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Simone Popperl

@simonepopperl.bsky.social
295 followers 403 following 86 posts

Senior Editor, NPR’s Up First & Morning Edition. Night owl in an early bird family

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Reposted by Simone Popperl
Eric Umansky @ericumansky.bsky.social · 21h
NEW FROM PP The Trump admin keeps denying immigration agents are grabbing Americans, so we tracked it 500+ Americans detained 70+ kids, some cuffed or zip-tied 60+ held after filming 36+ held for day+ w/o access to lawyer ~12 deported (yes, deported) projects.propublica.org/american-cit....
projects.propublica.org
More Than 500 U.S. Citizens Have Been Detained, Including Handcuffed or Held at Gunpoint, in Trump’s Immigration Crackdown — ProPublica
The government doesn’t track how often immigration officers detain U.S. citizens. So ProPublica did. We’ve found more than 500 Americans who were held against their will during this Trump administrati...
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
SAME.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
I was shown this last week while pulling a clip for work! I watched it for a long time in total horror, just trying to figure out what the hell it was even for.
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Reposted by Simone Popperl
Marketplace @marketplace.org · 31/08/2026
ICE collected the DNA of nearly a million people last year, adding their genetic profiles to a database used for criminal investigations. Under current rules, DHS only needs to place a person in detention to collect their DNA — a practice many argue is unconstitutional.
marketplace.org
ICE is collecting DNA from detainees for future policing
Stevie Glaberson at Georgetown Law’s Center on Privacy and Technology found that DHS has been collecting DNA samples from detainees — and then sending that genetic information to an FBI database.
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Reposted by Simone Popperl
Stephanie Kirchgaessner @skirchy.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Exclusive: RFK Jr lied in Senate confirmation hearings, newly revealed documents indicate. Stellar reporting by @bymichellersmith.com based on documents obtained by @theguardian.com and @apnews.com www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
RFK Jr lied in Senate confirmation hearings, newly revealed documents indicate
Letters obtained by Guardian and AP contradict testimony that 2019 visit to Samoa had ‘nothing to do with vaccines’
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Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
An analysis finds that New Mexico's measles outbreak cost $5.4 million last year. NM had 100 cases. AZ outbreak is more than 3x larger; Utah's is more than 7x larger. TX and SC are each 10x larger. Welcoming back measles is going to be very expensive. www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/...
acpjournals.org
Economic Impact of the 2025 New Mexico Measles Outbreak: Highlighting the Cost of Efforts to Prevent Future Outbreaks | Annals of Internal Medicine
Background: In 2025, the United States experienced its highest measles case count since 1992. In New Mexico, 100 confirmed measles cases (99 outbreak-related cases), including 1 death, occurred across...
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Reposted by Simone Popperl
Amy Maxmen, PhD @amymaxmen.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
🧵The US no longer meets criteria for measles elimination. Utah's outbreak has lasted for more than a yr. And cases this yr are at a 35-yr high. I talked w/pediatricians treating measles & talking w/parents who don't vaccinate. My latest @wired.com @kffhealthnews.org www.wired.com/story/the-ch...
wired.com
‘The Child Is Terrified’: Measles Doctors Speak Out
Hear from six pediatricians in measles hot spot Utah, as the US faces infection levels not seen in over three decades and prepares to lose its status as a country that eliminated the dangerous disease...
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Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
We've written about AI-induced physician deskilling that has already surfaced thelancet.com/journals/lan... @tberzin.bsky.social AI-induced never-skilling among newly trained doctors, while not yet proven, is a serious concern that needs to be addressed nature.com/articles/s41...
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Reposted by Simone Popperl
Geoff Brumfiel @gbrumfiel.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
My editor just got thank you notes from some elementary school students he spoke to about journalism, and shared this one with us.... I've never felt so seen.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
My neighbor just told me she went to high school with them!
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Reposted by Simone Popperl
Jen Bendery @jbendery.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
WOW -- Cassidy, now in a tough primary race, didn't ask RFK a thing about vaccines. Or push him on anything at all.
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Reposted by Simone Popperl
Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
In case you’re wondering who is getting rich from GOP decision to purge millions from Medicaid: kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org
States Pay Deloitte, Others Millions To Comply With Trump Law To Cut Medicaid Rolls - KFF Health News
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will add red tape and restrictions for those seeking Medicaid and SNAP benefits. And the costs to update computer systems that determine eligibility for those programs w...
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Reposted by Simone Popperl
s. e. smith @sesmith.lol · 13/03/2026
Hey so devastating and lethal side effects of measles can show up YEARS after infection FYI.
kffhealthnews.org
Doctors Warn of a Deadly Complication From Measles Outbreaks - KFF Health News
U.S. doctors are getting the word out about how to spot a rare measles complication that had been a relic of the past: subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. It affects a person years after a measles in...
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Reposted by Simone Popperl
Liz Szabo @lizszabo.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
Over a century of life, if all recommended, aluminum-containing vaccines are received, maximum potential aluminum exposure from vaccines would be approximately 12 mg of aluminum, whereas exposure from absorbed aluminum in diet would be between 468 and 2785 mg. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com
Aluminum Exposure From Vaccines and Diet
This Perspective examines aluminum exposure from vaccines and diet, including how the body processes aluminum, possible health effects, and safety considerations.
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Reposted by Simone Popperl
Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Such an important story: ProPublica went inside the immigrant detention center for families in Dilley, Texas. Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the U.S. and the fear of what comes next. @micarosenberg.bsky.social
propublica.org
The Kids Trump Sent to ICE’s Dilley Detention Center
ProPublica went inside the immigrant detention center for families in Dilley, Texas. Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of...
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Reposted by Simone Popperl
Dimitri Drekonja, MD, MS @dimitridrekonja.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Alex from our time working together, while he was in nursing school. Later, he moved to ICU, working as a nurse to support critically ill Veterans. He had such a great attitude. We’d chat between patients about trying to get in a mountain bike ride together. Will never happen now
Alex Pretti from his early days working at the VA
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
My ears are so offended
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
"This is a seductive argument to a layperson, but it is ethically bankrupt." Worth a read.
statnews.com
Why comparing the U.S. vaccine schedule to European countries’ is a red herring
If any ambiguity remained about the ultimate goal of the current administration’s public health policy, last week shattered it. On Friday, following a
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Reposted by Simone Popperl
Maggie Astor @maggieastor.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
AAP is not changing its recommendations in response to the CDC vaccine panel; they diverged on covid shots as well
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
If you’re curious about what‘s at stake in today’s #ACIP discussions, check out our story on the real risks of “horizontal transmission” of hep B among babies: www.npr.org/sections/sho...
npr.org
Doctors warn delaying hepatitis B shot for newborns could revive a deadly threat
As RFK Jr.'s new vaccine panel ponders changing the hepatitis B vaccination schedule, some doctors recall past patients, including children, who died painful deaths before there was a vaccine.
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Reposted by Simone Popperl
Maggie Fox @maggiefox.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
If you are used to attending or watching ACIP metings, it is difficult to describe just how disturbing this one has been. People talking over one another, confusion, outright ignorance. Compare this to the very orderly, sedate, consideration of facts of previous meetings for years and years.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Høeg also said ”from a regulatory perspective we have a very low level of confidence“ in the safety and efficacy of hep B vaccines. FDA is the agency that would have the power to effectively outlaw specific vaccines in the U.S. by deauthorizing them.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
FDA‘s Tracy Beth Høeg reiterates that peer nations mostly don’t vax at birth. The experts we talked to say…that’s because (for once) the U.S. is leading peer nations in preventative care on this! They’re looking to us as a success!
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Liaison member Sandra Fryhofer also hitting on the importance of understanding how easy it is to get hep B from indirect contact. Even the CDC still acknowledges that hep B is far more infectious than HIV.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Liaison member Jason Goldman echoes Middleman. Says this whole meeting is an example of waste fraud and abuse. “the best thing you can do is adjourn this entire session”
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Watch #ACIP live here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpth...
youtube.com
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) - December 4, 2025 - Day 1 of 2
YouTube video by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Liaison member Dr. Amy Middleman is on the line now, correcting a serious misrepresentation of her own study that was presented earlier. Pointing out that presenters are not actually trained or knowledgable on the topics they’ve presented. Asks pointedly what their day jobs are.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
If you’re curious about what‘s at stake in today’s #ACIP discussions, check out our story on the real risks of “horizontal transmission” of hep B among babies: www.npr.org/sections/sho...
npr.org
Doctors warn delaying hepatitis B shot for newborns could revive a deadly threat
As RFK Jr.'s new vaccine panel ponders changing the hepatitis B vaccination schedule, some doctors recall past patients, including children, who died painful deaths before there was a vaccine.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
(I really wonder what it feels like to be Cody Meissner right now. What does he hope he can accomplish today given the data distortions in the non-expert presentations and the ideological bent of others on the committee?)
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Malone cuts him off. Meissner circles to a question about “what is the risk of the hepatitis B vaccine?” Takes anti-vax activist and presenter Mark Blaxill to task for implying post-vax irritability might be encephalitis. “You cannot say that.“
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Robert Malone interrupts - “in your opinion.” Meissner: “uh, ok. These are facts Robert”
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
#ACIP member Cody Meissner: “I take strong issue with each of the three presentations we just heard“ on the hep B birth dose. “There were so many statements that I disagree with that it’s hard to be succinct”
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Rosemary Westwood @rosemarywestwood.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
New from me: After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. www.npr.org/sections/sho...
npr.org
Louisiana officials waited months to warn public of whooping cough outbreak
After a whooping cough outbreak killed two infants, Louisiana health officials waited months to officially alert physicians or do public outreach. That's not the typical public health response.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
@rosemarywestwood.bsky.social spent months carefully reporting this important, nuanced, and chilling piece. What happens when public health institutions don't follow their playbook during an infectious disease outbreak? Take a look/listen:
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
I’m so sorry this happening to you 💔
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
You got it.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
In the spring, we reported on how pharmacies were trying to prepare for all these unknowns. Bottom line: lots of independent pharmacies are probably in trouble. And they don’t know how to answer @lizzieohreally.bsky.social’s very reasonable question. Radio and print story for NPR:
npr.org
Pharmacists stockpile most common drugs on chance of targeted Trump tariffs
While Big Pharma seems ready to weather the tariff storm, independent pharmacists and makers of generic drugs — which account for 90% of U.S. prescriptions — see trouble ahead for patients.
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Lizzie O'Leary @lizzieohreally.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
I am a well educated, pretty media literate person whose job it is to be professionally annoying. I cannot figure out if my cancer medication, which costs $17k a month (I do not pay anything thanks to a combo of insurance/access programs), is going to be tariffed 100%.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
- recommending healthcare providers discuss risks and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination with patients based on age, health history, and other factors. Again, no specific wording provided for this.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
- recommending the CDC change the vaccine information statement for COVID-19 vaccines to include at least the six risks outlined by Retsef Levi today. They aren't offering any wording to the CDC for how to do this.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
4. A whole mess of things for COVID-19 shots: - changing the immunization schedule to require "individual decision-making" for all groups, with extra instructions for those under age 65. There was confusion (even among HHS staff in the room) about what this will mean in practice.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
3. Recommended perinatal screening for hep B. The CDC already recommends this.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
2. Do nothing (for now) to change the hepatitis B vaccine schedule. This was a big issue, almost all public comment was focused on urging them not to postpone the hep B birth dose. They voted...not to vote on whether to postpone it.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
SO! Over the last two days, here's what the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices voted to do: 1. Recommend against the combo MMRV vaccine for kids under age 4. Instead, MMR + V as two shots is recommended. Most kids get it that way already. Second dose at age 4 can be the combo vaccine.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
The livestream from the room cut out!! From colleagues in the room, I hear that Vote 3 passed.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
ACIP member Meissner asked for his vote on Vote 3. Says "I've hardly had a chance to read it." So they're coming back to him.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Vote 2, recommending states require a prescription for COVID-19 vaccines TIES. 6-6. The chair breaks the tie, and Kulldorff voted no. The motion fails.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Vote 2, recommending states require a prescription for COVID-19 vaccines TIES. 6-6. The chair breaks the tie, and Kulldorff voted no. The motion fails.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
A heated debate around Vote 2, the one that recommends states require a prescription. Will this limit access? Can pharmacists provide the prescriptions? Will this still let states do whatever they want? No one is sure.
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Simone Popperl @simonepopperl.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Wow Retsef Levi says he thinks people at high risk for COVID-19 are probably on other drugs so shouldn't have a problem getting a prescription if they want one. @kffhealthnews.org and @npr.org reporting I edit suggests that's very much not the case...Here's a places to start:
npr.org
More patients are losing their doctors – and their trust in the primary care system
In Rhode Island, safety-net clinics are under new pressures as clinicians retire or burn out. Patients report that it's harder to find care, and they're losing connections to familiar doctors.
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