The Present Illness
Society’s running a fever, and two sharp-witted physicians are on the case. Surgeon-scientist Arghavan Salles dives into social media’s wildest trends, while anesthesiologist-bioethicist Alyssa Burgart follows news and legal cases for their ethical twists. Together, they examine the cultural, political, and public health symptoms of our time with scalpel-sharp analysis, unflinching questions, and enough humor to keep us all going.
Episodes
49 episodes
Measles and Misconduct
Measles ramps up in Pennsylvania; RFK Jr. interferes with public health reporting; Dan Arielly’s fraud expands - he’s never faced scrutiny like Jason Arday faced; Lindsay Clancy trial drags on; Fake NFL player arrestedDaejon ...
Farewell Dolly plus AOC's Eggs
We mourn Dolly Parton. We discuss Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s egg freezing and what it means for reproductive justice in America. Plus, the baby born from the California-Texas surrogacy case.Dolly Parton’s
How Racism (Not Plagiarism) Killed Dr. Jason Arday
The flagrant racism in the recent death of Cambridge scholar, Dr. Jason Arday; Also, how new technology hasn’t stopped attempts at medical knowledge gatekeepingNote: Alex Vindman raised $16 million compared to the $1 million raise...
We'd like to jump to a new timeline, please
We cover the latest on Trump’s vaccine executive order and catch you up on some major abortion stories.AOC’s public egg-freezing shouldn’t feel...
Fauci's Diary and RFK Jr's Misinformation Meltdown
Fauci’s diary entries, Rand Paul loses it when Fauci uses his Fifth Amendment right, RFK Jr melts down when Dana Bash asks him about measles; McConnell Watch UpdateThe Clown Car of Public Health is at it again!Fact Check: T...
The Future of Consent with Dr. Zed Zha
Physician and consent-advocate, Dr. Zed Zha, joins the pod to share her new book: Consented: A Doctor's Call to End Medical Violence and Reclaim Patient AutonomyZed Zha's Consented
(Mis)Adventures in Public Health
Too much public health news for two doctors to narrow it down. An update on cyclosporiasis, measles, raw milk, and Ebola, all with a side of Todd Blanche forgetting he’s not supposed to still be the president’s lawyer and Pete Hegseth’s begging...
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So Much Poop, So Little Healthcare Access
Explosive diarrhea? The Clown Car of the Apocalypse is at it again. ICE keeps killing people. Millions give up their health insurance because it’s too expensive.
Rigor Tortoise? Mitch McConnell’s Health and Bye-bye Graham Platner
Is Mitch McConnell dead or alive? Let's talk about out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and critical illness in older folks. Graham Platner drops out of Maine race in wake of credible sexual assault allegations. There were plenty of red flags. <...
Supremely Bad Birthday Gifts for America
The Supreme Court let America keep birthright citizenship for it’s birthday. Trump’s 250th Independence Day celebration is a flop. Surprise!Pew:
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Aliens, Propaganda & Lessons from New York Primaries
Dem Establishment hell bent to learn nothing from Mamdani and NY Primaries; Trump Admin’s dirty propaganda comparing immigrants to alien creatures; Join Team Algae in the Reflecting Pool drama; Hegseth can’t even lift; Alyssa makes a mixtape
Pride Under Trump 2026
It’s the second Pride Month of this Trump administration, and things are rough. San Francisco Giants’ pitchers anti-Pride stunt; gender as a weapon; Rainbow washing and corporate backstabbing.Note: Dana White is the president and CEO of ...
Birth Autonomy with Dr. Jen Lincoln
The Birth Book with OB-GYN Dr Jennifer Lincoln. Pro-autonomy! Pro-Consent! Pro- vitamin K for babies! Anti-shame and coercion! She hopes folks name their babies "OG" Anunoby.The Birth BookGet your copy of
Flesh Eating Flies and Project 2025 "Efficiency" Destroys Science
Flesh eating flies (disgusting!); Project 2025 budget cuts (despicable!); sterile flies; non-standard healing crystals from a crystal scientist; Hunter Biden is a natural posterNote:
Pope Leo takes on AI; Ashley St. Clair Spills Hot MAGA Tea
Pope Leo takes on AI in first encyclical; Ashley St. Clair spills hot MAGA tea; UFC fight at the White House; Ronnie Chieng commencement speechRFK Jr and snakes
Replay: The Professor Will See You Now (If they still have a job)
Replay: Academic freedom under attack; viral case of an Oklahoma pre-med student's targets her transgender professor; Erika Kirk's terrible NYT interview; Our hosts investigate the alarming trend of politically-motivated complaints ...
Rich Folks Complain About Helicopters Carrying Sick Kids and Shingles Vaccine May Prevent Dementia
Seattle’s Laurelhurst community vs. Seattle Children’s Hospital; Shingles Vaccine may reduce dementia; Hantavirus scare; American dialects; Zaffron Bloom restaurantNEJM a...
Telehealth Abortion under Attack, plus Bedside Betrayal in Canada Court’s Sloka Case
5th Circuit Mifepristone chaos heads to Supreme Court; Canadian judge let’s off doctor for SA; Clit art; Golden Tempo; and bee huts!Hunter Peterson tries to ...
Surgeon Takes Out Liver by "Accident"?!
Surgeons need to know anatomy; Voting is good; SCOTUS conflicts of interest; pediatric society hosts unscientific panel on trans kids
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Everybody Pees + Abuse Academy
Where’s the bathroom?; digital sexual violence; Buck v. Bell turns 99; RFK Jr’s hearings; Bhattacharya is
Shut Down Dilley Detention Center with Dr. Lara Jones
Pediatrician Dr. Lara Jones discusses advocating to free children from ICE detention facilities. Follow her @AskLaDoctora.Kids in ICE DetentionThe 19th:
We're Overwhelmed Too, But We'll Take the Cool Moonshots
Crossing our fingers to avoid nuclear war; Pentagon goes after the pope; Artemis sends back dope pictures of the moon and earthIran
Forced Sex Testing and Forced C-sections
IOC resumes harmful sex gene testing; forced c-sections with zoom court rooms; The Lancet profiles our host!; A woman goes to the moon; Alyssa recommends bioethics books
