Cynthia writes:
Dear TWIVers & TWIMers,
As always, thank you for your amazing sharing of science and expertise! I wanted to let you know that many of us who work to strengthen our public health infrastructure to help protect all of us from the bad microbes are growing more alarmed every day. At our most recent Stop TB USA Coordinating Board meeting, we were made aware of a sign on letter (https://forms.microsoft.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=A2vijUeuKEq5zU0LQALVn6WhQYQr26NFpR67IKVC0JdUNDNISVAxMDMyVkNFV1FDOFpTMFZFWFc1MSQlQCN0PWcu) calling out the dangers of the recent Executive Order (EO14292) acting against “gain of function” research. Suspension of many grants have particularly hit long-standing TB-related experiments, at a time when TB cases are increasing in the US and abroad (with many more expected since the dissolving of USAID programs). I immediately knew what was going on with this EO 14292, since you have discussed many times the “moral panic” being created around “gain of function” research by adherents to the lab-leak hypothesis.
It would be wonderful if you let your listeners know about this latest attack on science; it is a great excuse to write another letter to our local papers and to make another call to all our Members of Congress (The Capitol Switchboard is 1-202-224-3121).
With many thanks,
Cynthia
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Cynthia A. Tschampl, PhD
Stop TB USA, Immediate Past Chair
Massachusetts Medical Advisory Committee for the Elimination of TB, Co-Chair
Ruth writes:
Dear Vincent and all at Microbe TV
Thank you so much for your commitment to science, the scientific method and service to the public good.
Thank you for speaking out the truth about all that’s happening to dismantle core institutions that support health and life in the US. It is so hard to see this unfold from over here in the U.K.
I know it’s hard to keep a sense of humour in the face of all this, but I hope you’d enjoy this Elle Cordova YouTube skit of US “Federal Agencies Hanging Out in a Bunker” – sad/funny or funny/sad, but hits the nail on the head.
Thank you so much!
Ruth