Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Feds Investigate Mass. Women's College For Allowing 'Biological Men'
CNN: Department Of Education Opens Investigation Into Smith College For Admitting Trans Women
In the Trump administration’s latest move to limit trans rights, the Department of Education has launched a Title IX investigation into Smith College, an all-women’s college in western Massachusetts, for admitting trans women. (Sottlle, 5/4)
More health news about the Trump administration —
The New York Times: Kennedy Starts A Push To Help Americans Quit Antidepressants
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday announced several initiatives intended to rein in the prescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, the most widely prescribed class of antidepressants, which he has described as exceptionally difficult to quit. Mr. Kennedy has long signaled that reducing the use of psychiatric drugs would be an aim of his tenure, but Monday’s announcements were the first significant step in that direction. (Barry, 5/4)
The New York Times: Soil At D.C. Golf Course Where East Wing Debris Was Dumped Contains Toxic Metals
Soil at a public golf course in Washington where the Trump administration dumped debris from the demolition of the White House East Wing has tested positive for lead, chromium and other toxic metals, according to data released by the National Park Service. The data, which the Park Service published on its website last week, showed relatively low levels of these contaminants in the soil at East Potomac Golf Links. (Joselow, 5/4)
The Texas Tribune: An Unreported ICE Killing Of An American Shattered 2 Texas Families
The last words Joshua Orta heard his childhood best friend utter were “I’m sorry.” Then Ruben Ray Martinez, a slender 23-year-old, slumped back in the driver’s seat. An officer had fired repeatedly through the open window, at least one bullet piercing Ruben’s heart. (Kriel, 5/4)
Bloomberg: US Health-Aid Deal With Zambia Stalls On Privacy, Mineral Access Demands
Zambia’s talks with the US over a new $2 billion health-aid deal stalled because the proposed agreement included data sharing that would violate citizens’ privacy rights and was conditional on first agreeing to preferential access to mineral resources, the nation’s foreign minister said. The inclusion of the terms related to data sharing were unacceptable and “unconscionable,” Mulambo Haimbe said in a statement Monday. He also said it was concerning that the health pact depended on the governments signing a critical minerals agreement favoring US companies. (Hill and Mitimingi, 5/4)
ProPublica: Prosecutors Had A Drugs-For-Votes Scheme 'Locked Up.' Under Trump, They Were Told Not To Pursue Charges.
Before the 2024 election, federal prosecutors were "full steam ahead" looking into how a prison gang in Puerto Rico gave drugs to inmates if they voted for a GOP gubernatorial candidate. After Trump’s election, the investigation evaporated. (Rutledge, 5/5)
On the gun violence epidemic —
The Washington Post: Gunfire Between Secret Service And Armed Person Briefly Locks Down White House
The White House was briefly locked down Monday afternoon after a U.S. Secret Service officer exchanged gunfire with an armed individual nearby, the agency said. The person, whose identity was unknown, was shot about 3:30 p.m. at 15th Street SW and Independence Avenue SW near the Washington Monument shortly after Vice President JD Vance passed by in a motorcade, according to the Secret Service. Uniformed officers approached the individual, who tried to flee on foot before firing at the agents, Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew C. Quinn said at a news conference. They fired back, and the person was struck and taken to a hospital. Gunfire from the person struck a nearby juvenile, who did not sustain life-threatening injuries, Quinn said. He said it wasn’t clear whom the person may have been targeting. (Solano, Thompson and Wang, 5/4)
