Pressure Systems edition
RFK Jr. Vaccine Funding Cuts Collide With Congo Ebola Outbreak
June 18, 2026
What this edition shows
The Trump administration's redirection of HHS priorities toward RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine agenda is actively jeopardizing $600 million in global health aid as the Democratic Republic of Congo faces its most aggressive Ebola expansion to date. This institutional withdrawal of funding and expertise creates a lethal vacuum where state-sponsored medical skepticism accelerates the collapse of international contagion response. The resulting distrust in public health systems transforms manageable outbreaks into uncontained regional crises, illustrating how the dismantling of scientific authority functions as a form of structural violence.
Reporting and analysis behind this edition 6 sources
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Why are experts warning latest Ebola outbreak could be ‘worst ever’?
The virus is spreading faster than health workers can track it and international funding has slumped.
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Alarm as Ebola spreads into new areas of DR Congo
Cases are being identified in new health zones on a near-daily basis, warns WHO's head of epidemiology.
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RFK Jr. Insists Scientific Journal Explain Retraction Of Anti-Vaxx Article He Liked
We were just talking about how angry RFK Jr. was at a report that he’s been out to lunch on most of what HHS’ work entails, choosing instead to focus his time and attention on his own pet interests, like curtailing vaccine programs in America, chasing chemtrails, and a newfound love for snake-handli…
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How RFK Jr. Managed to Block Millions in Global Vaccine Funds
$600 million in U.S. foreign aid for global vaccines is at risk.
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Ebola outbreak in DR Congo could become worst in history, Africa CDC warns
The number of confirmed cases in the country has increased to 837, including 196 deaths.
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Ebola, hantavirus, diphtheria: how distrust in health care is fuelling multiple outbreaks across the globe
The first half of 2026 has been marked by three different disease outbreaks: Ebola, hantavirus and, in Australia, diphtheria. Each has exposed vulnerabilities in how we detect, communicate and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Each of these outbreaks has its unique challenges. But a common th…