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Ruth Reader

@ruthreader.bsky.social
166 followers 131 following 45 posts

Covering the impact of technology on health care and public health for @politico.com

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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
After four years at POLITICO I'm making some moves: I'm joining @chrissyfarr.bsky.social 's Second Opinion Media, to bring more tech policy coverage, analysis, and scoops to the great work she is already doing there AND I'll be taking on some long term projects @truth.bsky.social Send tips!
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Alice Miranda Ollstein @alicemiranda.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
NEW with @ruthreader.bsky.social: Some Democrats see an opening to win over MAHA voters ahead of November as the movement's frustrations with the Trump administration reach a breaking point www.politico.com/news/2026/03...
politico.com
‘I share your outrage’: Democrats woo MAHA moms ahead of the midterms
Democrats hope the Trump administration's recent pesticide move will sway voters in their direction.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Sat down with Patrick Kennedy to talk about his alliance with cousin RFK Jr. to address mental health www.politico.com/news/magazin...
politico.com
‘We Go to the Same 12-Step Meetings’: Why This Kennedy Cousin Isn’t Ripping RFK Jr.
Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy is teaming up with his cousin on a new mental health initiative, even as many in his family want HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to resign.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
The letter is yet another escalation in a long brewing fight over how to make patient data more accessible while also keeping it safe. More on this soon
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
The letter follows a recent lawsuit from Epic, that alleges several companies misrepresented themselves on two data networks — Carequality and The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement— in order to get rapid access patient data.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Last night some 60 health systems wrote a letter to the CEO of the Sequoia Project, a nonprofit that influences governance for two large health data sharing networks, asking for concrete actions to counter fraud. A copy was sent to ONC leadership subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026...
subscriber.politicopro.com
POLITICO Pro: Over 60 health systems demand new protections for health data
A copy of the letter was sent to Steve Posnack, deputy assistant secretary for technology policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Very curious what people think about this Epic lawsuit.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
For those who are familiar with Epic’s dispute with Particle Health over Integritort, this lawsuit represents another argument in favor of tighter restrictions over health data. But there's also increased pressure to find a middle ground.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Epic is not the only plaintiff in this suit. It is joined by OCHIN, a nonprofit that supports technology for federally qualified health centers, as well as by health systems Reid Health, Trinity Health, and UMass Memorial Health.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
The lawsuit comes amid efforts by President Trump to make such health data more easily accessible to a variety of technologies that his administration believes will make Americans healthier. It also comes as a debate wages on over how to protect health data and free it up.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
This morning, Epic filed a lawsuit against Health Gorilla, a platform that connects health institutions with health data, along with several smaller telehealth companies, for fraudulently accessing patient data. t.co/xfYKPMnhOy
t.co
https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2026/01/epic-sues-data-fraud-00724269
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Marcia Brown @marciabrown.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
The government's latest nutrition advice recommends eating more protein, less added sugar, beef tallow and more whole foods -- meshing long-standing nutrition advice with #MAHA goals. For @politico.com with @ruthreader.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
politico.com
RFK Jr. says to eat more protein, less sugar in new dietary guidelines
The new recommendations blend MAHA-influenced changes with long-standing nutrition advice.
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Alice Miranda Ollstein @alicemiranda.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
NEW with @ruthreader.bsky.social: Small states and states that adopt policies favored by the Trump admin (such as restrictions on SNAP) got a much bigger windfall from the fund Congress created to "transform" rural health care. Alaska received more than California, which has 40x its population.
politico.com
Trump admin doles out billions for rural health
Montana and California will receive near equal amounts in 2026, despite their massive size disparity.
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Alice Miranda Ollstein @alicemiranda.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
The Trump admin offered states a deal: Want more $ for rural health care? Pass pro-MAHA laws. “They’re holding our rural health as a hostage, essentially, for these broader policy goals," one Arizona lawmaker told me. www.politico.com/news/2025/12... with the great @ruthreader.bsky.social
politico.com
‘Sort of blackmail’: Billions in rural health funding hinge on states passing Trump-backed policies
Democrats and health advocates described the strategy as highly unusual, and some fear it could be wielded to favor political allies.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
In DFD today: Some parents are concerned that schools have become over digitized t.co/Au4BFrOvvU
t.co
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/digital-future-daily
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Politico @politico.com · 29/10/2025
ICE is telling Dem lawmakers they can’t visit detention centers during the shutdown — citing no money or staff to support visits, says our @kyledcheney.bsky.social.
 Read the exclusive story on how the Trump administration is using the shutdown to limit oversight: ow.ly/fL0b50XjLWv
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KFF @kff.org · 28/10/2025
Our analysis shows the U.S. generally performs worse in long-term health outcomes (like life expectancy), certain treatment outcomes (like maternal mortality), some patient safety measures, and health system capacity: on.kff.org/42I5t4R
This KFF line graph compares the gap in life expectancy between the U.S. and peer nations. The chart shows that the U.S. saw a significant drop in life expectance during the pandemic, rebounded in 2023, but remains far below peer countries.
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WIRED @wired.com · 27/10/2025
NEW: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said earlier this month that ChatGPT now has 800 million weekly active users. The company’s estimates therefore suggest that every seven days, around 560,000 people may be exchanging messages with ChatGPT that indicate they are experiencing mania or psychosis.
wired.com
Here's How Many People May Use ChatGPT During a Mental Health Crisis Each Week
OpenAI released initial estimates about the share of users who may be experiencing symptoms like delusional thinking, mania, or suicidal ideation, and says it has tweaked GPT-5 to respond more effecti...
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
It's time
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Alice Miranda Ollstein @alicemiranda.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
NEW with @ruthreader.bsky.social: Nearly as many migrants have died in custody so far this year than over the 4 yrs of the Biden admin. ICE is hiring dozens more medical workers, but former insiders are skeptical the deaths will stop w/o more fundamental reforms. www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
politico.com
ICE is hiring dozens of health workers as lawsuits, deaths in custody mount
Nearly as many migrants have died in detention so far this year than over the four years of the Biden administration.
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Greg Folkers @gregfolkers.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
Politico Future Pulse: Inside the NIH whistleblower complaints Erin Schumaker spoke with Debra Katz, legal counsel for Drs. Marrazzo and Neuzil politi.co/3JUSWEw @erinlschumaker.bsky.social‬ @ruthreader.bsky.social
politi.co
Inside the NIH whistleblower complaints
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
politico.com
Meta to launch California super PAC focused on AI
The tech giant plans to spend tens of millions backing candidates in state races.
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PEN Guild @pen-guild.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
TODAY: PEN Guild heads to arbitration over POLITICO’s contract-breaking use of AI. This fight could set the standard for how AI is used in newsrooms across the country. ✍️ Sign our petition and help us go into arbitration with full support: bit.ly/PENGuild
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
The speed with which I clicked on this headline 🏃🏃🏃 www.politico.com/news/magazin...
politico.com
The Plastic Surgery Procedure Booming Among Washington Men
Chiseled jawlines are in everywhere, but in Washington, D.C., people have even more reasons to go under the knife (or at least the needle).
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
Thomas Keane is the new assistant secretary for technology policy subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com
POLITICO Pro: Trump picks former HHS tech adviser to lead health IT agency
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PEN Guild @pen-guild.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
We're proud our AI agreement has safeguards for journalists jobs-and company ethics, to allow AI use in a way that works for us, not against us. @politico.com already agreed that AI-generated content should be subject to the same standards as human-written articles. It needs to follow the contract
wired.com
Politico’s Newsroom Is Starting a Legal Battle With Management Over AI
Politico has rules about AI in the newsroom. Staffers say those rules have been violated—and they’re gearing up for a fight.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Popping in from vacation for a scoop: Less than four years out of high school, Peter Bowman-Davis is the acting chief AI officer at the Department of Health and Human Services. The Yale undergrad was recently a fellow at Andreessen Horowitz subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com
POLITICO Pro: HHS puts Yale undergrad in charge of artificial intelligence
Peter Bowman-Davis has worked at Andreessen Horowitz, the Silicon Valley venture capital firm whose founders endorsed Trump.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Thanks Casey :)
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
Per our PM Pulse newsletter yesterday afternoon:
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
If you subscribed to POLITICO you would have gotten this news yesterday
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Alice Miranda Ollstein @alicemiranda.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
Rumors, group chats, clandestine spreadsheets: how health agency workers are struggling to take stock of this week's mass purge by RFK Jr. amid an information blackout www.politico.com/news/2025/04... with @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @ruthreader.bsky.social
politico.com
Confusion and despair as health agency workers tally their losses
Employees who survived mass firings this week say management hasn't provided an accounting.
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Alice Miranda Ollstein @alicemiranda.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
NEW w/ @ruthreader.bsky.social : HHS is eliminating offices that work on minority health, HIV and STIs. HIV experts called it a "decimation" that will cost the government much more over time than any short-term savings. subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com
POLITICO Pro: HHS is killing offices devoted to improving minority health and tackling HIV
Some impacted offices are statutorily required.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Yes! We reported on it, but the story is behind our paywall.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
I'm definitely planning to follow up on these agencies. If you have any leads please send them my way.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
However, these employees are at risk of getting fired again as the Trump administration moves forward with plans to reduce the overall size of the government.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Yes! HHS seems to be moving to rehire probationary workers that were fired in February, complying with a court order issued last week. So far, staff at NIH, CMS, FDA, and ONC have received emails to this effect.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
More changes are coming as the department embraces deregulation as a way to push AI dominance. If you work at HHS or know about the coming changes, DM me and I'll share my Signal.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
The Trump administration has also taken down HHS strategic plan on AI: a document that laid out how the department planned to work with industry to come up with standards, guidance, and rules for AI in health care.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
That includes putting HHS newly hired chief AI officer, chief data officer, and chief technology officer on indefinite administrative leave.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Noting a couple of scoops here that have been published behind the paywall recently: Since Trump has taken office, his administration has quickly tried to unwind the Biden administration's work regulating AI in health care.
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Adam Cancryn @adamcancryn.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Mass firings, abrupt policy shifts and simmering tensions: Inside RFK Jr’s health department hostile takeover, w @chelseacirruzzo.bsky.social @ruthreader.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
politico.com
Inside RFK Jr.’s health department takeover
Kennedy’s first week at HHS included dismissing the workforce, vaccine advisers and some longtime health priorities.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
The Senate Commerce Committee advanced the Kids Off Social Media Act, which would ban kids under 13 from social platforms. Expect more online safety bills to come before this committee...
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
There is a new lawsuit against Character.ai, alleging the platform caused two users under the age of 18 mental health harm and promoted self harm. This is the second lawsuit against Character.ai and part of a larger wave of social platform product liability lawsuits.
character.ai
character.ai | Personalized AI for every moment of your day
Chat with millions of AI Characters anytime, anywhere. Super-intelligent chat bots that hear you, understand you, and remember you. Free to use with no ads.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
It's worth noting, it's not all or nothing. Meaning, groups could get some language from KOSA- as opposed to the whole bill-added as supplemental to a spending bill.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Still, groups have an opportunity to make their case this week and Sen. Blackburn, who cosponsored the original bill, has been pushing for its passage.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Now, Johnson is still hoping to push off this bill. His statement below:
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
As I said before, the bill has been stuck in the House because Republican leadership feels it violates first amendment rights. But over the weekend, Sen. Blackburn put forward an updated version of KOSA, and members of the Trump camp got involved.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Over 500 patents are sending a letter to Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Mike Johnson, and Hakeem Jeffries to pass this bill, which would require social media companies to provide certain protections for kids.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Today advocates for a kids online safety bill will be on the hill, demonstrating, and meeting with members of Congress in a very late push to get their bill passed in an end of year spending package.
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Ruth Reader @ruthreader.bsky.social · 08/12/2024
More support for KOSA from the Trump camp
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