Matt Welch Talks Vaccine Politics, Distrust in Elites, on MSNBC's All In with Chris Hayes

Last night I appeared on MSNBC's 8 p.m. show to discuss libertarian approaches to vaccination policy, comments by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), the narrow policy distance between Paul and President Barack Obama, distrust in elites (including doctors and government), the disputed wisdom of mandatory flu and Hepatitis-B shots, and more:

Trigger-warning: I appear in the second half of the clip. The first half may induce feelings of stress among more sensitive viewers.

Bonus vid: Dr. Jeffrey A. Singer, a participant in our April 2014 cover-forum on vaccination policy, discussed the issue yesterday on CNBC:

Comments

[Dances-with-Trolls]

Primetime of MSNBC? Must have reached a good 20-30 thousand people there.

[Matt Welch]

Multiply by 10.

[Crusty Juggler]

Welch with the burn.

[sarcasmic]

Not much of a burn. That's what, 0.1% of the population?

[mad.casual]

At what point do we achieve herd immunity to the vaccine debate?

[Matt Welch]

Just trying to sharpen everyone's accuracy in criticism.

[Spencer]

noble AND quixotic...

[GILMORE]

"The first half may induce feelings of stress among more sensitive viewers."

I had to go into therapy after reading the headline, so someone's going to have to give me a summary of the actual piece. With puppets.

[Crusty Juggler]

Don't fret, Matt looked debonair as usual.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Why are we just hearing about this now?

[Matt Welch]

Because you don't follow me on Twitter, and I was in a bit of a rush yesterday.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I don't know what a twitter is.

[Bee Tagger]

It's not a fashion app if Matt uses it.

See? Who needs GILMORE?

[wadair]

Former surgeon general says Top Men should decide and politicians should take appropriate action.

/shocked face

[GILMORE]

I really won't watch the piece because MSNBC triggers me in a bad way....

...but do they bother to distinguish between 'mandated vaccines' for things like Measles versus Smallpox/Ebola/Flesheating Zombie-itis?

just saying - i assume the progs want *everything* mandated. Because that's just how they roll; but is anyone taking a middle-ground?

[Timon 19]

I braved the clip, and Hayes was pretty fair, at least when Welch was sitting there right next to him.

[Swiss Servator, ... Switzy!]

Matt intimidated Hayes.

[triclops]

Hayes tries more than most progs to be fair.