Wellness isn’t just about mindfulness, exercise, or the right skin routine. Science, politics, media, culture, tech — everything around us — interact to shape o...
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:
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58:46
Bird Flu, Baby Formula and The Bully Pulpit
Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in the world of public health including:
RFK Jr’s problematic new strategy on avian influenza
A new report showing heavy metals in some US baby formulas
Trump’s attack on higher education
Trump’s new pick to lead the CDC
A shadow CDC website, created by the non-profit founded by RFK Jr.
Katelyn and Abdul’s reaction to that episode of The Daily (iykyk)
How the DOGE cuts are hitting the VA.
Then Abdul interviews urologist Dr. Maria Uloko about her groundbreaking work in sexual health, and the deep gender disparities that she’s working to erase.
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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49:05
We Still Don’t Have a CDC Director. Measles Doesn’t Care.
Abdul and Katelyn round up all the latest health news, including:
The growing measles outbreak out of Texas
RFK Jr’s false claim that the measles vaccine causes death
The withdrawal of Dave Weldon’s nomination at CDC, and who could take his place
Dr. Oz’s confirmation hearings, and what could be next for Medicare and Medicaid
The Covid-era healthcare programs that were extended by the government funding bill
West Virginia’s move to ban food additives, including red dye
The latest round of DOGE cuts
A new COVID variant in South Africa
Then Abdul interviews author Charles Duhigg about his new book Supercommunicators, about the ways physicians and public health workers can have more productive conversations with patients.
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.
Boll & Branch: Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at bollandbranch.com/AD.
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1:04:53
Measles Spreads. So Does Disinformation.
Abdul and Katelyn talk about the current measles outbreak, the danger of relitigating the MMR vaccine again, and the latest round of DOGE cuts to public health. They also peek into the confirmation hearings for Trump’s picks to lead NIH and the FDA, where Senators pressed hard against vaccine skepticism. Then Abdul talks to Adrienne Ammerman, founder of the public health communications platform Arclet.
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: For 25 years, the de Beaumont Foundation has worked to create practical solutions that improve the health of communities across the country. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org.
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1:06:36
RFK Jr’s Measles Doublespeak
This week Abdul is joined by physician and writer Dr. Dhruv Khullar, who is subbing in for Dr. Katelyn Jetelina this week.
Abdul and Dhruv discuss a rash of alarming news out of HHS, including its uneven measles response, more cancelled meetings, a policy change to end public comment, and the re-evaluation of a key bird flu vaccine contract. They also break down the Republican budget plan and explain why its proposed cuts would likely gut Medicaid.
Then Abdul sits down with Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, about the impact of ICE raids on the immigrant community.
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:
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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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