Can Dems Be the Party of Health in an Age of RFK Jr.’s MAHA? A Conversation w Sen. Maggie Hassan

Why Should I Trust You?

During RFK Jr.'s confirmation hearing back in January, many voices competed to be heard. But one cut through the noise: Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire — a Democrat, a policymaker, and the mother of a son with Cerebral Palsy. Her emotional testimony about love, a mother's guilt, and the daily realities of disability struck a national chord.

Today, she joins us.

She tells us about where she finds yes, disagreement — but also, surprising common ground — with MAHA parents seeking answers about autism, vaccines, food, and chemicals.

Can this Democrat from the "Live Free or Die" state help rebuild trust in public health, a field often tied to collective sacrifice? And with her party facing historic polling lows, how does she believe Democrats can craft a new health message, even as they fight to protect scientific research and Medicaid from deep cuts she sees as devastating?

Hosts:

Brinda Adhikari

Tom Johnson

Maggie Bartlett

Dr. Mark Abdelmalek

Guest:

Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH)

Relevant committees she serves which relate to the subject of our podcast: Senate HELP Committee (Health, Education, Labor and Pensions); Senate Finance Committee; Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Source:

Clip from January 2025 of Sen Maggie Hassan at RFK Jr.'s confirmation hearing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEYj8x8f1QY&t=1s

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Chapters

1. Can Dems Be the Party of Health in an Age of RFK Jr.’s MAHA? A Conversation w Sen. Maggie Hassan (00:00:00)

2. Intro & Headlines: Why Are We Talking To Sen. Maggie Hassan? (00:00:34)

3. A Mother's Plea at RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearing (00:02:59)

4. Sec'y Kennedy Looking Into Causes of Autism (00:09:57)

5. Tom Walks Us Through New Hampshire and Trust in Govt (00:14:02)

6. The Senator's Son (00:16:18)

7. Introducing Sen. Maggie Hassan! (00:20:15)

8. That Viral Moment During the Hearing (00:20:27)

9. Her Message to MAHA: What She Has in Common (00:25:40)

10. Common Ground w MAGA? (00:31:33)

11. Democrats Are in the Dumps! (00:34:22)

12. Healthcare and Dems and their Challenges (00:36:10)

13. Sen. Hassan: What I Learned from my Pediatrician Grandpa (00:40:09)

14. Post-Chat (00:42:02)