Nicholas Florko

1 week ago | theatlantic.com | Nicholas Florko

It’s easy to forget that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s assault on vaccines—including, most recently, his gutting of the expert committee that guides American vaccine policy—might have been avoided. Four months ago, his nomination for health secretary was in serious jeopardy. The deciding vote seemed to be in the hands of one Republican senator: Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

3 weeks ago | theatlantic.com | Nicholas Florko

Every Monday and Wednesday, students at Channelview High School, outside Houston, are treated to Domino’s for lunch. Delivery drivers from a local branch of the fast-food chain arrive at the school with dozens of pizzas fresh out of the oven, served in Domino’s-branded cardboard boxes. Children can be picky eaters, but few foods are more universally enticing than freshly cooked pizza—let alone from a restaurant students are almost certainly already familiar with.

1 month ago | theatlantic.com | Nicholas Florko

A Wednesday morning in May is a strange time to be trick-or-treating—especially if you’re an adult wearing business casual. The Indiana Convention Center had just opened to visitors for the second day of Sweets & Snacks, the largest gathering of the candy and snack industry in North America. Along with nearly 15,000 other attendees, I went from booth to booth trying samples.

1 month ago | theatlantic.com | Nicholas Florko

The surgeon general, America’s doctor, is the public face of medicine in the United States. The job is more educational than it is technical. Vivek Murthy, who was appointed as surgeon general during both the Obama and Biden administrations, went on Sesame Street to stress the importance of vaccinations and put out a guidebook to hosting dinner parties as a cure for loneliness. In many ways, Casey Means is the perfect person for that job.

1 month ago | theatlantic.com | Nicholas Florko

When you think of food poisoning, perhaps what first comes to mind is undercooked chicken, spoiled milk, or oysters. Personally, I remember the time I devoured a sushi boat as a high-school senior and found myself calling for my mommy in the early hours of the morning. But don’t overlook your vegetable crisper. In terms of foodborne illness, leafy greens stand alone. In 2022, they were identified as the cause of five separate multistate foodborne-illness outbreaks, more than any other food.