JANUARY 13– SENATOR GILLEBRAND EYEBALLS INFLATION IMPACT ON NEW YORKERS

Posted on January 13, 2026 by John Bailey

GILLIBRAND STATEMENT ON INFLATION NUMBERS

Washington, DC – Today, in response to the newly released December Consumer Price Index report and inflation numbers indicating that American families are paying 2.7% more than last year under Trump’s economy, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issues the following statement:

“Candidate Trump promised over and over again in 2024 to ‘end inflation.’ He boasted that if he won, ‘prices will come down,’ he would ‘drive prices down,’ ‘groceries will be cheaper,’ and ‘we will be slashing energy and electricity prices by half within 12 months.’

“As president, he has called affordability a ‘hoax,’ claimed ‘inflation is stopped,’ and told Americans ‘don’t be dramatic’ about higher costs because of his policies.

“Nearly a year into his administration, President Trump has broken his promise and dismissed Americans’ concerns. Costs aren’t down, they are up — and American families are paying the price.”

JANUARY 13 — AMERICA’S HEALTH DEFENSES WEAKENED BY NEW POLICIES: YOUR LOCAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST

Posted on January 13, 2026 by John Bailey

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A brutal flu season, new dietary guidelines, and why cancer screenings are at risk

The Dose (January 13)

Jess Steier, DrPH, Megan Maisano, MS, RDN, and Hannah Totte, MPH

Jan 13

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

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I (Katelyn) have temporarily escaped to the Amazon jungle, where the internet cannot even reach me. So this week, I left the YLE keys with my team and our good friend—and scientific communication rockstar—Jess Steier. You’re in good hands. Jess, take it away…

Hello YLE readers! I’m Jess Steier, public health scientist and founder of Unbiased Science, stepping in while Katelyn is on a much-deserved vacation. (During brief periods of WiFi connectivity, she’s sending pics that have me very jealous.)

What a week to guest-host: flu season is brutal, the new dietary guidelines are… interesting, the policy landscape is shifting fast, and the annual reader survey needs your feedback. Let’s get into it.

Infectious disease “weather report”

Flu. Buckle up, folks. We’re in the thick of a very rough flu season. The CDC tracks “influenza-like illness” (ILI)—doctor visits for fever, cough, and sore throat—as a proxy for respiratory virus activity. Most of those cases right now are flu. ILI is the highest it has been since 1997-98 (nearly 30 years), and the highest on record since the CDC started tracking. Last season, infections peaked at the beginning of February, and we’re already seeing similar rates a month earlier this year. And infections will continue to increase, since they haven’t peaked yet.

Source: ILINet. Annotations by YLE.

Emergency department visits are highest among kids ages 5-17, with children under 5 close behind. Seventeen children have died from the flu so far this season. For context, last year set the record for pediatric flu deaths (280). Looking at this horrible season, we might see similar rates this year, unless uptake of the flu shot—which greatly reduces the risk of hospitalization and death—catches up.

Source: CDC FluView. Annotations by YLE.

Subclade K, the latest offshoot of H3N2 (type A)—basically a slightly updated version of the virus we already know—emerged over the summer and is to blame here. It’s better at evading this season’s flu shot and prior immunity. It has accounted for roughly 80% of flu samples tested so far.

What this means for you: The best thing you can do is get a flu shot, and make sure everyone in your family 6 months and older has received one. It’s not too late.

The flu shot might not fully prevent an infection, but it can greatly reduce severity and reduce spread in the community.
Despite changes to the Health and Human Services (HHS) childhood vaccination schedule, the American Academy of Pediatrics still recommends the flu shot for everyone 6 months and up. (HHS taking the flu shot off the list amidst a flu season that could break records for pediatric deaths is cruelly tone deaf.)
If you do get sick, prescription antivirals like Tamiflu or Xofluza can reduce severity, hospitalization, and even death—especially for high-risk groups. The sooner you start, the better. I’m working on a deep-dive on antivirals for you later this week—stay tuned!
Even if you’ve already gotten the flu, getting a flu shot (if you haven’t yet) can help you. Since there are multiple strains of flu floating around, and the shot protects against some of them well, it can boost your overall immunity.
Other protective measures help, too: wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces, improve ventilation when possible, and stay home if you’re sick.

Measles. The U.S. has confirmed over 2,200 cases and 3 deaths this season—the highest annual total since 1992. Two major outbreaks are driving the surge: South Carolina (313 cases, with 125 added last week alone) has now spread to North Carolina and Ohio, and the Utah-Arizona outbreak continues to grow (nearly 400 cases combined). For latest full Yale School of Public Health SITREP report, go here:

YSPH VMOC Special Report Measles The Ame…

1.45MB ∙ PDF file

Download

The big question is whether the U.S. will lose its measles elimination status, which we’ve held since 2000. Canada lost theirs in November. If ongoing outbreaks are linked to the Texas outbreak that started last January—meaning continuous transmission for 12 months—we could be next. The Pan-American Health Organization — our regional version of WHO—is set to evaluate U.S. data soon.

Some good news: Covid-19 rates remain low nationwide, and common cold viruses (like rhinoviruses and seasonal coronaviruses) are down. RSV cases are lower than this time last year but starting to rise.

New Dietary Guidelines: MyPlate is out, the inverted food pyramid is in

I’ll let Megan, YLE’s registered dietitian nutritionist, take it from here…

Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and HHS released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The DGA are updated every five years to guide nutrition policy, education, and programming for health professionals. While some federally funded programs like school meals must follow them, others use them as best-practice guidance. As an RDN, I reference the DGA often in my work.

Historically, the DGA has aligned with its Scientific Report—a public, multi-year evidence review by an independent advisory committee. This cycle, the DGA diverged from that report (released in 2024), openly criticized it, and introduced a separate Scientific Foundation developed privately by contracted scientists.

Reactions to the new DGA vary widely, including praise for its emphasis on “real” whole foods, confusion over vague or conflicting messaging, and concerns about its propaganda-like language, questionable scientific rigor, and opacity in the review process and author selection.

Notable takeaways include:

Significant reduction in length (10 pages versus the previous 164) to make it simpler and more accessible, but potentially at the expense of detail, guidance, and nuance that clinicians, schools, and policymakers rely on to translate recommendations into practice.
Continued emphasis on nutrient-dense food groups—fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein foods, and dairy—with expanded inclusion of full-fat dairy and red meat, more explicit guidance to limit highly processed foods, and stronger limits on added sugars.
A heightened focus on protein, increasing recommended intake by 50–100%, with less emphasis on plant-based sources.
Encouragement of animal fats (e.g., beef, beef tallow, whole milk, butter), while still keeping the saturated fat limits to <10% of calories (~22 grams/day).
- Note: This level is nearly reached with a glass of whole milk (4.5 grams), 1 tablespoon of butter (7 grams), and a 4-oz serving of ribeye (9 grams).
Softened alcohol guidance, removing specific daily limits (<1–2 drinks) despite growing evidence that no amount of alcohol is safe, and instead offering only a vague recommendation to consume less for better health.
Explicit removal of health equity as a consideration in reviewing evidence and shaping guidance, including factors like socioeconomic status, race, culture, research representation, and diverse population needs.
Replacement of the MyPlate graphic with an inverted food pyramid.

Source: https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf

How will these changes affect daily life for most folks? For many adults, not much. Most Americans don’t follow the guidelines anyway. Still, the DGA shapes guidance for federal nutrition programs, such as school meals and nutrition assistance programs, which serve at least 1 in 4 Americans, and informs recommendations from health professionals. That’s why its clarity and scientific integrity remain important for both individuals and public health.

Would a deeper dive into the new guidelines be useful? If so, what questions do you have for us? Let us know in the comments.

With more Medicaid eligibility requirements, more missed cancer screenings

The “Big Beautiful Bill” changed Medicaid eligibility, adding new work and renewal requirements. When they go into effect in January 2027, they will affect care in a myriad of ways, including cancer prevention.

An analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) last week predicted that, due to losing Medicaid coverage, millions of people will lose access to cancer screenings.

Their projections? More than one million missed screenings in the next two years, resulting in 155 preventable deaths. This study focused on implications for breast, colorectal, and lung cancers, all of which have shown increased survivorship after widespread screening implementation. This estimate is conservative; for example, it does not include recommended cervical cancer screening.

There will also be significant variation across states: in states that expanded Medicaid (where a larger fraction of the population is covered), more screenings will be missed.

Bottom line: This is just one direct health impact for those who will lose Medicaid coverage next year.

Will states step in? Probably, but it depends—and probably not to the full extent of the Medicaid coverage net, at least in the short run.
There may be opportunities to expand screening capacity at other points of care, such as community health centers and primary care visits, but this will require investment in already stretched systems.

HRSA endorsed an at-home HPV self-collection test

I unfortunately have had the experience of a super uncomfortable, borderline painful, hastily accomplished Pap smear. I get it: as an important cervical cancer prevention tool, we’ve needed them. But like many of the other women in my life, I dread them.

Enter the at-home human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection test. We can collect our own samples using at-home kits, and they are now FDA approved as a cancer screening tool in Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) guidelines. The at-home kits are less invasive, involve less equipment, don’t require a trip to the clinic, and are a welcome alternative for people who have experienced sexual trauma.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) first endorsed self-collection swabs for clinical use back in 2024. They were then available through prescription only in May 2025. These updated guidelines reflect additional data that vet how they can be reliably used to test for HPV, the infection that causes the majority of cervical cancers, and expands access without prescriptions.

For context, the HRSA recommends that women aged 30 to 65 at average risk of cervical cancer get screened with HPV testing—now including at-home tests—every five years, and women aged 21 to 29 at average risk get a Pap smear every three years. (The American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines recommend beginning to test for HPV at 25 years.) This at-home test aims to increase screening rates: an estimated 1 in 4 adults are not up to date with cervical cancer screenings.

This brings us to some nuance:

First, there’s a risk of people forgoing a clinician’s care, like at an annual physical, to collect samples at home.
Even though most insurance plans will have to cover them in 2027, they might not be available to everyone—especially people without insurance.
An HPV test is not a Pap smear. Pap smears also check for precancerous cells on the cervix, which might become cancerous if they are not treated properly.
Self-collection is not recommended for everyone. People with the following conditions should talk to their clinician before opting for at-home tests:
- Abnormal tests or precancers in the past
- Solid organ or stem cell transplant
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Taking medicines that suppress the immune system
- Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) before birth

If you want to try this option:

Find FDA-approved self-collection kits through your doctor’s office, Planned Parenthood, or other clinic.
Talk to your clinician about whether you’re a good candidate for at-home testing, and how to stay on schedule, follow up in case of a positive result, and stay accountable for other appointments.
HRSA notes that clinician-collected samples are still preferred, since an abnormal result can immediately be followed up with additional testing at the clinic.

Good news

Minimum wage increased to $15 an hour in 19 states. An economic change on the surface, with real public health gains down the line. Research shows that increasing income improves self-reported health, improves social interactions, reduces overtime work, increases birthweights, and can make life just a bit more affordable, improving mental health and well-being.
You can set resolutions that stick. It’s January, and resolutions are on the brain. According to psychology research, the best type of goals are the ones that are specific and manageable:
- Specific means that you can look back on your day or week and know whether you kept your resolution. Resolutions work best when you choose them for you and your “why”—not because of external pressure.
- Manageable means it fits into your life. You can connect whatever new habit you’re trying to build to what you already want or need to do, like walking while listening to your favorite podcast. Or think about when you were able to reach your goals in the past to help you recreate those conditions.

In case you missed it

Take the reader survey! It takes about 5 minutes and makes a big impact!
15 health wins in New York, from Dr. Marisa Donnelly in New York
Health impacts of coastal floods, from Dr. Matt Willis in California
Last week, we talked about changes to the childhood vaccination schedule. Here’s
a NEW PDF of changes to vaccination schedule, translated into Spanish:

Vaccination Schedule Changes (Spanish)

68.3KB ∙ PDF file

Download

That’s it for this week!

Love,

Jess

Jess Steier, PhD, is a public health scientist and founder of Unbiased Science. Megan Maisano, MS, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist. During the day, Megan works at National Dairy Council, a non-profit dairy nutrition research and education organization. (She does not write about the dairy industry for YLE.) Hannah Totte, MPH, is an epidemiologist and YLE Community Manager.

Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) is founded and operated by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist, wife. YLE reaches more than 425,000 people in over 132 countries with one goal: “Translate” the ever-evolving public health science so that people will be well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions.

This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below:

A guest post by

Megan Maisano, MS, RDN

JANUARY 13–NEW YORK EMBRACES NUCLEAR POWER AGAIN THROUGH PROGRAMATIC DEPLOYMENT, GLOBALLY PROVEN TO DRIVE COSTS DOWN

Posted on January 13, 2026 by John Bailey

Albany, NY – Nuclear New York celebrates Governor Kathy Hochul’s unprecedented commitment to advanced nuclear energy as a cornerstone of New York’s clean energy future.

By setting a goal of five gigawatts of new nuclear, the Governor has embraced the strategic framework that positions New York to lead the nation in cost-effective, programmatic nuclear deployment.[1]

This announcement represents a fundamental evolution in New York’s approach to nuclear energy. Rather than viewing advanced nuclear as individual, standalone projects, the state is now pursuing the proven strategy that brought costs down dramatically in South Korea, France, and other successful nuclear programs: standardized, sequential deployment with committed orderbooks.[2],[3],[4]

Orderbooks of 5-10 reactors enable 20-30% cost reductions through learning curve effects.
Design standardization and elimination of rework account for approximately 65% of cost reduction potential from first-of-a-kind (FOAK) to nth-of-a-kind (NOAK) builds.
Bulk procurement of major equipment enables 10-20% cost reductions through volume orders
Construction workforce continuity between sequential builds delivers 20-30% productivity gains.

During the Economic Development breakout session of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)’s “Advanced Nuclear NY Summit” in September 2025, Nuclear New York’s Isuru Seneviratne recommended that New York commit to deploying a minimum of 5-10 advanced nuclear reactors of standardized designs by 2040, creating the orderbook certainty needed for supply chain development and workforce retention.[5] Furthermore, he emphasized that state government’s most critical role is creating the conditions for advanced nuclear development through:

Industrial customer aggregation to create committed orderbooks for specific reactor designs
Site preparation and infrastructure readiness to reduce project timelines and costs
Financial risk mitigation through state guarantee programs and public-private partnerships
Community engagement frameworks that ensure host communities benefit from long-term tax revenue and employment

This announcement fulfills a vision that Nuclear New York, working with labor partners through the Clean Energy Jobs Coalition, articulated in our 2022 policy brief, Bright Future — that half of New York’s electricity should come from firm clean generation sources.[6] That report emphasized that nuclear provides:

25,000 jobs supported by New York’s three operating plants, contributing over $3 billion annually to the state economy
The highest unionization rate and highest wages across all electricity generation sectors
Concentrated, year-round employment that builds vibrant, healthy, and prosperous host communities

The policy shift is also responsive to the growing number of communities who recognize the benefits of and want to host nuclear power plants – eight are bidding to host reactors built by New York Power Authority.[7] The five-gigawatt commitment allows all communities who want nuclear to work together on technology selection, workforce development, and policy advocacy.

New York faces aggressive electricity demand growth due to the reshoring of manufacturing capacity and the drive towards electrification. There is also a pressing need to replace aging and dirty fossil fuel plants. Nuclear energy provides what renewables alone cannot: 24/7 baseload power that complements intermittent wind and solar while using the least land and materials of any clean energy source.

Governor Hochul stated,

“Our initiative to create a nuclear reliability backbone for New York will ensure safe, around-the-clock, emission-free power to help keep the lights on and rates down.” This follows her June 2025 statement “to power New York’s future, we need three things: reliability, affordability, and sustainability, and nuclear drives all three.”[8] Furthermore, NYSERDA’s “Zero by 2040 Technoeconomic Assessment” acknowledges how advanced nuclear can also serve many non-grid applications such as high-temperature heat.[9]

NYSERDA is developing a Master Plan for Responsible Advanced Nuclear Development, building on the Blueprint for Consideration released in 2024.[10] This comprehensive planning process, informed by extensive stakeholder engagement, will establish the frameworks for licensing, siting, workforce development, and supply chain growth.

New York is co-leading the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative, a multistate consortium pursuing DOE funding and technology-sharing to build substantial nuclear orderbooks behind standardized reactor designs.

This collaboration with states across partisan lines demonstrates the bipartisan recognition that nuclear energy is essential to achieving climate goals while supporting economic competitiveness.

“This is the kind of strategic thinking about nuclear deployment that New York needs,” said Dietmar Detering, Chair of Nuclear New York. “By moving beyond one-off projects toward programmatic deployment with committed orderbooks, and working across state lines to share learning curve benefits, New York is positioning itself to lead the next generation of American nuclear deployment—just as we led the first.” Nuclear New York looks forward to continued engagement with NYPA, NYSERDA, industrial energy consumers, project developers, labor partners, and host communities to turn this vision into reality.

As NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen Harris emphasized at Nuclear New York’s Nuclear Symposium 2025, “working together, we are finding ourselves writing the future history of nuclear for ourselves, for our kids, for our colleagues and for the world. And the work you are doing is very much part of this timeline.”[11]

JANUARY 13 –BRANDON ARCHER AND LEO KENNEDY NAMED “YOUTHS OF THE YEAR”

Posted on January 13, 2026 by John Bailey

BRANDON ARCHER CONGRATULATED BY MAYOR JUSTIN BRASCH AND FRANK WILLIAMS, HEAD OF WHITE PLAINS YOUTH BUREAU

MAYOR BRASCH SHAKES LEO KENNEDY’S HAND CONGRATULATING HIM ON HIS HONOR, YOUTH OF THE YEAR

White Plains High School Senior Brandon Archer, and Iona Prep Senior Leo Kennedy, second from right, are congratulated by White Plains Youth Bureau Executive Director Frank Williams and Deputy Director Elizabeth Almonte after receiving their Youth Bureau “Youth of the Year Awards” at the White Plains Common Council meeting on January 5. The award is presented to those who elevate youth values in the City.

Both Brandon and Leo serve on the Mayor’s Youth Council. Brandon received a National Community Service Award sponsored by the United Nations Association and is a New York State My Brother’s Keeper Fellow. He interned in the White Plains Planning Department last summer and hopes to be an urban planner. Leo has been a leading participant in the White Plains Youth Court, representing White Plains in county-wide events, and raises funds for the Special Olympics. He is interested in studying data science.