Latest news with #Fauci
Mint
3 days ago
- Health
- Mint
Vinay Prasad is a Bernie Sanders acolyte in MAHA drag
Meet Vinay Prasad, a young disciple of Bernie Sanders who ranks as one of the most powerful officials in the federal government. He determines whether patients get access to many life-saving medicines. Or not. Think of him as a one-man death panel. Dr. Prasad was named by Marty Makary, the Food and Drug Administration commissioner, as head of the agency's biologics division in May, and last month as its chief medical and scientific officer. More on why he was tapped to these posts later. But it isn't an exaggeration to say that Dr. Prasad wields more power than Anthony Fauci ever did at the National Institutes of Health. Like Dr. Fauci, Dr. Prasad thinks he knows what's best for people, and that it's government's job to make it happen. 'I favor a strong regulatory state," he proudly professes. And just as Dr. Fauci slowed experimental HIV treatments during the 1980s by rigidly adhering to strict trial protocols, Dr. Prasad is now scuttling potentially life-saving therapies. In recent weeks, the FDA has rejected three therapies for debilitating diseases that have shown promise in clinical trials. The agency has also forced off the market a gene therapy that can slow the degenerative loss of muscular function in young boys with certain genetic mutations. Behold America's strong and arbitrary regulatory state at work. If you read Dr. Prasad's paper—or follow his smash-mouth Substack and feeds—the FDA's recent actions are no surprise. Dr. Prasad has long criticized the FDA for approving too many treatments that, in his view, provide only marginal benefits. He's also lambasted President Trump's first-term 'right to try" law, which lets terminally ill patients try experimental drugs not yet approved by the FDA. 'It is crucial to question whether non-curative therapies . . . are worth it," Dr. Prasad wrote in a 2021 paper about an FDA-approved cell therapy for multiple myeloma. The therapy reduced disease progression or death by half in patients with advanced cancers who hadn't responded to already approved therapies. Impressive. But Dr. Prasad complained that the treatment was pricey (then $419,500 for a course) and may 'only delay inevitable progression" in some patients. In other words, sick patients should just give up and die. Got that? In 2016 he wrote an op-ed titled 'The case for rationing: Why we should limit public spending on cancer drugs." He exalted the United Kingdom's socialized health system for restricting access to new treatments until they demonstrate a high degree of efficacy in multiple trials and that their benefits—as determined by the government—exceed their costs. Such government rationing is why survival rates for hard-to-treat cancers are much lower in the U.K. than in America—and why British patients with the financial means cross the pond to receive innovative and often life-saving treatments. Tough luck to Brits of average means. Of course, Dr. Prasad insists he really has patients' best interests at heart. Why would terminally ill patients want to waste their precious remaining time on earth schlepping to hospitals for treatments that may not cure them when they could be preparing for their deaths? That's the gist of his 2022 paper, which estimated patients with advanced cancers spend 16 more hours a month accessing and receiving novel treatments than if they accepted hospice or home palliative care. 'Time is a valuable resource for people who have cancer," the paper noted. Yes, and that's why they want to continue living. He has also argued that 'genome-informed cancer medicine"—treatments targeted based on a patient's genes or tumor mutations—'is mostly hype," no matter that such treatments have produced most recent improvements in cancer survival. Take CAR T-Cell therapies that re-engineer a patient's immune cells to target proteins on tumor cells. Such therapies can cure aggressive cancers that not long ago carried a death sentence, though Dr. Prasad has hyped their side effects. He has done the same for Sarepta Therapeutics' Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy, which the agency this month forced off the market after two patients in the advanced stages of the disease died from apparent side effects. The deaths look to have been a pretext for Dr. Prasad to deep-six the drug, which he had previously criticized as too costly for its benefits. Most treatments carry rare, life-threatening side effects, but doctors and patients can weigh their risks against their benefits. Perhaps Dr. Prasad doesn't trust people to do so any more than Dr. Fauci did. Dr. Prasad found common cause with Dr. Makary and conservatives in opposing paternalistic Covid policies including vaccine mandates and school shutdowns. But his other positions are at odds with Dr. Makary's stated support for more flexible reviews of drugs that treat rare and deadly diseases and the MAHA ethos of patient empowerment. Dr. Makary in spring 2021 lambasted the FDA for using the 'eternal excuse of safety" to pause the Johnson & Johnson Covid vaccine after a rare blood-clotting side effect cropped up, mostly in middle-aged women. 'This is a life-saving medication," he then wrote. 'What ever happened to giving people the data and letting them make their own health decisions?"
Sky News AU
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Rand Paul targets Anthony Fauci and promises he will be ‘held accountable'
US Senator Rand Paul has announced he wishes to revive his criminal referral of Dr Anthony Fauci following the Joe Biden autopen saga. The senator posted to his personal and official X accounts, indicating his initial referral that he made to the Department of Justice about Fauci. 'Today I will reissue my criminal referral of Anthony Fauci to Trump DOJ,' Paul wrote. Paul's first criminal referral to Fauci came in 2021, when the senator accused the doctor of allegedly lying to Congress about research related to the COVID-19 virus. In a separate post to X, Senator Paul asserted 'perjury is a crime' and that Dr Fauci 'must be held accountable.'
New York Post
14-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Sen. Rand Paul renews push for criminal probe of Fauci after startling Biden autopen use revealed
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul announced a long-shot bid to get the Justice Department to launch a criminal probe of Dr. Anthony Fauci over accusations that he lied to Congress, despite former President Joe Biden's preemptive pardon. Paul (R-Ky.) alleged that Fauci lied to lawmakers when he denied knowledge of US-funded coronavirus research in Wuhan, China. The re-upped criminal referral comes amid new details about how Biden's team used autopen on a swath of clemency. 'Today I will reissue my criminal referral of Anthony Fauci to Trump DOJ!' Paul declared on X Monday. 'Perjury is a crime. And Fauci must be held accountable.' Presidential pardons cannot be revoked once issued; however, Paul is banking on the seemingly unlikely chance that the courts may nullify Biden's clemency because of autopen potentially being used to sign it. Biden had issued a pardon for Fauci and a slew of other former high-ranking officials on his way out of the White House, fearing that the incoming Trump administration might target them. 4 Sen. Rand Paul previously pushed for the Justice Department to look into Dr. Anthony Fauci. AP 4 Dr. Anthony Fauci has laid low since exiting government. REUTERS But Paul's renewed push for a criminal investigation into Fauci comes in the wake of a stunning New York Times piece, which confirmed that the 46th president did not personally sign off on every name that received clemency — while simultaneously insisting, 'I made every decision.' Furthermore, emails obtained by the outlet show that then-White House chief of staff Jeff Zients approved the autopen use and that staff secretary Stefanie Feldman, who wielded the device, did so using written accounts confirming that Biden supposedly gave verbal orders to use the autopen. President Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on the validity of the documents Biden signed via autopen. The Kentucky Republican has repeatedly called on the feds to probe Fauci's May 2021 Senate testimony regarding US grants for gain-of-function research in Wuhan labs. Gain-of-function research entails risky experimentation to enhance the virality and effectiveness of viruses. 4 Former President Joe Biden insisted that he made the decisions behind the pardons he issued despite the use of autopen. AFP via Getty Images During his testimony, Fauci told Paul that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 'has not ever and does not now fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute.' However, in 2023, the since-defunct House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic divulged a batch of emails showing that Fauci acknowledged that type of risky research was happening in the Wuhan lab. That panel later concluded that Fauci was at least misleading in his testimony. After the testy May 2021 hearing, Paul later tangled with Fauci again and gave him a chance to recant his claim about gain-of-function research, but the doctor declined to do so. Lying to Congress carries penalties of up to five years behind bars and criminal fines. 4 Sen. Rand Paul has long had Dr. Anthony Fauci in his crosshairs. REUTERS Fauci has argued that the research funded 'was judged by qualified staff up and down the chain as not being gain-of-function.' Complicating the matter is the fact that scientists appear to have differences of opinion on what can be classified as gain-of-function research. Critically, Wuhan is where the earliest known cases of the COVID-19 respiratory illnesses have been traced and the Chinese city his home to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has been doing research on coronaviruses. Fauci and Paul repeatedly clashed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in fiery Senate hearings. The former National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) director officially exited that post and his role as chief medical adviser to the president at the end of 2022. The Post reached out to Paul's office for more specifics and an attorney to Fauci for comment.
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The fresh world of hell facing Anthony Fauci... as the net FINALLY closes in on 'Doctor Doom'
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Senator Rand Paul dishes on the latest in his investigation into the man who led America's COVID-19 response, Dr. . The Kentucky senator, who has grilled Fauci about the pandemic since 2021, tells the Daily Mail he is preparing to subpoena Fauci as part of an expanded Senate investigation into the origins of Covid-19 and US-funded research in , .
Economic Times
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
NYT Mini Crossword Answers and Hints, June 14: Complete guide to break down the puzzle for a quick win
The NYT Mini Crossword continues to hold its own among a suite of New York Times puzzles, providing a sharp and speedy alternative to the more expansive main crossword. With millions engaging in the daily brain workout, NYT Mini Crossword Answers have become a regular search term for those keen on maintaining their streak or seeking a quick win. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Mini: A Compact Challenge for Crossword Fans NYT Mini Crossword Hints – June 14, 2025 Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 1 Across: Research institute linked to Dr. Fauci (Ends in 'H') 4 Across: WWI in short form (Starts with 'W') 7 Across: Undergarment supported by wire (Starts with 'B') 8 Across: Famous "Star Wars" character (Ends in 'N') 9 Across: To verify or establish truth (Ends in 'M') 11 Across: A student's plea before a test (Starts with 'Q') 12 Across: Music device common in diners (Starts with 'J') 13 Across: Informal 'All set' signal (Ends in 'K') 14 Across: Prefix denoting flight or birds (Ends in 'I') 15 Across: Means of transit (Starts with 'V') 16 Across: Nicolas Cage's nickname (Starts with 'N') 17 Across: Campfire remnants (Ends in 'H') 18 Across: Channel known for documentaries (Ends in 'O') 1 Down: Broadcaster of 'Saturday Night Live' (Ends in 'C') 2 Down: Another name for the Haudenosaunee (Starts with 'I') 3 Down: Jewish celebration lasting over a week (Starts with 'H') 4 Down: Archaic slang for something spectacular (Ends in 'G') 5 Down: Notable war-based film genre (Ends in 'E') 6 Down: Geographic reference south of California (Starts with 'I') 10 Down: Part of a giant's chant (Starts with 'F') 12 Down: Programming language with coffee icon (Ends in 'A') NYT Mini Crossword Answers – June 14, 2025 1 Across: NIH 4 Across: WWI 7 Across: BRA 8 Across: HAN 9 Across: CONFIRM 11 Across: QUIZME 12 Across: JUKEBOX 13 Across: AOK 14 Across: AVI 15 Across: VIA 16 Across: NIC 17 Across: ASH 18 Across: GEO 1 Down: NBC 2 Down: IROQUOIS 3 Down: HANUKKAH 4 Down: WHIZBANG 5 Down: WARMOVIE 6 Down: INMEXICO 10 Down: FIE 12 Down: JAVA FAQs What is The New York Times Mini Crossword? When is the Mini Crossword released each day? The New York Times' daily dose of linguistic challenge continued today with the latest edition of its popular quick-play puzzle, The Mini Crossword. For enthusiasts of brevity and brainpower, Saturday's grid offered a refreshing mix of cultural references, historical callbacks, and wordplay designed to tease even the quickest at 12:30 p.m. daily — unlike other NYT puzzles like Wordle and Connections, which refresh at midnight — The Mini Crossword has carved its niche among time-pressed solvers and casual players alike. If you've been seeking NYT Mini Crossword Answers for June 14, 2025, or simply looking to double-check your hunches, read on for full hints and final The New York Times Crossword remains a staple for seasoned solvers, The Mini appeals to those seeking a condensed yet rewarding word puzzle. With just a handful of clues both across and down, the game provides a quick brain teaser often rich with topical or playful puzzle featured nods to U.S. history, popular culture, and even programming language references. And for those who got stuck, timely clues and contextual hints helped illuminate the right revealing the NYT Mini Crossword Answers, here are the hints, as mentioned in a report by Beebom, for those trying to crack the puzzle on their own:Here are the confirmed solutions for today's puzzle. Players wishing to avoid spoilers should pause NYT Mini Crossword is a daily, compact version of the traditional crossword puzzle. Designed for quick solving, it features a small grid—usually 5x5—ideal for players looking for a brief yet mentally stimulating Wordle or Connections, which refresh at midnight, the Mini Crossword is released at 12:30 p.m. ET daily.
