Kathleen Ethier
@kaethier.bsky.social
I'm a social psychologist, a long time public health professional in adolescent and women's health and, most recently, a former federal official. I crochet and bake and raise chickens and dogs. Married to an Educator.
#UglyDogs
#UglyDogs
A friend who is currently furloughed said “pandemic” instead of “shutdown” the other day, and I realized how similar it feels in many ways - otherworldly, chaotic, disruptive, scary for people not getting paid or RIFed.
November 1, 2025 at 5:51 PM
A friend who is currently furloughed said “pandemic” instead of “shutdown” the other day, and I realized how similar it feels in many ways - otherworldly, chaotic, disruptive, scary for people not getting paid or RIFed.
So, we know that Tylenol doesn’t cause autism. But do you know what is consistently found to be a risk factor? Older fathers. So why aren’t RFK Jr (age 71) and Trump (age 79) holding WH press conferences telling old men not to have babies?
September 26, 2025 at 6:14 PM
So, we know that Tylenol doesn’t cause autism. But do you know what is consistently found to be a risk factor? Older fathers. So why aren’t RFK Jr (age 71) and Trump (age 79) holding WH press conferences telling old men not to have babies?
Reposted by Kathleen Ethier
I bet sandwich guy is going to get a really cool prison yard nickname like “Cold Cut Combo” or “Ultimate BMT” and maybe a tiny prison tat under his eye that looks like a fresh baked cookie.
August 15, 2025 at 12:12 AM
I bet sandwich guy is going to get a really cool prison yard nickname like “Cold Cut Combo” or “Ultimate BMT” and maybe a tiny prison tat under his eye that looks like a fresh baked cookie.
Robert Malone, an anti-vaxer who RFK Jr appointed to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, posted these memes in his Substack on Sunday after the terror attack on CDC. He must be fired from the ACIP.
August 15, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Robert Malone, an anti-vaxer who RFK Jr appointed to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, posted these memes in his Substack on Sunday after the terror attack on CDC. He must be fired from the ACIP.
A former CDC colleague sent this to me this morning. A year ago, I was on CNN talking about the youth mental health crisis and how we were working toward progress. Today I’m writing about my CDC colleagues being shot at and Republicans making it easier for adult men to avoid child rape charges.
August 11, 2025 at 10:10 PM
A former CDC colleague sent this to me this morning. A year ago, I was on CNN talking about the youth mental health crisis and how we were working toward progress. Today I’m writing about my CDC colleagues being shot at and Republicans making it easier for adult men to avoid child rape charges.
Reposted by Kathleen Ethier
"Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who oversees the CDC, did not make a statement the day of the shooting.
Late the following morning, more than 30 minutes after posting photos of fishing with his family, Kennedy posted condolences on his official X account..."
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...
Late the following morning, more than 30 minutes after posting photos of fishing with his family, Kennedy posted condolences on his official X account..."
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...
After Years of Anger Directed at C.D.C., Shooting Manifests Worst Fears
www.nytimes.com
August 10, 2025 at 6:25 PM
"Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who oversees the CDC, did not make a statement the day of the shooting.
Late the following morning, more than 30 minutes after posting photos of fishing with his family, Kennedy posted condolences on his official X account..."
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...
Late the following morning, more than 30 minutes after posting photos of fishing with his family, Kennedy posted condolences on his official X account..."
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...
Reposted by Kathleen Ethier
Kennedy lies.
People die.
“For years, Kennedy attacked the CDC. In videos from anti-vaccine conferences between 2013 & 2019, he likened the agency’s vaccine work to “fascism” & “child abuse,” called it a “cesspool of corruption” & said it was filled with profiteers.“
www.msnbc.com/opinion/anal...
People die.
“For years, Kennedy attacked the CDC. In videos from anti-vaccine conferences between 2013 & 2019, he likened the agency’s vaccine work to “fascism” & “child abuse,” called it a “cesspool of corruption” & said it was filled with profiteers.“
www.msnbc.com/opinion/anal...
A deadly shooting at the CDC shook its scientists. Now they want answers from RFK Jr.
CDC Director Susan Monarez convened an online all-hands meeting of the agency division that focuses on vaccines, and employees called out Kennedy’s rhetoric specifically.
www.msnbc.com
August 10, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Kennedy lies.
People die.
“For years, Kennedy attacked the CDC. In videos from anti-vaccine conferences between 2013 & 2019, he likened the agency’s vaccine work to “fascism” & “child abuse,” called it a “cesspool of corruption” & said it was filled with profiteers.“
www.msnbc.com/opinion/anal...
People die.
“For years, Kennedy attacked the CDC. In videos from anti-vaccine conferences between 2013 & 2019, he likened the agency’s vaccine work to “fascism” & “child abuse,” called it a “cesspool of corruption” & said it was filled with profiteers.“
www.msnbc.com/opinion/anal...
And they are absolutely correct.
Exclusive: CDC Director Susan Monarez met with its vaccine-focused center to talk about yesterday’s shooting. I listened to a recording. Scientists and officials are shaken & pointing fingers at RFK Jr. Many said his vilification and misinfo turned them into targets. www.msnbc.com/opinion/anal...
A deadly shooting at the CDC shook its scientists. Now they want answers from RFK Jr.
CDC Director Susan Monarez convened an online all-hands meeting of the agency division that focuses on vaccines, and employees called out Kennedy’s rhetoric specifically.
www.msnbc.com
August 9, 2025 at 11:13 PM
And they are absolutely correct.
Reposted by Kathleen Ethier
NEW: shooter at Emory was reportedly targeting the CDC because he believed he was sick from the Covid vaccine.
Kennedy and the GOP have done so much damage!
Kennedy and the GOP have done so much damage!
August 8, 2025 at 11:33 PM
NEW: shooter at Emory was reportedly targeting the CDC because he believed he was sick from the Covid vaccine.
Kennedy and the GOP have done so much damage!
Kennedy and the GOP have done so much damage!
Reposted by Kathleen Ethier
“The shooter was either sick or believed he was sick, and blamed his illness on COVID vaccine — which is why he was targeting the CDC.”
August 9, 2025 at 12:25 AM
“The shooter was either sick or believed he was sick, and blamed his illness on COVID vaccine — which is why he was targeting the CDC.”
Reposted by Kathleen Ethier
Per CNN, police believe the Emory shooter targeted the CDC because he was sick or thought he was sick “and blamed the illness on the Covid-19 vaccine.”
And this is why we keep telling you that anti-vax conspiracy theories are dangerous.
www.cnn.com/us/live-news...
And this is why we keep telling you that anti-vax conspiracy theories are dangerous.
www.cnn.com/us/live-news...
August 9, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Per CNN, police believe the Emory shooter targeted the CDC because he was sick or thought he was sick “and blamed the illness on the Covid-19 vaccine.”
And this is why we keep telling you that anti-vax conspiracy theories are dangerous.
www.cnn.com/us/live-news...
And this is why we keep telling you that anti-vax conspiracy theories are dangerous.
www.cnn.com/us/live-news...
Reposted by Kathleen Ethier
Four CDC buildings shot up. Employees under lockdown and in fear for hours. Public health is physically under attack, and the silence from the administration is deafening.
August 9, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Four CDC buildings shot up. Employees under lockdown and in fear for hours. Public health is physically under attack, and the silence from the administration is deafening.
But now OMB is freezing millions of already appropriated public health dollars from HHS and CDC for chronic disease prevention, injury prevention, and family planning. This must be stopped.
Trump's OMB tried to block all funding for outside health researchers, but reversed course when asked questions by the press.
Billions of dollars to study diabetes, cancer and more are now set to flow again.
Billions of dollars to study diabetes, cancer and more are now set to flow again.
Trump Administration Scraps Effort to Pause Health-Research Funding
The administration halted and then restarted billions in new research grants flowing from the National Institutes of Health.
www.wsj.com
August 1, 2025 at 7:50 PM
But now OMB is freezing millions of already appropriated public health dollars from HHS and CDC for chronic disease prevention, injury prevention, and family planning. This must be stopped.
Just all the old ladies hanging out under the bushes yakking to each other.
July 29, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Just all the old ladies hanging out under the bushes yakking to each other.
Reposted by Kathleen Ethier
I worked at Planned Parenthood.
They diagnose cancers while still treatable. They help women decide what birth control works for them. They help those working through mental health challenges.
Defunding them just harms people who already struggle to find places to get care.
They diagnose cancers while still treatable. They help women decide what birth control works for them. They help those working through mental health challenges.
Defunding them just harms people who already struggle to find places to get care.
June 30, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I worked at Planned Parenthood.
They diagnose cancers while still treatable. They help women decide what birth control works for them. They help those working through mental health challenges.
Defunding them just harms people who already struggle to find places to get care.
They diagnose cancers while still treatable. They help women decide what birth control works for them. They help those working through mental health challenges.
Defunding them just harms people who already struggle to find places to get care.
Reposted by Kathleen Ethier
1/4 📢 CDC funding for 2025 is months late, leaving health depts stranded. CDC leaders told NPR the delay appears intentional - “a deliberate effort to grind us to a halt.” We are not surprised 😡. This is a public health emergency manufactured by HHS.
'Where's our money?' CDC grant funding is moving so slowly layoffs are happening
The state and local health departments that rely on CDC funding say the money is not coming in on time and no one can tell them why. Some are laying off staff.
www.npr.org
June 30, 2025 at 2:09 PM
1/4 📢 CDC funding for 2025 is months late, leaving health depts stranded. CDC leaders told NPR the delay appears intentional - “a deliberate effort to grind us to a halt.” We are not surprised 😡. This is a public health emergency manufactured by HHS.
Reposted by Kathleen Ethier
Some of the CDC's main channels for communicating urgent health information to the public have gone silent.
Diseases are spreading. The CDC isn't warning the public like it was months ago
Some of the CDC's main channels for communicating urgent health information to the public have gone silent.
www.npr.org
May 21, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Some of the CDC's main channels for communicating urgent health information to the public have gone silent.
First time flying on a Monday morning since the DOGE cuts. It’s a shit show. Security inched even with Digital ID. Huge screens all running a video of Kristi Noem on repeat. Leaving 40 minutes late for no apparent reason - our plane was here, boarded on time, no weather. We live in Hungary now.
May 19, 2025 at 1:43 PM
First time flying on a Monday morning since the DOGE cuts. It’s a shit show. Security inched even with Digital ID. Huge screens all running a video of Kristi Noem on repeat. Leaving 40 minutes late for no apparent reason - our plane was here, boarded on time, no weather. We live in Hungary now.
Reposted by Kathleen Ethier
What's happening in the House?
Hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy.
May 14, 2025 at 11:19 PM
What's happening in the House?
Hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy.
Reposted by Kathleen Ethier
Justice Jackson nails where we are right now:
“Your argument turns our justice system into a catch me if you can kind of regime from the standpoint of the Executive where everybody has to have a lawyer and file a lawsuit in order for the government to stop violating people’s rights.”
🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
“Your argument turns our justice system into a catch me if you can kind of regime from the standpoint of the Executive where everybody has to have a lawyer and file a lawsuit in order for the government to stop violating people’s rights.”
🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
May 15, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Justice Jackson nails where we are right now:
“Your argument turns our justice system into a catch me if you can kind of regime from the standpoint of the Executive where everybody has to have a lawyer and file a lawsuit in order for the government to stop violating people’s rights.”
🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
“Your argument turns our justice system into a catch me if you can kind of regime from the standpoint of the Executive where everybody has to have a lawyer and file a lawsuit in order for the government to stop violating people’s rights.”
🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯
May is National Adolescent Health Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. Our young people are losing the federal resources they need to support their health and well-being. I write about what they're losing in my latest Substack.
substack.com/@kathleeneth...
substack.com/@kathleeneth...
Kathleen Ethier on Substack
It’s National Adolescent Health Month and National Mental Health Month. I have thoughts about what young people are losing in the current federal administration.
substack.com
May 12, 2025 at 4:33 PM
May is National Adolescent Health Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. Our young people are losing the federal resources they need to support their health and well-being. I write about what they're losing in my latest Substack.
substack.com/@kathleeneth...
substack.com/@kathleeneth...
Reposted by Kathleen Ethier
Hell yeah! Look at Maine leading the way🔥
Public schools everywhere, take note: Do not comply in advance.
Public schools everywhere, take note: Do not comply in advance.
May 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Hell yeah! Look at Maine leading the way🔥
Public schools everywhere, take note: Do not comply in advance.
Public schools everywhere, take note: Do not comply in advance.
This is a great summary from Tom Farley about HHS’s proposed 2026 budget and why it’s so dumb.
open.substack.com/pub/healthsc...
open.substack.com/pub/healthsc...
Why Congress Should Ignore OMB: An Advocacy Guide for Public Health
True priorities are revealed in a budget.
open.substack.com
May 1, 2025 at 10:20 AM
This is a great summary from Tom Farley about HHS’s proposed 2026 budget and why it’s so dumb.
open.substack.com/pub/healthsc...
open.substack.com/pub/healthsc...