Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

chevron_right

#1733 The Impossible Promise of Make American Healthy Again: MAHA vs MAGA

Aug 27, 2025

Guest

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Guest

Fiona Havers

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former Trump administration HHS Secretary and environmental activist, joins Dr. Fiona Havers, an infectious disease expert with ties to the CDC. They discuss the Make America Healthy Again movement, critically examining its failure to create genuine health reforms while aligning with pro-corporate agendas. The duo highlights the dangers of cutting mRNA vaccine funding and the rise of misinformation in public health. They also explore the complex intersections of health policy, corporate interests, and the urgent need for systemic changes amidst rising distrust in the medical community.

03:09:37

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Advisory Capture Threatens Vaccine Policy

RFK Jr.'s HHS reshuffle put prominent anti-vax activists on ACIP and removed liaison groups.
That shift can change vaccine recommendations, access, and insurer coverage far beyond rhetoric.

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Make Noise To Protect Vaccine Access

Speak out to representatives and older adults about the real-life costs of limiting vaccine access.
Pressure insurers, Congress, and local leaders to preserve vaccine recommendations and coverage.

insights

INSIGHT

Wellness Industry Funds Health Misinformation

The modern wellness industry matured into a billion-dollar misinformation ecosystem that funds anti-vax and 'health freedom' movements.
Celebrity influencers and lax supplement regulation turned health skepticism into profit.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Concerns Over Canceled Funding for mRNA Vaccine Development

01:55 • 4min

chevron_right

Understanding mRNA Vaccines and Their Impact

06:02 • 3min

chevron_right

Vaccines, Misinformation, and Public Health

09:23 • 11min

chevron_right

Public Health Challenges and Misinformation

20:05 • 14min

chevron_right

Unpacking the Food System: Profit, Policy, and Public Health

34:01 • 5min

chevron_right

Navigating Health Policy Challenges

39:29 • 17min

chevron_right

Navigating the Intersection of Public Health and Corporate Interests

56:07 • 5min

chevron_right

The Intersection of Corporate Interests and Public Health Policy

01:00:59 • 3min

chevron_right

Navigating Public Health: The Clash of Political Agendas and Childhood Wellness

01:04:02 • 11min

chevron_right

Contradictions in U.S. Health Policy

01:15:16 • 15min

chevron_right

Controversy and Misinformation in Vaccine Discussions

01:30:05 • 9min

chevron_right

Vaccination Votes and Public Health Dynamics

01:39:25 • 15min

chevron_right

The Paradox of Autonomy in Health Politics

01:54:51 • 5min

chevron_right

The Intersection of Politics and Public Health: Social Spending and Community Impact

01:59:47 • 5min

chevron_right

The Intersection of Medicine, Mistrust, and Alternative Health Movements

02:05:13 • 10min

chevron_right

Navigating the Complexities of the Make American Healthy Again Movement

02:14:54 • 4min

chevron_right

The Evolution of Wellness and Political Ideologies

02:18:55 • 7min

chevron_right

FDA, Pharma, and Public Trust

02:25:37 • 11min

chevron_right

Navigating Public Health Communication

02:36:11 • 9min

chevron_right

Health Narratives and Food Policy

02:44:44 • 17min

chevron_right

Environmental Policy and Food Security Challenges

03:01:37 • 3min

chevron_right

Impacts of Funding Cuts on SNAP and Public Health

03:04:15 • 21min

chevron_right

Community Engagement and Content Highlights

03:25:32 • 2min

chevron_right

On Immunity and Inoculation

Eula Biss

#14013

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

The birth of the clinic

An Archaeology of Medical Perception

Michel Foucault

In 'The Birth of the Clinic,' Michel Foucault examines the transformation of medical perception and practice during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He introduces the concept of the 'medical gaze,' a new way of observing and interpreting the body that shifted from theoretical constructs to direct observation and examination. Foucault argues that this shift was not merely an improvement in medical knowledge but a fundamental change in the structures of knowledge itself, reflecting broader societal and power changes. The book critiques traditional histories of medicine, highlighting how the clinic became a site of pedagogy and power, where the transmission of knowledge was tied to the practice of observation and the examination of the body. Foucault also explores the socio-political implications of these changes, including the objectification of the patient and the increasing authority of medical professionals.

Air Date 8/27/2025

RFK Jr. and the Make America Healthy Again movement aren't completely wrong about everything, they often identify the larger structural problems with the US health industrial complex even if their proposed solutions are wildly off the mark. But the problem they failed to see coming when partnering with Trump and the Republicans is that they're only going to be allowed to misguidedly defund and dismantle parts of the government that support health which is in line with the broader burn-it-all-down vibes of the MAGA movement, but under no circumstances will they be allowed to implement new regulations that might actually do the public some good at the expense of corporate interests because that would go against the pro-corporate/deregulation obsession of the Republican Party. So, MAHA might be a mixed bag but what the country is getting is a lose/lose.

Be part of the show! Leave us a message or text at 202-999-3991, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Full Show Notes

Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube!

BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)

Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!

Join our Discord community!

KEY POINTS

KP 1: RFK Jr. Is Putting American Lives At Risk Part 1 - What A Day - Air Date 8-8-25

KP 2: What the Wellness Industry Doesn't Want You to Know Part 1 - More Perfect Union - Air Date 8-4-25

KP 3: Aryn Melton Backus of 'Fired But Fighting' on RFK's War on Public Health Part 1 - The BradCast - Air Date 8-11-25

KP 4: Despite 'MAHA' Fuss, Truth of Trump Admin's Health Priorities Seen in Drastic Cuts - The Briefing - Air Date 5-23-25

KP 5: The Nutrition Lies We All Fell For Part 1 - Rich Roll - Air Date 8-11-25

KP 6: Dr. Mikes Fight to Save Medicine From RFK Jr. Part 1 - Bulwark Takes - Air Date 8-4-24

KP 7: You're on Your Own MAHA Dismantles Public Health Rob Wallace & Rita Valenti Part 1 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 8-7-25

(00:53:06) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On why regulations are written in blood

DEEPER DIVES

(01:01:33) SECTION A: MAHA AGENDA

A1: Kennedy's MAHA Report Targets Vaccines, Food Supply and Prescription Drugs - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 5-22-25

A2: Raul Ruiz Absolutely Hammers RFK Jr. Over MAHA Report 'That's Lying And Dishonest' - Forbes Breaking News - Air Date 6-24-25

A3: 270 Kennedy's Bloodbath Part 1 - Conspirituality - Air Date 8-14-25

A4: RFK Jr.'s New Vaccine Advisors Signal Big Changes to Come - Short Wave - Air Date 6-30-25

A5: RFK Jr. Is Putting American Lives At Risk Part 2 - What A Day - Air Date 8-8-25

A6: 270 Kennedy's Bloodbath Part 2 - Conspirituality - Air Date 8-14-25

A7: You're on Your Own MAHA Dismantles Public Health Rob Wallace & Rita Valenti Part 2 - This Is Hell! - Air Date 8-7-25

(01:53:49) SECTION B: THE GRIFTERS

B1: What the Wellness Industry Doesn't Want You to Know Part 2 - More Perfect Union - Air Date 8-4-25

B2: Make America Healthy Again Part 1 - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Air Date 8-18-25

B3: The Nutrition Lies We All Fell For Part 2 - Rich Roll - Air Date 8-11-25

B4: Dr. Mikes Fight to Save Medicine From RFK Jr. Part 2 - Bulwark Takes - Air Date 8-4-24

B5: Make America Healthy Again Part 2 - Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - Air Date 8-18-25

(02:36:28) SECTION C: CON-TRADICTORY POLICIES

C1: The Nutrition Lies We All Fell For Part 3 - Rich Roll - Air Date 8-11-25

C2: 4 Ways SNAP Benefits Will Change After Trump's Big Policy Act - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 8-9-25

C3: Aryn Melton Backus of 'Fired But Fighting' on RFK's War on Public Health Part 2 - The BradCast - Air Date 8-11-25

C4: Ending Corporate Harm Undue Influence Within Corporate Product Health and Safety with Dr. Tracey Woodruff, PhD, MPH - Cult Conversations The Influence Continuum - Air Date 7-28-25

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Composite image showing a circular screen grab showing from HHS Secretary RFK Jr. wearing the MAHA hat and pulling down the brim to show the "Make America Healthy Again" text, on a green background.

Credit: Composite design by A. Hoffman. Image Source: HHS "Netzpolitik Demonstration for press freedom in Berlin" by Sebaso, Wikimedia Commons | License: CC BY-SA 4.0 | Changes: Cropped

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere!

Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Home Top podcasts Popular guests Top books