NIH has rescinded its scientific integrity policy. Hard to see this as anything other than clearing the way for shoddy research on things like vaccines. Regardless of the rationale, it's bad news for public health.

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-25-080.html

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It’s about the time to close down the office of research integrity at DHHS.
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😠
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I hope the next administration holds RFK hr, etc. liable for crimes against humanity.
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Jr*
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Who knows. Maybe they WILL hold an RFK hour. Like an 'unhappy hour' at a bar.
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Why would scientists need to worry about … science? Nothing to see here.
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RFK Jr is a murderer
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This not the NIH anymore
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WTAF?!?!?
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Witchfinder General Trump doesn't want empirical reality crashing his party
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Or for Musk’s Neuralink experiments on monkeys and humans. There was an immense amount of proof required that any animal experiments were justified, could not be proven another way or inferred from previous experiments, and would lead to any likely breakthrough.
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Aha. Good point they’ll be doing a lot more on people soon.
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That is entirely, completely, and unbelievably fucking insane! How can anyone trust the science if it’s NOT done with integrity?
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'The Atlantic: In Czechoslovakia,days after Soviet invasion 1968, Večerní Praha published “10 commandments”: “When a Soviet soldier comes to you, YOU: 1. Don’t know 2. Don’t care 3. Don’t tell 4. Don’t have 5. Don’t know how to 6. Don’t give 7. Can’t do 8. Don’t sell 9. Don’t show 10. Do nothing.”'
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The idiocracy marches forward.
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The GOP strikes again. People support them at their own peril, and unfortunately at the rest of ours along with them.
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@papst-ny.bsky.social
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Number 1000 in the endlessly amazing list of bad decisions no one else even thought of making.
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Someone help me out here. I see the policy is rescinded, but the policy also appears to have been published on Sep 30, 2024. Why did it come out only 6 months ago? What was the context for it when it was drafted in Sep 2023?
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When we lived in China (7 years ago), our pediatrician advised we go out of country for vaccinations for our children because of shoddy research and dangerous repercussions.

This is now the company we’re keeping.
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Horrifying!
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really starting to feel like American science is experiencing its own special apocalypse
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Agreed. Insanity.
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Welcome to the Age of Stupid...
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It might be an urban myth, but I read attributed to Einstein,

'Only the universe and human stupidity are infinite, and I'm not certain about the universe. '
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the nazis don't do integrity
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I used to feel comfortable looking to NIH and Pubmed for medical guidance
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Right? The CDC as well - no more - on our own😞
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I especially I’m disgusted the way she talked about Dr. Fauci in a hearing. She literally yelled at him and accused him of all kinds of things that everything was his fault even though you know the president was the president she put his life and his family‘s life in great danger with lunatic lies
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I knew the future couldn’t look good for science or medical the way they allowed abortions to be banned allowing women to die. I have miscarriages being neglected.. and then how MTG and others accused everyone of incompetence and crimes against humanity based on their opinions and no evidence Covid
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I don't think this is what happened. The earlier policies remain in force, but the Sept 2024 one was rescinded. Apparently this was because it included this statement: "diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are integral components of the entire scientific process, and ..."
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This is a move by the Regime that directly endangers lives, technological/medical advances/research, and economic stability.

It will harm the General Welfare. It is anti-Constitutional.
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Add this to the list of absolutely appalling thugs that have been happening. I can’t keep up.
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Much like during the Bush administration when anyone who put out anything against ethanol and bio fuel were removed or silenced
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Basically rescinding the "no political interference" rule. Gotcha.
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Better download all the real reports now. It's all vibes from now on
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States are going to have to step up, at least blue states who give a F if people are healthy, and provide public health information based on credible science
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📌
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Idiotic!
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This will not end well.
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Absolutely reprehensible
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Are we sure they haven't banned the word "integrity?" They certainly have banned the idea.
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Next up: peer review replaced with vibes, and clinical trials run on YouTube polls.
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That does not sound good at all! Scientific Integrity seems very important.
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📌
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this is confusing because the HHS policy has the same stuff in it and still applies... so I don't understand what the effect of getting rid of the NIH policy is
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The DHHS reg released last year applies to all PHS-funded research, both intra- and extramural. Part of the reg requires organizations conducting PHS-funded research to have a research integrity policy. That’s the rescinded NIH policy. It only covered intramural research and work done for NIH.
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Reads like Orwellian doublespeak.

The purpose of this Notice is to rescind the Final Scientific Integrity Policy of the (NIH), issued under NOT-OD-24-178, to ensure alignment with the Administration’s priorities. The NIH remains committed to upholding the principles of...
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How did an anti-vaxer get to be head of our government’s Health Services??!!

Please Purple voters, think!
You’re killing me!

No, literally KILLING ME!
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Scientists are packing.
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JFC! If we EVER get these fucking assholes OUT of our government it will take DECADES for the scientific community to recover!

FUCK YOU Trump. FUCK YOU Musk. FUCK YOU MAGAs.
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My thoughts exactly
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Rescinding scientific integrity.

I have no words.
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Looks like there’s still the HHS scientific policy… which could be used for coverage https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-scientific-integrity-policy.pdf
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omg
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We now have to rely on private companies….
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gross is too mild and unscientific a word but gross anyway
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"ensure alignment with the Administration’s priorities." 🫂💔💉
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Integrity and republicans,like oil and water. Ashame they don't believe in science or they would know what that means
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Read “Medical Science Under Dictatorship” by Dr Leo Alexander. He served as the lead investigator of Nazi medical crimes in Nuremberg at the Nazi doctors trial. NEJM 1949.

Helps us understand what’s happening now and what to expect.

https://restoringourheritage.com/articles/nej_medicaldictatorship.pdf
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A very good article.

However, while I'm not a great fan of Hegel, I was jolted every time the post-WWI demonization of Hegel appeared. I can't criticize the author that harshly, though, since that demonization figured in works by the likes of John Dewey and Leonard Hobhouse.
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Oh good Lord @lizborkowski.bsky.social read the above paper. It's worse than you think. Shoddy work is the least worst thing that could happen. These autocrats are seek to make their unethical amorality the norm for our institutions.
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I have a close friend, we are very alike. We’re both emergency doctors. He and I have one fundamental disagreement.

He ascribes the wrongdoing & institutional failure in the U.S. to Hanlon’s razor. I say they’ve already shown us who they are and what they’re capable of doing.
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It's both. Malicious and stupid people.
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Right. It’s obviously not merely stupidity. It’s malicious. It’s not okay.
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That is a very disturbing document. 😱
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It certainly puts a more sinister spin on the push to classify “Trump Derangement Syndrome” as a mental disorder
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You got that right! Except it would be considered abnormal if one did not have the disorder. Which would go against "abnormal psychology". 😀
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Honestly, it gets worse. 🫠
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Meaning, in the here and now.
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RFK speaks absolute nonsense about health. He needs to get that worm out of his head. 🪱 Hell, the worm would probably do less damage... make it the head of the Dept of Health and Human Services. 💡
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Amazing rec. Thank you. #Censorship was key to this right?

Help us fight #censorship by ✒️ the Declaration to #defendresearch. https://DefendResearch.org is working to 📚 the public on #censorship in #science. SIGN/SHARE/JOIN US: https://tinyurl.com/3bwuc38f

🚨📣🚨📣🚨📣🚨📣🚨📣🚨📣🚨📣🚨📣
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Full alt text
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Does the HHS policy that was written in 2024 not have similar statements? I haven't read it yet, but it appears to predate the current administration.
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True.
The NIH explicitly mentions that NIH will adhere to the HHS policy.
Nevertheless, rescinding the NIH policy "to ensure alignment with the Administration’s priorities" sends a clear message in my opinion.
I'd not be surprised if the HHS policy would be changed or rescinded soon, too.
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Now why would you rescind an integrity policy unless you wanted to publish unreliable studies with faulty or false data, that couldn’t meet the previous standards.
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Stonks
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Because you ONLY want to publish such studies!
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Bingo
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If you read the policy, it had a section on diversity. Are you sure that isn't the reason it was revoked?
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📌 #RFKJchaos
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News like this is only going to expand the already too large population that does not trust vaccines. For instance, is next years flu vaccine or updated COVID vaccine going to be safe and effective? I've always got mine but this gives me pause.
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Right! It’s awful. And scary. I’m trying to get all vaccines possible right now before the properly researched and tested ones run out, including polio (and what universe are we in where I would be considering needing a POLIO vaccine!? I feel like I’m losing my damn mind)
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Vaccines keep my husband who is in the final stages of copd alive. We're up to date right now but yeah, I'm 66 so I fall in the category of needing a measles booster. Something I wouldn't have considered if it weren't for all the vaccine deniers out there putting us all at risk!
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So frustrating. I wish you and your husband all the best as you continue to navigate these crazy times
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Thanks and back at you. I don't think I could survive mentally if it weren't for the support of good people like the ones I find here on BlueSky. 😊
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Everything about this administration is bad news.
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Trying to kill us all
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The previous final policy talks about principles of DEIA.
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Break out the ouija bord,crystals and horse wormers
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What’s next? Peer reviews are a waste of time and are probably DEI anyway.
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Subservience over science. How, why, what? This is backwards.
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Seems entirely on brand with the current administration
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gonna hit you so hard when the next pandemic comes. I would secure backchannels from Canada/Mexico, so you can circumvene whatever hell-drug they are gonna pass for vaccine/cure, when the time comes.
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They are destroying science, healthcare and education in order to destroy us.
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Half of animal testing in the US is done by the NIH.
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JFC- from a BA Psych/ Soc BN RN. ✊🏼#SolidarityWithScientists
#FactsMatter #MakeRealityAConsensusAgain

#OustTeamFelon47
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Not good
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The illusion of cultural continuity has ended.
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They seek death as a crowd control instead of expansive knowledge leading towards positive growth.
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What the fuck.
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Interesting. So they no longer value integrity. This is what rfkjr brings to the table, lowered standards and sloppy work.
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Snake oil salesmen must have donated a lot of money to Wormbrain! How many people will die because of this idiot?!
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Health research buy 'the making shit up as we go' grifters.
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🙁
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Jesus.
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🙈🤬🙈
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@nick-carmody.bsky.social ⚕️
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Is this just part of Trump trying to erase EVERYTHING that happened while Biden was president?
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Ok NIH. If you are trashing your standards, just stop trying to make meds/vaccines. I don't want to be your guinea pig. Stop it!
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I feel like that’s the aim.
Destroy people’s public health confidence and they’re less likely to trust an organization thus leading to confusion and chaos.
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"The purpose of this Notice is to rescind the Final Scientific Integrity Policy of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), issued under NOT-OD-24-178, to ensure alignment with the Administration’s priorities. " Refreshingly honest wording there.
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WHAT!! This is huge. Science isn't and shouldn't be political. The US is losing it's place as a world leader in medicine. Can't help but think this will further encourage the new movement of scientists out of the US along with a deterioration of our health care.
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The supreme court made him a king and unable to be prosecuted for any crime as long as he does it as a president. Historically, it is difficult to stop a king from doing anything. 👑 I hope Canada scoops up some of the great US scientist like the US did after WWII. Before they commit atrocities!
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Canada would be fine with me. They could say hi to my cousin in BC!
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🥰 Canada would welcome you I am sure, as long as you were not wearing the red hat. Not much tolerance for that these days it seems. 😀 It has about the same effect of a swastika now.

Someone with a Trump flag nearby got vandalized recently. Dumbass should have known better is the response. 😆
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We’ve gotten rid of kings before, just sayin’.
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It had that policy for about 0.5 years of its nearly hundred years history.
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How does this move help anything? Just another blind dart toss because the people running the show don't know anything about anything
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I can't wait to see what gets published. Lots of great shit from "Liberty" University, I'm sure!
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📌
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So what's the difference in the "final" integrity policy and the others they're supposedly going to keep and comply with?
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By rescinding the policy, they're removing NIH's Scientific Integrity Official (whose role the policy defines). The SIO understands how the agency works and is best positioned to address most scientific integrity concerns NIH employees would have. No SIO = much weaker enforcement.
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This is what happens when you view government as a business. Integrity is viewed as a cost, just like quality.
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Ah, I see, thank you. They just want to Wild West everything. 😩
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"The Final NIH Scientific Integrity Policy affirms the NIH stance that a strong culture of scientific integrity begins with ensuring a professional environment that is safe, equitable, fair, just, impartial, honest, and inclusive; DEIA are integral components of the entire scientific process."
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Tbc I don't know that is the difference, but it seems like there's a lot of "Ctrl-F 'DEI' and rescind/delete anything that shows up" going on.
But I do share concern about how this might clear the way for poorly conducted, ideologically driven research.
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Oh, goodness. Another aspect, yes. 😟
Thanks.
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Republicans hate science too eh?
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WTF. Is. Happening.
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JFC, you cannot make this shit up
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Is there such a thing as an ' anti scientific integrity policy'?
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Why bother I guess. I knew it was going to be bad, but I didn’t imagine this. Scientific integrity out. Very sad day.
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A PICTURE OF HEALTH
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RFK, Jr. told us what he thought, and now he is following through. Congrats to GOP Senators, who put an avowed anti-vaxxer in charge of HHS.

Samoa's measles outbreak, in which one out of every 150 babies died from the measles, is a preview of coming attractions if our vax rates keep falling.
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Fuck this guy and the worm in his brain-buddies with Epstein no medical background what the fuck🤬
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"Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!" 😆😁😅😂🤣
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100% free rescinded due to specific DEI language in the text. I doubt anyone even read it - they just killed it after a word search.

Of course this language went through a proper review and comment process before publishing; if only the people killing it would go through the same process!
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Gotta make sure big pharma doesn’t have any road blocks to stuffing those pockets even more even if it kills us.
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Trump, Short stubby fingers, doing the accordion while saying I don’t care. Must be a family line. Melanie’s jacket
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uhhhhhhhh
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Then it’s not science anymore.
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RFKjr wants see people die!
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Darwinism … ie survival of the fittest. Harsh. Plus he isn’t even factual when he said the worm ate part of his brain before dying. medical experts cited by the Times said it doesn’t typically eat the brain and instead lives off nutrients. He’s delusional.
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We won't be able to trust any "research" from here on out will we?
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Yes and industry sponsored studies that show how good asbestos is for you.
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That’s just weird. Bizarre even.
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It says “diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) are integral components of the entire scientific process” so of course it had to go. 🙄😡
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I like how the statement says that it is so they can be in line with the administration's priorities.
The brain drain we will see in this country over the next 4 years will be monumental.
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We don’t have 4 years
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Looks like the EU, Canada, and others are going to do their own version of Operation Paper Clip.
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“Integrity is not in line with administration priorities” stated clearly
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Well, they didn’t want to
Lie. Lol
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Very sad
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crap
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This is personal and sad for me. My first full time job was for NIH ( a million years ago!) and I was so proud to be working for such an institution of science.
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An absolute fucking nightmare.
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They are going to replace it with one that says anyone who has ever made a cent from vaccines is ineligible unless they have made millions from lying about them in which case fine.
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🤮
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Catastrophic and expected for trans folks, too. Expect Genspect and SEGM type groups to publish all trans 'research' going forward.
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Holy shit. Scientific integrity policies are one of the key tools preventing political a at funding agencies from meddling with results or blocking publications.
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How long will we be able to survive all the harm created by the Drumpf administration?
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As long as it takes the military to realize that we are in the middle of a coup and that they need to act and that they’re loyalty is not to any president💪😠
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