America Dissected

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in health policy this week including: RFK Jr’s plan to form a national registry of Americans with autism The shift to make US health policy look more like Europe’s The latest news on the Texas measles outbreak A White House budget proposal that calls for cutting $40 billion from HHS next year Why NIH’s top expert on ultra-processed foods left the agency Then Abdul interviews Harvard polling expert Dr. Gillian SteelFisher about a new survey on pandemic safety measures -- and most Americans are more open than you think! And a special thanks to deBeaumont Foundation for their contribution to today’s interview.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.

Abdul and Katelyn cover this week’s health news, which includes: RFK’s bizarre promise to reveal the cause of Autism by September The latest in the Texas measles outbreak Why DOGE cuts have left HHS data systems vulnerable to cyberhacks The discovery of lead in Milwaukee’s drinking water, and CDC’s failure to help The risks of RFK’s Jr’s crusade against fluoride Then Abdul sits down with Dr. Zachary Rubin to talk about allergy season and the many questions we have about antihistamines, peanuts and pollen!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: The foundation advances policy, builds partnerships, and strengthens systems to give everyone the opportunity to achieve their best possible health. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org. Boll & Branch: Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets, at BollandBranch.com/AD.

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest news in health and policy, including: The third measles death this year - an 8-year-old girl in Texas RFK Jr’s weak response to the measles outbreak The impact of tariffs on healthcare and insurance prices Why Medicare and Medicaid won’t expand access to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic A federal ruling that restores funding to research labs for “indirect costs” Then Abdul sits down with an old friend, Scott Hugo, who has been battling Long Covid for more than a year. Abdul and Scott discuss how his life has dramatically changed by this illness, and the fallout from the Trump Administration’s decision to cut Long Covid research.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: The foundation advances policy, builds partnerships, and strengthens systems to give everyone the opportunity to achieve their best possible health. To learn more, visit debeaumont.org. Quince: Go to Quince.com/AD for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order.

Guests Nat Kendall-Taylor and Julie Sweetland from the Frameworks Institute discuss vital communication strategies around vaccine hesitancy and public health. They emphasize the importance of framing discussions to rebuild trust, focusing on shared values instead of just data. The conversation highlights the challenges faced in public health with workforce reductions and rising anti-vaccination sentiments, while underscoring the role of storytelling in effectively conveying scientific concepts and fostering emotional connections.

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.

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.

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. Thrive Market: Head to thrivemarket.com/AD and get 30% off your first order, plus a FREE $60 gift!

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:Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/AD

Robert Califf, Former FDA Commissioner and current Duke University instructor, shares insights on pressing public health issues. He discusses the consequences of recent workforce cuts at the FDA, impacting medical device approvals and public safety. Califf also highlights the urgent vaccine efforts needed amidst the ongoing measles outbreak in Texas and the risks posed by misinformation in public health policy. The conversation emphasizes the critical need for investment in health agencies to tackle future challenges effectively.