America Dissected

America Dissected

Wellness isn’t just about mindfulness, exercise, or the right skin routine. Science, politics, media, culture, tech — everything around us — interact to shape our health. On America Dissected, Drs. Abdul El-Sayed and Katelyn Jetelina cuts into what really makes us sick — be it racism, corporate greed, or snake oil influencers — and what it'll take to heal it. From for-profit healthcare to ineffective sunscreens, America Dissected cuts deeper into the state of health in America. New episodes every Thursday. Want to know where to start? Here are some fan-favorite episodes to search: Cannabis Capitalism with David Jernigan; Weight Weight Don’t Tell me with Harriett Brown; Black Scientists Matter with Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett.

Episodes

July 24, 2025 65 mins
Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in public health including: Congress’ vote to reinstate $400 million in funding for global AIDS treatment Trump’s budget proposal to cut 40% of the NIH budget The health differences in Coca Cola sweetened with sugar vs high fructose corn syrup Why heart attack is no longer the leading cause of death in the US A comprehensive review of GI cancer research that show sha...
Mark as Played
Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in public health news, including: Why the cancellation of a key federal health meeting could spell trouble for the future of preventative care in America The Trump Administration's latest move to intimidate doctors Medicare’s plan to use AI to help make decisions on prior authorizations Moderna’s new Covid vaccine, and why it’s only authorized for kids at high risk Then Abdul talk...
Mark as Played
July 10, 2025 56 mins
Abdul and Katelyn catch up on a harrowing week in public health, after Republicans passed Trump’s mega bill. They discuss: New work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP beneficiaries Why rural hospitals risk closure due to the upcoming changes to Medicaid New renewal requirements for people who buy health insurance on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces A new high in measles cases, which now jeopardize our “el...
Mark as Played
June 27, 2025 63 mins
Abdul and Katelyn discuss a busy week in health news including: The most troubling aspects of this week's ACIP meeting, after RFK Jr's appointees convened to set vaccine policy for next fall. A flimsy deal among the nation's biggest health insurers, who mutually pinky-promised to improve their prior authorization processes. RFK Jr's announcement that the US will no longer fund GAVI, the global organization that vaccin...
Mark as Played
Abdul shares a scheduling note, as we closely track this week's ACIP meeting.
Mark as Played
June 12, 2025 69 mins
Abdul and Katelyn discuss a rocky week in public health including: RFK Jr gutting ACIP to replace every member with his own appointees. The LA protests, and how immigration raids hurt community health Good trouble at NIH, as staff band together and demand director Jay Bhattacharya defend their research Then Abdul talks to Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, about the Trump Administration's effort to weapo...
Mark as Played
June 5, 2025 74 mins
Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in science and health including: Senator Joni Ernst’s “we’re all going to die” townhall moment The CDC and FDA’s conflicting guidance on Covid boosters The errors in RFK Jr's MAHA report More devastating funding cuts to medical research, including a future HIV vaccine Then Abdul sits down with Dr. Carmen Rojas, the President and CEO of the Marguerite Casey Foundation to talk about...
Mark as Played
May 22, 2025 65 mins
Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in public health including: The FDA’s new rules on Covid boosters RFK’s claim that Americans shouldn’t take his advice Florida’s decision to remove fluoride from the drinking water New proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP A genetic breakthrough that saved the life of a 9 month old baby Then Abdul talks to prescription drug policy expert Dr. Aaron Kesselheim about T...
Mark as Played
May 15, 2025 81 mins
Katelyn and Abdul break down the latest news in public health and policy, including: RFK’s appearance at the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Health Committee The House budget proposal to cut Medicaid Donald Trump’s Executive Order to bring down drug prices Trump’s nominee for Surgeon General Then Abdul interviews former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler about his new book Diet, Drugs and Do...
Mark as Played
Abdul and Katelyn break down the latest in public health, including: RFK’s Jr’s push to test all future vaccines against placebos Why the phrase “Do Your Own Research” often leads to mis and disinformation New threats to MRNA vaccine research A huge NIH investment toward a future universal flu vaccine Why some leading medical journals received accusatory letters from a Trump surrogate A new poll t...
Mark as Played
May 1, 2025 80 mins
Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest news in health and policy, including: Trump’s proposal to increase the birth rate by giving women $5000 baby bonuses The political divide over measles Why RFK Jr is being asked to testify at the Senate HELP committee in May The closure of nine schools in Milwaukee due to lead contamination Then Abdul and Katelyn talk to Princeton political science professors Dr. Frances Lee and Dr...
Mark as Played
April 24, 2025 74 mins
Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in health policy this week including: RFK Jr’s plan to form a national registry of Americans with autism The shift to make US health policy look more like Europe’s The latest news on the Texas measles outbreak A White House budget proposal that calls for cutting $40 billion from HHS next year Why NIH’s top expert on ultra-processed foods left the agency Then Abdul interviews Harvard poll...
Mark as Played
April 20, 2025 1 min


Mark as Played
April 17, 2025 63 mins
Abdul and Katelyn cover this week’s health news, which includes: RFK’s bizarre promise to reveal the cause of Autism by September The latest in the Texas measles outbreak Why DOGE cuts have left HHS data systems vulnerable to cyberhacks The discovery of lead in Milwaukee’s drinking water, and CDC’s failure to help The risks of RFK’s Jr’s crusade against fluoride Then Abdul sits down with Dr. Zachary Rubin to talk about alle...
Mark as Played
Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest news in health and policy, including: The third measles death this year - an 8-year-old girl in Texas RFK Jr’s weak response to the measles outbreak The impact of tariffs on healthcare and insurance prices Why Medicare and Medicaid won’t expand access to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic A federal ruling that restores funding to research labs for “indirect costs” Then Abdul sits down with an old ...
Mark as Played
April 3, 2025 59 mins
Abdul and Katelyn contend with a devastating week at HHS, including: The loss of 20,000 workers A massive restructuring at HHS Senior leaders leaving the ranks The addition of a discredited vaccine skeptic to analyze future data on the MMR vaccine Then Abdul interviews Nat Kendall-Taylor and Julie Sweetland from the Frameworks Institute about their research on American attitudes around vaccine hesitancy, and how to frame pro...
Mark as Played
Abdul and Katelyn discuss the latest in the world of public health including: RFK Jr’s problematic new strategy on avian influenza A new report showing heavy metals in some US baby formulas Trump’s attack on higher education Trump’s new pick to lead the CDC A shadow CDC website, created by the non-profit founded by RFK Jr. Katelyn and Abdul’s reaction to that episode of The Daily (iykyk) How the DOGE cuts are hitting the VA....
Mark as Played
Abdul and Katelyn round up all the latest health news, including: The growing measles outbreak out of Texas RFK Jr’s false claim that the measles vaccine causes death The withdrawal of Dave Weldon’s nomination at CDC, and who could take his place Dr. Oz’s confirmation hearings, and what could be next for Medicare and Medicaid The Covid-era healthcare programs that were extended by the government funding bill West Virginia’s m...
Mark as Played
Abdul and Katelyn talk about the current measles outbreak, the danger of relitigating the MMR vaccine again, and the latest round of DOGE cuts to public health. They also peek into the confirmation hearings for Trump’s picks to lead NIH and the FDA, where Senators pressed hard against vaccine skepticism. Then Abdul talks to Adrienne Ammerman, founder of the public health communications platform Arclet. Check out our shop at store....
Mark as Played
March 6, 2025 71 mins
This week Abdul is joined by physician and writer Dr. Dhruv Khullar, who is subbing in for Dr. Katelyn Jetelina this week.  Abdul and Dhruv discuss a rash of alarming news out of HHS, including its uneven measles response, more cancelled meetings, a policy change to end public comment, and the re-evaluation of a key bird flu vaccine contract. They also break down the Republican budget plan and explain why its proposed cuts would l...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

    Betrayal: Season 4

    Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack. Karoline Borega married a man of honor – a respected Colorado Springs Police officer. She knew there would be sacrifices to accommodate her husband’s career. But she had no idea that he was using his badge to fool everyone. This season, we expose a man who swore two sacred oaths—one to his badge, one to his bride—and broke them both. We follow Karoline as she questions everything she thought she knew about her partner of over 20 years. And make sure to check out Seasons 1-3 of Betrayal, along with Betrayal Weekly Season 1.

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.