Podcasts about human services hhs

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 3: 5:05pm- Gerald Posner—Award-Winning Investigative Journalist & Author of the book “Pharma: Greed, Lies, and the Poisoning of America”—joins The Rich Zeoli Show and reacts to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) releasing its Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) commission report investigating the cause of chronic illness. The report determines that the health of children nationwide has been negatively impacted by ultra-processed foods, chemical exposures, the over prescription of pharmaceutical drugs, and a lack of emphasis on exercise. 5:30pm- Friday marked Elon Musk's last day leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). President Donald Trump praised Musk's work, highlighting several instances of federal waste that were discovered under his leadership: $101 million for DEI contracts at the Department of Education, $59 million for illegal alien hotel rooms in New York City, $45 million for DEI scholarships in Burma, $42 million for social and behavioral change in Uganda, $20 million for Arab Sesame Street, and $8 million for making mice transgender. As a thank you, Trump presented Musk with a golden key to the White House.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Show (05/30/2025): 3:05pm- On Friday, President Donald Trump is planning to hold a rally in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania celebrating his administration's negotiated merger between Japan's Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel which will keep steel manufacturing in Pittsburgh, PA. In response to the agreement, Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA) conceded: “it is a big f***ing deal.” 3:20pm- In a series of articles published over the weekend, The New York Times examined the Democrat Party's continued struggles appealing to the American electorate. Shane Goldmacher writes that Democrats “are still searching for the path forward”—noting that the party spent $20 million studying their “erosion” of support with “young men” specifically. In another article, Goldmacher—alongside June Kim and Christine Zhang—evaluate “how Donald Trump has remade America's political landscape.” They document that 435 counties across the country became more “Democratic” from 2012 and 2024—however, 2,678 counties became more “Republican.” Further complicating matters is the 2030 census which is expected to cause comfortably blue states to lose electoral votes as citizens move to red states. You can read the articles here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/25/us/politics/democratic-party-voters.html. And here: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/25/us/politics/trump-politics-democrats.html. 3:40pm- Tom Burgoyne (Best Friend of the Phillie Phanatic) and John Brazer (Director of Fun and Games for the Philadelphia Phillies) join The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the Phillies season, the Phanatic being named one of MLB's “sexiest” mascots, and their podcast: “Phillies Backstage with Brazer and Burgoyne.” Plus, does the Phillie Phanatic still have a hotdog cannon? 4:05pm- Dr. Wilfred Reilly—Professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University & Author of “Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me”—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss movie star Sydney Sweeney partnering with Dr. Squatch to sell 5,000 bars of soap made from her actual bathwater. Plus, one of the highest paid professors at Harvard Business School is busted for falsifying research data. 4:40pm- On Friday, former President Joe Biden spoke at a Memorial Day event in New Castle, Delaware. It was his first public appearance since announcing he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. 4:45pm- Friday marked Elon Musk's last day leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). President Donald Trump praised Musk's work, highlighting several instances of federal waste that were discovered under his leadership: $101 million for DEI contracts at the Department of Education, $59 million for illegal alien hotel rooms in New York City, $45 million for DEI scholarships in Burma, $42 million for social and behavioral change in Uganda, $20 million for Arab Sesame Street, and $8 million for making mice transgender. As a thank you, Trump presented Musk with a golden key to the White House. 5:05pm- Gerald Posner—Award-Winning Investigative Journalist & Author of the book “Pharma: Greed, Lies, and the Poisoning of America”—joins The Rich Zeoli Show and reacts to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) releasing its Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) commission report investigating the cause of chronic illness. The report determines that the health of children nationwide has been negatively impacted by ultra-processed foods, chemical exposures, the over prescription of pharmaceutical drugs, and a lack of emphasis on exercise. 5:30pm- Friday marked Elon Musk's last day leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). President Donald Trump praised Musk's work, highlighting several instances of federal waste that were discovered under his leadership: $101 million for DEI contracts at the Department of Education, $59 million for illegal alien hotel rooms in New York City, $45 million for DEI scholarships in Burma, $42 million for social and behavioral change in Uganda, $20 mi ...

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 2: 4:05pm- On Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) commission report investigating chronic illness—determining that the health of children nationwide has been negatively impacted by ultra-processed foods, chemical exposures, the over prescription of pharmaceutical drugs, and a lack of emphasis on exercise. From the White House, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump announced the results of the report and spoke to the press. Kennedy explained: “never in American history has the federal government taken a position on public health like this”—noting that it had been an ambition of his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, before he was killed. 4:45pm- During Thursday's White House briefing, reporter Peter Doocy asked Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt if unelected Biden Administration staffers concealed the former president's decline so that they could use the levers of power for their own personal gain.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (05/22/2025): 3:05pm- Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson's new book, “Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,” which is critical of the Biden Administration for covering up the president's physical and cognitive decline, was released earlier this week. While Tapper is now reporting on internal stories about Biden's health decline, why did he—and the rest of the mainstream media—largely ignore the story prior to Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential election? While speaking with journalist Tara Palmeri, DC insider Sally Quinn accused former First Lady Jill Biden of “elderly abuse” for allowing her husband to initially run for re-election in 2024. 3:30pm- While appearing on Fox News, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) discussed his recent request for the Department of Justice to investigate Joe Biden's cognitive and physical decline while serving as president. 3:40pm- While on NewsNation, Axios reporter and Original Sin co-author Alex Thompson said that Biden Administration officials were shocked that the mainstream media was unwilling to investigate Joe Biden's cognitive and physical decline—instead, constantly taking the White House's word without any critical examination. 3:50pm- To absolutely no one's surprise, Matt has never seen the classic film Spaceballs. Plus, the debate over brioche buns rages on! 4:05pm- On Thursday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) commission report investigating chronic illness—determining that the health of children nationwide has been negatively impacted by ultra-processed foods, chemical exposures, the over prescription of pharmaceutical drugs, and a lack of emphasis on exercise. From the White House, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Donald Trump announced the results of the report and spoke to the press. Kennedy explained: “never in American history has the federal government taken a position on public health like this”—noting that it had been an ambition of his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, before he was killed. 4:45pm- During Thursday's White House briefing, reporter Peter Doocy asked Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt if unelected Biden Administration staffers concealed the former president's decline so that they could use the levers of power for their own personal gain. 5:05pm- Jennifer Galardi—Senior Policy Analyst for Restoring American Wellness in The Heritage Foundation's DeVos Center—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to assess the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) newly released Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission report investigating chronic illness. The report determines that the health of children nationwide has been negatively impacted by ultra-processed foods, chemical exposures, the over prescription of pharmaceutical drugs, and a lack of emphasis on exercise. 5:35pm- On Wednesday night two Israeli Embassy staffers were tragically shot and killed outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. In a post to X, FBI Director Kash Patel revealed that the shooting will be investigated as an “act of terror.” 5:45pm- Steve Hilton—GOP Candidate for Governor of California, former Senior Advisor to the U.K. Prime Minister, and a former Fox News Host—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his campaign and his potential gubernatorial opponent Kamala Harris's role in covering up Joe Biden's physical and mental decline. Hilton argues that as Vice President, Harris was as responsible as anyone for lying to the American people—demonstrating her failure as a leader and disqualifying her from any future office. To learn more about his campaign, visit: https://stevehiltonforgovernor.com. 6:00pm- Tom Azelby in for Rich!

On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at lowering prescription drug prices for U.S. citizens by establishing “most-favored-nation pricing.” The order directs the secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to facilitate price targets for pharmaceutical companies, tying their prices to what consumers pay in other countries. “We've been subsidizing other countries throughout the world,” Trump said at a White House signing ceremony on Monday, adding that “some prescription drug and pharmaceutical prices will be reduced almost immediately by 50 to 80 to 90%.”Ad-free podcasts are here!Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we finally launched it. You can go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “Under the Radar” story ⁠here and today's “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.Take the survey: What do you think of Isaac's take today? Let us know!Disagree? That's okay. My opinion is just one of many. Write in and let us know why, and we'll consider publishing your feedback.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast was written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Hunter Casperson, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Send us a textDr. Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH ( https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/michael-t-osterholm-phd-mph ) is Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health, the Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, a professor in the Technological Leadership Institute, College of Science and Engineering, and an adjunct professor in the Medical School, all at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Osterholm is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and the Council of Foreign Relations. In June 2005 Dr. Osterholm was appointed by Michael Leavitt, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to the newly established National Science Advisory Board on Biosecurity. In July 2008, he was named to the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center's Academy of Excellence in Health Research. In October 2008, he was appointed to the World Economic Forum Working Group on Pandemics.Dr. Osterholm is an internationally recognized expert in infectious disease epidemiology and is the author of more than 300 papers and abstracts, including 20 book chapters, and New York Times best-selling 2017 book, Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs ( https://www.amazon.com/Deadliest-Enemy-Against-Killer-Germs/dp/0316343692 ).Dr. Osterholm's new book will be coming out in September, 2025, entitled The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics ( https://www.amazon.com/Big-One-Prepare-World-Altering-Pandemics-ebook/dp/B0C1G5BHG3 ).Dr. Osterholm has received numerous honors for his work, including an honorary doctorate from Luther College; the Pump Handle Award, CSTE; the Charles C. Shepard Science Award, CDC; the Harvey W. Wiley Medal, FDA; the Squibb Award, IDSA; Distinguished University Teaching Professor, Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, UMN; and the Wade Hampton Frost Leadership Award, American Public Health Association. He also has been the recipient of six major research awards from the NIH and the CDC.Dr. Osterholm received his PhD and MS in Environmental Health, and MPH in Epidemiology, from the University of Minnesota. #MichaelOsterholm #InfectiousDisease #CenterForInfectiousDiseaseResearchAndPolicy #CIDRAP #PublicHealth #AntimicrobialStewardship #VaccineIntegrityProject #AntimicrobialResistance #MinnesotaDepartmentOfHealth #Epidemiologist #ToxicShockSyndrome #FoodborneIllness #Hepatitis #Biodefense #Countermeasures #ChronicWastingDisease #Preparedness #Policy #Surveillance #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #Podcasting #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Science #Technology #ResearchSupport the show

In this case, the court considered this issue: Does the phrase “entitled… to benefits” include all who meet basic program eligibility criteria, whether or not benefits are actually received?The case was decided on April 29, 2025.In this case, a group of over 200 hospitals claimed that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) miscalculated their Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) adjustments, which provide additional funding to hospitals treating a high percentage of low-income patients. The dispute centered on the interpretation of the phrase "entitled to supplementary security income (SSI) benefits" under subchapter XVI. The hospitals argued that this phrase should include all patients enrolled in the SSI system at the time of hospitalization, even if they were not entitled to an SSI payment during that month. HHS, however, interpreted it to mean patients who were eligible to receive an SSI payment during the month of hospitalization.The Provider Reimbursement Review Board denied the hospitals' request for additional reimbursement on procedural grounds, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services denied relief on the merits. The District Court rejected the hospitals' claims and granted summary judgment to HHS. The D-C Circuit affirmed, concluding that SSI benefits are about cash payments for needy individuals and that it makes little sense to say individuals are entitled to the benefit in months when they are not eligible for a payment.The Supreme Court of the United States held that an individual is "entitled to SSI benefits" for purposes of the Medicare fraction when she is eligible to receive an SSI cash payment during the month of her hospitalization. The Court reasoned that SSI benefits are cash benefits determined on a monthly basis, and eligibility for such benefits is also determined monthly. The Court affirmed the judgment of the D-C Circuit, respecting the specific formula that Congress prescribed for calculating the Medicare fraction.The opinion is presented here in its entirety, but with citations omitted. If you appreciate this episode, please subscribe. Thank you. 

Dr. Amy Paller, pediatric dermatologist and clinical researcher at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, and Dr. Ronald Prussick, MD, dermatologist at the Washington Dermatology Center and Vice Chair of the NPF Medical Board, discuss psoriasis and eczema comorbidities in pediatric and adult patients. This podcast is presented in collaboration with the National Eczema Association.  This podcast is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $375,000 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

In March, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) withdrew the Richardson Waiver, a policy under which HHS voluntarily undertook notice-and-comment rulemaking in circumstances where it wouldn't otherwise need to. HHS also issued a new Statement of Organization for the Office of the General Counsel (HHS-OGC), which, among other things, may signal an effort to consolidate and expand HHS-OGC's authority. Jaime Jones, Partner, Sidley Austin LLP, and Brenna Jenny, Partner, Sidley Austin LLP, discuss HHS' potential rationale for these changes and the implications for the health care industry. During the first Trump Administration, Brenna Jenny served as the Principal Deputy General Counsel at HHS and the Chief Legal Officer at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.AHLA's Health Law Daily Podcast Is Here! AHLA's popular Health Law Daily email newsletter is now a daily podcast, exclusively for AHLA Premium members. Get all your health law news from the major media outlets on this new podcast! To subscribe and add this private podcast feed to your podcast app, go to americanhealthlaw.org/dailypodcast.

Washington, DC, April 25, 2025 — On this month's podcast episode, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) speakers discuss the recent reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), including significant layoffs of staff working on public health programs, as well as the recently leaked funding “passback” document and what this means for public health. They also share an update on a lawsuit filed by some states against HHS on the clawback of billions of dollars of COVID-era supplemental funding. For more frequent updates, subscribe to NACCHO's News from Washington weekly newsletter: www.naccho.org/advocacy/news.   Later in the program (7:15), Philip “Phil” Huang, MD, MPH, Director and Health Authority at Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS), and Miranda Grant, a DCHHS Program Manager for the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, join NACCHO to discuss DCHHS' efforts to prevent, detect, treat, and respond to HIV in Dallas County and the critical role local public health plays in improving health outcomes.    During the episode, they share the current state of the epidemic in Dallas County, the disproportionate impact on Black and Hispanic communities, the importance of community partnerships in reaching more diverse populations, the promising outlook for a reduction in new cases by 2030, and how fostering community engagement and data-driven planning will help address the epidemic. They highlight their trauma-informed learning collaborative, a county-wide initiative to help reduce workforce burnout and address stigma surrounding HIV. Dallas County has also seen a significant increase in PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) usage with up to 8,000 residents on PrEP in 2023 versus 300 people in 2014. However, without sustainable investments in HIV prevention, Dallas County faces a growing crisis in its communities and an economic strain – each HIV case prevented saves an estimated $420,000 in lifetime costs. Sign up for NACCHO's HIV, STI, Viral Hepatitis, and Harm Reduction Digest.

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on April 11th, 2025, and reflects the information available at the time of recording. As we know, America is in motion here, and so subsequent updates may not be reflected in this discussion as things continue to evolve and change. Tune in as PwC specialists from across the health industry share their insights on how recent policy shifts under the Trump administration could shape healthcare in the years to come. In this episode, Glenn Hunzinger, Jenny Colapietro, and guests Kelly Griffin, Phil Sclafani, and Ruchita Kewalramani break down the potential implications of proposed government healthcare cuts, tariff policy and agency workforce reductions, along with the growing role of AI in the industry. They also discuss how pharma, medtech, payers and providers can stay ahead amidst the uncertainty. Discussion highlights:Proposed funding cuts to major government healthcare programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and NIH could significantly disrupt access, affordability, and service delivery across the healthcare landscape.Workforce reductions at federal agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Health and Human Services (HHS) may slow drug approvals, diminish oversight, and impact public health standards.New and evolving tariff policies are creating cost pressures across pharmaceutical and medtech supply chains, with potential downstream impacts on pricing, R&D, and patient access.The rapid adoption of AI in healthcare is creating new opportunities across diagnostics, R&D, and operations, while also raising concerns around governance and data privacy.To stay ahead, industry leaders must assess risks, strengthen agility, and uncover opportunities to innovate in today's dynamic environment.Speakers:Kelly Griffin, Director, Health Policy Intelligence Institute, PwCRuchita Kewalramani, Partner, Health Services PwCPhil Sclafani, Partner, Pharma & Life Sciences, PwCGlenn Hunzinger, Partner, Health Industries Leader, PwCJenny Colapietro, Principal, Consulting Commercial Leader, PwCLinked materials:Health Policy and Intelligence InstituteFor more information, please visit us at: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/health-research-institute/next-in-health-podcast.html.

This Day in Legal History: Maryland Toleration Act PassedOn April 21, 1649, the Maryland Assembly passed the Maryland Toleration Act, a landmark piece of colonial legislation that granted freedom of worship to all Christians in the colony. Also known as the Act Concerning Religion, it was one of the first legal efforts in the American colonies to protect religious liberty through statutory law. The act was enacted under the leadership of Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, who sought to maintain peace in Maryland's religiously diverse population, which included both Catholics and Protestants.The law's preamble acknowledged the dangers of religious coercion, stating that "the inforceing of the conscience in matters of Religion hath frequently fallen out to be of dangerous Consequence." To preserve harmony, it declared that no Christian should be "troubled, Molested or discountenanced" for practicing their faith, provided they did not threaten the colony's civil government or the authority of the Lord Proprietor.While progressive for its time, the Act's protections were limited to those who professed belief in Jesus Christ, excluding Jews, atheists, and other non-Christians. Violators of the law's religious tolerance provisions faced harsh penalties, including fines, public whipping, or even death for blasphemy.The Act was repealed just five years later during a period of Protestant ascendancy, reflecting the fragile nature of religious tolerance in colonial America. Nonetheless, it remains significant as an early attempt to codify the principle that faith should not be a basis for persecution.A federal judge has ruled that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) can no longer direct the termination of probationary federal workers based on performance-related justifications that were, according to the court, misleading. U.S. District Judge William Alsup called OPM's use of standardized termination letters citing performance as the reason for firing thousands of employees a “total sham.” He emphasized that falsely attributing the dismissals to performance could harm the affected workers' reputations and career prospects for years to come.The ruling affects employees at six federal agencies and prohibits further terminations under these pretenses. Judge Alsup's decision underscores that these workers were dismissed under false narratives while still in their probationary period—either newly hired or recently promoted—and should not have been labeled as underperformers without proper evaluation or process.Though Alsup's ruling offers protection against future actions, he declined to issue a preliminary injunction requested by the state of Washington, stating the state lacked standing because it could not show concrete harm from the federal firings, such as a clear loss of federal services.This legal challenge comes amid a broader judicial tug-of-war. In March, Alsup had initially ordered the reinstatement of 16,000 workers pending resolution of a lawsuit. However, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked that injunction on April 8, suggesting that nonprofit organizations representing federal workers may lack the legal standing to sue on their behalf. Following that, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals also halted a separate injunction from a Maryland judge that would have reinstated probationary employees in 19 states and Washington, D.C.Despite the limits imposed by the higher courts, Alsup's decision focuses on the reputational harm caused by labeling the dismissals as performance-based, rather than procedural or administrative. He signaled that the government must correct the record for those terminated workers.Performance-Based Federal Worker Layoffs a ‘Sham' Judge RulesThe U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a major challenge to a provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare, that mandates insurers cover certain preventive medical services—like cancer screenings and diabetes testing—without cost-sharing by patients. The case centers on the constitutional validity of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a panel of medical experts that identifies which services should be covered. The panel's 16 members are appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) but are not confirmed by the Senate.A group of Texas-based Christian individuals and businesses filed the lawsuit in 2020, arguing that the USPSTF wields too much authority and must therefore comply with the U.S. Constitution's Appointments Clause. This clause requires that significant federal officers—known as "principal officers"—be nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The plaintiffs claim the task force has evolved from a purely advisory body to one that effectively imposes binding legal obligations on insurers, all without proper accountability.In 2024, the conservative-leaning 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the plaintiffs, ruling the task force's structure unconstitutional. The federal government appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court. The Biden administration originally filed the appeal, and it was later continued by the Trump administration. Government lawyers argue that the task force should be classified as comprising "inferior officers," since their recommendations are only made binding when approved by the HHS Secretary, who can remove task force members at will.The plaintiffs, however, maintain that the Secretary lacks actual power to stop recommendations from taking effect, making the task force's authority effectively unchecked. They also argue that this lack of oversight elevates the members to principal officer status, necessitating Senate confirmation.Before narrowing the lawsuit to the appointments issue, the plaintiffs also challenged the ACA's requirement to cover HIV prevention medication on religious grounds, asserting it promoted behaviors they opposed. The appeals court declined to sever portions of the law that might otherwise save the provision, another aspect now before the Supreme Court.If the Supreme Court upholds the lower court's decision, key preventive healthcare services could become subject to out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and co-pays, potentially deterring millions from accessing early detection and prevention tools. The Court's decision, expected by the end of June, could reshape how health policy is implemented under the ACA and may further weaken one of its core patient protections.US Supreme Court to hear clash over Obamacare preventive care | ReutersIn a rapidly unfolding legal confrontation, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency order halting the deportation of a group of Venezuelan migrants from Texas, sparking a strong dissent from Justice Samuel Alito. The court intervened early Saturday morning, acting on urgent filings by detainees' lawyers who said the migrants were already being loaded onto buses for imminent deportation to El Salvador. The migrants were accused of gang affiliation, but their legal team argued they hadn't been given fair notice or time to challenge their removal. The administration attempted to use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime law, to justify these expulsions.Justice Alito, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, sharply criticized the majority's decision, calling it "unprecedented and legally questionable." He argued that the Court acted without giving lower courts adequate time to review the claims and issued its order with limited evidence and no explanation. The justices' ruling paused deportations “until further order of this Court,” leaving room for future legal developments.The Trump administration quickly responded, filing a motion urging the Court to reverse its stay. U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued the detainees' lawyers bypassed proper procedure by going directly to the Supreme Court and that lower courts had not yet had a chance to establish key facts. He maintained that the migrants received legally sufficient notice, though reports suggested the notices were in English only and lacked clear instructions.The administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged gang members is highly controversial. Originally passed in 1798 during hostilities with France, the law has been used sparingly and almost exclusively during wartime. The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on whether its application in this immigration context is constitutional. Migrants' advocates, including the ACLU, maintain that many of the men deported or at risk of deportation are not gang members and were denied due process.The legal conflict reflects a broader tension between Trump's immigration enforcement efforts and judicial oversight. Last month, Trump ordered the deportation of more than 200 men to a Salvadoran maximum-security prison, reportedly ignoring a judge's oral order to halt at least two flights. The White House has not signaled any intent to defy the current Supreme Court stay but remains committed to its immigration crackdown.The case, A.A.R.P. v. Trump, now becomes a focal point in ongoing disputes about executive authority, due process rights for detainees, and the scope of immigration enforcement under rarely invoked legal provisions. As the Court weighs further action, the lives of dozens of migrants hang in the balance, caught between legal technicalities and broader political pressures.Supreme Court's Alito Calls Block of Deportations ‘Questionable' - BloombergAlito criticizes US Supreme Court's decision to 'hastily' block deportations | ReutersTrump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Lift Deportation Halt - BloombergA federal judge in Boston ruled that the Trump administration's passport policy targeting transgender and nonbinary individuals is likely unconstitutional. The policy, which followed an executive order signed by President Trump immediately after returning to office, required passport applicants to list their biological sex at birth and allowed only "male" or "female" markers. This reversed prior policies that permitted self-identification and, under the Biden administration, had allowed the use of a gender-neutral "X" option.U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick issued a preliminary injunction that bars enforcement of the policy against six of the seven plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit. She held that the policy discriminates based on sex and reflects a bias against transgender individuals, violating the Fifth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection. Kobick described the administration's approach as rooted in "irrational prejudice" and said it runs counter to the Constitution's promise of equality.Despite finding the policy likely unconstitutional, Kobick declined to issue a nationwide injunction, stating that the plaintiffs did not justify the need for broad relief. Still, the ruling marks a significant legal setback for the administration's broader effort to redefine federal gender recognition policies.The executive order at the center of the case mandated all federal agencies, including the State Department, to recognize only two sexes—male and female—based on biology at birth. The State Department then revised its passport application process to align with this directive.The case is part of a wave of legal challenges to Trump's rollback of gender recognition policies. Lawyers for the plaintiffs, represented by the ACLU, vowed to continue fighting to expand the ruling's protections to all affected individuals.Trump passport policy targeting transgender people likely unconstitutional, judge rules | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

On Monday, the Trump administration announced that it will freeze $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard University after the school refused to comply with a list of requirements it said were unlawful. In a joint letter dated April 11, the General Services Administration, Department of Education (ED) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) demanded that Harvard adopt its suggested reforms in order to maintain its funding. Among the required changes, the administration ordered Harvard to discontinue DEI programs, regulate specific academic departments, screen international students, and submit to government audits. Harvard rejected the government's terms, calling its demands an invasion of “university freedoms.” Hours later, the Trump administration announced its decision to freeze Harvard's federal funding.Ad-free podcasts are here!Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we finally launched it. You can go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “Under the Radar” story ⁠here and today's “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.Take the survey: What do you think of Harvard's decision? Let us know!You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast was written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Jon Lall. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Hunter Casperson, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a startling development, records from Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, head of the CDC’s Immunization Safety Office, have gone missing. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) informed Senator Ron Johnson that they are unable to locate these critical documents, which are essential for ongoing investigations into COVID-19 vaccine safety. Senator Johnson has raised concerns about potential violations of federal law and obstruction of congressional oversight. This incident is part of a broader pattern of data suppression within federal health agencies. Recent reports indicate that the CDC has withheld crucial information on influenza and bird flu outbreaks, leaving healthcare professionals without necessary data to respond effectively. Join us as we delve into these pressing issues, examining the implications for public health transparency and trust in our institutions. The Wellness Company prides itself on pushing back against censorship and tyranny. It's why it has developed a series of prescription drug medical emergency kits that prescribed directly to you and delivered to your door to use incase of an emergency. You will have on hand much needed antibiotics, antivirals and antiparasitics, including Ivermectin. Please visit TWC.Health/Grant and use the promo code "Grant" for 10% off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As I delve into the intricacies of Project 2025, a sweeping initiative spearheaded by the conservative Heritage Foundation, it becomes clear that this is more than just a policy manual – it's a blueprint for a fundamental transformation of American governance.Project 2025 is the culmination of efforts from over 100 respected organizations within the conservative movement, aiming to "take down the Deep State" and return the government to the people. This ambitious plan, outlined in a 900-page manual, involves hundreds of individual policy changes that touch nearly every aspect of American life. From immigration and abortion rights to education and energy production, the scope of Project 2025 is vast and its implications profound.One of the most contentious areas addressed by Project 2025 is immigration. The plan calls for securing the border, finishing the construction of the wall, and deporting illegal aliens. It also proposes transferring the custody of immigrant children from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a move that critics argue would prioritize enforcement over welfare and potentially worsen the safety and psychological well-being of vulnerable children[5].In the realm of reproductive rights, Project 2025 advocates for drastic measures. It suggests reviving the 19th-century Comstock Act to ban abortion medications and materials from being sent through the U.S. Postal Service and reversing the FDA's approval of mifepristone, a key medication used in abortions. These proposals are part of a broader effort to gut abortion access, with supporters like Pam Bondi, who defended President Trump during his first impeachment trial and upheld Florida's restrictive abortion ban, actively working to implement these changes[3].Education is another sector that would undergo significant changes under Project 2025. The plan aims to dismantle the federal role in education, proposing the abolition of the Department of Education and the privatization of student loans. It also recommends eliminating the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and increasing taxes on university endowments. Sara Partridge, associate director of higher education policy at the Center for American Progress, notes that "the way I see it, Project 2025 really set out to destroy the federal role in education as we know it, and this administration has already taken major steps to weaken it"[4].The energy sector is not immune to the project's ambitious reforms. Project 2025 advocates for unleashing American energy production to reduce energy prices, including expanding energy exploration and extraction in Alaska and opening the National Petroleum Reserve to leasing and development. This aligns with broader conservative goals of reducing regulatory barriers and increasing domestic energy production[2].A key aspect of Project 2025 is its focus on restructuring the federal government to make it more accountable to the democratically elected President and Congress. This includes proposals to de-weaponize the Federal Government by increasing accountability and oversight of the FBI and DOJ, and to implement Trump's Schedule F executive order, which would allow for the dismissal of ‘non-performing' federal employees. This measure could significantly erode the system of checks and balances by centralizing power in the executive branch[5].The project also delves into social issues, such as banning biological males from competing in women's sports, a policy that reflects the conservative movement's stance on gender and sports[1].Despite President Trump's denials of direct involvement, the connections between Project 2025 and his administration are evident. The Heritage Foundation, which published the project, has direct ties to Trump's first administration, with at least 140 people who worked on Project 2025 having previously worked in Trump's administration. Kevin Roberts, the Heritage Foundation President, has described his organization's role as “institutionalizing Trumpism”[3].Experts and analysts are keenly watching the implementation of these policies, noting that while not all of Trump's actions fully adhere to Project 2025's recommendations, the core concepts are often aligned. Brendan Cantwell, a higher education professor at Michigan State University, observes that "the record established in Project 2025 and by people like Max Eden … [is] being enacted quite clearly"[4].The potential implications of Project 2025 are far-reaching and multifaceted. By centralizing power in the executive branch, undermining civil rights, and eroding essential social programs, this agenda prioritizes control over fairness, enforcement over welfare, and exclusion over inclusion. As noted by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the incremental steps already being taken in states like Texas and Washington are paving the way for the broader implementation of Project 2025's vision, which could significantly compromise the rights of marginalized groups[5].As we look ahead, it is clear that Project 2025 represents a critical juncture in American governance. The next few weeks and months will be pivotal, with expected executive orders and legislative actions that could reshape the landscape of federal policies. Experts predict significant changes in accreditation standards for colleges, further constraints on colleges, and potential overhauls in the student loan system[4].In conclusion, Project 2025 is not just a policy document; it is a vision for a fundamentally different America. As the country navigates these proposed changes, it is imperative to understand the scope, ambition, and potential impacts of this initiative. Whether one supports or opposes these policies, the importance of informed engagement and vigilant oversight cannot be overstated. The future of American governance hangs in the balance, and the decisions made now will shape the nation for generations to come.

A flurry of national news reports continues to document the large-scale restructuring taking place at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where 10,000 jobs were reportedly slashed earlier this month, a move also impacting the workforce at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). An estimated 300 CMS workers are expected to be affected by this action, while NPR reported that the HHS teams focusing on sexual violence prevention were also eliminated – on the first day of April's Sexual Assault Awareness Month.Also recently, RACmonitor and Monitor Mondays have come into possession of a CMS memo, dated March 5, in which the agency warns that it may take action to prevent hospitals and other providers suspected of using “dangerous chemicals and surgical mutilation of children” relative to gender dysphoria, which the agency claims have “proliferated.” In fact, other executive actions taken by the Trump Administration also appear to have anticipated deleterious impacts on the health of America's LGBTQ+ population.It seems part of an overarching theme in which the Administration is waging social wars using gutted federal agencies more as a weaponized tactic than as a mechanism to serve the public.Reporting this story during the next live edition of Monitor Mondays will be physician Drew Updike, a recognized leader in hospital utilization management, denials, clinical documentation integrity (CDI), coding, and hospital operations.The long-running broadcast will also include these instantly recognizable features:• Risky Business: Healthcare attorney David Glaser, shareholder in the law offices of Fredrikson & Byron, will join the broadcast with his trademark segment.• The RAC Report: Healthcare attorney Knicole Emanuel, partner at the law firm of Nelson Mullins, will report the latest news about auditors.• Legislative Update: Adam Brenman, senior government affairs liaison for Zelis, will report on congressional action taking place in Washington, D.C.• Monday Rounds: Dr. Shaemarke Magan, medical director for CaroMont Health in Gastonia, North Carolina, will make his Monday rounds, substituting for Dr. Ronald Hirsch.

David Mansdoerfer served as deputy assistant secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the first Trump administration. Now, he's chief strategist at the Independent Medical Alliance and describes himself as the MAGA-MAHA Connector.“We have seen a complete reset of a federal agency within 60 days of Secretary Kennedy getting there. To me, that is unprecedented, and it is going to be one of the most impactful approaches to public health and the health economy in the United States,” he says. “We have not won this fight. We've begun the fight. And we have industry forces, which I would say [have] unlimited money, that are going to try to do everything to protect their bottom line, but also limit good policy ideas of a Secretary Kennedy and a President Trump.”What reforms are already underway since Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took over HHS? What pushback has he faced? And will the administration be able to reconcile and even merge the disparate agendas of the MAGA and MAHA movements?“You basically get to put an entirely new, fresh face of career leaders that are aligned to the president's agenda and the secretary's agenda in positions of authority that could be and will be longer lasting than just this administration,” says Mansdoerfer. “Even in terms of the unknown, it is better to have leadership that's willing to take these bold actions than it is to continually lead Americans down a poor health outcome path.”Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

As I delve into the intricacies of Project 2025, it becomes clear that this initiative is more than just a policy blueprint; it's a comprehensive vision for transforming the American government, rooted in conservative ideals and backed by a formidable array of scholars and policy experts.Project 2025, spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation, is the latest in a series of "Mandate for Leadership" guides that have been influential in shaping conservative policy agendas since Ronald Reagan's presidency. This 900-page document is the culmination of efforts by over 400 scholars and policy experts from across the conservative movement, aiming to provide a detailed roadmap for a future conservative administration[3][4].At its core, Project 2025 is about centralizing power and reshaping the federal government to align more closely with conservative values. One of the most contentious aspects is the proposal to significantly expand presidential powers, particularly through the reissuance of Trump's Schedule F executive order. This measure would allow the president to dismiss federal employees deemed 'non-performing' or insufficiently loyal, potentially targeting the vast majority of career civil servants who are crucial for the continuity and integrity of government operations[1][2].The plan also outlines drastic changes to federal agencies, such as the elimination of the Department of Education and the de-weaponization of the Federal Government by increasing accountability and oversight of the FBI and DOJ. For instance, Project 2025 suggests transferring the custody of immigrant children from Health and Human Services (HHS) to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a move that critics argue would prioritize enforcement over welfare and exacerbate the safety and psychological well-being risks for vulnerable immigrant children[1][3].In the realm of reproductive rights, Project 2025 proposes stringent restrictions on abortion, going even further than some of the policies advocated by former President Donald Trump. Recent legal battles, such as the case involving the FDA's approval of mifepristone, serve as a precursor to how these policies might be implemented. Despite the Supreme Court dismissing the case on procedural grounds, it set a precedent for future legal challenges aimed at limiting access to abortion medication[1].The project's ambition extends to other critical areas, including education and energy policy. It advocates for moving control and funding of education from federal bureaucrats to parents and state and local governments, and for unleashing American energy production to reduce energy prices. Additionally, it proposes banning biological males from competing in women's sports, reflecting a broader push to redefine social and cultural norms[3].One of the most striking aspects of Project 2025 is its detailed plan for the first 180 days of a new administration. This "180-Day Playbook" is designed to ensure quick implementation of key policies, from securing the border and finishing the wall to cutting government spending and reducing inflation. This rapid-fire approach is meant to capitalize on the initial momentum of a new presidency, much like Reagan's successful implementation of 60% of the original "Mandate for Leadership" recommendations in his first year[3][4].The implications of these policies are far-reaching and have sparked significant concern among critics. Experts warn that Project 2025's recommendations could endanger democratic institutions, dismantle civil liberties, and concentrate presidential power in ways that are unprecedented in modern American history. For example, the plan's proposals for media and technology policies, including reducing NPR funding and increasing agency accountability while decreasing wasteful spending, have been seen as threats to the independence of public broadcasting and the free flow of information[4].Despite former President Trump's public denials of any affiliation with Project 2025, there is a clear overlap between the project's goals and his own policy agenda. Trump has called for similar cuts to federal agencies and has advocated for stricter immigration policies, aligning with key tenets of the project. However, Trump has also distanced himself from some of the more extreme measures outlined in the document, such as the comprehensive restrictions on abortion[2].The response from Democrats has been vehement, with the Biden campaign and other Democratic figures highlighting the dangers of Project 2025 as a way to attack Trump's policies. "It's not a secret: Look it up. They are attacking our most vulnerable citizens. The Project 2025 plan is not a game," warned actress Taraji P. Henson during the BET awards, reflecting the broader concern that this plan represents a significant threat to marginalized groups and democratic norms[2].As we look ahead, the implementation of Project 2025's policies, should they come to fruition, will be a defining moment for American governance. The project's proponents see it as a necessary correction to what they perceive as a bloated and inefficient federal government, while critics view it as a radical and risky agenda that could undermine the very foundations of American democracy.In the coming months, as the 2025 presidential transition looms, the nation will be watching closely to see how these policies are received and implemented. Will Project 2025's vision of a more centralized, conservative government become a reality, or will it face significant resistance from various stakeholders? The answer to this question will have profound implications for the future of American politics and the lives of its citizens.

As I delve into the intricacies of Project 2025, a comprehensive and contentious plan crafted by the Heritage Foundation, I am struck by the sheer scope and ambition of this conservative blueprint. This 900-page document, often described as a guidebook for transforming American governance, has sparked intense debate and concern across the political spectrum.At its core, Project 2025 is a vision for a radically different federal government, one that amplifies presidential power and reshapes the bureaucracy to align with conservative ideals. The project is the culmination of efforts by over 400 scholars and policy experts, aiming to provide a detailed policy agenda for a potential incoming Republican administration, particularly one led by Donald Trump, despite his public denials of involvement[2][4].One of the most striking aspects of Project 2025 is its proposal to centralize power within the executive branch. The plan suggests reissuing Trump's Schedule F executive order, which would allow the president to dismiss federal employees deemed 'non-performing' or disloyal. This measure targets the vast federal workforce of approximately 3.5 million individuals, the majority of whom are career civil servants essential for maintaining government continuity and integrity. As Dr. Ray Serrano, Director of Research and Policy at LULAC, notes, "This proposal targets the vast federal workforce... enabling far-right extremists to discharge federal employees considered insufficiently loyal"[1].The project also outlines sweeping reforms to federal agencies, including the elimination of the Department of Education and significant cuts to other agencies. For instance, Project 2025 proposes transferring the custody of immigrant children from Health and Human Services (HHS) to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), prioritizing enforcement over welfare. This change would likely expand detention centers and worsen the safety and psychological well-being of vulnerable immigrant children[1].On the issue of immigration, Project 2025 advocates for mass deportations of millions of undocumented immigrants and the completion of the border wall. These policies align closely with Trump's past rhetoric, although the project goes further in some areas, such as its stance on abortion. While Trump has expressed support for certain abortion restrictions, Project 2025's proposals are more extreme, aiming to limit access to abortion medication through legal challenges and regulatory changes. A recent court case in Texas, where a judge ruled in favor of revoking the FDA's approval of mifepristone, serves as a precursor to these broader restrictions[1][2].The project's impact on reproductive rights is just one facet of its broader assault on civil liberties. It also proposes to ban biological males from competing in women's sports and to de-weaponize the federal government by increasing accountability and oversight of agencies like the FBI and DOJ. These measures are part of a larger effort to "return the government to the people" and dismantle what the project's proponents call the "Deep State"[5].In the realm of media and technology, Project 2025's plans are equally transformative. The project recommends increasing agency accountability while decreasing wasteful spending at the FCC, promoting national security, and expanding connectivity through the support of 5G and satellite technologies. It also suggests that Big Tech companies should contribute to the Universal Service Fund, currently funded through telephone bills. These proposals reflect a broader aim to reshape the regulatory landscape in favor of conservative priorities[4].Critics of Project 2025 argue that its recommendations are not just radical but also risky, potentially endangering democratic institutions and concentrating presidential power to an unprecedented degree. As Roxana Muenster from the Brookings Institution notes, "Project 2025's policy recommendations should be cause for concern: Congress enacted the 1967 Public Broadcasting Act because they believed an educated and informed citizenry was in the public, local, and national interest"[4].The Heritage Foundation and its allies, however, see Project 2025 as a necessary corrective to what they perceive as the failures of the current system. Kevin Roberts, the president of the Heritage Foundation, has warned of a "second American Revolution" that could remain bloodless if the left allows it to be, underscoring the project's urgency and the stakes involved[2].As the 2025 presidential transition looms, the implementation of Project 2025's proposals will depend on the outcome of the election. The Center for Progressive Reform and other watchdog groups are closely tracking the project's executive action proposals across 20 federal agencies, ready to highlight the devastating consequences these actions could have for workers, the environment, public health, and the rights of millions of Americans[3].In the coming months, as the political landscape continues to evolve, Project 2025 will remain a focal point of debate and contention. Whether its vision for a centralized, conservative government becomes reality or remains a blueprint for a hypothetical future, one thing is clear: the stakes are high, and the implications for American governance are profound. As we move forward, it will be crucial to monitor the project's progress and its potential to reshape the very fabric of American democracy.

As I delve into the intricacies of Project 2025, a comprehensive policy blueprint crafted by over 400 conservative scholars and experts, I am struck by the sheer scope and ambition of this initiative. Spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation, a think tank that has significantly influenced conservative administrations since the 1980s, Project 2025 is more than just a policy agenda; it is a vision for a fundamentally transformed America.At its core, Project 2025 is a 920-page manifesto that outlines a radical policy vision for a future conservative administration. The project is built on four pillars: a detailed policy agenda, a personnel database of loyal conservatives, a private online educational tool to train these individuals, and an unpublished 180-day playbook for transition plans in the first six months of a new administration[3][4].One of the most striking aspects of Project 2025 is its proposal to centralize power in the executive branch, significantly eroding the system of checks and balances that has been a cornerstone of American democracy. The plan aims to increase the president's authority over every aspect of the federal government, allowing for the dismissal of federal employees deemed 'non-performing' or insufficiently loyal. This is exemplified by the reissuance of Trump's Schedule F executive order, which would permit the firing of career civil servants, a move that could disrupt the continuity and integrity of government operations[1][4].The implications of such a shift are profound. As Dr. Ray Serrano, Director of Research and Policy at LULAC, notes, "Project 2025 represents a substantial threat not only to individual rights but also to the very foundation of American democracy. By seeking to centralize power in the executive branch, undermine civil rights, and erode essential social programs, this radical agenda prioritizes control over fairness, enforcement over welfare, and exclusion over inclusion."[1]In the realm of reproductive rights, Project 2025 proposes sweeping changes that could drastically limit access to abortion and contraception. For instance, the plan includes a national abortion ban and restrictions on access to contraception. These policies are being tested incrementally, as seen in the recent legal challenges to the FDA's approval of mifepristone, an abortion medication. Although the Supreme Court dismissed the case on procedural grounds, it sets a precedent for future legal strategies aimed at restricting reproductive rights[1].The project also targets immigration policies, advocating for the transfer of custody of immigrant children from Health and Human Services (HHS) to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This move would prioritize enforcement over welfare, potentially expanding detention centers and worsening the safety and psychological well-being of vulnerable immigrant children. Additionally, the proposal includes the repeal of parts of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), facilitating large-scale detention center use across the country[1].In the areas of media and technology, Project 2025's plans are equally daunting. The blueprint suggests weakening the reach and effectiveness of independent media by allowing the president to manipulate the FCC and launch antitrust investigations into media companies that criticize the administration. This could result in the revocation of broadcast licenses for major networks, depriving Americans of vital information about government activities. As Roxana Muenster from Brookings notes, "Project 2025's policy recommendations should be cause for concern: Congress enacted the 1967 Public Broadcasting Act because they believed an educated and informed citizenry was in the public, local, and national interest."[2]The project's economic and educational policies are also far-reaching. It proposes cutting the growth of government spending to reduce inflation, unleashing American energy production to lower energy prices, and moving control and funding of education from federal bureaucrats to parents and state and local governments. Additionally, it suggests banning biological males from competing in women's sports, a policy that reflects the project's broader stance on social issues[3].Critics argue that these policies are not just radical but also risky, endangering democratic institutions and civil liberties. The Center for American Progress warns that Project 2025 "would eliminate fundamental personal freedoms while cutting the take-home pay of millions of Americans," and "make it even harder for the American people to have a say in their government or oppose policies they disagree with."[4]As I reflect on the scope of Project 2025, it becomes clear that this initiative is not just a policy blueprint but a roadmap for a significant transformation of American governance. The project's authors and supporters see it as a way to "take down the Deep State and return the government to the people," but critics view it as an authoritarian guide that could dismantle the republic and strip away fundamental rights and freedoms[3][4].Looking ahead, the implementation of Project 2025's policies will likely be a contentious and highly visible process. With the 2025 presidential transition looming, the next few months will be crucial in determining whether this radical agenda gains traction. As the country navigates these uncharted waters, it is imperative for Americans to be aware of the potential implications of Project 2025 and to engage in the democratic process to ensure that the principles of fairness, inclusion, and democratic resilience are upheld. The future of American democracy hangs in the balance, and the choices made now will shape the nation for generations to come.

On Tuesday, April 1, the Trump administration began large-scale layoffs at agencies across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he expected to cut 10,000 jobs in addition to the thousands of workers who have already resigned or been placed on leave. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been among the most impacted by the layoffs, with entire offices and divisions eliminated. Ad-free podcasts are here!Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we finally launched it. You can go to ReadTangle.com to sign up!You can read today's podcast⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠, our “Under the Radar” story ⁠here and today's “Have a nice day” story ⁠here⁠.Take the survey: What do you think of the HHS cuts? Let us know!You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our Executive Editor and Founder is Isaac Saul. Our Executive Producer is Jon Lall.This podcast was written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Dewey Thomas. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75.Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Senior Editor Will Kaback, Hunter Casperson, Kendall White, Bailey Saul, and Audrey Moorehead. Our logo was created by Magdalena Bokowa, Head of Partnerships and Socials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a significant move, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has unveiled a comprehensive restructuring plan aimed at streamlining operations. This initiative will see the agency's workforce reduced by 10,000 full-time employees, alongside the consolidation of 28 divisions into 15. The workforce reduction is part of a larger administration-wide effort, cutting HHS's total employee count from 82,000 to 62,000. The restructuring is expected to have far-reaching implications, particularly for cardiothoracic surgeons and their patients. The process of evaluating and approving new treatments, medical devices, and surgical innovations may face changes, impacting the delivery of healthcare services and advancements in medical technology.

It’s been a whirlwind week in public health. In this episode, host Steven Newmark breaks down a string of major developments coming out of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). From mass layoffs across HHS, including at the FDA, to the resignation of the country’s top vaccine regulator, these changes raise serious concerns—especially amid a rising measles outbreak. Tune in to hear what this means for patients, public health efforts, and the fight against vaccine hesitancy. Among the highlights in this episode: 00:50: Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, discusses HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcement of 10,000 staff layoffs, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) being the most impacted 01:31: Steven reflects on RFK Jr.'s earlier warning to FDA workers to "pack their bags" and discusses concerns about maintaining service levels with a 25% workforce cut 02:08: Quoting Robert Califf, Steven shares the demoralization felt by former and current HHS staff, calling out the treatment of hardworking public health employees 02:38: Steven shares concerns from Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, former Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) head, particularly around the likely impact of layoffs on already underfunded nursing home inspections 03:20: Steven reports the forced resignation of Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA’s top vaccine regulator, and the alarming response from the public health community 04:06: Steven details Dr. Marks’ warnings about leadership skepticism toward vaccines, especially in light of the growing measles outbreak 04:34: Steven gives an update on the measles outbreak in Texas and other states, citing more than 500 cases nationwide and highlighting RFK Jr.'s unscientific treatment suggestions like vitamin A and cod liver oil 05:16: Steven discusses how HHS cuts are hampering efforts to track infectious diseases and fund vaccine research, even as the outbreak fuels a shift toward pro-vaccine sentiment in affected areas 05:49: Steven urges listeners to get vaccinated and ensure those around them—especially children—are protected with the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine Contact Our Host Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF. We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.Today is the 2nd of April and here are the headlines.Lok Sabha Session Sparks Controversy Over Waqf BillThe Lok Sabha opened to heated debate as Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju introduced the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. Congress Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi fiercely opposed the bill, calling it an attack on the Constitution and an attempt to marginalize minority communities. He accused the NDA government of curbing religious freedoms. Meanwhile, Rijiju clarified that the bill does not interfere with religious practices or mosque management. The bill's introduction has deepened political divisions, setting the stage for intense discussions in Parliament.Indian Army Reports Pakistan's Ceasefire Violation in PoonchThe Indian Army accused Pakistan of violating the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Poonch's Krishna Ghati sector. According to Army PRO Lt Colonel Suneel Bartwal, Pakistani forces intruded across the LoC and triggered a mine blast on April 1, followed by unprovoked firing. Indian forces responded in a "controlled and calibrated manner," keeping the situation under close watch. Tensions have risen despite the ceasefire agreement, with the Army asserting that India's borders remain secure and that further developments are being monitored.India, US Move Forward on Bilateral Trade AgreementA day before US reciprocal tariffs took effect, India agreed to the Terms of Reference (ToR) for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the US, following intervention from the Prime Minister's Office. The ToR lays the foundation for negotiations, which will see India lowering tariffs on American goods in exchange for US trade concessions. Talks had stalled until US negotiators left India after four days of discussions. With both sides now aligned, formal negotiations are set to begin, signaling a major shift in trade relations.Seven-Year-Old Strangled Over TV Remote in DelhiA seven-year-old girl in Outer North Delhi was allegedly strangled to death by her father's friend over a dispute involving a TV remote. The accused, 35-year-old laborer Ranjeet Singh, had been drinking with the child's father before being left alone with her. Police say Singh admitted to slapping the girl after she tried to take the remote, causing her to fall and bleed. Fearing the consequences, he allegedly strangled her. The crime was discovered when a constable noticed a crowd outside the victim's home, leading to Singh's arrest.Trump Administration Lays Off 10,000 Health WorkersThe Trump administration has begun restructuring the US health sector, laying off 10,000 workers across multiple federal health agencies. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed job cuts affecting the FDA, CDC, and NIH. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated the move aligns with President Trump and Elon Musk's broader plan to shrink the federal government under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Hundreds of employees were denied office entry on Tuesday, marking a significant shift in the administration's cost-cutting policies in public health.That's all for the today. This was the CatchuUp on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

On this week's episode, Sam Fazeli, Eric Schmidt, and Brian Skorney are joined by Roivant's Matthew Gline to discuss data, deals and the latest policy updates. The episode kicks off with concerns over potential U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funding cuts for domestic HIV programs, with the group analyzing the impact on companies like Gilead and GSK, whose HIV prevention drugs have driven significant investor enthusiasm. They then discuss the uncertainty surrounding the new administration's commitment to public health initiates, considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s appointment as HHS Secretary and his past controversial views on vaccines and HIV prevention. The conversation then shifts to data, including positive results from Immunovant and Roivant's Phase 3 study of batoclimab for myasthenia gravis. The group also examines the surprising absence of short sellers engaging with Roivant post-data release, highlighting shifts in biotech trading strategies. In the muscular dystrophy space, new exon-skipping therapies from Avidity and Dyne show unprecedented dystrophin restoration, suggesting potential functional benefits. However, the tragic death of a patient treated with Sarepta's gene therapy, Elevidys, reignites concerns about accelerated approvals and the FDA's risk-benefit calculus in rare disease research. On the deal-making front, AstraZeneca's $425M acquisition of stealth-mode cell therapy startup EsoBiotec and Sanofi's $600M deal with Dren Bio underscore biotech's valuation disconnect, where early-stage private assets command premium prices while public biotechs struggle. The episode closes with insights into Alnylam's broad label win for Amvuttra in ATTR cardiomyopathy and AstraZeneca's $2.5B investment in biotech agreements and manufacturing in China, reflecting its long-term strategic vision despite ongoing geopolitical tensions. *This episode aired on March 21, 2025

In a bold move, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly appointed Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has unveiled plans for a comprehensive restructuring of health agencies. This initiative is in response to President Trump's Executive Order on implementing the "Department of Government Efficiency" Workforce Optimization Initiative. The restructuring plan includes two major actions, with the most significant being the elimination of 10,000 employee positions across various departments. This initiative aims to streamline operations and enhance the efficiency of health agencies under Kennedy's leadership.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will eliminate about 10,000 full-time jobs in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and close regional offices. The latest job cuts and about 10,000 recent voluntary redundancies will reduce the number of full-time employees at the department from 82,000 to 62,000, the HHS said.Canada and Europe are considering retaliatory measures after the White House announced 25 percent U.S. tariffs on imported cars and car parts, starting next month. The European Union said today the block is preparing robust and calibrated response to the new U-S tariffs.The Senate Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation held a hearing on Thursday to examine preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the deadly crash involving American Airlines 5342 and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in January. Officials from the NTSB, Federal Aviation Administration, and U.S. Army testified.

According to The New York Times, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) abruptly canceled over $12 billion in pandemic-era grants meant to support infectious disease tracking, mental health services, and addiction treatment. The cuts hit state health departments hard, forcing layoffs and halting critical public health programs. Officials in states like Texas and Colorado say the decision could leave thousands without care or crisis support. Some CDC grants were meant to last through 2027, but states received sudden notice of termination. Legal challenges may follow, as the grants had been authorized by Congress. Critics warn the decision undermines already fragile public health systems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're looking at a few actions the Trump Administration just took on gun policy. To wade through those moves and navigate where the signs point, we've got Cam Edwards of Bearing Arms back on the show. We look at different stories from Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). As Cam noted, some were bigger deals than others. First, HHS deleted a Biden-era report calling for new gun restrictions--like an "assault weapons" ban--from its website. Cam said that move was one well within the President's authority. He said that while the action arrived at a comparatively slow pace to some of the other things the Trump Administration is doing, it mirrored what it did in shutting down the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and could signal more is coming in the short term. Then there is the first rule related to guns from the new administration. The DOJ published a plan to restart the gun rights restoration process. Cam said it was more of a plan to make a plan, but he argued it was another strong sign the administration plans to follow through on promised gun rulemaking. The final development points in the same direction and may be the strongest indicator of what's to come, according to Cam. That's the appointment of Robert Leider as the new ATF Chief Counsel. Cam argued that Leider, a Second Amendment scholar and gun-rights advocate, will likely put his expertise to use to help enact numerous pro-gun reforms. Get a 30-day free trial for a subscription to The Dispatch here: https://thedispatch.com/join-offer-reload/?utmsource=thereload&utmmedium=partnerships-podcast&utm_campaign=0125 Special Guest: Cam Edwards.

On this episode of the podcast, host Amanda Head dives into “Operation Stork Speed,” a new initiative launched by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) aimed at improving children's health.Head is joined on this episode by Jack Kalavritinos, a former Director for Intergovernmental and External Affairs at HHS and FDA advisor, who brings insight from his time in the Trump and Bush Administrations and his current work in health advocacy. The pair discusses the hidden dangers of sugar and heavy metals in baby formula, the urgent need for industry reform, and how the FDA and HHS can drive much needed change. Kalavritinos highlights the critical role of transparency, voluntary action from manufacturers, and how the next few years could be pivotal for children's health.You can learn more about Kalavritinos on his website: jkstrat.com or by following him on X (formerly Twitter): @JKal1985See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2025 Advocacy Updates: Navigating a New Congress, New Presidency, and New InitiativesThe start of 2025 has had a lot in store for us as we navigate a new congress, a new presidential administration, and all that is being proposed as a result of these individuals settling into their new positions. This week on The Amplify OT Podcast, I am helping you stay informed and navigate the whirlwind of changes and updates from the federal government. Join the Amplify OT MembershipAs an exclusive bonus for podcast listeners, you can join the Amplify OT Membership at any time! Join today to take control of your career! It's time to become your own best resource on Medicare and advocacy.In this episode, I cover:The effects of President Trump's “anti-DEI” executive orders on occupational therapy and the broader healthcare system. RFK Jr. was officially appointed the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), leaving people speculating on what this means for vaccinations. The broader implications that are surfacing as a result of Elon Musk being appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).Additional policies in the works in Congress and what it means if they are to be passed. In the midst of the overwhelming amount of updates that came out of the first couple of months of 2025, my message to you is this: Pay attention, be involved, and become a member of AOTA. This is a fantastic way to advocate, even if you don't have the bandwidth to do something specifically on your own. Amplify OT ResourcesWant to keep learning about how insurance and reimbursement impact you? Then head to AmplifyOT.com/Services to see what resources we have available!CLICK HERE to save 40% off Medbridge Today! LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:AOTA Inspire Philadelphia, PA (Be sure to come visit me at booth #208!)AmplifyOT.com/shop 2nd Annual Amplify Therapy Summit July 30- August 2, 2025NPR Politics PodcastThe Daily Podcast by The New York Times What the Health PodcastAOTA Webinar on the Recent Executive Orders and How They Shape OT Education, Practice, Research, and Policy | (members will need to log in to access the recording and slides)AOTA Legislative Action CenterCONNECT WITH AMPLIFY OT:Website

Famed virologist Dr. Paul Offit describes his encounters with RFK, Jr., vaccine misinformation, trust in medicine, and what he fears most. REFERENCES: Dr. Paul Offit's Books: Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All The Cutter Incident(about a polio vaccine gone wrong) Historical Vaccine References: The Cutter Incident (1950s polio vaccine failure) The history of polio, iron lungs, and the development of the Salk and Sabin vaccines. The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. The impact of vaccines on childhood diseases like diphtheria, measles, mumps, rubella, and rotavirus. Andrew Wakefield and Vaccine-Autism Misinformation: Wakefield's 1998 Lancet paper (later retracted) linking MMR vaccines to autism. The role of The Lancet and editor Richard Horton. The legal and financial conflicts of interest that led to Wakefield's discrediting. Anti-Vaccine Movement History: The Anti-Vaccination League (1800s opposition to smallpox vaccine). NBC's DPT Vaccine Roulette (1980s), which fueled fears about the whooping cough vaccine. RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine activism and misinformation campaigns. The impact of anti-vaccine movements in places like Samoa, leading to deadly measles outbreaks. Current Vaccine Issues and Policy Changes: RFK Jr.'s role in the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) and vaccine policy. The cancellation of the FDA Vaccine Advisory Committee meeting.

In this episode of the SMFM Podcast, Dr. Amy Valent welcomes back Dr. Ebony Carter, Division Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill, for a deeper discussion on community engagement in MFM practice. Building on the insights from Community Engagement 101, Dr. Carter shares her experiences in developing meaningful community partnerships that drive health equity and improve patient care. From navigating the complexities of building trust to ensuring patient voices shape interventions, Dr. Carter provides practical advice on engaging with communities in a way that is collaborative, sustainable, and impactful. She reflects on lessons learned in St. Louis, the challenges of starting over in a new community, and the importance of listening before leading. Join us for an inspiring conversation on how MFMs can integrate community engagement into their research, practice, and advocacy efforts. Subscribe to the SMFM Podcast for more discussions on high-risk pregnancy care, and explore additional resources at education.smfm.org. Full transcript.  Additional Resources: SMFM Podcast Community Engagement 101   The Public Health System Components: Clinicians who are related to Maternal-Fetal Medicine program is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) totaling $200,000 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of nor endorsement, by CDC/HHS or the U.S. Government.

In this episode of 'Clearing the Haze,' host Chuck Marting welcomes guest Joe Reilly from National Drug Screening for an in-depth discussion on the current status and future of oral fluid drug testing. They cover essential updates from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Health and Human Services (HHS), including the hurdles in certifying labs and adding fentanyl to testing panels. They also discuss the specific advantages of oral fluid testing over urine testing, such as direct observation and shorter detection windows, and address the industry's reluctance to change. Additionally, Joe shares detailed information on comprehensive training programs for collectors and trainers, emphasizing the importance of being prepared ahead of regulatory changes. For those interested, upcoming training events and resources are provided to help professionals stay ahead in the evolving landscape of drug testing.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:53 Current Challenges in Oral Fluid Testing02:49 Advantages of Oral Fluid Testing04:06 Employer Hesitation and Cost Considerations07:52 Collection Sites and Logistics14:10 Training and Certification for Collectors23:39 Upcoming Training Sessions and Events31:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode Bill discusses the concerns around the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) with Dr. Rob Davidson, ER doc and the Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Healthcare. Davidson expresses concerns about Kennedy's history of anti-vaccine advocacy and his potential impact on public health policies. Key issues discussed include the measles outbreak in Texas, the threat of a bird flu pandemic, the cancellation of a key flu vaccine committee meeting, and the potential cuts to funding for the CDC and NIH that could undermine critical public health research. Dr. Davidson also raises concerns about Kennedy's lack of understanding of key healthcare programs like Medicaid and Medicare, and the risk of these programs being undermined under his leadership. Overall, the episode highlights the significant public health risks posed by having an HHS Secretary with a history of spreading misinformation about vaccines and a disregard for scientific evidence.Today Bill highlights the work of the nations' nurses and their Union, National Nurses United with 225,000 members. More information at NationalNursesUnited.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new movement is underway to fix some of the causes of childhood chronic disease. This is being led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In addition to his role with HHS, he's also the head of the President's Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, which has influence over other departments and agencies. In other news, Kash Patel has now been sworn in as director of the FBI. And we're seeing some of his first moves for the agency.

In this episode of the SMFM Podcast Series, Dr. Rupesh Patel speaks with Dr. Ashley Battarbee and Dr. Judette Louis about the CDC's Hypertension in Pregnancy Change Package (HPCP)—a comprehensive resource designed to improve the identification, management, and prevention of complications related to hypertension in pregnancy. Dr. Battarbee and Dr. Louis discuss the collaborative effort behind developing the HPCP, its key components, and how it can be implemented in outpatient settings to enhance patient care. They highlight practical strategies for clinicians, address common challenges, and explore the role of the change package in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Additionally, they delve into the postpartum aspects of hypertension management and the importance of continuity of care. Tune in to learn how the HPCP serves as a structured, evidence-informed tool to optimize hypertension care in pregnancy and postpartum. Additional Resources: Hypertension - Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Hypertension in Pregnancy Change Package Education.smfm.org The Public Health System Components: Clinicians who are related to Maternal-Fetal Medicine program is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) totaling $320,000 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of nor endorsement, by CDC/HHS or the U.S. Government.      

It's Monday, February 17th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus 18-year-old Catholic woman escapes Pakistani Muslim man An 18-year-old Pakistani woman has been reunited with her Catholic family after six months of captivity, forced conversion to Islam, and coerced marriage to the Muslim who abducted her, reports Morning Star News. Huma Allah Ditta's ordeal began when she failed to return home from her job at a call center in Lahore  on June 28. Her distraught parents began a desperate search after police failed to lift a finger. On August 4th, her parents discovered that she had been abducted by a Muslim man named Abdul Basit Butt.  2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” The Catholic mother said, “My husband and I decided to put this matter in God's hands and started praying vigorously for our daughter's return.” The couple's prayers were answered on January 16th, when Huma managed to escape from Butt's custody and was reunited with her family. JD Vance slams Europe for violating free speech of pro-life Christians Last Friday, Vice President J.D. Vance used a speech addressing European leaders at the Munich Security Conference in Germany to slam Europe for violating the free speech and religious rights of pro-life Christians, reports LifeNews.com. VANCE: “When I look at Europe today, it's sometimes not so clear what happened to some of the Cold War's winners. … Perhaps most concerningly, I look to our very dear friends, the United Kingdom, where the backslide away from conscience rights has placed the basic liberties of religious Britons, in particular, in the crosshairs. “A little over two years ago, the British government charged Adam Smith-Connor, a 51-year-old physiotherapist and an Army veteran, with the heinous crime of standing 50 meters from an abortion clinic and silently praying for three minutes. Not obstructing anyone, not interacting with anyone, just silently praying on his own. “After British law enforcement spotted him and demanded to know what he was praying for, Adam replied simply it was on behalf of the unborn son he and his former girlfriend had aborted years before. Now, the officers were not moved. “Adam was found guilty of breaking the government's new buffer zones law, which criminalizes silent prayer and other actions that could influence a person's decision within 200 meters of an abortion facility. He was sentenced to pay thousands of pounds in legal costs to the prosecution.” Vice President Vance expressed disappointment that the United Kingdom had penalized so-called thought crimes. He warned European leaders against censoring pro-lifers. VANCE: “Now, I wish I could say that this was a fluke, a one-off, crazy example of a badly written law being enacted against a single person. But no, this last October, just a few months ago, the Scottish Government began distributing letters to citizens whose houses lay within so called ‘safe access' zones, warning them that even private prayer within their own homes may amount to breaking the law. Naturally, the government urged readers to report any fellow citizens suspected guilty of thought crime. “In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat.” RFK, Jr. vows to implement Trump's pro-life policies Last Thursday, February 13th, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was confirmed in a 52-48 vote and sworn in as President Donald Trump's Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), reported The Epoch Times. Prior to that, during the Senate Health Committee hearing, Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri asked Kennedy about whether he would implement President Trump's pro-life policies. Listen to their exchange. HAWLEY: “Under the first Trump presidency, HHS stopped new [National Institutes of Health] research that involved human fetal tissue from elective abortion. You said, ‘Stem cell research today can be done on umbilical cords. You don't need any fetal tissue.'  -- which is correct. My question to you is, ‘Will you reinstate President Trump's policy that ensures that no federal research and no federal tax dollars is conducted on fetal tissue taken from elective abortions?'” KENNEDY: “Yes.” HAWLEY: “Fantastic! Let me ask you just about Title X which prohibits the funding of the use of federal taxpayer funding for abortions or to flow to entities like Planned Parenthood that perform abortions or refer people to abortions. You were asked yesterday if you would support President Trump's rule that says, ‘No Title X funding for those who perform abortions or refer people to abortions.' I think your answer was, ‘Yes. You would reinstate that rule.' I just want to be sure I'm right about that. KENNEDY: “Yes.” HAWLEY: “Fantastic! Last point that I have for you. On mifepristone, the chemical abortion drug, you said yesterday that you would study its safety. I think that's good. I want to make an additional point here just about how the Biden administration changed the rules on mifepristone that I hope that you'll take into consideration because you pointed out that we need to honor the wishes of voters in states and their right to set life policy. “The Biden administration's rule on mifepristone, which they did after the Dobbs decision, means that in any state, including ones like mine [Missouri], where voters or state legislators say, ‘We don't want abortion performed after a certain point,' if the Biden administration rule on chemical abortion stands and you can mail in these abortion drugs without a doctor visit or referral, that means no state ban, no state decision, no voter decision is going to matter. We're going to have a one-size-fits-all policy set here in Washington. I hope you'll take that into consideration.” KENNEDY: “I will implement President Trump's policies.” Valentine's Day birthed through Christian martyr's death And finally, have you ever wondered why we just celebrated Valentine's Day on February 14th, this past Friday? Well, Pastor Valentine or Valentinus was a clergyman in the Roman Empire who lived during the reign of Claudius Gothicus or Claudius II. Because the Emperor was having difficulty getting young men to volunteer to serve in the army to fight his wars, he prohibited marriage which would further hurt the conscription rate. Pastor Valentine, who celebrated God's love and Biblical love between husband and wife, secretly married Christian couples in the forest which ultimately led to his arrest and imprisonment.  While Claudius took a liking to Pastor Valentinus, the bold preacher tried to convert the Emperor which resulted in a sentence of death. In Romans 10:14, the Apostle Paul asks, "How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” Valentine was beaten with clubs and stones.  And when that failed to kill him, Valentine was beheaded on February 14th, A.D. 269. And now you know the rest of the story. Get the children's book entitled Valentine: God's Courageous Evangelist. Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, February 17th in the year of our Lord 2025. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Anne Telnaes Edward "Big Balls" Coristine, State Department Senior Adviser “Big Balls” is 19-year-old high school graduate Edward Coristine, who now works as a “senior adviser” in the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Technology. That pretty much sums up President Elon Musk's reign of terror running through the federal government, even as Trump's Clown Cabinet gets virtually unanimous support from a spineless U.S. Senate. This week we talk with a veteran of federal departments that are being gutted by the Musk administration. In Michigan, we have our first polling on how the race for Governor might be impacted by third-party candidate Mike Duggan. We get the detailed findings from veteran pollster Bernie Porn, CEO of EPIC-MRA. Also on our radar:  Governor Whitmer and the Legislature are in last-minute 3-way negotiations over Michigan's minimum wage and paid medical leave;  The CEO of Ford warns that Trump's economic agenda could cripple the auto industry which means crippling Michigan's economy; And the Governor is looking at weed and big corporations to fund more fixing of the damn roads. Also joining us on the podcast: University of Michigan law professor Sam Bagenstos, who was a senior staffer at what it now Robert Kennedy Jr.'s Department of Health and Human Services, the Project 2025-driven office of Management and Budget, and the probably-soon-to-be shuttered Department of Justice Office of Civil Rights. Sam Bagenstos — Frank G. Millard Professor of Law, University of Michigan Bagenstos took an extended leave from U. of M. to serve in multiple roles in the Biden administration, with senior positions in HHS, the Federal Budget Office and Department of Justice. From June 2022 to December 2024, he was general counsel to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where he played a key role in advancing and implementing policies across the department, including: pursuing several initiatives on abortion and reproductive rights; crafting and defending the first-ever Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program; drafting and issuing major rules on civil rights, health privacy, Medicare and Medicaid, drug advertising, the regulation of “lab-developed” medical tests and food safety, the treatment of unaccompanied migrant children in HHS care, the treatment of LGBTQ+ kids in the foster care system, and many other issues; advancing marijuana rescheduling, and advising and defending the Food and Drug Administration's tobacco enforcement program; and working with the Department of Justice on litigation involving HHS, including significant abortion rights, free speech, and tobacco regulation cases in the US Supreme Court. From Inauguration Day 2021 to June 2022, he served as general counsel to the Office of Management and Budget. There, he worked on President Biden's Day One executive orders; helped respond to COVID-19, including implementing several crucial aid programs; responded to regulations adopted by the prior administration just before the inauguration and helped advance the new administration's regulations on labor, health, the environment, and much else; helped craft and implement the American Rescue Plan, the bipartisan infrastructure law, and what became the Inflation Reduction Act; and assisted in developing two annual budgets, along with advising the entire Executive Branch on issues of appropriations law and administrative law. In an earlier stint on leave from the Law School, from 2009 to 2011, Bagenstos was an appointee in the US Department of Justice, where he served as the principal deputy assistant attorney general for civil rights, the No. 2 official in the Civil Rights Division. There, he helped promulgate the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations—the first comprehensive update of those regulations since they were first issued in 1991—and led the reinvigoration of the Civil Rights Division's enforcement of the US Supreme Court's deci...

The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services (HHS). The Senate voted 52-48 to confirm Kennedy. Sen. Mitch McConnell(R-KY) was the only Republican to vote against the nomination. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Broeske & Musson' on all platforms: --- The ‘Broeske & Musson Podcast’ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you listen to podcasts. --- ‘Broeske & Musson' Weekdays 9-11 AM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Facebook | Podcast| X | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since its inception, the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program has been contentiously debated. For example, several pharmaceutical manufacturers filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) challenging the program’s constitutionality. This webinar will discuss whether the Biden Administration’s implementation and interpretation of the IRA go beyond Congress’s intent or constitutional boundaries. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently issued a statement that the Trump Administration is committed to “incorporating lessons learned to date from the program and considering opportunities to bring greater transparency in the Negotiation Program. CMS intends to provide opportunities for stakeholders to provide specific ideas to improve the Negotiation Program, consistent with the goals of achieving greater value for beneficiaries and taxpayers while continuing to foster innovation.” Accordingly, this webinar discusses whether the Trump Administration may pause the program and whether Congress should repeal the program. Featuring: (Moderator) John Shu, Attorney and Legal Commentator Jeff Stier, Senior Fellow, Conumer Choice Center and Taxpayers Protection Alliance Dan Troy, Managing Director, Berkeley Research Group

Alan's Soaps https://www.alansartisansoaps.comUse coupon code ‘TODD' to save an additional 10% off the bundle price.Bioptimizers https://Bioptimizers.com/ToddEnter promo code TODD to get 10% off any order.Bonefrog https://bonefrogcoffee.com/toddCelebrate the coffee lover in your life this Valentine's day with a special box from Bonefrog.  Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.Bulwark Capital Bulwark Capital Management (bulwarkcapitalmgmt.com)Get a second opinion on the health of your retirement portfolio today.  Schedule your free Know Your Risk Portfolio review go to KnowYourRiskRadio.com today.Native Path Krill https://GetKrill.com/ToddVisit GetKrill.com/Todd to get your special offer of NativePath Antarctic Krill Oil for as low as $19 a bottle.Renue Healthcare https://renue.healthcare/toddYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit renue.healthcare/toddEverything I said about the Mockingbird Media was correct…  So how did I know? I'm looking at a definitive government contract awarded to Thomson Reuters Special Services, for “active social engineering defense” and “large scale social engineering”… Episode Links:The Media Are Now Desperately Trying to Save Government WorkersDOGE: When Clinton paid 114,000 federal workers $25,000 to resign and NOT return to federal employment for 5 years no one sued him. Now that Trump is giving 40,000 federal workers an 8 month paid vacation he's sued by the unions and, ironically, a Clinton-appointed judge blocked the vacation plans. Trump could offer $25,000 to each worker under current federal law, but to increase that amount Congress would need to act - something they never seem prepared to do.A865018C7886 Definitive Contract:Thomson Reuters Special Services ACTIVE SOCIAL ENGINEERING DEFENSE (ASED) LARGE SCALE SOCIAL DECEPTION (LSD)Federal records show the U.S. government has sent The New York Times over $50 million since 2021—despite much lower payments in previous years. The biggest spender?  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at $26.9M, followed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) at $19.15M.Karoline Leavitt just hung the media out to DRY for denying the COVID lab-leak truth right to their faces. "Several years ago, when I worked in this press shop, and [Trump briefed the media] on COVID-19, he suggested that COVID may have come from a lab in Wuhan, China - and many members in this VERY ROOM mocked him for that... said he was spewing 'conspiracy theories.' He was not. We now know that to be the truth. The president was right again."The Massive Progressive Dark-Money Group You've Never Heard OfOver the past half decade, Democrats have quietly pulled ahead of Republicans in untraceable political spending. One group helped make it happen. By Emma GreenRedeeming Babel, founded by Russell Moore, @DavidAFrench, and @curtischangRB, took $308K from the USAID-funded Rockefeller Foundation and $200K from @BillKristol's Defending Democracy to push The After Party curriculum in churches. The leftist infiltration is fully exposed.Christianity Today's 2023 IRS 990 also confirms what others are finding from @DataRepublican. $1.8 million in government grants in 2023. Yet they received nothing from the government in 2022. Why the huge shift

Trump is back…but should stakeholders operating within the intersecting CPG categories of functional foods, functional beverages, and nutritional supplements be cheerful about his return to the oval office? This will certainly not sound like a “hot take” or anything, but the second Trump presidential term will undoubtedly offer a mixture of risk and reward…ushering in a new era of market volatility. As press secretary Karoline Leavitt recently pointed out, "there has never been a president who communicates with the American people as openly and authentically as Donald Trump.” But while I personally enjoy that operating model…it does create an economic environment that I recently described to an industry colleague as “best suited for master sailors.” And that's because the art of both the sailor (and businessperson) is to leave nothing to chance…but sailors are artists whose medium is the wind and today's businesspeople must be artists whose medium is correctly spotting Donald Trump's subtle hints that reveal upcoming events. Furthermore, I believe a key to potentially benefitting from the Trump 2.0 “driver of demand” requires understanding how to position against a few of his known (but converging) “the art of the deal” tendencies. And these would be (1) a little hyperbole never hurts, (2) confirm an impression they were already predisposed to believe, (3) never get too attached to one deal or one approach, and (4) sometimes your best decisions are the ones you don't make. Finally, it's extremely important to consider rate of speed and level of efficiency surrounding Trump 2.0 changes. Since this is a “been here, done that” kind of thing, Trump won't fumble through the initial phase of his term he will have a better understanding around bottlenecks and getting around chokepoints…including how to flex unilateral powers. Also, given that the House and Senate are Republican majorities (at least for the next two years), that political trifecta usually creates efficiency and makes for stickier policy changes. But the inspiration behind my latest first principles thinking content piece (or I guess content miniseries) was a Trump 2.0 section titled “rhetoric foreshadowing action is greater than embellished negotiation tactics” that I included into many of functional CPG brand and supply side client presentations during the last quarter of 2024. And while each of those client presentations were packed with diverse personalized insights…I'm confident this “Trump 2.0” content miniseries, filled with a refined (and expanded) version of my generalized “base case” strategies, will be extremely valuable to my regular audience. So, just to set the stage…you can expect this “Trump 2.0” content miniseries to initially include four loosely titled parts; regulatory, global trade, financial, and commerce. And I figured part one of this Trump 2.0 content miniseries should be “regulatory,” mostly because there's arguably no more impactful leadership change to functional CPG stakeholders than with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cabinet position. And while I'll tackle several other regulatory agencies in this part, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the primary focus will be on potential effects from changes within the HHS health agencies (i.e. FDA) made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) and his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) principles.

On Thursday, Senate committees held hearings to consider the nominations of Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Kash Patel as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). While most of President Donald Trump's nominees have been confirmed by the Senate with bipartisan support — including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem — Gabbard, Kennedy, and Patel's outlook is the most uncertain of Trump's remaining nominees. In today's special Friday edition, we'll cover their Senate hearings in a truncated version of our standard Tangle format with an overview of each hearing, perspectives from writers on the left and right, and our take. This is a preview of today's special edition that is available in full and ad-free for our premium podcast subscribers. If you'd like to complete this episode and receive Sunday editions, exclusive interviews, bonus content, and more, head over to tanglemedia.supercast.com and sign up for a membership. If you are currently a newsletter subscriber, inquiry with us about how to receive a 33% discount on a podcast subscription! Ad-free podcasts are here!Many listeners have been asking for an ad-free version of this podcast that they could subscribe to — and we finally launched it. You can go to tanglemedia.supercast.com to sign up! You can also give the gift of a Tangle podcast subscription by clicking here.You can subscribe to Tangle by clicking here or drop something in our tip jar by clicking here. Our podcast is written by Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Jon Lall. Music for the podcast was produced by Diet 75. Our newsletter is edited by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Will Kaback, Bailey Saul, Sean Brady, and produced in conjunction with Tangle's social media manager Magdalena Bokowa, who also created our logo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RFK Jr Faces Big Pharma-Backed Opposition on Capitol Hill

The loneliness of those who stood against the media narrative of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Senator Bernie Sanders' (I-VT) comments on babies' 'onesies' in Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s Senate confirmation hearing today as President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Listener call-in on the stripping of General Milley's security detail by the Department of Defense and Governor Hobbs' pick of Judge Maria Elena Cruz, to fill the vacancy on the Arizona Supreme Court. Seth is NOT tired of winning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"More Cowbell" with The Groovy Cats Brandie Barclay and Tina Hillstrom, joining Seth in studio for the full hour to discuss "Making America Healthy Again" with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and his Senate confirmation hearing this morning. Happy 80th Birthday to Magnum, P.I. himself, Tom Selleck. Top Movies and Immigration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of the podcast, host Amanda Head speaks with Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, discussing the confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Representative Miller-Meeks opines on all the change RFK Jr. can create as the next Secretary of HHS should he be confirmed by the United States Senate. The duo also dive into the importance of the very first piece of legislation that Trump signed into law today as the 47th President—The Laken Riley Act—named in honor of a young nursing student tragically murdered by an illegal alien while jogging at the University of Georgia. This law officially mandates the federal detention for all illegal immigrants accused of crimes such as theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer, or any offense resulting in death or serious bodily injury.Also joining this podcast episode is J.J. Carrell, retired Deputy Patrol Agent in Charge with the U.S. Border Patrol, who provides expert insight on border security and his new book, as well as Caroline Carralero, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Daily Nouri, a company dedicated to improving gut health through science-backed products.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal data on student achievement has once again shown that students lost ground in reading in the post-COVID-19 Pandemic years. A clip from President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Robert F. Kennedy, (RFK) Jr.'s Senate confirmation hearing this morning. Caroline Kennedy's open letter to her cousin RFK, JR. accusing him of being a "predator."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.