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Jack Pitney

@jpitney.bsky.social

1.2K followers 220 following 1.3K posts

Professor of government, Claremont McKenna College.

Posts Replies Media

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 10h

NY Governor declares a measles emergency. Pennsylvania has the worst state measles outbreak in decades. For years, RFK and his fellow antivaxxers spread the lie that vaccines cause autism. Now we're seeing the result. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/10/meas...

autismpolicyblog.com

Measles: Pennsylvania Outbreak, New York Emergency

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing disease...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

A proposed redesign of CDC’s annual health survey could mean an undercount of people with developmental disabilities such as autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/10/drop...

autismpolicyblog.com

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Minnesota lawmakers are planning legislation to regulate the role of private equity in autism services. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/10/plan...

autismpolicyblog.com

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Good news from a survey: 68% say that it is false to claim vaccines cause autism.Bad news: that figure is down from 74% in 2021. Worse news: 13% still believe the vaccine-autism lie and 19% aren't sure. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/10/in-p...

autismpolicyblog.com

Survey on Vaccines and Autism

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the discredited notion that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing ...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

3,887 measles cases so far in 2026. That's up 228 in just one week and already 1,598 more than in all of 2025. And still 3 months to go. RFK Jr. and fellow antivaxxers have fueled vaccine distrust. One fact they can’t wish away: vaccines don't cause autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/10/meas...

autismpolicyblog.com

Measles 10/2/26

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing disease...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Because of Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," states are cutting Medicaid-funded community-based services for people with disabilities such as autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/10/medi...

autismpolicyblog.com

Medicaid Cuts, 2026

The Politics of Autism includes an extensive discussion of insurance and Medicaid services for adults with intellectual and development...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is sponsoring a resolution affirming that people with disabilities should be able to live in their communities. Trump is trying to undermine that principle. He wants to stash the disabled in institutions. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/lawm...

autismpolicyblog.com

Lawmakers Seek to Affirm Olmstead

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss court cases involving the civil rights of people with autism and other disabilities . Trump do...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

RFK Jr. is gutting the CDC. Autism research suffers, and so do we all. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/cutt...

autismpolicyblog.com

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spr...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A court order approved a deal between the administration and 5 states to strip community integration language from an HHS disability rights rule. In the fight for disability rights, Trump and RFK Jr. are on the wrong side. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/bad-...

autismpolicyblog.com

Bad Olmstead News

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss court cases involving the civil rights of people with autism and other disabilities . Trump do...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A court order approved a deal between the administration and 5 states to strip community integration language from an HHS disability rights rule. In the fight for disability rights, Trump and RFK Jr. are on the wrong side. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/bad-...

autismpolicyblog.com

Bad Olmstead News

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss court cases involving the civil rights of people with autism and other disabilities . Trump do...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

A recent study examined Internet searches about autism in movies and TV. The findings suggest that popular media help shape how people learn about autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/inte...

autismpolicyblog.com

Internet Searches of Autism in Popular Media

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss depictions of ASD in popular culture . Rebecchi, K., & Nordahl-Hansen, A. (2026). Short Report: A...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

A court ruled the Administration must spend appropriated education research $. Plaintiffs said that officials interpreted a DEI ban torequire scrapping programs for children with disabilities, presumably because such programs are "perceived as `inclusion.'' www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/cour...

autismpolicyblog.com

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

3,659 measles cases so far this year — 1,370 more than in all of 2025, with three months still to go. Antivaccine misinformation has consequences. RFK Jr. and his fellow antivaxxers keep spreading it, so I’ll keep repeating thiat vaccines do not cause autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/meas...

autismpolicyblog.com

Measles, Late September 2026

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing disea...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Yet another study debunks Trump's reckless claims about Tylenol and autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/meta...

autismpolicyblog.com

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Vouchers are not a panacea for students with disabilities such as autism. In Texas, specialized schools are often far away, tuition is high, and seats are scarce. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/the-...

autismpolicyblog.com

The Limits of Vouchers in Texas

In The Politics of Autism , I write about social services , special education, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act . Acco...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A new study finds an association between congenital TORCH infections and autism. (Association does not prove causation.) Researchers have identified dozens of other possible correlates. Vaccines are not among them. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/anot...

autismpolicyblog.com

Another Potential Correlate: TORCH Infections

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss various ideas about what causes the condition . Dozens of potential causes and correlates have...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

A study of autism training for first responders found significant improvements in subjectively rated outcomes (confidence and self-efficacy), but the objectively rated outcome (knowledge) did not improve significantly. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/eval...

autismpolicyblog.com

Evaluating Trainings for First Responders

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss interactions between police and autistic people . When cops encounter autistic people , they may no...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Study: life expectancy at birth for autistic Medicaid beneficiaries with ASD was about 65 years, nearly 6 years less than for the Medicaid population and 14 years less than for the US general population. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/life...

autismpolicyblog.com

Life Expectancy Among Autistic Medicaid Beneficiaries

In The Politics of Autism , I write: Many analyses of autism speak as if it were only a childhood ailment and assume that parents are the m...

Reposted by Jack Pitney

SlavaUkraini033 @slavaukraini033.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Interesting: Advanced Targeting Research poll | 9/13-9/16 RV US Senate Idaho 2026 ⬜️Todd Achilles 50.1% 🟥Jim Risch 38.5% (incumbent) —— ⬜️Todd Achilles 45.5% 🟥Jim Risch 39.4% (incumbent) 🟨Matt Loesby 4.5%

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

18 governors signed a letter demanding DOJ stop undermining the 1999 Supreme Court ruling that established disabled Americans' right to live in their communities rather than institutions. Conspicuously absent from the signers: Gavin Newsom www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/gove... .

autismpolicyblog.com

Governors Push Back on DOJ's Efforts to Undercut Olmstead

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss court cases involving the civil rights of people with autism and other disabilities . Trump do...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Another measles death in Pennsylvania: this time, an unvaccinated 40-year-old woman. Vaccinate yourself. Vaccinate your children. Vaccines don’t cause autism. They prevent measles and save lives. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/anot...

autismpolicyblog.com

Another Measles Death

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing disea...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

3,284 measles cases so far. That's 1,005 more than in all of 2025, with 3 1/2 months to go. Blame decades of disinformation by RFK Jr. and his fellow antivaxxers. Can't say it enough: vaccines don't cause autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/3294...

autismpolicyblog.com

3,294 Measles Cases

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing disease...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

A landmark disability decision shaped how kids transition from school to independent living. Trump's DOJ has walked away from enforcing it. Trump despises people with disabilities and his head of the civil rights division uses the r-word as a slur. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/the-...

autismpolicyblog.com

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

The Education Department’s top special-education official just quit. The Trump administration is moving special-ed oversight to HHS, under RFK Jr. Say a prayer for students with disabilities, including autistic students. They will need it. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/spev...

autismpolicyblog.com

Special Ed Official Quits

In The Politics of Autism , I write about social services , special education, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act . Pr...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Autism politics is notoriously factional, like faculty politics on crystal meth. So it’s remarkable that major autism groups agree that the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee used a deeply flawed process to develop its strategic plan. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/majo...

autismpolicyblog.com

Major Autism Organizations Criticize IACC Process

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee and research priorities . A September 2 post from Au...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

If the Trump administration gets its way, states will find it easier to institutionalize people with disabilities such as autism. Trump despises people with disabilities and wants to shove them out of sight. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/back...

autismpolicyblog.com

Backward on Community Integration

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss court cases involving the civil rights of people with autism and other disabilities . Trump does...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Bee's Law is proposed Texas legislation for autism-specific training for judicial, prosecutorial, and investigative professionals. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/bees...

autismpolicyblog.com

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss interactions between the justice system and autistic people . Kayla Hamlett at KTXS-TV: A Texas mot...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

The Trump Administration would gut enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by shifting it out of the Department of Education. There is bipartisan pushback on Capitol Hill. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/cong...

autismpolicyblog.com

Congressional Pushback Against Special Ed Transfer

In The Politics of Autism , I write about social services , special education, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act . Pr...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

3,314 measles cases so far this year. That's 845 more than all of last year, with nearly 4 months to go. RFK Jr. and his fellow antivaxxers share the blame. Contrary to their lies, vaccines don't cause autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/meas...

autismpolicyblog.com

Measles, Early September 2026

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing disease...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Study: families of autistic children report greater stress but also higher levels of resilience compared with families of nonautistic children. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/09/fami...

autismpolicyblog.com

Family Stress and Resilience

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss the day-to-day challenges facing autistic people and their families . Duncan, A. L., & Shepley, C. (20...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

2,903 measles cases so far this year. That's 614 more than in all of 2025, with 4 months still to go. Since Trump took office, the U.S. has had moremeasles cases than in the previous 20 YEARS combined. Vaccines don’t cause autism. They prevent measles. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/2903...

autismpolicyblog.com

2,903 Measles Cases in 2026

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases ...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee is promoting fringe theories at the expense of actual science. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/iacc...

autismpolicyblog.com

IACC: Bad Stuff

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee and research priorities . Ed Pilkington at The Guard...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

In 2019, RFK Jr. went to Samoa and spread misinformation about vaccines. A deadly measles outbreak followed. Documents suggest that he gave false testimony about the incident in his confirmation hearing. Contrary to his lies, vaccines don't cause autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/meas...

autismpolicyblog.com

Measles and RFK Jr's Lies

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases ...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Receipts: www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/admi...

autismpolicyblog.com

Administration Cuts Research On Parents with Disabilities

Many posts have discussed Trump's bad record on disability issues. As his words and actions have shown, he despises Americans with disab...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Among other things, the National Research Center for Parents with Disabilities supports studies of the problems facing autistic parents. The Trump administration is cutting its funding. Trump despises people with disabilities.

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

RFK Jr. lied. Pennsylvanians died. Vaccines don't cause autism. They prevent measles, which can kill. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/meas...

autismpolicyblog.com

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases ...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Contrary to the antivaxxers' lies, vaccines don't cause autism. Measles can cause encephalitis and death. It cost half a million dollars to contain one small outbreak in the Denver area. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/the-...

autismpolicyblog.com

The Cost of Measles

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The administration has talked a lot about autism. Don’t mistake attention for compassion. Trump and his minions have repeatedly demeaned people with disabilities. His agenda is not about helping disabled Americans. It’s about pushing them out of sight. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/trum...

autismpolicyblog.com

Trump v. Autistic People

Many posts have discussed Trump's bad record on disability issues. As his words and actions have shown, he despises Americans with disab...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

CDC: 2,777 measles cases in 2026. That's 488 more than all of last year, and the most since 1991. RFK Jr. and his fellow antivaxxers share the blame. They spent years claiming that vaccines cause autism. They don’t. Misinformation causes illness and death. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/2777...

autismpolicyblog.com

2,777 Measles Cases

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spr...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

The administration is trying to undercut the Americans with Disabilities Act. No surprise. Trump despises people with disabilities such as autism. His head of the DOJ Civil Rights Division uses the r-word as a slur. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/assa...

autismpolicyblog.com

Assault on Integration

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss court cases involving the civil rights of people with autism and other disabilities . Trump does...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

CDC reports a record % of kindergartners with exemptions from vax requirements. Blame the antivaxxers and remember that vaccines don't cause autism. Click link for list of states with exemption rates over 5%. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/vacc...

autismpolicyblog.com

Vaccine Exemptions

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spr...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Lit review: "Employment outcomes for adults with ASD [autism spectrum disorder] are strongly influenced by workplace structures, managerial practices, and organizational culture rather than individual characteristics alone." www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/the-...

autismpolicyblog.com

The Literature on Autism and Employment

In The Politics of Autism , I discus s the employment of people on the autism spectrum . Binsfeld, C.R., Grubba, L.S., Schmidt, C. et al....

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

There are often long waiting lists for autism diagnosis and early intervention. A new article argues for reducing barriers through innovative approaches such as telehealth assessments, primary care diagnosis, and tiered models. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/effi...

autismpolicyblog.com

Efficient Service Delivery Models for Diagnostic Assessment

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss evaluation and diagnosis . de Marchena, A., Wieckowski, A. T., Freedman, B., Shea, L., Locke, J., Cr...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Measles update: 2,566 cases this year. That’s already more than in all of 2025, with 4½ months left. RFK Jr. spent years telling Americans not to trust vaccines. Now that preventable diseases are surging, he doesn’t get to eash his hands of the results. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/in-p...

autismpolicyblog.com

Mid-August Measles

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spr...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Despite scant evidence, the Trump administration last fall touted leucovorin as an autism treatment. New study: leucovorin prescriptions for kids then spiked 46%, potentially worsening a shortage for cancer patients who depend on the medication. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/leuc...

autismpolicyblog.com

Leucovorin Spike

A number o f posts discussed Trump 's support for dubious notion s about autism . The history of autism "cures" is a history of dashed h...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

A study indicates that abolishing the subminimum wage achieves its policy goal by eliminating formal sheltered employment without adverse employment effects for people with disabilities such as autism. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/endi...

autismpolicyblog.com

Ending the Subminimum Wage Does Not Have Adverse Employment Effects

Michelle Yin, Regina Seo, Hoa Vu, The labor market effects of subminimum wage elimination: Evidence from a national analysis, Labour Econom...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Measles-mumps-rubella.

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

A new study confirms no link between autism and circumcision. It's quite the cut to RFK Jr, who falsely asserted such a connection. Take a tip, Bobby: the next time this claim shows up in your talking points, snip it. www.autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/no-l...

autismpolicyblog.com

No Link to Circumcision

In The Politics of Autism , I discuss various ideas about what causes the condition . RFK Jr. connected circumcision to autism on the g...

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Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Yet another study finds no association between the MMR vaccine and autism. autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/anot...

autismpolicyblog.com

Another Study Finds No Association Between the MMR Shot and Autism.

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spr...

Jack Pitney @jpitney.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

RFK Jr's CNN interview was a fusillade of falsehoods. Contrary to his lies. vaccines don't cause autism. autismpolicyblog.com/2026/08/rfk-...

autismpolicyblog.com

RFK Jr. Lies in CNN Interview

In The Politics of Autism , I analyze the myth that vaccines cause autism . This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spr...

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