Phil Verhoef
@philipverhoef.bsky.social
Med Peds ICU. Immuno researcher. Singer/guitars/keys/trombone. Father. #singlepayer advocate. He/him. #pnhp past president #docswhorock HAWAII.
i would sure love to see this guy become senator of michigan in 47 days. @abdulelsayed.bsky.social
September 18, 2026 at 2:32 AM
i would sure love to see this guy become senator of michigan in 47 days. @abdulelsayed.bsky.social
regardless of whether or not Trump is high IQ, it’s especially telling that he doesn’t think that having ethics or morality (none of which are tested in IQ tests) is important.
September 14, 2026 at 4:16 PM
regardless of whether or not Trump is high IQ, it’s especially telling that he doesn’t think that having ethics or morality (none of which are tested in IQ tests) is important.
i discovered something similar 12 years ago when trying to get med school faculty to go on record supporting single payer; shockingly high number agreed but none willing to state it publicly. and conditions are SO MUCH worse now, both politically and in the state of our health care system.
Helping organize the grad union at my institution a decade ago, I saw up close just how hard it can be to persuade many tenured faculty to publicly commit to something vaguely political. Even getting them to sign a letter for legally protected action was tough.
These signatures mean something.
These signatures mean something.
August 24, 2026 at 12:59 PM
i discovered something similar 12 years ago when trying to get med school faculty to go on record supporting single payer; shockingly high number agreed but none willing to state it publicly. and conditions are SO MUCH worse now, both politically and in the state of our health care system.
this is a question i struggle with. if we had the single payer system outlined in Jayapal’s or Sanders’ bill, RFK jr would be in charge and that reallllllly bothers me as a dyed in the wool single payer advocate.
BUT!
Do you want the next Republican administration controlling your access to healthcare?
Do you want the next Republican administration controlling your access to healthcare?
August 20, 2026 at 10:34 AM
this is a question i struggle with. if we had the single payer system outlined in Jayapal’s or Sanders’ bill, RFK jr would be in charge and that reallllllly bothers me as a dyed in the wool single payer advocate.
at the airport waiting to board and i look down and see this lonely suitcase, minding his own business. who is he? where did he come from, and how did he end up there? where will he finally cease his journey? 🤔
July 25, 2026 at 9:46 PM
at the airport waiting to board and i look down and see this lonely suitcase, minding his own business. who is he? where did he come from, and how did he end up there? where will he finally cease his journey? 🤔
ah yes. the R party that believes govt is the program is actively trying to make govt be the problem even worse by creating govt-based barriers to getting healthcare (see also medicaid work requirements) www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2026/tr...
New ACA Marketplace Rule Gives Consumers Red Tape
An new rule for ACA marketplaces ratchets up scrutiny of the enrollment process and imposes administrative barriers.
www.commonwealthfund.org
July 16, 2026 at 4:29 PM
ah yes. the R party that believes govt is the program is actively trying to make govt be the problem even worse by creating govt-based barriers to getting healthcare (see also medicaid work requirements) www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2026/tr...
dems retaking the senate because republicans just kept dying was not something i had on my bingo card for 2026
July 12, 2026 at 4:11 PM
dems retaking the senate because republicans just kept dying was not something i had on my bingo card for 2026
Reposted by Phil Verhoef
Duckworth weighs in on Maine senate race.
July 10, 2026 at 9:16 AM
Duckworth weighs in on Maine senate race.
this is very how much how we are reframing the path to single payer healthcare. the goal is NOT to kill Medicare Advantage or to kick managed care out of Medicaid… but if fighting those battles builds movement power (and reduces the stranglehold of private interests), we’ll fight. @pnhp.bsky.social
I think there's actually a useful difference we can draw here. Namely: there is incrementalism that comes from pushing wherever possible (and with whatever levels possible) to make progress toward a maximalist demand, versus incrementalism that's positioned as an excuse for setting minor goals
My not-so-hot take is that what Mamdani is doing *IS* incrementalism, and the bar is so deeply in hell that a politician just doing *anything* good consistently is a total anomaly for people.
And I think for now that is good and fine, because it is restoring people’s faith that better is possible.
And I think for now that is good and fine, because it is restoring people’s faith that better is possible.
June 26, 2026 at 3:06 PM
this is very how much how we are reframing the path to single payer healthcare. the goal is NOT to kill Medicare Advantage or to kick managed care out of Medicaid… but if fighting those battles builds movement power (and reduces the stranglehold of private interests), we’ll fight. @pnhp.bsky.social
Reposted by Phil Verhoef
It’s truly astonishing to see how comprehensively the US government is tearing down every part of the system that has made it up until now a world-leading power in science, research, and technological development. The entire world will suffer from this wanton destruction.
White House proposes new rules giving political appointees final approval of research grants
These proposed Office of Management and Budget regulations would render the federal research grant review process opaque
www.scientificamerican.com/article/whit...
These proposed Office of Management and Budget regulations would render the federal research grant review process opaque
www.scientificamerican.com/article/whit...
White House proposes new rules giving political appointees final say on research grants
These proposed Office of Management and Budget regulations would render the federal research grant review process opaque
www.scientificamerican.com
May 29, 2026 at 4:34 PM
It’s truly astonishing to see how comprehensively the US government is tearing down every part of the system that has made it up until now a world-leading power in science, research, and technological development. The entire world will suffer from this wanton destruction.
hahahahah never heard THIS before
Trump says peace deal with Iran largely reached with strait of Hormuz to open
Trump says peace deal with Iran largely reached with strait of Hormuz to open
Remarks by US president potentially mark conclusion of bombing campaign led by US and Israel
Donald Trump announced on Saturday that a peace deal with Iran had largely been reached, after calls with Gulf allies and Israel, potentially paving the way for an end to the war launched by the US and Israel in February.
Trump wrote on his social media platform that “final aspects and details” of a “Memorandum of Understanding” are still being discussed, and “will be announced shortly” but said the strait of Hormuz will be opened as part of the deal. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
May 24, 2026 at 12:27 AM
hahahahah never heard THIS before
wtf
Gift 🎁 link, because I just can't summarize this one; it's too enraging. Upshot: the FDA fought it for years, but after meeting w/ a vaping lobbyist, Trump decided to "Save Flavored Vaping."
The FDA had rejected "more than 1 million fruit-, candy- and dessert-flavored products,"
wapo.st/3PnEqrW
The FDA had rejected "more than 1 million fruit-, candy- and dessert-flavored products,"
wapo.st/3PnEqrW
In a first, FDA authorizes fruit-flavored vapes for adults
The move marks a shift after the FDA for years worked aggressively to regulate flavored vapes. The move came after President Donald Trump reportedly pressed the FDA commissioner to authorize the produ...
wapo.st
May 6, 2026 at 1:26 PM
wtf
exactly. whether you regard this as a feature or a bug, you cannot argue that capitalism doesn’t depend on winners and losers… which makes it absolutely bananas that we have chosen this as our model for healthcare. it’s high time we end this.
Yep. Capitalist principles *require* that people who are both sick and poor be ignored.
totally. and i would take it a step further and argue that a health care system grounded in capitalist principles can never be equitable… which is why we continue to have people that suffer and die needlessly at the hands of our private insurance based system.
April 27, 2026 at 9:38 PM
exactly. whether you regard this as a feature or a bug, you cannot argue that capitalism doesn’t depend on winners and losers… which makes it absolutely bananas that we have chosen this as our model for healthcare. it’s high time we end this.
Reposted by Phil Verhoef
Whether you get that life saving surgery is basically up to a guy who chooses between one of two stamps on his desk. One that says "you get money" and one that says "I get money."
totally. and i would take it a step further and argue that a health care system grounded in capitalist principles can never be equitable… which is why we continue to have people that suffer and die needlessly at the hands of our private insurance based system.
April 27, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Whether you get that life saving surgery is basically up to a guy who chooses between one of two stamps on his desk. One that says "you get money" and one that says "I get money."
how the heck does she keep a straight face when he says this??
Beshear: He said, “I thought that I was being depicted as a doctor.” If I was ever in an operating room and somebody walked in in Jesus robes with orbs in his hand, I would have thought that it did not go well for me that day.
April 16, 2026 at 7:45 AM
how the heck does she keep a straight face when he says this??
the comments are pure gold.
Your grandfather sounds stupid
April 13, 2026 at 5:57 PM
the comments are pure gold.
this so much. people arguing that there are “too many vaccines all at once” or just too many at all and justify this by saying the immune system or body can’t handle it lack a fundamental understanding of immunology and physiology.
but at the risk of illness. The goal should be getting immunity without risking illness (i.e., vaccines, antibodies).
- the vaccine schedule cannot come close to saturating your immune system in a way that would overwhelm it
- the hygiene hypothesis isn't telling you to stop washing your hands
- the vaccine schedule cannot come close to saturating your immune system in a way that would overwhelm it
- the hygiene hypothesis isn't telling you to stop washing your hands
March 29, 2026 at 6:39 PM
this so much. people arguing that there are “too many vaccines all at once” or just too many at all and justify this by saying the immune system or body can’t handle it lack a fundamental understanding of immunology and physiology.
Reposted by Phil Verhoef
The @whyshoulditrustyou.bsky.social team asked some tough questions of NIH Director Bhattacharya. It's worth a listen: substack.com/home/post/p-...
I wanted to add some additional context on Bhattacharya's responses. Sorry, long thread.
🧵1/19
I wanted to add some additional context on Bhattacharya's responses. Sorry, long thread.
🧵1/19
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya on His Mission to Rebuild Public Trust in the NIH and CDC
He discusses "DEI" research, campus funding freezes, ACIP, and the path forward for the nation's public health infrastructure
substack.com
February 27, 2026 at 4:23 AM
The @whyshoulditrustyou.bsky.social team asked some tough questions of NIH Director Bhattacharya. It's worth a listen: substack.com/home/post/p-...
I wanted to add some additional context on Bhattacharya's responses. Sorry, long thread.
🧵1/19
I wanted to add some additional context on Bhattacharya's responses. Sorry, long thread.
🧵1/19
flu season is rough this year in Hawai’i. i talked about it with @khon2news.bsky.social
Flu season in Hawaii continues to be an issue following the holidays, and there are no signs of slowing down.
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/3mvebr9h
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/3mvebr9h
January 7, 2026 at 8:54 AM
flu season is rough this year in Hawai’i. i talked about it with @khon2news.bsky.social
…wherein i talk to @khon2news.bsky.social about my concerns about the new vaccine recommendations. this shift will lead to vaccine preventable deaths. hard stop.
The CDC has announced new vaccine recommendations for children. National health officials now list vaccines for 11 diseases in their child immunization schedule -- down from 17.
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/zj7v35z2
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/zj7v35z2
January 7, 2026 at 8:53 AM
…wherein i talk to @khon2news.bsky.social about my concerns about the new vaccine recommendations. this shift will lead to vaccine preventable deaths. hard stop.
Reposted by Phil Verhoef
1/ HHS just announced the most significant rollback of childhood vaccine recommendations in modern American history.
Seven vaccines are being moved to “shared clinical decision-making,” a category that sounds reasonable but functionally ensures millions of children won’t receive them.🧵
Seven vaccines are being moved to “shared clinical decision-making,” a category that sounds reasonable but functionally ensures millions of children won’t receive them.🧵
January 5, 2026 at 8:23 PM
1/ HHS just announced the most significant rollback of childhood vaccine recommendations in modern American history.
Seven vaccines are being moved to “shared clinical decision-making,” a category that sounds reasonable but functionally ensures millions of children won’t receive them.🧵
Seven vaccines are being moved to “shared clinical decision-making,” a category that sounds reasonable but functionally ensures millions of children won’t receive them.🧵
we just keep reaching new lows with this administration. it’s honestly scary how easily we keep sinking and sinking into the abyss of fascism and authoritarianism. we were so much more fragile than we realized.
January 3, 2026 at 6:04 PM
we just keep reaching new lows with this administration. it’s honestly scary how easily we keep sinking and sinking into the abyss of fascism and authoritarianism. we were so much more fragile than we realized.
Reposted by Phil Verhoef
Every time ACIP meets, Bill Cassidy (R, Coward City) makes pathetic mewling sounds about how bad the committee is.
It is Bill Cassidy’s fault that ACIP is no longer a legitimate scientific body.
Sir, you are a fucking U.S. Senator. Impeach RFK Jr or STFU.
It is Bill Cassidy’s fault that ACIP is no longer a legitimate scientific body.
Sir, you are a fucking U.S. Senator. Impeach RFK Jr or STFU.
December 5, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Every time ACIP meets, Bill Cassidy (R, Coward City) makes pathetic mewling sounds about how bad the committee is.
It is Bill Cassidy’s fault that ACIP is no longer a legitimate scientific body.
Sir, you are a fucking U.S. Senator. Impeach RFK Jr or STFU.
It is Bill Cassidy’s fault that ACIP is no longer a legitimate scientific body.
Sir, you are a fucking U.S. Senator. Impeach RFK Jr or STFU.
amidst all the insane chaos in the world, perhaps this is a palate cleanser (literally)… i just found out chewing gum is chock full of microplastics and my world is rent asunder. i quit coffee a couple months back but now i gotta quit gum too?????? what’s next???
November 23, 2025 at 7:18 AM
amidst all the insane chaos in the world, perhaps this is a palate cleanser (literally)… i just found out chewing gum is chock full of microplastics and my world is rent asunder. i quit coffee a couple months back but now i gotta quit gum too?????? what’s next???
just more reasons to support campaign finance reform. this is messed up.
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
just more reasons to support campaign finance reform. this is messed up.