Dani Blum
Dani Blum is a health reporter at The New York Times, focusing on news and trends related to personal health. She covers breaking news related to personal health and reports in-depth on wellness trends, from emerging mental health treatments to hacks and supplements that animate the internet. She also covers Ozempic and other drugs in a new class of medications that treat diabetes and obesity, and she reports on Covid-19. Blum joined The Times in 2019 and has been covering Covid-19 since the early days of the pandemic. She approaches every story with impartiality and strives to hear all sides of the issues she covers.
Biography:
https://www.nytimes.com/by/dani-blum
78%
The Daily's Verdict
This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.
Bias
88%
Examples:
- The author has a focus on health and wellness, with an emphasis on emerging treatments and trends in personal health.
- There is a potential conflict of interest as the author covers Ozempic and other drugs in a new class of medications that treat diabetes and obesity, which may lead to positive coverage or prioritization of these topics.
Conflicts of Interest
69%
Examples:
- The author covers Ozempic and other drugs in a new class of medications that treat diabetes and obesity, which may lead to positive coverage or prioritization of these topics.
- There is a potential conflict of interest as the author's employer, The New York Times, may benefit from the promotion of certain drugs or treatments.
Contradictions
85%
Examples:
- The author has reported on contradictory information regarding the risks and benefits of various treatments, such as Wegovy for reducing heart attack risk and Ozempic for treating kidney disease.
- There is a contradiction in the statement made by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo about parents making decisions for unvaccinated children's school attendance during a measles outbreak.
Deceptions
80%
Examples:
- The article about Wegovy suggests that it is highly effective but costly which leads some employers and health plans to stop covering it or limit access.
- The title of the article about Florida's measles outbreak suggests that the Surgeon General went against medical guidance, while the actual contradiction lies in his statement.
Recent Articles
Summer 2024: Record COVID-19 Surge in ER Patients and New Variants in Florida and Western States
Broke On: Monday, 03 June 2024CDC reports a summer surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the US. Florida sees one of the highest increases in emergency room patients with COVID-19. Two new variants, KP.3 and LB.1, contribute to this trend. 
New Drug Tirzepatide Shows Promise in Improving Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms: Study Findings and FDA Request
Broke On: Friday, 21 June 2024New studies suggest that tirzepatide, a compound in Zepbound, alleviates symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea for individuals with obesity. These findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at an ADA conference. Eli Lilly, the manufacturer and funder of these trials, has requested FDA approval to expand Zepbound's use for this condition, potentially making it the first drug specifically designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea. 
New COVID-19 Subvariants KP.2 and KP.3: Concerns of Potential Rise in Cases as Summer Approaches
Broke On: Monday, 03 June 2024As COVID-19 cases potentially rise with new subvariants KP.2 and KP.3 of the Omicron variant, health experts urge increased vigilance, especially as wastewater surveillance programs show increasing SARS-CoV-2 levels. The upcoming fall vaccine is expected to provide protection against these novel variants and their subvariants. 
New Study: Semaglutide in Ozempic Reduces Risk of Serious Kidney Outcomes, Major Cardiovascular Events, and Death for Diabetes Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Broke On: Friday, 24 May 2024New findings from the FLOW trial show semaglutide, a compound in Ozempic, reduces risk of serious kidney outcomes, major cardiovascular events and death for diabetes patients with chronic kidney disease. Wegovy Approved to Reduce Heart Complications in Overweight People with Cardiovascular Disease by 20%
Broke On: Monday, 18 March 2024Wegovy, a weight loss drug approved by the FDA for reducing cardiovascular risks in overweight people with heart disease, is now being used to reduce the risk of major heart complications including heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular-related deaths. The new label expansion for Wegovy indicates that it can be used to reduce these risks by 20% in this population. This approval opens up a new market for weight loss drugs and could greatly expand older adults' access to treatments that so far have been limited. 
Florida Surgeon General Defies Medical Guidance During Measles Outbreak
Broke On: Sunday, 25 February 2024Florida's surgeon general has allowed unvaccinated children to attend school amid a measles outbreak, despite medical guidance and CDC warnings. The state currently has the largest US measles outbreak with 35 cases across fifteen states. 
Eli Lilly Takes a Stand Against Using Mounjaro and Zepbound for Cosmetic Weight Loss, Launches Telehealth Platform to Connect Patients with Prescribers
Broke On: Saturday, 06 January 2024Eli Lilly has taken a stand against using Mounjaro and Zepbound for cosmetic weight loss, stating that these medications are intended to treat serious diseases. The company also launched a new platform called LillyDirect to connect patients with prescribers via telehealth appointments and order direct home delivery of select Lilly medicines through third-party pharmacy dispensing services. However, the launch of this platform has raised concerns among doctors who worry about virtual medicine's potential to replace in-person examinations for treating obesity.
