The hottest Health Policy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health & Wellness Topics

RFK Jr. Hearings

Your Local Epidemiologist • 2058 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Policy
  1. RFK Jr. showed he wasn't well-prepared for the hearings, struggling with basic healthcare facts and confusing important programs like Medicaid and Medicare.
  2. He often ignored solid scientific evidence, calling for more data on topics like vaccine safety, despite clear proof already available.
  3. RFK Jr. made controversial statements that could harm specific groups, like suggesting different vaccine schedules based on race and downplaying mental illness stigma.

It's not just Minnesota. Or just daycares. The deepest government honeypot is blue-state Medicaid.

Unreported Truths • 117 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Medicaid and other big government health programs have become massive targets for waste, fraud, and abuse, far exceeding smaller examples like daycare fraud. The sheer amount of money makes them especially vulnerable.
  2. New York is an extreme case, now spending roughly $120 billion on Medicaid and far more per person than decades ago. Federal backstops and political incentives have driven much of this growth.
  3. Growing Medicaid spending doesn’t clearly improve patient health and risks unsustainable costs for taxpayers, with absurd billing examples highlighting broken incentives. This dynamic can worsen care quality while expanding taxpayer burdens.

What the Polls Say about the Pharmaceutical Industry and Vaccines

Who is Robert Malone • 16 implied HN points • 22 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Policy
  1. Public trust in the pharmaceutical industry and in vaccines has fallen dramatically, with growing doubts about safety, effectiveness, and the childhood vaccine schedule.
  2. Some influential polls are poorly designed or biased and can be used to steer political messaging; people should scrutinize question wording and methods before treating one poll as decisive.
  3. A large share of voters across parties favor more choice over vaccinations and strongly oppose liability shields for vaccine makers, making liability repeal and choice popular political issues.

Reiner Fuellmich, Therapeutic Choice and the Price of Speech

Who is Robert Malone • 21 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Supporters say Reiner Fuellmich was detained not for routine financial wrongdoing but because he challenged pandemic policies and defended therapeutic choice, and they view his communication limits as political persecution.
  2. Therapeutic choice is tied to free speech: if doctors cannot speak openly about observations, risks, or alternative treatments, patients cannot make real informed decisions.
  3. The case has become a symbol for a broader movement (MAHA/MEHA) that links prevention, metabolic health, and protection of dissenting speech as essential to resilient public health and democracy.

Letters to the Editor: The Fight over Conversion Therapy

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 185 implied HN points • 26 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Policy
  1. A Supreme Court case is testing whether state bans on conversion therapy for minors are constitutional, with therapists saying bans limit speech and states saying they regulate professional conduct.
  2. Survivors and advocates warn conversion therapy causes deep harm to LGBTQ youth, and if bans are struck down therapists could legally subject minors to those practices without risking their licenses.
  3. The dispute turns on legal distinctions and consent claims from some therapists who say they offer voluntary counseling, and it reflects wider cultural debates about gender, sex, and parental rights.
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COVID Helped Start California's Decline, And Gavin Newsom Is Making Sure It Continues

Unmasked • 48 implied HN points • 29 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Policy
  1. Gavin Newsom is being treated as the leading Democratic candidate for 2028 even though many view his record as governor as a series of failures.
  2. California is slipping — seeing population decline while states like Florida and Texas grow, and facing high costs of living, homelessness, budget shortfalls, wildfires, and expensive, uncompleted projects like high-speed rail.
  3. Many blame California's strict COVID-era policies—long lockdowns, mask mandates, school closures, and business crackdowns—for authoritarian overreach and for helping trigger or accelerate the state's decline.

Covid Situation Report: May 30, 2024

Independent SAGE continues • 219 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Covid positivity rates in England have recently peaked and are starting to decline, indicating that this small wave of Covid is likely over.
  2. The Spring 2024 booster campaign is doing well, with over 3.6 million doses given, but many immunocompromised individuals still need better vaccine coverage.
  3. A new variant called KP.2 is spreading, but it doesn't seem to be significantly more effective than other existing variants at this time.

NZ's Midwifery Council wants to stop using the words 'mother' and 'baby' for mothers and babies.

A B’Old Woman • 679 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Policy
  1. New Zealand's Midwifery Council wants to change the terms 'mother' and 'baby' to be more inclusive. This is to recognize people who identify differently but may give birth.
  2. The decision has faced criticism for erasing traditional language related to motherhood. Many believe it undermines the focus on women's rights in midwifery.
  3. The changes to the language used in midwifery can impact how health professionals operate. Clear language is crucial to ensure safe and effective care.

Here’s My Exchange With Slate’s Mark Joseph Stern About ‘United States v. Skrmetti’

Singal-Minded • 718 implied HN points • 03 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Policy
  1. The discussion around laws affecting gender treatment for minors can be complex. It's important to talk about these issues calmly and with respect for different viewpoints.
  2. Legal arguments regarding gender discrimination often hinge on how laws classify individuals based on sex. Understanding these classifications helps illuminate the legal reasoning in cases like 'Skrmetti.'
  3. There are differing opinions about the implications of laws like SB1. While some see them as discriminatory, others argue they follow acceptable legal frameworks that don't classify treatment based solely on sex.

BREAKING: New MAHA National Health Survey Released

Who is Robert Malone • 12 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Policy
  1. A clear majority of likely voters back the Make America Healthy Again and America First agendas and favor specific reforms like cutting the CDC childhood vaccine schedule and ending COVID vaccine manufacturer immunity.
  2. Support for these health and sovereignty reforms cuts across age and racial groups—younger voters and many minority voters show particularly strong approval—so backing isn’t limited to one party.
  3. Approval for the MAHA agenda is higher than for individual leaders: Trump and RFK Jr. have more polarized, roughly even job ratings, suggesting policy framing matters more than personality.

New Emails From Anthony Fauci And Francis Collins Show More Purposeful Dishonesty On COVID Vaccines

Unmasked • 56 implied HN points • 22 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Fauci shifted key public health stances over time, including on masks, school closures, and lockdowns, creating conflicting guidance.
  2. Newly released emails are presented as evidence that Fauci and Francis Collins knowingly misled the public to push vaccine messaging and mandates.
  3. The piece argues that media and officials largely failed to hold them accountable, and that critics of strict COVID policies were vindicated.

I’m hosting a free webinar on Thursday. Here’s why you should tune in and how to register.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 459 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. A free webinar titled 'Safeguarding Health Care's Runaway Train' is happening on March 21, 2024, at 2 PM EST. It'll cover important changes in health care and why you should be interested.
  2. The health insurance industry is facing possible changes, as some employers are starting to find ways to bypass big insurance companies to offer better benefits.
  3. This webinar is part of a series aimed at providing insights into the U.S. health care system, helping people understand the ongoing issues and proposed reforms.

FOI Clinical: A new outbreak monitoring service

Force of Infection • 54 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Health Policy
  1. The CDC reported New World screwworm cases on the Mexico side of the Texas–Mexico border; it mainly affects livestock but can infect people, and there are no U.S. cases yet though the threat is approaching.
  2. Front-line clinicians don’t have a quick, recurring, plain-language briefing that tracks reportable diseases, emerging outbreaks, and policy changes that affect patient care.
  3. FOI Clinical is launching a clinician-focused outbreak monitoring service to fill that gap with briefings and alerts, with a first edition expected in February 2026 and subscriptions open to clinicians and medically vulnerable people.

A Response to France’s Best-Selling COVID Skeptic

Integrity Talk • 66 implied HN points • 06 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Saying there was no excess mortality during COVID is misleading because standardizing past deaths to a recent age structure ignores rising life expectancy and doesn’t fit global excess-death patterns.
  2. Arguing tests don’t detect illness confuses being infected with being symptomatic; PCR reliably finds viral material and antigen tests do a good job ruling out infection, even though no test perfectly indicates sickness.
  3. Claiming vaccines don’t work mixes valid worries about industry conflicts with a misunderstanding of trial goals; trials were powered to show reduced symptomatic COVID and large real-world studies later showed much lower death rates among vaccinated people.

(Some Of) Your July 2025 Questions, Answered

Singal-Minded • 486 implied HN points • 05 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Policy
  1. There are ongoing discussions about whether Congress should question health experts on youth gender medicine. Some believe these experts owe the public clear explanations, especially since government funding is involved.
  2. Celebrating Pride in schools is debated due to differing parental comfort levels with LGBTQ+ materials for young children. Finding the right balance between inclusivity and respect for diverse beliefs is challenging.
  3. Research on brain differences between transgender and cisgender individuals is complex. Understanding these differences doesn't necessarily answer how society should treat trans people, as each individual's experience can vary greatly.

The fluoride debate

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1979 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Fluoride helps strengthen our teeth and prevents cavities, which is why it's in toothpaste and is often added to public water supplies.
  2. Fluoridated water has been effective in reducing tooth decay overall, especially in communities with less access to dental care.
  3. The safety of fluoride is based on careful dosage; while high levels can be harmful, the amount used in drinking water is considered safe for everyone.

The Bomb Test Downwinders and the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act

Gordian Knot News • 153 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Policy
  1. Residents downwind of nuclear bomb tests in the 1950s received significant radiation doses, but studies showed no increase in cancer rates among them.
  2. Public concern about the health effects of these tests surged after the 1970s, leading to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act that provides payouts to those affected, despite no solid evidence linking fallout to health issues.
  3. The perception of danger from radiation exposure has changed over time, with many now believing that low doses of radiation have harmful effects, supported by government compensation programs, even when actual risks seem low.

BOMBSHELL: The CDC Has Updated Its “Autism and Vaccines” Page

Injecting Freedom • 152 implied HN points • 20 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. The CDC has updated its stance on vaccines and autism, admitting that they haven't proven that vaccines do not cause autism.
  2. Previous studies suggesting there is no link between vaccines and autism have serious flaws and have been largely ignored by health authorities.
  3. The CDC is now supporting further research on the relationship between infant vaccines and autism, acknowledging that more studies are needed.

The Knight Foundation and The Signals Network are changing the future of whistleblowing

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 379 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Policy
  1. The Knight Foundation and The Signals Network are focused on improving support for whistleblowers, making it easier for them to speak out against wrongdoing. This means better tools and resources for those who want to share their experiences.
  2. Whistleblowers play an important role in exposing corporate and government misconduct, which can lead to positive changes in society. Their courage helps hold powerful people accountable for their actions.
  3. Speaking out against injustices is often a difficult choice, but it's necessary for driving change. When individuals blow the whistle, they advocate for better systems that prioritize people's well-being over profit.

Covid Situation Report: May 23, 2024

Independent SAGE continues • 179 implied HN points • 24 May 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Covid positivity rates have peaked and are now decreasing, indicating a potential end to the recent wave of infections.
  2. The Spring 2024 booster campaign is going well, with over 3.3 million doses given, but vaccination among vulnerable groups remains low.
  3. A new variant, KP.2, is spreading but doesn't appear to be more aggressive than others currently in circulation.

We are likely at peak season

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1384 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Right now, many people are getting sick, and it seems like we are in the peak season for respiratory illnesses. The usual patterns we see are pretty much the same as before the pandemic.
  2. Flu cases are very high but appear to be slowing down. However, we might still face more waves of flu with different strains hitting later in the winter.
  3. Covid-19 cases are increasing, but they are lower than in past winters. Vaccination and past infections have helped build immunity, which is why this winter seems milder.

22 Public Health Accomplishments in 2024

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1472 implied HN points • 27 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. dropped thanks to programs that provide treatment and education on overdose prevention. This is a big win after many years of rising deaths.
  2. There was a 2% decline in sexually transmitted infections, showing that efforts to control and educate about these diseases are making a difference.
  3. Cervical cancer deaths are decreasing among young women, likely due to the success of the HPV vaccine. This suggests that vaccination is successfully protecting future generations.

More evidence from coast to coast that American medicine may be on an unsustainable path

Unreported Truths • 36 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. American healthcare costs are escalating and may be unsustainable, with Medicaid spending surging and states even proposing new taxes to cover growing bills.
  2. Pay and incentive distortions are visible: nurses pushing large raises while nonprofit hospital executives earn multimillion-dollar compensation, driving up system costs.
  3. Political and market pressure is mounting — federal moves to hold reimbursements flat and insurer stock drops show the system depends heavily on government funding and is politically fragile.

Is the No Surprises Act backfiring on patients?

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 439 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. The No Surprises Act was created to protect patients from surprise medical bills, but it may not be working as intended. Insurers have found ways to manipulate the system, negatively impacting patients.
  2. Insurers can set the rates for out-of-network services and use that power to push down payments to doctors, which may lead to less availability of medical care.
  3. The government has not enforced the law properly, allowing insurers to profit while leaving patients with longer wait times and less access to doctors.

Thanksgiving Outlook

Force of Infection • 135 implied HN points • 23 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Flu activity is starting to increase in many areas, especially among young children. It's important to stay aware of this as you celebrate Thanksgiving.
  2. COVID-19 cases are currently low, but we might see an increase soon in some states. It's something we should keep an eye on.
  3. Norovirus is on the rise, especially with Thanksgiving coming up. Make sure to wash your hands and be cautious when preparing food for others to prevent spreading it.

Buckle up: Navigating the noise around routine vaccination

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1375 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Vaccination has had a huge impact on public health, eradicating diseases like smallpox and reducing cases of polio and measles to near-zero with high vaccination rates.
  2. Most people still trust vaccines, with a significant percentage of parents ensuring their kids are vaccinated, despite the loud voices questioning vaccine safety.
  3. It's normal to have questions about vaccines, but it's important to seek answers from trusted experts to separate fact from fiction.

How to Fix the NIH

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1372 implied HN points • 11 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Institute directors should have term limits of 5 to 10 years. This helps bring in new ideas and prevents one person from holding too much power for too long.
  2. More funding needs to go towards preventing chronic diseases rather than just treating them. Preventive care is important for keeping people healthy and can save money in the long run.
  3. The NIH should be more transparent about financial conflicts of interest. People deserve to know how research funding is influenced by financial ties to the industry.

Covid Situation Report: Jun 13, 2024

Independent SAGE continues • 99 implied HN points • 15 Jun 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Covid levels in England have stabilised after a minor rise in mid-May. Most regions are showing low and stable rates.
  2. The Spring 2024 booster vaccination campaign is going well, with 3.9 million doses given, but more needs to be done for vulnerable groups, especially the immunosuppressed.
  3. Older individuals face a higher risk of hospitalisation and death from Covid, highlighting the importance of getting vaccinated, especially for those aged 75 and above.

US Dietary Guidelines: Science is "Subpar," Cannot be Replicated

Unsettled Science • 948 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines are based on low-quality science that is hard to replicate. This raises questions about their reliability for healthy eating.
  2. A new study found serious flaws in how the USDA reviews the research for these guidelines, including mistakes in their search strategies and lack of transparency.
  3. Despite criticism and calls for improvement, the USDA has not made the necessary updates to ensure the guidelines are trustworthy and based on solid research.

More Americans now worry about paying for healthcare than housing or anything else

Unreported Truths • 27 implied HN points • 29 Jan 26
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. More Americans now list affording medical care as their top financial worry, even above housing and transportation.
  2. Concern about healthcare costs crosses party lines and many voters distrust both major parties to fix it, making the issue politically potent.
  3. Democrats favor expanding subsidies and coverage while Republicans face hard choices, and entrenched health-industry power makes big reform risky even though a simple, bold message could win voter support.

When MAHA Forgets the Working Class

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 955 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Health advice that seems extreme or unattainable can push regular people away. It's important to give advice that feels realistic and achievable.
  2. Personal experiences with illness can be heavily influenced by socioeconomic status. Financial worries about healthcare can be a barrier to education and opportunities.
  3. Policies like the Affordable Care Act can make a big difference for people with preexisting conditions. They can open doors for education and better health insurance options.

Extra! Extra! Sunlight is Good For You!!!

The Corbett Report • 23 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Health Policy
  1. Sunlight in moderation is genuinely good for you — it can calm inflammation and may help reduce risks of autoimmune problems like multiple sclerosis, so getting outside a bit each day can support your immune system.
  2. Powerful industries (Big Food, Big Pharma, and global health interests) have financial reasons to keep people unhealthy, and their influence can shape public messaging and discourage simple healthy choices.
  3. Grassroots efforts to promote healthy eating, exercise, and sensible sun exposure are valuable, but watch out for political co‑option or techy schemes; focus on practical, low‑tech steps to Make Everyone Healthy Again.

The Real Cause of Health Care Dysfunction

In My Tribe • 1002 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. A big reason we spend so much on healthcare is that we often get expensive tests and procedures that don't help us much.
  2. Simply making more people eligible for Medicare won't fix the problem of overspending in healthcare.
  3. Many people like to think that healthcare costs are high because of greedy doctors or insurance companies, but that's not the main reason.

The Dose (December 6)

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1002 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Getting vaccinated for Covid-19 at the right time can make a big difference. If you haven't had Covid recently, fall is a good time for your shot.
  2. The flu vaccine is important and does not give you the flu. It reduces severe cases, and many misunderstandings about it need to be cleared up.
  3. HPV vaccinations are really effective and can significantly lower the risk of cervical cancer in young women. This shows how important vaccines are for public health.

Make America Healthy Again?

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1193 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. To improve America's health, we need to focus on real problems and not get distracted by minor issues. Understanding the causes of our health problems is critical.
  2. Access to quality healthcare and addressing social factors like food access is essential for reducing preventable diseases. Solutions should consider both health care and lifestyle.
  3. Public health relies on evidence-based practices. Ideas that sound good but lack strong backing might not help at all and could even make things worse.

Outbreak Outlook - National - Nov 16

Force of Infection • 96 implied HN points • 16 Nov 25
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy
  1. Flu activity is on the rise in the U.S., with particular concern around the H3N2 strain which has been linked to more severe seasons. It's important to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
  2. COVID-19 is currently very low in activity, with fewer emergency visits and hospitalizations. But there are still some minor spikes in a few states that need to be monitored.
  3. Norovirus positivity rates are rising, especially in the South, and it's spreading quickly. This virus can cause severe stomach issues, so stay cautious and mindful of hygiene.

Rep. Chip Roy: Why I’m Backing RFK Jr.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 741 implied HN points • 01 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Health Policy
  1. Chip Roy supports RFK Jr. for Health and Human Services despite having different opinions with others. He believes RFK Jr. knows how to improve America's health.
  2. Both Roy and Erick Erickson have had life-threatening health issues, and they credit innovative drugs by Big Pharma for their recoveries.
  3. Roy shares his personal story of overcoming cancer with a revolutionary drug, showcasing the importance of medical advancements.

VSRF LIVE TONIGHT: Episode 216: Sharyl Attkisson

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 2 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
📰 News Health Policy
  1. An experienced investigative reporter will explain how major newsrooms can shape, steer, or quietly bury stories and how “consensus” narratives are often manufactured.
  2. Pharmaceutical interests can influence media narratives and scientific debate, which can obscure information and sway public health policy.
  3. Independent reporting is essential to expose these pressures, and there is an active petition urging the Senate to repudiate harmful COVID-era policies while protecting bodily autonomy, free speech, and limits on emergency powers.