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The Senate committee hearings last week on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic presented a master class in political distraction from what is important for the nation’s public health. And Thursday the committee held Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for invoking his Fifth Amendment defense to a committee chaired by someone who has already said Fauci “should go to prison.” (David J. Hunter, 8/7)

If you’re experiencing hair loss, weight gain, muscle aches or brain fog, do you: a) consult your doctor or b) inject yourself with research-grade chemicals bought off the internet? A striking number of Americans are picking the latter — and if Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has his way, certain unapproved peptide therapies will soon become mainstream. (8/10)

China has demonstrated time and again that when its leaders make something a priority, they usually get results. A decision to ban all forms of the powerful drug fentanyl seven years ago under US pressure showed how quickly authorities can mobilize against an illicit trade. They should now bring that same attention to the export of unregulated peptides. (Juliana Liu, 8/9)

In September, states must start to notify Medicaid enrollees affected by new changes — including work requirements and new twice-yearly eligibility checks — that will begin in 2027. (Rebecca Myerson, Allison Espeseth and Laura Dague, 8/10)

When most people hear “Ebola,” they think of a single disease caused by a single virus. Scientists know better. Ebola virus disease is caused by several distinct virus species capable of causing devastating outbreaks in humans, each with important biological differences that influence diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics, and outbreak response. (Krutika Kuppalli and Placide Mbala, 8/10)