Editor + senior staff writer @pubhealthwatch Host + writer of "Fumed" ➡️ FumedPodcast.com Tips: dleffler@publichealthwatch.org
Austin, TX
Joined April 2016
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🚨NEW PODCAST🚨
Toxic chemical leaks. Devastating hurricanes and floods. Barges loaded with hazardous materials.
Welcome to Channelview, TX — where two stubborn Texans are fighting back against the petrochemical companies taking over their town.
FumedPodcast.com
David Leffler retweeted
Thanks to our friends at NPR for republishing our piece on the dire consequences of looming Medicaid cuts in the Mississippi River Delta.
npr.org/sections/shots-healt…
David Leffler retweeted
Read the full story from @DavidJLeffler ➡️
publichealthwatch.org/2025/1…
David Leffler retweeted
NEW from @pubhealthwatch @DavidJLeffler:
A Community Burdened by Chemical Waste Is Demanding Cancer Data. Texas Health Officials Won’t Give It to Them. The data shows extraordinarily high rates of disease. publichealthwatch.org/2025/1…
David Leffler retweeted
Scientists at @texasdshs refuse to release key geographic details for a shocking cancer study. Experts say the decision is irresponsible.
“This is either a systematic error, or the entire state of Texas should be mobilized to find out why this is true.”
publichealthwatch.org/2025/1…
🧨My latest investigation just went live. 🧨
Texas health officials refused to release cancer data to contaminated communities. Experts say that decision is irresponsible and unfounded.
This is a story we should all be disturbed by.
publichealthwatch.org/2025/1…
🏆 Fumed wins another national award! 🏆
Fumed just won the bronze award for regional/local reporting in the 2025 Bartlett & Steele awards. This is a super prestigious award from @BizJournalism.
Let's go!
businessjournalism.org/2025/…
Big news: Fumed has been named a finalist for the Signal Awards! It's a huge honor for the @pubhealthwatch team and an affirmation of residents' work to save Channelview, Texas, from becoming a petrochemical wasteland.
vote.signalaward.com/PublicV…
David Leffler retweeted
NEW: Last week, oil literally rained down on a Black town in rural Louisiana where 60% of folks live in poverty.
The company isn’t taking responsibility & the federal + state governments are saying residents have to clean it up themselves.
capitalbnews.org/louisiana-o…
David Leffler retweeted
Having epilepsy and no health insurance can exact a heavy toll. The plight is likely more common in Texas.
“I can go to any of the four states that border Texas and get Medicaid. In Texas, no ma’am.”
From @pubhealthwatch, co-published with @TPRNews: tpr.org/news/2025-08-26/havi…
David Leffler retweeted
"Today, a single parent in Texas can’t qualify [for Medicaid] if she or he makes more than $1,300 a year."
Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the U.S. Among the ranks are thousands with epilepsy, a life-altering brain disorder.
It’s expensive to treat, so health coverage is crucial, though often out of reach.
NEW from the Uninsured in America project: publichealthwatch.org/2025/0…
David Leffler retweeted
“Get seizure-free, get a job, have a seizure, lose their job, lose their insurance and they’re back at our clinic,” said Martin. “We see this cycle over and over.”
Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the U.S. Among the ranks are thousands with epilepsy, a life-altering brain disorder.
It’s expensive to treat, so health coverage is crucial, though often out of reach.
NEW from the Uninsured in America project: publichealthwatch.org/2025/0…
David Leffler retweeted
Holy - look at this.
Senator Rick Scott just disclosed trades more than a year late.
They were worth $26,000,000. You did not read that wrong.
He traded millions on companies he legislated.
Unusual.
David Leffler retweeted
This is important: At least *172 million* Americans are drinking water that's polluted with toxic #PFAS, according to new @EPA data. That more than 1/2 the total U.S. population & a large share of water supplies have yet to be tested. #ForeverChemicals @CrownPublishing 1/ ewg.org/interactive-maps/pfa…
David Leffler retweeted
Alzheimer’s continues to cripple Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. State leaders still aren’t doing enough. | In partnership with @pubhealthwatch | #RGV
myrgv.com/alerts-brh/2025/08…
David Leffler retweeted
U.S. spending on services — hotels, airfare, dining — has been down for three straight months, the first time since 2008, per Bank of America.
David Leffler retweeted
None of the journalists killed last night even made it to 35. Western headlines try to tarnish their legacies, but they spent their youth covering their homeland’s genocide.
Anas Al Sharif was 29.
Mohammed Qreiqea was 33.
Mohamed Nofal was 28.
Ibrahim Zaher was 25.
David Leffler retweeted
Who was Anas al-Sharif, famous Gaza journalist killed by Israel? bbc.in/4fwRROM
David Leffler retweeted
don't forget your @Shell™️ backpack, kids
School will be back in session soon so let’s drive smarter and safer around school zones. Slow down, stay alert, and protect our kids.
@houstonpolice will lead a citywide effort to enforce school zone safety. Let’s all do our part.
David Leffler retweeted
Children starving to death, journalists exterminated, 2 million people on the brink of death. And the big New York papers continue to tell you it's a "war against terrorists."
cbsnews.com/news/gaza-starva…