This week in health policy chaos: Mifepristone remains available for now after a series of last-minute court stays, but the Trump DOJ's silence in the case has legal experts baffled. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigned rather than approve fruit-flavored vapes — beating Trump to the punch. A hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship exposed serious gaps in U.S. public health response, with CDC teams slow to act and the Vessel Sanitation Program gutted by DOGE cuts. RFK Jr. is reportedly exploring restrictions on widely used antidepressants like Zoloft and Prozac, while quietly running a sprawling investigation to link vaccines to chronic disease. And at a White House event for expectant mothers, Dr. Oz worried about America being "under-babied" and promoted "Trump babies," while RFK Jr. warned about declining sperm counts.
Background reading:
The Hill: Supreme Court extends pause on abortion pill restrictions through Thursday
NPR: With legal briefs in, Supreme Court weighs telehealth access for the abortion pill
The Hill: FDA approves some flavored vapes after reports of Trump pressure
The New York Times: F.D.A. Commissioner Marty Makary Resigns After Weeks of Pressure
The New York Times: Hantavirus Response Shows How Trump Cuts Have Compromised U.S. Preparedness
The Hill: RFK Jr.: ‘We’re not worried’ about hantavirus spreading after cruise ship outbreak
NBC News: U.S. departure from WHO could hinder hantavirus response
Futurism: The CDC Fired All Its Cruise Ship Inspectors Before the Hantavirus Outbreak
Reuters: Kennedy’s health officials explored US ban of some widely used antidepressants
CNN Health: RFK Jr. launches plan to address ‘overuse’ of psychiatric medications
The New York Times: Kennedy Starts a Push to Help Americans Quit Antidepressants
The New York Times: Kennedy Is Driving a Vast Inquiry Into Vaccines, Despite His Public Silence
Dr. Oz’s “under-babied” comments are HERE
Dr. Oz’s “Trump babies” comments are HERE
PEOPLE: RFK Jr. Says Men in the ‘70s Had Twice as Much Sperm as Teenage Boys Today: ‘Existential Crisis
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