Brenda Goodman
@reportergoodman.bsky.social
I'm a senior news writer on the health team at CNN. I cover medicine, policy, pharma, and healthcare. Need to reach me? Encrypted email: brendagoodman@protonmail.com
"I am concerned, I guess, that we could have a big flu season this year based on what we’re seeing in other parts of the world, and particularly Europe and elsewhere,” said Dr. Adam Lauring, University of Michigan. Go get a flu shot.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/18/h...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/18/h...
A new virus variant and lagging vaccinations may mean the US is in for a severe flu season | CNN
The United States may be heading into its second severe flu season in a row, driven by a mutated strain called subclade K that’s behind early surges in the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan.
www.cnn.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:01 PM
"I am concerned, I guess, that we could have a big flu season this year based on what we’re seeing in other parts of the world, and particularly Europe and elsewhere,” said Dr. Adam Lauring, University of Michigan. Go get a flu shot.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/18/h...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/18/h...
Reposted by Brenda Goodman
Peds & neuro folks--would you be able to differentiate between acute flaccid myelitis and transverse myelitis in a child? (3 yo, symptom onset when he was 6.5 months).
October 24, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Peds & neuro folks--would you be able to differentiate between acute flaccid myelitis and transverse myelitis in a child? (3 yo, symptom onset when he was 6.5 months).
Thinking about all the pediatricians and ob-gyns who are going to be fielding questions from parents today. If anyone cares to share how it went… please reach out!
September 23, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Thinking about all the pediatricians and ob-gyns who are going to be fielding questions from parents today. If anyone cares to share how it went… please reach out!
Reposted by Brenda Goodman
Reposted by Brenda Goodman
In response to a call from President Donald Trump to make the positive impact of Covid-19 vaccines public, drug giant Pfizer posted a collection of more than 200 press releases and statements and 27 peer-reviewed data publications since early 2020: www.cnn.com/2025/09/03/h...
Pfizer responds to Trump’s call for Covid-19 vaccine data, says Operation Warp Speed deserves Nobel Peace Prize | CNN
In response to a call from President Donald Trump to make the positive impact of Covid-19 vaccines public, drug giant Pfizer posted a collection of more than 200 press releases and statements and 27 p...
www.cnn.com
September 3, 2025 at 5:57 PM
In response to a call from President Donald Trump to make the positive impact of Covid-19 vaccines public, drug giant Pfizer posted a collection of more than 200 press releases and statements and 27 peer-reviewed data publications since early 2020: www.cnn.com/2025/09/03/h...
Reposted by Brenda Goodman
Developing story: HHS ousted Susan Monarez as CDC director today after days of pressure over vaccine policy.
At least three top CDC officials resigned in the last few hours.
w/ @adamcancryn.bsky.social @reportergoodman.bsky.social
www.cnn.com/2025/08/27/h...
At least three top CDC officials resigned in the last few hours.
w/ @adamcancryn.bsky.social @reportergoodman.bsky.social
www.cnn.com/2025/08/27/h...
CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez is being ousted just weeks into her tenure, sources say, and other officials follow | CNN
Dr. Susan Monarez, who was sworn in as director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on July 31, is being ousted, according to three sources familiar with the situation who spoke on th...
www.cnn.com
August 27, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Developing story: HHS ousted Susan Monarez as CDC director today after days of pressure over vaccine policy.
At least three top CDC officials resigned in the last few hours.
w/ @adamcancryn.bsky.social @reportergoodman.bsky.social
www.cnn.com/2025/08/27/h...
At least three top CDC officials resigned in the last few hours.
w/ @adamcancryn.bsky.social @reportergoodman.bsky.social
www.cnn.com/2025/08/27/h...
Hundreds of HHS employees asked Kennedy to “cease and publicly disavow the ongoing dissemination of false and misleading claims about vaccines, infectious disease transmission, and America’s public health institutions," story by @megtirrell.bsky.social www.cnn.com/2025/08/20/h...
HHS staffers implore RFK Jr. to ‘stop spreading inaccurate health information’ in wake of CDC shooting | CNN
More than 750 current and former staffers at the US Department of Health and Human Services implored Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in a letter Wednesday to “stop spreading inaccurate health informa...
www.cnn.com
August 21, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Hundreds of HHS employees asked Kennedy to “cease and publicly disavow the ongoing dissemination of false and misleading claims about vaccines, infectious disease transmission, and America’s public health institutions," story by @megtirrell.bsky.social www.cnn.com/2025/08/20/h...
Reposted by Brenda Goodman
This book is such a remarkable achievement. Just heartbreakingly written, so much love for people who have been systematically abandoned by our society. An exposure that the social contract has been broken in this country for decades.
After many years of reporting and writing, the day is finally here: THERE IS NO PLACE FOR US is out today.
I poured everything into this book, and I hope it ignites outrage at the fact that so many people in the richest nation on earth have been deprived of one of the most basic human necessities.
I poured everything into this book, and I hope it ignites outrage at the fact that so many people in the richest nation on earth have been deprived of one of the most basic human necessities.
August 20, 2025 at 7:15 PM
This book is such a remarkable achievement. Just heartbreakingly written, so much love for people who have been systematically abandoned by our society. An exposure that the social contract has been broken in this country for decades.
Pfizer has recalled lots of its long-acting injected penicillin, Bicillin L-A, which will worsen an ongoing shortage. This form of penicillin is the only option doctors have for treating syphilis during pregnancy. www.cnn.com/2025/07/16/h...
A new recall of injected penicillin may put gains against syphilis in peril | CNN
Drugmaker Pfizer is warning doctors that it expects to run low on supplies of Bicillin L-A, a long-acting injection of the antibiotic penicillin, the preferred option for treating syphilis during preg...
www.cnn.com
July 16, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Pfizer has recalled lots of its long-acting injected penicillin, Bicillin L-A, which will worsen an ongoing shortage. This form of penicillin is the only option doctors have for treating syphilis during pregnancy. www.cnn.com/2025/07/16/h...
Reposted by Brenda Goodman
How disruptive are stateside/federal funding cuts/freezes, you ask? It's July 10th, and half my lab hasn't been paid and they're behind on rent and at risk of eviction. That's how disruptive. F this nonsense.
a cartoon dog wearing a purple hat is sitting in front of a fire .
ALT: a cartoon dog wearing a purple hat is sitting in front of a fire .
media.tenor.com
July 10, 2025 at 5:42 PM
How disruptive are stateside/federal funding cuts/freezes, you ask? It's July 10th, and half my lab hasn't been paid and they're behind on rent and at risk of eviction. That's how disruptive. F this nonsense.
Reposted by Brenda Goodman
RFK Jr. spouted dangerous vaccine falsehoods on national TV. As a parent and infectious diseases doctor, I couldn't stay silent. Here's what the data actually shows. 🧵
June 13, 2025 at 5:26 AM
RFK Jr. spouted dangerous vaccine falsehoods on national TV. As a parent and infectious diseases doctor, I couldn't stay silent. Here's what the data actually shows. 🧵
Hours after we posted this story today, highlighting the struggles of Milwaukee families impacted by the lead crisis in the city's public schools, HHS rehired the CDC's entire Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, including its lead experts. www.cnn.com/2025/06/11/h...
‘Come help us’: Milwaukee parents fire back at Trump administration for denying federal aid amid lead crisis in schools | CNN
This week, Milwaukee families shared stories about lives disrupted and worries about brain damage and learning disabilities — and a federal government that has denied them help during a lead crisis in...
www.cnn.com
June 11, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Hours after we posted this story today, highlighting the struggles of Milwaukee families impacted by the lead crisis in the city's public schools, HHS rehired the CDC's entire Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, including its lead experts. www.cnn.com/2025/06/11/h...
Kennedy's claim that vaccines given to kids haven't been tested in placebo-controlled trials is "demonstrably false" said @jakescottmd.bsky.social.
Thanks to Dr. Scott and his colleagues, we now have a round-up of placebo-controlled trials of vaccines. www.cnn.com/2025/06/05/h...
Thanks to Dr. Scott and his colleagues, we now have a round-up of placebo-controlled trials of vaccines. www.cnn.com/2025/06/05/h...
Despite Kennedy’s claims, vaccines have been tested in placebo-controlled studies – nearly 260 of them | CNN
There have been 258 placebo-controlled clinical trials of vaccines, according to a new research project. More than half of those studies tested vaccines against inert placebos.
www.cnn.com
June 6, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Kennedy's claim that vaccines given to kids haven't been tested in placebo-controlled trials is "demonstrably false" said @jakescottmd.bsky.social.
Thanks to Dr. Scott and his colleagues, we now have a round-up of placebo-controlled trials of vaccines. www.cnn.com/2025/06/05/h...
Thanks to Dr. Scott and his colleagues, we now have a round-up of placebo-controlled trials of vaccines. www.cnn.com/2025/06/05/h...
Reposted by Brenda Goodman
Friendly reminder that double negatives are a big no-no.
April 30, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Friendly reminder that double negatives are a big no-no.
Nutrition researcher Kevin Hall thought his NIH studies on ultraprocessed foods would flourish under HHS Secretary Kennedy's MAHA plan.
Instead, he encountered censorship and interference, prompting him to take an early retirement. Story by @megtirrell.bsky.social www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/h...
Instead, he encountered censorship and interference, prompting him to take an early retirement. Story by @megtirrell.bsky.social www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/h...
Top NIH nutrition researcher studying ultraprocessed foods departs, citing censorship under Kennedy | CNN
When President Donald Trump named Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his choice to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services, one group of health researchers was cautiously optimistic that their cause...
www.cnn.com
April 16, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Nutrition researcher Kevin Hall thought his NIH studies on ultraprocessed foods would flourish under HHS Secretary Kennedy's MAHA plan.
Instead, he encountered censorship and interference, prompting him to take an early retirement. Story by @megtirrell.bsky.social www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/h...
Instead, he encountered censorship and interference, prompting him to take an early retirement. Story by @megtirrell.bsky.social www.cnn.com/2025/04/16/h...
One of @megtirrell.bsky.social's many talents is that she's just a great explainer of science. Check out all these cool facts about how we see rainbows: www.cnn.com/2025/04/03/s...
No two people see the same exact rainbow. Here’s why | CNN
You will never see the same rainbow that’s in someone else’s eye. CNN’s Meg Tirrell examines the unique nature of this colorful phenomenon with Dr. Steven Businger, professor of atmospheric sciences f...
www.cnn.com
April 3, 2025 at 2:04 PM
One of @megtirrell.bsky.social's many talents is that she's just a great explainer of science. Check out all these cool facts about how we see rainbows: www.cnn.com/2025/04/03/s...
After Tuesday's massive cuts to federal health agencies, "We no longer have lead experts" a source at the CDC told me. That may leave the city of Milwaukee in a lurch www.cnn.com/2025/04/02/h...
A city responding to a lead crisis in local schools reached out to the CDC for help. Now they won’t get it. | CNN
A CDC team helping respond to a lead crisis in Milwaukee schools was cut as part of a widespread layoffs at federal health agencies this week.
www.cnn.com
April 3, 2025 at 3:50 AM
After Tuesday's massive cuts to federal health agencies, "We no longer have lead experts" a source at the CDC told me. That may leave the city of Milwaukee in a lurch www.cnn.com/2025/04/02/h...
Reposted by Brenda Goodman
As a candidate last year, Trump promised “to unleash the power of American innovation” to super-charge U.S. scientific research.
He’s instead unleashed cuts and chaos, researchers and scientists warn.
Our look at the abrupt changes — and the consequences. With @dtkeating.bsky.social
He’s instead unleashed cuts and chaos, researchers and scientists warn.
Our look at the abrupt changes — and the consequences. With @dtkeating.bsky.social
Trump promised scientific breakthroughs. Researchers say he’s breaking science.
NIH funding for biomedical research has abruptly fallen by billions of dollars, with many grant decisions on hold. Trump officials say they’re reviewing the agency.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 28, 2025 at 1:03 PM
As a candidate last year, Trump promised “to unleash the power of American innovation” to super-charge U.S. scientific research.
He’s instead unleashed cuts and chaos, researchers and scientists warn.
Our look at the abrupt changes — and the consequences. With @dtkeating.bsky.social
He’s instead unleashed cuts and chaos, researchers and scientists warn.
Our look at the abrupt changes — and the consequences. With @dtkeating.bsky.social
In a recent interview on Fox, HHS Sec. Kennedy praised the work of two frontline Texas doctors and their use of an unconventional treatment for measles. One of them has been disciplined by the Texas Medical Board for "usual use" of risky treatments before. www.cnn.com/2025/03/06/h...
Kennedy touts unconventional therapies for measles linked to disciplined Texas doctor | CNN
Kennedy has touted the benefits of an unconventional measles treatment including the steroid budesonide, the antibiotic clarithromycin and cod liver oil, which has high concentrations of vitamin A.
www.cnn.com
March 7, 2025 at 3:24 AM
In a recent interview on Fox, HHS Sec. Kennedy praised the work of two frontline Texas doctors and their use of an unconventional treatment for measles. One of them has been disciplined by the Texas Medical Board for "usual use" of risky treatments before. www.cnn.com/2025/03/06/h...
Reposted by Brenda Goodman
Millions of federal workers were ordered to return to offices across the country in recent weeks, marking an end to Covid-era rules allowing more flexibility to work from home.
Many have come back to workplaces that weren't ready for them. cnn.it/41nF0Ii
Many have come back to workplaces that weren't ready for them. cnn.it/41nF0Ii
March 4, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Millions of federal workers were ordered to return to offices across the country in recent weeks, marking an end to Covid-era rules allowing more flexibility to work from home.
Many have come back to workplaces that weren't ready for them. cnn.it/41nF0Ii
Many have come back to workplaces that weren't ready for them. cnn.it/41nF0Ii
The upcoming meeting of FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee has been canceled, without explanation. The committee was due to select which strains should go into this fall's batch of seasonal flu vaccines @megtirrell.bsky.social with the news, www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/h...
FDA meeting to choose flu vaccine composition canceled without explanation | CNN
A March meeting of outside advisers to the United States Food and Drug Administration to discuss the composition of flu vaccines for this fall’s flu season has been canceled, a member of the advisory ...
www.cnn.com
February 27, 2025 at 12:38 AM
The upcoming meeting of FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee has been canceled, without explanation. The committee was due to select which strains should go into this fall's batch of seasonal flu vaccines @megtirrell.bsky.social with the news, www.cnn.com/2025/02/26/h...
Reposted by Brenda Goodman
“Many states that participate in the YRBSS already opted out of including the question about transgender identity in their state-level surveys (which are given to separate samples of youths than the nationally representative survey)”
CDC will no longer process transgender data
The decision will likely affect a number of federal health surveillance systems
www.statnews.com/2025/02/25/c...
The decision will likely affect a number of federal health surveillance systems
www.statnews.com/2025/02/25/c...
CDC will no longer process transgender data
The agency's decision will likely affect a number of federal health surveillance systems that serve as critical resources for researchers.
www.statnews.com
February 25, 2025 at 10:53 PM
“Many states that participate in the YRBSS already opted out of including the question about transgender identity in their state-level surveys (which are given to separate samples of youths than the nationally representative survey)”
Reposted by Brenda Goodman
ICU doctors are telling me they're seeing larger-than-usual numbers of patients with bad complications from the flu this year including neurologic complications in kids. www.cnn.com/2025/02/14/h....
An intense flu season is filling hospitals with severely ill patients | CNN
The US is in the throes an unusually intense and severe flu season, with hospitalization rates topping the levels seen with Covid-19 at some points of the pandemic.
www.cnn.com
February 15, 2025 at 2:05 PM
ICU doctors are telling me they're seeing larger-than-usual numbers of patients with bad complications from the flu this year including neurologic complications in kids. www.cnn.com/2025/02/14/h....
Great reporting by my CNN colleagues Rene Marsh and Ella Nilsen www.cnn.com/2025/02/14/c...
Trump officials fired nuclear staff not realizing they oversee the country’s weapons stockpile, sources say | CNN
Some of the fired probationary employees included on-the-ground staff at facilities where nuclear weapons are built.
www.cnn.com
February 15, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Great reporting by my CNN colleagues Rene Marsh and Ella Nilsen www.cnn.com/2025/02/14/c...