Melanie Benesh
@melaniebenesh.bsky.social
Toxics law and policy @ Environmental Working Group. Adjunct professor @ Georgetown Law. Nebraskan. Dessert enthusiast. Runner. Single mom.
Come learn about food additive regulation and the #GRAS loophole with me next Friday: www.afdo.org/event/unders...
Fresh Take Fridays Webinar — Understanding the GRAS Loophole and Food Additive Regulation in the U.S. – Association of Food and Drug Officials
www.afdo.org
December 4, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Come learn about food additive regulation and the #GRAS loophole with me next Friday: www.afdo.org/event/unders...
Reposted by Melanie Benesh
Proposed laws would force miscarriage patients to collect fetal tissue, then return it in a medical waste bag. Anti-abortion groups claiming abortion pills threaten environment—with no evidence.
Weaponizing Wastewater Laws to Block Abortion
Opinion | An anti-abortion group has been co-opting environmental laws in an effort to restrict access to medication abortion.
f.mtr.cool
November 13, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Proposed laws would force miscarriage patients to collect fetal tissue, then return it in a medical waste bag. Anti-abortion groups claiming abortion pills threaten environment—with no evidence.
Reposted by Melanie Benesh
"Lawmakers should devote energy to strengthening our outdated wastewater laws and funding the agencies tasked with implementing them, instead of using those laws as cover for an anti-abortion agenda." - @melaniebenesh.bsky.social
Weaponizing Wastewater Laws to Block Abortion
Opinion | An anti-abortion group has been co-opting environmental laws in an effort to restrict access to medication abortion.
bit.ly
November 16, 2025 at 5:35 PM
"Lawmakers should devote energy to strengthening our outdated wastewater laws and funding the agencies tasked with implementing them, instead of using those laws as cover for an anti-abortion agenda." - @melaniebenesh.bsky.social
Thank you @undark.org for letting me write this piece about this insane trend
Proposed laws would force miscarriage patients to collect fetal tissue, then return it in a medical waste bag. Anti-abortion groups claiming abortion pills threaten environment—with no evidence.
Weaponizing Wastewater Laws to Block Abortion
Opinion | An anti-abortion group has been co-opting environmental laws in an effort to restrict access to medication abortion.
f.mtr.cool
November 14, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Thank you @undark.org for letting me write this piece about this insane trend
Reposted by Melanie Benesh
ouroboreos
oh wow that’s crazy
oreos with bits of
of oreos. in them
Real Bits of Oreos
oreos with bits of
of oreos. in them
Real Bits of Oreos
November 13, 2025 at 10:13 PM
ouroboreos
I wrote for @undark.org about abortion, wastewater, and having fetal tissue stuck in my cervix for 9 days: undark.org/2025/11/13/o...
Weaponizing Wastewater Laws to Block Abortion
Opinion | An anti-abortion group has been co-opting environmental laws in an effort to restrict access to medication abortion.
undark.org
November 13, 2025 at 6:46 PM
I wrote for @undark.org about abortion, wastewater, and having fetal tissue stuck in my cervix for 9 days: undark.org/2025/11/13/o...
Reposted by Melanie Benesh
Chat is it good when a lawyer for DOJ says this
Hamilton: “The president’s power is unreviewable.”
October 9, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Chat is it good when a lawyer for DOJ says this
Relax, America, There Is Life After Nonstick Pans. Great piece this morning from Chef Andrew Zimmern www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
Opinion | Relax, America, There Is Life After Nonstick Pans
www.nytimes.com
October 8, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Relax, America, There Is Life After Nonstick Pans. Great piece this morning from Chef Andrew Zimmern www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/o...
Maybe not the most important thing right now, but it is utterly bizarre that the already very delayed Spring 2025 agenda was up for a couple hours nearly 3 weeks ago and still hasn't restored
Did OMB already take down the Spring 2025 Unified Agenda?
September 3, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Maybe not the most important thing right now, but it is utterly bizarre that the already very delayed Spring 2025 agenda was up for a couple hours nearly 3 weeks ago and still hasn't restored
Overflowing with love for this city
The Freedom Run went super well. We ended up with 200-300 people. Here are some photos to give you an idea of the group size. And plenty of great responses along the route down and around the White House.
September 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Overflowing with love for this city
Reposted by Melanie Benesh
The only reason for Emil Bove to be still showing up for Trump administration photo opps (in this photo from Trump’s D.C. takeover, peeking out at top right) is that Emil Bove understands himself to be part of the Trump administration on an ongoing basis www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/u...
August 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM
The only reason for Emil Bove to be still showing up for Trump administration photo opps (in this photo from Trump’s D.C. takeover, peeking out at top right) is that Emil Bove understands himself to be part of the Trump administration on an ongoing basis www.nytimes.com/2025/08/29/u...
And yet the EPA will likely kneecap its own ability to clean up those very bases by repealing PFAS Superfund designation
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Alarming levels of Pfas in blood of those living near US air force base, study finds
Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ were found at a level 10 times higher than people who did not work in contaminated zone
www.theguardian.com
August 29, 2025 at 2:32 PM
And yet the EPA will likely kneecap its own ability to clean up those very bases by repealing PFAS Superfund designation
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
There is no scientific or legal basis for arguing that PFOA and PFOS are not extremely hazardous substances. They are toxic at levels much lower, in some cases orders of magnitude lower, than many (most?) other CERCLA hazardous substances.
This is about protecting industry profits full stop.
This is about protecting industry profits full stop.
An Industry Insider’s Changes at the E.P.A. Could Cost Taxpayers Billions
www.nytimes.com
August 29, 2025 at 2:08 PM
There is no scientific or legal basis for arguing that PFOA and PFOS are not extremely hazardous substances. They are toxic at levels much lower, in some cases orders of magnitude lower, than many (most?) other CERCLA hazardous substances.
This is about protecting industry profits full stop.
This is about protecting industry profits full stop.
Reposted by Melanie Benesh
"Cockroaches" the exact literal term most used in Rwanda by Hutu ultranationalists against Tutsis in the lead up to when they killed hundreds of thousands of them in a matter of weeks. Also used by Begin to describe Palestinians, "drugged cockroaches in a bottle."
A reference to "cockroaches" is telling. They see Black citizens of DC, migrants, and the unhoused as pests in need of removal, never mind the preceding centuries of inequality, slavery, death and terror. Please stay vigilant and feel free to report anything you see to us or tag us in your post
August 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
"Cockroaches" the exact literal term most used in Rwanda by Hutu ultranationalists against Tutsis in the lead up to when they killed hundreds of thousands of them in a matter of weeks. Also used by Begin to describe Palestinians, "drugged cockroaches in a bottle."
We are getting closer and closer to confirming @dqasci.bsky.social's estimate of 200 million Americans with PFAS in their water
This is important: At least *172 million* Americans are drinking water that's polluted with toxic #PFAS, according to new @EPA data. That more than 1/2 the total U.S. population, and a large share of water supplies have yet to be tested. #ForeverChemicals #Plastic 1/
www.ewg.org/interactive-...
www.ewg.org/interactive-...
Interactive Map: PFAS Contamination Crisis: New Data Show 9,552 Sites in 50 States
The known extent of contamination of American communities with the highly toxic fluorinated compounds known as PFAS continues to grow at an alarming rate.
www.ewg.org
August 19, 2025 at 8:10 PM
We are getting closer and closer to confirming @dqasci.bsky.social's estimate of 200 million Americans with PFAS in their water
Did OMB already take down the Spring 2025 Unified Agenda?
August 19, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Did OMB already take down the Spring 2025 Unified Agenda?
Reposted by Melanie Benesh
reposting with alt text bc yknow what that's a good catch
July 1, 2025 at 4:49 PM
reposting with alt text bc yknow what that's a good catch
Reposted by Melanie Benesh
Outdated #sunscreen rules = outdated protection
Americans deserve better than questionable ingredients and blocked innovation.
My colleague @melaniebenesh.bsky.social explains how FDA and industry delays are leaving Americans in the sun - unprotected.
#SunBurn #SkinCancer
youtu.be/QTLms4ZGi0A?...
Americans deserve better than questionable ingredients and blocked innovation.
My colleague @melaniebenesh.bsky.social explains how FDA and industry delays are leaving Americans in the sun - unprotected.
#SunBurn #SkinCancer
youtu.be/QTLms4ZGi0A?...
America Deserves Better Sunscreen
YouTube video by Environmental Working Group (EWG)
youtu.be
June 9, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Outdated #sunscreen rules = outdated protection
Americans deserve better than questionable ingredients and blocked innovation.
My colleague @melaniebenesh.bsky.social explains how FDA and industry delays are leaving Americans in the sun - unprotected.
#SunBurn #SkinCancer
youtu.be/QTLms4ZGi0A?...
Americans deserve better than questionable ingredients and blocked innovation.
My colleague @melaniebenesh.bsky.social explains how FDA and industry delays are leaving Americans in the sun - unprotected.
#SunBurn #SkinCancer
youtu.be/QTLms4ZGi0A?...
Reposted by Melanie Benesh
Musk should be asked about this in every interview he does now and forever. To ignore it is a dereliction of duty.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/o...
May 30, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Musk should be asked about this in every interview he does now and forever. To ignore it is a dereliction of duty.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/o...
Important new analysis from EWG showing how many counties lose if Congress cuts SNAP benefits www.ewg.org/news-insight...
www.ewg.org
May 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Important new analysis from EWG showing how many counties lose if Congress cuts SNAP benefits www.ewg.org/news-insight...
Happy pub day Mariah!! Congrats on getting this important book out into the world!
Today is the day! After eight long years, They Poisoned the World, is out. The book interweaves the moving story of a small town on the frontlines of an epic global crisis with a deep investigation of one the most brazen cover-ups in corporate history. 1/
May 6, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Happy pub day Mariah!! Congrats on getting this important book out into the world!
Reposted by Melanie Benesh
"do you have food safety tips" yes as a matter of fact I do I think the people should elect representatives who appoint experts to keep food safe theres a tip for you
May 1, 2025 at 10:36 AM
"do you have food safety tips" yes as a matter of fact I do I think the people should elect representatives who appoint experts to keep food safe theres a tip for you
Reposted by Melanie Benesh
Please highlight this story.
ICE stormed into the wrong house, trashed the place, and made women/girls stand outside in the rain in their underwear. ICE also stole phones, laptops, and cash savings from the family, who moved to OKC two weeks ago.
kfor.com/news/local/w...
ICE stormed into the wrong house, trashed the place, and made women/girls stand outside in the rain in their underwear. ICE also stole phones, laptops, and cash savings from the family, who moved to OKC two weeks ago.
kfor.com/news/local/w...
'We're citizens!': Oklahoma City family traumatized after ICE raids home, but they weren't suspects
A woman says her family’s fresh start in Oklahoma turned into a nightmare after federal immigration agents raided their home, taking their phones, laptops, and life savings – even though they were …
kfor.com
April 29, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Please highlight this story.
ICE stormed into the wrong house, trashed the place, and made women/girls stand outside in the rain in their underwear. ICE also stole phones, laptops, and cash savings from the family, who moved to OKC two weeks ago.
kfor.com/news/local/w...
ICE stormed into the wrong house, trashed the place, and made women/girls stand outside in the rain in their underwear. ICE also stole phones, laptops, and cash savings from the family, who moved to OKC two weeks ago.
kfor.com/news/local/w...
Reposted by Melanie Benesh
Speaking to NPR in his first media interview since his detention, lawful permanent U.S. resident Mohsen Mahdawi finds peace in meditation and hopes "America will fulfill its promise."
Detained on verge of U.S. citizenship, Mohsen Mahdawi speaks from Vermont prison
Speaking to NPR in his first media interview since his detention, lawful permanent U.S. resident Mohsen Mahdawi finds peace in meditation and hopes "America will fulfill its promise."
www.npr.org
April 29, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Speaking to NPR in his first media interview since his detention, lawful permanent U.S. resident Mohsen Mahdawi finds peace in meditation and hopes "America will fulfill its promise."
