Tensions mount as Trump considers candidates for top health positions, a documentary highlights the overlap between autism and gender dysphoria, and ‘citation cartels’ are gaming the publication system.

Donald Trump seems to see science through the lens of conspiracy, Brexit may spur an exodus of scientific talent from the United Kingdom, and preterm babies show atypical brain activity before birth.

Some women who have children with autism look in the mirror, an accounting firm predicts profit from employees on the spectrum, and 2016 was a slow year for drug approvals.

The jury is still out on autism screening, technology to track wandering children is under attack, and a sensitive Santa Claus sees children on the spectrum.

Drugs for autism and epilepsy have their day in court, a spending bill leaves scientists in limbo, and researchers should speak up to correct misinformation.

Immune molecules could be targets for autism treatments, the battle for CRISPR’s patent may be nearing an end, and a plan to give postdoctoral researchers overtime pay is scuttled.

Scientists are nervous about the next four years, grant money is making preprints more common, and researchers should grab a beer with a science writer.

Some say a focus on basic neuroscience is crushing clinical research, a gene database gets a big upgrade, and Autism Speaks revises its goals.

Scientists test CRISPR as a cancer treatment, an app could help parents pick up on hints of autism, and a Dutch science academy tries to tilt its ranks toward women.

Researchers must rally in the wake of Trump’s triumph, scientists harshly critique their colleagues on social media, and women in science are more collaborative than men.