Shaping Vaping

On this episode of Shaping Vaping, AVM's Jim McCarthy sits down with journalist Jacob Grier to discuss the rapidly encroaching threat of vaping prohibition. As increasing numbers of smokers switch to vapes and give up cigarettes forever, many governments are making these life-saving products harder to access—and punishing consumers forced to acquire them illegally. Why would public health officials so aggressively attack a technology that is helping millions of people lead healthier lives? And what can be done to turn back their assault? Grier offers intriguing answers to both questions.Jacob Grier writes about tobacco, public policy, and other vices. His articles have appeared at Slate, Reason, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Daily Beast, Eater, Imbibe, and many other publications. He is the author of The New Prohibition: The Dangerous Politics of Tobacco Control, among several other books. Follow him on Twitter @JacobGrier.Follow AVM on Twitter @vaporamerican

On this episode of Shaping Vaping, AVM Vice President Alli Boughner sits down with Dr. Michael Siegel to discuss the tobacco-control movement's rejection of harm reduction. There's an abundance of evidence that tobacco harm reduction helps smokers give up cigarettes; yet many US public health authorities deny that vapes and other low-risk alternatives to smoking should be used for cessation. Why? Dr. Siegel's answer may surprise you.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit handed down a major ruling in Bidi Vapor v. FDA, holding the agency accountable for the way it has mishandled the approval process for vaping products. Attorney and legal expert Azim Chowdhury joins co-hosts Amanda Wheeler and Greg Conley to discuss the ruling and map out the other fights against FDA's Marketing Denial Orders in the courts. Plus, some media criticism.

Tobacco Harm Reduction advocates won the argument about the best way to help improve public health and defeated a Colorado bill that would have banned flavored vaping products. Amanda Wheeler and co-host Char Owen are joined by an all-star panel of guests who worked on the front lines to defeat the ban. This week's panel includes Tim Andrews of Americans for Tax Reform, Lindsey Stroud of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Criminal Justice and Drug Policy Reformer Art Way, and Government Relations Pro Joe Miklosi.

Advocate Matthew Milby of the Maryland Vapor Alliance joins Amanda Wheeler and Char Owens, the intrepid ladies of AVM, for a discussion on the latest happenings in the vaping world of Maryland. They also lament how vape shop owners have no idea where future enforcement of onerous vaping regulations will come from. Plus, listener questions.

Dimitris Agrafiotis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Smoke Free Association, joins guest host Char Ownes for this week's episode of Shaping Vaping. The two discuss the proactive approach the EU has taken to vaping policy, the role of vape shop owners in helping people quit, and share what it has been like to be in the vaping fight for so long.

Journalist and RegWatch host Brent Stafford joins Shaping Vaping to discuss Congress' last-minute synthetic nicotine rider, CDC's misinformation campaign on EVALI, and the motivations behind the anti-vaping movement. Plus, this week's Media Lap Dogs.

Journalist and RegWatch host Brent Stafford joins Shaping Vaping to discuss Congress' last-minute synthetic nicotine rider, CDC's misinformation campaign on EVALI, and the motivations behind the anti-vaping movement. Plus, this week's Media Lap Dogs.

Char Own, Matt Culley, and Helen Redmond take over the podcast to talk about the latest news in vaping policy. They explain Congress' de facto ban on synthetic nicotine, go behind the New York Times' flawed reporting on vaping, and explore just what it would take to save the FDA from the quagmire of corruption of being funded by the industry it regulates.

Journalists Alex Norcia and Jim McDonald join Shaping Vaping to discuss the inconsistencies in how public health officials define harm reduction, the states that are trying to stealth-ban synthetic nicotine, and a grab bag of other vaping topics in the news. Plus, this week's Media Lap Dogs.

Investigative journalist Marc Gunther and Amanda Wheeler discuss Bloomberg Philanthropies refusal to discuss the science of vaping, the influence of mega-foundations pouring money into journalism plus the abysmal state of vaping research in academia. Plus, this week's Media Lap Dogs.

Vaping advocate Skip Murray and AVM's own Char Owen join Amanda Wheeler to discuss a new study from NYU on the hostile research environment surrounding vaping in academia, Robert Califf's nomination to head the FDA, and the FDA's rebrand of its “Tobacco Education Resource Library.” Plus, this week's Media Lap Dogs.

Mazen Saleh and Chelsea Boyd of the R Street Institute join AVM's Amanda Wheeler to discuss R Street's harm reduction research and advocacy as well as the American Lung Association's 2022 State of Tobacco Control report. Plus, this week's Media Lap Dogs.

Greg Conley of the American Vaping Association and Paul Blair of Turning Point Brands join AVM's Amanda Wheeler to discuss the flaws in several new bills being introduced in Colorado, California and other states, They also discuss some exceptional reporting from Marc Gunther on Bloomberg Philanthropies, and why millions of people think vaping is more harmful than smoking. Plus, this week's Media Lapdogs.

Vaping researcher, advocate, and vape shop owner Spike Babaian and journalist Helen Redmond join AVM's Shaping Vaping Twitter Space to discuss what it's like to be a vape shop owner when the FDA tries to destroy you business and what communities lose when local vape shops close their doors. Plus, this week's Media Lapdogs.

Journalist Jacob Sullum and tobacco harm reduction expert Colin Mendelsohn join AVM's Shaping Vaping Twitter Space to discuss new studies showing vaping's incredible effectiveness in helping people quit smoking, Colin's new book Stop Smoking Start Vaping, the FDA approving new cigarettes, and Jacob's newest piece for Reason Magazine on vaping. Plus, this week's Media Lapdogs.

Michael Landl, director of the World Vaping Alliance (WVA), joins AVM's Amanda Wheeler to discuss how the WVA is building allies and support across Europe on the political and grassroots level as well as what techniques are working to force the WHO to include harm reduction voices. Plus, this week's Media Lapdogs.

Journalist and philanthropy expert Marc Gunther and tobacco harm reduction expert Clive Bates join AVM's Amanda Wheeler to discuss the latest news on the court challenges to the FDA's marketing order denials, staffing changes at the FDA, and the war between prohibitionists and harm reductionists. Plus, the Media Lapdogs of the week.

Dr. Charles Gardner joins AVM's Amanda Wheeler to discuss the latest news coming out of the World Health Organizations COP9 Conference, Michael Bloomberg's undue influence on international vaping policy, and the rampant misinformation about the National Youth Tobacco Survey results. Plus, the Media Lapdogs of the week.

Greg Troutman, a lawyer working on behalf of vaping manufacturers, and Jacob Grier, a freelance journalist and author, join AVM's Shaping Vaping Twitter Space to discuss the latest news coming out of the various lawsuits against the FDA, the nomination of Robert Califf to head the FDA, and the hypocrisy of Members of Congress who own stock in Big Tobacco while trying to regulate and tax vaping out of existence. Plus, the Media Lapdogs of the week.

Democrats own stock in Big Tobacco while backing a new tax that economists say will drive smokers back to cigarettes. Consumer advocate Lindsey Stroud and political communications pro Christian Josi join guest host Jim McCarthy, AVM's communication advisor, to discuss whether Democrats will face a rebellion at the ballot box. Plus, the Media Lapdogs of the week.

Alex Norcia of Filter Magazine and Guy Bentley of the Reason Foundation join AVM's Amanda Wheeler to discuss the nomination of Robert Califf to head the FDA, Alex's recent reporting on FDA's “fatal flaw” approach to reviewing PMTAs, and Guy's take on the how the vaping tax will push in more people smoking cigarettes. Plus, the Media Lapdogs of the week.

Michelle Minton of the Competitive Enterprise Institute and Helen Redmond of Filter Magazine join AVM's Amanda Wheeler to discuss the latest on the proposed Nicotine Tax, Helen's latest piece on the FDA's approach to vaping, Michelle's declaration that the “teen vaping crisis” is over, Dr. Cother Hajat's review of studies on vaping, and the most misleading media coverage on vaping from the past week.

Tim Andrews of Americans for Tax Reform and Matt Culley of Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association join AVM's Amanda Wheeler to discuss the latest on the proposed Nicotine Tax, the World Health Organizations crusade against vaping, the latest news out of the lawsuits against the FDA, and the media coverage of the first increase in cigarette sales in twenty years.