— What Hilary Duff says her Hollywood nemesis proposed as a peace offering. And now, it’s so yesterday.
Health Policy
America's Next Top Doctor?
What’s going on: Casey Means, MD, is not your typical surgeon general pick. The holistic medicine doctor and wellness influencer built a following speaking out on blood sugar, ultra-processed foods, and chronic disease. She also co-wrote a book seen as the MAHA movement’s bible with her brother, a Trump health official. At her long-awaited confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Means sidestepped lawmakers’ questions on whether or not she believes vaccines cause autism, declined to commit to promoting flu and measles shots amid outbreaks, and emphasized “informed consent.” (Research consistently demonstrates the benefits of vaccination.) On reproductive health, she defended past comments that birth control pills are prescribed “like candy,” adding that while she supports access, they can have “horrifying side effects.”
What it means: The surgeon general does not set policy, but the role carries a powerful megaphone. Supporters say she could use the role to amplify popular, albeit controversial, messages about nutrition, exercise, and chronic disease prevention. But Means’s inactive medical license and incomplete residency have raised questions about whether she’s qualified to serve as the country’s doctor. Critics from both parties question her vaccine stance, and a Republican senator warned that her views on pesticides could ripple through farm country. Her confirmation is widely expected to pass — though it’s unclear when a decision will be made.
