Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in health policy this week including:
RFK Jr’s plan to form a national registry of Americans with autism
The shift to make US health policy look more like Europe’s
The latest news on the Texas measles outbreak
A White House budget proposal that calls for cutting $40 billion from HHS next year
Why NIH’s top expert on ultra-processed foods left the agency
Then Abdul interviews Harvard polling expert Dr. Gillian SteelFisher about a new survey on pandemic safety measures -- and most Americans are more open than you think! And a special thanks to deBeaumont Foundation for their contribution to today’s interview.
Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!
This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:
de Beaumont Foundation: Find new, research-tested messaging to communicate about public health, plus useful tips for the real-world situations you face, at debeaumont.org.
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1:13:40
A message from Abdul
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1:03
RFK’s September Surprise
Abdul and Katelyn cover this week’s health news, which includes:
RFK’s bizarre promise to reveal the cause of Autism by September
The latest in the Texas measles outbreak
Why DOGE cuts have left HHS data systems vulnerable to cyberhacks
The discovery of lead in Milwaukee’s drinking water, and CDC’s failure to help
The risks of RFK’s Jr’s crusade against fluoride
Then Abdul sits down with Dr. Zachary Rubin to talk about allergy season and the many questions we have about antihistamines, peanuts and pollen!
Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!
This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:
de Beaumont Foundation: The foundation advances policy, builds partnerships, and strengthens systems to give everyone the opportunity to achieve their best possible health. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org.
Boll & Branch: Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets, at BollandBranch.com/AD.
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1:03:25
How Trump’s Tariffs Will Hit Healthcare
Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest news in health and policy, including:
The third measles death this year - an 8-year-old girl in Texas
RFK Jr’s weak response to the measles outbreak
The impact of tariffs on healthcare and insurance prices
Why Medicare and Medicaid won’t expand access to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic
A federal ruling that restores funding to research labs for “indirect costs”
Then Abdul sits down with an old friend, Scott Hugo, who has been battling Long Covid for more than a year. Abdul and Scott discuss how his life has dramatically changed by this illness, and the fallout from the Trump Administration’s decision to cut Long Covid research.
Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!
This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:
de Beaumont Foundation: The foundation advances policy, builds partnerships, and strengthens systems to give everyone the opportunity to achieve their best possible health. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org.
Quince: Go to Quince.com/AD for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order.
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1:00:08
A Bull-DOGE-er to HHS
Abdul and Katelyn contend with a devastating week at HHS, including:
The loss of 20,000 workers
A massive restructuring at HHS
Senior leaders leaving the ranks
The addition of a discredited vaccine skeptic to analyze future data on the MMR vaccine
Then Abdul interviews Nat Kendall-Taylor and Julie Sweetland from the Frameworks Institute about their research on American attitudes around vaccine hesitancy, and how to frame productive public health conversations.
Check out our shop at store.americadissected.com for our new America Dissected merch – including logo shirts, hoodies and mugs. And don’t miss our “Vaccines Matter. Science Works.” t-shirts!
This show would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. America Dissected invites you to check them out. This episode was brought to you by:
de Beaumont Foundation: Find new, research-tested messaging to communicate about public health, plus useful tips for the real-world situations you face, at debeaumont.org.
Ground News: Go to groundnews.com/AD to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan.
Boll & Branch: For a limited time get 20% off at BollAndBranch.com/AD.
Wellness isn’t just about mindfulness, exercise, or the right skin routine. Science, politics, media, culture, tech — everything around us — interact to shape our health. On America Dissected, Drs. Abdul El-Sayed and Katelyn Jetelina cuts into what really makes us sick — be it racism, corporate greed, or snake oil influencers — and what it'll take to heal it. From for-profit healthcare to ineffective sunscreens, America Dissected cuts deeper into the state of health in America. New episodes every Thursday. Want to know where to start? Here are some fan-favorite episodes to search: Cannabis Capitalism with David Jernigan; Weight Weight Don’t Tell me with Harriett Brown; Black Scientists Matter with Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett.
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