CDC Paid 2,000 Influencers To Promote Vaccines “Using Their Own Voices.”

 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allocated $80 million to create a wide-ranging network aimed at promoting vaccination. This initiative involved using social media influencers to combat vaccine hesitancy and reach various communities. The funding is detailed in a CDC academic paper that outlines how these influencers were engaged without directly representing the government.

Funding Overview: The CDC award of $80 million was disbursed over several fiscal years (2021-2024) to support vaccination efforts among underserved racial and ethnic populations. This funding did not go directly to influencers but funneled through the CDC Foundation to various organizations.

Influencer Campaign: Approximately 2,000 social media influencers were recruited through organizations such as The Public Good Projects, the Ad Council, and Slate Social. The influencers used their own platforms and voices to address vaccine hesitancy, targeting audiences they already engaged with.

Partner Organizations: The involved organizations conducted extensive training, monitoring, and content development to reach diverse communities. They employed campaigns aimed at countering misinformation and promoting vaccination.

Limited Disclosure: Despite the acknowledgment of 2,000 influencers, neither their identities nor payment details were disclosed. Some financial records show certain payments to organizations but do not clarify how much went to individual influencers.

Slate Social: This Atlanta-based marketing firm, co-founded by Caleb Corprew — a winner of Love Island USA, played a notable role in coordinating efforts, despite having little visibility in public records. It remains unclear whether Corprew personally participated in the campaign.

Additional Campaigns: The CDC's initiative also incorporated cinema and journalism-style content via a nonprofit newsroom, Public Good News. This platform published health-related articles and engaged influential public figures to trigger community discussions about vaccines while being transparent about funding sources.

Reuse of Model: The methodology established for the vaccine campaign has been applied to other health campaigns supported by government funds, indicating a broader strategy for health communication.

The CDC's $80 million initiative highlights an intricate system of influencer marketing and community engagement to promote vaccination, particularly in minority populations. The detailed flow of funds from the CDC to influencers through various organizations suggests a complex strategy aimed at enhancing public trust in vaccines. However, lack of transparency regarding the identities and payments of individual influencers has raised questions about accountability and the overall impact of the campaign.

https://nataliegwinters.substack.com/p/revealed-cdc-paid-2000-influencers?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=3382126&post_id=213363561&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=6dl2nb&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

The Unbearable Ignorance — And Arrogance — Of Ro Khanna

 The California Representative Ro Khanna's defense of a proposed one-time wealth tax on billionaires in California, known as Prop 40. It counters his claims by highlighting potential negative impacts of such a tax on the state's economy and addressing the broader implications for business and innovation.

1. Mark Cuban's Warning: Entrepreneur Mark Cuban argues that California's billionaire tax could harm the state's ability to attract new businesses, suggesting that only "foolish" startups would remain in the state.

2. Khanna's Defense: Khanna refers to historical data from the 1950s where high marginal tax rates (up to 90%) coincided with economic growth. However, the article points out that those were income taxes, not wealth taxes, and questions the relevance of comparing current economic conditions to those from 70 years ago.

3. Changing Economic Context: The economy has evolved significantly since the 1950s. Spending by the federal government has increased, and social structures have changed drastically. The article challenges the idea of reverting to past tax structures as a means to stimulate growth.

4. Incentives for Innovation: Khanna's assertion that higher taxes would not deter work is questioned. Historical evidence, including comments from Ronald Reagan, is cited to suggest that high taxation does impact motivation and innovation among successful individuals.

5. Misguided Policies: The article suggests that Khanna's view of "inclusive institutions" being better for innovation contradicts the success of free-market capitalism in the U.S., which has been a leader in innovation and patent generation over the last 250 years.

6. Effectiveness of Government Spending: Khanna states that increased spending on healthcare and education via Prop 40 will result in a more productive workforce. The critique highlights failures in California’s healthcare and education systems, despite increased funding, questioning whether additional spending would solve these issues.

7. Shared Prosperity Argument: The article argues that the U.S. already experiences a level of shared prosperity unseen in many other countries, despite income inequalities. It points out that California, which pursues Khanna's policies, faces significant economic challenges, including high unemployment rates and an outflow of residents.

The critique asserts that Ro Khanna's arguments in favor of the wealth tax, framed as beneficial for economic growth and shared prosperity, lack sound economic reasoning and evidence. The author concludes that Khanna's perspective reveals a misunderstanding of economic principles and that imposing such taxes could jeopardize California's economic stability and innovation. In essence, it advocates for a more cautious approach to taxation that considers the broader economic implications.

https://issuesinsights.com/2026/09/08/the-unbearable-ignorance-of-ro-khanna/

FDA’s Botched Review of Moderna’s Flu mRNA Vaccine

Last week, the FDA approved Moderna's new mRNA flu vaccine, with media coverage primarily focusing on its effectiveness compared to traditional flu vaccines. However, serious safety concerns about the vaccine's trial data have emerged, largely overlooked in public discussions.

The pivotal trial showed the mRNA vaccine was 26.6% more effective than a conventional flu vaccine at preventing influenza-like illness but only reduced the risk of illness by 0.8%.

A troubling finding was the significant number of serious adverse events (SAEs) in participants: 449 in the mRNA group versus 389 in the control group, representing a concerning excess of 60 SAEs.

The FDA's advisory documents claimed SAEs were "balanced" between the two groups, but this was misleading due to the method of data analysis.

The FDA pooled data from various trials instead of focusing solely on the pivotal trial, leading to an obscured safety signal—a usual approach when searching for rare events, yet inappropriate here due to the differing nature of the trials involved.

Despite acknowledging potential issues with pooled analyses, the FDA proceeded with this method, leading to a lack of transparency regarding safety concerns.

The all-cause mortality rates raised additional alarms, with more deaths in the mRNA group across several trials, including trials where at least one death was assessed as vaccine-related.

The contrast in how efficacy and safety data were handled raises questions about the FDA's role in ensuring public safety. While claiming the vaccine is "safe and effective," significant safety signals have been downplayed, leading to concern about who is truly protecting the public from potential harm. 

https://brownstone.org/articles/fdas-botched-review-of-modernas-flu-mrna-vaccine/

House Democrat Leader Jeffries Demands His Party Stand Up for Socialism

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has expressed strong discontent after the House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning socialism, which saw most Democrats voting against it. This event has raised significant concerns within the Democratic Party.

A resolution against socialism was passed in the House, with all but eight Democrats opposing it.

Jeffries criticized two Democratic members for assisting Republicans with procedural steps, labeling their actions a "breach of trust."

Historically, socialism had significant influence in various European countries after World War II, which were later known to be trapped behind the "Iron Curtain," a term that referred to the physical barriers separating the Eastern bloc from the West.

The memory of the harsh realities faced in socialist countries is highlighted, with examples of uprisings, such as the Hungarian Revolution in 1956.

The situation illustrates a deepening divide within the Democratic Party regarding socialism, as evidenced by Jeffries’ dramatic reaction to the defiance of some party members. This political scene indicates the ongoing struggles and debates around socialism's legacy and its current implications in American politics. 

https://spectator.org/house-democrat-leader-jeffries-demands-his-party-stand-up-for-socialism/

Debt, dependency and decadence

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the author reflects on the decline of American civilization, drawing comparisons to historical empires that have also faced deterioration. This commentary raises concerns about America’s current challenges, including increasing national debt, declining religious faith, and societal issues.

1. Historical Context of Civilizations: The article compares the short lifespan of American civilization (250 years) to that of ancient empires, which lasted thousands of years. It suggests that civilizations go through stages from exploration to decline marked by cynicism and decadence.

2. Signs of Decline: The author warns that the United States shows indicators of decline:

A growing homeless population, with many struggling with addiction.

Increased national debt, which has reached $40 trillion, surpassing 124% of the GDP.

A high percentage of Americans (53%) relying on government assistance, reminiscent of welfare states in historical empires.

3. Reduction of Religious Influence: The decline in religious observance is highlighted, with fewer adults considering religion important in their daily lives (from 66% in 2015 to 49% in 2025), suggesting a diminishing moral backbone of society.

4. Political Concerns: The author expresses concern about movements that threaten American values, citing the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) as a group advocating for policies believed to undermine national security and border integrity.

5. Crisis of Leadership and Values: The commentary reflects on a perceived abandonment of foundational values, where the nation’s opinion leaders are seen as detrimental to its identity and strength, likening the situation to a calamity in progress.

The commentary concludes that America, much like other great civilizations before it, is facing a critical juncture. The author urges readers to recognize the internal issues threatening the nation’s stability and cultural integrity, likening it to a disaster waiting to happen. 

https://www.wnd.com/2026/09/debt-dependency-decadence/

The Center Is Collapsing: Majority Sees Government as Corrupt

A recent Gallup poll has highlighted a significant decline in trust towards the U.S. government and other institutions. This widespread concern about corruption reflects a growing disillusionment among Americans, affecting people across all political affiliations.

1. High Perception of Corruption: According to the Gallup poll released on September 2, 2026, 89% of respondents believe that corruption in the U.S. government is widespread, a sentiment that surpasses levels seen in the last twenty years and is higher than in many advanced nations.

2. Low Trust in Government: A Pew Research survey from December found that only 17% of Americans trust the federal government to do the right thing "just about always" or "most of the time." This figure represents one of the lowest trust levels recorded in the history of the poll since it began nearly seventy years ago.

3. Distrust of Institutions: Confidence in various American institutions continues to fall. A July Gallup survey indicated that only 27% of Americans have a great deal of confidence in 14 core institutions, with 12 of those institutions at or near their historical lows. The exceptions are banks and organized labor, which are slightly above their lowest points.

4. Concerns About Political Elites: Americans are increasingly skeptical of political elites and institutions. Surveys show that many believe elites are disconnected from everyday realities, and most major political decisions occur without public accountability. A significant number also feel that leaders from ordinary backgrounds better represent the populace.

5. Potential Consequences: Analysts draw parallels between current sentiments in the U.S. and those in Western Europe, where unpopular governments have remained in power by enforcing punitive measures against dissent. There are warnings that, similar to the U.K., the U.S. could head towards severe civil unrest if distrust continues to grow without government accountability.

6. Historical Context and Future Implications: David Betz, a university professor, has highlighted issues in regions like the U.K. that could serve as warnings for the U.S. These include a hostile government-citizen dynamic, perceived double standards in justice, and rising urban lawlessness.

The unprecedented levels of distrust in the U.S. government and major institutions suggest a critical state of affairs. As the populace increasingly views government actions with skepticism, it raises important questions about future governance and societal stability. Observers fear that if this deepening distrust is not addressed, it may lead to serious consequences for the nation, echoing troubling trends seen in other parts of the world. 

https://www.libertynation.com/the-center-is-collapsing-89-in-poll-see-government-as-corrupt/

The Horrifying Legacy of Socialism

 Tim Donner, Senior Political Analyst at LibertyNation.com, discusses the troubling history and consequences of socialism and communism in his article. He emphasizes the importance of understanding these ideologies, especially among younger Americans who may not be familiar with their past ramifications.

1. Defining Collectivism

Various leftist ideologies such as communism, socialism, democratic socialism, and progressivism are collectively referred to as forms of collectivism, where the state is seen as more important than the individual.

The distinctions between these terms are deemed less important than the shared radical agenda that aims to dismantle the constitutional republic.

2. Historical Context

The history of socialism spans over a century, beginning with the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution which established the Soviet Union.

Negative impacts such as tyranny and oppression expanded under communist regimes throughout the world.

3. Communism's Impact and Death Toll

The article outlines several historical examples of socialist regimes:

Soviet Union (Stalin): Forced collectivization led to millions of deaths, with estimates ranging from 20 million to 25 million.

China (Mao Zedong): The Great Leap Forward caused between 30 million and 45 million deaths due to famine.

Cuba (Fidel Castro): Thousands executed and political oppression led to over a million fleeing the country.

Cambodia (Pol Pot): The Khmer Rouge's regime resulted in mass executions and forced labor, targeting anyone perceived as a threat.

4. Critical Rejection of Socialism's Defenders

Defenders often argue that "real socialism has never been tried," attributing past failures to mismanagement rather than flaws in the ideology itself.

However, the article maintains that historical patterns show that collectivism leads to repression and suffering. Lenin's view of socialism as a step towards communism is cited to underline this perspective.

5. Warnings for Modern America

The resurgence of collectivist ideas within American political discourse poses a threat, particularly given younger generations' lack of historical knowledge about past socialist regimes.

The fragility of democracy is emphasized, along with the importance of vigilance against collectivist ideologies.

Donner's article serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by socialism and communism based on historical evidence of their impacts. He argues for the necessity of educating current and future generations on the realities of these ideologies to prevent them from gaining further influence within political systems, particularly in the United States. The call for awareness and historical understanding is framed as essential for safeguarding democracy.

https://www.libertynation.com/the-horrifying-legacy-of-socialism/