Katelyn, We need you now more than ever. We really treasure the research and presentation you provide. Your work is excellent, so please keep it going. I just upgraded to Founding and wish you the best as we weather the storms.
I too wonder if it is a eugenics spree with a heavy dose of anti minority racism. Those oligarchs feel safe from these diseases so they feel they can safely (as in physically safely for them) demolish the progress.
I think Cory Booker answered this pretty well over 25 hours, we do what John Lewis would tell us to do and cause good trouble. Find your closest protest this Saturday. Then find your local Indivisible or whatever other grass roots group you can find and start calling and texting and emailing.
I’ll be out on Saturday, but I’m not physically capable of doing the regular work that needs to be done every day anymore, and there are plenty of other who stepped up last time who can’t either. These groups do made a huge difference (I texted my mom’s home state of Alaska a lot) last time, and they can again but they need help. So for me and everyone like me who can’t help anymore: all of you reading this, it’s your turn.
I do all of that and more Maureen. I helped check in attendees to the Empty Chair Town Hall for Darrell Issa. I’m not in his district but that hasn’t stopped be from supporting his constituents to get him out. We did it before and got Mike Levin in. We can do it again. I stand on the corner twice a week(sometimes 3), calls, postcards, etc. I’m 71 years old and it’s hard on my body but I do it anyway. I’ll be at the Hands Off rally and I’m bringing 4 others (all family). I want to know what else I can do.
Thank you for everything that you do! Clearly you didn’t need my advice but I hope it reaches people who need to hear it.
I do have a message for you though, because I know how hard that work is: You are enough and whatever you can do will be enough. Don’t forget to take care of yourself! And thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for fighting on.
I have been using the 5 calls app. Really helps with getting calls made about legislation and makes it efficient. I am chronically ill, but joined Indivisible and my city's Resist group. There are creative ways to participate. Do what you can! Our group met today to create posters for Saturday. I have a backpack ready and a small lightweight folding camp chair so I can rest, carry food and drink, and this will help me participate.
Since I made several other suggestions this seems to be aimed at my plans and that’s completely unacceptable. You don’t get to judge me or try to make me ashamed for participating in the only activism I’m able to do right now. That’s ableist, and it’s not okay.
Beyond that, you’re just wrong. Protests and demonstrations are psychological tools—just like money, borders, laws, voting, and even society itself. They work because we collectively believe they do. Historically, they build momentum for grassroots movements, drive voter turnout, and put pressure on politicians and corporations. They’re not magic fixes, but they’re a crucial part of change.
And yeah, they feel good. Being surrounded by people who care is inspiring, and that feeling of hope is part of what keeps people fighting. That doesn’t make it virtue signaling.
Virtue signaling isn’t about how you feel—it’s about how you want to be seen. If you adopt a shelter pet just so people will praise you, that’s virtue signaling. But adopting a shelter pet because you want a pet isn’t virtue signaling. If you go to a protest just to post about it for clout, that’s virtue signaling. But if your goal is to take action—whether that’s adding your voice to a movement or advocating for change—then it’s not.
So what was your intent with this comment? Were you trying to change someone’s mind? Offer positive solutions? To make yourself look cool by putting someone down?
Demonstrations of 3% of the population have been shown to impact policy and make change. Demonstrations are a positive solution. I welcome other ideas you have for positive solutions. I welcome your warmth and positivity.
You included the one word that sums up the last two months: cruelty. What MAGA is doing has nothing to do with conservatism. It is radical, revolutionary, and designed to create the kind of chaos that historically has paved the road to autocracy.
I just finished watching the last 8 hours of Senator Cory Booker’s historic filibuster. So much of the time was spent on health care. His father had Parkinson’s Disease. I was almost crying at times. I believe he was on the floor of the Senate for almost 25 hours. If he could just change the minds of a few Republicans it would be amazing, a miracle really.
Katelyn, Great work! Tip: Add your copyright line to the graphic of this image so when people share it with others, your credit as creator is also shared. Although factual data can’t be copyrighted, the way you collect, design and display it can be. Also, use your full publication name, not just the acronym!
Thank you so much for doing whatever you can to help us through the mindless trumpian insanity of firing so many invaluable workers at the CDC and FDA.
"The ultimate justification for these cuts is cost savings." That may be the justification as presented to the public, but I think the ultimate motivation is to destroy the whole system of the US government, so that it can be rebuilt from scratch according to the authoritarian handbook. Millions of Americans might die from this catastrophic firing, but I don't doubt if the authoritarians in charge will care. I had been hoping that reports of the mass firing were an April Fool's joke. For me, YLE and The Contrarian are beacons of light in the spreading darkness.
Thank you this precise and well documented analysis of tragically too many important and beneficial curtailed programs. This chain saw massacre has to have a meaning - which can only entail arrogance, cruelty and the quest for power and profit at the expense of the whole country.
Thank you for not giving up nor giving in. Thank you, and your colleagues, for your work, dedication and sacrifice in this incredibly challenging moment.
Katelyn, We need you now more than ever. We really treasure the research and presentation you provide. Your work is excellent, so please keep it going. I just upgraded to Founding and wish you the best as we weather the storms.
You put a fine point on the apparent irrationality of the cuts at HHS, CDC, and FDA. It's not a rational way to save money. So what is it then?
Considering who will be most affected by these cuts, one has to ask if eugenics policies are in the mix.
I too wonder if it is a eugenics spree with a heavy dose of anti minority racism. Those oligarchs feel safe from these diseases so they feel they can safely (as in physically safely for them) demolish the progress.
The less educated, the poor, the sick, the weak, the elderly, those with chronic disease are the targets of these policies of cuts to HHS, CDC, FDA.
what a silly comment.....
Yep…call in Jonathan Swift.
The cruelty of it all is just so hard for me to understand. Tell us how we can fight back, please!
I think Cory Booker answered this pretty well over 25 hours, we do what John Lewis would tell us to do and cause good trouble. Find your closest protest this Saturday. Then find your local Indivisible or whatever other grass roots group you can find and start calling and texting and emailing.
I’ll be out on Saturday, but I’m not physically capable of doing the regular work that needs to be done every day anymore, and there are plenty of other who stepped up last time who can’t either. These groups do made a huge difference (I texted my mom’s home state of Alaska a lot) last time, and they can again but they need help. So for me and everyone like me who can’t help anymore: all of you reading this, it’s your turn.
I do all of that and more Maureen. I helped check in attendees to the Empty Chair Town Hall for Darrell Issa. I’m not in his district but that hasn’t stopped be from supporting his constituents to get him out. We did it before and got Mike Levin in. We can do it again. I stand on the corner twice a week(sometimes 3), calls, postcards, etc. I’m 71 years old and it’s hard on my body but I do it anyway. I’ll be at the Hands Off rally and I’m bringing 4 others (all family). I want to know what else I can do.
Thank you for everything that you do! Clearly you didn’t need my advice but I hope it reaches people who need to hear it.
I do have a message for you though, because I know how hard that work is: You are enough and whatever you can do will be enough. Don’t forget to take care of yourself! And thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for fighting on.
I have been using the 5 calls app. Really helps with getting calls made about legislation and makes it efficient. I am chronically ill, but joined Indivisible and my city's Resist group. There are creative ways to participate. Do what you can! Our group met today to create posters for Saturday. I have a backpack ready and a small lightweight folding camp chair so I can rest, carry food and drink, and this will help me participate.
Impressive! Take care of yourself, we will resist and persist!
LOL. Demonstrations are just virtue signaling that seldom accomplish anything except make you feel holy. Try offering a positive solution!!
Since I made several other suggestions this seems to be aimed at my plans and that’s completely unacceptable. You don’t get to judge me or try to make me ashamed for participating in the only activism I’m able to do right now. That’s ableist, and it’s not okay.
Beyond that, you’re just wrong. Protests and demonstrations are psychological tools—just like money, borders, laws, voting, and even society itself. They work because we collectively believe they do. Historically, they build momentum for grassroots movements, drive voter turnout, and put pressure on politicians and corporations. They’re not magic fixes, but they’re a crucial part of change.
And yeah, they feel good. Being surrounded by people who care is inspiring, and that feeling of hope is part of what keeps people fighting. That doesn’t make it virtue signaling.
Virtue signaling isn’t about how you feel—it’s about how you want to be seen. If you adopt a shelter pet just so people will praise you, that’s virtue signaling. But adopting a shelter pet because you want a pet isn’t virtue signaling. If you go to a protest just to post about it for clout, that’s virtue signaling. But if your goal is to take action—whether that’s adding your voice to a movement or advocating for change—then it’s not.
So what was your intent with this comment? Were you trying to change someone’s mind? Offer positive solutions? To make yourself look cool by putting someone down?
Demonstrations of 3% of the population have been shown to impact policy and make change. Demonstrations are a positive solution. I welcome other ideas you have for positive solutions. I welcome your warmth and positivity.
You included the one word that sums up the last two months: cruelty. What MAGA is doing has nothing to do with conservatism. It is radical, revolutionary, and designed to create the kind of chaos that historically has paved the road to autocracy.
I'm heartsick about all of this. This is all so cruel on so many levels. My heart and my voice and my votes are with you all.
- Retired epi, 45 years with a state health agency.
I just finished watching the last 8 hours of Senator Cory Booker’s historic filibuster. So much of the time was spent on health care. His father had Parkinson’s Disease. I was almost crying at times. I believe he was on the floor of the Senate for almost 25 hours. If he could just change the minds of a few Republicans it would be amazing, a miracle really.
Katelyn, Great work! Tip: Add your copyright line to the graphic of this image so when people share it with others, your credit as creator is also shared. Although factual data can’t be copyrighted, the way you collect, design and display it can be. Also, use your full publication name, not just the acronym!
This is a crime against the American people.
I have told my Zoom Poli Sci group to sign up with YLE, the last remaining source of truthful and complete public health information.
Thank you so much for doing whatever you can to help us through the mindless trumpian insanity of firing so many invaluable workers at the CDC and FDA.
Could the objective be to make everyone as sick as the people doing it so they will look OK? Please don’t give up, most Americans are ON YOUR SIDE!
"The ultimate justification for these cuts is cost savings." That may be the justification as presented to the public, but I think the ultimate motivation is to destroy the whole system of the US government, so that it can be rebuilt from scratch according to the authoritarian handbook. Millions of Americans might die from this catastrophic firing, but I don't doubt if the authoritarians in charge will care. I had been hoping that reports of the mass firing were an April Fool's joke. For me, YLE and The Contrarian are beacons of light in the spreading darkness.
Thank you this precise and well documented analysis of tragically too many important and beneficial curtailed programs. This chain saw massacre has to have a meaning - which can only entail arrogance, cruelty and the quest for power and profit at the expense of the whole country.
Thank you for not giving up nor giving in. Thank you, and your colleagues, for your work, dedication and sacrifice in this incredibly challenging moment.
Show up at the Washington Monument at noon on Saturday April 5 in numbers too great to ignore.
I feel sick to my stomach with grief and outrage. So cruel and so stupid.
Sending strength and love and gratitude - please hang in there - we need you, and our public health workers, more than ever!
Thank you for this and everything that you do.