Bench Talk | Hero of the FDA - Monsanto and Israel, EPA, and Supreme Court | March 23, 2026

Dave Robinson finishes his report on Monsanto and its herbicide, Roundup. Hear how Monsanto teams up with an Israeli company to produce White Phosphorus, a toxic, incendiary tool used by the military. Find out how the Trump administration has changed the way the EPA calculates the value of a human life. And, which Supreme Court justice worked for Monsanto in the past, and has been called to recuse himself on coming decisions about Roundup? Then, Mary Williams tells us about Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey, who single-handedly prevented the FDA from approving the teratogenic drug thalidomide, for use in the US. This drug caused thousands of miscarriages and birth defects in Europe, but not in the US, thanks to Dr. Kelsey. ‘Bench Talk: The Week in Science’ is a weekly program that airs on WFMP Louisville FORward Radio 106.5 FM (forwardradio.org) every Monday at 7:30 pm, Tuesday at 11:30 am, and Wednesday at 7:30 am. Visit our Facebook page for links to the articles discussed in this episode: https://www.facebook.com/BenchTalkRadio