PULSE POINTS:
What Happened: Vanity Fair published an article linking protein consumption to right-wing MAGA extremism.
Who’s Involved: Vanity Fair, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Harvard Medical School associate professor and Cambridge Health Alliance internist Pieter Cohen..
Where & When: United States, May 2025.
Key Quote: “I don’t have a good sense on what’s driving that right now, other than if it’s just the usual manosphere—or manomania, here in the United States.” — Pieter Cohen.
Impact: The article has sparked debate on social media about the politicization of dietary choices and essential nutrients.
IN FULL:
A recent Vanity Fair article absurdly suggests that the American obsession with protein is linked to right-wing MAGA ‘extremism.’ The piece, titled “Why Are Americans So Obsessed With Protein?” points to figures like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and “podcast bros” as key influencers in this trend, while seemingly dismissing the fundamental health benefits of protein.
The article alleges there is a longstanding “protein mania” in America, claiming it has reached its peak this year. This assertion is supported by the observation that discussions on protein intake and supplementation are ubiquitous. However, the article’s suggestion that this trend is politically motivated is raising eyebrows and allegations that the piece is either politically motivated or steeped in unfounded conspiracy theories.
Harvard Medical School associate professor and internist at Cambridge Health Alliance Pieter Cohen is quoted in the article. He expresses uncertainty about the current drivers of this protein interest. He speculates that it might be linked to what he describes as the “usual manosphere—or monomania” in the U.S. The piece further observes that more men than women appear interested in protein, hinting at a potential gender aspect to the trend.
The article and its narrative are being met with criticism online. Some question why protein, an essential micronutrient vital for muscle, bone, and skin health, is being politicized. Critics argue that the article dismisses the basic nutritional needs of the human body, suggesting instead a political agenda.
In a humorous twist, the decidedly not-right-wing and openly globalist The Atlantic discussed the very topic of protein consumption and how much is too much or too little last year, concluding that the human body, at a biological level, likely knows what source of protein it needs and how much.
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