MAGA loves Darwin after all (Do Not Resuscitate #394)

Trump's base is notoriously reluctant to endorse evolutionary theory, but it turns out they like the idea when it comes to providing healthcare for U.S. citizens. It's survival of the fittest out there, so if you're not sturdy enough to withstand infectious diseases or too fat, maybe you should just step aside and let others take your place. Do Not Resuscitate #394 highlights the ongoing destruction of our national healthcare and research infrastructure while the GOP-led Congress mostly cheers the end of its own Article I prerogatives.

Here are all the links to the articles discussed:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Mehmet Oz, Brooke Rollins & Scott Turner, “Trump leadership: If you want welfare and can work, you must,” New York Times, May 14, 2025

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/opinion/trump-welfare-medicaid-requirements.html

Sam Whitehead, Phil Galewitz & Katheryn Houghton, “States push Medicaid work rules, but few programs help enrollees find job,” KFF Health News/NPR, Apr 15, 2025 https://bit.ly/3SDtggI

Janie Har, “Judge pauses much of Trump administration’s massive downsizing of federal agencies,” Associated Press, May 10, 2025 https://bit.ly/3GXtfSn

Annie Waldman, “Trump’s NIH axed research grants even after a judge blocked the cuts,” ProPublica, May 7, 2025 https://bit.ly/4kqS8Et

Jericka Duncan, “West Virginia coal miners lose black lung screenings after Trump slashes worker safety agency NIOSH,” CBS News, May 7, 2025 https://bit.ly/3GS4SFL

John Raby, “Judge orders restoration of jobs in health program for West Virginia coal miners,” Associated Press, May 13, 2025 https://bit.ly/45iEEGe

Alice Miranda Ollstein & Sophie Gardner, “RFK Jr., DOGE gutted legally required offices. Courts may undo it all,” Politico, May 11, 2025 https://bit.ly/3GS6nDB

Sandee LaMotte, “Generations of Americans gave Harvard biological samples that may soon be lost due to Trump funding cuts,” CNN, May 8, 2025 https://bit.ly/3S3UqgH

Alexander Tin, “HHS revokes some layoff notices, including to 9/11 program,” CBS News, May 6, 2025 https://bit.ly/3Fbg0wI

Various authors, “The first 100 days of the second Trump administration have brought a number of healthcare reversals. Here are 10 of them,” MedPage Today, Apr 29, 2025 https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/115344

Gregg Gonsalves, “Inside the bloodbath at the NIH,” The Nation, May 8, 2025 https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/nih-cuts-destruction/

Walker Bragman, “Trump’s new surgeon general pick took social Darwinist view of pandemic,” Important Context, May 8, 2025 https://bit.ly/4j5DBNk

Sophie Gardner, “The MAGA backlash to Trump’s MAHA surgeon general pick,” Politico, May 8, 2025 https://bit.ly/3F8ECq4

Paul Offit, “RFK Jr’s anti-vaccine beliefs are a religious conviction,” Beyond the Noise, May 7, 2025 https://bit.ly/4312YLx

Angus Chen & Jason Mast, “Despite its cancer-fighting mission, NCI starts to feel Trump administration budget ax,” STAT, May 7, 2025 https://bit.ly/45bhd1x

Angus Liu, “Trump signs executive order to boost US drug manufacturing amid threat of tariffs,” Fierce Healthcare, May 6, 2025 https://bit.ly/44Hl2vw

Rachel Cohrs Zhang, “GOP eyes Pharma tax hike, nixing drug price deal for Trump bill,” Bloomberg, May 8, 2025 https://archive.ph/59Pwg#selection-1205.0-1747.254

Tina Reed & Maya Goldman, “Trump’s executive order to lower drug prices may not do much of that,” Axios, May 12, 2025 https://bit.ly/43wkUh5

Jeremy Faust, “Vinay Prasad speaks to CBER staff: Which Prasad showed up?” MedPage Today, May 8, 2025 https://bit.ly/4dfZiZI

Bram Sable-Smith, “As Republicans eye sweeping Medicaid cuts, Missouri offers a preview,” KFF Health News/States Newsroom, May 7, 2025 https://bit.ly/43fpdft

Patricia Kime, “VA secretary defends staffing cuts, contract cancellations in heated Senate hearing,” Military.com, May 06, 2025 https://bit.ly/437Ws4c

Defend Public Health, “A message of concern from health professionals,” May, 2025 https://bit.ly/3YMDuiv

You can get my full written digest at timfrasca.substack.com