The rise, fall and rise of the most nonsensical conspiracy theory we've ever heard.

Thanks to Gregg Gonsalves for helping us fact-check this episode!

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• Denying AIDS: Conspiracy Theories and Pseudoscience in a Post-COVID World
• Impure Science: AIDS, Activism, and the Politics of Knowledge
• The Duesberg Phenomenon
• AIDS Denialism Beliefs among People Living with HIV/AIDS
• HIV Denial in the Internet Era
• HIV Denial in the COVID Era
• How COVID conspiracy theories led to an alarming resurgence in AIDS denialism
• The Man Who Thought AIDS Was All In The Mind
• AIDS "Dissident" Seeks Redemption
• Truth and Heresy About AIDS
• Defending the boundaries of science
• Justice After AIDS Denialism
• AIDS Denialism vs. Science
• The Unbeliever
• Estimating the lost benefits of ARV use in South Africa
• Conspiracy beliefs about HIV/AIDS
• Are HIV/AIDS Conspiracy Beliefs a Barrier to HIV Prevention Among African Americans?
• HIV causes AIDS: Koch's postulates fulfilled
• AIDS And The Scientific Governance Of Medicine In Post-Apartheid South Africa
• The Denialists
• Has Duesberg a right of reply?

Thanks to Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

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We’re nearly halfway through Trump's second term and we still don’t have a Surgeon General. What gives?

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• White House withdraws nomination of Janette Nesheiwat
• Trump’s Surgeon General Pick Distorted Key Parts of Her Résumé
• Dr. Janette Nesheiwat takes role at Walter Reed treating Havana Syndrome
• When Did RFK Jr Start Listening to Calley and Casey Means?
• What Casey Means and MAHA Want You to Fear
• Trump’s Surgeon General Pick Is Tearing the MAHA Movement Apart
• Trump surgeon general pick said mushrooms helped her find love
• The Dizzying Rise of MAHA Warrior Calley Means
• Casey Means Poised to Become Nation’s Top Doctor
• Casey Means discloses financial ties to supplement industry
• Laura Loomer Targets Trump’s Pick for Surgeon General
• The Bad Science of Good Energy
• Trump's Surgeon General Pick Tried to Trademark MAHA
• Can Trump's latest pick for surgeon general make it through confirmation?
• New surgeon general pick in deleted posts criticized Trump, RFK Jr
• Trump’s pick for SG sells supplement with ingredient banned by Pentagon
• Trump’s new surgeon general pick deepens MAHA-MAGA rift

Thanks to Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

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In the 1980s, a low-sodium diet was seen as the gold standard for healthy behavior. In 2026, salt has been repackaged as “electrolytes” and is now cast as a core component of wellness. How did we get here?

Also, an important correction: One pound of butter to one pound of potatoes is Joel Robuchon’s recipe.

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Links!

• The 25 Saltiest Restaurant Meals in America
• Facts, Issues, and Controversies in Salt Reduction for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
• Salt Wars
• The INTERSALT Study: background, methods, findings, and implications
• Sodium reduction
• Sodium Intake Reduction: An Important But Elusive Public Health Goal
• Effects of Diet and Sodium Intake
• Salt intake, stroke, and cardiovascular disease
• Racial and Ethnic Differences in Sodium Sources and Sodium Reduction Behaviors Among US Adults
• The Great Salt Debate: So Bad?
• Salt guidelines draw heavy backlash
• Sodium Reduction in US Households’ Packaged Food and Beverage Purchases
• Blood pressure lowering efficacy of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for primary hypertension

Thanks to Doctor Dreamchip for our lovely theme song!

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