This weeks Whopper is about how RFK Jr tries to circumvent normal processes of scientific deliberation and go straight to the public with his half-baked reports.

New for #WorldTBDay: An innovative rapid test using tongue swabs can greatly aid the struggle vs TB - #nPOC or near point-of-care testing, boosted by the #Gates Foundation and #WHO By @drjudystone.bsky.social

43 current and former C.D.C. employees on the changes they say are replacing science with ideology — and making Americans more vulnerable - By Jeneen Interlandi @defendpublichealth.bsky.social @standupforscience.net @pnhpnymetro.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

“This is not difficult: Gender-affirming care is health care, period, and decisions about that care belong to patients and their health care providers (and families in the case of minors), not politicians on an ideological crusade.” By @brucemirken.mas.to.ap.brid.gy

Whopper of the Week: In a Deadly Flu Season, RFK Jr. Discourages Vaccination

(In a scathing ruling) Judge Rules Against RFK Jr’s Vaccine Policies by @drjudystone.bsky.social #ACIP #AAP #vaccines #hepatitisB w perspective fr @doritreiss.bsky.social @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social @defendpublichealth.bsky.social

(In a scathing ruling) Judge Rules Against RFK Jr’s Vaccine Policies via @forbes www.forbes.com/sites/judyst... #ACIP #AAP #vaccines #hepatitisB w perspective fr @doritreiss.bsky.social @elizabethjacobs.bsky.social @defendpublichealth.bsky.social

Defend Public Health applauds today’s decision by U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy to issue an injunction blocking recent changes to the schedule of recommended vaccines issued recently by ACIP until he can rule on the merits of a lawsuit brought by the American Academy of Pediatrics and others

“Doing our work and keeping our heads down isn’t a victory. We need to fight this regime every day, in every way.” By @gregggonsalves.bsky.social

It’s Wednesday which means it’s time for the Whooper of the Week! “No, RFK Jr, Guidance About Menopausal Hormone Therapy Isn’t a “War on Women”

From @jeremyfaust.bsky.social “Doctors and scientists quickly said the data didn't support the president's claim, but emergency room orders for Tylenol, or acetaminophen, for pregnant patients went down 10% in the months that followed”

28 scientists say political pressure to remove a chapter on climate science in a manual for judges is a troubling turn for other disciplines, too. @defendpublichealth.bsky.social @standupforscience.bsky.social sciencepolitics.org/2026/03/02/a...

Since we no longer seem to have a federal food monitor @defendpublichealth.bsky.social pix11.com/news/local-n...

A DOJ lawyer argued in court today that RFK Jr. has the absolute authority to recommend (hypothetically) that people get a shot *of* measles instead of *against* measles during a hearing for the lawsuit filed against RFK Jr. by the AAP and APHA. The good side is seeking a preliminary injunction…

@defendpublichealth.bsky.social A history of our community public health buildings and the architecture of public health. circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov/2026/03/05/d...

We're up over 3,000 letters sent. Can we get more than 5,000 letters sent to Senators opposing Casey Means' nomination for Surgeon General? Please sign and send a letter to your Senators now by clicking below! actionnetwork.org/letters/oppo... @defendpublichealth.bsky.social

Dr. William Carter Jenkins was an epidemiologist at the CDC who fought tirelessly for ending discrimination and structural racism in science and healthcare. He led early efforts to end the Tuskegee Experiment. He is a public health hero

If we learned anything from yesterday’s hearing it’s that Casey Means is not fit to be surgeon general. Please sign

This week's whopper is about RFK Jr's nostalgia for the 1960s when few Americans had any chronic diseases, (according to him.) It's an easy to refute, thanks to the yearly surveys that the National Health Services have been publishing since 1957. Thank goodness for government funded survey data!

Casey Means is a crank-charlatan and should be wholly rejected by the Senate as Trump's nominee for Surgeon General. Tell your Senators to reject Casey Means: actionnetwork.org/letters/oppo... @defendpublichealth.bsky.social

While we would love to continue sharing our opinions on the Casey Means hearing for Surgeon General, we have day jobs we have to get back to! But we leave you with this statement from DPH:

Casey's previous statements that Hep B vaccines are a crime & her inability to say vaccines save lives, don't square for many senators. Her focus is on crafting the best immunization schedule & shared clinical-decision making. The surgeon general should beable to state their position on vaccines!

Josh Hawley is asking about the AI data centers and their impact on health- thought-provoking and something that needs to be studied. And Hawley actually used the phrase "correlation does not equal causation" correctly

Casey has waxed poetic on research on metabolic disease but refuses to respond to questions about research on vaccines or other topics that are in the purview of the surgeon general. She continues to evade the question of whether flu vaccines save lives because she wants to get this job.

We are struck that Casey Means isn't speaking more about what she plans to do as Surgeon General and is spending time sharing research and passion projects that, while maybe interesting, are outside the purview of the Surgeon General.

Casey Means is not familiar with the Hep B study in Guini-Biseau that would withhold Hep B vaccine from half the trial. She believes withholding vaccines from children is not ok, especially if the standard of care is to give the Hep B vaccine. (This is what Guini-Biseau stated yesterday!)

Means claims she wants to get to the root causes of poor health in the U.S. I submit to the BlueSky record @defendpublichealth.bsky.social’s report “Improving the Health of Americans Together” (IHAT), which provides a framework for that based on scientific evidence.

Casey Means wants to focus on what we eat & how it affects health. Very reasonable & an expected goal from the Surgeon General; however, there is so much more to our health that needs to be addressed (vaccines, substance use, cancer) But she hasn't shared her plan for anything other than food.

Focusing on the role of the Surgeon General, Sen Kim, notes that a licensed physician typically holds this position. Currently, Casey Means has an inactive medical license & won't reactivate it for this role. The Surgeon General is also head of the comission core, & that requires an active license.

Sen Collins is asking Casey Means about her use of illicit substances (Psilocybin) as we have a substance use problem in this country. Collins wanted to know if Means stands by her endorsement in her book. It is a swing and a miss for this topic because opioid overdose deaths remain high

Hot Mic moment, not sure who said it, but what was said "she read the compliant, she (Casey Means) is playing dumb."

It seems Casey Means hasn't disclosed all her product endorsements, and Sen. Murphy is suggesting she is hiding the fact that she has relationships with these companies. Casey Means is suggesting Murphy's staff did something to manipulate these claims. WHAT?

What age should a child get a smart phone, should they be allowed in schools, and are they (and social media) contributing to a mental health crisis in the US? Casey Means suggests that the evidence is pointing in this link and it is something she wants to look into more

Sen. Baldwin is pointing out Casey Means conflicts of interest in supplements and other endorsements and how they don't inspire confidence in someone wanting to be the Surgeon General. Yep- it is suspect for sure.

Most people would agree that ultra-processed foods are bad for our health. However, when they are cheaper than whole foods we have an issue; when they are just missing from specific communities, we have a problem. We can talk all we want about needing whole foods, but what's the action and how?

The FDA physician being mentioned, Dr. Tracey Hoeg, is a sports medicine doc. We have never understood how she is qualified to be the Acting Director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Side effects from a pill or vaccine do NOT mean something is wrong with the medicine or vaccine. People's bodies respond to things differently but that doesn't mean they are harmful. This is a literacy issue around public health and medicine.

Casey Means has many ideas for what is needed for medical education and insurance reform regarding chronic disease, including addressing root causes, but is short on the details, again. Also, is this the purview of the surgeon general?

How DARE committee members suggest that, because rates of Autism are so high, we have to look to vaccines? WE HAVE EXTENSIVE EVIDENCE THAT AUTISM IS NOT CAUSED by VACCINES. This is a hill we will die on.

Is healthcare a human right? Again, Casey Means can't answer the question

Sanders moves to vaccines- AMA strongly endorses the idea that vaccines DO NOT cause autism, RFK Jr holds the exact opposite thought. Sanders wants to know who is correct- Casey again cannot say vaccines do not cause autism. This should be enough to tank the nomination.

Sen Sanders on pharmacutical adds on TV- he believes they should not be on TV, and Casey Means agrees. New Zealand is the only other country allowing these ads.

Next, vaccines and autism. Casey suggests we have an autism crisis and won't state that vaccines do not cause autism. She suggests more research is needed bc the science is never settled. VACCINES ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE- the science is settled.

Now we get to Measles: Casey clearly won't answer as to whether she would encourage new mothers to get MMR vaccine. Now the same question on flu vaccines. She is widely in support of vaccines, but will not answer whether she would encourage people to get vaccinated.

Dr. Cassidy asks about Mifepristone - whether it could be prescribed virtually. Casey side steps this question, suggesting the Surgeon General doesn't make those decisions.

Casey Means is providing a long list of what she considers her credentials with her appointments at different medical schools, accomplishments, and time at the NIH. It is strange because she is NOT a practicing physician and hasn't been for a while.

During her opening statement, Casey suggests we need to address modifiable behaviors (yes absolutely) but how? And will it apply to all Americans?