Katherine J. Wu
@katherinejwu.com
staff writer at The Atlantic, covering science. former microbiologist / forever cat enthusiast. (she/her) SIGNAL: @katherinejwu.12
2. More context about the #measles numbers: Confirmed cases will always be some unknown portion of the total number of kids infected. Some kids with measles won't be tested. And at least one state may not be counting very hard, @katherinejwu.com reports. www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/...
Florida Is Trying to Ignore Measles Until It Can’t
The state is in the midst of an outbreak, but its health department has been mostly silent.
theatlantic.com
If you're an early-career journalist, consider applying for @theopennotebook.bsky.social's paid, mentored fellowship and follow in the footsteps of @katherinejwu.com, @janehu.bsky.social, @sciwriabdul.bsky.social, @1juliarosen.bsky.social, @celiaford.bsky.social and many more! Deadline: 10/31.
The Open Notebook@theopennotebook.bsky.social · 11mo agoApplications are OPEN for our early-career fellowship program supported by the @bwfund.bsky.social! Work with a mentor to plan, report, and write articles for The Open Notebook and become part of the TON team. 🧵
However, it is not the same thing as whether or not kids should get an original series of vaccines *before* they encounter SARS-CoV-2. Kids under 6 months have among the highest hospitalization rates from COVID (second only to adults over 75) and this virus has not become a mild virus.
All of these grant terminations coming out of the NIH aren't just devastating - they're forced actions, sloppily handled by an administration that is trying to cancel science that it does not understand. www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
A Decade of Cuts in a Matter of Days
The Trump administration’s rapid terminations of NIH grants is its most aggressive attempt yet to control American science.
theatlantic.com
was your vaccine-related NIH grant terminated? please reach out: @katherinejwu.12 on Signal
if you've had an NIH grant terminated, I want to hear about it. Signal: katherinejwu.12
Truly a must-read…and holy hell is it bleak 👇🏻
Katherine J. Wu@katherinejwu.com · last yr.I talked to NIH officials, current and former, about what's been happening inside the agency since the Trump administration shut down their grantmaking pipeline in January. Their stories showed just how willing our new leaders are to break the law: www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
This @katherinejwu.com story about the chaos at NIH is extraordinary. HHS leadership seems determined to ignore court orders and break the law. www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Inside the Collapse at the NIH
Administration officials pressured the NIH to avoid clear advice from the agency’s own lawyers to restart grant funding now.
theatlantic.com
Katie Wu is always worth reading.
Katherine J. Wu@katherinejwu.com · last yr.I talked to NIH officials, current and former, about what's been happening inside the agency since the Trump administration shut down their grantmaking pipeline in January. Their stories showed just how willing our new leaders are to break the law: www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
The black-footed ferret has been coming back from the brink of extinction thanks to the work of US government scientists. They just got fired. www.vox.com/down-to-eart...
This animal is on the edge of extinction. Trump just fired the people trying to save it.
Job cuts and frozen funding could inch one of the world’s rarest species even closer to extinction.
vox.com
I talked to NIH officials, current and former, about what's been happening inside the agency since the Trump administration shut down their grantmaking pipeline in January. Their stories showed just how willing our new leaders are to break the law: www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
Inside the Collapse at NIH
Administration officials pressured NIH to avoid clear advice from the agency’s own lawyers to restart grant funding now.
theatlantic.com
For decades, the U.S. has funded science, then left scientists to direct their own work. Science has flourished, and the country has benefited. Now the government is testing just how much it can renegotiate that relationship, @katherinejwu.com writes:
The Erasing of American Science
How far can the Trump administration bend U.S. research before it breaks?
theatlantic.com
“Trump and his administration are now deciding how deep a rift to make in America’s scientific firmament. How long it takes to repair the damage, or whether that will be possible at all, depends on the extent of the damage they inflict now.” Essential reading from @katherinejwu.com, as ever
The Erasing of American Science
How far can the Trump administration bend U.S. research before it breaks?
theatlantic.com
An absolute must-read from @katherinejwu.com on the rapid destruction of American science: www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
The Erasing of American Science
How far can the Trump administration bend U.S. research before it breaks?
theatlantic.com
any human genetics/ genomics researchers out there worried about impacts on their DEI-focused work?
NEW: Scientists angered their scientific society is scrubbing websites in "anticipatory obedience" of Trump orders. "For an organization that has championed diversity to make a complete 180, it's dizzying," @kyt-thatsme.bsky.social told me. www.statnews.com/2025/02/03/t...
Removal of DEI content from a microbiology group’s website shows reach of Trump executive orders
The professional society for microbiologists stripped content about Black, female, and LGBTQ scientists from its website
statnews.com
🚨 If you think this administration isn't attacking science & vaccines, think again. They’ve now scrubbed all ACIP slides. First, they erase the data. Then, manipulate it to fit their narrative—this time, undermining vaccine safety. We’ve seen this playbook before. #ScienceMatters #VaccinesSaveLives
Data on the CDC's website are being removed to comply with the Trump administration’s ongoing attempt to scrub federal agencies of any mention of gender, DEI, and accessibility, Katherine J. Wu reports:
The CDC Is Altering Data to Follow Trump’s DEI Order
The agency has already removed scientific data from public view. More could follow.
theatlantic.com
CDC data’s “explicit purpose” is to guide researchers toward the places and people who most need attention, Patrick Sullivan, a former CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, said. “It’s hard to understand how this benefits health.” www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
CDC Data Are Disappearing
The agency has already removed scientific data from public view. More could follow.
theatlantic.com
