Episode #62 Deep Dive – Dr. Crudité, Dr. Trump and the Healthcare Death Spiral
A deep dive into this week's episode of Paging America
››› Sen. Bernie Sanders released a trove of internal HHS emails and… wow…
[The] emails…appear to show HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressuring the CDC over its vaccine messaging.
Emails indicate that Kennedy directed the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel to restrict access to vaccines, allowed researchers to access “confidential data” to indicate the disproven claim that vaccines cause autism and changed recommendations for the public to receive COVID-19 shots without input from the CDC. [...]
The cache of emails also indicates that Kennedy directed the cancellation of flu vaccine campaigns. A CDC staffer sent an email to her supervisor stating that Andrew Nixon, HHS director of communications, notified her to “pull out of circulation all campaign ad buys related to flu or anything encouraging shots or vaccinations.”
Those cancellation orders came the day after Kennedy was confirmed.
In a piece titled, “Inside the C.D.C.’s Mad Scramble to Meet Kennedy’s Demands,” The New York Times reports that the source of the 253 pages of emails was Dr. Debra Houry, the agency’s chief medical officer when Kennedy took over at HHS. Kennedy’s actions drove her to resign just six months later.
The Times also highlights how RFK Jr. put politics ahead of science in his decision-making:
Testifying on Capitol Hill after he fired [CDC Director] Dr. Monarez as head of the agency, the secretary told senators that “effectiveness — not politics — will be the watchword of our leadership.” But the emails confirm Dr. Monarez’s own Senate testimony that President Trump’s political appointees were firmly in control.
“Susan,” wrote Matthew Buckham, then Mr. Kennedy’s chief of staff, on Aug. 19. “Let’s get on a call this week to discuss in depth, but until we can connect directly, I wanted to elevate the absolute need for political review of major policy decisions at CDC.”
Kennedy also began his work to dismantle and reshape the influential Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices even before he was confirmed. That continued once he took office:
The emails also reveal Kennedy’s influence over ACIP, including his removal of members without the required consultation with the CDC and his control over the committee’s agenda, particularly to review hepatitis B and multi-dose flu vaccines for pregnant women and children, the reintroduction of a seven-year review and biannual report on vaccines, and review of the definition of vaccines.
››› Health care affordability is poised to shape the midterms
We got more evidence of this this past week when a bipartisan group of senators on the Senate health committee voted 15-8 to add a provision to another bill that would cap the price of insulin for people on private health insurance at $35/month. Recall that Congress capped insulin costs at $35 per month for people on Medicare in 2022. Committee Chair Bill Cassidy postponed a vote on the underlying measure to work out a few issues that are “more technical” than substantive, like ensuring there is no “redundancy” with certain provisions in an overhaul of pharmacy benefit managers passed earlier this year.
But that’s not all! Yesterday, Democrats introduced the Saving MEDICARE Act. From a press release from Rep. Lloyd Doggett’s office:
“The Saving MEDICARE Act would be an important first step towards righting the Medicare ship and strengthening the traditional Medicare program” said David Lipschutz, Co-Director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy. “Reining in wasteful overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans and enhancing oversight of this private market would provide needed stability to Medicare’s finances, as well as a real opportunity to enhance the Medicare program – to the benefit of all enrollees – by expanding the scope of coverage (such as dental, hearing and vision) and reducing out-of-pocket costs (such as capping such expenses).”
And here’s yet another: Democratic senators introduced the Medicare Cost Cap Act last week, as well. If it becomes law, it would create a $5,000 cap on out-of-pocket costs for traditional Medicare beneficiaries:
Traditional Medicare does not currently have a limit on out-of-pocket costs, meaning beneficiaries may face unlimited health care costs if they are faced with serious illness or hospitalization. By contrast, Medicare Advantage (MA), insurance bought on the marketplace, and employer-sponsored insurance all have annual out-of-pocket spending caps.
Therefore, the senators claim an out-of-pocket cap would “level the playing field” between traditional Medicare and MA, guaranteeing all Medicare beneficiaries are protected regardless of which coverage option they choose.
While the Democrat-sponsored legislation is unlikely to make it through the current Congress, it’s clear that elected officials are trying to prove they are the ones who can solve the health care affordability crisis in the lead up to the November midterms.
››› Flu outbreak at a Texas military base sickens nearly 300
On April 21st, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that flu vaccines, once mandatory for all members of the military, would become optional. It won’t surprise you to learn that that chicken has now come home to roost.
The Air Force has acknowledged that the recent death of a recruit in basic training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland was caused by a flu virus that has swept the base, according to U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro.
It was the first confirmation that Airman 1st Class Keon Talik McDaniel, 25, died of influenza. Previously, the Air Force said only that McDaniel, who was in his sixth week of basic training, suffered “a medical emergency” and was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center, where he died on June 16. Air Force officials did not disclose whether he had contracted the flu. They said the cause of death was under investigation.
On Tuesday afternoon, however, Castro said in a statement: “The Air Force confirmed that trainee Keon McDaniel died from the flu during the outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.” [...]
When the outbreak became public on June 18, 160 recruits were said to have been infected. By June 25, the number had reached 284, Castro said Tuesday.
After the outbreak was acknowledged, the Army, Navy and Air Force once again began requiring flu shots for basic trainees.
››› Dr. Oz says 40% of Obamacare customers are “fake people”
The head of CMS once again proved how out of touch he is this week. Video is HERE.
TRANSCRIPT:
Historically, Obamacare had nine million people on it. 9 million people. This year? Over 23 million people apparently – apparently – signed up. But, of the people who signed up, 40% never use the insurance. Let me ask you a question, John. You have health insurance -- do you use it once a year? Buy a prescription, you go visit the doctor? In Obamacare right now 40% of the people ostensibly signed up never use the insurance so it raises again the reality that there are many people signed up who are getting paid for but don’t believe they have the insurance, don’t know they have the insurance, didn’t want the insurance, and these brokers are able to make a ton of money off the American taxpayer. So, of course, the Democrats are arguing aggressively that any people who leave Obamacare, it’s only happening because of the enhanced premium subsidies that were put in place for a short period of time during Covid by the Democrats. That’s not right. The reality is that we have a lot of fake people on the policies, we want them off because they don’t want the insurance, they’re covered elsewhere or they never wanted to be in this program, if they want other ones, it’s fine, and we’re going to get to the bottom of this.
››› Trump posts creepily realistic AI slop video of himself as a physician
You may recall that last month, Dr. Oz was asked about people having so-called “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” At the time, he said, “Treating stupid is very hard.” You can watch that HERE.
Well, Trump himself waded into the stupid when, this week, he posted a creepy AI video of himself as a doctor who is treating patients with Trump Derangement Syndrome with Diet Coke. You can watch that (stupid) video HERE.
Let’s all recall that, last year, Ohio Congressman Warren Davidson (no relation to Dr. Rob) introduced the so-called “Trump Derangement Syndrome Research Act of 2025” or the “TDS Research Act of 2025” which directs NIH to fund a study into this fake “illness.”
Links for a deeper dive on Episode #62
The Hill: Sanders releases trove of internal HHS emails showing RFK Jr. pressured CDC over vaccine messaging
The New York Times: Inside the C.D.C.’s Mad Scramble to Meet Kennedy’s Demands
Health Policy Watch: RFK Jr Changes Terms for US Vaccine Committee as Email Leak Reveals Sustained Political Interference in Vaccine Policy
Congressman Lloyd Doggett’s office: Democrats Introduce Saving MEDICARE Act to Stop Insurers’ Profiteering Off Medicare
American Journal of Managed Care: New Bill Would Cap Traditional Medicare Out-of-Pocket Costs at $5000
U.S. Department of
WarDefense: Hegseth: Flu Vaccine OptionalSan Antonio Express News: Air Force confirms first death in Lackland flu outbreak, Rep. Castro says
ABC News: Military services again requiring recruits to get flu shots as Air Force outbreak grows
Dr. Oz on treating people with “Trump Derangement Syndrome” (TDS)
Ohio Congressman Warren Davidson’s “Trump Derangement Syndrome Research Act of 2025”
HEALTH CARE un-covered: Trump Plans – I Mean – Junk Plans Are Back
HEALTH CARE un-covered: UnitedHealth Has a Bank. Now Washington Wants More Insurers to Act Like One.
HEALTH CARE un-covered: ACA Rule Foreshadows New Plan Model in 2028
NOTUS: Millions Dropped Obamacare in the First Month of Coverage