Public Health Group Chat

In this episode, Ariel and Mattie discuss Elon Musk, wealth inequality, and his disastrous influence on public health. Tune in to learn about Musk’s bio, businesses, and his role in the second Trump Administration. Earlier this year, Musk became the world’s first trillionaire after already existing as the wealthiest individual on planet Earth. Billionaires should not exist, and trillionaires are even worse. Wealth inequality is bad for health, and the US ranks high in wealth inequity. 

In addition to wealth inequality, we cover the elimination of dog to human rabies transmission in Chile and Taylor Swift. Because why not, when we’re already talking about excessive wealth?

See the most recent recalls here: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts 

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Part two of our Reagan deep-dive picks up where we left off, with Mattie walking us through more of the Reagan Administration decisions that are still shaping public health today: the War on Drugs and the punitive framework it built that we're still dismantling, the roots of the modern homelessness crisis, and the mental health policy choices that gutted the safety net for people who needed it most. If you loved Part One, you're going to love this one too. 

Also this week: Colorado's extended public health order making the COVID-19 shot available to everyone 6 months and up without a prescription, and new polling showing just how far trust in government information has fallen — and not just on public health. 

Find all recent recalls at: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

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Part one of our Reagan deep-dive has Mattie leading the charge with Ariel along for the ride, digging into the economic and public health legacy of the Reagan era: Reaganomics and the trickle-down promise that never quite trickled, the AIDS epidemic and the years of federal silence while a generation was dying, and the "welfare queen" myth Reagan built a political career on — where that story actually came from, who it was designed to target, and how it's still doing damage in policy debates today. Part two picks up the thread with Reagan's War on Drugs and the roots of the homelessness and mental health crisis. Heavy history, but the kind that explains a lot about where we are now. And because apparently everything is being recalled lately, we close out with a rundown of the latest round of recalls — because 2026 said no product shall be safe.

Recalls:
Find all recent recalls at: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

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Part two of our cyclospora deep-dive brings in Dr. Alex Sundermann, DrPH, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, to get into the outbreak detection and surveillance side of things: why cyclospora is so much harder to catch than bacteria, the wild week the Taylor Farms lettuce sample flipped from positive to false positive to epidemiologically linked, and what's lost when institutional knowledge and federal tracking systems get gutted. Also...a rare bipartisan bright spot in the FDA's approval of Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine for adults 50+, and a reminder that behind every outbreak number is a person. We're skipping pop culture and recalls this week, but you can still find those linked below.

Find Dr. Sundermann:
Instagram, TikTok & Facebook: @DrAlexSundermann 
Bluesky & Threads: he's also on there, if you want to doomscroll together.

Recalls:
Find all recent recalls at: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

Referenced Article (if you wanna be a nerd and read it):
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cyclospora/cidrap-op-ed-cyclospora-outbreak-was-and-still-communications-failure

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Cyclospora is having a moment...and not because the parasite got scarier, but because the systems meant to catch it didn't. In this episode, Olivia breaks down what Cyclospora cayetanensis actually is, the history of outbreaks in the US, and the timeline of federal missteps (hi, FDA and CDC) that let this one spiral, including news of the first two deaths tied to the outbreak. This is part one of a two-part series, and part two brings in Dr. Alex Sundermann, DrPH, to dig into the outbreak detection and surveillance side. Also on the agenda: a rare bipartisan bright spot with the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, and a truly unhinged recall roundup (steel in injections, plastic in baby food, and eggs everywhere).

Recalls:
Find all recent recalls at: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

Referenced Article (if you wanna be a nerd and read it): 

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cyclospora/cidrap-op-ed-cyclospora-outbreak-was-and-still-communications-failure

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In this episode, Ariel breaks down the science and history of sunscreen, covering UVA/UVB/UVC radiation, how SPF actually works, mineral vs. chemical filters, and the newly FDA-approved ingredient bemotrizinol — the first new sunscreen active ingredient approved in the U.S. since the 1990s. The group chat then myth-busts the biggest sunscreen claims making the rounds online: hormone disruption, "sunscreen causes cancer," reef damage, skin irritation, and the viral watermelon-smoothie trend claiming lycopene can protect you from the sun.

Olivia presents some good news: A Lancet study showing HPV and measles vaccines prevent more deaths per dose than any other vaccine funded through Gavi, giving global health leaders a clearer way to prioritize funding amid tighter budgets. Also, stick around to hear Mattie's takes on Meta's Muse Image AI feature and the backlash that got it pulled.

Recalls:
Find all recent recalls at: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

Referenced Research Article (if you wanna be a nerd and read it): 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00555-6/fulltext

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We are available by email at [email protected] and on Instagram and TikTok at @publichealthgroupchat.

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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 the Senate, and Ariel shares how to make your voice heard before the vote.

This episode's good news is the reinstated flu vaccine mandate for U.S. service members after a major base outbreak. Also, stick around to hear Mattie talk about World Cup hospitality and what it says about public health.

Recalls:
Find all recent recalls at: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

Clipped News & Media: 

• Forbes Breaking News: Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-CT) criticized cuts to WIC.
• 4 News Now: "WIC prepares for, pushes back against potential funding cuts".

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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 to build an Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya, a country that has never recorded a case.

This episode's good news revolves around 1) a judge overturning the cancellation of $82.1 million in clean energy grants, and 2) major health insurers committing to cover all vaccines at no cost through 2027. Also, stick around to hear Ariel discuss Ladies First on Netflix and how she connects it to public health.

Recalls: 

Find all recent recalls at: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

• 6/13/2026: Nara Organics, Whole Milk Powdered Infant Formula, Botulism Risk.
• 6/12/26: Azuma Foods, Seasoned Octopus with Wasabi, may contain undeclared fish.
• 06/12/26: Beekeeper's Naturals, Saline Nasal Spray, may contain Aspergillus spp.
• 06/11/26: TNVitamins (VITA-MINS) and Doctor's Pride, possible Salmonella contamination
• 06/09/26: Clover Hill Dairy, Soft Ricotta/Requeson Cheese, potentially contaminated with Listeria
• 06/08/26: BD, ChloraPrep Clear, possible fungal contamination 
• 06/08/26: Freeze Dried Chicken Recipe Cat & Dog Food, may contain low levels of thiamine (vitamin B1)
• 06/05/26: Requeson 1lb Clamshell packages, possible listeria contamination
• 06/05/26: Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes AND Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Baby Wipes, may be contaminated with Burkholderia cepacia and Burholderia gladioli
• 06/05/26: Pearl Milling Company, Mezcla Para Panqueques Y Waffles, Debido a la presencia no declarada de leche y soya
• 06/04/26: No brand, Dried Herring Fish, may harbor botulinum 
• 06/04/26: Gas-X Extra Strength (softgels 120 & 72ct), potential chemical contamination
• 06/03/26: TNVita Ultra Potent Complete Green Superfood Capsules and Doctor's Pride, Salmonella
• 06/01/26: Motor City Pizza Cheese Bread Single, Salmonella

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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 landscape.

Today’s good news revolves around 1) decreased gun sales in CO, and 2) increased inclusivity in birdwatching. Also, stick around to hear Mattie discuss Summer House and how she connects it to public health.

Recalls:

• 05/23/2026 Angel Specialty Products, Royal Gold, Boba Time, Fanale, Denda specialty beverages - contamination of Salmonella 
• 05/23/2026 Boner Bears chocolate - contains sildenafil
• 05/22/2026 Raaw Energy dog food - possible Listeria contamination 
• 05/18/2026 Kroger Cheese and Garlic Croutons - potential for Salmonella contamination
• 05/18/2026 Malazi Tahina - contamination of Salmonella
• 05/18/2026 Best Supplements Best Prices dietary supplement for sexual enhancement - undeclared Sildenafil, Tadalafil, and Flibanserin
• 05/15/2026 Straus Family Creamery various ice cream - presence of metal fragments
• 05/15/2026 Blackstone Parmesan Ranch seasoning - Potential Foodborne Illness - Salmonella

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We are available by email at [email protected] and on Instagram and TikTok at @publichealthgroupchat.

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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 of trust coming from within the agency itself, and why, if something like COVID hit tomorrow, we would be in serious trouble. 

Also, Mattie connects the Met Gala to public health (yes, really), and Olivia runs through a packed recalls roundup. See the most recent FDA recalls here. 

If you haven't listened to Part I yet, go back and do that first...and consider getting a therapist.

Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Soda, MD. Infectious Disease Physician & Public Health Advocate, former CDC EIS Officer and staff member (2016–2025). Currently based in Italy and volunteering with the National Public Health Coalition and Fired, but Fighting.

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We are available by email at [email protected] and on Instagram and TikTok at @publichealthgroupchat.

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