Miles Baker and Dr Rob Davidson are back to break down a packed news week in American healthcare politics. New York Times reporting reveals the DOJ’s ongoing investigation into pandemic-era scientists, including Dr. Fauci, an effort that began under former FBI official Dan Bongino. The probe has already claimed one casualty: former Fauci advisor Dr. David Morens pleaded guilty to concealing federal records after steering emails discussing the lab-leak theory into a personal account. Miles and Rob discuss why fears of politically motivated investigations are well-founded, given past Senate hearings led by Rand Paul, and push back on Bongino’s baseless claims that scientists used the pandemic to influence the 2020 election through mail-in voting.
Meanwhile, RFK Jr. finally admits that a second infant in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, died of measles, after weeks of disputing the story, then argues the death “doesn’t count” because the child had a rare genetic condition. Rob explains why that logic is both medically dishonest and deeply cruel.
We also dig into new reporting revealing a secretive Pentagon agreement to divert billions of dollars from NIH’s infectious disease research budget without notifying Congress. Plus, new reporting exposes Kansas Senator Roger Marshall’s history of suing more than 700 of his own OB-GYN patients over unpaid medical bills, resulting in dozens of arrests. And forced Medicare Advantage disenrollments have surged nationwide as insurers like Humana, UnitedHealth, and Aetna abandon unprofitable markets, leaving seniors scrambling for new coverage.
Then, Will Sommer of The Bulwark joins us to take stock of the MAHA movement, mapping out the key figures orbiting RFK Jr.’s inner circle and explaining who actually holds influence in this chaotic era of U.S. health policy.
LINKS
The Washington Sun: ‘It’s Trumpapalooza’
The Washington Sun: Trump Offers $5,000 ‘Dividend’ to Every American Adult if Republicans Win Midterms
Matt Rein’s tweet about the “L” falling off the podium at Trump-a-palooza
The New York Times: Inside the D.O.J.’s Investigation of Fauci and Other Virus Scientists
The Washington Post: Infant died of measles in Pennsylvania, coroner confirms
RFK Jr. tweet shrugging off the deaths of the two Pennsylvania babies from measles
MS NOW: Report: Kennedy intervened to prevent 2 deaths from being included in CDC measles tally
House Democrats: Defense Officials Attempt to Raid NIH Funds to Cover Department of Defense Activities
The Hill: Pentagon sought to divert NIH funds for defense use, top House Appropriations Democrat says
MedPage Today: Docs Alarmed by NIH Plan to Redirect Medical Research $$ to Pentagon
CIDRAP: Lawmakers criticize deal that would send NIH funds to Department of Defense
FORBES: ‘Secretive’ Agreement Will Divert NIH Funds To Pentagon, Warns DeLauro
The “agreement” between NIH and the DoD
The New York Times: A Doctor Sued 700 Patients for Debts; 81 Were Arrested. Now He’s a Senator.
JAMA: Forced Disenrollments Among Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries Following 2026 Plan Exits
National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare: Trouble Ahead for Medicare Advantage & Medicaid Patients
Investopedia: Millions Must Switch Medicare Advantage Plans as Insurers Pull Back—What It Means for You
Healthcare Dive: UnitedHealthcare expects to be ‘very competitive’ in Medicare Advantage next year, CFO says
Will Sommer on X
KFF Health News: The Covid Contrarian Clubhouse Makes Its Mark on Trump’s Washington
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