Child Health Advocacy + Policy

A movement called “Make America Healthy Again” is gaining attention, but what does it mean for children’s health, and who gets to decide? As rising rates of chronic illness and new debates challenge long-held assumptions about what keeps children healthy, this episode examines what this moment means for families trying to make sense of it all. Host Heidi Russell, director of the Center for Health Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute, sits down with Elena M. Marks, senior fellow in health policy, to unpack the promises, questions, and real-world challenges behind the MAHA movement. This conversation was recorded on Jan. 20, 2026. Mentioned in this episode: The MAHA Report Baker Institute Center for Health Policy Learn about the “Child Health Advocacy + Policy” podcast by subscribing to our “Health Beat” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter.   You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.

Vaccines are among the most effective tools for protecting children from preventable diseases, yet misinformation and policy gaps are shaping the conversation across the United States. Heidi Russell, director of the Center for Health Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute, speaks with Peter Hotez, codirector of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, and Rekha Lakshmanan, executive director of public policy at The Immunization Partnership, to examine the science behind childhood vaccines, the impact of misinformation on families, and policy approaches to improving immunization rates. This conversation was recorded on Jan. 16, 2025. Featured guests: Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D. Rekha Lakshmanan, M.P.H. Learn about the “Child Health Advocacy + Policy” podcast by subscribing to our “Health Beat” newsletter at https://www.bakerinstitute.org/newsletter.   You can follow @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.