Benjamin Mueller

Apoorva Mandavilli, a science reporter at The New York Times, and Benjamin Mueller, a health and medicine reporter, dive into the recent CDC cuts to childhood vaccines under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. They discuss which vaccines have been removed and the rationale behind this shift toward individualized decision-making. The duo also explores the medical community's divided reactions, concerns about clinician time, and potential public health implications. The roots of vaccine skepticism in the broader medical freedom movement are examined, alongside practical advice for parents on vaccine access.

Benjamin Mueller, a health and science correspondent for The New York Times, dives deep into the ongoing debate about COVID-19's origins. He discusses the recent claims from the Energy Department suggesting a lab leak might be the cause, alongside the political dynamics complicating the search for answers. Insights include the contrasting theories of lab leaks versus zoonotic spillovers and the challenges faced by scientists in tracking the virus's beginnings. Mueller emphasizes the importance of transparency in understanding this global health crisis.