Nov 18, 2025 · 48 min · 10 segments
This episode explores whether MAHA momentum in the states translates into actual policy change nationwide. Helena and Theodore host the first episode of Forked recorded in front of a live audience in…
Scott FaberGuest
Summer BarrettGuest
Helena Bottemiller EvichHost
Theodore RossHost
So instead of having yet another year or two years or five years of meetings, We reached out to folks in the states because the states are the only folks who have the power and honestly, the determination to protect us.
So taking it to the states and working with the states means working with 50, 50 different kinds of political systems and partisan ideas.
How, how does, how do you, how does your story fit into that? How do you meet? You
it's there's so many of us who've been working in different state legislatures, but I've been personally involved in 2025 and, in passing laws in five states to ban not just dives, but other toxic chemicals from food.
In California, those laws that have passed have been overwhelmingly bipartisan.
In fact, I remember sitting, I was testifying in Sacramento, and the Democrats on one end of the dais were sitting there going, God, this really ought to be FDA's job.
They've been sort of breaking the law for 67 straight years, but maybe this is the year when they're finally going to do their job that Congress gave them in 1958.
And you know, this is complicated stuff and maybe we should wait and see what happens.
So instead of having yet another year or two years or five years of meetings, We reached out to folks in the states because the states are the only folks who have the power and honestly, the determination to protect us.
So taking it to the states and working with the states means working with 50, 50 different kinds of political systems and partisan ideas.
How, how does, how do you, how does your story fit into that? How do you meet? You
it's there's so many of us who've been working in different state legislatures, but I've been personally involved in 2025 and, in passing laws in five states to ban not just dives, but other toxic chemicals from food.
In California, those laws that have passed have been overwhelmingly bipartisan.
In fact, I remember sitting, I was testifying in Sacramento, and the Democrats on one end of the dais were sitting there going, God, this really ought to be FDA's job.
They've been sort of breaking the law for 67 straight years, but maybe this is the year when they're finally going to do their job that Congress gave them in 1958.
And you know, this is complicated stuff and maybe we should wait and see what happens.
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