Trump’s Obsession with Control Jeopardizes Public Health…Again

You know what’s super unhelpful during a public health crisis? Silencing the experts whose literal job is to keep us informed. Because people who actually know what they’re talking about irritate the hell out of wannabe dictators.

Trump loathes not being seen as an All-Knowing God AKA Expert Extraordinaire. So, he just makes another one of his spectacularly bad decisions to try to bend reality to his will. This time, he ordered federal health agencies, like the CDC and FDA, to shut the f*** up. I mean, why let people know how to stay safe when you can keep them in the dark and control them better?

Kansas: Facing an Unprecedented TB Outbreak

In case you missed it (because not enough news outlets are talking about it), Kansas is dealing with its largest tuberculosis outbreak in history. Sixty-seven active cases. Seventy-nine latent ones. “Latent cases can turn active at any time,” warns UCLA Health. Most of the cases are in Wyandotte County, but let’s not pretend outbreaks politely stay put.

TB isn’t some niche disease from an old-timey novel. It’s airborne, highly contagious, and, if untreated, can kill half the people who get it. Fun fact: Early symptoms—like a persistent cough, night sweats, and fatigue—are super easy to shrug off, which means it spreads quietly until it doesn’t.

Normally, this is where the CDC would swoop in with a PR blitz, explaining the risks, how to protect yourself, and what steps to take if you’ve been exposed. But under Trump’s gag order? Crickets.

The Silence is Deafening

Let me repeat this for those of you in the cheap seats: The CDC, FDA, and other federal health agencies are no longer authorized to speak directly to the public. It’s like a health agency version of Fight Club, where the first rule is don’t talk about public health crises.

Now, Trump’s defenders will say, “Oh, this is normal during transitions.” Sure, some level of pause happens, but not like this. Silencing all external communications—from agencies responsible for keeping us safe—is a whole new level of f**kery. And it’s not like outbreaks happen in a vacuum. COVID sure didn’t. And now we’ve got bird flu…again resulting in high egg prices…again.

Who Benefits from a Gag Order?

Not you. Not me. Not the people of Kansas. The only person who wins here is “President TB Trump” himself, because in his world, controlling the narrative is more important than protecting lives.

Think about it: If federal health agencies can’t talk, they can’t highlight problems, and they can’t go public to help contain an outbreak or minimize casualties. If problems stay hidden, they don’t make headlines. And if they don’t make headlines, Trump gets to keep pretending everything’s just fine because he’s such a wonderfully competent leader. Yeah, no.

But here’s the thing: diseases don’t care about optics. TB doesn’t pause because the CDC is under a gag order. If it’s active, it spreads. People can suffer. And when the public realizes they’ve been left in the dark, trust in health institutions erodes even further.

What You Can Do When the Government Fails You

Since we can’t count on Trump or his Billionaire Bros to care about anything beyond money and power, here’s how to take matters into your own hands:

Get the Facts Locally

• Follow your state and county health departments. Kansas residents can check updates from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). In January 2025 (great timing!), the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) launched its Public Health Data Portal, “a comprehensive platform designed to put all of the agency’s data in one place.”
• Learn the symptoms of TB: persistent cough (three weeks or more), coughing up blood, chest pain, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss.

Share What You Know

• Trump can gag the CDC, but he can’t gag us…at least, not for long anyway (Think TikTok blackout). Use your trusted social groups—parent-teacher orgs, neighborhood watch, church, etc.—to share verified information about TB.
• Amplify voices of state and local health officials who are still allowed to speak.

Take Precautions

• If you’re in, near or traveling to Kansas, avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces. By the way, masks aren’t just for COVID. TB spreads through the air, too.
• If you notice symptoms, don’t ignore them. See a doctor ASAP. Early treatment saves lives.

Hold Leaders Accountable

• Support journalists and watchdog orgs shining a light on these issues.
• Call your representatives and demand that they step up where Trump won’t.

Prepare for the Fallout

• Stock up on essentials, including masks and over-the-counter meds.
• Pay attention to local updates, since federal agencies are essentially gagged.

Final Thoughts

Trump isn’t just bad at leadership. Trump is actively dangerous. Silencing health agencies during a tuberculosis outbreak is the kind of decision that gets people killed. But hey, as long as it keeps the headlines off his failures, right?

Here’s the bottom line: We can’t rely on fed gov right now. It’s on us to stay informed, protect our communities, and demand accountability. Because when leaders prioritize power over public health, it’s our job to make noise and fight back.