Well That Didn’t Sound Like Casey Means
The Atlantic
February 26, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Casey Means, the nominee for surgeon general, significantly toned down her rhetoric during her Senate confirmation hearing, steering clear of her more controversial past statements. Known for promoting unconventional wellness theories—such as communicating with trees and questioning vaccines—Means avoided discussing topics like psychedelics or raw milk. Instead, she emphasized her medical credentials from Stanford University and distanced herself from her earlier anti-birth-control comments, clarifying that they referred to specific cases rather than birth control in general. She also reaffirmed the importance of vaccines, aligning with mainstream public health positions.
Means’ past writings and interviews have raised concerns about her qualifications. Her 2024 book, *Good Energy*, advocates for avoiding tap water and using a glucose-monitoring device from her co-founded company, Levels Health. Despite claiming to divest from Levels, she remains its chief medical officer. Senators pressed her on potential conflicts of interest regarding her financial ties to companies whose products she has promoted. These concerns have led health leaders and organizations to question her suitability for the role, with some calling her a promoter of misinformation.
The hearing occurred amid heightened scrutiny of the MAHA movement, which Means supports through her brother’s work at Health and Human Services. While the movement previously focused on attacking vaccine policies, its leader is now shifting attention to the food industry ahead of midterm elections. This strategic pivot aims to broaden support as vaccine opposition remains a contentious issue. Means’ nomination has sparked significant political debate, highlighting the clash between alternative wellness trends and established public health practices.
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Originally published on The Atlantic on 2/26/2026