Laurie Gelb
@profitbychange.medsky.social
Survey/outcomes research; strategy; content. Covid-conscious libertarian MPH. Mod, alsforums.com. Owner, alsguidance.org. Husband had Marfan + ALS. Have worked in hospitals, clinics, biopharma, MCO, med devices. Mask up, live smart.
Pinned
Dear fellow libertarians,
That RFK disputed that health care is a human right does not change his willingness to implement medieval health care by fiat.
That DJT pardoned Ross Ulbricht does not change his aggression against nations, groups, and individuals, while suppressing dissent by fiat.
That RFK disputed that health care is a human right does not change his willingness to implement medieval health care by fiat.
That DJT pardoned Ross Ulbricht does not change his aggression against nations, groups, and individuals, while suppressing dissent by fiat.
I'd note the actual stakes.
"We call on the CDC to clearly reject these false claims. Routine immunizations have saved millions of children and adults from harm.
Wrongly questioning the simplest, most effective way to prevent disabling and sometimes deadly contagious diseases endangers us all."
"We call on the CDC to clearly reject these false claims. Routine immunizations have saved millions of children and adults from harm.
Wrongly questioning the simplest, most effective way to prevent disabling and sometimes deadly contagious diseases endangers us all."
“Since 1998, independent researchers have conducted more than 40 high-quality studies involving over 5.6 million people. The conclusion is clear and unambiguous: There’s no link between vaccines and autism." -Dr. Susan Kressly, AAP President on recent changes to the CDC's website
November 25, 2025 at 2:49 AM
I'd note the actual stakes.
"We call on the CDC to clearly reject these false claims. Routine immunizations have saved millions of children and adults from harm.
Wrongly questioning the simplest, most effective way to prevent disabling and sometimes deadly contagious diseases endangers us all."
"We call on the CDC to clearly reject these false claims. Routine immunizations have saved millions of children and adults from harm.
Wrongly questioning the simplest, most effective way to prevent disabling and sometimes deadly contagious diseases endangers us all."
“We don’t deserve the trust of the nation if we’re unclear about the divisiveness of swastikas.”
Nobody does.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Nobody does.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
U.S. Coast Guard will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols
The military service, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, has drafted a new policy that classifies such items “potentially divisive.”
www.washingtonpost.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:38 PM
“We don’t deserve the trust of the nation if we’re unclear about the divisiveness of swastikas.”
Nobody does.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Nobody does.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
"Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate it needs them not."
founders.archives.gov/documents/Ma...
founders.archives.gov/documents/Ma...
Founders Online: Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments, [ca. …
Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments, [ca. 20 June] 1785
founders.archives.gov
October 27, 2025 at 5:26 AM
"Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty, may have found an established Clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just Government instituted to secure & perpetuate it needs them not."
founders.archives.gov/documents/Ma...
founders.archives.gov/documents/Ma...
Celebrating the CARE Team's gutting, as per my Councilmember's latest email, is another white flag for sickening conditions on many Seattle streets.
RCR (fka RADAR) in N. King County, adjacent to Seattle, seems to tack the opposite direction. Hope it gets there. open.substack.com/pub/ericacba...
RCR (fka RADAR) in N. King County, adjacent to Seattle, seems to tack the opposite direction. Hope it gets there. open.substack.com/pub/ericacba...
New Police Contract Includes Few Accountability Concessions In Exchange for Another Hefty Pay Increase
In theory, the new contract allows the CARE Team to respond to more call types. In practice, it says they can't go to homeless encampments, inside buildings, or locations where a person is using drugs
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Celebrating the CARE Team's gutting, as per my Councilmember's latest email, is another white flag for sickening conditions on many Seattle streets.
RCR (fka RADAR) in N. King County, adjacent to Seattle, seems to tack the opposite direction. Hope it gets there. open.substack.com/pub/ericacba...
RCR (fka RADAR) in N. King County, adjacent to Seattle, seems to tack the opposite direction. Hope it gets there. open.substack.com/pub/ericacba...
X'ed: "anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity; support for the overthrow of the United States Government; extremism on migration, race, and gender; and hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality." www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence
NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM/NSPM-7 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
www.whitehouse.gov
September 29, 2025 at 1:48 AM
X'ed: "anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity; support for the overthrow of the United States Government; extremism on migration, race, and gender; and hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family, religion, and morality." www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
“I’ve taken care of people with polio and with rubella and with measles in my 35 years of nursing, and I don’t know why anybody would ever want those diseases."
They don't. But as fears of a government/industry conspiracy are stoked, relative risk crosses the road.
www.msn.com/en-us/health...
They don't. But as fears of a government/industry conspiracy are stoked, relative risk crosses the road.
www.msn.com/en-us/health...
MSN
www.msn.com
September 16, 2025 at 7:38 AM
“I’ve taken care of people with polio and with rubella and with measles in my 35 years of nursing, and I don’t know why anybody would ever want those diseases."
They don't. But as fears of a government/industry conspiracy are stoked, relative risk crosses the road.
www.msn.com/en-us/health...
They don't. But as fears of a government/industry conspiracy are stoked, relative risk crosses the road.
www.msn.com/en-us/health...
"Turning Point did not work to bring people together; it worked to bring about a country where anyone who wasn’t a white Christian nationalist wasn’t welcome."
The 2nd Amendment never negates the 1st. www.thenation.com/article/poli...
The 2nd Amendment never negates the 1st. www.thenation.com/article/poli...
Charlie Kirk’s Legacy Deserves No Mourning
The white Christian nationalist provocateur wasn’t a promoter of civil discourse. He preached hate, bigotry, and division
www.thenation.com
September 13, 2025 at 9:11 PM
"Turning Point did not work to bring people together; it worked to bring about a country where anyone who wasn’t a white Christian nationalist wasn’t welcome."
The 2nd Amendment never negates the 1st. www.thenation.com/article/poli...
The 2nd Amendment never negates the 1st. www.thenation.com/article/poli...
"I pulled closer to the people who treated me like I mattered. That’s how it starts. Not with a rejection of science, but with a crack in the trust."
Once facts are tossed, feelings, intuition, and fellowship are the refuge, and disdain for the Others follows naturally. macleans.ca/longforms/co...
Once facts are tossed, feelings, intuition, and fellowship are the refuge, and disdain for the Others follows naturally. macleans.ca/longforms/co...
Confessions of an Ex-Anti-Vaxxer - Macleans.ca
I spent years spouting conspiracy theories about vaccines. Now, as measles rages in my home of Alberta, I’m trying to convince vax-hesitant parents to inoculate their kids.
macleans.ca
September 7, 2025 at 5:45 AM
"I pulled closer to the people who treated me like I mattered. That’s how it starts. Not with a rejection of science, but with a crack in the trust."
Once facts are tossed, feelings, intuition, and fellowship are the refuge, and disdain for the Others follows naturally. macleans.ca/longforms/co...
Once facts are tossed, feelings, intuition, and fellowship are the refuge, and disdain for the Others follows naturally. macleans.ca/longforms/co...
To be an educator who leaves a mark often entails way more than official activities and hours. www.seattletimes.com/education-la...
Seattle elementary librarian remembered as ‘heart’ of the school
Anne Aliverti, a beloved longtime librarian at Seattle's Bryant Elementary, died in August after being struck by a car while crossing the street.
www.seattletimes.com
September 5, 2025 at 5:37 AM
To be an educator who leaves a mark often entails way more than official activities and hours. www.seattletimes.com/education-la...
"In the United States, they [Covid vaccines] are thought to have prevented more than 18.5 million hospitalizations and 3.2 million deaths by the end of 2022."
If your body is "a gift from God," wouldn't the deity that provided it want you to preserve it? www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
If your body is "a gift from God," wouldn't the deity that provided it want you to preserve it? www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
Trump Wants Proof That Covid Vaccines Work. It’s Easy to Find.
www.nytimes.com
September 3, 2025 at 7:32 PM
"In the United States, they [Covid vaccines] are thought to have prevented more than 18.5 million hospitalizations and 3.2 million deaths by the end of 2022."
If your body is "a gift from God," wouldn't the deity that provided it want you to preserve it? www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
If your body is "a gift from God," wouldn't the deity that provided it want you to preserve it? www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/h...
"Some men are more equal than others," Orwell noted. Lincoln spoke of a shared love of real freedom, not castes.
Far from overturning the "deep state," Trump & co. have affirmed that only the State can grant basic rights, or take them away.
Humanity vs. the herd.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/o...
Far from overturning the "deep state," Trump & co. have affirmed that only the State can grant basic rights, or take them away.
Humanity vs. the herd.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/o...
Opinion | JD Vance Claims One of Our Worst Traditions as His Own
www.nytimes.com
July 24, 2025 at 9:33 PM
"Some men are more equal than others," Orwell noted. Lincoln spoke of a shared love of real freedom, not castes.
Far from overturning the "deep state," Trump & co. have affirmed that only the State can grant basic rights, or take them away.
Humanity vs. the herd.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/o...
Far from overturning the "deep state," Trump & co. have affirmed that only the State can grant basic rights, or take them away.
Humanity vs. the herd.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/o...
We offer flu shots for 6m+ for population as well as personal risk.
Yet flu does less damage over less time than Covid, with ~8% affected by long Covid at some point.
Why stratify personal risk to limit Covid vax in an easily communicable and still-evolving disease?
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/o...
Yet flu does less damage over less time than Covid, with ~8% affected by long Covid at some point.
Why stratify personal risk to limit Covid vax in an easily communicable and still-evolving disease?
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/o...
Opinion | I’m a Vaccine Expert. Here’s What Keeps Me Up at Night About Kennedy’s Policies.
www.nytimes.com
July 18, 2025 at 8:12 PM
We offer flu shots for 6m+ for population as well as personal risk.
Yet flu does less damage over less time than Covid, with ~8% affected by long Covid at some point.
Why stratify personal risk to limit Covid vax in an easily communicable and still-evolving disease?
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/o...
Yet flu does less damage over less time than Covid, with ~8% affected by long Covid at some point.
Why stratify personal risk to limit Covid vax in an easily communicable and still-evolving disease?
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/11/o...
Nothing builds health like pricing up meds while you rip open the safety net, starve food pantries, stop worrying about air/water/soil quality, chase off "foreign" staff, and sub quackery for proven prevention/tx.
"Let 'em eat bleach," says the King.
www.supplychaindive.com/news/trump-m...
"Let 'em eat bleach," says the King.
www.supplychaindive.com/news/trump-m...
Trump says ‘major’ tariffs coming on pharmaceuticals
The president said the new duties would “come shortly” in a speech on Tuesday, potentially joining levies specific to other sectors such as cars and auto parts.
www.supplychaindive.com
July 9, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Nothing builds health like pricing up meds while you rip open the safety net, starve food pantries, stop worrying about air/water/soil quality, chase off "foreign" staff, and sub quackery for proven prevention/tx.
"Let 'em eat bleach," says the King.
www.supplychaindive.com/news/trump-m...
"Let 'em eat bleach," says the King.
www.supplychaindive.com/news/trump-m...
I presented at the '94 NCSA WWW conference. We saw on-demand mutually-woven content as aiding the world, though some worried re e-comm.
In this dark era, that web still lifts and saves lives, but so many in it face down lies, hate, and other-fear daily.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
In this dark era, that web still lifts and saves lives, but so many in it face down lies, hate, and other-fear daily.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Trump is undermining U.S. science. Here’s why that’s dangerous.
Science has played a crucial role in making the United States great and powerful.
www.washingtonpost.com
June 20, 2025 at 7:54 AM
I presented at the '94 NCSA WWW conference. We saw on-demand mutually-woven content as aiding the world, though some worried re e-comm.
In this dark era, that web still lifts and saves lives, but so many in it face down lies, hate, and other-fear daily.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
In this dark era, that web still lifts and saves lives, but so many in it face down lies, hate, and other-fear daily.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
As you deal out disability and death for power & perks, of course you should blame "corrupt" biopharma & journals for trafficking in reality & saving lives, impede access to key interventions, cut Medicaid, & eviscerate public health.
Welcome to the Medicine Show.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/h...
Welcome to the Medicine Show.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/h...
U.S. Will No Longer Recommend Covid Shots for Children and Pregnant Women
www.nytimes.com
May 29, 2025 at 7:01 PM
As you deal out disability and death for power & perks, of course you should blame "corrupt" biopharma & journals for trafficking in reality & saving lives, impede access to key interventions, cut Medicaid, & eviscerate public health.
Welcome to the Medicine Show.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/h...
Welcome to the Medicine Show.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/h...
Education, which strengthens interest in and ability to parse evidence ahead of ideology, is often mocked by those in power.
Jobs, which rely more on education every day, are often taken for granted by those who have them and will never worry that they won't.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/o...
Jobs, which rely more on education every day, are often taken for granted by those who have them and will never worry that they won't.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/o...
Opinion | Can We Please Stop Lying About Obama?
www.nytimes.com
May 25, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Education, which strengthens interest in and ability to parse evidence ahead of ideology, is often mocked by those in power.
Jobs, which rely more on education every day, are often taken for granted by those who have them and will never worry that they won't.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/o...
Jobs, which rely more on education every day, are often taken for granted by those who have them and will never worry that they won't.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/22/o...
“...FDA can only approve products if it concludes, based on the available scientific evidence, the benefit-to-harm balance is favorable.”
Esp. w/ 74% of adults at ↑ complication risk from the jump, millions and 4y have tested that benefit/harm ratio already. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Esp. w/ 74% of adults at ↑ complication risk from the jump, millions and 4y have tested that benefit/harm ratio already. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
FDA to limit covid shot approval to 65+, those with medical conditions
The FDA will narrow its approval for updated coronavirus vaccines, marking a significant shift in the agency’s approach to green-lighting shots that have been recommended broadly to the public.
www.washingtonpost.com
May 21, 2025 at 11:04 PM
“...FDA can only approve products if it concludes, based on the available scientific evidence, the benefit-to-harm balance is favorable.”
Esp. w/ 74% of adults at ↑ complication risk from the jump, millions and 4y have tested that benefit/harm ratio already. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Esp. w/ 74% of adults at ↑ complication risk from the jump, millions and 4y have tested that benefit/harm ratio already. www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
“The only thing that can come of this will make vaccines less insurable and less available.”
How to make Americans healthy: forget that anyone w/ Covid, however mild, risks downstream complications and is a potential point of transmission to those at even greater risk.
apnews.com/article/vacc...
How to make Americans healthy: forget that anyone w/ Covid, however mild, risks downstream complications and is a potential point of transmission to those at even greater risk.
apnews.com/article/vacc...
New Trump vaccine policy limits access to COVID shots
Federal health officials will no longer routinely approve annual COVID-19 shots for younger adults and children who are healthy.
apnews.com
May 21, 2025 at 5:23 AM
“The only thing that can come of this will make vaccines less insurable and less available.”
How to make Americans healthy: forget that anyone w/ Covid, however mild, risks downstream complications and is a potential point of transmission to those at even greater risk.
apnews.com/article/vacc...
How to make Americans healthy: forget that anyone w/ Covid, however mild, risks downstream complications and is a potential point of transmission to those at even greater risk.
apnews.com/article/vacc...
"U.S. patients should not foot the bill for global innovation."
Who should? Single payers who delay, ration, or ignore new agents because they can't afford them?
Nations who lack access even to older lines of therapy?
Or those who are first in line to benefit?
www.axios.com/2025/05/13/t...
Who should? Single payers who delay, ration, or ignore new agents because they can't afford them?
Nations who lack access even to older lines of therapy?
Or those who are first in line to benefit?
www.axios.com/2025/05/13/t...
Pharma is facing its nightmare scenario
Some critics say the industry failed to keep itself from getting to this place.
www.axios.com
May 14, 2025 at 8:19 PM
"U.S. patients should not foot the bill for global innovation."
Who should? Single payers who delay, ration, or ignore new agents because they can't afford them?
Nations who lack access even to older lines of therapy?
Or those who are first in line to benefit?
www.axios.com/2025/05/13/t...
Who should? Single payers who delay, ration, or ignore new agents because they can't afford them?
Nations who lack access even to older lines of therapy?
Or those who are first in line to benefit?
www.axios.com/2025/05/13/t...
"Some opponents of religious liberty would remove religion entirely from public life."
As if.
Real opponents of religious liberty lie re "anti-Christian bias" while aiming to legally favor Christians and Christian doctrine over other faiths and the lack thereof.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
As if.
Real opponents of religious liberty lie re "anti-Christian bias" while aiming to legally favor Christians and Christian doctrine over other faiths and the lack thereof.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Establishment of the Religious Liberty Commission
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:Section 1. Purpose and
www.whitehouse.gov
May 8, 2025 at 5:51 AM
"Some opponents of religious liberty would remove religion entirely from public life."
As if.
Real opponents of religious liberty lie re "anti-Christian bias" while aiming to legally favor Christians and Christian doctrine over other faiths and the lack thereof.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
As if.
Real opponents of religious liberty lie re "anti-Christian bias" while aiming to legally favor Christians and Christian doctrine over other faiths and the lack thereof.
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
"Poll-watching is not resistance."
It's also about as far away from self-efficacy as a would-be change-maker can get.
It's not just about disputing the madness, but finding systemic means to further liberty & rule of law with the mechanisms of government.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
It's also about as far away from self-efficacy as a would-be change-maker can get.
It's not just about disputing the madness, but finding systemic means to further liberty & rule of law with the mechanisms of government.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Polls aren’t going to save us from Trump
Democrats are banking on public opinion. They need to act instead.
www.washingtonpost.com
May 5, 2025 at 8:09 PM
"Poll-watching is not resistance."
It's also about as far away from self-efficacy as a would-be change-maker can get.
It's not just about disputing the madness, but finding systemic means to further liberty & rule of law with the mechanisms of government.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
It's also about as far away from self-efficacy as a would-be change-maker can get.
It's not just about disputing the madness, but finding systemic means to further liberty & rule of law with the mechanisms of government.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
“The goal is to make vaccines less available and less affordable.”
Now substitute [homes] [$] [citizenship] [free speech] [biomedical research] [cat food] -- anything you might value.
While you're looking, grieving, and suffering, you're less of a threat.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Now substitute [homes] [$] [citizenship] [free speech] [biomedical research] [cat food] -- anything you might value.
While you're looking, grieving, and suffering, you're less of a threat.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
RFK Jr. will require shift in how new vaccines are tested, HHS says
The potential change outlined in a statement would require all new vaccines to undergo placebo testing, sparking concerns among medical experts.
www.washingtonpost.com
May 1, 2025 at 3:27 AM
“The goal is to make vaccines less available and less affordable.”
Now substitute [homes] [$] [citizenship] [free speech] [biomedical research] [cat food] -- anything you might value.
While you're looking, grieving, and suffering, you're less of a threat.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Now substitute [homes] [$] [citizenship] [free speech] [biomedical research] [cat food] -- anything you might value.
While you're looking, grieving, and suffering, you're less of a threat.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
The lack of legitimate concern for antisemitism dovetails with complete contempt for "others" -- LGBTQIA+ for sure, but also non-whites and non-males who don't bend the knee, anyone who's not a Christian of the approved types, etc. Circle members excluded, of course. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/o...
Opinion | I Can’t Believe Anyone Thinks Trump Actually Cares About Antisemitism
Jews should remember how Trump promised to “protect” L.G.B.T. citizens.
www.nytimes.com
April 29, 2025 at 9:09 PM
The lack of legitimate concern for antisemitism dovetails with complete contempt for "others" -- LGBTQIA+ for sure, but also non-whites and non-males who don't bend the knee, anyone who's not a Christian of the approved types, etc. Circle members excluded, of course. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/o...
“The MMR vaccine is a safe, effective vaccine...let’s not get into the propaganda, let’s not get into the politics, let’s really talk about truth...how we protect each other...so our next generation is alive and healthy.”
If only. But PH's now a contact sport.
seattlemedium.com/measles-outb...
If only. But PH's now a contact sport.
seattlemedium.com/measles-outb...
As Vaccinations Become A Political Talking Point, Health Officials Warn Of Measles Cases
Seattle Children's Hospital and public health officials address measles cases, urging vaccination and caution during travel.
seattlemedium.com
April 24, 2025 at 6:48 AM
“The MMR vaccine is a safe, effective vaccine...let’s not get into the propaganda, let’s not get into the politics, let’s really talk about truth...how we protect each other...so our next generation is alive and healthy.”
If only. But PH's now a contact sport.
seattlemedium.com/measles-outb...
If only. But PH's now a contact sport.
seattlemedium.com/measles-outb...