iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

Fellow classical music nerds/former classical musicians et al.: Am I the only one who plays the holiday movie game "Does the group of musicians onscreen actually have the instrumentation to produce the music they are supposedly playing?" (aka "where are those drums coming from?") Just me?

040

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Today on Weight And Healthcare I answer a reader's question "It seems like every other day I see a new supposed use for the GLP drugs. This just seems fishy to me. Are they really some kind of all purpose wonder drug?" Read all about it: weightandhealthcare.substack.com/p/reader-que...

weightandhealthcare.substack.com

Reader Question - All These Other GLP-1 Uses

This is the Weight and Healthcare newsletter. If you like what you are reading, please consider subscribing and/or sharing!

054

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

"I think we really need to put our values into action. And if we're really here to serve patients and to advocate for patients, then we need to push back in whatever ways that we can, and for me, this is my way of pushing back." Celeste Royce, MD

medpagetoday.com

Doctors Sue HHS for Removing Patient Safety Papers

'This is my way of pushing back,' one of the physicians said

192

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Today in donald's regime: Taking a billion dollars away from local farms and ranches to facilitate taking food away from hungry children. But the rich will get tax cuts so it all works out I guess? www.cnbc.com/2025/03/11/u...

cnbc.com

USDA cuts over $1 billion in funding for schools, local food purchases

The School Nutrition Association, which represents cafeteria workers and directors, said that the USDA cut the $660 million Local Food for Schools program.

041

Reposted by RagenChastain

Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon @ksvarnon.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Seeing the laughably bad takes on Rep. Al Green's stand last night, including by never-trumper darlings like Adam Kinzinger. Do you really think a 77-year-old Black man who was born and raised in the Jim Crow South and didn't have the right to vote until he was an adult needs a lecture on optics? 1

13785171

Reposted by RagenChastain

AG Andrea Joy Campbell @massago.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Here's what big companies know: the average consumer doesn't have the resources they need to fight back to protect themselves against corporate scams or greed. That's where the CFPB comes in and why we're fighting tooth and nail to defend it.

542091

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

"We could find alternate ways of publishing it, I guess," he said. "And I think we don't want to legitimize this process of what's happened. I think it would be a mistake. It would be a disservice, actually, to cave in. I think people do need to stand up and say, this is not okay."

medpagetoday.com

Researchers Refuse to Alter Patient Safety Papers to Comply With Trump Orders

'As a matter of principle, it's not a good idea to give into this,' one said

073

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

"we have been locked out of our computers, and have no chance to assist in an orderly transition in our work... We’re supposed to return our equipment, but can’t use our email to find out how or where....we came to the government to fix things. And we’re not done with this work yet"

130

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Love to see it. There are far more people who support diversity, equity, &inclusion than don't. Profit is the love language of biz. For those who are able (not everyone is) we have real opportunities to drive change through our dollars (or lack thereof) to companies bowing and kowtowing to bigotry.

030

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

I have recently discovered white coffee - twice the caffeine and doesn't taste like coffee (which I loathe)? Amazing! If you knew about this perfect beverage and didn't tell me, we're in a fight now.

390

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Jeff Bezos: "We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets... viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others." www.npr.org/2025/02/26/n...

020

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Me when I have to press and hold a bar to prove I'm not a bot and get to the website I want to see (even though I understand the utility of doing so.)

media.tenor.com

a cartoon panda is making a funny face

ALT: a cartoon panda is making a funny face

021

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Workshop tomorrow with Dr. Lisa Erlanger. It feels like the right time to talk about weight neutral options for managing blood pressure. All registrants get a recording and there is a pay-what-you-can option so money isn't a barrier. Register: danceswithfat.org/monthly-onli...

Image Description
Blue Background
Weight-Neutral Blood Pressure Management

Lisa Erlanger, MD

Picture of a higher-weight white woman with long curly and salt and pepper hair smiling with red glasses and a purple shirt

Ragen Chastain , MEd

Picture of a fat white woman with short curly brown hair smiling in pink glasses in a salmon tank top with a black overshirt

video of talk and Q&A provided to all registrants pay-what-you-can-afford option available

Blame-free, shame-free, non-diet options

bit.ly/dwfMonthlyWorkshop

093

Reposted by RagenChastain

BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

The global South is leading in keeping us all safe. 1.Rwanda &Tanzania contained marburg outbreaks 2.Uganda is fighting Ebola 3. DRC is fighting #mpox Knowledge can flow from the global South to North. With CDC EIS gutted, consider Africa CDC's AES www.globalsouthopportunities.com/2025/02/17/a...

globalsouthopportunities.com

Africa CDC Call for Applications: The African Epidemic Service Program 2025 (AES) - Empowering Africa's Public Health Workforce - Global South Opportunities

In an increasingly interconnected world, the rapid spread of disease can pose significant challenges to public health systems. The African continent, with its

5403100

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

"Trump has ordered the Justice Department to stop enforcing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for the next six months and instructed prosecutors to refrain from bringing FCPA cases."

000

Reposted by RagenChastain

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @aoc.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Hell yeah. Hold the line. This is what we need people to do. Slow things down, don’t comply in advance so the courts have time to stop them. It’s starting to work.

203111509016591

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Obviously this will solve none of the horrors that are happening right now, but coming from my pettiness-as-self-care file: I would like to suggest that we start pronouncing DOGE as "Doggie"

6354

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

I didn't know about this: "I pleaded guilty because I was guilty, and accepting a pardon also would serve to contribute to their gaslighting and false narrative...We were wrong that day, we broke the law - there should be no pardons"

bbc.com

Convicted US Capitol rioter Pam Hemphill turns down Trump pardon

Former "Maga granny" Pamela Hemphill tells the BBC the Trump government is trying to "rewrite history".

191

Reposted by RagenChastain

Lost Under the Couch Barbie. @wstafrican.blacksky.app · 01/02/2025

Happy Black History Month! Here is my favorite story about a Black American you may not know about: Robert Smalls. He commandeered a confederate ship and sailed himself, his family, and the other enslaved crew and their families to freedom. THROUGH waters controlled by the Confederacy.

622267094642

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

CDC orders mass retraction across all science and medicine journals What can and cannot go forward appears to require approval by a Trump political appointee - there is only one political appointee in the entire CDC, acting Director Susan Monarez (& her personal assistant, who is not a scientist).

insidemedicine.substack.com

BREAKING NEWS: CDC orders mass retraction and revision of submitted research across all science and medicine journals. Banned terms must be scrubbed.

Any unpublished manuscript mentioning certain topics, including gender and "LGBT," must be pulled or revised.

032

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

LGBTQ+, HIV treatment and Prevention, environmental justice, and Mpox prevention have been removed from public view. There are archives here:

medpagetoday.com

CDC Purging Its Website After Trump Orders

Agency removed certain pages related to gender issues, HIV, and that said 'pregnant people'

030

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Discussions about higher-weight and inflammation tend to leave out the research that shows that weight stigma and weight cycling are independently associated with increased inflammation. Dr. Zed Zha and I are talking about it for Part 4 of our series on weight, weight loss, and inflammation.

weightandhealthcare.substack.com

Weight and Inflammation Part 4

This is the Weight and Healthcare newsletter! If you like what you are reading, please consider subscribing and/or sharing!

3164

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

donald fired about 17 independent inspectors general, reportedly including for Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, and Education. "a sweeping action to remove oversight of his new administration that some members of Congress are suggesting violated federal oversight laws."

apnews.com

Trump uses mass firing to remove independent inspectors general at a series of agencies

The sweeping action removes oversight of his new administration. Some members of Congress are suggesting it violated federal oversight laws.

110

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Last chance to register for the live workshop! We're going to break down how to analyze weight-science research, including and especially the research driven by the weight loss industry. There's a sliding scale so money isn't a barrier and recordings if you can't make it live. marcird.com/workshop

marcird.com

LIVE Training: A Clinician’s Guide to Weight Inclusive Research

January 24th & 31st - LIVE Workshop hosted by Ragen Chastain and Marci Evans. Training for Clinicians on Weight Inclusive Research

086

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Part 3 of the series Dr. Zed Zha and I are writing about myths and truths around weight and inflammation is out! weightandhealthcare.substack.com/p/weight-and...

Blue background
Cartoon of a fat brunette woman in a lab coat
Text
Weigh and inflammation Part 3
Read more about it at WeightandHealthcare.com @RagenChastain

191

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

I appreciate the powerful work that @naafaofficial.bsky.social does and I deeply appreciate this attitude. I will also continue to fight - I will not back down, I will not stop. I have a lot of privilege and this is the time to use it.

090

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Today's bit of troll genius: "Weight loss studies are never good enough for you because you always find the problems with them." Astute observation my dude. weightandhealthcare.substack.com/p/lancet-opi...

weightandhealthcare.substack.com

Lancet Opinion Piece on "Clinical Obesity"

This is the Weight and Healthcare newsletter! If you like what you are reading, please consider subscribing and/or sharing!

1253

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Jan 22 we're going to be busting the myths about Fat Health that the weight loss industry uses to make billions while risking our health, lives, and quality of life. Pay-what-you-can option so money isn't a barrier and all registrants get a video of the talk & Q&A danceswithfat.org/monthly-onli...

danceswithfat.org

Monthly Online Workshops

Below you’ll find this month’s workshop.Missed a workshop? Just click here to find the videos to purchase (each also includes a pay-what-you-can option) DancesWithFat Members get to att…

082

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Today in Articles That Shouldn't Have to Exist: I note, as the author alludes to, that there are many people who will not be able to enact this advice and others whose treatment when they do try to enact it will differ greatly due to the treatment they receive as part of marginalized group(s)

vox.com

Never pay a medical bill without asking these questions first

If you think you’re being overcharged on medical bills, you probably are.

031

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

“As politicians’ prejudice transitions from rhetoric to government-sanctioned anti-trans vigilantism, we will certainly see violence increase,” Gooch said. “Trans people will pay the cost with their lives.” truthout.org/articles/mor...

truthout.org

More States Are Passing Laws Offering Vigilantes Cash to Report Targeted Groups

2025 will see proliferation of so-called bounty bills targeting trans people, librarians, abortion services and more.

011

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

"The Department of Justice on Tuesday sued six of the nation’s largest landlords, accusing them of using a pricing algorithm to improperly work together to raise rents across the country."

031

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

We shouldn't need strategies to deal with weight stigma - we should have access to healthcare without it. Still, In a healthcare system rife with weight stigma, here are three things you can do. weightandhealthcare.substack.com/p/three-opti...

2246

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

From the article: "As an editorial cartoonist, my job is to hold powerful people and institutions accountable. For the first time, my editor prevented me from doing that critical job. So I have decided to leave the Post."

071

Reposted by RagenChastain

Lisa DuBreuil she/her @lisajdubreuil.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

Really important research that provides evidence against one way fat people experience weight bias in medicine. TYSM Hayley!! 🙏🏻

22310

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

"Private equity firms acquire a health system, sell the real estate, force the hospital to pay rent it wasn't paying before, and then take out loans, giving itself dividends that hospitals have to repay..." www.medpagetoday.com/hospitalbase...

medpagetoday.com

Concerns Continue Over Private Equity's Reach Into Healthcare

Rising costs have left many hospitals vulnerable to 'the sway of private equity,' one expert says

141

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

“Perpetrators are emboldened when they not only face no consequences for their violence, but also reap rewards.” Think: classroom accommodations, embellishments to their transcripts, protections from future or additional Title IX complaints, the opportunity to humiliate their victims."

022

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

So far today I have written a paper with footnote citations and re-formatted an existing powerpoint into new template. If you think I think I deserve some kind of medal for this, you are correct.

060

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

I got frustrated trying to find a tab in the (roughly) four million I had open and I just closed them all. What have I done?!?!

120

Reposted by RagenChastain

Fred Wellman @fpwellman.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Congressman and veteran @repdeluzio.bsky.social lays out the ongoing semi-stealth effort to dismantle veterans healthcare. — The GOP is waging a stealth attack on veterans healthcare thehill.com/opinion/heal...

thehill.com

The GOP is waging a stealth attack on veterans’ healthcare

Caring for veterans is part of the cost of war, and the American people expect us to pay it.

29644722269

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Conservatives being shadow-banned on the bird app shrieking that they CAN'T BELIEVE they would be treated like they insisted other people be treated, & shocked- shocked I tell you! - to find out that billionaires only care about acquiring more money is peak lolsob, leopards eating my face behavior.

050

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

GOP/Pharma - If people can't make outrageous wealth, there will be no medical innovation Banting, Best & Collip - Sell insulin patents for $1 to ensure access GOP/Pharma - SUCKERS! The $$=innovation lie is used to prop up a paradigm where innovation is constructed to be the purview of the greedy

051

RagenChastain @ragenchastain.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

"The rich can bail themselves out, even if they are likely to hurt someone or flee future court dates, while poor people—and disproportionately Black people—languish in jail, which often costs them work, housing, and time spent with family. All of this has now changed in Illinois."

thenation.com

Illinois Has Put an End to the Injustice of Cash Bail

Amid a national backlash against criminal justice reform, Illinois has achieved something extraordinary. It’s working better than anyone expected.

181