MTT #98: Can patients and doctors still trust the CDC, FDA?

In this episode of Medicine: The Truth, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr dig into growing public distrust in the two government agencies charged with protecting Americans’ health: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Recent shakeups, including the resignation of top leaders and staff reductions, highlight just how politicized these organizations have become. Pearl doesn’t mince words. He calls the situation “chaotic and unscientific,” warning that the politicization of vaccine policy under the Kennedy administration could undermine decades of scientific progress and further erode public trust in medical guidance.

He walks listeners through what changed, why it matters and what might happen next—including how states and medical societies are beginning to defy federal policy by issuing their own vaccine recommendations.

Other key topics discussed:

• New vaccine restrictions under RFK Jr.: COVID vaccines now limited to high-risk individuals under 65, with added barriers for children under 18.
• Loss of expert oversight: RFK Jr. fired all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, replacing them with politically aligned individuals, some lacking immunization expertise.
• Fragmented guidance: For the first time in 30 years, national medical societies have issued their own vaccine guidelines that contradict CDC policy.
• mRNA research halted: A $500M grant program supporting mRNA vaccine innovation has been canceled, threatening progress in cancer, autoimmune disease and rare conditions.
• A clear explainer on mRNA tech: Pearl delivers a step-by-step explanation of how mRNA vaccines are developed and why they’re safer, faster and potentially life-saving in pandemics and cancer prevention.
• RFK Jr.’s false claims: Pearl debunks Kennedy’s assertion that mRNA vaccines are the “deadliest ever made,” calling it one of the most unscientific claims in recent memory.
• Draft autism report warning: Pearl criticizes an upcoming government report on autism that he expects will repackage discredited vaccine-autism links.
• Food industry appeasement: The “Make America Healthy Again” agenda is criticized for lacking concrete actions on nutrition policy, instead promising more studies of already well-documented problems.
• Medicare funding risks: If federal deficits continue, automatic cuts could slash Medicare by $500B between 2027–2034, which would further destabilize the system.
• Price transparency report: A new analysis from Trilliant Health reveals 9-to-1 variation in what insurers pay for the same surgery, even within the same state or hospital.
• Tech & dementia risk: A meta-analysis of 37 studies finds that older adults using smartphones, computers and the internet may have a reduced risk of cognitive decline, possibly due to reduced social isolation.
• Stalking & heart disease: Women who are stalked or file restraining orders have a significantly higher risk of heart attacks and strokes (up to 70% more) due to prolonged stress and fear.
• Flu shots & allergies: A listener asks about egg allergy risk. Pearl reassures listeners that even in patients with anaphylaxis history, flu vaccines are safe and strongly recommended.
• HPV awareness gap: More than one-third of U.S. adults haven’t heard of HPV, and over half don’t know it causes oral and cervical cancer—despite a highly effective vaccine.
• Child mortality shame:S. babies and children are nearly twice as likely to die before adulthood compared to peers in other wealthy nations.
• Screwworm fly case: A Maryland man becomes the first confirmed U.S. case this year after travel to El Salvador. Pearl explains the biology behind this gruesome but rare parasite.

Tune in to hear Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr cut through the noise with their signature mix of clarity, candor and evidence-based analysis. Once again, the duo exposes misinformation, challenges political spin and helps listeners make sense of what’s really going on.

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Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn

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