Podcast Summary: "Measles Outbreak, TrumpRx & Mass Firings at the FDA"

Podcast: That Can't Be True with Chelsea Clinton
Host: Chelsea Clinton (Lemonada Media & The Clinton Foundation)
Guest: Elizabeth Booker Houston
Date: October 23, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the chaotic and politicized landscape of American public health in 2025. Host Chelsea Clinton speaks with Elizabeth Booker Houston—privacy lawyer, social scientist, former FDA employee, comedian, and political commentator—about the ongoing measles outbreaks, the mass firings at federal health agencies under the Trump administration, and the proliferation of pseudo-scientific wellness trends. Together, they examine the real-world consequences of misinformation, regulatory rollbacks, and the loss of trusted public servants.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Elizabeth Booker Houston's Unique Perspective

• Houston details her overlapping careers in law, social science, and comedy, emphasizing how these inform her public health communication.
• She discusses the prevalence of lawyers turning to standup comedy as a creative outlet after enduring the rigors of law school.
  • “Law school is hazing. It’s hell. … I would walk barefoot across hot coals before I went back.”
    (Elizabeth, 02:36)

2. Measles Outbreaks and Anti-Vax Misinformation

• Hundreds of children are quarantined due to measles exposure because of declining vaccination rates.
• Clinton and Houston discuss how pseudoscientific fears—particularly the debunked link between MMR vaccines and autism—continue to harm public health.
  • “I would much rather my child be safe and beautiful and sleeping in his bed every night even though he’s autistic, rather than having to put him in a box from a preventable disease.”
    (Elizabeth, 07:43)
• Houston points out the historical and ongoing role of the wellness industry in spreading misinformation for profit.

3. Erosion of Trust and Expertise in Federal Agencies

• The Trump administration’s mass layoffs at the FDA, CDC, and NIH are described as unprecedented and dangerous.
• Houston highlights that terms like “bureaucrat” are weaponized to justify firing subject-matter experts—even as the need for expert guidance grows.
  • “Those are the experts that are needed in order to get the information to people’s doctors.”
    (Elizabeth, 11:51)

4. Behind the Curtain at the FDA

• Houston shares how the FDA’s workforce is shockingly small—about 19,000 worldwide—yet responsible for regulating 20% of the U.S. GDP.
  • “I was one of six people…handling data privacy for the entirety of the FDA.”
    (Elizabeth, 14:43)
• Half the FDA’s budget comes from industry user fees, not taxpayer dollars, debunking the myth that layoffs save public funds.
  • “So what you’re seeing is the smoke and mirror where the administration is lying…when really what they’re doing is they’re firing people who were funded by other sources.”
    (Elizabeth, 15:42)

5. Consequences of Regulatory Rollbacks

• Loss of institutional knowledge threatens the safety of food and drugs:
  • “You can’t just shove somebody after this is all said and done and say, ‘Go learn 20 years of food and drug science and law and information…’”
    (Elizabeth, 17:05)
• Houston describes her own decision to leave the FDA after reaching “a breaking point” under the current administration.
  • “I always knew that…when Trump took office… I would have to go.”
    (Elizabeth, 20:54)

6. Personal Impact and The Real Cost of Firings

• Houston expresses the helplessness even experts feel navigating a drastically weakened regulatory system as both a parent and consumer.
• She underscores the passion and sacrifice of public servants—highlighting strict ethics rules (e.g., not owning relevant stocks) and lesser pay compared to the private sector.

7. Ongoing Political Engagement and Worker Solidarity

• Houston remains active with former colleagues and advocacy groups, amplifying their stories and pushing for legislative accountability.

8. Disintegration of Public Data Infrastructure

• Clinton and Houston discuss the abrupt axing of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) team, which undermines efforts to improve public health and nutrition policy.
  • “When you’re telling me you want to make America healthy again…but then you cut a team whose job is to collect all of the data that you can use to actually make America healthy…I don’t believe you.”
    (Elizabeth, 29:37)

9. Corporate Influence and Regulatory Capture

• Houston highlights the influence of “Big Cherry” and food industry lobbying against public health improvements, in contrast with the strict regulations imposed on FDA employees.
  • “That right there, that is your smoking gun. Where do these members of Congress have their money invested?”
    (Elizabeth, 30:48)

10. Fact or Fiction Rapid-fire Segment

• FDA approval means a product is completely safe: Fiction. Approval is based on a threshold of safety and efficacy, ongoing monitoring is necessary. (36:20)
• TrumpRx.gov will fix drug pricing: Fiction. Lower prices only apply to uninsured, but many lost coverage due to policy cuts—out-of-pocket costs can be drastically higher than under insurance. (37:39)
• FDA tests all drugs and foods itself: Fiction. Much oversight is contracted and coordinated via state/international partners. (39:54)
• FDA regulates all cosmetics: Partly true—cosmetics undergo less pre-market approval; oversight is more limited than for drugs. (40:20)
• FDA regulates supplements: Partly true—supplements are classified as food, not drugs, and do not undergo active approval for safety/efficacy. (41:06)

Notable Quotes

• On wellness myths:
  “Wellness industry...has taken advantage of people and their fears and their concerns about their children and put out complete disinformation.”
  (Elizabeth, 06:06)

• On institutional memory:
  “We’re losing a ton of institutional knowledge…that was a long-term investment that we have now seen completely slashed. Americans…will die. We will see people die from this.”
  (Elizabeth, 17:09)

• On political scapegoating:
  “If there’s anyone who’s being crooked…trying to make an extra dollar at the expense of Americans’ health, it’s not the people…doing the research and the work for decades.”
  (Elizabeth, 31:41)

Important Timestamps

• [04:46] – Measles outbreaks and NBC News clip
• [08:18] – Clinton on being “judgmental” about vaccinated playdates
• [10:00] – Republican leaders' mixed messaging on CDC & HHS
• [14:05] – Houston explains FDA workforce and funding
• [20:54] – Houston describes decision to leave the FDA
• [26:03] – Stat News report: Firing NHANES data team
• [28:13] – FDA/USDA joint authority and food safety explained
• [36:13] – Fact or Fiction segment begins

Memorable Moments

• Houston’s passionate, personal remarks on the reality of being both a parent of an autistic child and a public health advocate.
• The fact that the FDA—regulating a fifth of the U.S. economy—operates with 19,000 employees compared to 30,000 at a single hospital system.
• The absurdity and tragedy of witnessing experienced public health leaders and scientists replaced by industry lawyers and ideologues.

Tone and Language

The conversation is candid, urgent, and at times darkly humorous, reflecting Houston’s background in both public policy and comedy. Clinton provides a steady, concerned voice, grounding the discussion in recent news and personal experience.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a sobering examination of the real dangers posed by misinformation, politicization, and the deliberate erosion of American public health infrastructure. It serves as both a call to action and an exposé, humanizing the experts behind the scenes and sounding the alarm on consequences that are already unfolding.

For more on Elizabeth Booker Houston, find her at @BookerSquared on Instagram.