Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: RFK Jr.’s War On SSRIs Could Cost Lives; Changing The Food Pyramid Won't Stop The Health Crisis
While his war on vaccines may be getting more attention, health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is coming for another important medical tool: antidepressants. In November, he posted on X that the CDC is “finally confronting the long-taboo question of whether SSRIs and other psychoactive drugs contribute to mass violence.” We fear that in 2026, he may turn his rhetoric into action. (Stephen B. Soumerai and Christine Y. Lu, 1/7)
Serious question: Do you know anyone who consults the food pyramid before they decide what to eat? I do not! Honestly, the last time I dedicated any brain cells to it was in fifth-grade home ec class. (Jessica Karl, 1/7)
If there is one thing to strongly object to about these guidelines, it’s that they are likely to be hard for many people to follow. (Dr. Emily Oster, 1/8)
Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein told the editorial board that Massachusetts is continuing to base its policies, including school immunization requirements, on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ vaccine schedule, which includes both those vaccines. (1/8)
Simple interventions can make a big difference. (Shira Schoenberg, 1/5)
