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challenging assumptions, and the drawing of conclusions based on empirical data. In contrast, authoritarian and fascist figures demand adherence to a preset ideology and predetermined outcome. "Science has historically challenged power by asking questions and making inquiries, and authoritarian governments don't like those types of questions," noted Erb. "If you don't adhere to science, question authority, and throw questions into the mix, then it leaves the door open for rules and regulations based on ideology." This prioritization of individual choice over collective health is not just an unfortunate or selfish worldview, however, but actively reinforces a neoliberal, free market approach to U.S. society that says corporations should be allowed to operate however they like in pursuit of profits. Because if only individuals are responsible for their own health and our government is not responsible for people's health as a whole through public health actions, then government does not need nor have the authority to regulate industries. While executives in various industries may not actually agree with or believe in the most outlandish proclamations by RFK, Jr. and Trump, such as acetaminophen causing autism, RFK, Jr. and MAHA serve their purposes well by deregulating business and limit- ing government oversight of their operations. History has shown, however, that when government does not regulate industry, industry will not hesitate to cut corners, poison our environment, and sell us products that are known to be harmful to our health or kill us—all in the name of maximizing profit. The CE course gives a few case study examples of this, examining how industry manipulated science, paid for and used front groups to shape public opinion, and stressed the importance of individuals' right to choose to use known-to-be-harmful products—essentially delaying government regulations of their products and buying them time to continue raking in profits. Three of the most famous examples of this are the tobacco indus- try, the chemical industry in selling products containing PFAS ("forever chemicals"), and the fossil fuel industry. In each case, these industries knew decades in advance of eventual public understand- ing that their products were harmful to humans and public health. To avoid regulation, they manipulated scientific evidence and even commissioned their own studies to raise questions, cast doubt, and insist on the inconclusiveness of science on the subject. They also manipulated public opinion by funding and founding front groups, paying for "trusted" sources, and launching media campaigns. Lastly, they insisted that the consumer should have the right to "decide for themselves" whether to use a harmful product or not. "Playing it off as personal autonomy sounds great to some people. But how much of your choice is it really when the only meat that you can buy hasn't been checked for bacteria and the processing plant hasn't been inspected?" said Wiehl. "If you deregulate the systems, corporations have time and time again proved that they are not going to do the right thing. They don't do what's best except for their shareholders and the dollar. You have to have those checks and bal- ances to keep us safe." In the case of MAHA, no one industry in particular benefits, but all industries win because, as explained earlier, if individual choice reigns supreme, there is no need for government to intervene via regulation, or decide what's healthiest for the population as a whole. The U.S. wellness industry, valued at upwards of $2 trillion in 2025, is a perfect exam- ple of this synergy between MAHA and deregulation. While MAHA is suspicious of Big Pharma and its relentless pursuit of profits, the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry is actually heavily reg- ulated via the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While we can argue about corporate influence over FDA independence, the FDA still does require drugmakers to undergo an approval process, clini- cal trials, and to meet safety and efficacy standards. In contrast, the wellness industry is largely unregulated: Nobody reviews products for safety and efficacy before they are sold to consumers. Claims that companies make are often misleading, there are no ingredient qual- ity standards, there is no way to compare across brands—the list of problems goes on. Not coincidentally, many of the most prominent leaders and influencers profit off of hawking all manner of products to "optimize health," everything from continuous glucose monitoring subscription services, as surgeon general nominee Casey Means does, to weight loss products, as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Direc- tor Mehmet Oz has. Many MAHA leaders are personally enriching themselves through promoting MAHA ideology and policies. Corporations and conservatives are also actively funding the MAHA movement, either through backing of prominent leaders, influencers, or through political action committees such as MAHA Alliance, which has been largely funded by SpaceX and Elon Musk, and MAHA PAC. According to a September article in the Boston Globe, MAHA PAC used to be Kennedy's presidential campaign PAC but switched gears and now funds marketing and communications to support Kennedy's agenda, including paying writers for the MAHA Report newsletter, and content from social media creators. In the face of this intentional sowing of mistrust and doubt in science, medicine, and public health, what can nurses do? It turns out that nurses can still do a lot. Never forget that you are still the most trusted profession in the United States. Your neigh- bors, friends, family, and communities respect your opinion and listen to you. Now that you understand MAHA ideology and its agenda, you can kindly explain as a health care provider all the ways that health is not solely determined by individual choices and how social deter- minants play a huge role. You can point out the disconnect between what MAHA espouses and the deregulatory policies RFK, Jr. and Trump are setting. You can organize with fellow nurses through many of our campaigns to fight back against the dismantling of pub- lic health, providing public comment, testimony, and stories to the media and joining us in our campaign to impeach RFK. Jr. You can help us boost National Nurses United social media posts on these topics by sharing them, or spread accurate information through your own profile. MAHA ideology must not go unchallenged. Ultimately, we know that nurses will play a major role in the movement to win back the trust of the public in support of sound, science-based public health programs and policies. "It comes down to education," said Erb. "We have to keep educat- ing and advocating for things like Medicare for All; living wages, environmental, housing, and workplace safety policies; and backing evidence-based health initiatives like vaccines and scientific research that will support the health of everyone, not just the wealthy and privileged among us." Lucia Hwang is editor of National Nurse magazine and Jane Thomason is assistant director of health and safety for NNU. 20 N A T I O N A L N U R S E W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G O C T O B E R | N O V E M B E R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 5 For more information about how to attend the CE course upon which this article is based, please visit go.nnu.org/ signup/trust-and-doubt-fight-for- health/.