Citations Needed Citations Needed Live Show Beg-a-Thon: MAHA, TikTok and the Rise of Health-Branded Fascism
Nov 10, 2025
Justin Feldman, a social epidemiologist focused on health and inequality, dives into the alarming rise of health freedom movements. He discusses the 'Granola-to-Fascist' pipeline linking wellness culture with anti-vaccine sentiments. The conversation highlights the historical roots of reactionary health politics and how modern influencers perpetuate these ideologies. Feldman emphasizes the fragility of public health gains and advocates for viewing health as a collective right, urging robust public health messaging to counter the growing grift economy.
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MAHA Fuses Anti-Corporate Rhetoric With Reactionary Politics
- The “Make America Healthy Again” current mixes genuine anti-corporate distrust with reactionary politics and anti-vaccine elements.
- Hosts argue this fusion made RFK Jr.'s health ideology politically potent and media-ready during COVID.
Eco‑Fascism's Historical Roots
- Eco‑fascist strains link conservation rhetoric to racial purity going back to 19th‑century Germany.
- Hosts trace how those ideas informed later movements that conflated health, environment, and nationalism.
Bernard McFadden's Health Empire
- Bernard McFadden built a health empire selling fitness, diet, and anti‑medical ideas in the early 20th century.
- He promoted eugenics, praised Mussolini, and trained fascist cadets while staying popular with American elites.
