Dan Diamond / is on Nostr

I write for the Washington Post. I post for free.

Last Notes

2024-03-17 14:20:32

Sixty-five years ago today, at 10:20 am, the Senate commerce committee met for the first day of hearings on the nomination of LEWIS STRAUSS.
It would become one of the most brutal confirmation battles in U.S. history.
The committee would go on to meet 15 more times in the next two months before voting on Strauss’ nomination — a detail left out of OPPENHEIMER.
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/112/111/421/665/575/471/original/135c1cf3c044faa2.png

2024-01-21 15:56:19

The truth about “Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV” — a serious test that Trump has made into a kind of joke.
 “It sometimes pains me to see that it is ridiculed in the media,” the dementia test’s creator told us for a story in The Washington Post.
 More on the actual workings behind the “MoCA.”
https://dandiamond.substack.com/p/the-truth-about-person-woman-man?utm_campaign=email-post&r=yuvg&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

2023-05-22 22:34:12

Pretty distressing that this counts as breaking news in 2023
https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/110/414/714/869/006/531/original/59aeafd94f23589e.png

2023-05-18 14:05:04

The lawsuit over abortion pill mifepristone has raised an explosive question: is the mailing of *all* abortion drugs banned under the 1873 Comstock Act?
If so, Comstock could lead to a nationwide abortion ban.
We dug into the Comstock Act, and found a revelation about author Anthony Comstock: he thought his law supported some abortions.
https://dandiamond.substack.com/p/how-we-discovered-breaking-history?utm_campaign=reaction&utm_medium=email&utm_source=substack&utm_content=post

2023-05-06 15:21:08

Reflecting on yesterday’s busy — very very busy — news cycle about public health emergencies, covid data and a departing CDC director. https://dandiamond.substack.com/p/slouching-into-the-end-of-the-pandemic

2023-05-06 15:21:08

2023-05-02 20:14:40

Scoop: the CDC is opening a probe after 35 people tested positive for covid at the CDC’s own conference. More with my colleague Lena Sun. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/05/02/covid-outbreak-cdc-annual-conference/

2023-05-01 20:24:32

Scoop - first on Mastodon - the White House will end its covid vaccine requirement for international travelers. It’s also lifting its covid vaccine mandate for federal workers, which had been blocked by the courts. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/05/01/covid-vaccine-requirements-end-international-travelers/

2023-04-27 14:38:53

The US covid testing and treatments coordinator left the White House yesterday, as the Biden administration continues to wind down its pandemic response team.
I took a look at how the latest departures — and the new programs the White House is racing to stand up — raise questions about whether we’re ready for the end of the covid emergency and the threats on the horizon. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/04/27/pandemic-experts-leave-white-house-some-worry-whats-next/

2023-04-26 16:44:28

I love Ben Terris’ writing on Washington, and this story is the latest reason why: The extraodinary tale of Sean McElwee, the DC insider who bet big on himself and went bust. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/04/26/sean-mcelwee-washington-gambler/

2023-04-23 14:27:32

I tried to explain what drove a reporter like me to quit #[0] (even if it’s temporary) after years and years of thriving on the site.
Looking forward to really seeing what Mastodon has to offer the next few weeks. https://dandiamond.substack.com/p/i-quit-twitter

2023-04-22 00:18:55

What are some Mastodon accounts that are particularly good on politics, policy and public health? Looking to find more folks to follow, and would love recommendations!

2023-04-21 16:56:55

After 15 years of being a loyal Twitter user, it’s become less and less useful and enjoyable for me. I’m gonna shut down my account for a few weeks and see what it feels like. I’m going to keep posting on Mastodon and on Substack tho http://tinyurl.com/DDsubstck (and you can also find my work the old way: going to The Washington Post!)

2023-04-21 15:15:14

Earlier this week, I wrote about how covid remains a leading cause of death, linked to about 250 deaths per day. Not everyone was happy about the story (including some folks on Mastodon), so I wrote a little about the process behind the piece here.
https://open.substack.com/pub/dandiamond/p/there-are-still-people-who-are-getting?r=yuvg&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post

2023-04-16 18:35:02

Covid was the No. 3 cause of death in America between 2020-2022.
It's receded a lot - but still on pace to be a top-10 cause of death this year.
“There are still people who are getting wicked sick," an infectious-disease doctor at Mass General told me. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/04/16/covid-deaths-per-day/