So it begins! #ATNF

Ahem, right after a 45 minute power nap, which is clearly outlined in this year's agenda.

I'm honored to be speaking on a panel at this year's conference. If you're in DC between 4/19-4/22 I'd love to meet up and say hello. Cheers.
www.atnf.forum

No less than eight experts have already pointed out serious flaws with this "assessment".

Comment from Prof Lion Shahab, Professor of Health Psychology and Co-Director of the UCL Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, University College London:
www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-react...

This feels particularly relevant:

“In public health, we should pride ourselves on being honest, transparent, and evidence-based. And the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (along with many other tobacco control groups) is not doing any of these three.”
tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2026/03/a-ne...

Tobacco Control Groups are Misleading Legislators in Their Efforts to Block Smokers from Access to Life-Saving Products
tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2026/03/toba...

As someone who's played his fair share of open mic nights, I'm legitimately impressed. That's a great tune for easing fragile temperaments into the day.

Me? No-no. Never.

Smoking rates are at a historic low. You're not hearing about it from the government The CDC had remarkable data on smoking rates last fall, but it no longer had smoking experts available to review it and disseminate it.

Because of the Trump administration's cuts to public health, annual tobacco use data is being released without the usual analysis. But adult smoking has reached an historic low, and early analysis (from Altria, fwiw) puts youth use way down from peaks as well. www.statnews.com/2026/03/17/c...

I have 2 goals: Reduce preventable DEATHS and reduce teen nicotine USE. I know these goals carry different moral weight (death is final; use changes). But these are my goals.

I share CDC, NIH and peer-reviewed evidence to achieve that. e.g., Here is what's ACTUALLY happening in the USA:

Study Claiming that Vaping Causes Lung Cancer Fails to Document that a Single Case Occurred After the Person Started Vaping
tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2026/03/stud...

The Irreconcilable Conflict Principle (redux) The governing idea of tobacco control is an irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the tobacco industry and public health. The idea is wrong and dangerous.

Dr Ling is a compelling presenter and I appreciated the chance to attend her plenary.

As a counterpoint, #SRNT2026 folks might appreciate this @clivebates.bsky.social post from 27 Feb (don't be too put off by the imagery!):

open.substack.com/pub/clivebat...

“Among Americans age 55 and older, smoking rates have barely moved: 18.7% in 2016 compared with 16.7% in 2023. Every younger age group has experienced much steeper declines.

This is a tragedy, but one we can mitigate.” @cdoug-bsky.bsky.social

Please continue below.
substack.com/home/post/p-19…

Findings from the 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey that Anti-Nicotine Groups Don't Want You to Know
tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2026/03/find...

elmo from sesame street is holding a tennis ball and saying " so excited " ALT: elmo from sesame street is holding a tennis ball and saying " so excited "

Good night!
I have to get my rest. It’s a big day tomorrow! #RAK Random Acts of Kindness Day! I ❤️ that day!!!
Sweet dreams!
#BeKind

Robert Duvall played so many memorable roles in his life, but if forced to choose just one, I'll take Gus McCrae every time

"Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out fron.t because a man that does like to rent pigs is.. he's hard to stop."

RIP legend.

“What we’ve done is caused a pseudo-prohibition,” said Rohan Pike, a former federal police detective who led a tobacco task force for the Australian Border Patrol. “It has spawned an organized crime marketplace.”

Yet the WHO maintains higher cigarette taxes "help" people quit.

How $40-a-Pack Cigarettes Pushed Australians to the Black Market

Between the recent AP story on Mexican cartels supplying illicit vapes and now this NYT story on Australia's criminal cigarette market, it feels like media is starting to pick up on the failures of prohibitionist tobacco control policy.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/15/w...

Smoke-Free Products Nearing 50% of the Nicotine Market Thanks to Tobacco and Vaping Companies But In Spite of the Actions of Most Tobacco Control Groups
tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2026/02/smok...

Interview: David Zaruk, The Risk Monger - Clearing the Air David Zaruk (aka the Risk Monger) has been an EU risk and science communications specialist since 2000, active in EU policy events from REACH and SCALE to the

Michael Bloomberg’s colossal global influence on THR denial!

“The entire tobacco harm reduction sphere is dealing with the rather heavy-weighted influence of one particular person, Michael Bloomberg. He has spent $1.6 billion on fighting tobacco harm reduction”

clearingtheair.eu/en/post/inte...

tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2026/01/mass...

Haven't written much on my tobacco policy beat lately, but Mexico just implemented a law that criminalizes selling vapes with penalties of up to 8 years in prison. All while regular cigarettes are completely legal, mind you. Awful policy.
tobaccoreporter.com/2026/01/16/m...

This just isn't true on any scale other than anecdote. Despite our government's best efforts to fuck it up, Americans are massively replacing smoking with safer forms of nicotine.

Trader Joe's Exec1: we'll sell lots of really good stuff at good prices

Exec2: that doesn't sound at all evil. We're a big company, we're supposed to be evil

Founder1: we are going to have the most inadequate, cramped, badly designed parking lots in the fucking world

Founder2: ok that works

Hardly any stores left in Portland

This aggression will not.. etc, etc.

a cartoon of a boy holding a sign that says " welcome great pumpkin " ALT: a cartoon of a boy holding a sign that says " welcome great pumpkin "

Ah, yes. It's a crisp, sub 60° morning here in the deep South.

No candy corn, please.

God, artists are so whiny about people using AI to make stupid lil art like I was like make a photorealistic sea otter floating on its back eating 8 bit pepperoni pizza and it did

Watching football after a walk #blueskysupperclub

I’m a big fan of honesty here. Try one of these replies!

“Wow, that was a rude thing to say.”

“Whoopsie! Did you mean to say that out loud?”

“You remind me of Andy from The Office.”

“Lower your voice to match your height.”

“Apologize before I leave this job like your dad left you.”

Next up: "Please remember I wrote about NASA on a post-it note exactly one year ago, one year before the Challenger blew up. And I said, "You've got to watch that Space Shuttle. It's gonna explode!"

Donny, please. You do not, in fact, have to take any credit.

#blueskysupperclub