Public Health Group Chat

In this episode, Ariel breaks down the WIC program (Women, Infants, and Children) as Congress moves to cut its benefits. She covers what WIC provides — cash benefits for healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to other services — plus eligibility and its history dating back to the early 1970s. She shares the data on WIC's impact, including major health care savings and improved birth and child health outcomes, then unpacks a House-passed bill that would strip $141 million in produce benefits from over 5.4 million participants, even as the administration's own MAHA report praises the program. The bill now heads to t...

In this episode, Mattie walks us through Ebola as it returns to the headlines for the first time in years. She covers what the virus is, its history dating back to the 1976 outbreak near the Ebola River, how it spreads, and the treatments and vaccines in development. Then she gets into the current Bundibugyo outbreak in the DRC's Ituri province (now spilled into Uganda and declared a public health emergency), and why the response is not ideal, thanks to the dismantling of USAID, the US withdrawal from the WHO, and CDC cuts. She also unpacks the Trump administration's plan...

In this episode, Ariel walks us through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). She traces its history from the Food Stamp Program of 1939 to its most recent changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (spoiler alert: changes made due to OBBBA aren’t good). In addition to reviewing major changes to SNAP through the years, she discusses what SNAP is and the eligibility criteria, why food assistance is important, the hypocrisy of the MAHA movement’s actions (they’re not making meaningful impacts to public health in the USA), and what is happening now in the SNAP landsc...

If the MV Hondius Hantavirus outbreak hit the US tomorrow, would we be ready? In Part II of our Hantavirus/Andes virus coverage, Mattie and Olivia sit down with Dr. Elizabeth Soda, MD, infectious disease physician and former CDC insider who spent nearly a decade at the agency before resigning on principle in September 2025. Drawing on her years working from within, Dr. Soda explains why the systems that are supposed to protect us from outbreaks like this one are in a more precarious state than most people realize. She breaks down the mass exodus of career staff, the erosion...

In this episode (Part I of II), Olivia breaks down Hantavirus: what it is, how it spreads, and why the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius has the world paying attention. She walks through the science of the Andes Virus (the only known Hantavirus strain capable of human-to-human transmission), the full outbreak timeline as of May 13th, 2026, and what key dates to watch in the coming weeks. Spoiler: this is probably not our next pandemic...but it is a warning sign we can't ignore.

Also, Ariel starts us off by sharing her public health good news: FDA Commissioner...

In today’s episode, Ariel walks us through the public health impacts of war. We start by providing a very brief history of human conflict. Next, we talk about technological advances during WWI, WWII, and the Cold War that have made modern warfare extremely deadly. We then discuss the on-going Iran War, and finish out the discussion on why war is terrible for public health. Spoiler alert: it affects more than just service members.

Mattie also discusses global wins in renewable energy, more analysis of Survivor as it relates to public health, and a whole long list of...

In this episode, Olivia breaks down measles. She explains what it is, how the US reached measles elimination status in 2000, why it is making a comeback, and whether or not we will keep our measles elimination status. A combination of decreased immunizations during the covid-19 pandemic and the anti-vaxx rhetoric coming from our highest ranking federal officials (and spreading on social media) have contributed to a perfect storm that has allowed measles to find its footing and spread through vulnerable populations like wildfire.

Also, Mattie shares a few tidbits of public health good news and analyzes Survivor...

Abortion is healthcare...and in this episode, Ariel walks us through the full history of abortion in the US, from pre-colonial practices to Roe v. Wade to where things stand today across all 50 states. She covers why the debate is really a philosophical and moral one rather than a biological one, the very real dangers of restricting access, the US's shameful maternal mortality rate, and why forcing people to carry unwanted pregnancies has consequences that go far beyond the pregnancy itself. 

Also on the episode: a federal judge hands RFK Jr. a well-deserved L on vaccines, Olivia b...

SPECIAL RELEASE EPISODE: We are publishing this episode early to ensure timely release. 

Qualifications for the US Surgeon General are outlined in the US Code  (TITLE 42 / CHAPTER 6A / SUBCHAPTER I / Part A / Section 205). Casey Means, current nominee for US Surgeon General (as of March 2026), does not meet these qualifications. In this episode, Mattie leads us through the history of the US Surgeon General, the importance of this position, the necessary credentials to hold this position, and why Casey Means is not qualified for this role. Plus, listen to Casey Means as she tries to defend herself against Se...

The US government has been issuing nutrition guidance for over 100 years — so what's the deal with the new 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines? In this episode, Ariel breaks down the history of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, what's actually in the new 10-page document, and why it looks so different from previous editions. She and Mattie dig into the industry ties behind the people who wrote it, why ditching a health equity framework is a major red flag, and what it would actually take to improve nutrition at the population level. Spoiler: it's not beef tallow. Also on the agenda: Flavor Fl...

If you want to learn about Nipah virus, you’re in the right place. In this episode, Olivia walks us through what Nipah virus is, how it is transmitted, the recent outbreak in India, and how to prevent it. While it may not be front and center of the health news in the US, it is important to pay attention and understand that viruses in one part of the world can make their way to other parts of the world.

RECALLS

Ambrosia Brands, LLC Rosabella Moringa Capsules (salmonella) - sold onlineTippy Toes Apple Pear Ba...

In the past year, the CDC really took a beating from the Trump administration. In this episode, we discuss a timeline of some of the most important events, including:

Reductions in Force (RIFs)Shooting at the CDC on 8/8/25Loss of senior leadershipBudget changes and reorganizationThe longest government shutdown in US historyImplications for public health

And more!

THINGS YOU SHOULD WATCH:

The Pitt (HBO)Episodes of Parks and Rec you should watch that have town-hall scenes:Sister City, S2E5Sweetums, S2E15Time capsule, S3E3Bailout, S5/E16 

RECALLS: