FDA chief resigns after Trump admin forced approval of fruity e-cigs
Makary reportedly spent his year bucking Trump admin and making industry enemies.
Beth Mole
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Beth Mole
Senior Health Reporter
beth.mole@meincmagazine.com
Beth is Ars Technica’s Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Before becoming a science writer and journalist, she conducted post-doctoral research on drug development and antibiotic resistance. Now, with over a decade of experience reporting on life sciences and biomedical research, she specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes. Before joining Ars in 2015, her stories were featured in publications such as Nature, Science, The Scientist, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Science News. In 2014, her work was honored by the DC Science Writers Association. She currently resides in the Raleigh, NC area, where she runs, bakes, decorates cakes, and builds Lego and train sets with her family. You can find her on Bluesky @bethmariem.bsky.social.
Recent stories by
Beth Mole
Passengers from hantavirus ship arrive in US; 3 people in biocontainment
A US passenger tested “mildly positive,” but WHO is calling it “inconclusive” for now.
Beth Mole
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Trump reportedly plans to fire FDA Commissioner Marty Makary
The plan isn’t final and could change, but his ouster would be no surprise.
Beth Mole
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135
The unprecedented and deadly cruise ship hantavirus outbreak, explained
“This is not COVID,” and other reasons why risk to the public is currently low.
Beth Mole
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113
FDA vaccine studies censored by Trump admin after finding benefits of shots
FDA has suppressed studies on COVID-19 vaccines and Shingrix, a shingles vaccine.
Beth Mole
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114
RFK Jr. plans to curb antidepressants, which he falsely compares to heroin
Kennedy has made—and continues to make—many false claims about SSRIs.
Beth Mole
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316
Man dies covered in necrotic lesions after amoebas eat him alive
Doctors suspect three factors, each unremarkable on its own, contributed to his fate.
Beth Mole
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Trump nominates Fox News doctor to be the next surgeon general
Trump lashes out at Cassidy while announcing his new nomination.
Beth Mole
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Most Read
RFK Jr. appeals ruling that wiped out his vaccine advisory panel
There was uncertainty about whether Kennedy would fight or simply try an end run.
Beth Mole
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Florida Republicans reject plan to weaken childhood vaccine requirements
DeSantis had called for a special session to take up the proposed changes.
Beth Mole
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Flesh-eating bacteria devour man’s arm and leg in just three days
When doctors saw him, his limbs were discolored and crackling.
Beth Mole
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130
National Science Board eviscerated; Trump admin fires all 22 members
Members had planned to release report that US is ceding scientific ground to China.
Beth Mole
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259
Europe—not US—first to authorize Moderna’s combo mRNA flu-COVID vaccine
Amid RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine agenda, Moderna withdrew its FDA application last year.
Beth Mole
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162
In rare chickenpox case, itchy blisters mushroom into large, rubbery nodules
Treatment options are tricky. The teen opted to live with the masses.
Beth Mole
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RFK Jr.’s rejection of germ theory debunked in Senate hearing
Kennedy falsely argues that vaccines did little to lower childhood deaths.
Beth Mole
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263
RFK Jr. won’t back CDC director on vaccines as agency scraps positive data
Kennedy’s tesimony sets up another clash over vaccines with next CDC director.
Beth Mole
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134
Absurd study suggests eating fruits and vegetables leads to cancer
Experts point out a series of flaws, including small size and no control group.
Beth Mole
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180
Trump picks qualified, normal health leader to head CDC; experts still cautious
She’s well qualified but will need to navigate RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine agenda.
Beth Mole
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185
RFK Jr. forces FDA to reconsider 12 unproven peptides after 2023 ban
There doesn’t seem to be new safety or efficacy data, but Kennedy touts them anyway.
Beth Mole
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89
Florida surgeon charged with killing man after removing liver instead of spleen
It wasn’t the first time the surgeon cut out the wrong organ.
Beth Mole
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301
Americans ask AI for health care. Hospitals think the answer is more chatbots.
Do you trust AI chatbots for health advice? What about one in your patient portal?
Beth Mole
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157
Measles takes a plane to Idaho, which has worst vaccination rate in US
In the 2024-2025 school year, only 78.5% of kindergartners had measles vaccination.
Beth Mole
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214
RFK Jr. rewrites CDC panel’s charter, opening door to anti-vaccine quacks
ACIP’s charter now full of anti-vaccine terms and welcomes fringe groups to CDC.
Beth Mole
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CDC study shows COVID shot benefits; Trump official blocks release
Study found shots cut urgent care and hospitalization by about 50% in healthy adults.
Beth Mole
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100
Trump admin makes sweeping request for medical records of federal workers
The unprecedented proposal would give the Trump admin access to doctors’ notes.
Beth Mole
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203
After court loss, RFK Jr. gives himself more power over CDC vaccine panel
The charter renewal gives Kennedy broad authority to pick anyone for the panel.
Beth Mole
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RFK Jr. wants Americans to use peptides that were banned over safety risks
The FDA is reportedly planning to allow production of 14 previously banned peptides.
Beth Mole
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172
Water utility announces it’s ditching fluoride—then reveals it did so years ago
The water utility highlighted unsubstantiated health concerns.
Beth Mole
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262
Outbreak linked to raw cheese grows; 9 cases total, one with kidney failure
Raw Farm denies link to illnesses, while patients keep identifying its products.
Beth Mole
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175
As RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine ways turn toxic to GOP, CDC director is hard to find
Wednesday was the deadline to nominate a new director.
Beth Mole
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96
Antibiotic resistance among germs swells during droughts, study suggests
Study links two crises: Climate change and antibiotic-resistant infections.
Beth Mole
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“The last straw”—RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine ally angrily quits CDC panel after spat
Robert Malone quit a vaccine panel, blaming an HHS spokesperson for “trashing” him.
Beth Mole
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121
Trump’s MAHA pick for surgeon general flounders amid GOP doubts
She stalled over MAHA woo-woo, anti-vaccine views, and lacking medical background.
Beth Mole
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108
You’re likely already infected with a brain-eating virus you’ve never heard of
Fatal brain infection was thought to be from profound immune suppression. Not anymore.
Beth Mole
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161
RFK may replace entire panel of CDC vaccine advisors again, ally lets slip
Robert Malone made the claim, then retracted it, as HHS denied it.
Beth Mole
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RFK Jr. has destroyed over a quarter of health dept’s expert panels
Under Kennedy, the health dept. has wiped out 75 advisory boards, corrupted others.
Beth Mole
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