Doctors Fight Back Against ICE

Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson confront the expanding role of ICE and DHS in and around hospitals, and the growing consequences for public health. The conversation begins in Minneapolis, where the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents has shattered official narratives and forced a national reckoning. The show takes a tour of the Midwest with guest ER physician Dr. Chris Ford from Milwaukee, WI, who describes how hospitals are preparing for ICE in a similar way to how they once prepared for COVID, bracing for fear-driven no-shows, delayed dialysis and other life-saving treatments, and collapsing trust. Then, in Columbus, OH, with guest OB-GYN and state representative Dr. Anita Somani, who details how immigration enforcement is already disrupting prenatal care and routine medicine, while lawmakers and medical institutions struggle and often fail to respond with moral clarity. The episode closes with a warning about the broader health policy landscape, including RFK Jr.’s HHS and a CDC advisory chair openly questioning the value of polio and measles vaccines, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy’s actions lately, and Elon Musk’s medical robots. Background reading: * The New York Times: White House Use of ‘Domestic Terrorist’ Doesn’t Match Legal Reality * Stephen Miller calling Alex Petti an assassin on X * The New York Times: Bovino Set to Leave Minnesota as Trump Shakes Up Crackdown Leadership * POLITICO: Border Patrol agents involved in Minnesota shooting of Alex Pretti placed on administrative leave * POLITICO: Third ‘No Kings’ nationwide protest planned for March * The Center Square: Walz deploys 1,500 National Guard troops in Twin Cities * City of Minneapolis: City requests MN National Guard to help with staffing after 3rd shooting by federal agents * CBS News: Minnesota National Guard hands out donuts, coffee to protesters in Minneapolis * The New York Times: Democrats Vow Not to Fund ICE After Shooting, Imperiling Spending Deal * The Washington Post: GOP backlash on Minnesota signals a tougher landscape for Trump * AMA statement on immigration enforcement at hospitals * Sign the Committee’s open letter calling for legislation to restore hospitals as sensitive locations, free from the presence of ICE and other federal agents → ProtectMed.org/ICEoutofHospitals * The Hill: Chair of CDC’s vaccine panel questions need for polio vaccines, citing personal autonomy * POLITICO: A US return to the World Health Organization could hinge on whether Trump approves of its next leader * The Guardian: What is Nipah virus? Key things to know about the disease amid cases in India * Examples of Sen. Bill Cassidy doing something right are HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE * The New York Magazine: The Superhuman President’ A good-faith attempt to ascertain the truth about Donald Trump’s health * PEOPLE: Donald Trump Addresses His Father’s Alzheimer’s in New Health Interview, Saying Fred Had ‘What Do They Call It?’ * Elon Musk saying going to medical school is now “pointless” * Noah Wyle skit on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Join the fight at committeetoprotect.org. Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America. Have thoughts, questions, or your own health care story? Email us at [email protected]. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pagingamerica.org/subscribe