Impolitic with John Heilemann Michael Osterholm: Be Afraid – Very Afraid – of RFK Jr. & The Next Pandemic
Sep 15, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Michael Osterholm, a leading epidemiologist and director at the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, addresses the looming threats to public health under RFK Jr. He critiques the damaging misinformation proliferating in health conversations and highlights the urgent need for effective pandemic preparedness. Dr. Osterholm also shares insights from his new book, stressing that America is woefully unprepared for the next deadly outbreak and advocating for transparency and proactive strategies.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Public Health Alarm Bell
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Senate hearing revealed how deeply damaged the U.S. public health system is under his leadership.
- John Heilemann argues the system is far worse than most realize and sought Michael Osterholm's expertise to assess it.
Why U.S. Health Lags Despite Spending
- The U.S. ranks near the bottom among high-income countries for health outcomes despite high spending.
- Michael Osterholm attributes much of it to obesity, aging, and high rates of elective medical procedures.
Diagnoses Drive Apparent Epidemics
- Autism prevalence rises are largely due to reclassification and better diagnosis, not single external causes.
- Osterholm warns RFK mixes factual claims with falsehoods, making his statements unreliable.
