Special Ep: What the Heck Just Happened with Moderna & the FDA? A Conversation w The Atlantic's Ben Mazer
Podcast: Why Should I Trust You?Published On: Sat Feb 21 2026
Description: Now, some of you may have heard the recent headlines that the FDA refused to review Moderna’s application for its new flu vaccine … a vaccine that uses mRNA technology. And then a few days ago, the agency has REVERSED course. We had an episode planned all about what this decision means and whether or not it speaks to something larger about making vaccines in this moment….So now we’re rolling with the news of that big reversal. And the truth is, we are kind of still asking the same question.What the heck is going on? This is messy. On the one hand, doesn’t this FDA have a point about setting a higher standard for approving vaccines that they’re being asked to consider no matter how chaotic that might look? On the other hand, how are vaccine makers supposed to operate with all that chaos? And even with the reversal, is this ALREADY having a chilling effect on vaccine makers? Health journalist and physician Ben Mazer from the Atlantic joins us. Hosts:Tom JohnsonBrinda AdhikariMaggie Bartlett (off)Dr. Mark Abdelmalek (off)Guest:Dr. Benjamin Mazer, surgical pathologist, writer for The AtlanticThanks for listening! If you like us, please leave a review, rate us, and please subscribe! Got questions? Comments? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at questions@whyshoulditrustyou.net
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