Political Influence at the FDA (with former FDA Commissioners Mark McClellan and Robert Califf)

In maybe the most heated In the Bubble episode, Andy talks with two former FDA commissioners -- Mark McClellan from the George W. Bush administration and Robert Califf from the Obama administration -- and confronts them about the politicization of the FDA under President Trump. The former commissioners are hesitant to criticize the current head of the FDA, Stephen Hahn, but Andy pushes them pretty hard on Hahn's inaccurate statements regarding convalescent plasma and what effect that might have on the public's trust in the FDA as the agency gears up to approve a COVID-19 vaccine. Keep up with Andy on Twitter @ASlavitt and Instagram @andyslavitt. Follow Robert Califf on Twitter @califf001.  In the Bubble is supported in part by listeners like you. Become a member, get exclusive bonus content, ask Andy questions, and get discounted merch at https://www.lemonadamedia.com/inthebubble/  Support the show by checking out our sponsors! Livinguard masks have the potential to deactivate COVID-19 based on the testing they have conducted from leading universities such as the University of Arizona and the Free University in Berlin, Germany. Go to shop.livinguard.com and use the code BUBBLE for 15% off. You can digitally purchase life insurance from Haven Life Insurance Agency at havenlife.com/bubble. Haven Term is a Term Life Insurance Policy (ICC17DTC) issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), Springfield, MA 01111 and offered exclusively through Haven Life Insurance Agency, LLC. Policy and rider form numbers and features may vary by state and not be available in all states. Our Agency license number in California is 0K71922 and in Arkansas, 100139527. Check out these resources from today’s episode:  Learn more about the evidence for convalescent plasma as a treatment for COVID-19: https://www.vox.com/2020/8/24/21399007/trump-covid-19-convalescent-plasma-coronavirus-fda-nih-stephen-hahn.  Read Robert Califf’s four-part Twitter thread on convalescent plasma: Part 1: https://twitter.com/califf001/status/1300784302402215937  Part 2: https://twitter.com/califf001/status/1301100106427568128  Part 3: https://twitter.com/califf001/status/1301126292763533314  Part 4: https://twitter.com/califf001/status/1301329017040142337  Listen to Mark McClellan’s first In The Bubble appearance, where he discusses the COVID-19 vaccine with Andy and David Agus: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toolkit-everything-you-need-to-know-about-vaccines/id1504128553?i=1000488693356,  Pre-order Andy’s book, Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response, here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250770165.  To follow along with a transcript and/or take notes for friends and family, go to www.lemonadamedia.com/show/in-the-bubble shortly after the air date. Stay up to date with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. For additional resources, information, and a transcript of the episode, visit lemonadamedia.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.