Thank you.
Well, I don’t know about you, but this morning I am exhausted. I am also breathing easier than I have in, I don’t know, 653 days. That’s one year, 9 months, and 15…

Pre-Midterms Edition:What in the Rural Health?!
Here it is, just two days from Election Day. I can’t wait for it to be Wednesday, I must admit. I don’t even live in a swing state, and the amount of calls, texts,…

They keep saying they’re restoring trust. Here’s the scorecard.
Almost a year ago, I wrote a post about all the ways trust is being damaged between the public and public health, a field that is inherently about trying to help the…

One of RFK Jr.’s most tone deaf appearances yet.
A year ago I wrote a post about the shooting at CDC. On August 8, 2025, Patrick Joseph White went to CDC headquarters and fired nearly 500 rounds at the building,…

Whiplash.
If you are anything like me, these days you wake up and think “What in the world happened while I was sleeping? Is the Strait of Hormuz open today? Or closed?” This is…

Resist!
Yesterday I attended San Francisco’s version of the 3rd No Kings march since Trump took office for his second run at remaking the United States in his vision (as if we…

2026 has been a doozy so far!
Hi all. You may have noticed I haven’t posted much in a while.That’s not because there has been nothing to post. I’ve just been SO busy with work that I’ve been…

Violence is a public health issue. So is healing.
What in the Health?! 1/28/26I try very hard to stay in my lane when it comes to this Substack. I have experience and expertise in public health. I might have knowledge…

Feel like doing something that can make a difference this holiday season?
As we approach Thanksgiving, most people I know who are working in public health in the U.S. are trying to take a bit of a breather from the onslaught of bad news, enjoy…

Update 1: Attacking Tylenol
There’s so much that’s been going on lately it’s hard to keep up! I’m going to try a new format to make it easier for you all to digest these updates while you’re…
Catching up, Part 1: The Senate Hearings
I have been just swamped with work lately—because there continues to be a huge need for public health planning and programs, even if the government would like to believe…
Sandwiches, gratitude, and some good news.
Most of what I share through this Substack is pretty distressing stuff. That’s appropriate, IMO, because these are some pretty distressing times. And, this week is about…