Podcast Examines Summer Health Crises and the Politics Shaping U.S. Public Health
Epidemiologist Jessica Malaty Rivera joins host Al Letson to discuss recent U.S. health scares and how political forces influence the federal response.
In a new installment of More To The Story, epidemiologist Jessica Malaty Rivera returns to converse with host Al Letson about a string of public-health incidents that have dominated recent headlines, including cyclospora-tainted lettuce, a deadly hantavirus strain on a cruise ship, and recurring Legionnaires’ disease in major cities. Rivera also addresses the controversy surrounding measles outbreaks and the refusal of RFK Jr. to accept responsibility, as well as the historic effort to link vaccines with autism under the Trump administration.
The discussion turns to Dr. Anthony Fauci’s recent contempt of Congress citation during a contentious COVID-19 hearing. Throughout, Rivera stresses the need to rebuild public confidence in science, warning that partisan politics frequently dictate the federal response to health emergencies rather than sound medical evidence.
Why it matters
Understanding how politics shapes health policy helps citizens evaluate the credibility of public-health guidance.
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