You know, it’s pretty sad that our show is supposed to suggest a perpetually fun, boozy vibe and every week we are too sick, tired, busy, or absent to actually drink any alcohol. I guess it is thematically consistent with a show set in a bar in hell, where we exist in an eternal state of existential despair, sober, beset by miseries caused by the malevolent incompetence of the kakistocrats who are destroying democracy and killing us with preventable diseases and negligent upkeep of essential government services. That’s if World War III doesn’t erupt and at least shorten the period of total decline. At least we’re kind of funny sometimes…?
On this episode of Taking Shots
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has announced a new podcast!
MAGA vs MAHA
Kennedy’s political standing going into the midterms
Laundering anti-vax conspiratorial bullshit into Gold Standard Science on chronic disease
USA #1 in anti-vax influence
ACIP has a new charter
Kennedy had two options: reinstate competent ACIP or change the rules
Clown car ACIP will likely be back, minus Robert Malone, who has some conspiracy theories about secret anti-MAHA operatives within the government and rage-quit so he’s going to the State Department to use AI protect us from bioterrorists
MAGA mechanisms for plundering the budget for American health
Budget cuts
Bureaucratic trickery
Lab leak and lying
Casey Means is STILL in the running
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) is too cowardly to call a vote in the Health Education Labor and Pensions and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are talking to the White House
Residents of the US (Senate Switchboard): (202) 224-3121
Residents of ALASKA: (202) 224-6665
Residents of LOUISIANA: (202) 224-5824
Residents of MAINE: (202) 224-2523
Just like measles, anti-American fascism isn’t limited to the US
I was on a CBC documentary about the Maple MAGA ostrich convoy up here in Canada
I also really want to shout out Aritzia for killing it every time in terms of TV wear. They are my go-to for almost everything, but especially for prime-time foundational national news magazine shows talking about bird flu in the context of national policy and threats to democracy. They did me right on 60 Minutes and now on the fifth estate too.
Reduce your risk of RSV and measles!
RSV vaccination season has been extended—it’s not too late and timing for this vaccine is important
Measles is going to break records again this year. Vaccinate anyone over 12 months old in your family!
These vaccines are both tested and safe. If you have questions, let us know!
Let us know what you think
Got comments or feedback? Let us know!
Do you have any questions? We literally do all of this to answer them. Your health is important and you deserve honest answers that are factually correct
I promise to improve as a producer
Links
ACIP coverage with The Save America Movement:
Unpacking AAP vs Kennedy (the case that resulted in ACIP’s stay order)
Relevant to ACIP:
Taking Shots: ACIP Shot Down
A Massive Win for Public Health: AAP v. RFK Jr.
Casey Means coverage with The Save America Movement:
Taking Shots: Casey Means nomination hearing pre-game
Taking Shots: Casey Means nomination hearing
Taking Shots: Casey Means post-hearing analysis
Casey Means Conspiracy Hour with Dean Blundell and Denver Riggleman
Relevant to Casey Means:
Rasmussen Retorts Episode 4: Casey Means as US Surgeon General
A Means to an End for Public Health
If you’re a US citizen who wants to find their Senator to say no on Casey Means, go here
Lab leak resources:
Five Reasons Why It Still Wasn’t a Lab Leak
Rasmussen Retorts Episode 5: Five Reasons Why We Think It Was Zoonotic
NIH FFS: The Freedom from Science Lab Leak Lecture Series
Ostrich fascism:
The documentary for CBC’s the fifth estate about the anti-vax ostrich antibody scammers who responded to an outbreak of avian flu they failed to suppress by suing the government and inviting every anti-government medical freedom activist in Canada to squat at their farm for ten months until they were finally culled.
Ostrich convoy info (I wrote about this a lot):
Release the Ostriches’ Grippe: after the cull
Last Stand in Bird Flu Ostrich Land: ostrich DEFCON 1
Follow the Bird Flu Ostrich Antibody Money: ostrich antibody grifting scheme
The Saga of the H5N1 Freedom Ostriches: how I started chasing the ostrich
Make sure you read Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS’s story about her son’s hospitalization with RSV in 2019, especially if you are a parent. Jessica and her son Laith didn’t have the option to vaccinate then, but parents do now. Ask about vaccination!
We go into more detail about some of these things here:
Thank you PJ Schuster, Stuart Cohen, Mama K, Laurel Fairchild, Shirley Figueroa, and many others for tuning into this week’s episode with me and Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS! Join us next Friday at 5 pm ET/2 pm PT.
