This John Oliver video was enlightening. I knew things were bad but what a shit show! He’s not just complaining but naming the sources and what to look out for. Worth the 30 minute view.
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For us in the UK “The uploader has not made this video available in your country”
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The video critiques the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, highlighting its superficial wins and deeper public health concerns.
Key Points from “Make America Healthy Again: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)”
1. Overview of the MAHA Movement
- The “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement is associated with RFK Jr., aiming to improve American health, often through attention-grabbing campaigns and influencer involvement.
- The movement includes a broad coalition, not strictly partisan, with supporters from various backgrounds.
2. Critique of Superficial Wins
- MAHA claims victories like switching Coke to cane sugar and removing synthetic food dyes, but experts argue these changes are nutritionally insignificant.
- Removing dyes from ice cream, for example, doesn’t address the core health issues of high sugar and fat content.
3. Influencer Impact and Questionable Science
- Influencers such as Vani Hari (“Food Babe”) are prominent in MAHA, often focusing on single ingredients and sometimes promoting their own products.
- Some claims made by influencers are unscientific, such as the idea that microwaved water exposed to negative words is harmful.
4. Leadership and Conflicts of Interest
- RFK Jr.’s top advisers, Cali Means and Casey Means, have backgrounds in lobbying and wellness entrepreneurship, raising concerns about conflicts of interest.
- Casey Means, poised to become Surgeon General, has promoted controversial views on vaccines and raw milk, and has ties to the glucose monitoring company Levels.
5. Oversimplification of Health Issues
- The movement often attributes chronic diseases solely to diet and processed foods, ignoring genetic, environmental, and systemic factors.
- The book “Good Energy” by the Means siblings suggests avoiding many common foods as if they were illicit drugs.
6. Policy and Public Health Concerns
- MAHA’s focus on individual responsibility for health is criticized for neglecting systemic issues like poverty, access to fresh food, and the social safety net.
- Cuts to programs supporting local food suppliers and SNAP eligibility have undermined access to nutritious food for vulnerable populations.
- The administration has made moves to defund scientific research and vaccine development, which could have serious public health consequences.
7. Final Critique
- John Oliver argues that while the desire for a healthier America is legitimate, MAHA’s solutions are inadequate and sometimes counterproductive.
- The movement is seen as helping to “launder” the reputation of an administration that is cutting public health programs and shifting responsibility to individuals.
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That is a shame!
If you don’t know who he is, he’s a very smart and funny guy who is from the UK! He used to work with John Stewart on the Daily Show.
The YouTube is a clip from his show on HBO called last week tonight, but alas, I googled and see that is not available for you on HBO either.
He went through a list of what MAHA is and is not doing. Many that you just read in the AI summary.
Seeing that he might make Casey Means the surgeon general, and knowing that he now feels everyone should have a CGM (not necessarily a bad idea!), and learning that she is one of the founders of Levels (a company that sells them), is just one the gross things happening.
He pointed out many of the good ideas they have, but how the overall movement is causing more harm than good. Meaning, it’s nice to remove artificial colors from froot loops, but it’s still a box of garbage. And at the same time, they are getting rid of programs to provide fresh food to those who can’t afford it.
He ends by saying it’s legitimate to want to make America healthier but these just aren’t the solutions
He notes that not one of the things the JAMA report listed to help with child mortality is being addressed
This is the ending quote which just about sums it up perfectly for me
“In it’s current form, MAHA is not about making American healthier again, at best, it’s about laundering the reputation of an administration that is doing the exact opposite’ And for those who really care about the movement, they should be going after trump and Kennedy with the same outrage they reserve for froot loops.
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I found this on AI:
For those living in London, you can watch
Last Week Tonight with John Oliverthrough Sky and Now TV, or watch selected clips for free on YouTube. The show is typically broadcast on Mondays in the UK.
Stream on Now TV
You can stream episodes of Last Week Tonight on demand with a Now TV Entertainment Membership.
- Cost: The monthly fee is £6.99 (as of August 2025).
- Availability: The show is typically available for 28 days after its broadcast.
- Free trial: A free trial may be available for new subscribers.
Watch live on Sky Comedy
If you have a Sky TV subscription, you can watch the show as it airs on the Sky Comedy channel. You can also access episodes on demand via the Sky Go app.
Yes, this is truly worrisome!
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The cancellations will mean at least $150 million in lost research funding — and potentially a lot more.
The contracts, from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, aimed to prevent cyberattacks on hospitals, train artificial intelligence on medical imaging and increase investment in preventive care.
The cuts make up a significant fraction of the $1.5 billion agency’s budget.
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