your info from experts like
@drjengunter.bsky.social.

chatelaine.com/health/hormo...
What You Need to Know About Menopause Hormone Therapy - Chatelaine
Dr. Jen Gunter debunks five common myths.
chatelaine.com

Reposted by Joshua S. Weitz, Juan Cole, Smith , and 2 more

elizabethjacobs.bsky.social
Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social · 14h
Canada has just lost measles elimination status. The U.S. will undoubtedly follow shortly.

Elimination means that there is no continuous spreading of measles within the country for a year or longer.

Canada and the U.S. have blown it, and it’s largely the fault of the anti-vaccination movement.
Canada loses measles elimination status after three decades, health agency says
Canada has lost its measles elimination status after nearly three decades due to its failure to curb a year-long outbreak, the country's public health agency said on Monday.
www.reuters.com

Reposted by Rosemary A. Joyce, Smith, Alan Richardson , and 1 more

davelevitan.bsky.social
Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 15h
I heard from a bunch of federal employees last night and this morning. They aren't happy.

"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
'A Slap in the Face': Federal Employees Feel Betrayed by Democrats' Shutdown Cave
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something."
www.gravityisgone.com

Reposted by Trevon D. Logan, Smith

tressiemcphd.bsky.social
Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 16h
The least most politically engaged people I know are texting me before 8am to say, “we won’t forget.”

So I don’t know man.

Reposted by Smith

bachynski.bsky.social
Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 1d
“The goal had been to vaccinate about 90% of around 13 million eligible girls. Khurram Akram, technical director at Pakistan Federal Directorate of Immunization's, estimates that the actual percentage of girls vaccinated was around 70%.
"Our biggest challenge was to counter misinformation”
A first-time HPV vaccination campaign sees some success -- and strong resistance
The goal: inoculate 90% of girls in parts of Pakistan to immunize them against the infection that causes cervical cancer. "Our biggest challenge was to counter misinformation," says a spokesman.
www.npr.org

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Jacob Montgomery, Cathy N. Davidson , and 2 more

kevinmkruse.bsky.social
Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 1d
Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and they will connect you with your senator's office.

If you're represented by one of the squishier centrists, be sure to make a call. Now.
joshtpm.bsky.social Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 1d
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Rebecca Solnit, Jacob Montgomery , and 4 more

joshtpm.bsky.social
Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 1d
Sounds like the squishes in the senate caucus are ready to pull the plug with no ACA changes. This is real. If you want to register your opinion you shld call yr senator in the next hour. They not only want to reopen w/nothing. They want cover from their colleagues who still want to hold out.

Reposted by Smith

helenkennedy.bsky.social
Helen Kennedy @helenkennedy.bsky.social · 1d
Aged like roadkill in RFK’s trunk.
• whitehouse.gov FACT SHEETS FACT SHEET: PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP ENDS DEI MADNESS AND RESTORES EXCELLENCE AND SAFETY WITHIN THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION January 22, 2025

Reposted by Joe R. Feagin, David Rothschild, Cathy N. Davidson , and 1 more

nytimes.com
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 1d
Breaking News: The Trump administration told states to undo any steps to provide full food stamp benefits to low-income families, threatening financial penalties if the states do not comply. It was unclear how that would affect the program.
Trump Live Updates: Airport and SNAP Benefit Disruptions Amid Shutdown
nyti.ms

Reposted by Smith

vaccinatein.bsky.social
Indiana Immunization Coalition @vaccinatein.bsky.social · 1d
Are you a healthcare professional interested in Continuing Education and Maintenance of Certifications? We offer free credit-earning webinars and MOC projects. Visit our website to learn more. vaccinateindiana.org

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2d
Aw what a sweetie. My daughter has a rescue pit and she is all about the belly rubs.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2d
Aw adorable. I've had dogs since I was 20 and this is the first that's ever sat on the back of the couch like a weirdo.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2d
One of my former pups (2006-2022) was a Boston/shih tzu mix.
Scruffy black and white dog with a leaf in her fur, sitting in the grass.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2d
My other pup is a schnauzer mutt but this one is Boston-poodle.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2d
But why is my dog a cat.
Scruffy black and white Boston terrier mutt sitting on the back of a couch like a damn cat.

Reposted by Michael S. Rosenberg, Rosemary A. Joyce, Kevin Carey , and 8 more

emilyhughes.bsky.social
Emily C. Hughes @emilyhughes.bsky.social · 2d
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
brittanytrang.com Brittany Trang @brittanytrang.com · 2d
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.

Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."

Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2d
His organization is currently HHS though.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2d
There is at least 1 lawsuit to undo the effects of the ACIP Kennedy appointed, saying they were appointed unlawfully. Likely more to follow.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2d
I'd feel bad but he told me that empathy was a negative thing so, oh well.

aetiology.bsky.social
Tara C. Smith @aetiology.bsky.social · 2d
Every public health and healthcare worker's worst nightmare.
bachynski.bsky.social Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 2d
The group’s CEO “said CHD plans to parlay that influence into permanent policy changes —upending the childhood vaccination schedule, reformulating the shots, & abolishing mandates to get them, among a host of goals — that will outlast Kennedy’s tenure at the Department of Health and Human Services”
How Children’s Health Defense plans to cement its agenda beyond RFK Jr.
Children’s Health Defense is leveraging its ties to HHS to lock in legal and cultural shifts that could shape policy long after RFK Jr. leaves.
www.statnews.com

Reposted by Smith

boysek.bsky.social
Kyla @boysek.bsky.social · 2d
I can't even.

Just a few months ago I saw my first unvaccinated baby with pertussis, and it was horrible.

Reposted by Smith, Samuel Workman

bachynski.bsky.social
Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 2d
The group’s CEO “said CHD plans to parlay that influence into permanent policy changes —upending the childhood vaccination schedule, reformulating the shots, & abolishing mandates to get them, among a host of goals — that will outlast Kennedy’s tenure at the Department of Health and Human Services”
How Children’s Health Defense plans to cement its agenda beyond RFK Jr.
Children’s Health Defense is leveraging its ties to HHS to lock in legal and cultural shifts that could shape policy long after RFK Jr. leaves.
www.statnews.com