Episode #41 Deep Dive – Doctors fight back against ICE
A deep dive into this week's episode of Paging America
››› Murder of an RN in Minneapolis by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents
Last Saturday, two U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents shot a peaceful protestor, Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis. Alex was a Registered Nurse who worked in the ICU at the VA hospital. He was carrying a legal, holstered pistol and was trying to help another protester when was shot by two different CBP agents a total of ten times. He had already been disarmed prior to being killed.
Immediately following his murder, Sec. of Homeland Security Kristi Noem called Pretti a “domestic terrorist” who was there to “perpetuate violence against a government because of ideological reasons”, and was “brandishing” his weapon. White House goon Stephen Miller was quick to publicly call him “an assassin.” CBP chief Greg Bovino said Pretti intended to inflict “maximum damage and massacre law enforcement” agents who he described as “victims.”
None of these things are true.
Bovino has been demoted to a post outside Minnesota and the federal agents involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave. Border czar Tom Homan has been sent to the Twin Cities to replace Bovino.
Since Pretti’s murder, Minnesotans have staged massive rallies and vigils to protest the ongoing presence of 3,000 federal troops in their communities. Protests are also happening all across the country outside of Minnesota and a third No Kings rally day is planned for March 28th.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has activated 1,500 National Guard members. They are wearing reflective yellow vests “to help distinguish them from other agencies in similar uniforms“ and have been seen distributing coffee and donuts to protestors as they work to keep the peace.
In response to the murder, Congressional Democrats are threatening to withhold votes on a package of bills to fund the government that includes increased funding for DHS. “Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. Even GOP lawmakers are publicly expressing their outrage.
The American Medical Association issued a tepid statement saying that it is “deeply concerned” about ICE in hospitals and emergency rooms:
“The American Medical Association is deeply concerned by reports of immigration enforcement activity in and around hospitals and emergency rooms—a tactic fueling fear among patients and hospital staff alike. When people are afraid to seek medical attention for themselves or their families, it threatens their health, impedes the ability of physicians to render care, and ultimately undermines basic trust in our health care institutions. To fulfill our oath and best serve our patients, physicians must be able to work in spaces that create a sense of safety for all, not fear for our most vulnerable.”
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
››› ACIP chair questioning need for polio vaccine
The new Chair of CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Kirk Milhoan, does not believe that public health is the “first order” concern of the group and questions the need for a polio vaccine:
“As you look at polio, we need to not be afraid to consider that we are in a different time now than we were then,” he said…[I]t’s been very important to us, members of committee, is that what we are doing is returning individual autonomy to the first order, not public health, but individual autonomy to the first order.”
When asked where the line was for him when it came to individual autonomy and infringing on the safety of others, Milhoan said, “Let’s just flip that the other way around. What if the child gets a measles vaccine to protect your immunocompromised child and gets a negative consequence from that? Wasn’t that your child causing that child to be harmed?”
››› U.S. no longer part of the World Health Organization
Last Thursday, the US officially withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO), a process begun by Trump the previous year as one of his first acts after being sworn in. POLITICO reports that whether or not the US rejoins WHO largely depends on if its next leader makes Trump happy:
After 77 years, the U.S. is no longer a member of the World Health Organization.
Now, the race is on to convince President Donald Trump he should rejoin. The key to a potential return is who becomes the leader of the WHO next year and whether Trump likes them. [...]
The Trump administration wants the global health body to be led by an American director-general and inspector general, according to Larry Gostin, a global health law professor who directs Georgetown University’s O’Neill Institute.
The increasing threats from new viruses and diseases – like the Nipah virus in India – makes the withdrawal from WHO more perilous. Nipah virus can spread from animals to humans and has a high fatality rate.
››› What would it take for America to forgive Sen. Bill Cassidy???
After casting the deciding vote on the confirmation of RFK Jr. to lead HHS, Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician, has a lot to answer for when it comes to health care. In fact, nobody seems to like him, even Trump who endorsed Louisiana Congresswoman Julia Letlow who is running a primary challenge against the incumbent. Probably not surprising after Cassidy voted to convict him during his impeachment trial in 2021.
What would it take for America to forgive Cassidy for giving us RFK Jr.? Here are some of the positive things he’s done lately:
Said RFK Jr’s hand-picked Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is “not protecting children” and is “totally discredited.”
Accused ACIP of a “lack of scientific process being followed.”
Urged the director of the CDC to reject ACIP’s recommendation to no longer administer doses of the hepatitis B vaccine to all newborns.
Called for a “full joint federal and state investigation” into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, in a statement that called his death “incredibly disturbing.”
Are these enough?
Trump’s health is back (still?) in the news
From the New York Magazine, here’s a partial list:
Falling asleep during public events
Constantly bruised and often bandaged right hand
Bruised left hand at Davos
Ankles swelled up like the Michelin Man in August
Droopy face at a 9/11 memorial event
Couldn’t recall which part of his body had been imaged during an Oct. MRI
Limping into a black-tie New Year’s Eve party at Mar-a-Lago
Demanded control of Greenland because he hadn’t been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
Couldn’t remember the word “Alzheimer’s” when talking to a reporter about his father’s battle with the disease
Meanwhile, his staff are constantly running interference. Stephen Miller said, “He can work harder and he has a better memory and he has more stamina and has more energy than a normal mortal” and said the headline for a reporter’s story should be, “The Superhuman President.” RFK Jr. says he has “the constitution of a deity.” Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told one reporter, “They had to request more [Marines] to stand by the door [to the Oval Office] because they are running out of men to fill the shifts.” He even got his lead physician to say he is a healthier president than Barack Obama. Marco Rubio probably epitomized all of the apple polishing when he said, “The guy is too healthy.”
Elon Musk: Going to medical school is “pointless” now thanks to his robots
On the Moonshots with Peter Diamandis podcast, Elon Musk told Diamandis, the Exec. Chairman of the X Prize Foundation, that in three years, going to medical school will be “pointless” because his Optimus robots will be better than the best human surgeons and there will be more of them “than there all of the surgeons on earth.”
TRANSCRIPT:
DIAMANDIS: When do you think Optimus will be a better surgeon than the best surgeons? How long for that?
MUSK: 3 years
DIAMANDIS: 3 years. Okay.
MUSK: That’s three years at scale. There will probably be more Optimus robots that are great surgeons than there are all surgeons on earth.
DIAMANDIS: I think your point was medicine is going to be effectively free. The best medicine in the world...
MUSK: Everyone will have access to medical care that is better than what the president receives right now.
DIAMANDIS: So don’t go to medical school.
MUSK: Yes. Pointless.
Noah Wyle skit on Jimmy Kimmel
Noah Wyle from The Pitt created a hilarious video, responding to the absolutely bonkers health care claims and conspiracies coming out of the Trump administration and their feckless followers.
Links for a deeper dive on Episode #41
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”
Dr. Chris Ford’s on Substack
Dr. Chris Ford on Instagram
Dr. Chris Ford on Bluesky