A movement called “Make America Healthy Again” is gaining attention, but what does it mean for children’s health, and who gets to decide? As rising rates of chronic illness and new debates challenge long-held assumptions about what keeps children healthy, this episode examines what this moment means for families trying to make sense of it all.
Host Heidi Russell, director of the Center for Health Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute, sits down with Elena M. Marks, senior fellow in health policy, to unpack the promises, questions, and real-world challenges behind the MAHA movement.
This conversation was recorded on Jan. 20, 2026.
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Clear, expert-informed conversations on child health and the policies that shape children’s lives, hosted by Heidi Russell, director of the Baker Institute Center for Health Policy.
This material may be quoted or reproduced without prior permission, provided appropriate credit is given to the author and Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The views expressed herein are those of the individual author(s), and do not necessarily represent the views of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
