Coronavirus Tidbits #192 5/15/22
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News Diagnostics Drugs Devices Epidemiology/Infection control Tips Politics Feel good du jour Comic relief Perspective/Poem Bits of beauty
Announcements:
First, there is now a Resources Page here for the most commonly asked questions I’m getting.
Happy to continue to answer your questions/concerns as best I can, so don’t be shy about that.
News
North Korea reports first COVID deaths, explosive outbreak spread
News reports, citing North Korea’s state media, said the country has reported six COVID-19 deaths, including at least one linked to the Omicron variant, amid explosive spread that has led to about 350,000 people being treated for fevers.
Yesterday, 18,000 more people with fever symptoms were reported, with 187,800 under isolation, according to the Associated Press (AP).
It’s not clear how many cases are COVID-19, due to lack of information on North Korea’s testing capacity. Global health officials are concerned about the country’s widening health crisis, due to a lack of vaccines and treatments, alongside a weak medical infrastructure.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un was seen wearing a mask for the first time yesterday. He criticized officials for failing to prevent the disease and said the outbreak is centered around Pyongyang. The country held a large military parade in the city on Apr 25.
It’s unclear if North Korea has experienced earlier COVID-19 activity. Last June, Kim Jong Un lashed out at party officials for failing to implement measures to battle the threat, though the country had earlier imposed border closures and travel curbs.
North Korea did not accept its allotted COVAX vaccine from the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners, and in October, the head of the WHO said North Korea was among three countries that hadn’t started vaccinating yet.
South Korea and China have both offered assistance, but North Korea apparently hasn’t asked for help, according to the AP story.
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‘A pretty big deal’: U.S. makes COVID-19 technologies available for use in developing countries
The U.S. government has agreed to put licenses for 11 medical technologies developed at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) into a so-called patent pool, a move that promises to make it easier for low- and middle-income countries to gain access to vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics for COVID-19. President Joe Biden made the announcement yesterday at the Global COVID-19 Summit.
The government cut a deal to provide the federally funded inventions with the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO then turns over the licenses to a nonprofit, the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), which negotiates with manufacturers interested in using the technologies to make products that can be sold worldwide. “It’s a pretty big deal,” says James Love, who directs Knowledge Ecology International, a nonprofit that advocates for sharing intellectual property to benefit the public.
The scheme is part of a broader push to make medicines developed in rich countries more broadly accessible that Love helped spark 2 decades ago by campaigning for the availability of HIV drugs in poor countries.
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New Study Finds Persistent Viral Shedding of COVID-19 Is Associated with Delirium and Six-Month Mortality in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
Chicago, IL – A new Northwestern Medicine study published in GeroScience sought to determine the prevalence, risk factors and significance of persistent viral shedding in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The Northwestern Medicine Neuro COVID-19 research team discovered patients who continued to test positive more than 14 days after their initial positive test were more likely to experience delirium, longer hospital stays, were less likely to be discharged home, and had a greater six-month mortality than those without persistent viral shedding of COVID-19.
The study included all patients who required hospitalization for COVID-19 throughout the Northwestern Medicine health system between March and August 2020. Of the 2,518 patients hospitalized during that time, 959 underwent repeat COVID-19 testing at least 14 days from initial testing, and 405 of those patients (42%) were found to have persistent viral shedding.
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Want to prevent pandemics? Stop spillovers
Nature Neil M. Vora , et al. COMMENT
Spillover events, in which a pathogen that originates in animals jumps into people, have probably triggered every viral pandemic that’s occurred since the start of the twentieth century1. What’s more, an August 2021 analysis of disease outbreaks over the past four centuries indicates that the yearly probability of pandemics could increase several-fold in the coming decades, largely because of human-induced environmental changes2.
Fortunately, for around US$20 billion per year, the likelihood of spillover could be greatly reduced3. This is the amount needed to halve global deforestation in hotspots for emerging infectious diseases; drastically curtail and regulate trade in wildlife; and greatly improve the ability to detect and control infectious diseases in farmed animals.
That is a small investment compared with the millions of lives lost and trillions of dollars spent in the COVID-19 pandemic. The cost is also one-twentieth of the statistical value of the lives lost each year to viral diseases that have spilled over from animals since 1918 (see ‘Spillovers: a growing threat’), and less than one-tenth of the economic productivity erased per year1.
https://www.nature.com/
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Study finds the SARS-CoV-2 virus is not viable on cash banknotes
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many businesses stopped accepting cash payments in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus. While neither the CDC nor WHO ever banned the use of paper money, many businesses still only accept payment by card more than two years later.
Turns out that this decision, though well-intentioned, was misguided.
A new study published in PLOS ONE from BYU scientists finds that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is almost immediately nonviable if deposited on a cash banknote. The virus actually shows greater stability on plastic money cards, with the live virus still being detected 48 hours after initial deposition, but no viable virus was detected on either cash or card that was randomly sampled in the study…
The researchers found that SARS-CoV-2 was difficult to detect on the dollar bills even just 30 minutes after being placed there. The study find the virus was reduced by 99.9993% at the 30 minute mark. They tested again after 24 and 48 hours and found no live virus on the banknotes.
https://medicalxpress.com/
In contrast, the virus only reduced 90% on money cards at the 30-minute mark. While this reduction rate increased to 99.6% by four hours, and 99.96% by 24 hours, the live virus was still detectable on the money cards 48 hours later. The coins performed similarly to the plastic cards, with a strong initial reduction in virus presence, yet still testing positive for the live virus after 24 and 48 hours.
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Covid shutdowns in China are delaying medical scans in the U.S.
Doctors in the United States are prioritizing only the most critical patients and hospitals are rationing supplies of a crucial drug after a covid lockdown in China temporarily closed a GE Healthcare factory that is a vital source for a key ingredient in medical imaging.
The shutdown of the facility in Shanghai in April halted production of contrast media, an iodine solution that medical staff inject into blood vessels to allow a device such as a CT scanner or fluoroscope to see inside the body. Contrast media, also known as dye, is used virtually every hour in hospitals across the country to help measure arterial blockages around the heart, guide placement of stents in catheter labs, diagnose and treat strokes, and more. Oncologists use contrast to monitor cancerous tumors.
But with contrast supplies dwindling because of the manufacturing shutdown halfway around the world – part of stringent Chinese covid policies that kept workers at home and forced factory closures – doctors at many U.S. health systems are scrambling. They are prioritizing the most seriously ill patients and postponing more routine tests for those who can safely wait until contrast stocks are replenished.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/05/11/medical-scans-dye-shortage/?
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Smell, taste loss less likely with newer COVID variants: Study
Since the early days of the pandemic, loss of smell and taste have been tied to COVID-19 infection. But a new study shows those telltale traits are much less likely with the Omicron variant than the earlier Alpha and Delta versions of the coronavirus.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-05-loss-covid-variants.html?
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EU lifts mask recommendation for air travel as pandemic ebbs
The European Union will no longer recommend medical masks be worn at airports and on planes starting next week amid the easing of coronavirus restrictions across the bloc, though member states can still require them, officials said Wednesday.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-05-eu-mask-requirement-air-pandemic.html?
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These are both from today. pic.twitter.com/PiTFYRo9jU
— Holding Biden Accountable (@WaitingOnBiden) May 13, 2022
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Israel: The hepatitis is a because we infected kids with SARS2
— Gregory Travis — "The Duke of Mystery" (TM) (@greg_travis) May 12, 2022
Japan: the hepatitis is because we infected kids with SARS2
India: The hepatitis is because we infected kids with SARS2
Spain: The hepatitis is because we infected kids with SARS2
CDC: We’re thinking it’s dogs
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America is the fact that 3 editors have asked me to write about the formula shortage but I can't do it because of a different crisis, which is that I have no childcare for the same child I also don't have formula for.
— Hillary Kelly (@HillaryKelly) May 12, 2022
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Soooo they’re planning on increasing the “domestic supply of infants” in the middle of a baby formula shortage? Got it.
— Saadia (@Saadia___M) May 12, 2022
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2/ First, while breastfeeding has a lot of advantages, particularly in first few weeks (transferring immunity), it is hardly optimal OR EVEN POSSIBLE for many women.
— Clara Jeffery (@ClaraJeffery) May 12, 2022
3/ Some women just *can’t.* The baby won’t learn to latch, and many many women receive, still, little help to increase odds. Or the suck response isn’t sufficient. Or the baby isn’t otherwise receiving enough nutrition.
4/ Women who’ve tried and failed and are bullied into keeping trying and discouraged or shamed for using formula put their baby’s life in danger. And face prosecution for neglect.
5/ For many, many, many women, there’s no ability to only breastfeed for economic reasons. IE: their jobs or duties simply makes incompatible. You work two part-time jobs to support your child(ren) AND you spend hours a day nursing? Come on.
6/ Breast pumps are expensive! Workplaces that support pumping with both privacy and schedule allowances are still far too rare. Do you think there’s a nursing room in the back of every McDonalds?
7/ Breast pumps are heavy and bulky. Try taking it to work on a bus, or if you have to walk long distances. Do you think most women can afford to have two and leave one at work? That they have a secure space to lock it up? No.
8/ Women who have to/want to work can find pumping pretty impossible. This is obviously especially true for low-wage workers. You know, the ones most impacted by dismantling abortion rights.
9/ All the “breast milk is free” remarks I see far too many ignorant men (and some women) make on here just hammer home how pitiful and/or indifferent you are. It’s pathetic.
10/ Congress itself only had lactation rooms in its office buildings in 2004. Starting with one. Some 10,000 people work there.
11/ Conservatives think abortion can be solved with adoption. WELL GUESS WHAT, ADOPTED KIDS CAN’T BE BREASTFED. Ditto kids born to surrogates. Or raised by dad(s). Etc.
12/ Pumping is…painful. Somewhat for everyone, and for some people it’s real torture. Each pumping session requires a) privacy b) careful sterilization of various parts. So like, not ideally done in a public restroom!
13/ Bottle feeding allows your partner to help and bond with baby. And it allows for others to help, also, b/c maybe there is no partner!
14/ Pumping also requires that your job has a fridge that you’re allowed to use and store breast milk in. MANY jobs don’t have this.
15/ Maybe you’re on medication that precludes giving breast milk to an infant. Anyway there are myriad barriers for even privileged women in a supportive workplace to be able to pump at all/enough.
16/ So lets call this for what it is: The way women are punished and shamed no matter their reproductive choices.
17/ And breastfeeding is only “free” because the value of our time is set at zero.
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The same baby formula producer that had contaminated product and led to this shortage used billions of dollars to buy back stock instead of investing in their product safety. Putting profits before the safety of our children is unacceptable.
— Rep. Val Demings (@RepValDemings) May 13, 2022
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Trump’s North American Trade Agreement taxes baby formula imports at 17%+ and actively discourages importing formula from Canada. For those blaming Biden for the formula shortage.
— Foxmagastan Master-at-Arms (@MasteratArms200) May 12, 2022
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https://t.co/EzVKXZ8oAT
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 12, 2022
"If the Court denies women the right to safe abortion, it will be a judicial endorsement of state control over women—a breathtaking setback for the health and rights of women, one that will have global reverberations." pic.twitter.com/RcPzqrhsii
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Diagnostics:
still an incredible, negligent last of testing.
Drugs and Vaccines:
Moderna vaccine up to 88% effective against COVID in kids 6 to 11 years
Estimated effectiveness of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine against infection in children 6 to 11 years old was 88% at least 14 days after the first dose amid the Delta variant surge, before the emergence of Omicron, finds an interim analysis from a phase 2/3 clinical trial.”These results…provide support for the use of this vaccine to prevent Covid-19 in children,” the authors wrote….
On Oct 29, 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to include 5- to 11-year-olds. Moderna has asked the FDA to authorize its vaccine for kids aged 6 to 11 years and 6 months to 5 years.
May 11 NEJM study
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/05/covid-19-scan-may-12-2022
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Mix-and-match mRNA COVID vaccines may offer more Omicron protection
Researchers in Singapore discovered that a Moderna COVID booster following a two-dose Pfizer vaccine series induced a stronger neutralizing antibody response against the Omicron variant in adults compared with an all-Pfizer series, according to a study today in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
More significantly, the group with a Moderna booster had higher antibodies against variants of concern, including Omicron. The median surrogate neutralizing antibody level against Omicron in the all-Pfizer group was 72.8%, compared with 84.3% in the mixed-vaccine group.
Participants ages 60 and older showed a more robust immune response to mixing than younger participants, the authors said; in that group, three Pfizer doses offered 64.6% protection against Omicron, compared to 89.2% for older adults who received a Moderna third dose.
“For the vulnerable older age group in particular, a heterologous booster COVID-19 vaccine regimen induces a higher anti-spike antibody titer and a stronger neutralizing antibody response against the highly infectious Omicron variant (~20% higher neutralization) than a homologous booster regimen,” the authors concluded.
May 11 Clin Infect Dis study
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2022/05/covid-19-scan-may-11-2022
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Do #Vaccines Stave Off New Medical Conditions that follow #COVID19? 7.19 vs 20.26 /1000 for heart disease, 6.45 versus 25.53 for mental disorders, 6.42 vs 19.59 for hypertension, and 2.69 vs 9.69 for diabetes. https://t.co/AKzNjIBm8S
— Judy Stone (@DrJudyStone) May 10, 2022
Devices:
Epidemiology/Infection control:
Interesting thread from Bob Wachter–this is midway through:
As I discussed here (https://t.co/lnsE5LwPXx, see #11-14), the attack rate for household contacts of people w/ Omicron is ~35%, maybe a bit higher with BA.2. Now with BA.2.12.1, I’d guess it’s a little higher still, probably in the 40-50% range. Of course, these studies… (12/23)
— Bob Wachter (@Bob_Wachter) May 9, 2022
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https://twitter.com/loscharlos/status/1523703705752637441?s=20&t=XJWagFtGvBA-ucpn94BDPw
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South African #COVID19 researchers say surges are the result of viral evolutionary cycles, in roughly 6 month periodicities.
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) May 10, 2022
Sure looks like it's true in the USA.
Each new surge seems steeper & larger than its predecessor.https://t.co/N3F2rvGNIN pic.twitter.com/yyfAIfJQvK
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Despite the fact that the BA2 wave is still active, the ECDC predicts a summer wave for Europe. BA.4 and BA.5's observed growth advantage is most likely due to their ability to avoid prior infection and/or vaccination-induced immunity.
— BNO|Medriva Newsroom (@medriva) May 13, 2022
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Thread:
I am still convinced letting a new virus spread largely uncontrolled in #children, of which many are not yet vaccinated & without knowing long-term effects, is a dangerous idea. I also hope that I’m wrong & we won’t see any unpleasant surprises in the future. #SARSCoV2 #COVID19 https://t.co/hKUIeZrh7c
— Isabella Eckerle (@EckerleIsabella) May 10, 2022
Tips, general reading for public:
Ventilate.
Mask.
Vax.
Politics:
Covid:
Report criticizes meat industry, USDA response to pandemic
At the height of the pandemic, the meat processing industry worked closely with political appointees in the Trump administration to stave off health restrictions and keep slaughterhouses open even as COVID-19 spread rapidly among workers, according to a Congressional report released Thursday.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-05-criticizes-meat-industry-usda-response.html?
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https://twitter.com/HilaryDKoch/status/1523788257602940928?s=20&t=XJWagFtGvBA-ucpn94BDPw
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Important: the NIH is licensing its "stabilized spike protein technology" — integral to Covid vaccines, treatments — to Medicines Patent Pool, a global org that expands drug access.
— Sheryl Gay Stolberg (@SherylNYT) May 12, 2022
"Sharing doses is charity and sharing knowledge is justice" @Maybardukhttps://t.co/jQdFBhT4Mw
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ICYMI: Here's the story @nbcnews by @spettypi https://t.co/E3ukL69GC3
— Kristin Urquiza #MarkedByCOVID (@kdurquiza) May 13, 2022
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Please join me in responding to the pandemic response plan reported by @NBCNews to urge local pandemic funds to be spent on police.
— Chloe (teams human) (@teamshumanfox) May 13, 2022
Contact the White House and your local representatives.
Find the Text & Links here:https://t.co/wDYB413gNV pic.twitter.com/EjeIIEVGDB
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https://twitter.com/susansternberg/status/1525273381200961537?s=20&t=XJWagFtGvBA-ucpn94BDPw
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https://twitter.com/celinegounder/status/1525225175016476673?s=20&t=XJWagFtGvBA-ucpn94BDPw
Elections:
Not just our assertion. Not just our claim.
— Ronald Klain (@WHCOS) May 10, 2022
Now @CBO certified: the Biden administration is reducing the deficit (which helps reduce inflationary pressures). https://t.co/oxEOAGjWsW
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They need to win the national vote several times in a row by 5+ points to have a shot at breaking even.
— Brynn Tannehill (@BrynnTannehill) May 9, 2022
Most forecasters look at the 2024 landscape, and don't think there's much of a chance for Democrats to hold the Senate past the 2024 election. 2/n
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3. Last week, they even voted for the EXACT SAME MAP that the Ohio Supreme Court struck down several months back
— David Pepper (@DavidPepper) May 10, 2022
4. Throughout, the son of the Governor—who is a Supreme Court Justice—has refused to recuse himself despite a crystal clear Ohio judicial rule that he MUST
2/
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The Select Committee has subpoenaed Representatives Kevin McCarthy, Scott Perry, Jim Jordan, Andy Biggs, and Mo Brooks for deposition testimony as part of the committee’s investigation into the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and its causes.
— January 6th Committee (@January6thCmte) May 12, 2022
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2018, but was this fixed?
A close Putin associate Potanin is the largest investor in a Russian firm used in the Maryland election systems .. https://t.co/yGGMy5ppE5 pic.twitter.com/jznolR8rbv
— Olga Lautman 🇺🇦 (@OlgaNYC1211) July 13, 2018
Privacy/surveillance:
"ICE has built a sweeping surveillance dragnet—giving them the ability to track nearly every person in the U.S., seemingly at any time.
— Peg (@ethnobot) May 10, 2022
"Most people probably do not think that their identities and locations can be warrantlessly traced by ICE…" https://t.co/dHXUcvIM50
Prices/inflation:
https://t.co/LlnISPYnvH pic.twitter.com/nkpnfucuQl
— Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) May 10, 2022
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https://twitter.com/NoBSallowed1/status/1524050626124009472?s=20&t=XJWagFtGvBA-ucpn94BDPw
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NEW: After Rep. Katie Porter gave emotional speech to fellow Dems about skyrocketing grocery bills, she said it felt like the first time it sank in with some colleagues
— Sarah Ferris (@sarahnferris) May 11, 2022
One told her it's not coming up in polls. Her response: “You don’t know what to ask”https://t.co/tdKGBhmUPl
Florida/DeSantis:
Nazi flags were flown at Disney World earlier today — and not one word of condemnation from Ron DeSantis.
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) May 7, 2022
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4. In each of those 16 REVIEWS of elementary math textbooks the reviewer specifically found there was NO EVIDENCE OF CRT
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) May 10, 2022
I've listed all 16 responses below
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO AMBIGUITY
DeSantis is lyinghttps://t.co/HDQHp5mSUQ pic.twitter.com/BgPqJtgcZi
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Georgia:
This isn't from 1962. https://t.co/IlRLUCIoho
— Schooley (@Rschooley) May 10, 2022
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Idaho:
Skiing is a $20B industry in the U.S. and Idaho has 18 ski resorts and makes a bundle off of out-of-state skiers.
— Shelby Kent-Stewart ™ (@ShelbyKStewart) May 9, 2022
If their leaders won't abide by the separation of church and state, I suggest everyone find another state for their winter sports.
Hit them where it hurts. https://t.co/tuNrEhzPwQ
Michigan:
Republicans in Michigan have replaced election officials who certified Joe Biden's win.https://t.co/C6YTmJ2S9K
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 8, 2022
Missouri:
Turns out the Republican Health director of Missouri has been tracking all the women's periods in his state that use planned parenthood or some of the apps that are available for tracking periods. So much for your privacy rights.
— Dennis#foreverblue (@carmi987) May 6, 2022
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Florida flagged a math textbook for “equal pay” propaganda featuring Megan Rapinoe. Feel bad for kids, this is in everything. https://t.co/ttQYZIw6BK pic.twitter.com/Rs0YCWVYby
— Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) May 8, 2022
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It is certainly consistent with free expression and free market capitalism to use the raw power of the government to punish companies that disagree with you.
— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) May 10, 2022
The self-proclaimed critics of cancel culture are its greatest offenders. https://t.co/i4MNAF1JVI
Ohio:
JD Vance profits off of a company spreading Putin's propaganda. Is it any wonder he "doesn't really care what happens to Ukraine?" pic.twitter.com/C0ucvzUCf3
— Tim Ryan (@TimRyan) May 10, 2022
Pennsylvania – Oz
Pennsylvania US Senate candidate Mehmet Oz says he supports shooting and killing members of an “overly intrusive government,” and touts racist/bigot/misogynist Ted Nugent as a supporter. #pasen #paleg https://t.co/OWE3lSneU1
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) April 30, 2022
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Texas:
Some pharmacists in Texas are already refusing to fill prescriptions to treat miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies because the drugs and procedures used to treat them are also used for abortions.
— Hannah Recht (@hannah_recht) May 10, 2022
This isn't hypothetical, it's reality right now. https://t.co/ejjFeI8zyX
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If you say "defund the police," people's brains fall out of their heads. But when Republicans move to defund public schools, it's total silence. https://t.co/rCYnM1Ipgi
— Brandon Friedman (@BFriedmanDC) May 10, 2022
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NEW: Mexico is officially cutting off the state of Texas and will now be using New Mexico as their number one port for bringing goods into the United States, costing Texas billions of dollars. Texas Paul reacts to his governor's actions: https://t.co/AULi1qZQjI
— MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch) May 9, 2022
West Virginia:
Thread on Joe Manchin and his shady family. My @gaslitnation cohost @AndreaChalupa did a ton of research; you can listen to the full story in the free podcast linked below: https://t.co/vNq7HC2qDK
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) September 15, 2021
Adoption
BREAKING: In a brief re abortion, Supreme court Justices Amy Coney Barrett/Alito's Draft, said US needs a “domestic supply of infants” to meet needs of parents seeking to adopt — that those who would otherwise abort must be made to carry to term — giving children up for adoption.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) May 7, 2022
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And besides, the religious crazies have a nasty, nasty history when it comes to stealing the children of vulnerable people.
— Paula Bruno, PhD, LAc (@2HeartsWellness) May 7, 2022
The world does not owe white Christian families a wide selection of babies (or any child at all) for adoptions.https://t.co/FY6Oja6vU4
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Are we still calling it Mother's Day or is it now just Domestic Infant Supplier Day?
— Keri Blakinger (@keribla) May 8, 2022
LGBTQ:
When asked how the gender-affirming care ban would be enforced, AG Steve Marshall’s office said they had no comment at this time. https://t.co/dFfMW2iu4O
— Savannah Tryens-Fernandes (@SavannahTF) May 9, 2022
SCOTUS home protests:
Christine Blasey Ford has had to move four times since the Kavanaugh hearing and I'm supposed to feel bad he has some protestors outside his house?
— Shannon Coulter (@shannoncoulter) May 9, 2022
~ ~ ~
When you are dying of internal bleeding from an ectopic pregnancy, furious that even though any doctor could save you, you will have to die – leaving lifelong agony for your spouse and children
— Brianna Wu (@BriannaWu) May 9, 2022
please think of the sanctity of Brett Kavanaugh’s driveway – which is the real victim
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this is about you pic.twitter.com/G1yA2azYeV
— Bill Corbett (@BillCorbett) May 10, 2022
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— Nancy Henning (@NancyHenning15) May 11, 2022
Roe/Abortion:
None of us should accept a future in which our daughters and granddaughters have fewer rights than we did.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 11, 2022
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https://twitter.com/JuddLegum/status/1522563650724282368?s=20&t=XJWagFtGvBA-ucpn94BDPw
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Mexico’s decision: https://t.co/TS79yc9tPi
— Natalie Kitroeff (@Nataliekitro) May 3, 2022
Came after Argentina: https://t.co/Wo5nd95wT9
And right before Colombia: https://t.co/IsWxIwOTR1
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I’ve also had pharmacists decline misoprostol (cytotec) lately which can be used for abortion, labor induction, helping a missed miscarriage (incomplete miscarriage) and more.
— Natalie Crawford, MD (@ncrawfordmd) May 12, 2022
I like to use it before hysteroscopy in non pregnant patients to make surgery easy/safer.
2/4
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This is what it looks like to have the courage of your convictions. Well done, @acog!
— Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD (@arghavan_salles) May 13, 2022
In the meantime, ASMBS and ASE kept their meetings in Texas, which has one of the most aggressive anti-abortion and transphobic legislatures in the country.
Ht @MorganSLevy pic.twitter.com/DUOWnnRBmo
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https://twitter.com/VegasVisions/status/1522600081987301376?s=20&t=XJWagFtGvBA-ucpn94BDPw
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Btw if you want to see a few more things that women couldn't do until the 1970s, here's a list: https://t.co/wa8fQsBgoY
— Allison Winn Scotch (@aswinn) May 9, 2022
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Perspective: Not all religions oppose abortion. In fact, some support it.https://t.co/gxUXdlpk4y
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 12, 2022
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Republicans are getting very upset people keep retweeting this ad so I figured I would post for any of you who haven’t seen it yet and then I am going to retweet myself tonight. pic.twitter.com/rrq1j5UPqw
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) May 4, 2022
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Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has signed into law a bill designed to protect people who provide an abortion or receive support to obtain the procedure in Connecticut and are then sued in another state.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 7, 2022
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As fences go up around the Supreme Court, a reminder they overruled a law that created 35ft buffer zones for abortion clinics because it “infringed on free speech”
— Jack Miller (@politicalmiller) May 5, 2022
But when it’s their own building they dont seem too worried. Huh.
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https://twitter.com/DataDrivenMD/status/1524130010323247106?s=20&t=XJWagFtGvBA-ucpn94BDPw
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Let’s be clear about what just happened in the Senate: Every single Republican just voted to allow the Supreme Court to force victims of rape and incest to give birth.
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) May 11, 2022
Louisiana:
Holy shit. Louisiana Republicans have voted to advance a bill out of committee making abortion from the moment of fertilization a crime, in which the mother can be charged with homicide.
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) May 5, 2022
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The Louisiana legislature is advancing a bill, where they will frisk you, handcuff you, arrest you, and give you a life sentence without parole for having an IUD — but you can open-carry a firearm without a permit.
— Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) May 7, 2022
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I've never seen legislative language like what's in Louisiana's abortion ban. It says that the state can disregard any federal court order curtailing the law and that state judges who declare the law unconstitutional or stay enforcement will be impeached https://t.co/rDyiDXN3yU pic.twitter.com/GKZZGRafvN
— Emmanuel Felton (@emmanuelfelton) May 10, 2022
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Arkansas:
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson last year signed a bill banning abortion with no exceptions for rape or incest. Pressed on that by ABC, he says his "heart goes out" to women who become pregnant as a result of rape or incest. pic.twitter.com/5Jn3torkfx
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 8, 2022
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Georgia:
GEORGIA: 26 states are certain or likely to ban or severely restrict abortion without Roe, according to the Guttmacher Institute. GA's Gov. Kemp vowed that if the Supreme Court’s leaked ruling becomes final, he would lead efforts to criminalize abortion. https://t.co/vhqFdt7qXH
— Senate Judiciary Committee (@JudiciaryDems) May 10, 2022
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Maine:
Susan Collins when someone applies chalk to a sidewalk nearby her residence pic.twitter.com/CkS4hotZ9L
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 10, 2022
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Susan Collins calls the cops to investigate “defacement of public property” after someone wrote a message in chalk on the sidewalk near her home asking her to codify Roe. https://t.co/YY7ehcDxLv
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) May 10, 2022
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Mississippi:
MISSISSIPPI: If Roe is struck down, a "trigger law" passed in MS in 2007 would automatically ban all abortions—except in cases of rape, or to save the life of the mother. There is no exception for incest. Gov. Reeves has said he would enforce the ban. https://t.co/1GOSs57RMQ
— Senate Judiciary Committee (@JudiciaryDems) May 10, 2022
Signs:
Evangelical slavery. pic.twitter.com/YS6O2VTEfu
— LexinLA (@lex_in_LA) May 14, 2022
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We do need to talk about the anti-women GOP Their main goal is holding on to power by keeping women down Time to take back our power! #womensmarchBoston #womensmarch #prochoice pic.twitter.com/8wAs8XOTrp
— Lisa Rothstein (@ibscook) May 14, 2022
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I ❤️ this! Right to the point.#VoteBlueToProtectWomen #WomensMarch #WomensRightsAreHumanRights pic.twitter.com/n66HbeQVUo
— SCPO’s Combination Cover Speaks (@dire_distress) May 14, 2022
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If you’ve pissed off Grandma, you better check yourself. #BansOffOurBodies #WomensMarch https://t.co/aMqQ0QvKBt
— Annette Maule (@annie_3109) May 14, 2022
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Thousands gathered now for #PlannedParenthood #WomensMarch in Washington DC, beginning on the National Mall. pic.twitter.com/Q2NxZgdUoT
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) May 14, 2022
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A profound moment of moral clarity from 13th century England pic.twitter.com/loZfY5sb40
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) May 8, 2022
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He took his beatings like a man and never got tired of coming back for more. I’ll give him that. pic.twitter.com/AP7m2Bisp6
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 13, 2022
Ukraine/Russia:
I don't think you'll ever see a bigger weirdness:
— Mikhail Khodorkovsky (English) (@mbk_center) May 13, 2022
Russian Orthodox Church☦️ leaders blessing a rocket called Satan. pic.twitter.com/KcyP49qQ2Z
One of the biggest donors to the UK's Conservative Party is suspected of secretly funneling $630,225 to the party from a Russian account, a bank alert showed. The cash was part of a fund-raising blitz that helped propel the party to victory in 2019. https://t.co/OQsW2M3cMq
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 12, 2022
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Rand Paul just blocked critically needed aid to Ukraine.
— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) May 12, 2022
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fun at Russian Embassy:
The Vindman brothers quite literally carried the projector on their shoulders to keep the images visible on the wall. There are pictures. I will share them tomorrow. https://t.co/8zkoPkCaNp
— Benjamin Wittes (@benjaminwittes) May 9, 2022
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https://twitter.com/terror_studies/status/1524496663951327234?s=20&t=XJWagFtGvBA-ucpn94BDPw
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A Finnish general reacting to Putin’s threats if Finland joins NATO:
— Putin Put out (@BLABLA38480996) April 16, 2022
“You are most welcome here to join the 200,000 Russians that are already in Finland buried a few meters in the ground after your last attempt in 1939" #Finland #NATO #UkraineRussianWar https://t.co/tc4Wvp3Xv5 pic.twitter.com/T5Hk7cumAr
Feel good du jour:
» Signs of success in California campaign to keep monarch butterflies from disappearing
— (((unsettling music playing))) (@steveportigal) May 13, 2022
1.3 million were found in 1997, numbers dropped to fewer than 2,000 in winter 2020-21. The latest California count, announced in January, shot up to 250,000. https://t.co/4Lsqixptk9
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There have been signs of success in a California campaign to keep monarch butterflies from disappearing.
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) May 13, 2022
Read more: https://t.co/K835GLMKDW pic.twitter.com/3DbabUQ6Ve
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https://twitter.com/TG22110/status/1522793167476641793?s=20&t=XJWagFtGvBA-ucpn94BDPw
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Just love this little bit on the Mother's Day card from my daughter. pic.twitter.com/fCA57tZ8OM
— Cynthia Wolberger, Ph.D. (@CWolberger) May 8, 2022
Comic relief:
Bomb detector Ukrainian pooch Patron is all tuckered out and 10/10. #SlavaUkraini pic.twitter.com/9v5rnDFyOL
— Room Rater (@ratemyskyperoom) May 8, 2022
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Cats That Look Like Middle Aged Men's Facebook Profile Pictures (an occasional tweet series) pic.twitter.com/e720TDVfft
— Paul Bronks (@SlenderSherbet) May 7, 2022
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Hans Krebs on his motorcycle. This is therefore the earliest known photograph of the Krebs cycle: pic.twitter.com/wLiylaNHtk
— Alvin (@alvie_barr) May 6, 2022
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the dalmatian is definitely the referee
— theworldofdog (@theworldofdog) May 10, 2022
(jukin media) pic.twitter.com/z3sMRgCeDa
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Who needed to see a 15 minute old lamb today? 🥰 pic.twitter.com/xt15WUumDN
— Jessi 💫 (@its_jessi_grace) May 11, 2022
Perspective/Poem
This @washingtonpost @ZekeEmanuel piece mirrors my thinking. https://t.co/p2QNw0e6rJ With vax/boosts & Paxlovid, I no longer worry much about hospital/dying from acute Covid (though its a far cry from "just a cold.")
— Bob Wachter (@Bob_Wachter) May 13, 2022
But Long & Longer Covid risks are real & can't be wished away.
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A mural in Lviv, quoting Zelensky at his inauguration speech: “I don’t want you to have my portrait in your offices, because the president is not an icon or idol. Have there a picture of your children, and look into their eyes before making every decision”
— Alina Bondarenko 🇺🇦 (@alina_bondarnk) May 13, 2022
📸 @kalvadosseeker pic.twitter.com/I5ik3Ue1Ps
Bits of beauty:
