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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD

@merlinc2.bsky.social
1.2K followers 1.2K following 110 posts

Assoc Professor, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health | merlinc16.com | Lakers, Gaga, UConn WBB NYLiberty Fan | Author, All Health Politics is Local | Working on a Book for WW Norton "Who Dies?" on social dets of public health | Co-PI ToxicDocs.org

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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
My undergraduate teacher and later colleague/collaborator David Rosner passed away a couple months ago. It took me some time to gather my thoughts and write about him, but here they are: www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore... There won't ever be another historian like him.
healthaffairs.org
Remembering David Rosner, Public Health Historian With A Purpose | Health Affairs Forefront
Many historians and public health research scholars talk about their desire to influence policy, but no one did it better than David.
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
I'd add, too, universities, including those who are now using "Department of War" in "Grants you should apply for" proposals. Which one cough cough
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Jared Yates Sexton @jysexton.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Yeah, can’t imagine why people prefer this over a political class that says they can’t do anything while insider trading and dining on the boots of their favorite billionaire benefactors. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/25/n...
nytimes.com
Mamdani’s Rent Freeze Is Approved by New York City Board
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ƧƎЯᗡAꟼ FAN @maseinurface.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
not too worried about this given how most of their plans have turned out this century
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
At a time when it's hard to convince people about the value of reading, it's disappointing to see my alma mater (and current employer) sending this out to alums.
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Elizabeth Wrigley-Field @wrigleyfield.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
I know we’ve all read 100 articles like this, but I do recommend this one, especially for the series of questions at the end about how universities (not individual instructors) could change our practice. I’d love to discuss those
chronicle.com
Opinion | My Students Can’t Read
The generational collapse in literacy is measurable, persistent, and likely to get worse.
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
I always say this when we have an admin tell us about the need for viewpoint diversity and understanding other perspectives, and the hemming and hawing that follows is fun to observe. I also like to ask them whether we can automate Dean-level jobs with AI and get a similar response.
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
This is my top #8 WNBA playoff prediction ranking: 1. Aces 2. Atlanta 3. Fever 4. Liberty 5. Wings 6. Sparks 7. Valks 8. Minny I also think it's going to be insanely close. Every team except Seattle got better. My Libs are lower because I think we are going to have injury/health issues all season.
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Major counts one of the most foolish ways to measure needs. A lot of students can still take courses from profs in a dept/major/program without majoring. And they say nothing about the necessity of the actual expertise. Physics and classics are low majors here -- doesn't mean not hugely important!
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
My colleagues David Rosner and Jerry Markowitz found documents leading to Lancet retracting a 1977 editorial downplaying dangers of asbestos in talcum powder. It was ghost-written by a paid scientist for J&J. Links below contains everything, including docs at www.toxicdocs.org, our database.
publichealth.columbia.edu
Historians Unearth a Conflict of Interest, Prompting a Retraction by The Lancet Journal
The journal retracted an unsigned 1977 commentary claiming that talcum powder poses no serious health risks, despite robust contemporaneous scientific evidence to the contrary.
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Not so marvelous news. ~95,000 scientists have left the federal government since the Trump regime took over.
nytimes.com
Prominent Climate Scientist Resigns From NASA, Citing Trump’s Attack on Science
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Do people think LSU can upset UCLA? #ncaaw
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
FUDD
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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
The 2026 National Science Foundation budget is $8.75 Billion.
nytimes.com
First 6 Days of Iran War Cost U.S. $11.3 Billion, Pentagon Says
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justin @justin-s.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
83 = 8 x 3 = 24 💜 💛
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Watching clips of the Miami game. What a disgrace!
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
My new article in @jhppl.bsky.social situates the current attacks on public health in a historical perspective. What I found surprised me. We've seen this before, and it's not as unprecedented as it feels. Thanks to @sarahgollust.bsky.social @oberlanderunc.bsky.social for editing! Read free below.
read.dukeupress.edu
Public Health Under Attack: Continuity, Discontinuity, and History | Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law | Duke University Press
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 15/02/2026
Suing works and more institutions should have tried it. (This suit was filed, I believe, by faculty associations and unions.)
latimes.com
Trump administration drops appeal of court order blocking $1.2-billion UCLA settlement
The Trump administration dropped its appeal of a major higher education case in which a federal judge blocked its $1.2-billion settlement proposal to UCLA over alleged civil rights violations. It will...
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Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 14/02/2026
So much of the rot in this country stems from our failure to fund public goods and regulate private wealth. In that context, people who need your money won't care how terrible you are. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/n...
nytimes.com
Consultants Offered Epstein Access to Top N.Y. Democrats if He Donated
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
My #NCAAW basketball final four prediction: LSU, UConn, UCLA, Michigan! LSU and UConn in the final game.
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
My take on the backlash to DEI/health equity in the health sciences in @nejm.org roundtable: www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....
nejm.org
Pursuing Health Equity in the United States | NEJM
This video roundtable explores the distinction and relationship between diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and the pursuit of health equity, and the hurdles for improving health equity in...
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Sam @samd.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
there is a world in which it would make sense for Dems to cave and help reopen the government, for example, if we just got crushed in VA/NJ and voters were blaming us for the shutdown we are not in that world. we are in the opposite world. trump is taking all the blame and flailing. jesus christ
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David Moore @davidrussellmoore.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
Ezra Klein's NYT column leans on the trope of Manchin being better than a GOP senator in WV. He doesn't mention Manchin blocking the Build Back Better Act or For the People Act in 2021. Here I mention three Senate races where voters might have turned out for universal programs that Manchin killed:
thebrick.house
Billionaire-Backed Democrats Killed the Build Back Better Act ⑉ Brick House
The dark money group No Labels is reportedly loading up on billionaire donors to support conservative Democrats in elections ahead.
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Josh Chafetz @joshchafetz.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
I propose that we all agree to apologize to her if she does, in fact, cure all diseases by the end of the century. And in the interim, we should mock this for the absurdly self-aggrandizing, utterly un-self-aware bullshit it is.
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Arghavan Salles, MD, PhD @arghavansallesmd.medsky.social · 12/10/2025
Kudos to Sally Kornbluth/MIT for rejecting the government’s attempt at corrupting higher ed. Others should quickly follow suit. Even the folks at Cato agree—this isn’t a tough call!
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Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law @jhppl.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
US public health is in crisis. In this special JHPPL issue edited by @oberlanderunc.bsky.social & @sarahgollust.bsky.social, you’ll find articles that help contextualize the erosion of public health infrastructure & adoption of policies harmful to public health. read.dukeupress.edu/jhppl/advanc...
read.dukeupress.edu
Advance Publication | Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law | Duke University Press
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Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law @jhppl.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
@merlinc2.bsky.social offers historical context for current public health backlash. Drawing on vax campaigns, air pollution control & occupational safety, public health traditions have been hard to eliminate once entrenched though 2nd Trump Admin may be different read.dukeupress.edu/jhppl/articl...
read.dukeupress.edu
Public Health Under Attack: Continuity, Discontinuity, and History | Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law | Duke University Press
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Chris Mannix arguments about the WNBA and revenue. He’s so ignorant.
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Murshed Zaheed @murshedz.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
"[D]espair is the wrong choice. Much of Trump’s power is illusory. It depends on the rest of civil society obeying in advance and preemptively kowtowing to his threats." @davidoatkins.bsky.social share why "there are good reasons to be hopeful."
washingtonmonthly.com
Quit Being All Gloom and Doom. MAGA Has Not Won
MAGA has not won. Trump’s power is weaker than it looks, and American democracy is more resilient than the doomers believe.
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Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
Five— five!!— grafs until the NYT suggests to readers it might not be lawful. Complete and total abidication of their responsibility to readers to inform and not parrot propaganda.
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Max Kozlov @maxkozlov.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
To sum up the judge's ruling: - The Trump administration's freezing of Harvard funds on or after 4/14 is arbitrary and capricious, and is set aside. It also violated the First Amendment. - The administration is also forbidden from implementing any freeze or termination of Harvard federal funding
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
I’m in this documentary on the history of smog, airing tonight on PBS: American Experience at 9 pm. And streaming here www.pbs.org/wgbh/america... check it out!
youtu.be
Trailer | CLEARING THE AIR: THE WAR ON SMOG | AMERICAN EXPERIENCE | PBS
YouTube video by American Experience | PBS
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Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
In the NIH funding case, Justice Gorsuch (joined by Justice Kavanaugh) claimed that this was the third time in recent weeks that lower courts had "defied" a #SCOTUS ruling. As today's "One First" explains, that claim is not only nonsense; it's enabling a dangerous anti-court narrative on the right:
stevevladeck.com
174. Justice Gorsuch's Attack on Lower Courts
Just like the earlier rulings that Justice Gorsuch claims lower courts are defying, his concurrence in the NIH grant cutoffs case would be a lot more convincing if it showed more of its work.
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
#FreePaige
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dr. hazel 🕸️ @hazelmonforton.com · 31/07/2025
"ChatGPT is great for brainstorming!" Actually we have a tool for that already! It's called thinking. We use our brain. It's called brainstorming! Clue is in the name.
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Alondra Nelson @alondra.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Senate Approps proposes a $400 million increase to the NIH budget, pushing back on the by $18 billion (40%) decrease proposed in the President's budget. Watch this space.
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
This Mystics team is going to be monstrous in a couple seasons. Leonsis needs to find a way to break this ridiculous agreement with the city and get them to a real stadium.
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Lindsey Boylan @lindseyboylan.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
The last 24 hours have been hard to believe. The outpouring of love & support has made me tear up again and again. My heart can barely contain it all. I thank everyone who has fought alongside us and helped make this moment possible. You are making a better future possible.
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Mahmood is a social science god, what are you talking about
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Theresa O @theresalouiseo.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Judge Young’s written order released today, finding the Trump administration’s terminations of NIH grants illegal, null and void, along with validating the partial list of 16 AG state’s list of terminated grants. (This still omits the APHA /ACLU grant list- they proposed to keep under seal).
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Bonn Loves Sports @zangerstein.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
Vote Gabby Williams for All-Star!
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
I worry this thinking just amounts to fatalism. We have to use all of liberal democracy’s levers, and the legal system on this score is working a lot better than I expected.
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ACLU @aclu.org · 16/06/2025
BREAKING: A federal judge reversed National Institutes of Health's terminations of hundreds of critical research grants that were canceled because of their alleged connection to disfavored topics, including diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender identity. This is a major win for public health.
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AG Andrea Joy Campbell @massago.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
NEW: Harvard is the fifth largest employer in Massachusetts - Trump's retaliatory funding freeze against Harvard is an attack on our state and our economy. Today, I'm filing a brief urging the courts to stand against this unlawful action and protect academic freedom.
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Josh Fruhlinger @jfruh.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
the nytimes doesn't get LA and never will
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 02/06/2025
These Valkyries announces got to start pronouncing Vanloo right!
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
LOL they keep pronouncing Vanloo wrong #WNBA Come on Ion
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Life as the kid of an accountant.
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
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Merlin Chowkwanyun, MPH, PhD @merlinc2.bsky.social · 30/04/2025
My #WNBA predictions (first two final): 1. Liberty 2. Storm 3. Aces 4. Lynx 5. Mercury 6. Fever 7. Dream 8. Wings
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