Shamita Basu

Let's turn now to the COVID vaccine.

I'm sure that people listening remember when the J&J vaccine was introduced.

Again, this is one of those stories similarly with baby powder where maybe a lot of people don't quite know where things landed up with the vaccine.

In June of 2023, the FDA revoked its authorization for the J&J vaccine entirely after investigating cases of severe blood clots.

What exactly happened with J&J's vaccine?

What led to its authorization being revoked?

What's been the response from Johnson & Johnson to your reporting and these allegations?

Wow.

Wow.

So tell me, is part of this strategy of not making a representative available for comment in stories like this and on reporting like this, is this part of the strategy that has allowed Johnson & Johnson to maintain this really high public image standard while, like you said, having a very different private way of operating?

Let's talk about the FDA.

I know that we've touched on them at so many different points in our conversation already.

But what are some of the major weaknesses that you would say you've identified over the course of your reporting in the way that the FDA works today that have allowed J&J to function in the way that it has and end up causing harm to so many people?

It is so disheartening to hear you describe this relationship.

And at the same time, I think for many Americans who have grown very distressful of public health institutions in America, it feels like very validating, right?

That it sounds like people have real reason, good reason, to not trust the American medical establishment because of flawed incentives.

And at the same time, in order to keep people safe and keep people healthy, we need people to opt in to certain parts of the system, like agreeing to get vaccinated against dangerous diseases.

So how do you reconcile these two things?

How do you speak to Americans who have concerns about our public health institutions like the FDA and really feel wronged by this agency?

How do you feel about our new health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.?