Maren Loe
@maren-loe.bsky.social
WashU MSTP, University of Utah neurosurgery.
AAAS STPF 2023-2024 at VA HSR.
Computational neuroscience, data science, informatics, and health/science/tech policy.
AAAS STPF 2023-2024 at VA HSR.
Computational neuroscience, data science, informatics, and health/science/tech policy.
Reposted by Maren Loe
Alice Wong, a writer and activist who was born with muscular dystrophy and who fought relentlessly for equal rights and access for people with disabilities, died on Friday. She was 51. nyti.ms/4r9WqEr
November 15, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Alice Wong, a writer and activist who was born with muscular dystrophy and who fought relentlessly for equal rights and access for people with disabilities, died on Friday. She was 51. nyti.ms/4r9WqEr
Reposted by Maren Loe
Pregnancy became far more dangerous in Texas after the state banned abortion, according to our analysis, which found the sepsis rate for women hospitalized as they miscarried in the 2nd trimester shot up by more than 50%.
(Published February)
(Published February)
Texas Banned Abortion. Then Sepsis Rates Soared.
ProPublica’s first-of-its-kind analysis is the most detailed look yet into a rise in life-threatening complications for women experiencing pregnancy loss under Texas’ abortion ban.
www.propublica.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Pregnancy became far more dangerous in Texas after the state banned abortion, according to our analysis, which found the sepsis rate for women hospitalized as they miscarried in the 2nd trimester shot up by more than 50%.
(Published February)
(Published February)
Reposted by Maren Loe
Income isn’t supposed to play a role in how much housing assistance FEMA gives families.
But in some North Carolina counties, the highest-income homeowners received two to three times as much money after Hurricane Helene as those with lower incomes.
With @theassemblync.bsky.social
But in some North Carolina counties, the highest-income homeowners received two to three times as much money after Hurricane Helene as those with lower incomes.
With @theassemblync.bsky.social
Arduous and Unequal: The Fight to Get FEMA Housing Assistance After Helene
An analysis by ProPublica and The Assembly of the more rural counties in North Carolina hardest hit by Helene shows that the households that got the most aid tended to have the highest incomes.
www.propublica.org
October 28, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Income isn’t supposed to play a role in how much housing assistance FEMA gives families.
But in some North Carolina counties, the highest-income homeowners received two to three times as much money after Hurricane Helene as those with lower incomes.
With @theassemblync.bsky.social
But in some North Carolina counties, the highest-income homeowners received two to three times as much money after Hurricane Helene as those with lower incomes.
With @theassemblync.bsky.social
Reposted by Maren Loe
The acting CDC Director has no knowledge, training or experience in science/public health. Trump has no knowledge, training or experience in science/public health.
Both are calling to make the MMR vaccine into 3 separate shots, which makes absolutely no scientific or public health sense.
Both are calling to make the MMR vaccine into 3 separate shots, which makes absolutely no scientific or public health sense.
Acting CDC boss wants to break up MMR vaccine into three shots
Jim O’Neill joins President Donald Trump’s call for three distinct measles, mumps and rubella shots, claiming a separation would ‘reduce the risk of side effects’ and ‘maximize parental choice’
www.independent.co.uk
October 9, 2025 at 1:01 AM
The acting CDC Director has no knowledge, training or experience in science/public health. Trump has no knowledge, training or experience in science/public health.
Both are calling to make the MMR vaccine into 3 separate shots, which makes absolutely no scientific or public health sense.
Both are calling to make the MMR vaccine into 3 separate shots, which makes absolutely no scientific or public health sense.
Reposted by Maren Loe
No elected official Democratic party will be as cruel about Kirk's death as Mike Lee was about the death of Melissa Hortman.
wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/06/17/s...
wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/06/17/s...
September 10, 2025 at 11:05 PM
No elected official Democratic party will be as cruel about Kirk's death as Mike Lee was about the death of Melissa Hortman.
wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/06/17/s...
wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/06/17/s...
Reposted by Maren Loe
Meanwhile, we just spent $280 million on Alligator Alcatraz, which is already being closed down because it violates the law, and we're sending $350 billion in tax breaks over the next 10 years to foreign investors.
This is a truly evil and immoral agenda.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/w...
This is a truly evil and immoral agenda.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/w...
Pediatric Brain Cancer Group to Lose Federal Funding
www.nytimes.com
August 30, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Meanwhile, we just spent $280 million on Alligator Alcatraz, which is already being closed down because it violates the law, and we're sending $350 billion in tax breaks over the next 10 years to foreign investors.
This is a truly evil and immoral agenda.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/w...
This is a truly evil and immoral agenda.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/w...
Reposted by Maren Loe
UnitedHealth secretly pressured nurses to change patients' records to include DNRs (Do Not Resuscitate) without their consent, so those patients would die instead of being saved with medical interventions that could cost UnitedHealth money.
This is murder.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
This is murder.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
May 21, 2025 at 5:39 PM
UnitedHealth secretly pressured nurses to change patients' records to include DNRs (Do Not Resuscitate) without their consent, so those patients would die instead of being saved with medical interventions that could cost UnitedHealth money.
This is murder.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
This is murder.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Maren Loe
NSF says they’re capping indirect costs at 15%.
Policy Notice: Implementation of Standard 15% Indirect Cost Rate
www.nsf.gov
May 2, 2025 at 3:50 PM
NSF says they’re capping indirect costs at 15%.
Reposted by Maren Loe
Well, no surprise here: A new study from the Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI) found that women are 2X as likely to die during pregnancy in states with abortion bans. Twice as likely.
Meanwhile, maternal mortality in pro-choice states fell 21%. jessica.substack.com/p/women-are-...
Meanwhile, maternal mortality in pro-choice states fell 21%. jessica.substack.com/p/women-are-...
Women Are Twice As Likely to Die in Pregnancy in States with Abortion Bans
4.23.25
jessica.substack.com
April 24, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Well, no surprise here: A new study from the Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI) found that women are 2X as likely to die during pregnancy in states with abortion bans. Twice as likely.
Meanwhile, maternal mortality in pro-choice states fell 21%. jessica.substack.com/p/women-are-...
Meanwhile, maternal mortality in pro-choice states fell 21%. jessica.substack.com/p/women-are-...
Reposted by Maren Loe
Trump’s halting of data collection could have effects that last far beyond his time in office.
Even if a future administration seeks to resurrect some of the curtailed efforts, the 2025-29 hiatus will make trends harder to identify and understand.
Even if a future administration seeks to resurrect some of the curtailed efforts, the 2025-29 hiatus will make trends harder to identify and understand.
Trump’s War on Measurement Means Losing Data on Drug Use, Maternal Mortality, Climate Change and More
By slashing teams that gather critical data, the administration has left the federal government with no way of understanding if policies are working — and created a black hole of information whose…
www.propublica.org
April 24, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Trump’s halting of data collection could have effects that last far beyond his time in office.
Even if a future administration seeks to resurrect some of the curtailed efforts, the 2025-29 hiatus will make trends harder to identify and understand.
Even if a future administration seeks to resurrect some of the curtailed efforts, the 2025-29 hiatus will make trends harder to identify and understand.
Reposted by Maren Loe
NEW: When a firefighter dies, a small team of federal health workers helps pinpoint what went wrong and identify how to avoid similar accidents in the future.
Trump laid off nearly all of them.
Trump laid off nearly all of them.
Trump Laid Off Nearly All the Federal Workers Who Investigate Firefighter Deaths
The cuts, which are part of Trump’s slashing of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, will also halt a first-of-its-kind study of the causes of thousands of firefighters’ cancer cases.
www.propublica.org
April 21, 2025 at 11:31 AM
NEW: When a firefighter dies, a small team of federal health workers helps pinpoint what went wrong and identify how to avoid similar accidents in the future.
Trump laid off nearly all of them.
Trump laid off nearly all of them.
Reposted by Maren Loe
News: Diana Greene Foster, the MacArthur-winning author of the Turnaway Study, learned her NIH grant — funding a multi-year study on Dobbs' impact — has been pulled. She was told its bc the govt won't study "gender identity."
Her work has shaped our understanding of abortion bans' consequences.
Her work has shaped our understanding of abortion bans' consequences.
She was tracking post-Roe abortions. The government just pulled her funding.
Diana Greene Foster, who was behind the landmark Turnaway Study, wanted to study the health and economic impacts of the loss of abortion access.
19thnews.org
April 9, 2025 at 5:24 PM
News: Diana Greene Foster, the MacArthur-winning author of the Turnaway Study, learned her NIH grant — funding a multi-year study on Dobbs' impact — has been pulled. She was told its bc the govt won't study "gender identity."
Her work has shaped our understanding of abortion bans' consequences.
Her work has shaped our understanding of abortion bans' consequences.
Reposted by Maren Loe
Gutting. Foster's work on the long-term consequences for people who are denied abortions, versus those who receive abortions, was so significant (& rebutted anti-abortion shibboleths like regret).
We talked w/ Diana about her work on this @strictscrutiny.bsky.social ep: crooked.com/podcast/what...
We talked w/ Diana about her work on this @strictscrutiny.bsky.social ep: crooked.com/podcast/what...
April 10, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Gutting. Foster's work on the long-term consequences for people who are denied abortions, versus those who receive abortions, was so significant (& rebutted anti-abortion shibboleths like regret).
We talked w/ Diana about her work on this @strictscrutiny.bsky.social ep: crooked.com/podcast/what...
We talked w/ Diana about her work on this @strictscrutiny.bsky.social ep: crooked.com/podcast/what...
Reposted by Maren Loe
Dr. Craig Spencer said “one reason he is not comfortable saying the outbreak has plateaued in Texas is that he believes the number of cases is likely an undercount”.
Although I appreciate/understand the cautious use of words here, another reason is that this graph is clearly going up and fast.
Although I appreciate/understand the cautious use of words here, another reason is that this graph is clearly going up and fast.
April 9, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Dr. Craig Spencer said “one reason he is not comfortable saying the outbreak has plateaued in Texas is that he believes the number of cases is likely an undercount”.
Although I appreciate/understand the cautious use of words here, another reason is that this graph is clearly going up and fast.
Although I appreciate/understand the cautious use of words here, another reason is that this graph is clearly going up and fast.
Reposted by Maren Loe
Are you a woman who changed your name when you got married?
Congress is considering a bill that could make it much harder for you to vote.
Call your rep—this is not a drill. indivisible.org/resource/cal...
Congress is considering a bill that could make it much harder for you to vote.
Call your rep—this is not a drill. indivisible.org/resource/cal...
April 9, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Are you a woman who changed your name when you got married?
Congress is considering a bill that could make it much harder for you to vote.
Call your rep—this is not a drill. indivisible.org/resource/cal...
Congress is considering a bill that could make it much harder for you to vote.
Call your rep—this is not a drill. indivisible.org/resource/cal...
Reposted by Maren Loe
The FDA & NIH just got new leadership—and it’s raising serious red flags. Corporate media won’t tell you the full story behind Drs. Bhattacharya & Makary, but we’ve been tracking their vaccine-skeptical, COVID-contrarian rise since 2023. By @origgio.bsky.social
sunshine.optout.news/email/7bec03...
sunshine.optout.news/email/7bec03...
The Rise of Bhattacharya & Makary
Dear AJI Community,
Drs. Marty Makary and Jay Bhattacharya have been confirmed as Food and Drug Administration commissioner and director of the National Institutes of Health, respectively.
Already...
sunshine.optout.news
April 7, 2025 at 9:19 PM
The FDA & NIH just got new leadership—and it’s raising serious red flags. Corporate media won’t tell you the full story behind Drs. Bhattacharya & Makary, but we’ve been tracking their vaccine-skeptical, COVID-contrarian rise since 2023. By @origgio.bsky.social
sunshine.optout.news/email/7bec03...
sunshine.optout.news/email/7bec03...
Reposted by Maren Loe
America might be the seventh thing he bankrupts with the way he’s running things.
April 8, 2025 at 5:10 PM
America might be the seventh thing he bankrupts with the way he’s running things.
Reposted by Maren Loe
I’m old enough to remember when a political appointee telling a subordinate expert group to reach a specific policy decision would be a weeks’ long scandal
RFK Jr. tells CDC to change its guidance on fluoride in drinking water
The nation’s public health agency has long asserted that a little of the mineral in water helps prevent tooth decay. The top health official wants new guidance.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 8, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I’m old enough to remember when a political appointee telling a subordinate expert group to reach a specific policy decision would be a weeks’ long scandal
Reposted by Maren Loe
A long list of universities are seeing their international students' visas get revoked, and the reasons are as opaque as you'd expect from this administration
www.chronicle.com/newsletter/d...
www.chronicle.com/newsletter/d...
April 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
A long list of universities are seeing their international students' visas get revoked, and the reasons are as opaque as you'd expect from this administration
www.chronicle.com/newsletter/d...
www.chronicle.com/newsletter/d...
Reposted by Maren Loe
i was told we are drastically cutting costs, everything from cancer research to meals on wheels to weather forecasts, because the country is on the verge of bankruptcy
Trump, Hegseth promise record $1 trillion Pentagon budget
The surprise announcement comes as the Defense Department prepares to lay off tens of thousands of civilians.
www.politico.com
April 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
i was told we are drastically cutting costs, everything from cancer research to meals on wheels to weather forecasts, because the country is on the verge of bankruptcy
Reposted by Maren Loe
8) And this one is important.
For all the talk about the powerful pro-Trump media ecosystem, the share of Americans who have heard negative business news coverage of the government has exploded.
Evidently even the podcast bros can’t distract Americans from the realities of the stock market.
For all the talk about the powerful pro-Trump media ecosystem, the share of Americans who have heard negative business news coverage of the government has exploded.
Evidently even the podcast bros can’t distract Americans from the realities of the stock market.
April 4, 2025 at 12:51 PM
8) And this one is important.
For all the talk about the powerful pro-Trump media ecosystem, the share of Americans who have heard negative business news coverage of the government has exploded.
Evidently even the podcast bros can’t distract Americans from the realities of the stock market.
For all the talk about the powerful pro-Trump media ecosystem, the share of Americans who have heard negative business news coverage of the government has exploded.
Evidently even the podcast bros can’t distract Americans from the realities of the stock market.
Reposted by Maren Loe
Doge eyes cuts to Peace Corps with in-person visit and records access
Doge eyes cuts to Peace Corps with in-person visit and records access
Agency that sends volunteers to countries around world expects ‘additional visits’ from Musk cost-cutting team
The Peace Corps is the latest federal agency to be targeted by Elon Musk’s unofficial “department of government efficiency”. It appears “Doge” could be eyeing cuts to the agency, which sends US volunteers around the world to work in local communities on health, education and environmental initiatives.
“Staff from the Department of Government Efficiency are currently working at Peace Corps headquarters and the agency is supporting their requests,” the agency said in an email to the Guardian on Friday. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
April 5, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Doge eyes cuts to Peace Corps with in-person visit and records access
Reposted by Maren Loe
“We signed up to go fight for our country,” said a military veteran who’s urging Congress not to reverse a ban on TCE.
She says now the attitude seems to be, “‘We don’t care about your health, you’ve already signed on the dotted line.”
She says now the attitude seems to be, “‘We don’t care about your health, you’ve already signed on the dotted line.”
TCE Is Linked to Heart Defects in Babies, Cancer and Parkinson’s. Republicans in Congress Want to Reverse a Ban on It.
The toxic substance, used in dry cleaning and manufacturing, has been linked to a host of serious health problems. A Biden-era ban on the chemical has faced multiple challenges since Trump took…
propub.li
April 5, 2025 at 3:00 AM
“We signed up to go fight for our country,” said a military veteran who’s urging Congress not to reverse a ban on TCE.
She says now the attitude seems to be, “‘We don’t care about your health, you’ve already signed on the dotted line.”
She says now the attitude seems to be, “‘We don’t care about your health, you’ve already signed on the dotted line.”
Reposted by Maren Loe
The White House sometimes directs the NIH to study certain broad topics, such as cancer or women’s health, but the latest directive’s specificity, inflammatory language and focus on a hyper-polarizing topic are unprecedented, NIH employees say.
https://go.nature.com/43xPnfj
https://go.nature.com/43xPnfj
Exclusive: Trump White House directs NIH to study ‘regret’ after transgender people transition
After cancelling nearly all NIH projects studying transgender health, Trump’s team instructs the US biomedical agency to study negative consequences of transitioning.
go.nature.com
April 3, 2025 at 9:33 PM
The White House sometimes directs the NIH to study certain broad topics, such as cancer or women’s health, but the latest directive’s specificity, inflammatory language and focus on a hyper-polarizing topic are unprecedented, NIH employees say.
https://go.nature.com/43xPnfj
https://go.nature.com/43xPnfj