Joan Stephenson
@joan3rdcoast.bsky.social
Science & medical writer/editor. Movie / music / comedy / travel / ethnic foods buff. Fan of the scientific method & freedom of the press.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Unfortunately, I can confirm that this is true.
I have known Carl for 2 decades and he is smart, dedicated, and quite apolitical, focused on science and getting stuff done on important problems.
Huge unnecessary loss of leadership and expertise.
I have known Carl for 2 decades and he is smart, dedicated, and quite apolitical, focused on science and getting stuff done on important problems.
Huge unnecessary loss of leadership and expertise.
Hearing news that Carl Dieffenbach, the Director of the Division of AIDS at #NIH (NIAID), has been removed from his position because he was "not aligned with HHS/OMB."
Russell Vought continues to remove great scientists as part of the Project 2025 mission to politicize and destroy NIH.
🧪 1/
Russell Vought continues to remove great scientists as part of the Project 2025 mission to politicize and destroy NIH.
🧪 1/
November 24, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Unfortunately, I can confirm that this is true.
I have known Carl for 2 decades and he is smart, dedicated, and quite apolitical, focused on science and getting stuff done on important problems.
Huge unnecessary loss of leadership and expertise.
I have known Carl for 2 decades and he is smart, dedicated, and quite apolitical, focused on science and getting stuff done on important problems.
Huge unnecessary loss of leadership and expertise.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
“Do you know how to read?”
“No. It is one of the black arts.”
He nodded. “But a useful one,” he said.
“No. It is one of the black arts.”
He nodded. “But a useful one,” he said.
November 8, 2025 at 4:15 PM
“Do you know how to read?”
“No. It is one of the black arts.”
He nodded. “But a useful one,” he said.
“No. It is one of the black arts.”
He nodded. “But a useful one,” he said.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
This seems ripe for federal scrutiny hahaha who am I kidding?
Have I mentioned that this company sucks?
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Have I mentioned that this company sucks?
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show
Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show.
www.reuters.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM
This seems ripe for federal scrutiny hahaha who am I kidding?
Have I mentioned that this company sucks?
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Have I mentioned that this company sucks?
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Medicare and Medicaid coverage of GLP-1s for obesity, and price reductions for cash paying patients, are significant developments. But, deals like this without regulation to back them up may not be lasting.
November 6, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Medicare and Medicaid coverage of GLP-1s for obesity, and price reductions for cash paying patients, are significant developments. But, deals like this without regulation to back them up may not be lasting.
I'm a longtime admirer of Marion Nestle, who has been an important, sharp, and sensible voice in the field of nutrition. Free link. wapo.st/3LnXp3q
At 89, she’s a top nutrition expert. Here’s what she eats in a day.
Marion Nestle’s blunt nutrition advice, sharp criticism of food companies and popular books have made her one of the most recognizable names in nutrition.
wapo.st
November 6, 2025 at 6:34 PM
I'm a longtime admirer of Marion Nestle, who has been an important, sharp, and sensible voice in the field of nutrition. Free link. wapo.st/3LnXp3q
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
On halloween there’s nothing spookier than a future without CDC
October 31, 2025 at 8:31 PM
On halloween there’s nothing spookier than a future without CDC
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hurricane Hunters have spent the past week diving into the eye of Melissa — a storm of historic ferocity — to gather life-saving data.
And, with the government shut down, they have done it all without pay.
https://cnn.it/47Mqkqt
And, with the government shut down, they have done it all without pay.
https://cnn.it/47Mqkqt
October 31, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Hurricane Hunters have spent the past week diving into the eye of Melissa — a storm of historic ferocity — to gather life-saving data.
And, with the government shut down, they have done it all without pay.
https://cnn.it/47Mqkqt
And, with the government shut down, they have done it all without pay.
https://cnn.it/47Mqkqt
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
From an Evanston resident filming an arrest at Oakton/Asbury ~an hour ago:
"He was being very violent with her, I said ‘You got to stop that,’ and he said, ‘Step back or I’ll fucking shoot you.‘ I step back, and then I continue to record, at which point he turned around and pointed a gun at me.”
"He was being very violent with her, I said ‘You got to stop that,’ and he said, ‘Step back or I’ll fucking shoot you.‘ I step back, and then I continue to record, at which point he turned around and pointed a gun at me.”
October 31, 2025 at 6:28 PM
From an Evanston resident filming an arrest at Oakton/Asbury ~an hour ago:
"He was being very violent with her, I said ‘You got to stop that,’ and he said, ‘Step back or I’ll fucking shoot you.‘ I step back, and then I continue to record, at which point he turned around and pointed a gun at me.”
"He was being very violent with her, I said ‘You got to stop that,’ and he said, ‘Step back or I’ll fucking shoot you.‘ I step back, and then I continue to record, at which point he turned around and pointed a gun at me.”
Utter incompetence and stupidity.
Citing a Trump executive order banning "gender ideology," the VA is withholding coverage and treatment for male veterans with breast cancer, an increasing condition among veterans exposed to toxic chemicals during service. 100 male veterans a year are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Citing Trump Order on “Biological Truth,” VA Makes It Harder for Male Veterans With Breast Cancer to Get Coverage
A Department of Veterans Affairs memo obtained by ProPublica erects new roadblocks to care for veterans with the rare but deadly cancer. The agency cites no new science but relies on an executive orde...
www.propublica.org
October 30, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Utter incompetence and stupidity.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
former ACIP expert @kevinault.bsky.social explains what’s at risk
October 27, 2025 at 2:32 PM
former ACIP expert @kevinault.bsky.social explains what’s at risk
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Women derive more benefit from physical activity than men with respect to reduction of cardiovascular risk and related mortality, and can achieve protection at lower levels of engagement. From ~85,000 participants, open-access (blue=men)
nature.com/articles/s44...
nature.com/articles/s44...
October 27, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Women derive more benefit from physical activity than men with respect to reduction of cardiovascular risk and related mortality, and can achieve protection at lower levels of engagement. From ~85,000 participants, open-access (blue=men)
nature.com/articles/s44...
nature.com/articles/s44...
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
October 20, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
By @nicolefoy.bsky.social
I noticed the abysmal downplaying of protests in the NY Times. I would like to have been a fly on the wall at the editorial meeting when the editors were mapping out page 1 content and placement.
Even in a digital era, the choices editors make about the Sunday front page say a great deal about their priorities
October 19, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I noticed the abysmal downplaying of protests in the NY Times. I would like to have been a fly on the wall at the editorial meeting when the editors were mapping out page 1 content and placement.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Shameful of the NYT to be burying No Kings on its homepage. It’s the biggest story of the day and it is appropriately leading every other new site even WSJ.
October 18, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Shameful of the NYT to be burying No Kings on its homepage. It’s the biggest story of the day and it is appropriately leading every other new site even WSJ.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
#NoKings Chicago strong.
The No Kings March in Chicago is one of the largest gatherings I’ve seen here. Looking down from by the river, the crowd stretches for blocks down Michigan Ave and wraps around Wacker Dr. This video is from a few minutes ago and the end of the protest is nowhere in sight.
@blockclubchi.bsky.social
@blockclubchi.bsky.social
October 18, 2025 at 7:50 PM
#NoKings Chicago strong.
I loved listening to Susan Stamberg from the very beginning (or close to it) of All Things Considered.
Susan Stamberg, a "founding mother" of National Public Radio and the first female broadcaster to host a national news program, has died.
Susan Stamberg, first woman to host a national news program, dies at age 87
Susan Stamberg, a "founding mother" of National Public Radio and the first female broadcaster to host a national news program, has died. She was 87.
bit.ly
October 17, 2025 at 7:22 AM
I loved listening to Susan Stamberg from the very beginning (or close to it) of All Things Considered.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
If you think you know why US newspapers died, this feature documentary now streaming for free on PBS might surprise you. It wasn't the Internet. Newspapers were specifically targeted by vulture capitalists.
I composed the score for the film, which features electric cello & Crowfoot guitars.
I composed the score for the film, which features electric cello & Crowfoot guitars.
Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink
A handful of journalists rebel against a hedge fund that is gutting newspapers nationwide.
www.pbs.org
October 11, 2025 at 3:13 PM
If you think you know why US newspapers died, this feature documentary now streaming for free on PBS might surprise you. It wasn't the Internet. Newspapers were specifically targeted by vulture capitalists.
I composed the score for the film, which features electric cello & Crowfoot guitars.
I composed the score for the film, which features electric cello & Crowfoot guitars.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
I have always loved @propublica.org's mission statement. It speaks to method as much as mission, and does not shrink from describling their journalism as a moral undertaking. www.propublica.org/about/
October 13, 2025 at 1:59 AM
I have always loved @propublica.org's mission statement. It speaks to method as much as mission, and does not shrink from describling their journalism as a moral undertaking. www.propublica.org/about/
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
I know we should celebrate Tony Fitzpatrick for his Chicago art, but I'll always love his portrait of NYC's Flaco
October 11, 2025 at 9:23 PM
I know we should celebrate Tony Fitzpatrick for his Chicago art, but I'll always love his portrait of NYC's Flaco
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:
October 11, 2025 at 2:10 AM
BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
🚨🚨 My dear friend and fellow academic, the Palestinian American sociologist @emanabdelhadi.bsky.social has been taken by the Cook County Sheriff near Chicago. They have not mirandized her. Please signal boost. All eyes on Broadview for Eman and the community she was defending 🚨🚨
October 3, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🚨🚨 My dear friend and fellow academic, the Palestinian American sociologist @emanabdelhadi.bsky.social has been taken by the Cook County Sheriff near Chicago. They have not mirandized her. Please signal boost. All eyes on Broadview for Eman and the community she was defending 🚨🚨
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Health and science reporters should lead the coverage of all these health-related conspiracy theories & newsroom leaders should keep their both-sides political reporters out of their way.
September 23, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Health and science reporters should lead the coverage of all these health-related conspiracy theories & newsroom leaders should keep their both-sides political reporters out of their way.
Reposted by Joan Stephenson
Oh dear. It seems Dr. Oz’s company sells Trump‘s big autism cure. What a crazy happenstance.
September 23, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Oh dear. It seems Dr. Oz’s company sells Trump‘s big autism cure. What a crazy happenstance.