Ben Howell
@howellben.bsky.social
General Internist, Addiction Medicine specialist - faculty SEICHE Center for Health & Justice; Yale Program in Addiction Medicine, Yale School of Medicine. Fan of decarceration & harm reduction & New Haven
https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/benjamin-howell/
https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/benjamin-howell/
US citizens often have stories of visits a country w universal health care and get free-at-point-of-service care & now the US is straight up ableist restricting visas for people w non-transmissible chronic diseases due to fear of incurring healthcare costs. 🤦♂️ www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
U.S. visas can be denied for obesity, cancer and diabetes, Rubio says
The Trump administration has directed visa officers to consider obesity and other chronic health conditions when deciding whether to grant visas to immigrants.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:54 AM
US citizens often have stories of visits a country w universal health care and get free-at-point-of-service care & now the US is straight up ableist restricting visas for people w non-transmissible chronic diseases due to fear of incurring healthcare costs. 🤦♂️ www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Reposted by Ben Howell
Again, maybe what the takeaway we should have from political reporter after political reporter not just getting chummy w ppl like Trump or Epstein (or RFK Jr 👀) but actively running interference for them—either in their coverage or privately—is that its an industry full of ppl that are Bad Actually™️
Fall 2017: Then-NYT reporter literally warning Epstein that someone is "digging around again."
![From:
Thomas Jr., Landon
Sent:
9/27/2017 2:47:47 PM
To:
Subject:
Got another call from Connelly..
Importance:
High
Jeffrey Epstein [jeevacation@gmail.com]
He is digging around again -- not clear if its another book/or expanded paperback version. Was asking me all sorts of questions about why you hired Ken Starr. I told him I had no idea - I think he is doing some Trump-related digging too.
Anyway, for what its worth...
Landon Thomas, Jr.
Financial Reporter
New York Times
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/t/landon_ir thomas/index.h
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November 12, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Again, maybe what the takeaway we should have from political reporter after political reporter not just getting chummy w ppl like Trump or Epstein (or RFK Jr 👀) but actively running interference for them—either in their coverage or privately—is that its an industry full of ppl that are Bad Actually™️
Reposted by Ben Howell
Tylenol and now Advil, too?
FFS, are people just supposed to suffer?
MAGA Answer: Yes.
FFS, are people just supposed to suffer?
MAGA Answer: Yes.
JD Vance calls ibuprofen "useless medication" and implies it's not "necessary, safe and effective."
November 12, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Tylenol and now Advil, too?
FFS, are people just supposed to suffer?
MAGA Answer: Yes.
FFS, are people just supposed to suffer?
MAGA Answer: Yes.
Reposted by Ben Howell
This is why Dems should run on creating mechanisms of accountability especially on corruption.
The Epstein story gets a something that is tearing at the heart of the electorate: elite impunity. The idea that wealthy and powerful people can do terrible things *at scale* and face no consequences for them. Whatever political party actually stops it could rule the country for a generation.
November 12, 2025 at 10:25 PM
This is why Dems should run on creating mechanisms of accountability especially on corruption.
What a crazy thing to say and clearly shows that this *checks notes* father of three kids has never done any sick child care.
JD Vance calls ibuprofen "useless medication" and implies it's not "necessary, safe and effective."
November 12, 2025 at 11:02 PM
What a crazy thing to say and clearly shows that this *checks notes* father of three kids has never done any sick child care.
NSAIDs are like legit an amazing medication. What a bonkers thing to say about especially from someone who saw first hand the ravages of opioid overprescribing.
November 12, 2025 at 10:58 PM
NSAIDs are like legit an amazing medication. What a bonkers thing to say about especially from someone who saw first hand the ravages of opioid overprescribing.
Reposted by Ben Howell
“In Texas, CDC funds to stem a measles outbreak weren’t available until after the crisis had subsided and two children had died. A project to protect Alabamans from raw sewage and hookworm was abandoned…Time-dependent surveys on HIV and maternal mortality were halted…”
Wielding Obscure Budget Tools, Trump’s ‘Reaper’ Vought Sows Turmoil in Public Health - KFF Health News
Through shrouded bureaucratic maneuvers, White House budget director Russell Vought and DOGE have quietly upended outbreak response, HIV treatment, and dementia care in communities across America.
kffhealthnews.org
November 12, 2025 at 1:13 AM
“In Texas, CDC funds to stem a measles outbreak weren’t available until after the crisis had subsided and two children had died. A project to protect Alabamans from raw sewage and hookworm was abandoned…Time-dependent surveys on HIV and maternal mortality were halted…”
Reposted by Ben Howell
81 years ago, FDR proposed a second Bill of Rights to guarantee every American the right to employment, healthcare, education, housing, and a living income. His words are as relevant now as they were then. Watch.
November 12, 2025 at 2:31 AM
81 years ago, FDR proposed a second Bill of Rights to guarantee every American the right to employment, healthcare, education, housing, and a living income. His words are as relevant now as they were then. Watch.
Reposted by Ben Howell
Anyway, I think Dems are right to believe subsidy expiration, because many Americans will suffer and maybe die, is going to hurt Republicans in the midterms. A less harmful way to do well in elections, though, is to offer voters a compelling vision for why they should vote, affirmatively, for you.
November 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Anyway, I think Dems are right to believe subsidy expiration, because many Americans will suffer and maybe die, is going to hurt Republicans in the midterms. A less harmful way to do well in elections, though, is to offer voters a compelling vision for why they should vote, affirmatively, for you.
Reposted by Ben Howell
Private prison company GEO Group is planning to capitalize on the government's rapidly expanding electronic monitoring program for immigrants. The company just signed a BILLION dollar deal with ICE to track hundreds of thousands of people. bit.ly/3JSuzYp
GEO Group Sees Ankle Monitor Growth in Trump Immigration Push
GEO Group Inc., one of the largest private prison operators, said President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown eventually will fill up detention facilities and force the government to use more elect...
bit.ly
November 7, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Private prison company GEO Group is planning to capitalize on the government's rapidly expanding electronic monitoring program for immigrants. The company just signed a BILLION dollar deal with ICE to track hundreds of thousands of people. bit.ly/3JSuzYp
Reposted by Ben Howell
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
November 9, 2025 at 12:10 AM
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
Reposted by Ben Howell
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.
🧪🧬🧫
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
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
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.
🧪🧬🧫
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.
🧪🧬🧫
Reposted by Ben Howell
Is it good politics to ask the Supreme Court if you can continue starving people?
November 8, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Is it good politics to ask the Supreme Court if you can continue starving people?
Reposted by Ben Howell
it has been a good long minute since I read America Magazine but JD Vance getting schooled in a Jesuit publication is the absolute sweetest plum
www.americamagazine.org/faithinfocus...
www.americamagazine.org/faithinfocus...
JD Vance’s immigration comments are an insult to our Catholic faith
This administration wants to set itself up as somehow Christian. Let them, then, do the bare minimum: Welcome the stranger.
www.americamagazine.org
November 5, 2025 at 11:22 PM
it has been a good long minute since I read America Magazine but JD Vance getting schooled in a Jesuit publication is the absolute sweetest plum
www.americamagazine.org/faithinfocus...
www.americamagazine.org/faithinfocus...
Reposted by Ben Howell
In Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" the government is fighting 'the terrorists'. There are bombings. But it isn't clear there actually IS any organization behind it. The dialogue about the terrorists is all nonsense. Tuttle isn't a terrorist, just a freelance heating engineer.
November 6, 2025 at 9:21 AM
In Terry Gilliam's "Brazil" the government is fighting 'the terrorists'. There are bombings. But it isn't clear there actually IS any organization behind it. The dialogue about the terrorists is all nonsense. Tuttle isn't a terrorist, just a freelance heating engineer.
Reposted by Ben Howell
Why should you 🫵🏿 care about SNAP? SNAP recipients saw:
- Improved life expectancy
- Lower chance of incarceration
- Lowers chance of poverty
- Lived in better neighborhoods
- Higher human capital
SNAP keeps our neighbors fed, communities safer, and kids educated. Also people are HUNGRY. DUH!
- Improved life expectancy
- Lower chance of incarceration
- Lowers chance of poverty
- Lived in better neighborhoods
- Higher human capital
SNAP keeps our neighbors fed, communities safer, and kids educated. Also people are HUNGRY. DUH!
October 31, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Why should you 🫵🏿 care about SNAP? SNAP recipients saw:
- Improved life expectancy
- Lower chance of incarceration
- Lowers chance of poverty
- Lived in better neighborhoods
- Higher human capital
SNAP keeps our neighbors fed, communities safer, and kids educated. Also people are HUNGRY. DUH!
- Improved life expectancy
- Lower chance of incarceration
- Lowers chance of poverty
- Lived in better neighborhoods
- Higher human capital
SNAP keeps our neighbors fed, communities safer, and kids educated. Also people are HUNGRY. DUH!
Reposted by Ben Howell
The way to ensure independent/non-oligarchic media is to really support it.
Not just by posting about the latest round of layoffs and consolidation. Before and apart from that happening.
Not just by posting about the latest round of layoffs and consolidation. Before and apart from that happening.
November 3, 2025 at 10:06 PM
The way to ensure independent/non-oligarchic media is to really support it.
Not just by posting about the latest round of layoffs and consolidation. Before and apart from that happening.
Not just by posting about the latest round of layoffs and consolidation. Before and apart from that happening.
Reposted by Ben Howell
thank you for all the support; the statement from our union is now live here with some more reporting.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 11:25 PM
thank you for all the support; the statement from our union is now live here with some more reporting.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
Oligarchs and capital really ain't beating the rap that they're falling in line & quashing alternate left-of-center points of view.
November 3, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Oligarchs and capital really ain't beating the rap that they're falling in line & quashing alternate left-of-center points of view.
Reposted by Ben Howell
For any unfamiliar with the quality of journalism at Teen Vogue, it's well known for hard-hitting stories on "politically sensitive" topics including climate.
Then there's CBS: the only major network to increase climate coverage in the last few years. They just axed nearly their whole climate team.
Then there's CBS: the only major network to increase climate coverage in the last few years. They just axed nearly their whole climate team.
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 8:25 PM
For any unfamiliar with the quality of journalism at Teen Vogue, it's well known for hard-hitting stories on "politically sensitive" topics including climate.
Then there's CBS: the only major network to increase climate coverage in the last few years. They just axed nearly their whole climate team.
Then there's CBS: the only major network to increase climate coverage in the last few years. They just axed nearly their whole climate team.
Reposted by Ben Howell
Vogue's absorption of and closure of Teen Vogue feels like -- is -- a direct attack on a new generation of queer journalists who were committed to excellence and the power of journalism to illuminate the stories of people at the margins.
And it impacts all of us, no matter our age.
And it impacts all of us, no matter our age.
November 3, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Vogue's absorption of and closure of Teen Vogue feels like -- is -- a direct attack on a new generation of queer journalists who were committed to excellence and the power of journalism to illuminate the stories of people at the margins.
And it impacts all of us, no matter our age.
And it impacts all of us, no matter our age.
Reposted by Ben Howell
why it's almost like there's a concerted assault on informed consensus by extraction class owned media conglomerates to replace what was left of U.S. political journalism with lazy controversy hounding infotainment and right wing and corporatist agitprop
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 8:13 PM
why it's almost like there's a concerted assault on informed consensus by extraction class owned media conglomerates to replace what was left of U.S. political journalism with lazy controversy hounding infotainment and right wing and corporatist agitprop
Reposted by Ben Howell
Timely (grim) new NBER working paper: Households screened out of SNAP "suffer tangible downstream economic consequences. Specifically, we find that process-related denials increase debt and delinquencies, and decrease credit scores."
www.nber.org/papers/w34434
www.nber.org/papers/w34434
November 3, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Timely (grim) new NBER working paper: Households screened out of SNAP "suffer tangible downstream economic consequences. Specifically, we find that process-related denials increase debt and delinquencies, and decrease credit scores."
www.nber.org/papers/w34434
www.nber.org/papers/w34434
Real garbage strike zone for a World Series game 7
November 2, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Real garbage strike zone for a World Series game 7