The Present Illness

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 launch Spirit 2.0Passengers stranded after Spirit Airlines shut downMifepristoneFifth Circuit Decision Directs FDA to Restrict Mifepristone AccessSupreme Court puts decision on hold, for now“Nuclear option” used to normalize requiring only simple majority to confirm judges - 2013 by Democrats and 2017 by Republicans.Personhood: The New Civil War Over Reproduction by Mary ZieglerFetal personhood and access to contraceptionLouisiana law considers an embryo created during IVF to be a “juridical person.” This has been in place since 1986.More on Louisiana’s bills related to IVFLouisiana legislator’s attempt to protect IVF shelvedWhy Alabama’s bill was problematicFact check: Louisiana law has considered an embryo to be a “juridical person” since 1986, restricting access to IVF in the state. Patients must ship their embryos out of state, yet this is not as restrictive as the law proposed in Alabama in 2024 that specifically referred to embryos as children.Bedside Betrayal: Jeffrey Sloka Canadian physicianJeffrey Sloka was found not guiltyFindings of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSO) re: Sloka summarizedCPSO report💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊Sophia Wallace clitoris artJust Bee Hawai’iGolden Tempo wins Kentucky DerbyText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Surgeons need to know anatomy; Voting is good; SCOTUS conflicts of interest; pediatric society hosts unscientific panel on trans kidsSCOTUS decision on the Voting Rights Act (Arghavan reacts)Lawsuit against John Roberts due to conflict of interestSlow Burn on Clarence ThomasDeath during surgery:Summary of “accidental” liver removalState medical board order suspending Shaknovsky’s licenseInvestigation into the hospital/interviews of Shaknovsky and staffArghavan’s video going over the anatomyArghavan’s video going over the operative reportUnscientific Conference Panel:PAS hosts anti-trans panelProtestsScientific take down of HHS report💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊Alyssa’s paper on conscientious objectionAssociation for Surgical EducationDr. Gardner on the stage with her babyText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Where’s the bathroom?; digital sexual violence; Buck v. Bell turns 99; RFK Jr’s hearings; Bhattacharya is actually fine with censorship;RFK Jr: Trump Math, glyphosate, “re-parenting,” wants to eliminate chronically ill peopleEveryone Just Needs to PeeTrans Legislation TrackerTrans bathroom billsNex Benedict (he/him/they/them)CA requires gender neutral bathrooms (Note: schools must have at least one such bathroom)Tawana WilliamsRefuge RestroomsInterAct’s guide to advocacyDigital Sexual ViolenceCNN’s report on the “rape academy”Telegram channelDominique Pelicot’s website relaunchedApple & Google help users find nudify apps.Collien Fernandes’s husband spread deepfakes of herThe Tea App was removed after a data breach after being targeted by hackers.💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊Merlin the PigMargot’s Got Money Troubles (Book & on AppleTV)Text us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Pediatrician Dr. Lara Jones discusses advocating to free children from ICE detention facilities. Follow her @AskLaDoctora.Kids in ICE DetentionThe 19th: These pediatrician moms have a shared message: Release all children in immigration detentionLetter to DHSThe Marshall Project April 2026: Data on child detentionFamilies describe conditions at DilleyMore on Drs. Jones, Patel and CozzoCore Civic: the private prison company raking in cash running ICE detention facilitiesFind out if your representatives have taken cash from the companies fueling ICE’s mass deportation effortsCheck out our previous episodes (E20 & E25)Get kids out of ICE detentionCall your representatives (202)-224-3121. Public pressure really works and has led to recent releases of children and congressional hearings on this issue! Text “GO ESH” TO 50409 to send your congress members a letter telling them to end child detentionSign Ms Rachel's petitionFind pre-written advocacy letters by the team on Chili to help organize collective action on child detentionDonate to commissary funds for families in Dilley (Each Step Home)Talk to one person you know about this. Remain curious and center the children.Are you a local organizer? Bring your ideas to us let us know how we can support you locally in the community💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊Dr. Jones goes on a walk with her toddlerDr. Burgart talks about seeing a Giant Sea Bass in Catalina - they can grow to up to Text us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Crossing our fingers to avoid nuclear war; Pentagon goes after the pope; Artemis sends back dope pictures of the moon and earthIranTrump violates international law, says unhinged stuffIranian government offers citizen sacrifice23% Americans support Trump on IranUS bombs Pasteur Institute, Sharif UniversityIsrael bombs LebanonSampler of Bad ThingsNazi Kanye WestGrocery, fuel pricesInsider tradingPentagon threatens Pope (Avignon Papacy)ICE denies/delays medical careJD Vance for OrbanSampler of Good StuffDems call for impeachment/25th amendmentElection winsDriscoll fights HegsethArghavan’s post with Jim Lovell’s comments and video of the Artemis II crew naming Carroll💊Take Two and Call Me in the MorningArtemis II mobile wallpapers, FlickrEddie is not a morning dogText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

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 booksThe Lancet profiles Arghavan!Sally Ride, 100 tampons (song)IOC sex testingInternational Olympic Committee’s new policy Andrew Sinclair’s essay Tested podcast Caster SemenyaImane KhelifEero MäntyrantaSteven van de Velde allowed to compete in 2024Fact Check: The Namibian runner is Christine, not Christina, Mboma. Also, astronaut Victor Glover is the first Black person to reach the moon!Forced C-sectionsCourt ordered C-sections & hearingsRinat DrayRefusal of Medically Recommended Treatment During PregnancyBook recommendationsTestosterone: An Unauthorized Biography Policing the WombMedical BondageRadical Reproductive JusticeFatal Invention Killing the Black Body Medical Apartheid💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊DogsKit Kat heistText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Mayo medical student’s videos go viral in the bad way; medical misogyny; Match Day memories; ICE at the airports; husbands learn about pelvic examsMayo Medical Student:Dr. Chloe Nazra Lee on Nick Baumel and medical misogynyGynogirl on DSM5Dr. Shannon ClarkDr. Jenn LincolnFeminist Midwife on pelvic careDr. Milhouse’s videoLindsey Shelton’s videoAlyssa’s Ethics ConsultMen trying to understand stirrupsICE in America's Airports:SAVE America ActThe Brennan Center puts the SAVE America act into contextLongest TSA wait times in historyWoman detained by ICE at SFOProject 2025Arghavan’s round-up on ICE at airports (including Steve Bannon’s comments)Tragic LaGuardia accidentTravel tips in the ICE eraACLU’s summary of your rights dealing with ICE at the airportInformation on our rights from the National Immigration Law CenterSummary of changes to USPS that could affect mail-in votingTrump’s crusade against mail-in voting💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊Druski’s Erika Kirk videoDruski’s NASCAR/redneck videoUnicorn Day origin story and whaText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

RFK loses ACIP lawsuit; Pediatricians fight ICE; Boy Boss Documentary disappoints us (Review of Inside the Manosphere); WNBA players get a raiseMarch madness: Women’s tournament, men’s tournamentFire celebration: Chaharshanbe surigatherings in IranPersian New YearFact check: Arghavan misspoke when she said the name of one of the manfluencer/boy bosses. His name is Justin, not Jeremy. Peds vs. ICE; ACIP Lawsuit Victory:Pediatricians demand children be removed from ICE detentionsHere is the letter Drs. Patel, COzzo, and Jones sent to Kristi Noem last monthJudge blocks RFK Jr from scaling back childhood vaccinesJudge Murphy’s orderReview of Inside the ManosphereInside the ManosphereHS Tikky TokkyMyron GainesPlaying the feminist card💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊WNBA players reach new agreementCharity Ekezie on AfricaCharity Ekezie on EgyptWomen’s face coverings near the Straight of HormouzSNL’s MAHAspitalText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Stryker cyber attack by Handala Hackers; Iran’s new supreme leader - is he even alive?; DOGE dummy Justin Fox can’t explain DEI; Timmy Chalamet messes with the wrong opera houseDOGE & DEI:Arghavan’s video about the DOGE bro who can’t even define DEIStryker Attack:Ransomware Attacks and Data Breaches in US Health Care SystemsAl Jazeera reportingHow ‘Handala’ Became the Face of Iran’s Hacker CounterattacksCybercrime integration in Iran’s governmentIran Power:Summary of Mojtaba Khamenei’s statementEnglish translation of Mojtaba Khamenei’s full statementOverview of Mojtaba Khamenei via NYTSummary of Iranian women’s soccer team situationIranian women’s soccer team lands in MalaysiaArghavan’s video about the Iranian women’s soccer teamKhamenei senior had expressly stated in the past he did not want his son to succeed him because that goes against the Islamic revolution, part of which was to end hereditary succession.Trump had said appointing Mojtaba was “unacceptable” to him, which may have further incentivized the Islamic Republic of Iran to choose him.💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊Smiling Kokaka (quokka eating a leaf)Rodent eating peas in a podSummary of Timothée Chalamet’s ballet and opera controversySeattle Opera’s Timothee promoMetropolitan Opera’s postAntarctica DiveRescued Marine VeterinarianText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Our first guest is Dr. Kaveh Hoda of The House of Pod! Persian Tarof culture; a new supreme leader in Iran; the US can't decide on its war messaging; a disagreement over favorite Persian foods.Iran episode on The House of PodIsraeli oil strikes in TehranAll the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East TerrorIranian women's soccer players labeled traitorsChurchill’s Hiccup/ Winston's SneezeSamin Nosrat’s top 10 Persian recipesText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Overnight war with Iran; Casey Means’ confirmation hearings; Newsom sucksHillary & Bill ClintonNewsom diminishes trans peopleKansas revokes trans people’s driver’s licensesWar in IranIranians celebrateSchool bombing; gravesGolestan Palace damagedIRGC threatsLatest tally of deathsUS sinks unarmed Iranian shipWH's video gameBreaking Veteran's armCasey MeansSenate confirmation hearingCarte BlancheStrong’s The Bad Science of Casey Means’ Good EnergyMeans’ exit from residencyMAHA, Means, and Money💊Take Two & Call Me in the MorningTiny Chef wins multiple Emmys; acceptance speech; dances/exercises; cancelledDoctor falling asleep under anesthesiaWaiting for the beat to droText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

State of the Union bingo card; US Mens Hockey squanders the good vibes; RFK Jr’s HHS gets sued yet again for illegally messing with vaccination; Punch updates; Angry Quilters; Gen Z slangMen’s Hockey Squanders Good WillSome of the US men’s hockey team reactions to the response to their “locker room talk”Ellen Hughes’s commentsHilary Knight’s reaction to the US men’s hockey teamArghavan’s post about the US men’s hockey team cavorting with the presidentHockey mom Sara WilesAndy Murray knows how to stand up for womenAnother Lawsuit Against Antivax HHS:AGs Kris Mayes (AZ)and Rob Bonta (CA) announce lawsuit against HHSFDA’s refusal to evaluate Moderna flu vaccine (and later reversal of this decision)Moderna no longer investing in new late-stage vaccine trials💊Take Two and Call Me in the MorningArghavan’s post summarizing the story of Punch, the little monkey abandoned by his motherQuiltCon: The Quilters are angryGen Z writes the Pasco Library script77 year old art curator Alison Luchs uses Gen Z slang to teachText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Go Team USA! Weird Workout with RFK Jr; ICE harming kids in detention; Gisele Pelicot speaks out about her husband's abuseHilary Knight is the greatest US women’s hockey scorer everRFK Jr and Kid Rock working outDystopian Daycare in DilleyHundreds of kids detained > 20 day Flores rule limit.Two measles cases confirmed at the Dilley family detention center2-month-old Juan Nicolás developed respiratory illness requiring hospitalization. Family deported immediately after hospital release.18 month old Amalia, also sick with respiratory illnesses, discharged back to ICE custody and allegedly denied needed meds after hospitalization.Read letters written by children in ICE detention facilityPelicot’s Book ReleaseA review of Gisèle Pelicot’s book: A Hymn to LifeMme Pelicot’s interview with the New York TimesDaughter Caroline Darian’s book: I’ll Never Call Him Dad AgainPhilip Young pleads guiltyThe Telegram group with 70,000 men giving tips on how to SA womenSwedish man accused of selling sex with his wifeGerman man convicted of drugging and raping his wife💊Take Two and Call Me in the MorningArghavan’s carousel of “First in my bloodline” (the tweet)Eileen Gu laughs at journalist after winning 2 silver medalsText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Epstein dirty money in Medical Education; Should we make babies in outer space?; Olympian’s relationship fumble; Knitting the resistance; Possum cake (yeah you read that right)Epstein’s Ties to Medical EducationFact check! The representative Arghavan referred to who brought up the email from survivors is Thomas Massie, not Anthony Massie.Arghavan’s video summarizing Les Wexner’s relationship with Epstein and Ohio State (with references)Virginia Giuffre’s 2016 deposition in which she names Wexner (scroll down)Mark Landon’s relationship with Epstein (chair of Ob-Gyn at Ohio State)Mark Tramo’s relationship with Epstein (neurologist at UCLA)Martin Nowak’s emails with EpsteinDavid Gelernter is removed from teaching at YaleDocumentary: Surviving Ohio StateSpace Sex (Not SpaceX)404 Media: As Space Tourism Looms, Scientists Ask: Should We Have Sex in Orbit?Reproductive biomedicine in space by G.A. Palmer, et alTake Two and Call Me in the Morning💊Norwegian Olympian admits to cheating on his ex-girlfriend; check out comments hereLost Black American Recipes, by Wick’d ConfectionsStory of the Norweigan resistance hat, an elder describes themYou can knit one! Melt the Ice Knitting PatternWatch a sensory hair cut by @theweightedcapeA wild possum birthday cake by Greg MasonText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

“Longevity” Doctor Peter Attia in Epstein Files 2,000 times; How to Leave Open Comments on Fed Regs Banning Gender Affirming Care; Bad Bunny’s Big Week; Trump wants women to smile more.Dr. Peter Attia and the Epstein FilesWhat the president said to Kaitlan CollinsArghavan’s summary with screenshots of Attia’s emailsAttia hangs out with Epstein while his baby is critically illPeter Attia’s statementPeter Attia keeps CBS News role despite being in the Epstein files almost 2,000 timesAlyssa’s interview on How The Ultra Rich Are Trying To Live ForeverGender Affirming Care for MinorsSTAT News: Peds Ethicists Oppose BanMatthew Cortland’s Top Notch Commenting GuideDeadline for Public Comments: February 17, 2026, 5:00 PM ETSubmit to BOTH dockets:🥊 Hospital Ban (CMS-3481-P)File code: CMS-3481-PSubmit at: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/CMS-2025-1822-0001🥊 Medicaid/CHIP Funding Ban (CMS-2451-P)File code: CMS-2451-PSubmit at: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/CMS-2025-1823-0001💊Take Two and Call Me in the MorningBad Bunny’s album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, is the first Spanish-language album to be awarded Album of the YearJosh Johnson talking about the Super Bowl halftime showAlyssa recommends Cadbury Mini Eggs and Cream Eggs.Text us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

The doctors thrive on spite; Nurse Alex Pretti; Iran Update; How cheap bots/trolls drive disinformationNote: we had an audio issue for the first few minutes of the episode (4:55). Iran Update:Per Iran International, internal documents from Iran suggest the regime killed at least 36,500 protesters between January 8th and January 9th, 2026Arghavan’s carousel about Iran that got a lot of trolls/bots/not nice people in the commentsSome sources for learning what’s happening in Iran (these are their websites; all are also on Instagram) Iran International (English)TavaanaManotoHuman Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA)HengawDr. Alireza Golchini has been arrested and faces the death penaltyMore information on what’s happening in hospitals and the names of other physicians who have been arrestedCNN’s 2022 report on sexual violence in prisons in IranBoycott Huda Beauty Arghavan’s reaction to Huda’s commentsVideo 1Video 2 (in Farsi)Video 3Alex Pretti, ICU Nurse:Anderson Cooper’s interview with Stella Carson (the woman in the pink jacket)Side-by-side video of Kristi Noem and Greg BovinoPeople who have died in relation to ICE this yearAgent Jenn Budd's Borderland Talk💊Take Two and Call Me in the MorningJB Star’s latest DougieThe fed gov drops its appeal regarding withholding $$$ from schools with DEI programsThe EU updates terror list with IRGCOtters destroying iceDevil and Jesus videosTaryn Delanie Text us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Unethical research in Guinea-Bissau; Robots won’t fix maternity care deserts; Louisiana tries to extradite California doctor.Americas public health system teeters on the edge of an ICU admission thanks to the abysmal leadership of RFK Jr and his Clown Car of Public Health officials. This week, the doctors discuss the origins of proposed unethical and exploitative research in Guinea-Bissau. Next, Louisiana attempting to extradite a California doctor for prescribing abortion medications. And Dr. Oz thinks robotic ultrasound machines will close Alabama's maternity care desert.Marley is not interested in the US buying his country.Trump’s “Great Healthcare Plan”Unethical research in Guinea-BissauInside Medicine Guardian article about the response from the African CDC and officials in Guinea-BissauRolling Stone gets the receiptsCriticism of researchers in VaccineHarriet Washington’s Medical ApartheidAbortion NewsLouisiana hopes to extradite a California physicianDr. Oz’s on robot ultrasounds in AlabamaA robot-assisted ultrasound machine and a robotic-assisted surgery deviceRFK Jr slammed for criticizing Germany’s “interference” in the patient-physician relationship.ProPublica: Women With High-Risk Pregnancies Have Limited Options Under Abortion Bans💊Take Two and Call Me in the MorningArghavan’s carousel of owl impressionsBeginner method to solving Rubik’s cubesEmily Elbert's country blues skillsMerlin BirdIDText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

This week: famed author's son dies after anesthesia, the "war on protein", and Arghavan's views on protests in Iran.Join Arghavan and Alyssa as they into the 'war on protein' narrative propagated by RFK Jr, the tragic story of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's toddler son’s death following an anesthetic in Nigeria, and the ongoing protests in Iran.They discuss:New Dietary Guidelines, AKA the end of non-existent " War on Protein"Kevin Klatt, PhD, RD (Univ. of Toronto) analyzes the new dietary guidelines in plain languageThe death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 21 month old son on Wednesday, January 6. His family attributes his death to anesthesia care at EURACARE Multispecialist Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos.Read about the reported conditions around his death in the Nigerian paper The Guardian. The hospital has denied improper care.Adichie is best known for her breakout novel, Americanah, and her 2011 TED Talk “Why We Should All Be Feminists”You can review the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists’ Workforce MapCurrent events in IranMassive protests have been ongoing in Iran for the past few weeks12,000 protesters killed in IranVideos of the Kahrizak forensic center show bodies in body bagsIranian regime charges families for the bodies of their loved ones💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊JB Star learns how to do the Dougie (here’s a tutorial for anyone inspired to learn!)Noah Wyle’s PSA lambasting RFK Jr on Jimmy Kimmel Live.SNL’s Marcello Hernández in American BoyText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Activation Warning: This episode discusses SA, CSAM, state violence. In the first feverish episode of The Present Illness in 2026, the Doctors discuss the tumultuous events of winter break, including significant changes in vaccination policies, a big win for abortion rights, ICE actions in Minnesota, and the dangers of Elon Musk’s Grok.Abrupt CDC Child Vaccine RollbackAAP, APHA lawsuit against HHS moves forwardGrok’s gross contribution to the winter break. Elon happy to push Grok, and the content is worse than what’s on X. “Take It Down Act”. 404 Media coverage. NCII - report (stopncii.org)Get X removed from the app store - directions.Go to the App StoreSearch for XScroll to “report a problem”Select “Pornography or sexual content”Then select “Predatory behavior toward children”Then write a brief description, eg, “This app allows the creation and distribution of non-consensual sexually violent images and child sexual abuse material via Grok. Please remove this from the App Store.”Wyoming Supreme Court blocks ban on abortion and abortion medication! ICE shot and killed Renee Good in Minnesota. JD Vance video praising law enforcement. NYTimes’s video analysis.January 6 insurrection-versary. NPR video of January 6 and January 6 archive. The White House’s revisionist history J6 site. Jack Smith testimony. “Presidential Memoranda” NSPM-7 on domestic terrorism.💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊Georgi Arthur makes a castle with her lipsFilm: One Battle After Another. Here is a thoughtful criticism.Visible and Text us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

In their final episode of 2025, Drs. Salles & Burgart perform a brief examination of the Vanity Fair exclusive featuring Trump's new White House staff. Our physician hosts dissect the viral photoshoot that's causing more raised eyebrows than a Botox convention, with special attention to the inflammatory rhetoric surrounding Susie Wiles and her supporting cast of characters.The physicians perform a thorough examination of HHS cutting AAP funding while also funding an extremely unethical study of the Hepatitis B vaccine, news of HHS abandoning Hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for newborns, and Idaho’s anti-scientific tossing of school vaccine mandates (and Florida showing symptoms of the same). The doctors discuss ethical complexity in mitochondrial risk assessment for anesthesia in the setting of bombing of boats off the coast of Venezuelan.Resources:Interview with Vanity Fair photographer, Christopher AndersonRaeShanda Lias’s video about the Vanity Fair photosCDC adopts ACIP’s anti-scientific recommendation on Hepatitis B vaccinationLecture on emerging anesthesia safety concern in kids. (I would stop at the Q&A because the speakers are not prepared to answer several genetic & safety questions)DHS’s original post about remigration. Here is the post with the added context.Alyssa’s paper: Pregnancy Testing without ConsentPregnancy Justice’s report: Pregnancy as a CrimeKeeping Police out of Pregnancy Care (Fact Check: the second author of the essay is the CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health)Stephanie Tillman’s paper on opt-in consent💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊Taylor Ann Gallo’s makeup tipsGlenn DeVar’s first drag video and a more recent Text us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

In this episode, the doctors perform a clinical examination of the pathological messaging aimed at young men by right-wing influencers like Nick Fuentes. They dissect the misogyny spreading through social media platforms, with particular attention to the inflammatory rhetoric that leads to dangerous attitudes toward women. The prognosis? With a strong dose of media & gender literacy, recovery is possible.Touré’s fact checks on the Diddy doc (this & this); Jeff Pearlman’s insights. Keffe D is set to be on trial in 2026 for the murder of Tupac Shakur. If you go down this rabbit hole, let us know!More on fake email addresses created by boys to antagonize their classmatesPew dataArghavan’s viral video about the growing ideological gender gapInternational survey data showing Gen Z's disparate views on gender equalityJesse Mack Butler storyScott Galloway’s Notes on Being a ManKristen Ghodsee’s Why Women Have Better Sex Under SocialismFact Check: Women were not able to have their own bank accounts or credit without a man until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974. Here’s how the act came to be.💊Take Two and Call Me in the Morning💊Arghavan shared the Diddy dance trendHere is a video of Diddy’s performance at the MTV Awards (that inspired the trend below)Here are a few videos of folks making fun of Diddy dancing and supposedly mourning Biggie’s death from @the.only.v, @kidrawofficial, and @toolie_xoAlyssa loves the reaction videos about the adversaries physicians facePhysician Associate Yiannis K. gives his top 5 adversaries, football styleActivation Awareness: This episode contains discussions of misogyny, sexuText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

In this week's episode, Drs. Salles and Burgart perform a critical examination of academic freedom under attack, focusing on the viral case of an Oklahoma pre-med student who's created a fever pitch of controversy by turning in shoddy work and targeting her transgender professor. The doctors dissect how right-wing influencers are turning classroom disagreements into national culture war symptoms, with concerning implications for academia's immune system.Our hosts investigate the alarming trend of politically-motivated complaints against university professors. From Indiana University to Texas A&M, faculty are experiencing acute cases of administrative panic when confronted with student outrage—often resulting in terminal employment outcomes.Fact Check: The correct way to reference people from Somalia is Somali, not Somalian. We apologize for the error!LinksHere’s more about Samantha Fulnecky and the story at the University of OklahomaHere’s more about the instructor (Jessica Adams) who was removed from teaching her class at Indiana UniversityHere’s more about the instructor (Melissa McCoul) who was fired at Texas A&M and the findings of the faculty committee that reviewed what happenedJennifer Freyd’s DARVO concept - Deny-Attack-Reverse Victim and Offender💊Take Two and Call Me In The Morning 💊Here’s one of Haley Dortch’s videos. You’re welcome!Somebody, Somewhere on HBOHow I escaped MAGA! Critical thinking woke me up.Nurse Johnn on being unprofessionalHere’s Jeff Hiller’s book Actress of a Certain AgeText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

The doctors perform an emergency triage on the state of public health leadership this week, starting with a scathing dissection of The Atlantic's profile of RFK Jr. that seemingly skipped the fact-checking department. Drs. Salles and Burgart administer a strong dose of reality as they examine how mainstream media continues to platform dangerous health misinformation with fewer guardrails than a pediatric rollercoaster.Their differential diagnosis extends to the newest clown to emerge from the Clown Car of Public Health - the CDC's latest deputy director Ralph Lee Abraham. An avid COVID vaccine skeptic with min-bogglingly illogical public health positions, we're in for more shenanigans out of the nation's top health administration. Between discussions of pertussis vaccine efficacy and the EPA's concerning moves on PFAS, asbestos, and air pollution regulations, this episode delivers a thorough examination of how public health leadership impacts everyday Americans - no insurance preauthorization required.Joy: Take Two And Call Me In The MorningAlyssa recommends the dark comedy show, Pluribus (AppleTV)"Just look at the degree on that chick" and Dr. Turner’s post on TwitterDistractingly Sexy - I can’t believe this trend is from 2015… In response to Nobel scientist Tim Hunt stating, “Let me tell you about my trouble with girls … three things happen when they are in the lab … You fall in love with them, they fall in love with you and when you criticise them, they cry.”)Fact check:The large study Arghavan mentioned was Danish, not Swedish. Apologies!LinksThe Atlantic article about RFK JrThe New Yorker article by Tatiana SchlossbergInformation about the pertussis vaccine (as part of Tdap); adults should get a booster every 10 yearsMore on Ralph Abraham, the new CDC Deputy DirectorOn the Trump administration’s approval of PFASOn the Trump administration’s moves regarding particle pollutionOn the Trump administration’s moves regarding asbestos in talcTo learn more about Text us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Activation Awareness: This episode discusses serious pregnancy complications and the dismissal of women's health concerns.In this week's episode of The Present Illness, Drs. Arghavan and Alyssa deliver a stat consultation on two viral stories about Black women receiving substandard obstetric care. With surgical precision, they dissect the case of Karrie Jones at Dallas Regional Medical Center, who was kept in a wheelchair for admitting questions while in active labor, and Mercedes Wells, who was turned away from Franciscan Hospital in Indiana only for her husband Leon to deliver their baby on the side of the road. Their differential diagnosis includes systemic racism, dismissal of women's pain, and healthcare systems operating with more red tape than gauze.This TikTok from OB-Gyn Shannon Clark gives her expert take.Fact check: Texas did not disband their maternal mortality review committee—Georgia did, after ProPublica reported on deaths in Georgia.Resources mentioned:2025 March of Dimes Report Card Allyson Felix: Tori Bowie Can't Die In VainTierra Walker’s death due to lack of abortion accessProPublica’s reporting on what happens when someone who needs an abortion can’t get one—and how the system fails them once they have a child: ProPublica’s Post-Roe American archivesBrittany Watts on her experience being arrested after a miscarriage Another woman was arrested for having a miscarriage at a fast food establishmentOn the woman being prosecuted in South CarolinaTexas' so-called abortion-trafficking lawsSouth Carolina’s bill to punish abortion with death penaltyArghavan’s essay on maternal and infant mortality after DobbsLooking for ways to help by volunteering or donating?Nonprofits Text us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Join Drs. Arghavan Salles and Alyssa Burgart as they don their sterile gloves to dissect the web of connections surrounding Mr. Pedophile Criminal, Jeffrey Epstein, in "The Epstein of It All." The doctors examine how powerful men shield each other from consequences - and compound harms to survivors.Arghavan shares her social media deep dive into the recently released Epstein emails about Donald Trump, including those with journalist Michael Wolff and former Harvard Dean Larry Summers. These emails are so poorly written that listeners face the risk of losing brain cells. Alyssa rolls her eyes over how gross and foolish people have way too much power. Etsy sellers are already hawking T-shirts that say "I know how dirty Donald is.”The episode's diagnostic workup includes a careful examination of how society treats allegations against powerful figures and the chronic condition of powerful men escaping accountability.What’s bringing you Joy this week?This week our physicians prescribe a healthy dose of Soraya Chemaly and her new book, All We Want is Everything, and Fumi Abe, whose nephew apparently knows too much about the American healthcare system (we're not asking questions).Fact check: The guest who was going to visit Epstein and was worried about whether they might run into Trump wasn't a young woman or a woman at all--he was a former member of the Kuwaiti government.Links:To read more about the latest trove on the Epstein emails on Arghavan’s Instagram carouselThe Harvard Salient: The 20th Anniversary of Larry Summers’ Remarks and the Debut of Cancel CultureTake two of this episode and call us in the morning.Activation awareness: This episode contains discussions of SA and mentions of Jeffrey Epstein's alleged crimes. Listener discretion is advised.Note: The literary reference people are mentioning regarding a “dog not barking” is from Sherlock Holmes, referring to a case in which the dog didn’t bark because the thief was someone the dog knew.Text us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

In this electrifying episode of The Present Illness, Drs. Arghavan and Alyssa examine America's complicated relationship with lady voters. Our physician hosts unpack the historical struggle for women's voting rights with their characteristic wit, dissecting how gender equality at the ballot box has changed our political anatomy. Fresh from the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities conference, Alyssa shares insights on disability bias in ethics consultations and the lesser-known consequences of the Dobbs decision, while Arghavan administers a dose of "Shakira Law" that will have you hips-not-lying with laughter.The doctors' differential diagnosis includes exploration of voting barriers, political representation, and the ongoing treatment plan for a democracy that still hasn't reached gender homeostasis. This episode features a special cameo by Cesar the Llama, who demonstrates better judgment than many elected officials.Side effects may include: heightened civic awareness, spontaneous ballot-box enthusiasm, and an irrepressible urge to thank the suffragettes for their service.Text us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

Arghavan & Alyssa diagnose America's latest nutrition emergency as SNAP benefits face potential cuts. They dissect the economic consequences of food insecurity with surgical precision while examining the bizarre phenomenon of billionaires hoarding wealth like it's toilet paper in a pandemic.The doctors perform a thorough examination of:The alarming case of disappearing SNAP contingency funds (prognosis: sus)How cutting food assistance creates a cascade of symptoms across the economyBillie Eilish prescribes wealth redistribution to Mark ZuckerbergSide effects of this episode may include: righteous indignation, increased awareness of food insecurity, and an irresistible urge to check if your local billionaire is sharing their metaphorical sandbox.This episode may induce hunger for both nourishment and economic justice.Please, donate to your local food banks and/or volunteer your time. Not sure where how? Check out your city/county resources, or search these national databases:Feeding AmericaHunger Free AmericaNo Kid HungryFor relief from the heavy diagnosis, get a dose of joy featuring Isabel Klee and her pet dog Whimsy, who frankly demonstrate better social skills than some humans with bank accounts larger than GDP.Isabel Klee and Whimsy, the Rescue DogA woman hits the Conservative dating appsYou think scientists are hiding things from you? Have you met these losers? Resources:Mississippi Monkey HuntQuestions remain after monkeys leaving Tulane lab escapeSNAPJoyce Vance: “When did making kids go hungry become a Christian value?”Elizabeth Austin's essay: $149.57 Is Going to Have to Feed My Family Indefinitely'I don't think we fully understand who SNAP recipients are': Single mother speaks outBillionaires, Wealth Inequality & Financial StrugglesBillie Eilish Calls Out Billionaires In Room With Mark Zuckerberg: ‘Give Your Money Away’The Secret IRS Files: Trove of Never-Before-Seen Records Reveal How the WText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

TikTok is up for sale in America, but Arghavan and Alyssa are not into it. They discuss the implications of TikTok's potential sale and its impact on privacy and social media dynamics. They explore how social media influences relationship norms, particularly through examples of weaponized incompetence in partnerships. The conversation shifts to public health, focusing on the importance of hepatitis B vaccination for children and the challenges posed by misinformation in healthcare. They also touch on the difficulties of academic publishing and the need for accessible information for people outside the medical field.Joy this week?The Portland Frogs vs. ICE AgentsAmerican Society of Bioethics and Humanities National MeetingText us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

In this episode, Drs. Arghavan Salles and Alyssa Burgart dive into the world of vaccine misinformation, examining a debate between science communicators and anti-vaccine advocates. They explore how scientific illiteracy fuels dangerous health trends, including the current measles outbreak. The hosts then switch gears to discuss an evangelical pastor's claim that women should remain quiet and out of public life, highlighting how this rhetoric connects to broader political movements aimed at restricting women's rights and visibility. Looking for joy this week? They close with moments bringing them joy: viral pizza-tossing videos and humorous social media content that provides relief from today's challenging news cycle.Here is the Politico group chat article mentioned at the top of the show:https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/14/private-chat-among-young-gop-club-members-00592146For those who really need to know, it was Arghavan’s mumps titer that was low when she had measles, mumps, and rubella titers checked a couple of years ago.What RFK Jr actually said about the evidence on Tylenol and autism: he will “doing the studies to make the proof”The word Arghavan was trying to think of regarding the Epstein files was discharge petition, and the representative Mike Johnson refuses to swear in is Adelita Grijalva.Here is the paper on surgical referrals Arghavan mentioned:https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/sarsons/files/sarsons_jmp_01.pdfCheck out pizza wars on Tik Tok, or if you don’t have Tik Tok, check out a few videos here on Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/arghavansallesmd.medsky.social/post/3m3bp5n2rxs26Text us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

In this episode of "The Present Illness," hosts Arghavan Salles and Alyssa Burgart delve into the tragic story of Paloma Shemirani, a young woman whose life was cut short by misinformation and a lack of standard medical intervention. Despite being diagnosed with a treatable form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Paloma's journey was marred by her mother's influence and a series of misguided decisions that led her away from life-saving treatment. The episode explores the broader implications of medical misinformation, the role of wellness influencers, and the emotional toll on healthcare providers. Join us as we unpack this complex narrative and discuss the urgent need for accurate medical information in today's digital age.The dangerous impact of misinformation on medical decisions.The emotional burden on healthcare providers navigating misinformation.The role of social media in spreading misinformation. (It doesn't have to be this way!)What's bringing us joy this week?Hidden Talent on TikTokResources:BBC Sussex overview of Paloma’s case (Instagram)Official inquest: Inquest touching the Death of Paloma ShemiraniCancer Research UK's detailed description of “Gerson therapy”Anti-vaccine strategy: The narrative around Daisy Hildebrand’s death (the second child to die in the 2025 Texas measles outbreak) was complicated by anti-vaccine influencers like Robert Malone and the Children’s Health Defense (America’s largest anti-vaccine non-profit)Entrepreneur Media: The Wellness Industry Is Now Richer Than Big Pharma and SportsGraphic from Nini Munoz showing Big Wellness at $6.3 trillion and the global vaccine market at only in the billions at $78.5 billion.The Role of Trauma in Mothers’ COVID-19 Vaccine Beliefs and Intentions, Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Volume 46, Issue 5, June 2021, Pages 526–535, https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsab043 (no paywall) - - Key takeaway from this paper: Mothers with a PTSD history showed lower confidence and intent to get COVID-19 vaccines for themselves and their children, largely due to higher institutional distrust, suggesting the need for trauma-informed, trust-building vaccine messaging.Note: the deceased's father, Dr. Faramarz Shemirani, PhD, MSc, BSc, is not a medical doctor. According to their son, Gabriel, he inspired Kate Shemirani's interest in conspiracy theories.Text us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

In this fever dream of an episode, Arghavan and Alyssa perform a thorough examination on America's latest government shutdown drama and the wildly contagious misinformation about immigrant healthcare that's spreading faster than a hospital norovirus. They'll decode EMTALA (that's Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act), dissect proposed Medicaid cuts that would make even the Grim Reaper wince, and explore how the Affordable Care Act's subsidies are hanging on by a thread thinner than hospital coffee.The doctors also share field notes from their recent infiltration of the American Academy of Pediatrics meeting, where they witnessed pediatricians demonstrating superhuman resilience while being chronically underappreciated (seriously, these folks deserve capes). And because even physicians need a good dose of serotonin sometimes, they wrap up with a prescription for finding moments of joy in a healthcare system that often feels like it's coding.Side effects may include: sudden clarity, unexpected laughter, and an irresistible urge to fact-check your uncle's Facebook posts about immigration.Sources:KFF "1.4 million lawfully present immigrants are expected to lose health coverage due to the 2025 tax and budget law"KFF "ACA marketplace premium payments would more than double on average next year if enhanced premium tax credits expire"JAMA Network Open "Patterns in patient encounters and emergency department capacity in California, 2011-2021"AP "Looming health insurance spikes for millions are at the heart of the government shutdown"CBS "The facts behind the government shutdown debate over health care and immigrants in the US legally"NBC "GOP misleads with claim that Democrats shut down to give health care to 'illegal immigrants'"National Immigration Law Center "Fact checking immigrants, health care, and the 2025 tax and budget law"Text us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles

In this engaging first episode of "The Present Illness," physician-hosts Arghavan Salles and Alyssa Burgart delve into the complexities of public health, politics, and culture. They discuss the controversial claims surrounding Tylenol and autism, emphasizing the importance of scientific evidence and the dangers of misinformation. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by patients trying to access care, the medical community, the impact of deregulation, and the role of social media in spreading health-related myths. With humor and insight, Arghavan and Alyssa aim to make sense of a world that often feels febrile and underdiagnosed, inviting listeners to join them in exploring these critical issues.00:00 Introduction to The Present Illness PodcastThe Swedish Study: Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Children’s Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability. Ahlqvist VH, et al. JAMA. 2024.04:59 The Role of Science in Public Health 10:49 Eugenics and the Stigmatization of Autism16:19 The Impact of Misinformation on Public PerceptionCo-author of study linking Tylenol to autism says pain reliever still an option. Politico.Harvard’s Public Health Dean Was Paid $150,000 to Testify Tylenol Causes Autism. The Harvard Crimson.21:51 The Importance of Research FundingDanish Study of Aluminum in Vaccines: Aluminum-Adsorbed Vaccines and Chronic Diseases in Childhood: A Nationwide Cohort Study. Andersson NW, et al. Ann Intern Med.Explaining the Danish Study on Aluminum in Vaccines. VaccinateYourFamily.org.27:38 The Future of Public Health and VaccinationBook: The Poison Squad: One Chemist's Single-Minded Crusade for Food Safety at the Turn of the Twentieth Century By Deborah Blum33:36 The Role of NIH in Rare Disease ResearchThe Persian word Sheytân (شیطان) for "devil" or "evil spirit" is borrowed from the Arabic shayṭān (شَيْطَان).39:11 The Dangers of Misinformation in Cancer Treatment45:41 The Importance of Early Detection in CancerCartoon: Autism Causes Vaccines. smbccomics on Instagram.Text us!Thanks for listening to The Present Illness! Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @ThePresentIllnessCreditsProduction by Arghavan Salles & Alyssa BurgartEditing by Alyssa BurgartTheme Music by Joseph UphoffSocial Media by Arghavan Salles