Paging America

This week on the show, the Supreme Court has punted mifepristone access back to the notoriously hostile Fifth Circuit — a short-term win for advocates, but a longer-term gift to Republicans hoping to dodge the issue before the midterms. We break down what the ruling actually means and where Alito and Thomas signaled they want the case to go.Then we get into the chaotic state of public health leadership: the Trump administration tapped a penile implant specialist with a YouTube show called Erection Connection to front its hantavirus press conference. The surgeon general position remains vacant — until now, sort of, filled temporarily by a congressman’s wife. Plus: RFK Jr. is reclassifying hundreds of senior HHS career staff to strip their civil service protections, fired the leadership of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force without explanation, and his MAHA allies are celebrating after Sen. Bill Cassidy lost his Louisiana primary.We also look at stock trades suggesting Trump may have profited from insider knowledge on Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 drugs, the administration’s push to make European countries pay more for pharmaceuticals so Americans pay less, a quiet reversal on ACIP’s new charter, and TrumpRx’s new partnership with Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs.Plus, our interview with State Rep. Donovan McKinney, where he discusses Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, also known as Mop Up Michigan. It’s a ballot initiative to curb corporate influence in politics and address economic disparities. Representing the state’s lowest-income district, McKinney argues that corporate monopoly money stifles legislative action on crucial issues like rising healthcare costs and affordability.Background Reading:* The Hill: Supreme Court preserves abortion pill access over Alito, Thomas dissents* ABORTION, EVERY DAY: Republicans Aren’t Done With Mifepristone* CNN: Penile implant specialist with history of far-right comments led hantavirus presser* KFF Health News: Trump Bought Stock in Drugmaker as His Government Boosted Its Obesity Drugs* The Hill: GOP House rep’s wife to perform duties of U.S. surgeon general* STAT: Kennedy names interim surgeon general amid vacancies atop health department* Bloomberg (via MSN): RFK Jr. taps Haridopolos as temporary surgeon general* POLITICO: RFK Jr.’s department to make it easier to fire career staff* POLITICO: RFK Jr. fires leaders of group that determines what insurers must cover* STAT: Top U.S. officials pressured Germany to pay more for prescription drugs* Rep. Donavan McKinney’s House Dems webpage is HERE* Planet Detroit: As Michigan insurance costs rise, ballot drive highlights Blue Cross lobbying* The Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (Mop Up Michigan) website is HEREJoin 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

With the midterm elections looming, a staggering 41% of Americans now identify with the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement. But who are these voters, and what do they actually want?Host Miles welcomes KFF Senior Survey Manager Lunna Lopes to go past the talking points and look straight at the data. Lunna shares surprising insights from KFF’s latest health tracking poll, revealing a diverse, cross-partisan electorate that cares deeply about kitchen-table issues like the cost of health care. Tune in to find out where these voters put their trust, how they view federal agencies like the FDA and CDC, and what both parties need to know to win them over in November.References:* The Washington Post: Why 41 percent of Americans say they identify with the MAHA movement* KFF Health Tracking Poll: MAHA and the MidtermsJoin 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

This week in health policy chaos: Mifepristone remains available for now after a series of last-minute court stays, but the Trump DOJ's silence in the case has legal experts baffled. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigned rather than approve fruit-flavored vapes — beating Trump to the punch. A hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship exposed serious gaps in U.S. public health response, with CDC teams slow to act and the Vessel Sanitation Program gutted by DOGE cuts. RFK Jr. is reportedly exploring restrictions on widely used antidepressants like Zoloft and Prozac, while quietly running a sprawling investigation to link vaccines to chronic disease. And at a White House event for expectant mothers, Dr. Oz worried about America being "under-babied" and promoted "Trump babies," while RFK Jr. warned about declining sperm counts.Background reading:* The Hill: Supreme Court extends pause on abortion pill restrictions through Thursday* NPR: With legal briefs in, Supreme Court weighs telehealth access for the abortion pill* NBC News: Trump weighs firing Dr. Marty Makary as FDA chief* The Hill: FDA approves some flavored vapes after reports of Trump pressure* The New York Times: F.D.A. Commissioner Marty Makary Resigns After Weeks of Pressure* The New York Times: Hantavirus Response Shows How Trump Cuts Have Compromised U.S. Preparedness* The Hill: RFK Jr.: ‘We’re not worried’ about hantavirus spreading after cruise ship outbreak* NBC News: U.S. departure from WHO could hinder hantavirus response* Futurism: The CDC Fired All Its Cruise Ship Inspectors Before the Hantavirus Outbreak* Reuters: Kennedy’s health officials explored US ban of some widely used antidepressants* CNN Health: RFK Jr. launches plan to address ‘overuse’ of psychiatric medications* The New York Times: Kennedy Starts a Push to Help Americans Quit Antidepressants* The New York Times: Kennedy Is Driving a Vast Inquiry Into Vaccines, Despite His Public Silence* Moms.gov* Dr. Oz’s “under-babied” comments are HERE* Dr. Oz’s “Trump babies” comments are HERE* PEOPLE: RFK Jr. Says Men in the ‘70s Had Twice as Much Sperm as Teenage Boys Today: ‘Existential CrisisJoin 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

This week, Miles and Dr. Rob open with a seismic shift in reproductive rights: a Fifth Circuit ruling that functionally banned mifepristone access via telehealth and through pharmacies, throwing medication abortion into chaos nationwide, even in states like Michigan where abortion rights are constitutionally protected. Dr. Rob sits down with Founding Director of the Center for Health Policy and the Law, Katie Keith, to break down the competing court deadlines around abortion medication, the Supreme Court’s options around the Fifth Circuit’s ruling, and the impossible political bind facing the Trump administration.In the second half of the show, Miles and Dr. Rob cover the collapse of Casey Means’ Surgeon General candidacy and the nomination of Fox News contributor, Dr. Nicole Saphier, a pandemic-era grievance podcaster already drawing fire from the MAHA coalition she was supposed to appease. They also discuss the FDA burying reports that are favorable to vaccines and new health care-related messaging guidance for Democrats.Background reading:* The Center for Health Policy and the Law at the O’Neill Institute’s website is HERE* Katie Keith’s bio* Louisiana Illuminator: Louisiana sues Food & Drug Administration to stop mailing of abortion medication* Reuters: US judge pauses Louisiana’s challenge to FDA abortion drug rule* ABC News: RFK Jr. launches FDA review of abortion pill* Center for Reproductive Rights: 5th Circuit Limits Telehealth Provision of Abortion Pill* CNN: Supreme Court temporarily restores ability to receive abortion drug mifepristone by mail* AXIOS: Abortion pill rulings cause whiplash and confusion* Stateline: Unpacking the fight over telehealth access to abortion medication* PBS: Trump’s new surgeon general nominee has both praised and criticized his administration* Calley Means’ tweet about his sister’s demise* RFK Jr.’s tweet about Casey Means’ demise* Julia Letlow’s tweet about Casey Means’ demise* POLITICO: Casey Means: Murkowski sank my nomination* Radiology Business: President Trump nominates radiologist to serve as surgeon general* The Hill: Who is Nicole Saphier, new Trump surgeon general nominee?* The Guardian: Who is Nicole Saphier, Trump’s new nominee for US surgeon general?* Drop Rx website* The Drop Rx About page* POLITICO: 4 facts about the new surgeon general nominee* POLITICO: The new surgeon general nominee has a MAHA problem* The Washington Post: CDC won’t publish report showing covid shots cut likelihood of hospital visits* The New York Times: F.D.A. Blocked Publication of Research Finding Covid and Shingles Vaccines Were Safe* POLITICO: Dem pollster says party should do more to sell health care message* Sen. Jon Ossoff’s ad “This Is Why Things Don’t Work For Ordinary People”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

This week, Miles and Dr. Rob cover a week of troubling health care news: Senator Bill Cassidy goes soft on RFK Jr. at Senate hearings as he faces a tough Senate primary, a former tobacco executive lands a CDC deputy director role, and the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund is shaping up to be a corporate cash grab that leaves small rural clinics behind.They also unpack the Trump administration’s quiet rewrite of Title X, steering the country’s flagship family planning program away from contraception toward pro-natalist goals lifted straight from Project 2025, and close on a silver lining as the MAHA movement sours on Trump, with major influencers saying their followers feel lied to, even as the MAHA PAC is revealed to be funded largely by Big Pharma.Background reading:* MedPage Today: How ‘The Pitt’ Gets Emergency Medicine Right* NBC News: Cassidy clashes with RFK Jr. on vaccines and abortion medicine* The Hill: Cassidy clashes with Kennedy over vaccine studies* POLITICO: Bill Cassidy’s still attacking RFK Jr. Now it’s about abortion.* AP: RFK Jr. faced the Senate. One lawmaker’s competing loyalties were on display* The New York Times: MAHA Group Pledges $1 Million to Help Defeat Senator Cassidy in Louisiana Primary* STAT: Former tobacco executive joins CDC senior leadership, raising concerns over industry influence* KFF Health News: Big Companies Position Themselves for Payday From $50B Federal Rural Health Fund* The New York Times: The Trump Administration Is Coming After Birth Control Access in a Terrifying New Way* Newsweek: Stephen Miller’s Wife Condemns Teen Birth Rate Falling-‘Biological Destiny’* Katie Miller’s tweet lamenting falling teen birthrates* The New York Times: The ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Movement Is Cooling on Trump and Republicans* The Hill: Supreme Court hears Roundup case that could limit Americans’ ability to sue pesticide companies* POLITICO: The groups backing RFK Jr. are running low on cashJoin 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

Dr. Rob and Dr. Kristin Lyerly break down major developments shaping the current health care and political landscape, including new threats to environmental health in the Boundary Waters, the detention of a physician serving an underserved community, and high-stakes judicial races in Georgia where abortion rights are once again on the ballot. They also examine early fallout from the GOP’s health care agenda and raise concerns about political interference in public health—highlighting suppressed CDC data on COVID-19 vaccines and cuts to mRNA research.In the second half, Dr. Rob sits down with pediatrician and public health expert Dr. David Higgins to unpack a viral POLITICO poll claiming Americans are increasingly skeptical of vaccines. Higgins breaks down why the data is being misinterpreted, what it actually reveals about public trust, and how misinformation spreads through media and social networks.Background reading:* Dr. Kristen Lyerly on Substack* The Dr. Kristen Lyerly Show on YouTube* CNBC: Senate overturns Boundary Waters protections, a boon for Chilean mining company* MedPage Today: Medical Groups Call for Release of Detained Doctor* News From The States: Abortion debate plays out in Georgia Supreme Court race* KFF Health News: Rural Nebraska Dialysis Unit Closes Despite the State’s $219M in Rural Health Funding* The Washington Post: CDC won’t publish report showing covid shots cut likelihood of hospital visits* CNN: HHS rejects publication of study showing Covid-19 vaccines prevent hospitalizations, ER visits* HHS press release: HHS Winds Down mRNA Vaccine Development Under BARDA* STAT: Kennedy’s case against mRNA vaccines collapses under his own evidence* NBC News: FDA refuses to review Moderna’s mRNA flu shot* CNN: After a year of turmoil, cancer researchers see promising signs for mRNA vaccines* NBC News: Pancreatic cancer mRNA vaccine shows lasting results in an early trial* Morning Brew: mRNA vaccines could treat aggressive pancreatic cancer* INC.: New Study Finds mRNA Cancer Vaccine Could Be a Game Changer* CIDRAP: Lyme disease vaccine shows over 70% efficacy in phase 3 trial* Boston Globe: RFK Jr. sat for his first congressional hearings this year. Here are some takeaways.* Bloomberg: RFK Jr. Has Stopped Talking About Vaccines. A Memo Shows Why.* The New York Times: Kennedy Shifts Tone on Vaccines in Congressional Hearing* MedPage Today: Kennedy Defends His Record on Measles, Prior Auth in Traditional Medicare* ABC News: RFK Jr. defends vaccine views, autism comments during House committee hearing* Sen. Elizabeth Warren questions RFK Jr. during HELP Committee hearing* POLITICO: More Americans doubt vaccine safety than trust it, POLITICO Poll finds* Community Immunity: Headlines Claim Vaccine Skepticism Is Widespread. The Data Say Otherwise.* DavidHigginsMD.com* Dr. David Higgins on LinkedIn* Dr. David Higgins’ Substack Community ImmunityJoin 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

Miles and Dr. Rob break down major developments shaping the current health care and political landscapes, including a landslide Wisconsin Supreme Court race, new polling showing strong opposition toward cutting health care to fund foreign conflicts, and the Trump administration’s push to access federal workers’ medical data. They also discuss the stalled Surgeon General nomination of Casey Means and proposed cuts to NIH funding, highlighting growing tensions within the administration.In the second half, Dr. Rob sits down with Conexión Co-Founder and Creative Director, Colin Rogero, to unpack what’s happening on the ground in key battleground districts. Rogero shares insights from frontline races, explaining why health care consistently ranks among the top issues for voters, and how campaigns can better message around cost, access, and trust. He also dives into Latino voter dynamics, the impact of misinformation, and why authentic, community-based communication may be the key to winning elections in 2026.Background reading:* Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Liberal Chris Taylor cruises to Wisconsin Supreme Court win* Reuters: Trump’s AI image of himself as Jesus-like figure follows feud with Pope Leo* The Washington Post: Lambasting Pope Leo, Trump risks alienating conservative Catholics* The Washington Post: Trump post appearing to depict him as Jesus removed amid backlash* Video of Trump claiming he thought the image was of him as a “doctor” is here* The New York Times: Vance Says the Pope Should Be More Careful When Talking About Theology* The Hill: Mike Johnson ‘taken aback’ by pope’s comments about war* The Hill: Casey Means’s brother says ‘conversations happening’ in surgeon general confirmation process* KFF: Trump’s Personnel Agency Is Asking for Federal Workers’ Medical Records* POLITICO: Trump is still trying to DOGE the NIH. Republicans are tired.* April 9 Navigator poll: The Conflict With Iran* POLITICO: RFK Jr. launches midterm travel push to shore up MAHA support* POLITICO: Poll: The battle for MAHA that could sway the midterms* POLITICO: More Americans doubt vaccine safety than trust it, POLITICO Poll finds* Conexión’s websiteJoin 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

Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson unpack the proposed healthcare cuts to fund the war in Iran, new polling showing healthcare as the top voter issue, and ongoing attacks on reproductive rights, abortion pills, and Medicaid. The episode highlights how political decisions in Washington are directly affecting patients and providers nationwide.Later, Sean McBrearty, Vice Chair of the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics campaign, joins the show to discuss a major anti-corruption ballot initiative in Michigan – Michiganders for Money Out of Politics. He explains how the effort would curb corporate political spending, especially from powerful health care insurers, and close major campaign finance loopholes. The reform could reshape health care policy by weakening lobbyist influence and expanding what’s politically possible in the state.Background reading:* AXIOS: GOP weighs health care cuts to pay for Iran war* Navigator: March 31 Budget Priorities polling* Trump on not paying for daycare, Medicare, and Medicaid to pay for war* The Hill: Health care polling as top issue for first time since 2020: Gallup* Guttmacher: Full-Year 2025 Estimates Show Overall Stability in Abortion Incidence, Decreased Travel and Increased Telehealth Provision* Reuters: US Senate Republicans launch probe of abortion pill makers, escalate pressure on FDA* ABORTION, EVERY DAY: The GOP’s Plan to Shut Down Abortion Pill Websites* NBC News: Medicaid cuts threaten hundreds of hospitals, new report finds* Fierce Health Care: RWJF: Between 5M and 10M people could lose Medicaid coverage in 2028 under work requirements* POLITICO: Poll: The battle for MAHA that could sway the midterms* POLITICO: RFK Jr. launches midterm travel push to shore up MAHA support* POLITICO: Poll: Here’s what MAHA actually believes* AP: RFK Jr is launching a podcast to expose ‘lies’ that have made Americans sick* The current ACIP charter is HERE* The proposed ACIP charter is HERE* The “Eight Magic Words” for advocacy ads* Michiganders for Money Out of Politics website* Committee to Protect Health Care Organizing SummitJoin 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

Miles and Dr. Rob are joined by Ezra Levin, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Indivisible, to talk about the explosive growth of the “No Kings” movement, and why it’s about more than just protests. Levin breaks down how grassroots organizing, especially in small towns and overlooked communities, is driving real political momentum and could shape upcoming elections.Later in the episode, Miles and Dr. Rob dive into new polling showing health care costs remain voters’ top concern, the Trump administration pushing controversial health care changes, and battles over abortion access intensifying. They also highlight Democrats’ early plans for health care reform, and whether they’re bold enough to meet the moment.Background reading:* Ezra Levin on Substack* Indivisible on Substack* Ezra Levin’s bio is HERE* NoKings.org* KFF poll: Cost Concerns and Coverage Changes: A Follow-Up Survey of ACA Marketplace Enrollees”* ABC News: 1 in 10 ACA enrollees dropped their coverage due to rising health care costs: Poll* Navigator poll: Perceptions of Food and Ag Policy in the House and Senate Battlegrounds* STAT: Automatic enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans under consideration, top Trump health official says* AP: Judge rules US government overreached with transgender health care declaration* The New York Times: Trump to Delay Nominating New C.D.C. Director* The Washington Post: MAHA’s political power tested as surgeon general pick stalls* The Guardian: Confusion abounds over future of US vaccine advisory committee* CNN: Federal vaccine panel in disarray after judge blocks changes* Fierce Pharma: ACIP member’s miscommunication on vaccine panel’s future adds to confusion after court ruling* BioSpace: HHS Denies Disbandment of CDC Vaccine Advisory Group in Wake of Court Ruling* NBC News: White House expands TrumpRx with three new drugs* MedPage Today: FDA Chief’s Kid Will Only Get Antibiotics if He’s ‘On His Deathbed’* The New York Times: Trump Vowed to Crack Down on Fraudsters, but He’s Pardoned Dozens* KFF Health News: Oz Escalates Medicaid Fraud Claims Against States After Focus on Minnesota* POLITICO: Federal workforce unhappy, disengaged, new survey finds* STAT: Senate Democrats lay out plans to overhaul health insurance after setbacks under Trump* Mississippi Today: Lawmakers in Mississippi consider bill to restrict abortion medication* St. Louis Review: Sen. Hawley introduces bill to revoke FDA approval of abortion pill* Sen. Josh Hawley press release: Hawley Introduces Bill to Ban Chemical Abortion Drug, Hosts Press Conference Featuring Pro-Life Testimonies & Leaders* Sen. Josh Hawley press release: Hawley Opens Investigation into Abortion Drug Companies, Creates Hotline for Victims to Report Harms* Chicago Tribune: Judge allows for religious exemption to Indiana’s abortion banJoin 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

Miles Baker is joined by Mark Schauer, former Congressman, Vice President of Winning Connections, and board member of both Planned Parenthood in Michigan and the Committee to Protect Health Care. Mark shares his firsthand experience helping pass the landmark legislation, working alongside Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi, and facing intense political and public backlash. Schauer also looks ahead, discussing the ongoing challenges to the ACA, the need to strengthen and expand coverage, and why future progress depends on both public support and electoral victories, all while keeping the goal of accessible, equitable health care for all at the center.Background reading:Wikipedia: Mark SchauerWikipedia: Affordable Care ActHuffPost: Rep. Schauer Challenged from Left and Right at Town HallJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

Thank you Laura A. Drury, the real pambo, Rachel-We are Renee and Keith, Nick G, A Dude On The Couch, Rhonda Foster, and many others for tuning into my live video with THE LEFT HOOK with Wajahat Ali! Join me for my next live video in the app. 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

Miles and Dr. Rob unpack a critical moment in U.S. health care, from a federal judge blocking key vaccine policy changes tied to RFK Jr., to growing fractures within the “Make America Healthy Again” movement. They also dig into the real-world impact of rising health care costs, with new data showing Americans skipping meals, delaying major life decisions, and struggling to stay insured as premiums climb and coverage becomes less affordable.Later, Dr. Rob sits down with U.S. Senator Peter Welch for a candid conversation about what’s going wrong in Washington, particularly as it relates to health care. Sen. Welch breaks down the stakes of expiring ACA subsidies, calls out misleading drug pricing efforts like “Trump Rx,” and explains his bipartisan push to take on Big Pharma’s patent abuses. He also lays out a broader vision for reform, arguing that the U.S. must move toward a system where health care is treated as a right, not a privilege.Background reading:* Dr. Rob’s interaction with Vice President Mike Pence in January 2020 is HERE* Reuters: Pope Leo calls universal healthcare a ‘moral imperative’* The New York Times: Judge Strikes Down Kennedy’s Vaccine Policies* NOTUS: RFK Jr.’s MAHA Allies Call to Eliminate All Childhood Vaccine Recommendations* MedPage Today: Republicans Fret Over RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vaccine Policies While MAHA Moms Stew* STAT: White House says it’s ‘done’ with vaccines. MAHA begs to differ* POLITICO: ‘I share your outrage’: Democrats woo MAHA moms ahead of the midterms* The Washington Post: One-third of Americans skip meals or other needs to afford health care* NBC News: Dr. Oz says Obamacare enrollment may be ‘too high’* The Wall Street Journal: Millions of Americans Are Going Uninsured Following Expiration of ACA Subsidies* Sen. Peter Welch on X, Facebook, Threads, YouTube, and Bluesky* The New York Times: Trump Promised the ‘World’s Lowest’ Drug Prices. We Checked the Numbers.Press Release: Welch, Durbin, Warren Sound Alarm on Launch of TrumpRxJoin 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

Miles is joined by emergency physician and Committee to Protect Health Care board member, Dr. Chris Ford, to break down the turmoil surrounding Surgeon General nominee Casey Means, whose ties to wellness influencers and sponsored health products are drawing criticism from across the medical community. They also examine RFK Jr.’s latest viral messaging campaign targeting Starbucks and Dunkin products. The conversation shifts to what Americans are actually worried about: rising health care costs.Later, special guest Virginia Delegate Karrie Delaney joins the show to discuss her effort to lower prescription drug prices in the Commonwealth. Delaney explains how Virginia lawmakers are advancing a new approach to prescription drug affordability, one designed to move faster than similar efforts in other states, and why she believes the reform could become a model for tackling drug costs nationwide.Background reading:* Rolling Stone: RFK Jr’s Pick For Surgeon General Cashed In Promoting Companies With a History of Unsafe Products* The Hill: RFK Jr. puts Dunkin’ on notice; Massachusetts governor says ‘come and take it’* Newsweek: RFK Jr.’s Dunkin’ Plan Sparks Avalanche of Jokes, Memes* “Donut Tread on Me” meme on X* Newsweek: RFK Jr. Responds to Backlash Over Dunkin’ Comments* Newsweek: Dunkin’ Might Be RFK Jr.’s Most Difficult Battle Yet* The Washington Post: Scientists create autism panel, citing RFK Jr.’s politicization of research* The Washington Post: FDA scales back vision for drug it touted as possible treatment for autism* Annenberg Public Policy Center: Stark Divide: Americans More Confident in Career Scientists at U.S. Health Agencies Than Leaders* The Washington Post: A new poll shows who Americans trust over the CDC* NBC News: RFK Jr. vowed to restore public trust in health. It’s not working, a new survey suggests.* Navigator: Perceptions of Health Care in the Congressional Battleground* Delegate Karrie Delaney’s website is HERE* Delegate Karrie Delaney on X, Facebook, and Instagram* STAT: Virginia lawmakers push a new approach to a prescription drug affordability board* REPRO Rising Virginia* The Virginia Independent: Virginia prescription drug affordability bill would lower costs of medicines* Ballotpedia: Virginia Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (2026)* Virginia Mercury: Bedford County supervisor files suit challenging reproductive rights constitutional amendment* Dr. Chris Ford’s podcast Pulse Check: WisconsinJoin 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

Miles is joined by OB-GYN, Committee to Protect Health Care Board Chair, and health care advocate Dr. Kristin Lyerly to unpack another week in American health politics. They discuss the shaky confirmation prospects for Surgeon General nominee Casey Means, as well as the Texas Democratic Senate primary, where James Talarico’s victory could set up a race that determines control of the U.S. Senate. The conversation also dives into the latest round of headline-grabbing moves from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., from controversial nutrition/affordability messaging to a bizarre government social media video, alongside a serious warning about new proposals that could push Affordable Care Act deductibles as high as $31,000 for families.Later in the episode, Miles and Dr. Lyerly speak with Judge Chris Taylor, a candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, about why her race could have major implications for reproductive rights, voting access, and the balance of power in the state and even the country. Taylor reflects on her decades-long career advocating for women and patients, from her work with Planned Parenthood to serving in the Wisconsin legislature and judiciary, and explains how the courts are increasingly becoming the last line of defense for fundamental rights. With a closely divided court and multiple elections ahead, Taylor argues the stakes for Wisconsin’s judiciary, and for democracy, have never been higher.Background reading:* POLITICO: Trump’s surgeon general pick, Casey Means, still lacks votes for confirmation* Sign the Committee’s letter to stop Casey Means from becoming Surgeon General: ProtectMed.org/caseymeans* AXIOS: James Talarico wins Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas* The New York Times: Three Reasons John Cornyn Is Fighting for His Political Life* Houston Public Media: AG Ken Paxton sues more out-of-state providers for allegedly shipping abortion pills to Texas* James Talarico on health care* Rep. James Talarico discusses health care costs, term limits in run for U.S. Senate* MedPage Today: RFK Jr. Says He Has ADHD* The Hill: RFK Jr. suggests buying liver or ‘cheap cuts’ instead of steak* RFK Jr. promotes fake action figure HERE* The Lancet: Robert F Kennedy Jr: 1 year of failure* The New York Times: New A.C.A. Plans Could Increase Family Deductibles to $31,000* The Orange County Register: CalOptima reports steep membership drop as providers brace for surge in uninsured patients* JD Vance blames rural hospital closures on Biden HERE* State Court Report: State Supreme Court Races to Watch in 2026* Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: In the Supreme Court race between Taylor and Lazar, ‘undecided’ leads* Marquette Today: New Marquette Law School Poll finds large majorities of Wisconsin voters undecided on candidates for state Supreme Court, governor* Spectrum News 1: State Supreme Court candidates look ahead to April election* PBS Wisconsin: Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor face off in the 2026 election for an open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat* Ballotpedia: Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, 2026* Donate to Judge Chris Taylor’s campaign HERE* Volunteer to help get out the vote for Judge Chris Taylor’s campaign HERE* Dr. Kristin Lyerly’s Substack is HEREJoin 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

Miles and Dr. Rob break down the confirmation hearing of Surgeon General nominee Casey Means, and ask the uncomfortable question at the center of it: is she actually practicing medicine? From dodging questions on vaccines and the MMR shot to conflicts of interest tied to glucose monitors and supplement culture, the hearing revealed deep concerns about qualifications, transparency, and the future of public health messaging. Plus: Susan Collins’ surprising focus on magic mushrooms, and what it all says about the politics of “MAHA.”The hosts also unpack Trump’s latest health care claims during his State of the Union address, the looming Medicaid funding freeze in Minnesota, Dr. Oz’s appearance in the Epstein files, and a major shakeup in Wisconsin politics as rural hospitals close and longtime GOP leadership exits. As Republicans float an alternative to the WHO that would cost significantly more than current U.S. contributions, one question keeps surfacing: is this health policy — or political theater?Background reading:* The Hill: Senators grill surgeon general pick Casey Means on vaccines* The Hill: Trump’s surgeon general pick won’t urge vaccines for measles, flu, whooping cough* The Hill: Collins questions Casey Means on ‘magic mushroom’ use during confirmation hearing* Trump saying he’s “lifted 2.4 million Americans off of food stamps” is HERE* CNN: Fact check: Trump makes false claims about the economy, elections and crime in State of the Union* NPR: Read NPR’s annotated fact check of President Trump’s State of the Union* CNN: Trump wants to focus on health care in the midterms, creating headaches for the GOP* Navigator: Trump’s Priorities Still Seen as Out of Whack* Reuters: Senior US health official Oz invited Epstein to Valentine’s Day party, documents show* CNBC: Vance says administration is pausing some Medicaid funding to Minnesota because of fraud concerns* The Washington Post: After blasting WHO costs, Trump officials propose more expensive alternative* CNBC: FDA chief Marty Makary says ‘everything should be over the counter’ unless drug is unsafe or addictive* WISN: Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announces he won’t run for reelection* Wisconsin Public Radio: Issue of health care access hits close to home in western Wisconsin* WPSU: Bradford hospital submits closure notice. Ending emergency, inpatient and long-term care services by mid-2026* POLITICO: FDA’s reversal on Moderna flu shot bid followed White House pressure* RFK Jr.’s statement justifying his support of Trump’s Exec. Order on glyphosate is HERE* AP: Bayer agrees to $7.25 billion proposed settlement over thousands of Roundup cancer lawsuits* Toby Rogers on X* thereal_truther on X* Environmental Working Group: Trump’s glyphosate executive order a ‘big middle finger to every MAHA mom’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

Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson mark the one-year anniversary of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the helm of HHS, and take stock of the chaos. They begin with a sobering look at new research linking abortion restrictions to higher maternal mortality. The conversation also touches on staffing shakeups across federal health agencies and what it means for the stability of America’s public health infrastructure.Then, they count down RFK Jr.’s Top 10 “worst hits” of the year, from sewage swims and AI-generated health reports riddled with fake citations, to dismantling CDC leadership, promoting autism misinformation, slashing tens of thousands of staff, and undermining vaccine confidence nationwide. It’s a candid and often darkly humorous look at how ideology, chaos, and coalition politics are reshaping U.S. health policy, and what the long-term consequences could be.Background reading:* Bloomberg: Pregnant Women Die at Higher Rates When States Restrict Abortion* RFK Jr. says he snorted cocaine off of toilet seats on X* RFK Jr. and Kid Rock in the “Secretary Kennedy and Kid Rock’s ROCK OUT WORK OUT” video on X* California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Press Office on X* Alyssa Farah Griffin, co-host of The View, on X* MedPage Today: Here’s How Many Jobs HHS Has Lost Since RFK Jr. Took Over* HHS: Secretary Kennedy Enhances Management Team to Accelerate President Trump’s Priorities and MAHA Agenda* The Washington Post: White House, RFK Jr. shake up health leadership after controversies* AXIOS: RFK Jr. shakes up top health department staff* AXIOS: NIH director will also run CDC* The New York Times: Kennedy Allies Target States to Overturn Vaccine Mandates for Schoolchildren* POLITICO: RFK Jr.’s allies are trying to free anti-vaccine doctors to speak their minds* The New York Times: R.F.K. Jr. Says Doctors Found a Dead Worm in His Brain* The New York Times: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Sawed the Head Off a Whale and Drove It Home, Daughter Says* NPR: RFK Jr. admits to dumping a dead bear in Central Park, solving a decade-old mystery* PEOPLE: RFK Jr. Says Heroin Made Him a Top-of-Class Student in Resurfaced Clip: ‘It Worked for Me’* NBC News: RFK Jr. goes swimming with grandchildren in contaminated D.C. creek* The New York Times: 100 Push-Ups and 50 Pull-Ups in Under 10 Minutes. What Could Go Wrong?* Daily Beast (via Yahoo! News): RFK Jr. Awkwardly Hauls Dr. Oz Up a Cliff in Bonkers MAHA Stunt* “The MAHA Report: Make Our Children Healthy Again” report* CIDRAP: MAHA report on chronic disease in US kids includes fake citations, other errors* MedPage Today: U.S. Unveils New Dietary Guidelines* The Hill: Kennedy wants to end ‘war on saturated fats’ with new dietary guidelines* MedPage Today: RFK Jr. Pledged More Transparency. Here’s What the Public Doesn’t Know Anymore.* The New York Times: Several of Kennedy’s Dietary Advisers Have Ties to Meat and Dairy Interests* MedPage Today: Are Vaccine Panels at CDC, FDA ‘Plagued’ by Conflicts? Numbers Say No* STAT: HHS backtracks on pledge to disclose new vaccine advisers’ conflicts of interest* Public Citizen: MAHA, Means, Money – MAHA’s influence in US health care means big money for Big Wellness* Chemical & Engineering News: RFK Jr.’s claim that Tylenol causes autism has no backing* PBS News: Reupping unproven claims about Tylenol, Kennedy claims a link between circumcision and autism* HHS: President Trump, Secretary Kennedy Announce Bold Actions to Tackle Autism Epidemic* POLITICO: RFK Jr. says he directed CDC to remove claim that vaccines do not cause autism* BBC: RFK Jr pledges to find the cause of autism by September* MedPage Today: Here’s How Many Jobs HHS Has Lost Since RFK Jr. Took Over* POLITICO: The meeting that sparked Monarez’s dismissal* CBS News: Senior CDC officials resign after Monarez ouster, cite concerns over scientific independence* FIERCE Healthcare: RFK Jr. defends proposed HHS budget as Democrats slam cuts, gutting of CDC vaccine panel* The New York Times: The Disappearing Funds for Chronic Diseases* ABC News: RFK Jr. launches FDA review of abortion pill* Scientific American: The Abortion Pill Is Safe. Scientists Fear an FDA Investigation Will Ignore Science* The Atlantic: A Convenient Piece of Junk Science* The 19th: RFK Jr. says he wants to curb measles. His former nonprofit keeps undermining his message.* Politifact: No, the COVID-19 vaccine is not the deadliest vaccine ever made* CiDRAP: Annenberg poll shows drop in perceived safety of vaccines* CNBC: Kennedy defends Trump glyphosate order; MAHA erupts as midterms approachJoin 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

Miles and Dr. Rob sort through another chaotic week in health politics. Dr. Oz urges all Americans to get the measles vaccine during a major outbreak, despite his boss, RFK Jr., spreading doubt about vaccine safety. Meanwhile, RFK Jr. pushes dubious claims about diet and mental illness. The hosts dig into Oz’s suggestion that Americans should work longer to stabilize federal programs, mounting frustration inside the AMA, and what MAHA’s Super Bowl ad reveals about the administration’s coalition-management strategy.Later, AXIOS health care reporter Maya Goldman joins to break down TrumpRx. The new site promises lower prescription drug costs but won’t benefit most Americans, especially those with health insurance. Who actually saves money, where generics fit in, and whether this is real reform or political branding, Goldman brings clarity to the rollout.Background reading:* Dr. Oz on CNN’s State of the Union with Dana Bash (measles vaccine portion begins at 7:45)* People: RFK Jr. Falsely Claims Measles Vaccine Contains ‘Fetus Debris,’ Asks CDC for New Treatment* CIDRAP: CDC’s FluView shows 8 more pediatric deaths as flu activity drops* The New York Times: Oz Offers Forceful Call for Vaccination as Measles Becomes More Dire* AP: Moderna says FDA refuses its application for new mRNA flu vaccine* Dr. Oz at the National Press Club* Bezinga (via Yahoo! Finance): Dr. Oz Says Americans Starting Work ‘Right Out Of High School’ Or Retiring One Year Later Would ‘More Than Remove’ The National Debt* Democratic National Committee: Dr. Oz Wants To Raise the Retirement Age to Fund Trump’s Tax Cuts for Billionaires* AMA Pres. Bobby Mukkamala’s Facebook post with RFK Jr. is HERE* POLITICO: A meeting with RFK Jr. set off recriminations inside doctors’ lobbying arm* Scientific American: RFK, Jr. just claimed the keto diet can cure schizophrenia. Here’s what the science says* RFK Jr. saying Trump lets him do thing nobody else ever would* WWLTV: Louisiana plans to sue California and New York over abortion pill cases* Gavin Newsom’s tweet responding to Louisiana AG Murrill* Super Bowl ad featuring Mike Tyson: Processed Food Kills, Eat Real Food* The New York Times: MAHA Group Pledges $1 Million to Help Defeat Senator Cassidy in Louisiana Primary* AXIOS: More than half of TrumpRx drugs have a cheaper alternative* AXIOS: Trump unveils TrumpRx discount drug site* The New York Times: Trump’s Online Drugstore Opens for Business* PRN Newswire: BlinkRx Welcomes Donald Trump Jr. to Board of Directors* STAT: TrumpRx has a fundamental flaw* US Senate Committee on Finance: Wyden Statement on TrumpRx Announcement* US Senate Committee on Finance: Wyden, Senate Democrats Blast Trump’s Drug Pricing Fraud, Lay Out Agenda for Lower Prices* Protect Our Care: Fact Sheet: 10 Reasons Why TrumpRx Is an Utter Joke* Maya Goldman’s work at AXIOS is HERE* Maya Goldman on LinkedIn* Maya Goldman on X* Maya Goldman on Bluesky* Sign up for the free Axios Vitals newsletter at https://www.axios.com/signup/vitalsJoin 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

Miles Baker is joined by Liz Hamel of KFF for a Spotlight on Data, where they examine new polling on health care affordability and the 2026 midterms. They discuss why health care costs have become one of Americans’ top economic worries, how rising medical expenses compare to food and housing costs, and what the data reveals about partisan divides over the Affordable Care Act and expiring ACA tax credits. The episode also explores public views on whether the Trump administration is prioritizing domestic concerns like cost of living over foreign affairs, and what that means for health care politics moving forward.Background reading:KFF Health Tracking Poll: Health Care Costs, Expiring ACA Tax Credits, and the 2026 MidtermsJoin 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

Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson break down a cascade of political decisions and enforcement actions that are actively reshaping American health care. The episode covers new reporting on ICE disrupting care inside hospitals, Democratic senators raising alarms about the legality of Trump’s “TrumpRx” prescription drug platform, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reconsidering all vaccine recommendations amid rising anti-vaccine influence. The hosts also examine the latest Epstein file releases and what they reveal about the growing overlap between wellness influencers, media power, and political hypocrisy.The show also checks back in with Dr. Erin Stevens, an OB-GYN in the Twin Cities and a leading voice speaking out against ICE activity in medical settings. Dr. Stevens shares an on-the-ground update from Minnesota as the ICE surge continues, discusses how fear is keeping pregnant patients from critical care, and calls on hospital systems and professional organizations to more forcefully defend patients and providers.Background reading:* AP: ICE claim that a man shattered his skull running into wall triggers tension at a Minnesota hospital* The 19th: Fear of ICE is keeping pregnant immigrants in Minnesota from critical care* Verite News: A pregnant mother in ICE detention says she’s bleeding — and hasn’t seen a doctor in weeks* KFF Health News: ‘I Can’t Tell You’: Attorneys, Relatives Struggle To Find Hospitalized ICE Detainees* Democratic Congressional leaders’ letter listing their ten “guardrails” for ICE* TrumpRx website* 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* MedPage Today: TrumpRx May Not Be Legal in Its Current Form, Senators Contend* STAT: Senators raise concerns about TrumpRx in letter to HHS watchdog* PharmaVoice: Why TrumpRx is stumbling before it gets off the ground* The Guardian: US committee is reconsidering all vaccine recommendations* The Hill: Trump says latest release of Epstein files ‘absolves’ him* Peter Attia’s “apology”on X* The Atlantic: The Longevity Influencer Who Went Into ‘Withdrawal’ Without Jeffrey Epstein* The Cut: The Celebrity Doctor in the Epstein Files (non-paywalled version is HERE)* Variety: CBS News Contributor Peter Attia Under Fire After Latest Epstein File Disclosures* The Daily Beast: CBS News’ Star Hire Hung With Epstein as Baby Son Fought for Life* The Guardian: A ‘wellness bro’, a cosmologist and an RFK Jr crony: meet Bari Weiss’s new CBS News contributors* Los Angeles Times: Longevity guru Peter Attia keeps CBS News role despite showing up in Epstein filesJoin 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

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

Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson unpack Donald Trump’s long-promised “Great Healthcare Plan,” a glossy rollout with few details, impossible math, and recycled GOP ideas and tie in the political fallout for Senator Bill Cassidy. They discuss the impact of ICE’s presence in Minnesota and how it’s impacting caregivers and patients and Dr. Oz referring to Alabama’s response to health care deserts as “very cool”. Finally, they examine what RFK Jr.’s latest praise of Trump reveals about power, loyalty, and the dismantling of public health institutions.Later, Miles is joined by OB/GYN physician, Dr. Erin Stevens, from the Twin Cities, to share an on-the-ground account of ICE activity inside and around hospitals. As federal agents intimidate patients and disrupt care, fear is driving people to delay or avoid medical treatment altogether. The conversation highlights how immigration enforcement is colliding with health care delivery, and what clinicians across the country need to prepare for as these tactics spread.Background reading:* The White House: President Trump Unveils The Great Healthcare Plan to Lower Costs and Deliver Money Directly to the People* “The Great Healthcare Plan” website is HERE* NPR: Trump struck deals with 16 drug companies. But they’re still raising prices this year* POLITICO: Republicans will be hard-pressed to pass Trump’s ‘Great Healthcare Plan’* The Guardian: ‘Absolutely no detail’: experts alarmed as Trump unveils healthcare plan* STAT: Trump releases health care plan amid pressure over affordability* NBC News: Pentagon orders troops to prepare for possible Minnesota deployment* MPR News: ICE agents appear at Twin Cities hospitals, alarming health care workers* CIDRAP: Minnesota residents delay medical care for fear of encountering ICE* The New York Times: Inside Minnesota Hospitals, ICE Agents Unnerve Staff* Spectrum News 1: ICE detainees raise alarms over medical care, sheriff refutes claims* Popular Information: ICE has stopped paying for detainee medical treatment* Dr. Oz talking about fixing OB/GYN deserts in Alabama with robots is HERE* Sen. Bernie Sanders’ response to Dr. Oz is HERE* Amanda Litman’s response to Dr. Oz is HERE* RFK Jr. on The Katie Miller Podcast is HERE* POLITICO: RFK Jr. is bringing the GOP and the trial bar together* Minnesota Reformer: Minnesota doctors say immigration crackdown is forcing patients to hide, endangering lives* ABC News: Doctors in Minnesota decry fear and chaos amid Trump administration’s immigration crackdown* MedPage Today: Minnesota Doctors Decry Fear and Chaos Amid Trump’s Immigration Crackdown* Dr. Erin Stevens’ website is HERE* Dr. Erin Stevens on Instagram* Dr. Erin Stevens on TikTokJoin 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

Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson break down the escalating political attacks on reproductive health care and the federal institutions meant to protect patients. They examine the renewed effort to undermine Mifepristone through a politicized Congressional hearing, the growing push to enforce bans on abortion medications across state lines, and how these strategies are designed to intimidate providers while eroding trust in medical science.Later, Miles is joined by Dr. Chelsea Daniels, Family Planning Staff Physician at Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Dr. Daniels shares firsthand insight from the frontlines of reproductive health care, including her experience navigating hostile political environments in Florida and California. She explains why the attacks on medication abortion are both dangerous and deeply misguided, and why physician advocacy is crucial to protecting patients’ privacy, autonomy, and access to care.Background reading:* Senate HELP Committee press release: Chair Cassidy Leads Pro-Life Republicans Seeking Answers on FDA Approving Dangerous Chemical Abortion Drug* Ms. Magazine: Junk In, Junk Out: The Senate HELP Hearing Confirmed What We Already Knew About the War on Medication Abortion* Senator Patty Murray press release: Senator Murray Slams Republicans for Sham HELP Committee Hearing to Discredit Medication Abortion: “We All Know This Hearing is Not About Safety—It’s About Banning Abortion Nationwide”* Nevada Current: With health insurance premiums rising, Nevada’s new public option is proving popular* KTNV: Healthcare premiums spike an average of 26% in Nevada* STAT: House passes ACA subsidy extension as bipartisan negotiations heat up in Senate* POLITICO: The GOP’s Obamacare defectors were more numerous than expected* AXIOS: Inside the Senate’s last-gasp effort to solve the health care crisis* POLITICO: Senators punt release of health package to end of January* The CBO’s scoring of the bipartisan plan to extend ACA premium subsidies is HERE* Reuters (via MSN): Trump says he may veto extension of Obamacare subsidies* AP: Trump tells Republicans to be ‘flexible’ on abortion restrictions to get a health care deal* POLITICO: Trump admin can share immigrants’ Medicaid data with ICE, judge rules* The Washington Post: New RFK Jr. pick for vaccine panel: ‘I was not anti-vaccine. I am now.’* The New York Times: H.H.S. Reverses Decision to Cut $2 Billion for Mental Health and Addiction Services* Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel: In 24 hours, Feds cancel, then reinstate $2 billion in mental health grants* The New York Times: Louisiana Indicts Another Out-of-State Doctor Over Abortion Pills* The Hill: Louisiana seeks extradition of California doctor accused of mailing abortion pills* Virginia Mercury: Virginia House Democrats advance four constitutional amendments on opening day of 2026 sessionJoin 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

Miles and Dr. Rob kick off the new year by laying out the health care fights already shaping 2026. From rising insurance costs and unfinished ACA business to reinstating an upside-down food pyramid (while removing guidelines around alcohol moderation), the hosts break down how political decisions continue to put patients and families at more and more risk.They also examine Republican hypocrisy on drug pricing, more changes to the recommended childhood vaccine schedule, and the continued erosion of public and international trust in America’s health institutions.As the stakes rise heading into a pivotal election year, Miles and Dr. Rob explain what listeners should be watching closely, and what it will take to protect care, health, and basic government accountability in the months ahead.Background reading:* People: Doctor Tried to Help Woman Shot Dead by ICE, but Agents Blocked Him from Treating Her: ‘I Don’t Care’* The Center Square: First negotiated Medicare drug prices go into effect Jan. 1* Reuters Drugmakers raise US prices on 350 medicines despite pressure from Trump* HEALTH CARE un-covered: The Other Health Care Cliff Americans Are About to Fall Off* The Guardian: Canadian officials say US health institutions no longer dependable for accurate information* CIDRAP: CMS to stop requiring states to report childhood vaccination levels* The New York Times: Kennedy Scales Back the Number of Vaccines Recommended for Children* Annenberg Public Policy Center: CDC Urges ‘Shared Decision-Making’ on Some Childhood Vaccines; Many Unclear About What That Means* STAT: Why Denmark’s vaccine schedule works for Denmark — but not for the United States* NPR: Should the U.S. model its vaccine policy on Denmark’s? Experts say we’re nothing alike* KFF Quick Takes: Do We Want to Outsource U.S. Vaccine Policy to Denmark?* AMA Pres. Bobby Mukkamala’s Facebook post with RFK Jr. is HERE* NPR Shots: RFK Jr.’s new food pyramid puts meat, cheese and vegetables at the top* The Washington Post: In reversal, U.S. loosens guidance on alcohol* JAMA Internal Medicine: The Political Polarization of Physicians in the United States* Kevin Bass tweet about the political leanings of doctors is HERE* HUFFPOST: Trump Admin Says It’s Cutting Welfare Funds To Blue States Over Alleged Minnesota Fraud* HUFFPOST: Katie Miller Drops Revelation About Youngest Kid’s Vaccinations* The Wall Street Journal: As Signs of Aging Emerge, Trump Responds With Defiance* Wikipedia: Age and health concerns about Donald TrumpJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

In this special mailbag episode, Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson are joined by Producer Chris Savage to answer listener questions on the biggest health care fights heading into 2026. Tune in to learn more about our hosts and what led them to start Paging America. See you in 2026!Join the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Want to subscribe to The Weekly Page newsletter? You can do that HERE.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

A re-release of Episode 26 with special guest Jason Kander, veteran, author, and health care advocate, to discuss the VA system, PTSD care, and why privatization threatens veterans’ health.Background reading:Find Jason at https://jasonkander.com/Majority 54 Podcast, https://meidasnews.com/tag/majority-54Veteran’s Community Project website, vcp.orgAmerican Rescue Project, https://www.theamericanrescueproject.org/Jason Kander, 60 minutes https://youtu.be/UaVgr4NunUg?si=qA2dAvSveu4URJlLJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

In this week’s episode, Miles and Dr. Rob break down the accelerating fallout from Republican health care policy, from massive staffing cuts at the VA that threaten care for veterans to congressional dysfunction that all but guarantees steep ACA premium hikes in the new year. They unpack how gutting a functioning public system and refusing to extend subsidies puts veterans, rural hospitals, and working families squarely in the crosshairs.Then, Dr. Rob and Miles are joined by special guest Jeff Timmer, former Michigan Republican Party Executive Director and Lincoln Project’s Chief Operating Officer, who offers an unfiltered look inside GOP decision-making. Timmer explains why Republicans remain paralyzed on health care, how Trump continues to distort incentives, and why rising insurance costs could finally fracture the MAGA coalition. It’s a blunt assessment of a party stuck in self-inflicted crisis, and what it means heading into 2026.Background reading:The Washington Post: VA plans to abruptly eliminate tens of thousands of health care jobsFederal News Network: VA says it’s ended most collective bargaining agreementsThe Guardian: ‘Severe’ staff shortages at US veterans’ hospitals, watchdog findsCNN: Here’s what’s in the House GOP health care billThe Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans ActReuters: US House passes Republican healthcare bill without ACA subsidy renewalPOLITICO: ‘Absolute bulls--t’: Endangered House Republican blasts leaders over impending Obamacare lapsePOLITICO: Despite a possible agreement on ACA subsidies, abortion lurks as a hurdleThe Guardian: Obamacare expiration will have ‘death spiral’ effect on US healthcare – expertsThe Lincoln ProjectA Republic, If You Can Keep It podcast with Jeff Timmer and Mark BrewerJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

In this week’s episode, Miles and Dr. Rob break down a wild week in health care politics—starting with Trump’s “rural hospital Hunger Games,” a $50 billion scheme that pressures states to restrict food assistance and deregulate junk insurance in exchange for more funding. They also examine Texas’ new bounty-hunter abortion law, which opens the door to profit-driven surveillance of patients and providers, creating dangerous new incentives that could reshape daily life in the state.Dr. Rob sits down with former CDC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Deborah Houry, who shares why she resigned and what she witnessed inside an agency being pulled away from science. She outlines how political interference is reshaping vaccine guidance, weakening disease surveillance, and threatening core public health programs—and explains what doctors, parents, and policymakers need to understand about the risks ahead.FOR OUR LISTENERS: Over the holidays, the Paging America podcast team will be answering your questions in a “mailbag” episode. Do you have a question for Committee Executive Director Dr. Rob Davidson or Chief-of-Staff Miles Baker? Send your question to [email protected] with the Subject Line “Podcast Questions”. We’ll read your question on the air and give you the answer you’re looking for!Background reading:POLITICO: ‘Sort of blackmail’: Billions in rural health funding hinge on states passing Trump-backed policiesThe 19th: Texas’ new abortion ban aims to stop doctors from sending abortion pills to the stateThe Guardian: CDC advisers delay vote on restricting infant hepatitis B vaccinations in tense meetingMedPage Today: ACIP Leadership Shake-Up Before Hep B Vaccine Vote Alarms ExpertsPOLITICO: RFK Jr. ally, anti-vaccine lawyer to brief CDC vaccine meetingMedPage Today: CDC Panel Targets Size of Childhood Vaccine Schedule, Safety of Aluminum AdjuvantsThe Hill: Cassidy calls ACIP ‘totally discredited’ ahead of vaccine guidance votesThe Hill: Trump hails vaccine panel’s hepatitis B vote as ‘very good decision’The White House: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Begins Process to Align U.S. Core Childhood Vaccine Recommendations with Best Practices from Peer, Developed CountriesThe Washington Post: FDA to investigate whether adult deaths linked to coronavirus vaccinePOLITICO: Senate Republicans set to put Cassidy-Crapo health proposal up for a vote ThursdayPOLITICO: Cassidy, Crapo unveil alternative to Obamacare subsidiesPOLITICO: House GOP erupts over health care as leaders hunt for a planPOLITICO: New ACA subsidy extension bill draws 16 GOP co-sponsorsPOLITICO: Frustrated Republicans move to force Obamacare vote as warnings mount about the midtermsNBC News: 'We need to come up with something': House Republicans struggle to agree on a health care planPOLITICO: Anti-abortion group warns against forcing vote to expand Obamacare subsidiesPOLITICO: Trump still hasn’t endorsed a plan to avoid impending Obamacare hikes for millionsTIME: I Left the CDC 100 Days Ago. My Worst Fears About the Agency Are Coming Truehttps://www.debhoury.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/drdebhoury.bsky.socialJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

In this week’s episode, Miles and guest co-host Dr. Kristin Lyerly unpack the latest chaos in public health, from FDA regulator Vinay Prasad’s unsupported claim that COVID vaccines killed children to the broader effort to rewrite the history of the pandemic and undermine vaccine confidence. They also break down the looming ACA subsidy cliff, where millions face steep premium hikes as Republicans flounder on solutions, Trump’s team urging a political pivot to prescription drug prices, and the impending launch of TrumpRx.gov.Later, NPR reporter Rosemary Westwood joins to reveal the troubling record of newly appointed CDC principal deputy director Dr. Ralph Abraham, including halting vaccine promotion in Louisiana, delaying warnings during a deadly whooping cough outbreak, and promoting ivermectin — all while lacking board certification in family medicine. With Abraham now poised to help steer national public health policy under RFK Jr., the episode highlights the escalating risks to science, trust, and patient care.FOR OUR LISTENERS: Over the holidays, the Paging America podcast team will be answering your questions in a “mailbag” episode. Do you have a question for Committee Executive Director Dr. Rob Davidson or Chief-of-Staff Miles Baker? Send your question to [email protected] with the Subject Line “Podcast Questions”. We’ll read your question on the air and give you the answer you’re looking for!Background reading:Vinay Prasad’s email to FDA staff is HERE.STAT: How two top FDA officials are quietly upending vaccine regulationsSTAT: Experts say top FDA official’s claim that Covid vaccines caused kids’ deaths requires more evidenceThe Guardian: ‘Never seen anything like this’: alarm at memo from top US vaccine officialACIP’s Dec. 4 agenda is HEREThe Washington Post: A dozen former FDA commissioners condemn plan to tighten vaccine approvalsPOLITICO: ‘Time is not our friend’: Health care scramble begins amid mixed signals from TrumpPOLITICO: Rick Scott releases Obamacare subsidy alternativePOLITICO: Trump pollster’s health care advice for Republicans: pivot to drug pricesCNBC: Trump announces deals with Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk to slash weight loss drug prices, offer some Medicare coverageThe New York Times: Doctor Critical of Vaccines Quietly Appointed as C.D.C.’s Second in CommandMedPage Today: Top Ivermectin Prescriber Now in CDC's Second Highest PositionWWNO: Louisiana's top health official, a critic of the COVID vaccine, will be CDC deputyLouisiana Illuminator: There’s no evidence Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham is a board-certified family physicianThe Banned podcast – reported, hosted, and created by Rosemary Westwood – is HERERosemary Westwood on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/rosemarywestwood.bsky.socialJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

On this week’s episode, Miles and Dr. Rob break down the emerging GOP “concepts of a plan” on Obamacare, and the escalating vaccine misinformation battle sparked by the Kennedy-driven CDC edits. Then, Dr. Rob sits down with U.S. Senator Gary Peters for an in-depth conversation on the ACA subsidy cliff, the shutdown showdown, and why Republicans’ refusal to negotiate threatens millions who rely on affordable health coverage. A sharp, candid look at health care politics heading into 2026.Background reading:MS NOW: Trump set to propose framework to fix Obamacare subsidiesPOLITICO: White House to pitch a Trump Obamacare extension with limitsNBC News: Democrats make a new offer to end the shutdown, but Republicans aren't buying itDetroit Free Press: Michigan's U.S. senators reject deal to end shutdownDetroit News: Slotkin, Peters reject deal to end shutdown, citing lack of action on health carePeters Statement on Vote on Continuing Resolution That Fails to Address Rising Health Care CostsJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

On this week’s episode, Dr. Rob talks with Politico’s Senior Health Care Reporter, Alice Miranda Ollstein, about how RFK Jr. is reshaping the political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterms and why his views on vaccines and health policy are becoming a defining issue for both parties.They also break down the growing fight over mifepristone, the shaky research driving federal reviews, and the broader consequences for reproductive health and medical care nationwide, with Ollstein sharing insights from her reporting and upcoming book.Background reading:The Washington Post: CDC in turmoil after agency backpedals on debunking vaccines-autism linkThe CDC’s “Autism and Vaccines” website is HEREQuiver Quantitative’s tweet raising the alarm about Rep. Robert Bresnahan’s apparent insider trading is HERETruthout (from July 3, 2025): Republican Lawmaker Dumped Medicaid-Related Stock Before Voting to Gut ProgramAlice Miranda Ollstein’s work at POLITICO can be found HEREPOLITICO: ‘You can't eat if you're dead’: Dems eye RFK Jr. as their 2026 boogeymanPOLITICO: ‘Rolling Thunder’: Inside conservatives’ strategy to curb abortion pill accessThe Nation: The Misinformation Campaign Trying to Bring Down Abortion PillsMother Jones: On Its 25th Birthday, Mifepristone Is More Under Attack Than EverThe New York Times: Abortion Has Remained Mostly Accessible. That May Soon Change.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 healthcare 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

On this week’s episode, Dr. Rob is joined by guest co-host Dr. Chris Ford, emergency physician, host of the Pulse Check Wisconsin podcast, and member of the Committee to Protect Health Care’s Board of Directors. Together, they unpack the political and human toll of the recent government shutdown and the GOP’s new proposal to replace Affordable Care Act subsidies with cash payments. From skyrocketing premiums to families losing coverage, Rob and Chris share what they’re seeing in their ERs and why these policy fights are putting real patients at risk.Later, Rob speaks with Annie Grayer, Senior Congressional Reporter at CNN, for a behind-the-scenes look at how the shutdown ended, what the next funding fight could bring, and how political power plays in Washington keep putting health care on the chopping block.Background reading:Dr. Chris Ford’s podcast website Pulse Check WI is HEREThe Washington Post: How every House member voted on the bill to reopen the governmentPBS News: What’s in the Senate shutdown dealCNN: Inside the negotiations that produced a deal to end the shutdownPOLITICO: Democrats want to extend Obamacare credits. Republicans have other ideas.NBC News: Republicans demand tougher abortion restrictions to extend Obamacare fundsDeseret News: Republicans eye health care reform as Democrats push to extend Obamacare subsidiesDr. Rob’s twitter thread about why switching from enhanced ACA premium subsidies to HSAs is a terrible ideaAXIOS: Trump calls for ACA subsidies to be sent to consumersSen. Chris Murphy’s response to Trump is HEREPOLITICO: Obamacare could collapse under Trump’s new plan, policy experts sayThe New York Times: Emboldened, Kennedy Allies Embrace a Label They Once Rejected: ‘Anti-Vax’The Washington Post: ‘God is an anti-vaxxer’: Inside the conference celebrating RFK Jr.’s riseJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

On this week’s bonus episode, Dr. Rob talks with Families USA Senior Director of Health Policy, Sophia Tripoli, about new polling that shows an overwhelming majority of Americans, across party lines, want Congress to act on skyrocketing healthcare costs. Together, they unpack how high deductibles, junk insurance plans, and industry consolidation are driving the affordability crisis and what real solutions could look like. Tripoli also highlights how voters’ frustration is pushing bipartisan action in the states and why now is the moment for bold reform to make healthcare more affordable for everyone.Background reading:https://www.familiesusa.org/https://www.familiesusa.org/press-releases/new-poll-crushing-health-care-costs-top-priority-for-voters/https://familiesusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/102125_Families-USA-Online-Survey_Affordability_Final.pdfJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

In this week’s episode, Miles and Dr. Rob break down a pivotal week in public health and politics. From thousands of white coats marching on Washington to election results that reshaped the map in Virginia and Pennsylvania, they unpack how doctors and scientists are finally stepping off the sidelines to defend truth, democracy, and affordable care.Later, Miles talks with Colette Delawalla, founder and CEO of Stand Up for Science, whose grassroots movement has mobilized researchers and public health workers around the world to fight disinformation and anti-science extremism. Together they explore what it means to “stand up for science” in an age of lies, fear, and political attacks, and why the next year could decide the future of American health.Background reading:Stand Up for Science website: StandUpForScience.netThe March for Health & Science website: 911forhealthandscience.orgVirginia Mercury: Blue wave rebuilds the House: Democrats soar to at least 64 seats in VirginiaABORTION, EVERY DAY: Abortion is on the Ballot, Here's What You Need to KnowVirginia Scope: Youngkin vetoes Prescription Drug Affordability BoardNBC News: Pennsylvania voters retain three state Supreme Court justices, preserving Democrats' 5-2 majorityCBS News: Democrats sweep key races in 2025 elections in early referendum on TrumpAP: California voters approve new US House map to boost Democrats in 2026The Hill: Speaker Johnson says GOP working on Republican health care plan amid shutdownThe Hill: Greene: GOP shoulders blame for not correcting ACA as health premiums set to riseMarjorie Taylor Greene’s “SCIF” tweetCBS News: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for nuclear option to end shutdown, slams GOP's health care plansThe Hill: Trump summons GOP senators to White House to call for end to filibusterCBS News: Government shutdown prompts FAA to float flight cancellations as Senate talks continueOct. 29 Navigator pollABC News: Americans increasingly concerned about government shutdown, more blame Republicans and Trump than Democrats: PollCNN: Trump’s HHS orders state Medicaid programs to help find undocumented immigrantsJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

In this week’s episode, Dr. Rob and guest co-host Dr. Kristin Lyerly dive into the politics driving the latest government shutdown, and how it’s pushing health care and families to the brink. From skyrocketing ACA premiums and rural hospital closures to SNAP benefits drying up, the doctors unpack how political games in Washington are hurting real people. They also delve into RFK Jr.’s attacks on medical societies, attacks that are being bolstered by Congressional Republicans and that may be driving these formerly non-partisan groups to become Democratic-leaning.Then, Dr. Rob sits down with Pennsylvania physician and podcast host Dr. Zeke Taylor to discuss why this year’s state Supreme Court retention vote could be one of the most consequential elections in the country. They explore how state courts are now the front line for reproductive rights, fair maps, and protecting democracy itself.Background reading:You can find Dr. Tayler on Instagram, TikTok, and BlueSky. His podcast website is thezekelypodcast.com.Oct. 22 Navigator poll on the shutdownOct. 30 Navigator poll on the shutdownThe Washington Post: Average Obamacare premiums are set to rise 30 percent, documents showThe Hill: Vulnerable House Republicans urge Johnson to address ObamaCare subsidiesLetter to Speaker Johnson on Government Shutdown and Healthcare PrioritiesNPR: SNAP runs out of money Nov. 1. Here's what that means in your stateCNN Politics: Judge indicates she’ll intervene in fight over SNAP food assistance moneyPOLITICO: In his battle with doctors, RFK Jr.’s got GOP lawmakers on his sideThe Washington Post: In desperate need of hope, Democrats look towards VirginiaAXIOS: The stakes are high in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court electionsNBC News: These Pennsylvania court races are usually sleepy. This year, they're drawing millions in spending.The Philadelphia Inquirer: More than $7 million has poured into the Pa. Supreme Court judicial retention election so farJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

On this week’s bonus episode, Miles and guest host Dr. Kristin Lyerly sit down with KFF’s Liz Hamel, one of the country’s leading experts on health polling, to unpack new data on trust, misinformation, and public health.Together, they discuss what Americans believe about vaccines, the CDC, and the controversial “Make America Healthy Again” movement. Liz explains how KFF tracks health attitudes across party lines, why trust in public institutions is falling, and what can be done to rebuild confidence in science.Background reading:kff.org KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust: Tylenol-Autism Link and Vaccine PoliciesPoll: After President Trump’s Warning, Many People Are Uncertain About Whether Tylenol Use in Pregnancy Causes Autism; Most Republicans Say It Is Probably or Definitely TrueJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

In this week’s episode of Paging America, Miles and Dr. Rob dive into the shutdown chaos, ACA premium sticker shock, and the political games threatening American healthcare. From Georgia’s skyrocketing premiums to the wacky world of ivermectin bills in state legislatures, they unpack what happens when ideology overtakes science.Then, Dr. Rob sits down with Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, former CDC Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, for a compelling interview on the politicization of public health. Dr. Daskalakis opens up about resigning on principle, the “zombie CDC,” and what it will take to rebuild American public health after years of erosion.Background reading:Dr. Demetre Daskalakis on X: https://x.com/dr_demetreDr. Demetre Daskalakis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdemetre/Dr. Demetre Daskalakis on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/drdemetre.bsky.socialDr. Demetre Daskalakis’ resignation letter is HEREThe Atlanta Journal: Massive ACA price hikes revealed as Georgia Access window shopping opens earlyNBC News: ‘It’s only gotten worse’: As ACA premiums are set to climb, some Americans opt to go uninsuredAmerican Hospital Association: Bipartisan letter urges House leadership to halt Medicaid DSH cutsQuinnipiac generic Congressional polling (Oct 16-20) is HEREMedPage Today: These States Now Allow OTC Ivermectin, and More May FollowBill Track 50’s analysis of Michigan’s SB516 is HEREU.S. Food and Drug Administration: Ivermectin and COVID-19The Hill: RFK Jr. to unveil new guidance encouraging more saturated fatsJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

In this episode of Paging America, Miles and Dr. Rob break down the week’s wildest in healthcare politics, from updates on the Government Shutdown to Republicans trying to weaponize the FDA and ban abortion pills to RFK Jr.’s latest conspiracy linking autism to Tylenol. Then, a rare bit of good news: Michigan Budget Director Jen Flood joins Miles to share how her team protected Medicaid despite looming federal cuts and offering a playbook for states under divided government.Plus: The No Kings rallies are happening across the country on Saturday, find a rally near you at NoKings.orgBackground reading:BBC: Are Democrats really pushing for free healthcare for undocumented migrants?AXIOS: Dems open to income cap on ACA subsidiesCNN: Developer in chief Donald Trump envisions new arch in Washington, DCThe New York Times: The E.P.A. Followed Up on an Unusual Request About Abortion PillsCBS News: RFK Jr. suggests circumcision is linked to autism. Here's what experts say.Detroit Free Press: Michigan budget director hopes next budget process looks 'a little bit more traditional'Bridge Michigan: Michigan’s bipartisan budget deal aims to ‘protect’ Medicaid. Here’s howJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

In this episode of Paging America, Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson tackle the escalating chaos in Washington and the real-world stakes for patients. From ICE crackdowns in Chicago to the Trump-led shutdown, they unpack how politics is bleeding into every corner of American healthcare.They’re joined by Congressman Mike Levin (CA-49) for an inside look at the fight in Congress to protect healthcare access. Rep. Levin details how lapsing ACA tax credits could double premiums for millions, why Democrats are holding the line despite political pressure, and what’s really motivating Speaker Mike Johnson’s obstructionThe episode closes with rare good news: Colorado becomes the first state to cap prescription drug prices, a huge win for patients.Background reading:KFF: KFF Health Tracking Poll: Public Weighs Political Consequences of Health Policy LegislationGovernment websites blaming Democrats for the government shutdown: HUD, FDA, CDC, DOJ, DEA & ATFLansing State Journal (via Yahoo! News): Federal websites are blaming Dems for shutdown. Is that legal?NPR: FDA approves another generic abortion pill, prompting outrage from conservativesThe Washington Post: States fed up with high drug prices are cracking downWhite House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt responds to a question about asking ER patients about their immigration statusHuffPost: ‘Grossly Immoral’: Doctors Torch Karoline Leavitt’s ER Immigration Status AnswerCongressman Mike Levin’s government website is HERERep. Levin explains his support of California’s Prop 50 HEREJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

In this episode of Paging America, Dr. Rob kicks things off with a powerful conversation with Jason Kander, veteran, author, and healthcare advocate, about the VA system, PTSD care, and why privatization threatens veterans’ health.Then, Miles and Rob break down the latest on the government shutdown, ACA subsidies, skyrocketing premiums, and how GOP cuts to Medicaid and VA services are reshaping care across the country. They also cover new California shield laws protecting abortion providers and patients from out-of-state crackdowns.It’s a packed episode on the politics of healthcare, from veterans’ care to reproductive rights, and what’s really at stake when politicians play games with people’s health.Background reading:Find Jason at https://jasonkander.com/Majority 54 Podcast, https://meidasnews.com/tag/majority-54Veteran’s Community Project website, vcp.orgAmerican Rescue Project, https://www.theamericanrescueproject.org/Jason Kander, 60 minutes https://youtu.be/UaVgr4NunUg?si=qA2dAvSveu4URJlLPOLITICO: California doctors can now prescribe abortion anonymouslyABORTION, EVERY DAY: Louisiana Issued Arrest Warrant for ANOTHER Abortion ProviderMedPage Today: If Government Shuts Down, Federal Health Programs Would Feel the PinchThe Washington Post: Shutdown fight over Obamacare highlights drawback of health care lawThe Hill: How a shutdown will impact health agencies and Social SecurityUSA Today: Millions of seniors could lose access to telehealth and in-home care during shutdownAmerican Journal of Managed Care: Government Shutdown Could Disrupt Health Care AccessJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

Miles and Rob react to Trump’s announcement that the Affordable Care Act is back on the chopping block. Join as our hosts unpack what his threats to privatize Medicare and cut benefits could mean as a shutdown looms. They break down the politics, the stakes, and why Democrats can’t afford to fold.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 healthcare 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

State Rep. Matt Longjohn, MD, MPH joins Miles for a candid briefing on Michigan’s budget chaos and the national public-health fallout from D.C. Rep. Longjohn explains how a last-minute deal is averting a state shutdown and how Democrats preserved the funding needed to keep hundreds of thousands of Michiganders on Medicaid covered despite cuts in Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” They dig into the crisis at the CDC, why states are building regional public-health alliances, and what it takes to safely “de-politicize” guidance at the state level so insurers still follow it. Background reading:State Rep. Matt Longjohn’s campaign site is HEREState Rep. Matt Longjohn’s state government webpage is HEREMichigan Advance: Michigan budget crisis averted: Legislature, Whitmer announce deal days before shutdownFrom the office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer: Executive Directive 2025-3: Impact of Federal Medicaid CutsMichigan Health & Hospital Association: Medicaid Funding Cuts Are Disastrous for Michigan HealthcareAXIOS: Medicaid overhaul shifts tough choices to statesJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

U.S. Senate candidate and pediatrician Dr. Annie Andrews joins Miles to unpack a whiplash week in health care news. They break down the Trump/RFK/Oz press conference that tried to pin Tylenol as the cause for autism, why the administration’s promotion of leucovorin as an “autism treatment” looks like another ivermectin-style distraction, and what the FDA’s re-review of mifepristone means for abortion and miscarriage care. Background reading:Roll Call: Trump, officials link Tylenol to autism as medical community balksCommittee Board Chair Dr. Kristin Lyerly’s response to Trump’s Tylenol announcement during an appearance on Scripps News Morning Rush is HERE.The Wall Street Journal: Kenvue Braces for Wave of New Lawsuits Over Tylenol’s Potential Link to AutismSTAT: Trump, questioning vaccine safety, pushes major changes to how kids get shotsThe New York Times: What Is Leucovorin, the Medicine Being Approved for Autism Treatment?ABC News: RFK Jr. launches FDA review of abortion pillNPR Shots: ‘We are rookies’: Day 2 of CDC vaccine meeting opens with a reversal and a surpriseSTAT: Medicaid cuts will hurt all American children — not just those publicly insuredMedPage Today: Doctors Report Confusion, Hurdles to Getting COVID-19 Shots for KidsDr. Annie Andrews: https://drannieandrews.com/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 healthcare 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

Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson break down lawsuits against insurers using algorithms to deny care, chaos at the CDC’s vaccine advisory meeting, and the political fight over $10M in unused contraception. Later, Miles interviews attorney Ryan Clarkson to discuss the use of AI by insurance companies to determine coverage of medical care and how this impacts the health care community. Finally, Dr. Rob interviews Wendell Potter, whistleblower and former health insurance executive, on how profit-driven insurers use algorithms, and now AI, to block lifesaving treatment.Background reading:The Washington Post: Fired CDC leader Susan Monarez told senators about pressure from RFK Jr.The New York Times: $10 Million in Contraceptives Have Been Destroyed on Orders From Trump OfficialsClarkson Law Firm - UnitedHealthcare Press ReleaseClarkson Law Firm - Cigna Healthcare Press ReleaseClarkson Law Firm - Humana Healthcare Press ReleaseCounterforce Health’s website is HERECenter for Health and Democracy’s “The Sunlight Report on UnitedHealth Group” is HERERead more about “The Sunlight Report on UnitedHealth Group” at HEALTH CARE un-coveredJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

In this week’s episode of Paging America, Miles and Dr. Rob react to the surge in political violence and the role platforms like X play in amplifying threats. They debunk RFK Jr.’s looming “Tylenol causes autism” claim and unpack FL Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo’s push to end vaccine mandates while blue states form regional public-health alliances. Finally, Dr. Rob interviews Dr. Charles Holmes (former CMO of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief under Obama, now at Georgetown) on how funding freezes impact America’s credibility abroad and what’s at stake for millions relying on HIV treatment globally.Background reading:The Atlantic: RFK Jr.’s Calls With a Scientist Who Says Kids Get Autism From TylenolNBC News: What the science says about acetaminophen, pregnant mothers and autismVideo of FL Surgeon General Joe Ladapo of State of the Union With Jake Tapper is HERENBC Boston: Northeastern states consider regional approach to vaccine guidance after CDC changesSTAT: CDC’s vaccine information no longer entirely trustworthy, former director saysKFF: The Trump Administration’s Foreign Aid Review: Status of PEPFARJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

In this bonus episode of Paging America, Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson sit down with Yolanda Jacobs, Army veteran and president of AFGE Local 2883, the union representing thousands of workers and scientists working at the CDC.While RFK Jr.’s Senate testimony dominated headlines, this conversation centers on the people inside the CDC and the atmosphere of fear and paralysis after mass resignations and a campus shooting.Background reading:* AFGE LOCAL 2883: www.afge2883ga.org* CBS News: RFK Jr. faces heated questions on CDC turmoil, vaccine changes at Senate hearing* PBS News: Shooter attacked CDC headquarters to protest COVID-19 vaccines, authorities sayJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson dive into a whirlwind of health and political news that hits close to home for millions of Americans.First, they break down Florida’s shocking new move to eliminate vaccine mandates in schools, a decision that could put kids, families, and entire communities at risk. Dr. Rob explains why herd immunity matters, what history teaches us about preventable illness, and why parents everywhere should be paying attention.Then, they revisit the implosion at the CDC, where the ousting of former Director Susan Monarez and the resignations of top officials have left public health leadership in chaos. They highlight the bravery of officials like Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who spoke out against political interference and warned that public trust in vaccines is being deliberately undermined.Finally, they turn to the rollout of “AI death panels,” where new pilot programs could let artificial intelligence companies deny care to seniors for profit. From pain management to incontinence treatment, life-altering procedures could be blocked by algorithms.To close out, Miles interviews Matt Lackey, from Tavern Research, whose groundbreaking survey research sheds light on the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. They discuss what Americans really think about food safety, vaccines, and wellness politics, and how opinion is more divided (and complicated) than headlines suggest.It’s a packed episode exploring how politics, profit, and public health collide… and what that means for all of us.Want to watch this week’s full episode? Become a paid subscriber of Paging America’s Substack to unlock this week’s full episode.Background reading:KFF Health News: Senior CDC Officials Resign After Monarez’s Ouster, Citing Concerns Over Scientific IndependenceCNN: Video shows crowds cheering as CDC officials who resigned walk out of buildingAP: Photos show workers rally for senior CDC officials forced off Atlanta headquartersThe New York Times: Medicare Will Require Prior Approval for Certain ProceduresCMS.gov: CMS Launches New Model to Target Wasteful, Inappropriate Services in Original MedicareCommon Dreams: 'AI Death Panels': Trump Pilot Program Seeks to Bring 'Very Worst' For-Profit Insurance Practices to MedicareTavern Research: Surprising new research finds Americans oppose technology that kills us, support technology that saves livesJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

This week, Miles and Dr. Rob are joined by special guest Sarah Ewall-Wice from The Daily Beast, whose reporting has raised urgent questions about President Trump’s health. Together, they unpack Trump’s bruised hands and the administration’s terrible attempt at covering it all up. Sarah digs into the red flags that are going up from the administration’s evasiveness around Trump’s health and what it means when transparency is replaced with cover-ups and propaganda.Miles and Dr. Rob also cover yesterday’s breaking news. Overnight, the CDC seemingly imploded, with top officials resigning or being fired. This leaves the nation’s (and world’s) top health agency gutted just as we head into another fall and winter virus season.It also wouldn’t be an episode of Paging America without an update from RFK Jr., who announced this week that you can maybe/maybe not get a COVID-19 vaccine this fall after rescinding emergency-use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines and restricting who qualifies.Background reading:* Daily Beast: Trump, 79, Smears Right Hand in Makeup Amid Cankles Cover-Up* Twitter/X: #BREAKING 🚨Trump’s bruised hands, swollen ankles, and reduced stamina reportedly point to Congestive Heart Failure.* Daily Beast: Trump, 79, Clasps Both Hands in Desperate Bid to Cover Up Bruises* USA Today: RFK Jr.'s FDA approves new COVID vaccines with restrictions* Twitter/X: RFK Jr.’s announcement on COVID vaccine restrictions* NYT: F.D.A. Approves Covid Shots With New Restrictions* Reuters: US CDC director ousted weeks into job* The Hill: RFK Jr. defends CDC shake-up after high-level resignationsJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.org.Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own healthcare 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

This week, Miles and Dr. Rob unpack how fringe conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer convinced Trump to halt medical visas for kids from Gaza, exposing how far-right conspiracy theories are warping U.S. health policy.Then, they turn to the escalating fight over abortion access, as Republican Attorneys General push to restrict Mifepristone and target doctors across state lines, while Costco caves to anti-abortion pressure and pulls back on selling the medication.Finally, they break down RFK Jr.’s latest loyalty pledges, his renewed push for anti-vaccine task forces, and Trump’s dangerous theatrics around homelessness and mental health, all while rural hospitals face collapse from devastating Medicaid cuts.Background reading:* Drop Site News tweet about Laura Loomer getting visas stopped for injured Gazans is HERE.* NPR: State Department halts 'medical-humanitarian' visas for people from Gaza* The Guardian: US state department stops issuing visas for Gaza’s children to get medical care after far-right campaign* Dr. Rob on the Paging America Substack: Every Individual in the World Is Our Patient* FOX News: More than 20 GOP attorneys general call on RFK Jr, FDA to reinstate safeguards for abortion drugs* The Atlantic: A Convenient Piece of Junk Science* SCOTUSblog: Supreme Court preserves access to abortion pill* Center for Reproductive Rights: Interstate Shield Laws* The Washington Post: Costco will not sell abortion pills after pressure from conservatives* Idaho Statesman: After pressure from Idaho company, Costco decides not to sell abortion drug* The Hill: Senate Democrat rips Costco for ‘refusing to sell’ abortion pills* RFK Jr.’s tweet about not running for president is HERE* AXIOS: RFK Jr.'s PAC stirs, fueling speculation on a 2028 campaign* The Hill: Second MAHA report’s release delayed* Reuters: Draft 'MAHA' commission report avoids pesticide crackdown feared by farm groups* The New York Times: Farmers Are Turning on MAHA* Reuters: A 'Farm Babe' fights for GMOs and Big Ag, pushing back on MAHA influencers* AXIOS: HHS revives childhood vaccine safety panel RFK-backed antivax group sought* The New York Times: Federal Raids Target D.C. Homeless CampsJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.orgSubscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own rural healthcare 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

This week, Miles and Dr. Rob dive into a whirlwind of troubling healthcare news — and what it means for patients, providers, and public health. First, they unpack RFK Jr.’s decision to slash over $500 million in mRNA research funding — a move critics call reckless and potentially devastating for vaccine development, cancer treatments, and cutting-edge medical breakthroughs.Then, they discuss the shocking shooting at the CDC in Atlanta, exploring how years of anti-vaccine rhetoric have fueled hostility toward public health agencies, before turning to the Veterans Administration’s sweeping cancellation of union contracts covering 80% of its workforce (and why this could spell disaster for veterans’ care and VA staffing).Finally, they break down Trump’s latest move to impose massive tariffs on pharmaceuticals — a policy that could skyrocket drug prices for patients while gutting medical research.Background reading:* AXIOS: Trump admin pulls funding for new mRNA vaccines* MedPage Today: Pulling the Plug on mRNA Vaccine Development Is 'Reckless,' Experts Say* STAT: As mRNA falls out of favor for HHS, are cancer vaccines next?* PBS News: Shooter attacked CDC headquarters to protest COVID-19 vaccines, authorities say* CNN: RFK Jr. contradicts law enforcement on CDC shooter's motive* STAT: Former surgeon general: The CDC shooting must be a wakeup call* Miltary.com: VA to End Bargaining Agreement Contracts with Most Unions* Pew Research Center: What we know about veterans who work for the federal government* The Washington Post: FEMA joins other federal agencies in canceling union contracts* ProPublica: Veterans’ Care at Risk Under Trump as Hundreds of Doctors and Nurses Reject Working at VA Hospitals* The Guardian: US veterans agency lost thousands of ‘core’ medical staff under Trump, records show* The Hill: Trump threatens pharma tariffs of up to 250 percent* Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: What Pharmaceutical Tariffs Would Mean for Americans* Marketplace: What Trump's pharmaceuticals tariff threats mean for patients* CNN: Trump is promising to slash drug prices by 1,500%. Here’s what’s really happening* NPR: Trump's Washington, D.C., takeover targets a host of groups, many of them vulnerableJoin the fight at committeetoprotect.orgSubscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America.Have thoughts, questions, or your own rural healthcare 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

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