A Path Forward to Save American Bio-Medical Research
May 16, 2025 1:26 p.m.Over the past four months, I’ve spoken to dozens of biomedical researchers either at NIH, other government grant-making agencies or at the various American research institutions which receive U.S. government grants. Over that time, I’ve developed at least a very rudimentary understanding of the nitty-gritty mechanics of the grant-making relationship between agencies and research institutions. What I’ve learned is a fascinating and critically important dynamic operating just beneath the surface of theWhite House’s whole war on biomedical research specifically and universities generally. The world of biomedical research actually has immense latent political power, albeit largely untapped. Researchers have a much stronger hand politically and the White House’s position, in terms of public opinion, is comparatively weak.
The problem is that the world of biomedical research has close to no experience operating in a political context and especially in the context of mass politics. Much of the world of biomedical research operates through channels of review and funding connecting a few government grant-making institutions to the nationwide archipelago of research institutions and universities. Operating within those channels is so basic to the mores and experience of the research and university world that researchers have in many cases kept trying to operate within them (rebooting them, checking them for unknown clogs) long after the White House has broken them and moved on. The White House has relied on researchers’ unfamiliarity with political fights, using their sole reliance on bureaucratic channels of funding and review — which the universities and the federal government set up together going on a century ago — against them. The only other pathways through which researchers tend to assert themselves are professional organizations, very non-mass politics entities which, in ordinary times, would speak to the relevant members of Congress.
They say when you have a hammer everything looks like a nail. The world of research is to a great degree still stuck in a channel of path dependence. Like a great flanking maneuver that Ulysses S. Grant might have appreciated, what is required is to pull up stakes from those channels the White House has already shattered and move to the field of mass public opinion. Make the decision to meet them on ground that is far more favorable and where a decisive victory is possible. The future of biomedical research in the United States comes down to a race to see whether the biomedical research community can mobilize politically, access that vast but latent political power, before the White House can do enough sustained damage to make the whole question moot.
Let’s start with the premise, the guiding assumptions.
Basic and applied research generates huge dividends for a society. But its immediate and salient relevance to the average voter varies greatly. Theoretical physics is very worth funding and has many real world applications. But its relevance to — and just as importantly, its political traction with — a middle income couple in your average community where he’s a bus driver and she’s a nurse may not be crystal clear. Yet everyone knows a family member or loved one or friend stricken with cancer, or conditions tied to aging and dementia, heart disease, or any number of other conditions against which medical science is making steady progress. The point is so obvious it barely merits arguing: People fear death and disease. They look to science for hope of cures and some promise of long and robust lives. For two or three generations, that hope has been tied to researchers, somewhere, perhaps operating with something akin to magic but consistently producing new and wonderful things.
Rest of it at the link.
I had a conversation with a college friend who lives overseas, but, was in the country and stopped by to see me.
She worked for NGO’s, and had a lot of dealings with USAID in the earlier part of her career.
She understood my rage and anger at the thought of the hundreds of thousands of people globally that will be killed by closing USAID.
We spoke for awhile about the HIV Drug Program. How we remember the ‘ bad old days’. How horrible it was, and that THIS program was something this country did that it could be proud of, and the success was obvious.
Our scientific research benefits THE ENTIRE WORLD.
Not only are we good at it, but, we have been WORLDWIDE LEADERS.
Makes absolutely no sense to dismantle it the way that this Administration is trying to do.
Candidly Tiff (@tify330) posted at 11:35 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
This poll is unsurprising but embarrassing for Democratic Leaders as a majority of DEMS said they are not strong and can’t get things done. The Dem brand comes off as soft. How do we fix that?
Tim Walz and Wes Moore gave the answer in SC this weekend 🧵
https://t.co/nm8F1vSHRj
(https://x.com/tify330/status/1929215360659595373?t=SGy7HiKr7cEsofej-MIskw&s=03)
Candidly Tiff (@tify330) posted at 11:36 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Tim Walz said yesterday we need to be on the same level of fight. Fixing the Dems problem is about perception. We cave too easy and too damn nice. Bully #TACOTrump back
https://t.co/y6y2bSgA4T
(https://x.com/tify330/status/1929215363536867339?t=_26vks3iX0CF30J5qfPNLA&s=03)
Candidly Tiff (@tify330) posted at 11:36 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Wes Moore said we need action we need to be the party of “YES” and “NOW”
(https://x.com/tify330/status/1929215366149841179?t=2iZu4jz23o9ULn4kVde6Gw&s=03)
Pasi Paroinen (@Inkvisiit) posted at 11:02 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
I think it goes without saying that today’s Ukrainian strikes against Russian air forces are impressive and devastating. While the exact scale of damage will likely be confirmed with satellite footage over the coming days, it is quite likely that considerable portion of Russian
(https://x.com/Inkvisiit/status/1929207039537889432?t=O7vIqeerjWFUugPCTm1V-g&s=03)
Lisa Glass (@LMplusG) posted at 11:16 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
People are always telling Democrats what to do or what not to do… Here’s what I think! Stop accepting Republican framing of every issue. If we start a debate from THEIR framing, we’ve already lost. Have a discussion about the actual issue based on facts– not Republican framing,
(https://x.com/LMplusG/status/1929210348915364096?t=hzh3fCk4XqvFh8uRa_TFOw&s=03)
In Illinois, there is a 2 week period allowed for Mail Ballots to be returned, as long as they are post-marked by Election Day.
Democracy Docket (@DemocracyDocket) posted at 11:59 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Trump and the GOP are trying to eliminate post-Election Day grace periods for mail-in ballots, a practice currently in place in 16 states and D.C. This effort could disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters.
https://t.co/CXuJ3JYg4g
(https://x.com/DemocracyDocket/status/1929221398582403223?t=89fVdmNaHzcs1BBw7itp3A&s=03)
Mike Morton (@TheMikeMorton) posted at 7:50 AM on Sat, May 31, 2025:
These are not the criminals, rapists and thugs they promised to deport. They are trying to meet the quota of 3,000 deportations per day and they don’t care who it is.
Any filthy MAGAts defending this are the scum of the earth!
(https://x.com/TheMikeMorton/status/1928796331499303329?t=O-Mq8XrGSZk6MJWn_m3WEA&s=03)
EssenViews (@essenviews) posted at 2:22 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Insane moment Elon Musk ‘SHOVED’ Trump’s treasury secretary Scott Bessent during screaming match. ‘Scott Bessent called him out and said, ‘You promised us a trillion dollars (in cuts), and now you’re at like $100 billion, and nobody can find anything, what are you
(https://x.com/essenviews/status/1929076131602575748?t=vcF851cGDptJPXP3hXtBYQ&s=03)
emptywheel (check) (@emptywheel) posted at 8:33 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Predictably, @FBIDirectorKash is too insecure in his masculinity to have women managers at FBI, and won’t suck it up to keep America safe.
https://t.co/1IjCyvf3nR https://t.co/87oluuTQWV
(https://x.com/emptywheel/status/1929169334686908706?t=Kg15rFM61l0lnfdQNnJ6SA&s=03)
LIAR
Acyn (@Acyn) posted at 9:21 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Welker: Mr. Speaker, if the big, beautiful bill, does add to the debt, will President Trump own that?
Johnson: It’s not going to add to the debt
Welker: The JCT, the committee for a responsible federal budget, the tax foundation, the Penn Wharton budget model all say this will add trillions of dollars to the deficit. Are you really telling the people it will not add one penny to the debt and deficit? You can guarantee that?
Johnson: I am telling you, this will reduce the deficit
https://t.co/bOJrLlEgZW
(https://x.com/Acyn/status/1929181545614766201?t=7qFbXXSk783l9v0oZil3Sw&s=03)
Brent Baker 🇺🇲🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) posted at 8:49 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
George Stephanopoulos opened @ThisWeekABC in high-dungeon over presidential corruption: “This unprecedented money making by a sitting President and his family summarized by critics like @TheAtlantic’s David Frum: ‘Nothing like this has been attempted or even imagined in the history of the American presidency,’ he writes. ‘Throw away the history books, discard feeble comparisons to scandals of the past….The brazenness resembles nothing seen in any earlier White House. This is American corruption on the scale of a post-Soviet republic or a post-colonial African dictatorship.’”
https://t.co/XAkW8xGyA7
(https://x.com/BrentHBaker/status/1929173522804265023?t=Z_FCa6ZEXBg6enw0ExPFeA&s=03)
ProPublica (@propublica) posted at 0:00 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
“This is very much connected to the rise of authoritarianism that we’ve seen across the country,” said the executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. “They can’t win fairly, so they’re trying to rewrite the rules to get their way.”
https://t.co/fXsm66Kh8N
(https://x.com/propublica/status/1929221452831535285?t=f8xLp0rsTc-3I8_ioxj56Q&s=03)
James F. Love IV (@JamesFLoveIV) posted at 10:29 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Breaking:
Lockheed-Martin Reels as $2 Trillion Dollars in F-35 Sales Cancelled by Allies Due to Trump Policies.
https://t.co/GN717EZmxX
(https://x.com/JamesFLoveIV/status/1929198634383380822?t=z4hdPPklXIjRco3jTASVXg&s=03)
TrumpFile.org (@TrumpFile) posted at 3:38 PM on Sat, May 31, 2025:
JUST ADDED: The State Dept. is planning to eliminate 45% of its operations by July 1, with an emphasis on entities that protect our national security.
https://t.co/QpRPbn5LvS
(https://x.com/TrumpFile/status/1928914070834491839?t=0rzJ_NA-HuWCD8lRj_Jr6Q&s=03)
Luis Moreno (@LuisMorenolg) posted at 4:19 PM on Sat, May 31, 2025:
If you put Putin himself in charge of the State Department, he wouldn’t do this much damage. Very big and very bad things are going to happen sooner than later.
(https://x.com/LuisMorenolg/status/1928924371474645189?t=Lkhz3DgGHJXeyoh_WIfLog&s=03)
Los Angeles Times (@latimes) posted at 8:33 PM on Fri, May 30, 2025:
Gov. Newsom proposes ‘asset test’ for low-income and disabled Medi-Cal applicants. What does that mean? https://t.co/gVdCtUCppY
(https://x.com/latimes/status/1928625744759898339?t=j3_QCSA_Ks7PQ9sgFlNgsQ&s=03)
Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) posted at 1:39 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
We need a new term for what is happening under Trump and with the Republican Party. They are mindlessly blowing up government and government services not to save money but to destroy. It’s nihilism mixed with autocracy. Call it nihilocracy.
(https://x.com/NormOrnstein/status/1929246332906049908?t=n4XvPtrCjtg9N2vAqsn2cg&s=03)
LongTime🤓FirstTime👨💻 (@LongTimeHistory) posted at 7:09 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
ICE deports wrong immigrant—just 28 minutes after judge ordered them not to.
Trump DOJ admits to wrongfully deporting yet another man to El Salvador—making it the 4th known case.
They are blaming it on “a confluence of administrative errors” and “inadvertent administrative oversights.”
A federal appeals court ordered the government to keep Jordin Melgar-Salmeron in the country.
Despite their assurances, less than half an hour later he was on a plane to a supermax prison in El Salvador.
#DemVoice1 #wtpBLUE #DemsUnited
https://t.co/lr6qM3uSIz
(https://x.com/LongTimeHistory/status/1929329562669699474?t=R8ozDi2ZfZyyOhmOm8qP-w&s=03)
Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) posted at 11:01 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
🚨 NEW: Bill Clinton defends President Biden against the smears:
“I saw President Biden not very long ago and I thought he was in good shape.”
He added he’s never seen any cognitive decline.
“I thought he was a good president.”
Thank you, President Clinton, for standing up https://t.co/z9DsSSV4TT
(https://x.com/ChrisDJackson/status/1929206742811807919?t=d4uhivEDlnuGzm2SHiYWQg&s=03)
Kenny BooYah! 🖖🏾 (@KwikWarren) posted at 1:58 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Did Walter Cronkite ever say he despised a political party? Why is Jake Tapper saying he despises the Democratic Party? And why is no one—especially the suits at @CNN—calling him out4saying that? And why was someone who hates Democrats allowed to moderate a presidential debate?!
(https://x.com/KwikWarren/status/1929251132984963527?t=Qh0BJD_uDaa7_56h0VYmgg&s=03)
Referring to Jake Tapper:
Tiff4Mahogany_44 🇺🇸 🇺🇦 NATO MEMBER (@tiff4mahogany) posted at 1:05 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
You got no business equally despising Democrats. The former president of the other party attempted to use his supporters to hurt or maim his VP who wasn’t going to oppose electors, 1 side used fake electors, 1 side elected a felon, and 1 side refused to hold him accountable.
(https://x.com/tiff4mahogany/status/1929237826022814131?t=K_4epiW_RRFE-KVHAXexEQ&s=03)
Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) posted at 0:22 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
“The Trump administration is trying to intimidate members of Congress,” Mr. Nadler said in an interview on Saturday. “They’re behaving like fascists.” https://t.co/60ULDAHWyg via @NYTimes
(https://x.com/RonBrownstein/status/1929045775918707145?t=XbPWV50P_gwIYODVYsYzVg&s=03)
Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) posted at 7:26 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
I BLAME THE ENABLERS!!!
This crackpot in the White House is getting behind a theory that Biden was killed and replaced by a body double.
The elected Republican ENABLERS in Congress should step up today to defend America from him. They won’t. Why?
https://t.co/MbSgob0qvV
(https://x.com/fred_guttenberg/status/1929152650416631918?t=tSolvhxcHii9cv_FlEz9rg&s=03)
Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) posted at 9:20 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Mike Johnson blatantly lies on Meet the Press: “You can underscore what I’m about to tell you — there are no Medicaid cuts in the big beautiful bill … what we’re doing is an important, and frankly heroic thing.” https://t.co/2TCkTtbBYV
(https://x.com/atrupar/status/1929181187609706719?t=lsEx-xhABCY65Oe3vHwMNA&s=03)
Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) posted at 4:57 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
There’s only one reason USAID was cut
USAID was instrumental in ending apartheid in South Africa
(https://x.com/acnewsitics/status/1929115050582634547?t=Dy99k5Nhsddbvy-DX3KfOA&s=03)
Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@SenatorWarnock) posted at 2:24 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Huge premium hikes are coming.
The Big Ugly Bill fails to extend tax credits that lower health insurance premiums.
Your premiums could go up by 75% or more.
All because Washington Republicans chose to put partisan politics ahead of working families.
(https://x.com/SenatorWarnock/status/1929257700451373212?t=Fz3p-riudszHY4oNLsArzA&s=03)
𝔗𝔯𝔲𝔱𝔥 𝔐𝔞𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔰 (@politicsusa46) posted at 2:02 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
This reporting by MSNBC should come as no surprise to anyone. I suspect that Hegseth and other cabinet members use Signal as direct circumvention of the need to comply with the need to document conversations and actions.
They know that once they are forced out of office there will be no trace of illegal activities that took place. Aside from being illegal it represents a catastrophic security risk.
These criminals know exactly what they are doing.
🎥 TikTok – vm.tiktok.com/ZNdBDVQPp/
https://t.co/kfMwoIG1lz
(https://x.com/politicsusa46/status/1929252263068864864?t=qIIsDoLpjdfuk3PWJ6dl0A&s=03)
Melanie D’Arrigo (@DarrigoMelanie) posted at 9:03 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Vought is lying.
60-70% of Project 2025’s executive action proposals have been initiated or implemented — like gutting education and environmental laws.
30-40% is currently proposed as legislation — gutting healthcare, banking deregulations, voter suppression, and more.
(https://x.com/DarrigoMelanie/status/1929176897604264254?t=FPoJCHDzSmVsow5qjmlEYA&s=03)
Samuel Sinyangwe (@samswey) posted at 3:48 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Democrats don’t need a better relationship with Big Tech. They need to make it clear that if they’re elected, Palantir will no longer exist and Musk will never receive a government contract ever again. They need to be stronger against Big Tech, not building bridges with those godforsaken companies.
(https://x.com/samswey/status/1929278878729785501?t=nlUkvRj1X0f-_EpcQSkdHw&s=03)
Suzie rizzio (@Suzierizzo1) posted at 0:34 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
The Guardrails are off after Federal agents handcuffed a Jerry Nadler aid inside his Congressional office claiming they were conducting a security check which was all BS! The aid was later un handcuffed since they were innocent. This was all a scare tactic they say won’t work.😡 https://t.co/QsyhxfzAxg
(https://x.com/Suzierizzo1/status/1929230117617709341?t=tOzaaGvylYiytoygov3b_Q&s=03)
The United States versus Elon R. Musk (@Needle_of_Arya) posted at 3:13 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
whenever white people “despise” Democrats, it almost always comes down to race; the white person in question is mad because Democrats don’t immediately hate Black people
(https://x.com/Needle_of_Arya/status/1929270160571130164?t=o9cmXrcoe8SBmignsz9igA&s=03)
LongTime🤓FirstTime👨💻 (@LongTimeHistory) posted at 7:09 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
ICE deports wrong immigrant—just 28 minutes after judge ordered them not to.
Trump DOJ admits to wrongfully deporting yet another man to El Salvador—making it the 4th known case.
They are blaming it on “a confluence of administrative errors” and “inadvertent administrative oversights.”
A federal appeals court ordered the government to keep Jordin Melgar-Salmeron in the country.
Despite their assurances, less than half an hour later he was on a plane to a supermax prison in El Salvador.
#DemVoice1 #wtpBLUE #DemsUnited
https://t.co/lr6qM3uSIz
(https://x.com/LongTimeHistory/status/1929329562669699474?t=R8ozDi2ZfZyyOhmOm8qP-w&s=03)
Don Winslow (@donwinslow) posted at 4:07 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Pay attention.
The fact that Ukraine planned that operation for 18 months and executed it perfectly tells you 3 things:
1. Russia has no one spies Zelensky’s inner circle.
2. Ukraine does not trust Trump or US intelligence and told them nothing.
3. Ukraine can win this war.
(https://x.com/donwinslow/status/1929283646172647653?t=csZ-Oe0m4mOJ9bPwFZN6LA&s=03)
Candidly Tiff (@tify330) posted at 4:26 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
When only 39% of Democrat respondents think Democratic Party leadership is not strong enough that requires self-reflection and thats the point of polls. Dems need to figure that out.
85% pf Republicans on the other hand think their leadership is strong https://t.co/afxxoYYXaI
(https://x.com/tify330/status/1929288377515360716?t=2RuB0ZU2b_RDcu3_qUX5xA&s=03)
Candidly Tiff (@tify330) posted at 4:18 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
People can choose to not listen to, distrust or ignore polls but that CNN reflects what I am hearing from Democrats on the ground. They don’t think Dem Leadership is strong enough to battle #TACOTrump. Schumer has thankfully stayed off TV.
(https://x.com/tify330/status/1929286400978895082?t=_U_faeAVSY9wRg5DAYdiVg&s=03)
LongTime🤓FirstTime👨💻 (@LongTimeHistory) posted at 4:55 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Louisiana Republicans pass ban on “chemtrails”—say government is using planes to manipulate weather.
Bill’s sponsor says, “I’ve seen the documents with at least nine federal agencies.”
What chemicals are they spraying?
“There is a few, some with long words I can’t pronounce,” said State Rep. Kimberly Landry Coates.
An amendment also passed—requiring any “chemtrail” sightings to be reported directly to the Louisiana Air National Guard.
SB46 passed the House by a vote of 58-32.
#DemVoice1 #wtpBLUE #DemsUnited
https://t.co/zMAOwlxFvh
(https://x.com/LongTimeHistory/status/1929295654297436276?t=MmGqNgjrJ_CQwB0hcXdSoA&s=03)
Kenny BooYah! 🖖🏾 (@KwikWarren) posted at 1:25 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
I watched this with my mom because she always watches CBS Sunday Morning. Bill Clinton answered the questions based on first hand experience with&observations of Joe Biden. Too bad people would rather believe unnamed sources. Props to Bill&Hillary for having Joe’s back.
(https://x.com/KwikWarren/status/1929242924761415952?t=sgfauZjXdoUaTFyUPcDVPQ&s=03)
Becky of Blackbird Pond 🧸🧸🧸 (@RainbowMojo26) posted at 0:13 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
The same assholes who ignore the resumes of Hillary Clinton clinton and Kamala Harris want you to believe that a lazy grifting shithead has worked harder than anyone for our rights with no evidence. Fuck Bernie Sanders and fuck you lying bxtches.
(https://x.com/RainbowMojo26/status/1929224763156713872?t=naL0r37XXtRwf-FGWwwLHw&s=03)
Don Winslow (@donwinslow) posted at 2:30 PM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
Jake Tapper’s show The Lead just hit a 10-year ratings low, averaging a paltry 525K viewers in May 2025, down 25% from last year.
Tapper has lost several MILLION viewers since he began.
What’s next 200,000 viewers…?
(https://x.com/donwinslow/status/1929259312662073520?t=GjeaJsWyR1N2fNDwWL_0Ow&s=03)
The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) posted at 9:03 AM on Sun, Jun 01, 2025:
TODAY: Trump’s budget guy @russvought lies 🤥 that nobody will lose Medicaid after these deep cuts, and claims Trump’s agenda is not Project 2025 — which he wrote.
(He also downplays the sickening Ernst “We’re all gonna die” quote and calls her constituents “astroturfed”) https://t.co/xkv3lEOpPR
(https://x.com/TheTNHoller/status/1929177006719082625?t=0GiYzSBzUaywDF29Jsbdsg&s=03)
Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) posted at 4:12 PM on Sat, May 31, 2025:
Ever notice how the more educated someone is, the less likely they are to fall for Trump’s nonsense?
Harvard students just cheered as their university announced it’s suing Trump.
When knowledge shows up, the con falls apart. https://t.co/bh4SjRhjJr
(https://x.com/allenanalysis/status/1928922578271211900?t=rpUcqOwW48R_5aGmEQvnDA&s=03)
Got addicted to watching a new series on Netflix:
DEPT. Q
It was so good👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Good Morning, Everyone😊😊😊