With measles cases spreading and reports of the first measles death in 10 years, all eyes are on the new health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, in what is his first real public health test. He said the measles outbreaks were not unusual. According to the CDC and Your Local Epidemiologist newsletter, 2025 has already passed 8 out of the last 15 years in annual counts of measles.

On today's episode: In 2024, after Kennedy rose to join Donald Trump, what we got was a powerful union, between MAGA and MAHA. When Kennedy dropped his independent bid for the White House and endorsed Donald J. Trump, his MAHA supporters rallied behind the Republican candidate.

This merger unites two groups that, at first glance, seem to have little in common. One is a populist movement, championing the working American who feels overlooked and dismissed by the elites. The other is a coalition of wellness enthusiasts and vaccine skeptics, critics of big business, and those wary of pharma’s influence over health policy and advocates of health freedom, coming together in common cause.

But what happens when the realpolitik of governing kicks in, with its focus on priorities, compromises, and funding? Will MAGA rally behind MAHA’s causes, especially if they call for more business regulations, farming restrictions, and higher health standards? Is MAHA wise to trust MAGA? Journalist Batya Ungar-Sargon, author, journalist, and vocal Trump supporter, joins the discussion, with a take on all of this that you won't want to miss.

Hosts:

Brinda Adhikari

Tom Johnson

Maggie Bartlett

Dr. Mark Abdelmalek

Guest:

Batya Ungar-Sargon, columnist The Free Press, author Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed America's Working Men and Women

Sources:

RFK and Donald Trump’s alliance

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/09/rfk-trump-health-maga/680011/

The anti-vaccine movement

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9981160/

MAHA’s agenda

https://thehill.com/newsletters/health-care/5144511-rfk-kennedy-maha-era-begins/

What is MAHA?

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/what-is-maha-health-wellness-movement-rfk-jr-policies.html

MAHA’s legislative goals

https://www.axios.com/2024/11/14/maha-movement-federal-health-agencies

Recent history of the vaccine skeptical movement

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/the-anti-vax-movement-hustl/

The MAHA Commission

https://www.axios.com/2025/02/13/trump-maha-commission-rfk-chronic-illness

Republicans and Democrats Views on Vaccines

https://news.gallup.com/poll/648308/far-fewer-regard-childhood-vaccinations-important.aspx

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MAGA + MAHA: How Will This Work Exactly? We Speak With Journalist Batya Ungar-Sargon