Mockingbird, MPH, CHES

Editing I was formerly an editor at  Quirk Books  (2021–2025), specializing in gift and lifestyle nonfiction as well as genre fiction, and the editor-in-chief of Electric Literature  (2017–2021),...

If you’re considering asking an AI slop golem for help with your writing project, why not ask me, a real person who is good at this, instead?

This is good and a good piece. But it must also be said, in addition to the pure unnecessary exploitation and exposure to disease that they will force, the trial is set up to create a very misleading hair trigger over small side effects and completely ignore the big ones (namely, getting Hep. B).

ChatGPT might give you bad medical advice, studies warn New research finds AI can point people in the wrong direction. And the quality of health information it imparts depends on how well you prompt the tools.

New research finds AI can point people in the wrong direction. And the quality of health information it imparts depends on how well you prompt the tools. n.pr/4cDd4Yd

80s singer Thomas Dolby on raising queer kids: "the eldest is trans, the middle is a lesbian, and the youngest is a drummer"

The 3 genders

Is your cat truly happy? New research provides answers 🥼

We all think our cats are doing great 🐈 our study of 400+ caretakers found an average quality of life score of 89/100. But when we looked more closely, the picture was more nuanced

🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.ap...

#CatWelfare #AnimalWelfare #Cats

Once again, the 2028 litmus test includes Supreme Court expansion

The carceral state has been grinding up black and brown bodies for generations. Medical neglect has been killing poor people in childbirth, from preventable diseases, from lack of access since always.

‘Damaging and punishing’: Birth control clinics serving millions face federal funding cliff Clinics are pleading with Congress and HHS for answers amid “radio silence” about the imminent expiration of Title X funding.

NEW: Title X clinics around the country that provide contraception, cancer screening etc. to more than 2mil low income people could see their federal funding cut off in a few weeks. HHS was supposed to give clinics guidance months ago about reapplying for funding, but it's been "radio silence."

Pete Hegseth Blew Billions on Fruit Basket Stands, Chairs, and Crab The Defense Department went on a $93 billion spending spree in 2025.

$98,329 piano
$12,000 fruit basket stands
$139,224 doughnuts
$6.9 million lobster tail

someone who is good at the economy please help me budget this. iranian families are dying

Questions about measles? Get answers at our webinar, Thursday March 12, 5:00 - 6:00PM ET . Questions submitted so far include: Are there any early signs that help identify measles vs other viruses? Does any recent data or literature support or suspect this could become a pandemic? I was vaccinated decades ago. Do I need to have my immunity checked? I can’t find record of if I’ve gotten vaccinated. Is it safe to go ahead and get vaccinated (again)? Submit your questions: tinyurl.com/MeaslesQuestions312. Register for the webinar: tinyurl.com/MeaslesWebinar312

Questions about measles? Submit them by the end of today to get answers from experts at our webinar tomorrow, March 12 at 5:00PM. Questions will be answered in the order they’re received! Submit questions: tinyurl.com/MeaslesQuestions312 & register for the webinar here: tinyurl.com/MeaslesWebinar312

116,000 Minnesotans lost health care coverage this year. Highest uninsured rate in almost ten years.

Fund health care. Not this war.

we dare you to find a museum more ready

States Are Using Policies From The 1600s To Punish Women For Miscarriages Even the strongest anti-abortion advocates don't want to punish people for pregnancy loss. Police and prosecutors are finding ways to do it anyway.

NEW: Even the strongest anti-abortion advocates don't want to punish people for pregnancy loss. Police and prosecutors are finding ways to do it anyway.

Here's what happens when miscarriage is recast as murder:

‘My lovely distraction’: live stream of kākāpō – world’s fattest parrot – and her chicks captivates New Zealand More than 100,000 people have tuned in to watch a kākāpō – a rare flightless bird – sleeping, tidying her nest and fighting off intruders

🪶

The shoe thing is low on the "important global matters" scale, but HIGH on the "I'll take things a deranged Roman emperor would do for $500, Alex" chart.

Make Teeth Fall Out Again, I guess

Who could possibly have foreseen that war on Iran would (a) make Iran retaliate by closing the strait of Hormuz, which (b) could disrupt world oil markets, enriching Russia and penalizing most everyone else?

Who, indeed, except EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER THOUGHT FOR ONE MINUTE about the situation.

This interview with the great @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social was a "wow" moment for me. Thanks, New York Times and David Marchese.
www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/m...

I couldn't help noticing the question that seemed the most Times-like to me.

Home - Not in our name Not In our Name: Women in support of the trans+community

More than 91,900 women have already signed to say that trans exclusion is not in our name.

We’re now aiming for 100,000 signatures, and it would be incredible to reach that mark by tonight with the help of everyone at the Trans Mission Live concert and everyone following along from home.

""I'm afraid I could be arrested if I travel to that state for your wedding and need to use the restroom at the venue ..."

Transgender Chili’s manager fired over ‘personal values and lifestyle,’ lawsuit says Exclusive: Hudson Webber claims a store manager said another employee at a different location was being terminated ‘for the same reasons’

EXCLUSIVE | Transgender Chili’s manager fired because ‘personal values and lifestyle did not align’ with chain’s, lawsuit says

in my experience it's actually rich people who fail to understand how complicated and expensive it is to be poor because the system treats everyone the same bsky.app/profile/atru...

U.S. at Fault in Strike on School in Iran, Preliminary Inquiry Says

US at Fault in Strike on School in Iran, Preliminary Inquiry Says

“Outdated targeting data may have resulted in a mistaken missile strike, according to the ongoing military investigation, which undercuts Pres. Trump’s assertion that Iran could be to blame.”

🎁 link

www.nytimes.com/2026/03/11/u...

General announcement to literally everyone: you enjoyed being in your 20s not because the world was better, but because you were at your most attractive, physically capable, and at a peak of both personal freedom and lack of responsibility for others.

Iran War Live Updates: Coalition of 32 Countries to Tap Oil Reserves to Shore Up Supply

A coalition of 32 countries plans to release 400 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves in response to the Iran war, the largest ever and the first such coordinated action since 2022, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03...

Promo graphic for episode 1021 of Public Health On Call titled Antibiotic Overuse in Dentistry. Additional text reads: Research shows that a large share of antibiotic prescribed by dentists may be unnecessary.

Dentists prescribe about 10% of all antibiotics in the U.S., but research shows that a large share may be unnecessary.

@lizszabo.bsky.social discusses the grave public health risks of inappropriate antibiotic use and how it can be curbed.

🎧 podcast.publichealth.jhu.edu/1021-antibio...

California health care facilities must be sanctuaries from ICE | Opinion “ICE in patients’ rooms can be resisted, and the data pathways that can expose patients to ICE can be closed.”

🚨Invisible data pathways can expose patient information to ICE.

🗣️In my new op-ed, I urge CA + all states to:

1️⃣ Require state-funded health systems to disclose data sharing w/ outside companies
2️⃣ Bar vendors that contract with ICE
3️⃣ Give patients clear notice on data collected and who can access it

He is literally paraphrasing Jesus. ACTUAL JESUS.

The humiliation isn't only that they're so lacking in personal dignity that they'll wear shoes that don't fit because they're afraid of displeasing the boss. It's that they're all saying "Oh, I'm a size 12" when they're actually an 8 because they think Trump thinks big feet are a sign of...you know.

Pretty crazy how important the blockade of a trade route is right now