Nikhil Rao (he/they)
@nikhil-rao.bsky.social
Health Policy PhD Student at Harvard
MH/SUD + Carceral Studies
RT ≠ endorse , views my own
MH/SUD + Carceral Studies
RT ≠ endorse , views my own
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
⭕️ New: Mental Health Program in Gaza Says Armed Group Stormed Its Last Operating Clinic
An unidentified armed group raided the sole remaining clinical facility in Gaza operating under The Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP)—an independent, non-profit Palestinian civil society...
An unidentified armed group raided the sole remaining clinical facility in Gaza operating under The Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP)—an independent, non-profit Palestinian civil society...
October 22, 2025 at 8:14 PM
⭕️ New: Mental Health Program in Gaza Says Armed Group Stormed Its Last Operating Clinic
An unidentified armed group raided the sole remaining clinical facility in Gaza operating under The Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP)—an independent, non-profit Palestinian civil society...
An unidentified armed group raided the sole remaining clinical facility in Gaza operating under The Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP)—an independent, non-profit Palestinian civil society...
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
BREAKING: I spoke with the parents of the two pro-Palestine protesters, including a 15-year-old teenage boy, who were dragged into an Egyptian government building in New York and allegedly beaten by Egyptian officials, and were then arrested by the NYPD:
theintercept.com/2025/08/22/g...
theintercept.com/2025/08/22/g...
Egyptian Officials in New York Beat Two Gaza Protesters on Video. The NYPD Arrested the Protesters.
The brothers were protesting to let food into Gaza at Egypt’s UN mission. The NYPD arrested them for assault.
theintercept.com
August 22, 2025 at 7:03 PM
BREAKING: I spoke with the parents of the two pro-Palestine protesters, including a 15-year-old teenage boy, who were dragged into an Egyptian government building in New York and allegedly beaten by Egyptian officials, and were then arrested by the NYPD:
theintercept.com/2025/08/22/g...
theintercept.com/2025/08/22/g...
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
we are so, SO far beyond the point of this being a question. we cannot be a decade behind these incredible dangerous politics like the opposition party currently is
I’m sorry but the “should scientists be activists” train left the station for the last time when we started spending billions to build concentration camps. I feel like you guys are engaging with the science stuff as though the camps thing is like, happening on a different TV show
August 23, 2025 at 5:21 PM
we are so, SO far beyond the point of this being a question. we cannot be a decade behind these incredible dangerous politics like the opposition party currently is
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
BREAKING: A new experiment in Philly shows cash rental assistance slashed homelessness rates by 57–67%.
August 21, 2025 at 11:35 PM
BREAKING: A new experiment in Philly shows cash rental assistance slashed homelessness rates by 57–67%.
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
I sometimes see legal folks #onhere who get upset at non-legal folks who say that the law is not real even if the law has real world consequences. Yet the current moment illustrates the truth of this statement more than ever. More than that, the response can't be to keep saying the law is real.
August 21, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I sometimes see legal folks #onhere who get upset at non-legal folks who say that the law is not real even if the law has real world consequences. Yet the current moment illustrates the truth of this statement more than ever. More than that, the response can't be to keep saying the law is real.
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
What does gentrification have to do with authoritarianism? I talked with @xandrewleex.bsky.social about how displacement, surveillance, and “quality of life” policing function as tools of social control—and why housing struggles are class struggles.
Resisting the Authoritarian City, Block by Block
“When people are fighting displacement, they’re fighting for their class interests,” says Andrew Lee.
truthout.org
August 21, 2025 at 1:52 PM
What does gentrification have to do with authoritarianism? I talked with @xandrewleex.bsky.social about how displacement, surveillance, and “quality of life” policing function as tools of social control—and why housing struggles are class struggles.
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
I don't get it. Some of you accuse abolitionists of pipe dreams. The biggest pipe dreams are the ones that insist on prosecutions of the powerful. THIS IS NOT WHAT THE CURRENT CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT SYSTEM EXISTS TO DO. THE PURPOSE OF A SYSTEM IS WHAT IT DOES.
August 1, 2025 at 8:29 PM
I don't get it. Some of you accuse abolitionists of pipe dreams. The biggest pipe dreams are the ones that insist on prosecutions of the powerful. THIS IS NOT WHAT THE CURRENT CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT SYSTEM EXISTS TO DO. THE PURPOSE OF A SYSTEM IS WHAT IT DOES.
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
Students who are scared of judgement so they perform cynicism... I see this in some young organizers too.
This is precisely why I constantly say that sincerity is A VIRTUE. Let's bring back EARNESTNESS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsGs...
This is precisely why I constantly say that sincerity is A VIRTUE. Let's bring back EARNESTNESS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsGs...
Ocean Vuong on the unsettling way 'cringe culture' holds young people back | 7.30
YouTube video by ABC News In-depth
www.youtube.com
July 27, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Students who are scared of judgement so they perform cynicism... I see this in some young organizers too.
This is precisely why I constantly say that sincerity is A VIRTUE. Let's bring back EARNESTNESS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsGs...
This is precisely why I constantly say that sincerity is A VIRTUE. Let's bring back EARNESTNESS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsGs...
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
People act as though the only option for unhoused people is jail or remaining on the streets.
They claim it’s “compassionate” to jail or institutionalize them because it means they have food & a roof over their head.
“Compassion” would be safe affordable housing. Not jail.
They claim it’s “compassionate” to jail or institutionalize them because it means they have food & a roof over their head.
“Compassion” would be safe affordable housing. Not jail.
July 25, 2025 at 2:01 AM
People act as though the only option for unhoused people is jail or remaining on the streets.
They claim it’s “compassionate” to jail or institutionalize them because it means they have food & a roof over their head.
“Compassion” would be safe affordable housing. Not jail.
They claim it’s “compassionate” to jail or institutionalize them because it means they have food & a roof over their head.
“Compassion” would be safe affordable housing. Not jail.
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
Across 25 US institutions, a study of over 1.2 million children and youths found that those who tested positive for COVID-19 faced small but statistically significant increases in neuropsychiatric risks like anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Risk of neuropsychiatric and related conditions associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a difference-in-differences analysis - Nature Communications
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about increased neuropsychiatric conditions in children and youths, with potential links to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, the authors analyze EHR data from 25 i...
www.nature.com
July 24, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Across 25 US institutions, a study of over 1.2 million children and youths found that those who tested positive for COVID-19 faced small but statistically significant increases in neuropsychiatric risks like anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
Read this very carefully: *One quarter* of all the people who have died of starvation in Gaza over the past 22 months have died in the past *3* days.
July 25, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Read this very carefully: *One quarter* of all the people who have died of starvation in Gaza over the past 22 months have died in the past *3* days.
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
Today someone asked how much I would pay in taxes to ensure everyone had housing & healthcare
I don’t know, whatever I could? This isn’t the “gotcha” folks think it is
If we taxed the rich properly, the rest of us wouldn’t need to pay exorbitant taxes to ensure every single person was provided for
I don’t know, whatever I could? This isn’t the “gotcha” folks think it is
If we taxed the rich properly, the rest of us wouldn’t need to pay exorbitant taxes to ensure every single person was provided for
July 20, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Today someone asked how much I would pay in taxes to ensure everyone had housing & healthcare
I don’t know, whatever I could? This isn’t the “gotcha” folks think it is
If we taxed the rich properly, the rest of us wouldn’t need to pay exorbitant taxes to ensure every single person was provided for
I don’t know, whatever I could? This isn’t the “gotcha” folks think it is
If we taxed the rich properly, the rest of us wouldn’t need to pay exorbitant taxes to ensure every single person was provided for
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
“We got a beating for breakfast. We got a beating for lunch. We got a beating for dinner.”
More than 200 Venezuelans disappeared to a Salvadoran megaprison have returned home. The horror stories are already emerging.
More than 200 Venezuelans disappeared to a Salvadoran megaprison have returned home. The horror stories are already emerging.
"We were kidnapped"
On Friday, more than 200 Venezuelans disappeared to a megaprison in El Salvador returned home. The horror stories are already emerging.
www.motherjones.com
July 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM
“We got a beating for breakfast. We got a beating for lunch. We got a beating for dinner.”
More than 200 Venezuelans disappeared to a Salvadoran megaprison have returned home. The horror stories are already emerging.
More than 200 Venezuelans disappeared to a Salvadoran megaprison have returned home. The horror stories are already emerging.
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
this is getting next to no media attention and it’s horrifying. transphobes weren’t going to stop at bathrooms, no hormones for minors, they are going to keep pushing until it’s entirely illegal and no one is standing up for us other than trans people
July 18, 2025 at 6:25 PM
this is getting next to no media attention and it’s horrifying. transphobes weren’t going to stop at bathrooms, no hormones for minors, they are going to keep pushing until it’s entirely illegal and no one is standing up for us other than trans people
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
Why Colbert's cancellation marks a dangerous new stage for the culture at large
Colbert's cancellation is a dark warning
CBS's decision marks a dangerous new stage for the culture at large.
www.motherjones.com
July 18, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Why Colbert's cancellation marks a dangerous new stage for the culture at large
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
Why would some top Dems call the Epstein situation a "distraction"? Probably because there are prominent Dems and Dem funders who wouldn't fare well if we knew everything. We all know Bill Clinton has ties to Epstein, for example. I'm sure plenty of walking bags of money do as well.
July 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Why would some top Dems call the Epstein situation a "distraction"? Probably because there are prominent Dems and Dem funders who wouldn't fare well if we knew everything. We all know Bill Clinton has ties to Epstein, for example. I'm sure plenty of walking bags of money do as well.
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
My latest, with @kellydoran.bsky.social: In 2 major USMLE Step 1 & 2 Qbanks, vignettes with patients experiencing homelessness overrepresented HIV, TB, & substance use, underrepresented top causes of death like CV disease & cancer, & often used stigmatizing language link.springer.com/article/10.1...
July 15, 2025 at 11:46 PM
My latest, with @kellydoran.bsky.social: In 2 major USMLE Step 1 & 2 Qbanks, vignettes with patients experiencing homelessness overrepresented HIV, TB, & substance use, underrepresented top causes of death like CV disease & cancer, & often used stigmatizing language link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
I want to be clear: this is what American prisons are like.
I spent years posting about the humanitarian crisis in U.S. prisons. The criminal legal system consigns Americans who are incarcerated to live like this FOR YEARS. DECADES.
I spent years posting about the humanitarian crisis in U.S. prisons. The criminal legal system consigns Americans who are incarcerated to live like this FOR YEARS. DECADES.
July 16, 2025 at 11:02 PM
I want to be clear: this is what American prisons are like.
I spent years posting about the humanitarian crisis in U.S. prisons. The criminal legal system consigns Americans who are incarcerated to live like this FOR YEARS. DECADES.
I spent years posting about the humanitarian crisis in U.S. prisons. The criminal legal system consigns Americans who are incarcerated to live like this FOR YEARS. DECADES.
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
Heartbreaking moment with the father of Sayfollah Musallet, the American killed by Israeli settlers:
“The last phone call that we had…he said ‘Dad, I think it’s time for me to try to find a spouse.’
…he’s looking for life. He’s loving life.
…But they took it away that day.”
“The last phone call that we had…he said ‘Dad, I think it’s time for me to try to find a spouse.’
…he’s looking for life. He’s loving life.
…But they took it away that day.”
July 17, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Heartbreaking moment with the father of Sayfollah Musallet, the American killed by Israeli settlers:
“The last phone call that we had…he said ‘Dad, I think it’s time for me to try to find a spouse.’
…he’s looking for life. He’s loving life.
…But they took it away that day.”
“The last phone call that we had…he said ‘Dad, I think it’s time for me to try to find a spouse.’
…he’s looking for life. He’s loving life.
…But they took it away that day.”
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
"No one can say, years from now, that nobody knew about the camp, or that no one pushed back." - @melissagiragrant.com
The Grand Opening of an American Concentration Camp
The Republicans are proudly calling it “Alligator Alcatraz.” Let’s call it what it is.
newrepublic.com
July 2, 2025 at 5:21 PM
"No one can say, years from now, that nobody knew about the camp, or that no one pushed back." - @melissagiragrant.com
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
oh dear... the old sleeper cell narrative. Brilliant tool to whip up fear because it is precisely the absence of evidence that can be taken to imply their existence. (And to further ramp up fear.)
When there's a seemingly coordinated influencer campaign.
June 22, 2025 at 6:19 AM
oh dear... the old sleeper cell narrative. Brilliant tool to whip up fear because it is precisely the absence of evidence that can be taken to imply their existence. (And to further ramp up fear.)
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
If you were too young in 2003 here is what Bush told the American people:
1) The Iraq War won’t cost a lot of money
3) We won’t need a lot of troops
4) We’ll bring peace and freedom to Iraq
5) We’ll find WMDs
6) We’ll be welcomed as liberators
7) It will be easy
8) It won’t take long
All lies.
1) The Iraq War won’t cost a lot of money
3) We won’t need a lot of troops
4) We’ll bring peace and freedom to Iraq
5) We’ll find WMDs
6) We’ll be welcomed as liberators
7) It will be easy
8) It won’t take long
All lies.
June 22, 2025 at 2:47 AM
If you were too young in 2003 here is what Bush told the American people:
1) The Iraq War won’t cost a lot of money
3) We won’t need a lot of troops
4) We’ll bring peace and freedom to Iraq
5) We’ll find WMDs
6) We’ll be welcomed as liberators
7) It will be easy
8) It won’t take long
All lies.
1) The Iraq War won’t cost a lot of money
3) We won’t need a lot of troops
4) We’ll bring peace and freedom to Iraq
5) We’ll find WMDs
6) We’ll be welcomed as liberators
7) It will be easy
8) It won’t take long
All lies.
Reposted by Nikhil Rao (he/they)
E.g., the Spanish knew full well they were committing heinous genocide in the Americas.
The crown literally appointed what was essentially a human rights monitor, the Protector of the Indians, the first of whom was Fr. Bartolomeo de las Casas.
Not that they generally cared, but they knew!
The crown literally appointed what was essentially a human rights monitor, the Protector of the Indians, the first of whom was Fr. Bartolomeo de las Casas.
Not that they generally cared, but they knew!
part of the reason people don't want the history of this period taught or understood is to make this illegible to people. it's easy to swallow thought ending cliches about which venerated figure was a "man of their times" if you remain studiously unaware of what their times actually were
June 21, 2025 at 7:48 PM
E.g., the Spanish knew full well they were committing heinous genocide in the Americas.
The crown literally appointed what was essentially a human rights monitor, the Protector of the Indians, the first of whom was Fr. Bartolomeo de las Casas.
Not that they generally cared, but they knew!
The crown literally appointed what was essentially a human rights monitor, the Protector of the Indians, the first of whom was Fr. Bartolomeo de las Casas.
Not that they generally cared, but they knew!