Dr. Ruth's COVID & Health News, 11/23/25

There's lots of important reading in Dr. Ruth Ann Crystal's latest newsletter dated 11/23/25:

--------------------------------------------- 

COVID & Health News, 11/23/25

Ruth Ann Crystal MD

Nov 23, 2025

"Flu and RSV test positivity is starting to increase, signaling the start of a wave. Remember to get your Flu shot if you haven’t already because this year is expected to be a bad flu season. The Flu vaccine does not exactly match the subclade K that is circulating, but it should still offer some protection against serious illness, especially in children.

"RSV tends to affect babies and young children, as well as older adults. Check with your provider to see if you should get an RSV vaccine. RSV vaccination is recommended in pregnancy during the RSV season.

"Regional wastewater levels for COVID, RSV, Flu A, Flu B:

From: https://data.wastewaterscan.org/

COVID

"COVID levels in wastewater are very low now, but are just starting to increase in some places. Typically, we see an increase in respiratory illnesses after Thanksgiving because of travel and indoor gatherings. JP Weiland estimates that there are 150,000 new COVID cases per day in America and that every 1 in 220 people is currently infected with COVID. These are low levels.

"COVID levels in Europe and the UK are mostly low at this time, although Flu is increasing.

COVID Variants

"The CDC’s website for COVID variants has not been updated since 8/28/25, but XFG continues to be the dominant COVID variant in America and globally.

COVID BA.3.2

"The BA.3.2 variant continues to pop up slowly around the globe and now represents about 10% of COVID cases in Germany. It would need to gain a few mutations in order for it to cause a significant COVID wave, but it is being watched closely.

Acute COVID infections, General COVID info

"University of Alberta researchers studied 445,646 adults and found that those who had taken antibiotics in the three months prior to COVID infection were at least 50% to experience poor outcomes, including emergency room visits, hospitalization, or death, within 30 days of COVID infection. The increased risks persisted even after adjusting for comorbidities, suggesting that the disruption of the gut microbiome caused by recent antibiotic use may negatively impact the body’s immune response to a subsequent COVID infection.

"Stanford researchers found that some people develop weaker, narrower antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 because their natural killer (NK) cells become overly activated by interferon during infection. These activated NK cells can kill T-follicular helper (T_FH) cells which are immune cells essential for generating broad, durable antibody responses. In the study, people with the strongest neutralizing antibody breadth had fewer interferon-activated NK cells, while “narrow neutralizers” showed highly activated, interferon-stimulated NK profiles.

"Researchers in Sweden analyzed 4.1 million adults and found that COVID infection increased long-term cardiovascular risk even after mild illness, with pulmonary embolism showing the strongest elevation. Some cardiovascular risks persisted for at least one year, especially among older adults and people with lower income. Vaccination reduced several of these risks, underscoring its protective value beyond preventing acute infection.

Long COVID

"The 3rd Long COVID International Conference 2025 took place in Boston this week. Abstracts are not available yet, but Jon Douglas tweeted the conference talks in a mega thread here.

"Recently, NIAID and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) co-hosted the second annual RECOVER-TLC workshop. NIH researchers reported on upcoming clinical trials of four treatments for Long COVID:

1. Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) in children with Long COVID,

2. Baricitinib for persistent neurological and cardiopulmonary symptoms of Long COVID,

3. GLP-1 agonists for fatigue, brain fog, pain and mast cell activation syndrome

4. Stellate Ganglion Block to reduce pain, brain fog and fatigue.

"The authors emphasize the need for rigorous, biomarker-driven trials to match treatments to patient subgroups.

"Researchers in China injected the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein RBD into the medial prefrontal cortex of mice, triggering depressive-like behaviors by lowering astrocyte Connexin 43 (Cx43) and disrupting gap-junction communication. Treating the mice with Celecoxib or restoring Cx43 levels reversed these effects, pointing to a potential therapeutic target for depression linked to Long COVID.

"In a study from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, 27 patients with Long COVID and 27 fully-recovered COVID controls were assessed via a digital symptom platform and immune profiling of lymphocyte and monocyte mitochondrial function plus cytokine responses. Researchers found that poorer mitochondrial membrane potential in CD4+ T cells and CD56^bright NK cells correlated with worse breathlessness and dizziness respectively, and that blunted IFN-γ, IFN-β and IL-10 responses after immune stimulation related to specific Long COVID symptom burdens. These findings point to immune-cell metabolic dysfunction as a possible biomarker and mechanistic target for Long COVID subgroups.

"Researchers at the University of Bergen, Norway used a global pooled prevalence of 36% for Long COVID (from 144 studies) and estimated an annual global economic impact approaching US $1 trillion (1 % of global GDP). They also estimated that in the U.S., average per-patient annual costs could be around US $9,000, with nationwide lost earnings reaching approximately US $170 billion annually. The study highlights that the burden spans macroeconomic (GDP/labour supply), cost-of-illness (direct & indirect costs), and microeconomic (wage loss, healthcare spending, financial distress) levels and underscores the urgency for policy and workforce support.

"Using machine learning to evaluate patient symptom questionnaires from four different cohorts (LIINC from UCSF, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Emory and Cardiff), researchers from JCVI and PolyBio identified ten global endotypes and a unified severity map for Long COVID. The study found a severe cluster characterized by neurological and hormonal dysfunction that was overwhelmingly female-predominant. This algorithm could be used to help stratify Long COVID patients for more targeted treatment trials.

H5N1

"The first person ever to contract H5N5 Bird Flu has died in Washington State. The deceased was an older adult who owned a backyard flock of mixed domestic birds. Officials say that the risk to the general public is low, but the situation is being monitored closely.

Measles

"As of November 18, 2025, a total of 1,753 confirmed measles cases were reported in the United States, 12% of cases hospitalized (211 of 1753), and 3 confirmed deaths from measles.

Government News

"On November 19, Robert Kennedy Jr., a man who is not a doctor or a scientist, personally forced the CDC to post scientifically false information about vaccines and autism on the CDC website. “This was political actors overriding science in a place where accuracy, integrity, credibility, transparency, and honesty literally saves lives,” said Katelyn Jetelina. With misinformation being posted on one CDC site, scientists are saying that the CDC is no longer trustworthy on any subject.

"The American Academy of Pediatrics’ response:

The American Academy of Pediatrics

‪@ameracadpeds.bsky.social‬

“Since 1998, independent researchers have conducted more than 40 high-quality studies involving over 5.6 million people. The conclusion is clear and unambiguous: There’s no link between vaccines and autism." -Dr. Susan Kressly, AAP President on recent changes to the CDC's website

The American Academy of Pediatrics

@ameracadpeds.bsky.social

Other news

"A new study in Science shows that a gut bacteria (Aeromonas variant MTB) makes a toxin called aerolysin that kills gut macrophages and increases inflammation to promote Ulcerative Colitis. Anti-aerolysin antibodies given to mice stopped the inflammation and colitis.

From: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adz4712

"A new study shows that treatment with a low-dose GLP-1 receptor agonist induces molecular rejuvenation in aged mice, reversing aging RNA and methylation signatures across multiple organs with efficacy comparable to rapamycin. These anti-aging benefits were independent of weight loss and were driven by activation of GLP-1 receptors in the hypothalamus.

From: https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(25)00474-7

"This week, the Lancet put out several papers on the health dangers of ultra-processed foods.

"A field study in Milan of 138 metro rides found that when a person dressed as Batman was on the train, 67% of passengers offered their seat to a pregnant woman vs 38% without. About 44% of those who offered their seat said that they did not notice Batman at all, suggesting that the Batman effect works subconsciously.

From: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44184-025-00171-5

"I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I will be taking next week off from the newsletter.

"Ruth Ann Crystal MD"

Caitlin Rivers' Thanksgiving Outlook, 11/23/25

Here is Caitlin Rivers' respiratory virus outlook from Force of Infection:

------------------------------------ 

Thanksgiving Outlook
Respiratory virus activity low for most of the country, but flu and RSV are picking up

Respiratory Diseases

Influenza-like illness

"We are in better shape than we normally are at this point in the year; current influenza activity is low for most of the country. However, we are in a period of transition. Indicators of flu activity are increasing for most of the country, and I expect that trend to continue through the rest of this month and far into December.

"Keep in mind that the data reported here cover the period up until November 15th. The present situation will likely be a little more advanced than the data suggest, so keep that in mind as you head into your Thanksgiving celebrations. This will be particularly true for children, who are seeing the most rapid increases.

"Outpatient visits for influenza-like (ILI) activity continue to drift upward (reaching 2.3%), though we remain below the 3.1% threshold for the start of flu season.

"ILI is increasing primarily among those aged 0-4 and 5-24 years old, which is typical. During peak season, this metric reaches into the teens (e.g., last year the 0-4 age group peaked at 18%).

"Emergency department (ED) visits increased in most states this past week, with the Southern region experiencing the most activity and the strongest growth. The Midwest is in the best shape, with very little flu going around. Nationwide, hospitalizations for flu remain low, but did increase slightly this past week to 0.7 hospitalizations per 100,000 people.

"I reported last week that H3N2 is predominating, and that a new subclade called K is circulating widely. That observation was true again this week. Around 72% of the specimens subtyped were H3N2, and more than half of those were the K lineage. This suggests that we may have another big flu season, which aligns with what other countries (e.g., UK, South Korea) are reporting.

---

COVID-19

"The return of wastewater data confirms what other indicators have been suggesting: Covid-19 activity is very low right now in all four regions of the country.

"Trips to the Emergency Department are low and stable at 0.3% of all ED visits. Hospitalizations are low at 0.9 hospitalizations per 100,000.

"However, there are early signs that we may be entering a new period of increases shortly. More than a dozen states have estimated reproduction rates above 1, which means activity is increasing. These states are primarily clustered in the center of the continental US (from South Dakota down to Texas and Louisiana) as well as a few scattered in the upper Midwest and Northeast (including Pennsylvania and Massachusetts).

"I’m not worried yet, but it will be something to keep an eye on.

---

RSV & Other Bugs

"RSV remains low but is on the rise. Most states now have reproduction rates above 1 (meaning activity is increasing), and test positivity has increased to 1.9%. RSV wastewater activity remains very low in most states. However, activity has risen to low levels in Louisiana and moderate levels in Florida.

"ED visits have doubled in the past week (though they remain very low at 0.2% of all ED visits). They are highest in the Southern region, and lowest in the Midwest.

---

Norovirus

"My primary noro data source did not update this week, but the secondary source shows moderate and increasing wastewater activity.

"In the South, activity is high and increasing rapidly. Activity is moderate and rising in the Midwest and Northeast. Activity remains low, but is gently increasing in the West.

"Norovirus spreads very easily and is a common foodborne illness. With Thanksgiving this week, try to avoid preparing any food or drinks for others if you’ve had noro symptoms recently (you can transmit the virus readily for several days after symptoms dissipate), wash hands frequently with soap and water, and avoid dipping hands into communal plates.

---

Food recalls

"The following foods are being recalled because they are contaminated. Please check your cupboards and throw out any of these items:

New:

• Vampire Slayer Garlic Cheddar, sold by Face Rock Creamery exclusively at the Face Rock Flagship store in Oregon (more info)

• Organic Supergreens Powder Mix and Organic Moringa Leaf Powder sold under Food to Live label (more info)

• Organic Moringa Leaf Powder sold under Africa Imports label (more info)

Previously Reported:

• ByHeart Infant Formula recall reported last week has expanded to include more batches due to potential botulism contamination (more info).

• Peach salsa sold under the Snowfruit label (more info)

• First and Last tomato sauces, distributed in Connecticut and Massachusetts (more info)

• Oven Dried Fish distributed to customers of African Food on Wheels in the Bronx, NY only (more info)

---

In other news

• Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to spread among poultry flocks; airborne spread should be considered as one potential transmission route. A recent article by ProPublica examines increasing evidence that HPAI may be spreading between nearby farms via airborne routes via windborne dust and feathers. Their reporting reveals that while the USDA largely attributes new infections to wild-bird introductions, detailed satellite, meteorological and genetic analysis shows farms downwind of known infected sites were far more likely to contract the virus. USDA stated that it has not closely investigated whether airborne spread is occurring. If it is, it would likely require a rethinking of the current approach to containment, including potentially a closer consideration of poultry vaccination.

• The CDC website is now providing misleading information on vaccines. The website has been edited to allude to a link between vaccines and autism. HHS Secretary RFK Jr. confirmed on Friday in an interview that he had personally requested the changes. Among other changes, the website now states that, “The claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.” Dozens of carefully-conducted, large-scale studies, across three decades, have failed to find any causative link between vaccination and autism. There is simply no credible evidence that vaccines cause autism, and there is an abundance of evidence about the protective benefits of vaccination.

• Botulism linked to ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula has led to the hospitalization of at least 31 infants. Cases have been reported in 15 states. Infant botulism is caused from ingestion of Clostridium botulinum spores that then produce a toxin. Symptoms of infant botulism can take up to several weeks after ingestion to develop, and include difficulty feeding, constipation, a weak or altered cry, and lack of head control. ByHeart formula is under recall (see the Food Recalls section), and should be discarded. Any items that may have touched the formula should be washed thoroughly with hot soapy water or in a dishwasher.

---

Get detailed, state-specific public health updates with regional editions, available to paid subscribers. Stay informed where it matters most to you!

Regional editions

---

Home to Thanksgiving by John Schutler after George Henry Durrie (1867). From the National Gallery of Art.

Trump Meets With Mamdani

I'm hoping Trump read Mamdani the riot act behind closed doors, and before this press conference. I don't trust that Jew-hater at all, and nothing will make me think otherwise.

--------------------------------------------

From PJ Media:

Trump Played Mamdani Like a Fiddle
Scott Pinsker | 10:25 PM on November 21, 2025

"Oh, I know: The PJ Media audience wanted to see President Donald Trump take a blowtorch to Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani, holding him accountable for his Marxist rhetoric, welcoming him to the D.C. Big Leagues with some Trumpian chin music.

"It’s not your fault. Earlier Oval Office onslaughts whetted your appetite: “Trump’s tangle with Zelensky was pretty good. So [gets popcorn] this Mamdani mele oughta be a doozy. Beer me!”

"And now you’re disappointed — or maybe, deep in your heart, even a little embarrassed — by the total lack of Mamdanian mayhem. You were expecting World War III and received a bouquet of flowers! Worst pay-per-view ever!

"Good. Hold onto that thought. (We’ll double-back in a sec.)

"If President Trump’s goal was to impress a conservative audience, believe me, his meeting with Mamdani would’ve gone 100% differently. Trump understands the MAGA audience better than anyone alive, because he’s the one who built it. Besides, he’s a natural-born entertainer; he knows how to put on an exciting, must-see TV show — and it’s simply not in his DNA to duck a fight (or button his lip). We’re talking about a guy who called a reporter “piggy” just a few days ago, so let’s not pretend like he’s shy about expressing himself! 

"But instead, President Trump turned the charm up all the way, batted his eyes, and was a total sweetheart to Mamdani. He killed him with kindness.

"That’s because Trump’s target audience wasn’t conservatives. It was the radical leftists and the New York business community. 

"As we discussed yesterday, Mamdani is trapped between two worlds:

"On one hand is his radical leftist base, who want him to torch the White House today — and blast that lousy racist/Islamophobic/Zionist/sexist Nazi out of the water. They fantasize that Mamdani will look Trump squarely in the eye and tell him point-blank to go [censored] himself.

"But on the other hand, New York City can’t survive without the federal government. And the businesses that Mamdani needs to fund his socialist utopia are nervous: If he sends the wrong signal today, it could trigger a mass exodus of capital, wealth, and jobs.

"Remember that thought you held onto — that feeling of disappointment? The letdown you felt over their lovefest?

"Mamadani’s radical liberal base feels the exact same way — only more so!

"Conservatives may roll their eyes in annoyance when the lamebrain left calls the president “literally Hitler” for the 10 millionth time, but they’re not saying it with a smile and a wink. They’re deadly serious. 

"They really, truly believe that Trump is “literally Hitler.” It’s not a joke or a put-on.

"And here was their Boy Wonder — the Great Red Hope of the radical left — smiling and grinning and joking with Adolf freaking Hitler!

"Like you, they were expecting something spectacular to happen. But in their imaginations, they fantasized about Mamdani running roughshod over the doddering capitalist fool, holding Trump accountable for the Gaza “genocide,” and letting the old man know that it’s a new day in Gotham.

"They’ll do their best to justify what happened, of course. They’ll try to convince themselves that the mayor-elect must be so unbelievably charming, even the mighty MAGA monster couldn’t resist Mamdani’s Marxist moxie and/or commie charisma. Or, they’ll pretend it’s part of a great master plan, and buttering up Trump was step one in their socialist utopia. (Steps two, three, and four remain a mystery, of course.)

"But that image of Trump patting Mamdani with a big ol’ grin on his face — and Mamdani grinning back — will haunt their dreams.

"The president knew the incoming New York mayor was trapped between two worlds. And he sure as hell wasn’t gonna side with the radical leftists.

"Instead, Trump sided with New York’s business interests, signaling to them not to fret: The White House and Mayor Mamdani won’t be going to war, and New York’s economy won’t fall off a cliff. Take a deep breath, guys. All will be well.

"For the New York business community, the Trump-Mamdani meeting went even better than they dared hope. And that’s because President Trump’s charm offensive was deliberate: Obviously, Trump doesn’t want to tank the U.S. economy; his legacy depends on it growing.

"So he tweaked the radical left on the nose, being so over-the-top gracious, ridiculously polite, and atypically complementary; these were the immediate headlines:

"CNN: 4 takeaways from the bizarrely chummy Trump-Mamdani meeting

"Politico: Trump, Mamdani make love — not war

"Axios: Trump, Mamdani have shockingly chummy White House Q&A

"New York Post: Trump-Mamdani — the start of a beautiful friendship?

"NBC News: How Zohran Mamdani went from ‘Trump’s worst nightmare’ to a ‘potential dream partnership’

'Deadline: Hell Just Froze Over: Trump & Mamdani Have Oval Office Love-In At First Meeting

"The revolution, it seems, has been postponed.

"Well played, Mr. President. Very well played."

Vaccine Lies and Deceptions

What worries me is that if COVID gets worse because of a future variant, how will people be persuaded to get vaccinated to protect themselves and others? It would be like 2020 all over again.

--------------------------------------- 

Our Depressing Vaccine Future Laid Bare on the C.D.C. Website

Jessica Grose Op-Ed at NY Times, Nov. 20, 2025

"On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its web page on autism and vaccines to reflect the skepticism of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of health and human services. To be clear up front: There is no good evidence that vaccines cause autism. “Studies over the past three decades consistently have not found any connection between vaccines and autism, including one from 2019 in Denmark that examined the country’s entire child population over a decade,” John Yoon explains in The Times.

"The page retains the header “vaccines do not cause autism,” with an asterisk and a note that the statement is still there because of an “agreement with the chair of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that it would remain on the C.D.C. website.” The updated page otherwise has all the hallmarks of Mr. Kennedy and the Make America Healthy Again communication style. The movement is constantly adopting scientific-sounding language to promote untrue or far-fetched claims. The new page cherry-picks studies and uses MAHA’s favorite buzzwords, like “gold-standard science,” “mitochondrial disorders” and “neuroinflammation.”

"Though the majority of Americans still believe childhood vaccines are safe and effective, Mr. Kennedy and other skeptics have done damage to the public trust. According to a Pew Research survey published earlier this week, “Amid calls from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to change how vaccines are tested, 44 percent of American parents say they’re extremely or very confident that childhood vaccines have been tested enough for safety.” Younger parents, Republicans and those with less education are all more likely to be skeptical of the childhood vaccine schedule’s safety and the general effectiveness of vaccines.

"I fear that the erosion of trust in vaccines will continue. When I saw the news about the updated C.D.C. page on Wednesday morning I was reminded of a conversation I listened to over the summer between two moms of children with autism on the public health podcast “Why Should I Trust You?” (I was a guest on a later episode of the series.) One mom, who says she is not a scientific expert, says that it just “doesn’t sit right with me” when she hears that the science is settled and vaccines don’t cause autism.

"The other mom, Alison Singer, who is a co-founder of the Autism Science Foundation, has a sobering response.

“The bigger issue is that we will never be able to do a study that shows that vaccines do not cause autism, because you cannot do that kind of study,” she says. “You cannot show that something does not cause something else.” Scientists are held back by having to say, “there’s no association or we don’t see a causal relationship in the data,” Ms. Singer says, and adds that she doesn’t think skeptics will believe the research we do have until “we can actually give them information about what does cause autism.”

"Mr. Kennedy has a rhetorical advantage in that his deceptions can be definitive, while scientific honesty has to come with caveats. A doctor or a scientist saying that we’re not entirely sure but there is evidence that genetics plays a big role, for instance, is not going to satisfy people who are persuaded by bad information. A web page called “vaccines do not cause autism” filled with nonsense is just the latest example." 

That Tragic Day in Dallas: November 22, 1963

 

Those of us old enough to remember that terrible weekend will never forget this date, or the shock and grief that united our country in the aftermath. We didn't experience that again until the terrorist attacks on September 11. 

The feelings and the images stay with you forever.

Your Local Epidemiologist 11/21/25

Here's the latest depressing news about the destruction of the CDC, from Your Local Epidemiologist Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, 11/21/25:

------------------------------------------ 

One of CDC’s final blows. And what it means for you.

Where to find trusted health information now?

Katelyn Jetelina, Nov 21, 2025

"I still remember the exact moment this photo below was taken. I was on my way to interview for CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS)—the two-year training program for “disease detectives.” For people in my world, EIS is the dream job. These were the folks who jumped onto planes with 24 hours’ notice, parachuted into outbreaks, and pieced together scientific mysteries fast enough for Americans—and communities around the world—to live safer, healthier lives.

"Walking onto campus that day, I felt as if I were stepping into the beating heart of public service. Full on electric. People moved with purpose. Conversations were about problems that mattered to families, kids, clinics, and communities. It was alive with urgency, curiosity, advancement, and the shared belief and optimism that good science could make life better for all of us.

"I didn’t end up accepting the EIS position. Life took me in a different direction. But about 10 years later, I returned to CDC as a scientific communication advisor to two directors during a period when the agency was struggling through the pandemic. Even before Covid-19, the system was weakened by chronic underfunding, outdated infrastructure, bureaucratic bottlenecks, rising political pressure, and relentless falsehoods. The pandemic pushed the CDC to its limits, and Americans suffered because of it.

"Advising CDC then felt like caring for a critically ill patient. You stabilize what you can. You celebrate tiny signs of recovery. You push. You brace. And, like any clinician staring at a body in crisis, you begin to notice every detail, every connection. I saw the system’s complexity and started asking not just how to keep it alive, but what it would take to make it resilient, responsive, and worthy of the trust Americans place in it.

"Recovery takes time, and CDC was making headway. But that progress was abruptly undone. Over the past 10 months, the agency has been pushed onto life support amid escalating political interference. Leadership was purged, crucial scientific programs were dismantled, and irreplaceable, hard‑won knowledge was drained as experts were fired or left en masse.

And, now, part of CDC flatlined.

"On Wednesday night, a directive from HHS forced the agency to publish scientifically false claims about vaccines and autism—claims the agency itself and scientists across the world had spent decades investigating, and study after study has shown no link. This wasn’t a debate or a misunderstanding, and no new data was presented. This was political actors overriding science in a place where accuracy, integrity, credibility, transparency, and honesty literally saves lives.

"The damage doesn’t stay neatly contained to one webpage or one topic. When any part of the system is forced to publish something false, it immediately weakens the credibility and integrity of every other part that depends on shared trust. Hesitation, doubt, and confusion spread fast. Just yesterday, I was talking with colleagues responding to the infant botulism outbreak, and they asked, “How do you ask the public to trust that science on infant formula when another part of the agency is being forced to publish false information?”

What does this mean for you?

"It’s getting harder and harder to know what is data-driven and what is spun, and now the CDC website has entered the arena.

"There are parts of CDC I still trust, and there remains an important distinction between political operatives and the scientists doing the real work. In other words, there is still information there that I trust only because I have firsthand insight from friends and colleagues I speak with every week. That’s a privileged position to be in, and it’s not advice the general public can realistically rely on.

"So, what do you do?

• At this time, I suggest the general public avoid the CDC website.

• If you do go to the CDC website, avoid anything on vaccines, reproductive health, environmental science, or health equity.

• Data systems are still largely under the control of states and CDC scientists. Flu and wastewater data, for example, are good to go.

• Find trustworthy navigators outside the federal government, such as AAP, ACOG, and healthychildren.org, as well as many credible scientific communicators. (The Evidence Collective put together a comprehensive list of scientific communicators and organizations for you here!)

"The good news is that the level of mobilization outside the federal government—by health systems, medical societies, researchers, local health leaders, and entire professional communities—is extraordinary. We can’t replace what a fully functioning CDC provides, but many people are stepping up, coordinating, and building the scaffolding we need to navigate this moment with clarity. There are also so many CDC career employees flagging falsehoods and interferences for those of us on the outside, and trying to hold the line.

"As this evolves, I’ll keep you updated on what I’m relying on, what should be ignored, and what requires nuance. Keep sending me your questions, concerns, and confusion. It’s the only way I know how to equip you with the information needed.

Bottom line

"It’s hard to overstate what this moment represents. Ideology is now overriding evidence—the critical information parents, families, and communities rely on to stay healthy—at the nation’s once vibrant and leading public health agency. This is a sad and truly devastating place for our country to be.

"What we need now is collective action: refusing to let falsehoods prevail by building new pathways to protect, educate, and empower one another. It will be messy, even painful. But I believe we can get through this, and I hope we can do it without more lives lost.

"Love, YLE"

P.S.: If you have follow-up questions, drop them in the comments and I’ll keep answering as this continues to unfold.

---

Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) is founded and operated by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist, wife, and mom of two little girls. YLE is a public health newsletter that reaches over 400,000 people in more than 132 countries, with one goal: to translate the ever-evolving public health science so that people are well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members.

How To Be A Female Jussie Smollett

The levels that some people will go to for attention can be seen right here at The Hill. And unlike the charitable people at Van Drew's office, I will reserve my thoughts and prayers for the investigators who had to waste their time looking for this liar's "attackers". 

------------------------------------------------ 

Former GOP staffer charged with fabricating anti-MAGA assault
by Ella Lee - 11/20/25 11:59 AM ET 

"A former congressional staffer is accused of staging a fake and self-targeted political attack involving mutilation and derogatory writing on her body.

"Natalie Greene, 26, who once worked for Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), faces federal charges of conspiracy and making false statements to law enforcement. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. 

“We are deeply saddened by today’s news, and while Natalie is no longer associated with the Congressman’s government office, our thoughts and prayers are with her,” said Paxton Antonucci, a spokesperson for Van Drew’s office. “We hope she’s getting the care she needs.”

"Prosecutors say Greene schemed with an unnamed co-conspirator to make it seem as if three men assaulted and bound her with zip ties in an attack supposedly based on her political beliefs.

"According to the criminal complaint, the co-conspirator called 911 the night of July 23 and said “three guys” had just attacked them at a nature preserve in Egg Harbor Township, N.J.

“They were attacking her,” they told the 911 operator. “They were like talking about politics and stuff. They were like calling her names.”

“They were like calling her like racist, calling her a whore,” the co-conspirator added.

"Local police found Greene on the ground, crying and yelling with her hands and feed tied together and her shirt pulled over her head. She had dozens of cuts on her body, including on her face and chest. Written across her body in black marker were two messages: “Trump Whore” on her stomach and Van Drew “is Racist” on her back. 

"Greene told police that her alleged attackers addressed her by name, one saying he would kill her if she made any noise and one saying he had a gun. One of the men also cut into her body with a sharp object, she told them, and one or more of the men wrote on her.

"But investigators later learned that Greene visited a “scarification artist” and paid $500 in cash for lacerations in a specific pattern that she picked out, the complaint says. They also discovered the co-conspirator had Google searched “zip ties near me” days before the alleged attack, and black zip ties and duct tape were found in Greene’s car on the night of the incident.

"In interviews with law enforcement, including the FBI, Greene’s story did not seem to match her alleged co-conspirator’s.

"The court docket did not immediately show a defense attorney listed for Greene.

"She worked as a constituent advocate director for Van Drew, who has represented New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District since 2019, according to her LinkedIn. She is also a student at Rutgers Law School."

A Pogrom In New York City

This is not Germany in 1938. This happened last night in New York City. These aren't "protesters", they are Jew-hating terrorists. And they soon will have Zohran Mamdani to protect them.

--------------------------------------------

Townhall, November 20, 2025 

It's Not About Gaza: Mob of Antisemitic 'Protesters' Swarmed NYC Synagogue Last Night

"We are extremely concerned for the safety of Jews in New York City. The mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, has ties to antisemitic groups, has antisemitic staffers on his team, and wanted to "globalize the intifada."

"Last night showed us once again what that really means. Mobs of antisemitic, anti-Israel protesters swarmed Park East Synagogue to demonstrate against Jews in the Big Apple.

"Reverend Jordan Wells tweeted:

"HAPPENING RIGHT NOW in Manhattan: A mob of antisemites is outside Park East Synagogue screaming for “Globalize the Intifada” and “There is only one solution: Intifada revolution.” The Rabbi inside, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, is 93 years old. He survived the Holocaust. He was a child when Kristallnacht happened, when Nazis and their supporters smashed the windows of synagogues exactly like this one. Tonight, 87 years later, he’s forced to hear the same hatred, the same bloodlust, outside his own shul. This isn’t about Gaza. This isn’t about “justice.” This is the same ancient virus, wearing a keffiyeh instead of a brown shirt. They want you to believe it’s political. It’s not. It’s pogrom energy with better branding. Never again is happening again. Right now. On the Upper East Side. Share this before they memory-hole it. I stand with Israel and the Jews."

 

"This wasn't a random protest, either. The synagogue was hosting an event by Nefesh B'nefesh, an organization that helps Jews immigrate to Israel.

"Here's more:

"A hateful mob of anti-Israel protesters descended on a prominent New York City synagogue Wednesday night, chanting “Globalize the intifada” and sinisterly urging the “resistance” to “take another settler out.”

"Some 200 demonstrators gathered outside the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan and heckled Jews attending an event by Nefesh B’nefesh, a Zionist organization that helps Jews immigrate to Israel, according to the Times of Israel.

“It is our duty to make them think twice before holding these events,” one protest leader told the crowd."

"Another protester said, “We need to make them scared. We need to make them scared. We need to make them scared" and the crowd chanted, "From New York to Gaza, globalize the intifada."

"They blocked the synagogue's entrance.

"They stopped Jews from attending the event inside.

"They also chanted about the IDF, "resistance," and the "intifada revolution."

"The NYPD reported there were no arrests, although police did keep the crowds separate.

"Of course, we have to wonder how much worse things will get for New York Jews once Zohran Mamdani is in office. He not only opposes Israel and seeks to impose international law in the city, but he also wants to defund the police, leaving all residents of New York City vulnerable to Leftist mobs and criminals."

Still Ignorant About COVID Vaccines

I'll never understand why what political party you belong to should influence whether or not you get a vaccine!  Whatever happened to plain old common sense?

============================== 

An excerpt from Pew Research Center 11/18/25:

Have changes to CDC guidelines influenced Americans’ COVID-19 vaccine decisions?
By Giancarlo Pasquini and Brian Kennedy

"In early October, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its COVID-19 vaccine guidelines. Previous guidelines recommended that virtually everyone get a COVID-19 vaccine, but the CDC now advises Americans to work with a health care provider to determine if the vaccine is right for them.

"But most Americans either haven’t heard about these changes or say that the changes have not influenced their decisions around getting an updated vaccine, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.

"More than four-in-ten Americans (44%) say they have heard nothing at all about the CDC’s changes to COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. And among those who have heard at least a little, 63% say the changes have had no influence on their decision whether to get an updated vaccine. Overall, 20% both have heard about the changes and say they’ve influenced their decision on whether to get an updated vaccine.

How many Americans want an updated COVID-19 vaccine?

"A majority of U.S. adults (59%) say they don’t want to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. This is roughly identical to the share who said in October 2024 that they probably wouldn’t get the updated vaccine.

"In the new survey, 26% of Americans say they do want an updated vaccine. Another 13% say they already got one as of late October 2025.

Differences by party and age

"An overwhelming majority of Republicans and Republican leaners (83%) say they don’t want an updated vaccine. In contrast, 44% of Democrats and Democratic leaners say they want an updated vaccine, and 20% say they already got one.

"A quarter of Americans ages 65 and older say they already got an updated vaccine – larger than the shares in younger age groups. Older Americans are among the groups most at risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

"Yet older Republicans and older Democrats have sharply different views on the vaccine. About four-in-ten Democrats ages 65 and older say they already got one, and 43% say they want to get one. But 76% of Republicans ages 65 and older say they don’t want an updated vaccine.

"In summer 2021, not long after COVID-19 vaccines first became available, large majorities of both Democrats and Republicans ages 65 and older said they had received the vaccine." 

Isn't This Seditious?

Merriam-Webster defines sedition as "incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority."

How brazen can these Democrats get?  Shouldn't they be censured and expelled from Congress?

---------------------------------------

Fox News 11/18/25

Six Democrats urge military members to 'refuse illegal orders' in viral video; 

Hegseth responds. 

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reposted the video, commenting, 'Stage 4 TDS'

"A group of Democrat lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds released a video Tuesday urging service members to "refuse illegal orders," a message conservatives blasted as a call to defy President Donald Trump and his Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

"The one-minute video, posted by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and viewed more than 1.6 million times, features six lawmakers invoking their prior service while telling members of the military and intelligence community that "the threats to our Constitution are coming from right here at home."

"Slotkin and her colleagues have spent recent weeks introducing legislation to limit President Trump’s ability to deploy National Guard members domestically or launch military action against narcoterrorists without congressional approval.

"None of that context appears in the video, titled "Don’t Give Up the Ship," which instead frames the appeal as a warning to military members to "stand up for our laws" and "refuse unlawful orders."

 

"Conservative accounts countered the viral clip, citing military law and interpreting the call to action as an alleged appeal to commit treason against the United States.

"Elected Democrats just released a video encouraging members of the military to commit treason and defy orders from Trump and Hegseth," wrote the conservative account Libs of TikTok.

"Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., added: "At the end of the day, they’re mad the American people chose Trump and now they’re calling on the Military and Intelligence Community to intervene. Sounds a little ‘subversive to democracy’-ish."

"Slotkin’s "No Troops in Our Streets Act," detailed in a Nov. 13 release, would give Congress the power to block National Guard deployments inside American cities. President Trump has expanded National Guard operations to Los Angeles, Portland and Chicago amid violent crime.

"Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., simultaneously introduced a War Powers Continuing Resolution on Tuesday to block the president from ordering strikes on drug traffickers in the Caribbean—actions Crow described in a release as "unauthorized and illegal."

"Both Democrats argue their bills are about asserting congressional authority, not politics. The viral video shared Tuesday, set to triumphant music, does not explicitly mention either piece of legislation.

"Lawmakers appearing in the video include Slotkin, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.; Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa.; Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H.; Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa.; and Rep. Jason Crow. Several recite a version of the line: "You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders."

"The branches and agencies represented among the lawmakers include the Army, Navy, Air Force and Central Intelligence Agency.

"Some in the administration and media are actively working to distort that message into something dark or divisive," Houlahan said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Let me be absolutely clear: there is nothing more patriotic, nothing more stabilizing and nothing more true to the rule of law than reminding our military of their constitutional obligations and reassuring them that, if they are ever given an unlawful order, they do not have to carry it out."

"‘Don’t Give Up the Ship’ is not a slogan of rebellion—it is a historic naval motto that has always stood for steadfastness, duty and loyalty to country. That is the backbone of American civil-military tradition," she added.

"The video follows a 43-day government shutdown during which American troops continued receiving pay under the Trump administration."