RFK is seen as a controversial choice for Health Secretary, not least because he’s a vaccine sceptic who has also rallied against big pharmaceutical companies, but also because of his attitude to big pharma and medical research. Justin, Marianna and Sarah look in more detail at RFK’s record on public health, what his stance on vaccines means for Americans, and whether he’ll realistically be able to take on America’s big food companies. Also, will he definitely be confirmed - as Health Secretary - by the Senate? How does that process work? HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 Presenter • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Marianna Spring, Senior Social Media Investigations Correspondent GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480 • Email Americast@bbc.co.uk • Or use #Americast This episode was made by Purvee Pattni with Rufus Gray, Catherine Fusillo and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Michael Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app. You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155 Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Newscast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd The Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the uk.
BBC Sounds Music Radio podcasts.
Sarah, Justin, I expect both of you have seen this very viral picture that shows Donald Trump on a plane eating an interesting choice of food with his new posse.
Yeah, it's an amazing picture and it's been unavoidable for that reason.
So they're on Trump Force One.
Donald Trump and his son Don Jr.
With RFK Jr.
And Elon Musk, rounded table, all tucking into Big Macs and fries.
I mean, it almost looks like an advert for McDonald.
And RFK Jr looks like he would rather eat vomit, frankly.
Here's a man who has spoken out against ultra processed foods, specifically against McDonald's, and he's being made to practically eat his words here on Trump Force One.
It's some kind of hazing or loyalty test, I assume from Donald Trump, but he does not look happy about it.
And he might have passed the test on the plane, but my goodness, he is perfectly plain about what he thinks about this food.
He was making the point again to the point podcaster Joe Polish last week about the experience of eating with Donald Trump.
The stuff that he eats is really like bad.
Campaign food is always bad, but the food that goes onto that airplane is like just poison.
It's all you have a choice between.
You don't have the choice.
You're either given KFC or Big Macs.
That's big.