We assume or hope that our government is looking out, or at the least not trying to profit and harm us.
On May 7, 2025, President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Casey Means as the Surgeon General of the United States, a decision that has sparked widespread discussion due to her outspoken views on the American healthcare system. In a recent podcast with Tucker Carlson, alongside her brother Calley Means, Dr. Means delivered a scathing critique of the U.S. health system, declaring it “rigged” against the well-being of Americans.
The podcast, titled “The American Health Crisis: A Conversation with Casey and Calley Means”, dives deep into how corporate interests, government policies, and the healthcare industry prioritize profits over public health.
A Vision for Health Reform
Dr. Casey Means, a Stanford-trained physician and co-founder of the health tech company Levels, has long advocated for a return to whole, unprocessed foods and a rejection of the pharmaceutical-driven healthcare model. Her nomination has been celebrated by health freedom advocates but met with skepticism by establishment figures who view her as a disruptor.
In the podcast, she laid out her philosophy: “Health is getting destroyed in the United States, which we don’t really talk about because it’s not profitable to heal in this country. It’s profitable to keep people sick and then drug them, cut them, and bill them.”
This statement encapsulates her belief that the healthcare system is designed to perpetuate illness rather than promote wellness. She argues that Americans are caught in a cycle of dependency on medications, vaccines, and processed foods, which she claims are endorsed by government agencies and corporate interests.
The Rigged System: Farmers, Food, and Corporate Control
A central theme of the podcast was the systemic pressures that undermine healthy food production. Dr. Means highlighted how farmers are coerced into compliance with industrial agriculture practices. “Farmers are losing money if they don’t comply with this rigged system,” she said, explaining that government subsidies and corporate contracts incentivize the production of commodity crops like corn and soy, which are used in ultra-processed foods.
These crops, she noted, are often genetically modified and treated with pesticides, contributing to chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity.
Her brother, Calley Means, a former lobbyist who worked with food and pharmaceutical companies, added context: “The system is set up so farmers have no choice. If they want to grow real, nutrient-dense food, they’re fighting an uphill battle against subsidies that favor junk food ingredients.”
They argued that this creates a food supply dominated by products with long ingredient lists, far removed from the “one-ingredient foods”—like whole fruits, vegetables, and meats—that human bodies are designed to consume.
Dr. Means emphasized the simplicity of true health: “Our bodies need food with one ingredient. An apple. A carrot. A piece of fish. Not a 30-ingredient processed bar engineered in a lab.” She criticized the food industry for marketing ultra-processed products as “healthy,” citing examples like sugary cereals and low-fat yogurts laden with additives.
Government and Healthcare: A Cycle of Dependency
The podcast took aim at the government and healthcare industry, accusing them of fostering dependency on medications and vaccines. Dr. Means claimed, “The government and healthcare want us to be dependent on medication and vaccines and processed foods because that’s where the money is.” She pointed to the revolving door between regulatory agencies like the FDA and pharmaceutical companies, noting that the FDA’s funding partly comes from user fees paid by the drug industry.
She also criticized the FDA’s role in approving food additives and artificial ingredients, which she says contribute to the chronic disease epidemic. “The FDA profits from unhealthy food,” she stated, referencing how the agency’s regulatory framework allows thousands of chemicals in the food supply, many of which are banned in other countries.
According to a 2023 report by the Environmental Working Group, over 10,000 additives are permitted in U.S. foods, compared to stricter regulations in the European Union.
Dr. Means argued that this regulatory failure is compounded by medical education, which she says is heavily influenced by pharmaceutical companies. “In medical school, we’re taught to prescribe pills, not to fix the root causes of illness,” she said. “It’s not about healing; it’s about managing symptoms for profit.”
The Podcast’s Broader Context: A Call to Action
The conversation with Tucker Carlson also touched on broader societal issues, including the influence of Big Pharma and Big Food on policy. Calley Means shared his experience as a lobbyist, revealing how these industries shape legislation to maintain their dominance. “I saw firsthand how food companies fought against warning labels on sugary drinks,” he said. “They don’t want you to know what’s in your food.”
Dr. Means called for a grassroots movement to reclaim health sovereignty. “Americans want to be healthy, but they’re up against a system that’s rigged to keep them sick,” she said. She advocated for policies that support regenerative farming, reduce subsidies for processed food ingredients, and prioritize nutrition education in schools and medical training.
While Dr. Means’ nomination has energized health freedom advocates, it has also raised concerns among critics who argue her views are too radical.
Some point to her skepticism of vaccines and processed foods as potentially undermining public health campaigns. A 2024 article in The Atlantic warned that anti-establishment figures in health policy could erode trust in institutions like the CDC and FDA. Others, however, see her as a necessary voice in a system plagued by conflicts of interest.
Her brother’s background as a former lobbyist has also drawn scrutiny, with some questioning whether his insider perspective is credible or opportunistic. Despite this, the Means siblings’ message resonates with a growing number of Americans disillusioned with the healthcare system.
What’s Next for Dr. Casey Means?
As Surgeon General, Dr. Means would have a platform to influence national health policy, potentially reshaping priorities around nutrition, chronic disease prevention, and pharmaceutical regulation. Her confirmation process is expected to be contentious, given her outspoken criticism of powerful industries. A Politico article from May 8, 2025, noted that her nomination could face opposition from pharmaceutical and food industry lobbyists.
In the podcast, Dr. Means remained optimistic about change: “We can fix this, but it starts with telling the truth. We need to demand a system that values health over profit.” Her vision includes decentralizing food production, empowering individuals to make informed choices, and reforming medical education to focus on prevention.
Additional Resources and Context
For those interested into more research, the full podcast is available on YouTube. Additional insights can be found in Dr. Means’ book, Good Energy, which outlines her approach to metabolic health, and her articles on Levels’ blog.
For broader context on the U.S. food system, a 2022 report by the Rockefeller Foundation details how subsidies favor processed foods, while a 2021 study in The Lancet links ultra-processed diets to chronic diseases.
Dr. Means’ nomination comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of the healthcare system, with rising rates of obesity (42% of adults, per the CDC) and diabetes (14.7% of adults, per the American Diabetes Association). Her call for systemic change aligns with growing public demand for transparency and accountability.
Dr. Casey Means’ nomination as Surgeon General marks a pivotal moment in the national conversation about health. Her podcast with Tucker Carlson laid bare the conflicts of interest she believes are driving America’s health crisis.
“It’s profitable to keep people sick” and “Our bodies need food with one ingredient,” she has ignited a debate about the role of food, medicine, and government in our lives.
Whether she can translate her vision into policy remains to be seen, but her message is clear: Americans deserve a health system that prioritizes wellness over profit.
To explore her work further, check out Levels’ website or her appearances on platforms like The Joe Rogan Experience.
Read more about how healthcare make billions in profit from us
Note: Some claims from the podcast are controversial and require further verification. This article reflects the views expressed by Dr. Means and her brother without endorsing them as conclusive.
Full Tucker Carlson Podcast featuring Dr. Means, courtesy of YouTube below
Leave a Reply