I’m sipping my coffee and reading about Calley Means, a big cheese in the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, who just resigned from his gig as a senior Trump health official. Apparently, he’s frustrated with the government’s slow pace in tackling chronic disease. Bless their hearts, it seems like they’re having a hard time getting anything done. Means confirmed his departure, saying he’s resigning “with tremendous respect for President Trump and Bobby Kennedy.” I’m not sure what’s more surprising, the resignation or the fact that he’s still respectful after all the frustration.
I’m trying to wrap my head around this story, and it seems like Means was a key player in introducing Kennedy to Trump, which ultimately led to Kennedy’s endorsement and cabinet position. Means had been a top adviser to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and had been championing Trump as a candidate who would overhaul the government’s approach to food and health regulation. However, it looks like the administration’s inaction on ultraprocessed foods and pesticides has been a major point of contention for MAHA supporters.
It’s interesting to note that Means’ exit comes as the latest blow to the political alliance between Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base and Kennedy’s MAHA voters. The MAHA folks helped get Trump elected in 2024, but they’re growing increasingly disillusioned with the lack of progress on their key priorities. This month, a coalition of MAHA activists released a “scorecard” claiming the administration had failed to deliver on most of its promises to restrict pesticide use, promote healthier foods, and break up special interests in Washington.
I’m not sure what’s more amusing, the fact that the administration is struggling to create a definition for ultraprocessed foods or that they’re facing sharp pushback from major agriculture industry groups. Means decided to quit primarily because of these delays, and I can understand why. It’s like they’re trying to get something done, but it’s just not happening. He is the latest in a string of senior health officials who have quit or been fired in recent months as voters soured on Kennedy’s controversial vaccine policies and the White House sought to pivot its health agenda toward more popular policy priorities.
In August, Means stood alongside Kennedy at an HHS event where the secretary promised a slew of policies aimed at cracking down on artificial food dyes, sweeteners, and other additives in popular foods. However, their announcement stopped short of requiring food manufacturers to prove their ingredients are safe – a long-held priority for MAHA advocates. The delay has stoked anger among MAHA advocates, who are promising retribution at the ballot box. Means, in a post on X, said that Kennedy and Trump “laid out a vision of combatting the entrenched, dark forces in DC that profit from Americans getting sick” and have made significant progress in the past two years.
The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, which isn’t surprising. Kelly Ryerson, a MAHA advocate known for her activism on pesticides, said of Means: “I am impressed that he completed over two years at HHS fighting the food battle, despite all of the obstacles presented by corporate interests.” Ryerson added that “sophisticated legal roadblocks and political shenanigans designed to appease corporate interests have made progress nearly impossible.” It’s like they’re fighting an uphill battle, and it’s not going well.
In conclusion, it seems like Means’ resignation is a big deal, and it’s a sign of the growing frustration within the MAHA movement. The administration’s lack of progress on key priorities has led to a lot of disappointment, and it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out in the future. As I finish my coffee, I’m left wondering what’s next for the MAHA movement and whether they’ll be able to get anything done. Only time will tell, but for now, it’s just another day in the wild world of politics 🙄.
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
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