What Politico said…and what a deeper analysis shows. garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/questionin...

How valid is Politico’s vaccine skepticism poll? @drhigginsmd.bsky.social delivers a helpful analysis. We may be in an era of poll pollution. garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/questionin...

A podcaster's influence is remarkable. Trump's prompt FDA approval offer is extraordinary. STAT lists potential political motivations behind his urgency. The hypocrisy of Gold Standard Science. garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/psychedeli...

This is what it's come to. Podcaster Joe Rogan sends Trump some info, leading to an order fast-tracking use/research of psychedelics for mental health disorders. Gold Standard Science. What's the NIH/FDA role anymore? Cheerleading? Meantime, $5 billion in NIH funds to be cut.

FDA Vaccine Chief Front-Runner Called mRNA Vaccines “Experimental Genetic Technology,” Compared Pandemic Response to Iranian Rule Dr. Houman David Hemmati is closely aligned with the MAHA movement.

Next probable head of FDA Center for Biologics & Evaluation Research is an opthalmologist lacking vaccine experience. But he’s anti-mRNA so I guess he qualifies. open.substack.com/pub/importan...

Oz's CMS flip-flops on a prior offer of help for Medicare Advantage patients who want to get out. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/16/b...

Analysis of survey claiming “strong patient interest in” new Alzheimer’s tests. On same day Cochrane report questions some “much-hyped” Alzheimer’s drugs. It’s a rollercoaster. garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/rollercoas...

“What started as a cure for covid that doesn’t cure covid, has transmogrified into claims that ivermectin cures cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, lyme disease, and even aging.” garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/ivermectin...

Two spoofs on your Secretary of Health & Human Services RFK Jr. If you haven’t seen them, take a look. garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/the-bomb-s...

12 more pediatric flu deaths - 139 for the season. 1,714 measles cases in ’26, >90 in ongoing outbreaks, vast majority in unvaccinated people. What are you doing?

“Bobby,” Oz, Makary, Bhattacharya had a forgettable week. But one worth remembering as further examples of badly tarnished “Gold Standard Science.” garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/the-bomb-s...

Jessica Knurick, PhD, on how federal health agencies are failing even on their own pet priorities. drjessicaknurick.substack.com/p/snap-cuts-...

RFK Jr. & Oz rolliing out PR and political theater as they threaten hospitals will lose Medicare/Medicaid payment if they don’t deliver different food. Seems impractical and unenforceable. garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/rfk-jr-and...

Shining a light on a story that’s a good example of how to report on early clinical trials. garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/good-journ...

Cure for arthritic knees? NYT touts experiments 18 months before human trials Fascinating research - faulty journalism

There is no cure for knee osteoarthritis. Talking about potential cures one-and-a-half years before human trials even begin is not good journalism. garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/cure-for-a...

Despite Medicare Advantage plan news like this, the Trump administration gives them a bigger financial boost than expected. Art of the deal? garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/more-taxpa...

Irresponsible, reckless, unhinged and unconstrained.

Trump administration spends more taxpayer $$$ on privatized Medicare Advantage plans despite fraud, overpayments and broken promises. Why? garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/more-taxpa...

This would not have made the news if it didn’t say “pig semen.” It’s in mice & some reporting was woefully incomplete. garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/farts-and-...

Farts & pig semen: guaranteed news coverage Sometimes I just have to reach down into the gutter of garbage editorial decisions because maybe some of you will tell your news sources - “STOP!”

Some research makes news just because of the clickbait giggle factor of the words they can use in the headlines. Pig semen is latest example. garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/farts-and-...

NYT: “Heeding Kennedy’s Wishes, F.D.A. Is Expected to Lift Restriction on Peptides.” www.nytimes.com/2026/03/31/h...

Riding the raves of anecdotes but lacking empirical evidence, RFK Jr. brags that he will end “the war on peptides.” What war? Oh, the one pitting soundbites against sound science. garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/kennedy-fu...

RFK Jr. hypes peptides. “Hypocritical quackery,” says the Washington Post. Policy by “hucksters,” says The Guardian. Such lofty priorities for HHS. garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/kennedy-fu...

Yep, it’s a mess. garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/problems-w...

7 big challenges for the next CDC director Whoever takes over the CDC next will face immediate and enormous challenges. Here are a few.

In 15 months, the Trump administration has only had a Senate-confirmed CDC director for a whopping FOUR WEEKS! www.statnews.com/2026/03/30/c...

Who actually benefits from pharmacy benefit managers? In last month there’s been a RICO lawsuit, congressional hearings, FTC action. Heightened scrutiny. garyschwitzer.substack.com/p/problems-w...

Trump’s first surgeon general tries to stop nominee from becoming his second Jerome Adams, who served at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, says Casey Means is unqualified to hold the job. Means’s nomination is stalled in the Senate.

wapo.st/3O99ZVM

Megan - Yes, there are. STAT News, KFF Health News, ProPublica, Associated Press - to name a few. But also some terrific folks on Substack.

Good point. But only a minority of journalists reporting on studies evaluate the journal source. If your competitors tell it, most feel compelled to join in. With all the cutbacks & corporate takeovers of media organizations, it’s only going to get worse. Plus, this is prime clickbait.

I’m late in responding and now it’s well into a Friday evening. But it’s observational. Surrogate markers. No limitations section (that I saw) in the published journal article. Many limitations inherent here.