How Trump Wants to Upend TV Drug Ads

Hi, it’s Cynthia and Rachel. Near-ubiquitous television drug advertising in the US full of bizarre side effects like “may cause death” has for years provided fodder for hilarious Saturday Night Live sketches. After President Donald Trump weighs in, Americans might end up hearing about even more side effects. More on that in a moment...

Aside from New Zealand, the US is the only country where drug companies can interrupt your nightly news or sports broadcast to advertise drugs that you may not ever need. The jingles are catchy, the images normally uplifting and the voiceover relays diseases and treatments that eventually become household names. Who hasn’t had the “oh oh oh Ozempic” tune stuck in their head? (If you hadn’t before, you do now.)