The Present Illness

Activation Warning: This episode discusses SA, CSAM, state violence. 

In the first feverish episode of The Present Illness in 2026, the Doctors discuss the tumultuous events of winter break, including significant changes in vaccination policies, a big win for abortion rights, ICE actions in Minnesota, and the dangers of Elon Musk’s Grok.

Abrupt CDC Child Vaccine Rollback

AAP, APHA lawsuit against HHS moves forward

Grok’s gross contribution to the winter break. Elon happy to push Grok, and the content is worse than what’...

Duration: 01:06:22

In their final episode of 2025, Drs. Salles & Burgart perform a brief examination of the Vanity Fair exclusive featuring Trump's new White House staff. Our physician hosts dissect the viral photoshoot that's causing more raised eyebrows than a Botox convention, with special attention to the inflammatory rhetoric surrounding Susie Wiles and her supporting cast of characters.

The physicians perform a thorough examination of HHS cutting AAP funding while also funding an extremely unethical study of the Hepatitis B vaccine, news of HHS abandoning Hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for newborns, and Idaho’s anti-scientific tossing of school vaccine mandates (and...

Duration: 00:58:54

In this episode, the doctors perform a clinical examination of the pathological messaging aimed at young men by right-wing influencers like Nick Fuentes. They dissect the misogyny spreading through social media platforms, with particular attention to the inflammatory rhetoric that leads to dangerous attitudes toward women. The prognosis? With a strong dose of media & gender literacy, recovery is possible.

Touré’s fact checks on the Diddy doc (this & this); Jeff Pearlman’s insights. Keffe D is set to be on trial in 2026 for the murder of Tupac Shakur. If you go down this rabbit hole, let us know!More...

Duration: 00:56:14

In this week's episode, Drs. Salles and Burgart perform a critical examination of academic freedom under attack, focusing on the viral case of an Oklahoma pre-med student who's created a fever pitch of controversy by turning in shoddy work and targeting her transgender professor. The doctors dissect how right-wing influencers are turning classroom disagreements into national culture war symptoms, with concerning implications for academia's immune system.

Our hosts investigate the alarming trend of politically-motivated complaints against university professors. From Indiana University to Texas A&M, faculty are experiencing acute cases of administrative panic when confronted with student...

Duration: 00:55:08

The doctors perform an emergency triage on the state of public health leadership this week, starting with a scathing dissection of The Atlantic's profile of RFK Jr. that seemingly skipped the fact-checking department. Drs. Salles and Burgart administer a strong dose of reality as they examine how mainstream media continues to platform dangerous health misinformation with fewer guardrails than a pediatric rollercoaster.

Their differential diagnosis extends to the newest clown to emerge from the Clown Car of Public Health - the CDC's latest deputy director Ralph Lee Abraham. An avid COVID vaccine skeptic with min-bogglingly illogical public...

Duration: 01:00:36

Activation Awareness: This episode discusses serious pregnancy complications and the dismissal of women's health concerns.

In this week's episode of The Present Illness, Drs. Arghavan and Alyssa deliver a stat consultation on two viral stories about Black women receiving substandard obstetric care. With surgical precision, they dissect the case of Karrie Jones at Dallas Regional Medical Center, who was kept in a wheelchair for admitting questions while in active labor, and Mercedes Wells, who was turned away from Franciscan Hospital in Indiana only for her husband Leon to deliver their baby on the side of...

Duration: 00:58:46

Join Drs. Arghavan Salles and Alyssa Burgart as they don their sterile gloves to dissect the web of connections surrounding Mr. Pedophile Criminal, Jeffrey Epstein, in "The Epstein of It All." The doctors examine how powerful men shield each other from consequences - and compound harms to survivors.

Arghavan shares her social media deep dive into the recently released Epstein emails about Donald Trump, including those with journalist Michael Wolff and former Harvard Dean Larry Summers. These emails are so poorly written that listeners face the risk of losing brain cells. Alyssa rolls her eyes over how...

Duration: 01:00:56

In this electrifying episode of The Present Illness, Drs. Arghavan and Alyssa examine America's complicated relationship with lady voters. 

Our physician hosts unpack the historical struggle for women's voting rights with their characteristic wit, dissecting how gender equality at the ballot box has changed our political anatomy. Fresh from the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities conference, Alyssa shares insights on disability bias in ethics consultations and the lesser-known consequences of the Dobbs decision, while Arghavan administers a dose of "Shakira Law" that will have you hips-not-lying with laughter.

The doctors' differential diagnosis includes exploration o...

Duration: 00:52:52

Arghavan & Alyssa diagnose America's latest nutrition emergency as SNAP benefits face potential cuts. They dissect the economic consequences of food insecurity with surgical precision while examining the bizarre phenomenon of billionaires hoarding wealth like it's toilet paper in a pandemic.

The doctors perform a thorough examination of:

The alarming case of disappearing SNAP contingency funds (prognosis: sus)How cutting food assistance creates a cascade of symptoms across the economyBillie Eilish prescribes wealth redistribution to Mark Zuckerberg

Side effects of this episode may include: righteous indignation, increased awareness of food insecurity, and an irresistible urge to...

Duration: 01:01:38

TikTok is up for sale in America, but Arghavan and Alyssa are not into it. They discuss the implications of TikTok's potential sale and its impact on privacy and social media dynamics. They explore how social media influences relationship norms, particularly through examples of weaponized incompetence in partnerships. The conversation shifts to public health, focusing on the importance of hepatitis B vaccination for children and the challenges posed by misinformation in healthcare. They also touch on the difficulties of academic publishing and the need for accessible information for people outside the medical field.

Joy this week?

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Duration: 00:47:50

In this episode, Drs. Arghavan Salles and Alyssa Burgart dive into the world of vaccine misinformation, examining a debate between science communicators and anti-vaccine advocates. They explore how scientific illiteracy fuels dangerous health trends, including the current measles outbreak. The hosts then switch gears to discuss an evangelical pastor's claim that women should remain quiet and out of public life, highlighting how this rhetoric connects to broader political movements aimed at restricting women's rights and visibility. 

Looking for joy this week? They close with moments bringing them joy: viral pizza-tossing videos and humorous social media content that p...

Duration: 01:03:19

In this episode of "The Present Illness," hosts Arghavan Salles and Alyssa Burgart delve into the tragic story of Paloma Shemirani, a young woman whose life was cut short by misinformation and a lack of standard medical intervention. Despite being diagnosed with a treatable form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Paloma's journey was marred by her mother's influence and a series of misguided decisions that led her away from life-saving treatment. The episode explores the broader implications of medical misinformation, the role of wellness influencers, and the emotional toll on healthcare providers. Join us as we unpack this complex narrative and...

Duration: 00:53:55

In this fever dream of an episode, Arghavan and Alyssa perform a thorough examination on America's latest government shutdown drama and the wildly contagious misinformation about immigrant healthcare that's spreading faster than a hospital norovirus. They'll decode EMTALA (that's Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act), dissect proposed Medicaid cuts that would make even the Grim Reaper wince, and explore how the Affordable Care Act's subsidies are hanging on by a thread thinner than hospital coffee.

The doctors also share field notes from their recent infiltration of the American Academy of Pediatrics meeting, where they witnessed pediatricians demonstrating...

Duration: 00:38:52

In this engaging first episode of "The Present Illness," physician-hosts Arghavan Salles and Alyssa Burgart delve into the complexities of public health, politics, and culture. They discuss the controversial claims surrounding Tylenol and autism, emphasizing the importance of scientific evidence and the dangers of misinformation. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by patients trying to access care, the medical community, the impact of deregulation, and the role of social media in spreading health-related myths. With humor and insight, Arghavan and Alyssa aim to make sense of a world that often feels febrile and underdiagnosed, inviting listeners to...

Duration: 00:54:21