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