May 21, 2025

MTT #94: Measles, meds & misinformation: Can we still trust American science?

49 minutes

In this episode of Medicine: The Truth, co-hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr unpack a troubling set of healthcare developments—from surging vaccine-preventable illnesses to steep hikes in drug costs and the looming threat of Medicaid cuts.

Measles cases have now topped 1,000, with Texas experiencing the worst outbreak since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000. Meanwhile, other infectious diseases like pertussis and influenza are resurging. Dr. Pearl explains how falling vaccination rates could soon lead to tens of thousands of preventable deaths.

The episode also addresses the latest federal budget proposal, which calls for massive cuts to government health programs, even as the U.S. faces new public health crises. Drug prices, already soaring, are now subject to additional stress from rising tariffs, putting more lifesaving medications out of reach.

It’s not all bad news. A major new study suggests that shingles vaccination may reduce dementia risk by 20%, offering a powerful argument for broader preventive care. And despite rising costs, opioid-related deaths are dropping—thanks in part to expanded access to naloxone and other life-saving treatments.

Other key topics covered in this episode include:

Measles outbreak in Texas becomes the largest in 25 years

Pertussis (whooping cough) cases double, marking a return to 1950s-era prevalence

S. drug prices up 11.4% in the past year, with 25% of prescriptions going unfilled

The Trump administration’s proposed $18 billion cut to the NIH and 3.6% CDC funding drop

New at-home tests approved for HPV and common STDs

Universal shingles vaccination may reduce dementia risk by 20%

GLP-1 weight-loss pills are on the horizon

New data reveal CT scans may be responsible for 100,000 cancer deaths

Pig-to-human kidney transplants hit new survival milestones

Smoking still contributes to 20% of all cancer cases

Universal vaccine effort raises scientific and political concerns

Autism’s true origins: What research does—and doesn’t—say

Marijuana during pregnancy linked to preterm birth, low weight, mortality

Five risk factors (including obesity and smoking) cut life expectancy by over a decade

Tune in as Dr. Pearl and Jeremy Corr bring clarity to the headlines and offer sharp insight into the policies, science and statistics shaping American healthcare.

* * *

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn

The post MTT #94: Measles, meds & misinformation: Can we still trust American science? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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By Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr

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