COVID-19 crisis: silver linings and rot at the top

There are so many good things that are happening as we adjust to the scary new normal of hunkering down, staying at home.  But every time I listen to the President at a White House COVID-19 task force press conference I am simultaneously repelled and outraged, and the good things happening on the ground slip …

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An infectious disease expert speaks: worth a listen

My last blog warned about the need to separate reliable COVID-19 information from misinformation, whether intentional or unintentional,  and rumor. Last week an esteemed British scientist passed on a podcast to my brother-in-law, who shared it with me.  I vetted it as best I could and now share it with my readers. Joe Rogan is …

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Beware coronavirus misinformation, well-intentioned or not

Everyone has an opinion on how serious is the WHO-identified pandemic coronavirus.  Many share guidance on how to deal with it. Far fewer share evidence-based science. Disturbing though it may be, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised at how much our assessments divide on partisan lines. According to a new ABC News/Ipsos poll: unease is strongly …

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Sunshine Week: government transparency needed now more than ever

The Freedom of Information Act has never been celebrated by those in power. After Congress passed it in 1966, LBJ signed it quietly at his Texas ranch.  Even under President Obama, the federal government was loath to facilitate Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. They spent millions defending their reluctance in court. But Donald Trump …

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Super Tuesday: resolving the struggle between head and heart

It's time to play my role in Super Tuesday. I've joked that in November I'd vote for a ham sandwich over Donald Trump. Any of  the  remaining candidates could do a better job than the incumbent. Nevertheless, I have twisted and turned.  I used to scoff at voters who were still undecided days before an …

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