STAT October 15, 2025
In an interview, he discussed vaccines, persuasion, and the health-democracy connection
When I asked Richard Besser — the president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting CDC director — how he feels about the CDC under the Trump administration, he was frank. “It’s absolutely heartbreaking,” he said.
On this episode of the “First Opinion Podcast,” we discussed vaccine policy — Besser practiced as a pediatrician for more than 30 years — reaching out to conservative media, finding common ground with MAHA, the connection between democracy and health, and more.
“I used to think that I couldn’t be surprised,” he said, “but it seems like...
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