Here are my honest thoughts on the MAHA movement

You're going to want to sit down for this one.

Hello friends!

I can’t lie; putting today’s newsletter and podcast out into the world is scary for me. We live in such a politically polarizing time, and I’m honestly blown away by the amount of misinformation out there. I also have all the sympathy in the world for people who have lost their trust in the medical system, and think quitting their jobs and living on a farm and raising a bunch of kids looks pretty appealing right now.

All that to say, I know you all have been waiting to hear from me regarding the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) and tradwife movement, because my DMs are full of questions from you. So, let’s talk about it.

I get the appeal, but we need to look deeper

I’ll be honest: I get it. When I see a tradwife reel of someone serenely making jam in a linen dress while her kids giggle in the background, it looks… peaceful. So much of modern life feels chaotic, and the idea of opting out, of trading the burnout and broken systems for something softer, has an obvious allure.

I also get why movements like MAHA are gaining traction. If you’ve ever felt dismissed by a doctor, if your pain has ever been written off as stress, if you’ve tried to get help and instead found red tape, rushed appointments, and no answers—you know how easy it is to lose faith in the system. And the truth is that the system has failed a lot of people, especially women.

But understanding why these movements are rising doesn’t mean we need to blindly follow them. In fact, many of the voices leading them are capitalizing on our legitimate frustrations to distract from bigger systemic issues—and in some cases, to roll back progress that actually protects our health. And when you add in the way social media algorithms amplify extreme, misleading, or fear-based content, it’s easy to see how misinformation spreads like wildfire.

Because if we really want to make America healthy again, the answer isn’t raw milk or red dye bans. It’s clean water, clean air, funded maternal care, paid family leave, and scientific research that actually includes women.

It’s systemic and it’s personal—and we deserve better than influencers selling us a half-truth disguised in a floral apron.

From the episode:
“These movements are flourishing in a vacuum left by our broken systems. They are a direct, predictable, and deeply human response to being told time and time again that your body, your pain, and your life just don’t matter.”

The takeaway:

The next time you see a bold health claim on social media, whether it’s about seed oils, sunscreen, or vaccines, pause and Google the source. Look for what trusted institutions like the NIH, Mayo Clinic, or Cleveland Clinic say, and whether there’s scientific consensus (not just one contrarian voice). Fact-checking doesn’t have to be complicated, and making it a habit helps you stay informed without getting swept up in fear or hype.

This episode goes way beyond tradwives and MAHA—we also get into the history of women being excluded from clinical trials, how social media algorithms are actively working against your health, why vaccine skepticism skyrocketed during the pandemic, and the difference between performative and actual wellness. You can listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube, and if it resonates, I’d love it if you could send it to just one friend.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear your take—did anything in this episode surprise you or shift how you think about wellness culture today?

Xo,
Liz

P.S. Paid subscribers always get access to key takeaways from each episode, full transcripts, and bonus Friday issues. This week, I’m opening up about the healthy swaps I’ve made in everything from my skincare to snack picks. It’s a fun one!

Key takeaways