cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/34068999

Although mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. incorrectly argued they are ineffective to justify the Department of Health and Human Service’s recent decision to cancel $500 million in government-funded research projects to develop new vaccines using the technology.

The longtime vaccine critic said in an X video posted Tuesday evening that mRNA vaccines do not adequately prevent upper respiratory infections such as COVID-19 and the flu, advocating instead for the development vaccines that use other processes.

COVID-19 is the only virus for which real-world data on mRNA vaccine effectiveness is currently available, as mRNA vaccines for other diseases, including the flu, are still under development. The two scientists whose discoveries enabled the creation of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 won a Nobel Prize in 2023 for their work.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/34059992

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/34038025

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/34040460

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/43485466

The Trump administration has taken its first step toward restricting access to abortions for veterans who are covered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical benefits, reversing a 2022 rule.

Former Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration enacted the rule following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which ended federally protected access to abortion. More than a dozen states implemented abortion bans after that decision, and the policy was meant to preserve access to abortion for veterans in certain circumstances, regardless of where they lived. Veterans Affairs medical centers were allowed to provide abortions in cases of rape or incest, and when the life or health of the pregnant person was in jeopardy. Counseling about abortion was also permitted.

Under the proposal, nearly all abortions, except those to save a patient’s life, would be banned at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and would no longer be covered by VA medical benefits.

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/43425122

The Senate left Washington Saturday night for its monthlong August recess without a deal to advance dozens of President Donald Trump's nominees, calling it quits after days of contentious bipartisan negotiations and Trump posting on social media that Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer can "GO TO HELL!"

Without a deal in hand, Republicans say they may try to change Senate rules when they return in September to speed up the pace of confirmations. Trump has been pressuring senators to move quickly as Democrats blocked more nominees than usual this year, denying any fast unanimous consent votes and forcing roll calls on each one, a lengthy process that can take several days per nominee.

"I think they're desperately in need of change," Senate Majority Leader John Thune said of Senate rules Saturday after negotiations with Schumer and Trump broke down. "I think that the last six months have demonstrated that this process, nominations is broken. And so I expect there will be some good robust conversations about that."

cross-posted from: https://endlesstalk.org/post/92707290

https://archive.ph/tswgr

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/33925911

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/34115762

DOJ Citizenship Revocation Plans Raise Constitutional Concerns

The Justice Department issued a June 11, 2025 memo directing attorneys to "maximally pursue denaturalization proceedings," sparking concerns about potential political targeting of naturalized citizens[^1]. While the memo lists priorities like national security threats and criminal conduct, it includes broad language allowing cases deemed "sufficiently important to pursue"[^1].

Legal experts warn this discretion could enable politically motivated denaturalization. "The politicization of citizenship rights is something that really worries me, I think it's just flatly inconsistent with our democratic system," said Cassandra Burke Robertson, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University[^7].

Recent events highlight these concerns:

• The White House press secretary indicated support for investigating NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's citizenship based on rap lyrics[^6]
• Trump suggested examining Elon Musk's citizenship status after Musk criticized his spending bill[^14]
• Trump threatened to revoke Rosie O'Donnell's citizenship, though this is legally impossible as she was born in the U.S.[^14]

Constitutional scholars emphasize that denaturalization through civil proceedings "lacks many constitutional protections," with no right to court-appointed lawyers or jury trials[^14]. The Supreme Court previously restricted denaturalization in 1967, ruling it "inconsistent with the American form of democracy, because it creates two levels of citizenship"[^1].

"Denaturalization is exceedingly rare and has occurred for people who concealed information of war crimes, Nazi membership, criminal histories, or immigration fraud such as using a stolen identity," said Michelle Mittelstadt of the Migration Policy Institute[^14].

[^1]: NPR - DOJ announces plans to prioritize cases to revoke citizenship

[^6]: MSNBC - Trump's DOJ issues memo on plan to strip citizenship

[^7]: CNN - Law used to kick out Nazis could be used to strip citizenship from many more Americans

[^14]: PolitiFact - Can Donald Trump revoke Rosie O'Donnell's U.S. citizenship?

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/33917791

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/33733898

cross-posted from: https://endlesstalk.org/post/92531290