America Dissected

Latest Episodes:

A Second Opinion with Dr. Anthony Fauci Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

Nobody has come to represent the role of science in taking on this pandemic quite like Dr. Anthony Fauci. He joins Abdul for their second conversation about where we’ve been, where we are now, and how to face down anti-science trolls, even when they come in the shape of US Senators.

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For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/americadissected.

Delta, Delta, Delta with Dr. Angie Rasmussen Aug 10, 2021

Show notes

Why is the delta variant a game-changer? Abdul dissects how the delta variant has changed our approach to COVID-19—and what could be in store. He speaks with America Dissected’s resident virologist Dr. Angie Rasmussen about why the delta variant is so transmissible and how it should change our approach to COVID-19 in general.

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For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/americadissected.

The Green New Heal with Rhiana Gunn-Wright Aug 03, 2021

Show notes

We can’t talk about infrastructure without centering climate—and we can’t talk about climate without centering structural racism. Abdul dissects the indelible link between infrastructure, climate, and health. He interviews Rhiana Gunn-Wright, Climate Policy Director at the Roosevelt Institute (and a long time friend!) about that link, and what this moment should teach us about where our public policy should go from here.

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For a transcript of this episode, please visit https://crooked.com/podcast-series/america-dissected/

Big Pharma’s big fraud with Dr. Aaron Kesselheim Jul 27, 2021

Show notes

Abdul dissects the FDA’s disastrous decision to approve the new Alzheimer’s drug aducanumab despite the evidence that it fails to improve symptoms—and its aftermath and implications for the future of Big Pharma. He speaks with Professor Aaron Kesselheim, a prescription drug policy expert and a former member of the FDA Advisory Panel, who resigned at the FDA ignored the panel’s overwhelming opposition to approve it the drug.

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For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/americadissected.

Pandemic Olympics with Peter Vanderkaay Jul 20, 2021

Show notes

Abdul breaks down the risks--and rewards--inherent in holding an international athletic competition in the middle of a pandemic. He speaks with four-time US Olympic swimmer and gold medalist Peter Vanderkaay about the Olympic experience and how this summer’s Olympics might be different.

Whose problem is it anyway? with Wayne Brady Jul 13, 2021

Show notes

Abdul dissects why our society makes it so hard for people with mental illness to get care. Then he interviews comedian and performer Wayne Brady about his experience with mental health and what he thinks it will take to end the stigma around mental illness.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/americadissected.

Mental health is a social justice issue with Dr. Ashwin Vasan Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

Abdul dissects the various ways that people with mental illness are stigmatized, marginalized, and oppressed in our society. Then he talks to Dr. Ashwin Vasan, President and CEO of Fountain House, a nonprofit organization focused on creating safe and welcoming spaces for people with serious mental illness, about their work to make mental health the next social justice issue.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/americadissected.

A Tale of Two Crises: Opiates vs. Crack (from Season 1) Jun 22, 2021

Show notes

We bring back an episode from Season 1 that remains relevant today: The Opioid Crisis has wreaked havoc across America, taking lives and devastating families, neighborhoods, and communities. But this isn’t the first time we’ve suffered a deadly drug crisis. In today’s episode, Abdul tells the tale of two crises: the opioid epidemic of today and the crack epidemic of the 1980s, contrasting the government’s and media’s responses to these crises—and what they tell us about the nature of drug use and structural racism in America.

For a transcript of this show, please visit crooked.com/americadissected.

Preventable with Andy Slavitt Jun 15, 2021

Show notes

Abdul dissects the critical role of trust in public health--and how the pandemic challenged it. He interviews Andy Slavitt, a former Obama health official and former member of the Biden COVID-19 Task Force on going from an outside commentator on the pandemic to the White House and what he learned about COVID-19 from inside the belly of the beast.

A Global Vaccine for a Global Pandemic? Jun 08, 2021

Show notes

Abdul dissects the incentives that drive Big Pharma and how they tend to get in the way of getting medications to those who need them most. Then he interviews Priti Krishtel and Tahir Amin of the Initiative for Medicines, Access, and Knowledge about their work to take on the pharmaceutical industry and deliver vaccines to the world.

For a transcript of this episode, please visit crooked.com/americadissected.