The wellness path to conspiracy

The wellness path to conspiracy

From The Gray Area with Sean Illing by Vox

May 8, 2026 · 46 min

About this episode

Sean Illing discusses the rise of the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement and its implications on public health and trust in institutions with Anna North.

Sean talks with Vox senior correspondent Anna North about the strange rise of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement. They explore why MAHA resonates, especially with younger people, how legitimate concerns about food and public health blur into conspiracy thinking, and why social media has become such a powerful engine for both. They also discuss the collapse of trust in institutions, the emotional logic behind wellness movements, and what it would take to rebuild trust in science and public health. Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling) Guest: Anna North (@annanorthtweets) We would love to hear from you. To tell us what you thought of this episode, email us at thegrayarea@vox.com or leave us a voicemail at 1-800-214-5749. Your comments and questions help us make a better show. And you can watch new episodes of The Gray Area on YouTube. New episodes drop every Monday and Friday. Listen to The Gray Area ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Sean Illing

Guest: Anna North

Topics covered

  • wellness
  • conspiracy
  • public health
  • social media
  • trust in institutions
  • MAHA movement

Keywords

  • wellness
  • conspiracy thinking
  • public health
  • social media
  • trust
  • MAHA

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Vox

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