Does the FDA Protect Americans?

In this fascinating episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck dive into the complex and controversial world of the Food and Drug Administration. They explore how the FDA evolved from the early 1900s "poison squad" experiments - where brave volunteers literally ate poison to test food additives - to becoming America's first consumer protection agency. The hosts examine the agency's ongoing balancing act between protecting public safety and getting life-saving treatments to market quickly, including how user fees from pharmaceutical companies have created ethical dilemmas that critics say compromise the FDA's independence.