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Incision Media LLC

Wellness isn’t just about mindfulness, exercise, or the right skin routine. Science, politics, media, culture, tech — everything around us — interact to shape our health. On America Dissected, Drs. Abdul El-Sayed and Katelyn Jetelina cuts into what really makes us sick — be it racism, corporate greed, or snake oil influencers — and what it'll take to heal it. From for-profit healthcare to ineffective sunscreens, America Dissected cuts deeper into the state of health in America. New episodes every Thursday. Want to know where to start? Here are some fan-favorite episodes to search: Cannabis Capitalism with David Jernigan; Weight Weight Don’t Tell me with Harriett Brown; Black Scientists Matter with Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett.

America Dissected

Abdul and Katelyn discuss another inundating week in public health, which includes:

 The sudden departure of the CDC Director, Susan Monarez, just weeks after her confirmation

 The resignations of three other top leaders at HHS

 FDA’s approval of the fall Covid booster, which limits the vaccine to seniors and people at high risk, as well as new alternative recommendations from major medical organizations

 A Supreme Court ruling that puts a new legal wrinkle in the fight to restore NIH grants

 The rise of radioactive shrimp and flying flesh-eating maggots

Then as we look ahead to Labor Day, Abdul sits down with Dr. Taylor Walker, the president of the largest labor union representing physicians. We are dark next week for the holiday.

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 Work. Science Matters.” 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:

Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code DISSECTED at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/dissected

OneSkin: Get 15% off OneSkin with the code DISSECTED at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

Exodus at the CDC

Abdul and Katelyn are energized by the first meeting of the Vaccine Integrity Project, which was founded to serve as an alternative to RFK Jr’s ACIP. They also discuss:

 
A new letter to Congress, signed by more than 700 CDC employees, which calls HHS Secretary Kennedy complicit in endangering the nation's health and the recent shooting at the CDC headquarters

 
The fallout from a draft report on childhood chronic disease, which suggests RFK Jr is folding on his promise to ban agricultural pesticides

 
The future of vaccines in the US without mRNA research, following RFK Jr’s decision to cut $500 million in research grants

Then, Abdul sits down with Dr. Michael Osterholm, a founding member of the Vaccine Integrity Project Steering Committee, to discuss the goals, processes and future of the organization.

To read and/or add your name to the CDC’s letter to Congress, click here.

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:

NPR Life Kit: Listen now to the Life Kit podcast from NPR.

Public Health Punched Back

Abdul and Katelyn condemn the violence at the CDC headquarters last week, and the startlingly weak response from lawmakers. Then they unpack Trump’s newest executive order, which seeks to give his own appointees the power to approve federal grants. They also discuss the future of the FDA as Vinay Prasad makes his return, following his resignation last month.

Then Abdul talks to Sherrell Byrd, founder of SOWEGA Rising, which has organized in rural Georgia to bring fresh produce to rural communities that lack grocery stores. They discuss the health implications of food deserts, and how food justice can change lives.

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 Work. Science Matters.” 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: Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Bullets at CDC

Abdul unpacks the week in public health, which includes:

 Vinay Prasad’s exit from FDA

 Susan Monarez’s confirmation to lead CDC

 New childhood vaccination data

 The EPA’s move to rollback the endangerment finding

 Why more experts have been ousted from ACIP

Then Abdul interviews professor Dr. Brian Willoughby about his research on porn use among young people, and what parents should know about modern porn content.

Note: We recorded this episode before RFK Jr announced the cancellation of $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine development. However, Abdul and Katelyn discussed the threat of mRNA research cuts in our May 7 and June 3 episodes. (their May convo begins at 00:11:00 / their June convo begins at 00:16:00)

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 Work. Science Matters.” t-shirts!

New Casualties on RFK Jr’s Chopping Block

Abdul and Katelyn unpack the latest headlines on RFK Jr and HHS, followed by some optimistic news on the spread of measles and Covid. Then Abdul talks to public health educator Dorian Johnson about the wild world of TikTok and Instagram - and how health professionals can harness it to build more trust and goodwill with the public.

This episode was made in collaboration with our sponsor deBeaumont Foundation. You can follow Dorian Johnson on social media @thephuncle on TikTok and Instagram.

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!

Another Day, Another RFK Headline

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in public health including:

 
Congress’ vote to reinstate $400 million in funding for global AIDS treatment

 
Trump’s budget proposal to cut 40% of the NIH budget

 
The health differences in Coca Cola sweetened with sugar vs high fructose corn syrup

 
Why heart attack is no longer the leading cause of death in the US

 
A comprehensive review of GI cancer research that show sharp rise in cases among young people

Then Abdul talks to Dr. Elaine Batchlor from Martin Luther King Jr Community Healthcare about how the impending Medicaid cuts will strain hospitals that serve low-income 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:

NPR Life Kit: Listen now to the Life Kit podcast from NPR.

Quince: Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Sugar Daddies and Budget Baddies

Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in public health news, including:

 Why the cancellation of a key federal health meeting could spell trouble for the future of preventative care in America

 The Trump Administration's latest move to intimidate doctors

 Medicare’s plan to use AI to help make decisions on prior authorizations

 Moderna’s new Covid vaccine, and why it’s only authorized for kids at high risk

Then Abdul talks to fitness influencer Dr. Mike Israetel about his approach to explaining evidence-based science on bodybuilding, and how to build trust with an audience prone to fringe theories.

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:Ground News: Go to groundnews.com/AD today to get forty percent off the Ground News Vantage plan and get access to all of their news analysis features.

Stall Tactics and Scare Tactics

Abdul and Katelyn catch up on a harrowing week in public health, after Republicans passed Trump’s mega bill. They discuss:

 
New work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP beneficiaries

 
Why rural hospitals risk closure due to the upcoming changes to Medicaid

 
New renewal requirements for people who buy health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces

 
A new high in measles cases, which now jeopardize our “elimination status” distinction

 
A recent court ruling that halts RFK Jr’s plans to restructure HHS

Then Abdul talks to Dr. Andres Lopez from the Coalition of Communities of Color about their organization's innovative work in community data collection.

This interview was produced in collaboration with our sponsor deBeaumont Foundation.

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: Go to Quince.com/AD for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.

Boll & Branch: Get 20% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at BollAndBranch.com /AD.

A Big Brutal Bill

Abdul and Katelyn discuss a busy week in health news including:

 The most troubling aspects of this week's ACIP meeting, after RFK Jr's appointees convened to set vaccine policy for next fall.

 A flimsy deal among the nation's biggest health insurers, who mutually pinky-promised to improve their prior authorization processes.

 RFK Jr's announcement that the US will no longer fund GAVI, the global organization that vaccinates poor children around the world.

 A new court order that demands the Trump Administration reinstate hundreds of NIH grants.

Then Abdul sits down with author and legal expert Leah Litman to discuss the biggest SCOTUS rulings of the year, and what it means for the future of public health.

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:

Boll & Branch: Feel the difference an extraordinary night’s sleep can make. Get 15% off, plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at bollandbranch.com/ad

MAHA Comes for Vaccine

Abdul shares a scheduling note, as we closely track this week's ACIP meeting.

A quick note about this week's episode

We bring back an episode from Season 1 that remains relevant today: The Opioid Crisis has wreaked havoc across America, taking lives and devastating families, neighborhoods, and communities. But this isn’t the first time we’ve suffered a deadly drug crisis. In today’s episode, Abdul tells the tale of two crises: the opioid epidemic of today and the crack epidemic of the 1980s, contrasting the government’s and media’s responses to these crises—and what they tell us about the nature of drug use and structural racism in America.

For a transcript of this show, please visit crooked.com/americadissected.

A Tale of Two Crises: Opiates vs. Crack (from Season 1)

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