What the Health? From KFF Health News: What About the State of Health?

Summary: It is February 2026, and President Trump’s record-long State of the Union address barely mentioned health care, despite it being a top worry for voters. The spotlight is currently on Casey Means, his nominee for U.S. Surgeon General. Means is a star in the "Make America Healthy Again" movement, but she faces serious questions because her medical license is inactive, meaning she cannot legally treat patients or prescribe medicine. During her Senate hearing, she avoided saying whether she supports basic flu or measles vaccines.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary RFK Jr. is facing anger from his own supporters. After years of fighting against the weed killer glyphosate, he is now defending a Trump order to keep using it for "national security" reasons. Amidst this, the CDC is struggling with leadership changes, and South Carolina hospitals are no longer required to tell the public about measles admissions, leaving doctors in the dark.

For more details, see KFF Health News at kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast/what-the-health-435-trump-sotu-state-of-the-union-casey-means-surgeon-general-february-26-2026/ (opens in new tab)