Alicia Ault
@aliciaault.bsky.social
Independent journalist for Medscape, Smithsonian, covering all things health and science. Consumer and chronicler of food, music, art and culture. More-than-mediocre tennis player. Beach yogi.
Trump administration announces FY27 budget cuts for Smithsonian. #museums #culture #art #history #WashingtonDC #politics
Trump Administration’s Assault on Smithsonian Continues With Proposed Budget Cuts
The Trump Administration has proposed an 11% cut to the Smithsonian Institution for the 2027 fiscal year, the museum's lowest budget since 2020
artforum.com
So much for states' rights. #womenshealth #obgyn #Medsky
Blanche pledges to make Dobbs decision ‘permanent’ in every state
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told faith leaders he is planning to roll back abortion access even in states that have laws protecting it. On a private call last week hosted by the Whit…
thehill.com
Meanwhile, Bill Marler is reporting 22,683 cyclosporiasis cases nationally. When are we going to hear something from HHS Secretary or FDA Commissioner? How about a media briefing? How about some public communication? #parasites #foodsafety #EpiSky #publichealth
Missouri Doubled in a Week to 1,095, and CDC Says None of It Is This Outbreak. St. Louis County Says Its Patients Ate at Taco Bell. The Cyclospora Count Is Now 22,683.
Two people are dead in Michigan, and I want that sentence to stay at the top of everything I write this week. The Michigan Department of Health and Human
marlerblog.com
Alicia Ault@aliciaault.bsky.social · 23h ago"Missouri, which is reporting 1,095 cases, is one of the states being added" CDC acknowledging wider spread of cyclosporiasis. #foodsafety #parasites #EpiSky #outbreak
"Missouri, which is reporting 1,095 cases, is one of the states being added" CDC acknowledging wider spread of cyclosporiasis. #foodsafety #parasites #EpiSky #outbreak
CDC expands largest known cyclosporiasis outbreak to 15 states
Missouri reported a dramatic jump in cases in the past week. Six states have joined the outbreak linked to lettuce from central Mexico, according to people familiar with the investigation.
washingtonpost.com
...this list looks like a reflection of the career civil servants and the Trump political staff "contradicting each other on paper.” 37 sites in DC on list of places that would be adversely affected by a very tall arch @altnps.bsky.social #DMV #monuments #architecture #Americanhistory
Park Service Finds Trump’s Arch Could Detract From Dozens of Historic Places (Gift Article)
The 250-foot-tall edifice would alter views across Washington and Arlington Cemetery.
nytimes.com
ICMYI: Gunther von Hagens, the fedora-wearing founder of "Body Worlds," the controversial anatomy sideshow, died. #museums #culture #plastination #autopsy #meded
Gunther von Hagens, Creator of Polarizing ‘Body Worlds’ Exhibits, Dies at 81 (Gift Article)
A German scientist, he developed a process for turning corpses into posable figures. His shows drew millions of visitors, and many detractors.
nytimes.com
Wait. Rand Paul and RFK saw a hearing attacking Tony Fauci as a....marketing opportunity? No way!
Spotlight on Fauci Said to Boost Book Sales for Kennedy and His Publisher
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his son, and Senator Rand Paul have all written books criticizing Dr. Anthony S. Fauci. All were published by a company led by a close Kennedy adviser.
nytimes.com
A primer on peptides and what FDA's next move might be from @drjoshs.bsky.social #longevity #aging #regulation #wellness
How the FDA Regulates Peptides | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
An FDA advisory committee has recommended loosening restrictions on peptides. Here’s what that could mean.
publichealth.jhu.edu
ICYMI: Two Michigan residents' deaths are being linked to the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak. Both had underlying health conditions. Still, why isn't the federal government communicating more about this outbreak? #publichealth #foodsafety #pathogens #parasites
Two Deaths Linked to Cyclospora Outbreak in Michigan (Gift Article)
The patients had “significant underlying health conditions” that may have contributed to their deaths, health officials said.
nytimes.com
What's next for RP1, Replimune's melanoma drug? FDA decision due by Sunday. The agency has twice rejected it, but its advisory committee said it should be available to patients. My story for @medscape.com #skincancer #cancer #oncology #immunotherapy #dermatology
FDA Advisory Panel Backs Replimune's Melanoma Drug
If the agency approves RP1, it would be a major reversal as it has twice rejected the combination drug for advanced melanoma.
medscape.com
If you want to know what's really happening with the cyclospora outbreak, follow Bill Marler. Cases are continuing to grow across the US; Taylor Farms is not telling us anything. #IDsky #EpiSky #CDC #FDA #foodsafety #foodpolitics #publichealth #cyclosporiasis
Taylor Farms Has Now Written Five Different Versions of the Same Statement. The Newest One Says It Ran Two Thousand Samples and Found Nothing. Ohio Just Added 1,437 CyclosporaCases in a Week and the F...
Taylor Farms put up a new page on its website on the evening of July 30, and as far as I can tell nobody has written about it. It is not the newsroom
marlerblog.com
A potentially stunning reversal for Replimune may be coming. FDA adcom voted 10-3 that trial data on its RP1 melanoma drug showed efficacy signal. FDA staff has recommended against approval twice. FDA due to decide on drug's fate by Sunday. #skincancer #DermSky #oncology #cancer
CTGTAC July 30, 2026 Meeting Announcement
This is the main page for the CBER Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee (CTGTAC) July 30, 2026 announcement and meeting materials.
fda.gov
500-year-old Inca mummies prove that European colonists brought devastating smallpox to the Americas www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
livescience.com
Walgreens already offering flu shots for the upcoming respiratory virus season. #influenza #publichealth #vaccines #IDsky #EpiSky #familymedicine #pediatrics
Flu Shots Now Available at Walgreens with Convenient Walk-In and Scheduling Options - Walgreens Corporate Site
More pharmacy staff, online scheduling and flexible appointment options make it easy for individuals and families to get vaccinated at no cost with most insurance
corporate.walgreens.com
Just hearing this now --Glen Hansard dies in a motorcycle accident in Dublin.
Oscar-winning songwriter Glen Hansard killed in crash
Hansard, who was 56, won the best song Oscar for the 2007 low-budget musical film Once.
yahoo.com
Tidbit from the Fauci diary: RFK Jr's mom and sister invited Fauci to Hyannisport to celebrate July 4, 2020. How times have changed. "They said that they love me and admired me and were so please that the Kennedy family could honor me." How times have changed.
How a company called Rosabella used AI content to market its supplements: "If you’re trying to sell health products to a 50-year-old, well, make your avatar 50 years old."
Inside an AI TikTok Shop Slop Factory That Shills Supplements Recalled By the FDA
How a company called Rosabella used AI content to market its supplements: "If you’re trying to sell health products to a 50-year-old, well, make your avatar 50 years old."
404media.co
Rand Paul wants to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt after yesterday's hearing www.npr.org/2026/07/30/n...
Sen. Rand Paul says he'll move to hold Fauci in contempt after combative hearing
Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment while appearing before a committee chaired by Sen. Rand Paul. Now, the senator is saying he will move to hold Fauci in contempt.
npr.org
In win for RFK Jr., Senate committee sends nominations of Erica Schwartz for CDC director and Sean Kaufman for ASPR to full Senate. www.statnews.com/2026/07/30/s...
Key Senate panel backs Trump’s picks for CDC, pandemic preparedness
In win for RFK Jr., Senate committee sends nominations of Erica Schwartz for CDC director and Sean Kaufman for ASPR to full Senate.
statnews.com
FDA adcom reviewing Replimune's RP1 melanoma therapy right now. Will the third time be the charm? Dubious as staff raised doubts about the data in briefing documents. #skincancer #cancer #oncology #biotech
Cellular, Tissue and Gene Therapies Advisory Committee (CTGTAC) Meeting
YouTube video by U.S. Food and Drug Administration
youtube.com
“Consult your doctor before taking Skyrizi, and if your doctor advises against it, physically attack them immediately” #drugcosts #pharma #marketing #dermatology
Pharmaceutical Ad Urges Viewers To Fight Doctors Who Say Drug Not Right For Them
NORTH CHICAGO, IL—Emphasizing that potential users of the drug should never take no for an answer, a Skyrizi ad that began airing nationally Tuesday encourages viewers to fight any doctors who say the...
theonion.com
Florida health dept reports locally-acquired dengue in Hillsborough County, adding to 42 already reported statewide in 2026. FL had 506 cases in 2025. #vectors #mosquitoes #EpiSky #IDsky #pathogens #climatechange #tropicaldisease
Hillsborough County reports case of mosquito-borne dengue
Dengue is a viral infection caused by mosquito bites. Symptoms include fever, severe headache and joint pain.
tampabay.com
Meanwhile MAHA Action announces it's endorsing a bill by Sens Tuberville and Lee to strip federal education funds from schools that don't allow "religious exemptions" to vaccines. #MMR #politics #EpiSky #publichealth #measles
Madhu Pai, MD, PhD@madhupai.bsky.social · last wk.Not the kind of record you want to see Measles Cases in the U.S. Are at a 35-Year High time.com/article/2026...
They wouldn't try this before the mid-terms, obviously. #politics #Medicare #drugcosts #pharma #affordability
Exclusive | Trump Administration to End Medicare Drug Plan Subsidy
Program that held down premiums won’t be renewed for 2027, resulting in higher costs for some seniors.
wsj.com
"This outbreak is remarkable, not only for the large number of people affected, but also because of the inadequate, delayed, and chaotic oversight and response. And the usual denials and finger-pointing." #foodsafety #cyclosporiasis #foodborneillness #diarrhea #FDA #CDC #RFK #lettucegate
The Cyclospora outbreak: an everyone-is-at-fault system failure: "LettuceGate" - Food Politics by Marion Nestle
The current Cyclospora outbreak represents a failure of companies to follow the rules and of the government to enforce them.
foodpolitics.com
The FDA will officially consolidate administrative staff across the agency’s nine centers and stop specializing its field inspectors starting in October.
The FDA Is Officially Codifying DOGE-Era Changes
The agency will stop specializing its field inspectors starting in October.
notus.org
Most voters say Trump is a factor in their midterm vote. 42% view their vote this fall as a vote against Trump, while 22% view their vote as a vote for him.
"Science" from the White House. Trump reportedly wants to reduce the number of childhood vaccines and "hopes to then see autism rates drop" per @lizessleywhyte.bsky.social who also cites persistent whispers that Oz will replace RFK post-midterms #politics #healthpolicy #healthlaw #publichealth
Trump Turns Up the Heat on RFK Jr. to Cut Back Childhood Vaccines
The president is focused on the shots’ alleged tie to autism, even though White House advisers wanted to tone down attention to the issue ahead of the midterms.
wsj.com
Some really good advice on sunscreen. Advice that can't be repeated often enough. #UV #skin #dermatology #DermSky #SPF #cancer #skincancer #melanoma
Column | I’m a doctor. Here’s why I wear sunblock indoors.
Plus, four tips for buying an effective sunscreen.
washingtonpost.com
Proposal to ban DTC drug ads being slow walked by Trump administration. #pharma #drugcosts #marketing #RFK #FDA #biotech
RFK Jr.’s Big Promise to Ban Pharmaceutical Ads Is in the Slow Lane
Meanwhile, drugmakers are spending more on TV ads this year than last year.
notus.org