Miles and Dr. Rob break down the confirmation hearing of Surgeon General nominee Casey Means, and ask the uncomfortable question at the center of it: is she actually practicing medicine? From dodging questions on vaccines and the MMR shot to conflicts of interest tied to glucose monitors and supplement culture, the hearing revealed deep concerns about qualifications, transparency, and the future of public health messaging. Plus: Susan Collins’ surprising focus on magic mushrooms, and what it all says about the politics of “MAHA.”
The hosts also unpack Trump’s latest health care claims during his State of the Union address, the looming Medicaid funding freeze in Minnesota, Dr. Oz’s appearance in the Epstein files, and a major shakeup in Wisconsin politics as rural hospitals close and longtime GOP leadership exits. As Republicans float an alternative to the WHO that would cost significantly more than current U.S. contributions, one question keeps surfacing: is this health policy — or political theater?
Background reading:
The Hill: Senators grill surgeon general pick Casey Means on vaccines
The Hill: Trump’s surgeon general pick won’t urge vaccines for measles, flu, whooping cough
The Hill: Collins questions Casey Means on ‘magic mushroom’ use during confirmation hearing
Trump saying he’s “lifted 2.4 million Americans off of food stamps” is HERE
CNN: Fact check: Trump makes false claims about the economy, elections and crime in State of the Union
NPR: Read NPR’s annotated fact check of President Trump’s State of the Union
CNN: Trump wants to focus on health care in the midterms, creating headaches for the GOP
Reuters: Senior US health official Oz invited Epstein to Valentine’s Day party, documents show
CNBC: Vance says administration is pausing some Medicaid funding to Minnesota because of fraud concerns
The Washington Post: After blasting WHO costs, Trump officials propose more expensive alternative
WISN: Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announces he won’t run for reelection
Wisconsin Public Radio: Issue of health care access hits close to home in western Wisconsin
POLITICO: FDA’s reversal on Moderna flu shot bid followed White House pressure
RFK Jr.’s statement justifying his support of Trump’s Exec. Order on glyphosate is HERE
AP: Bayer agrees to $7.25 billion proposed settlement over thousands of Roundup cancer lawsuits
Toby Rogers on X
thereal_truther on X
Environmental Working Group: Trump’s glyphosate executive order a ‘big middle finger to every MAHA mom’
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