Dr. Peter Breggin Hour - 6-24-26

Dr. Peter Breggin Hour - 6-24-26

We opened this episode of The Dr. Peter Breggin Hour acknowledging the weight of our times. For the past week, [https://gingerbreggin.substack.com/p/seth-holehouse-exposes-the-forces?r=ae2lk] we’ve explored [https://gingerbreggin.substack.com/p/human-sized-living-as-a-defense-against?r=ae2lk] how to live meaningfully amid chaos, threats, and cultural unraveling. That conversation remains vital. But reality does not pause for comfort. This week, we returned to the difficult terrain with our friend J.J. Carroll [https://www.americaoutloud.news/border-chaos-faith-and-americas-future/jjcarrell.com] — a man of uncommon courage, a former law enforcement officer with decades on the border and in fugitive operations, a truth-teller who was recently fired for daring to speak plainly on the very issues he lived. J.J.’s experiences are not abstract. They have been forged in daily encounters with violence in the six months he worked with ICE in 2025-2026 and the violence he faced for 24 years as a Border Patrol Officer, arresting drug cartel members on the Southern border. He describes a nation where the demographic transformation is not subtle policy but visible, measurable destruction. J.J. is a firsthand witness to the continued open borders, net increases in illegal immigration, and jobs going overwhelmingly to non-Americans while native-born citizens, especially White males, are sidelined. Government data he cites paints a stark picture: hundreds of arrests daily, yet a system so backlogged that true mass deportations feel like a distant promise rather than a current reality. We do not shy away from these realities on this show. America was built by a specific people with a specific culture — a White, Christian, European-rooted nation that achieved greatness through shared values, faith, rule of law, and high-trust communities. Pretending otherwise dishonors history and endangers the future. As J.J. powerfully states, demographics shape destiny. When you import millions from cultures with vastly different norms, lower average IQs, and incompatible worldviews — often without any expectation of assimilation — you do not enrich; you transform, and not for the better. Europe is learning this lesson in blood and social collapse. We ignore it at our peril. Even now, the mayhem is surging onto our shores. The rising tide of migrant violence and social breakdown is unmistakable across Europe and England, where no-go zones, knife crime, and gang rapes have become grim daily realities. Here in the United States, the pattern repeats in major cities like New York and beyond. The many stories of murders, rapes, and other violence by illegal immigrant populations are not isolated tragedies; they are the predictable consequence of policies that prioritize unassimilated foreign populations over the safety and future of our own children. We have a huge country to manage with almost 350 million souls living here from all parts of the world. There are issues with continued illegal border crossings, international drug trafficking into the US, and massive issues of fraud and theft on a level never before identified that threatens to demolish us and invites totalitarianism to come and take charge. The Judeo-Christian foundational culture that created America and those individuals who were all part of it are being shredded by our political and intellectual elite and other cultures coming from far different places in the world who want no part of what we have here in terms of civilization. A significant number of these people have no understanding of respect for human life, the rule of law, the US Constitution, basic rules of life, or rules of the road that we take for granted. How does that ignorance translate into the daily lives of citizens? No respect for human life translates into murder, including the deliberate attacks on people who are strangers by perpetrators using trucks, knives, guns, and other weapons. No understanding of, agreement with, and respect for the rule of law translates into fraud and theft on a massive basis, employing lying, subterfuge, and cunning to swindle, cheat, and steal from individuals and from American citizens through federal theft. In California, several massive, multi-million-dollar fraud rings involving illegal immigrants and transnational criminal organizations have recently been dismantled by federal authorities for stealing taxpayer-funded welfare, COVID-19 relief, and tax revenue. Similar large-scale fraud operations tied to Somali communities have also plagued Minnesota, further draining public resources intended for American citizens. This cultural incompatibility extends even to everyday infrastructure. Illegal immigrant commercial drivers, often poorly trained, unlicensed, or operating stolen or improperly maintained vehicles, are contributing to chaos on our highways. Serious accidents, deadly pile-ups, and overwhelmed emergency services have increased in areas with high concentrations of such drivers, adding yet another layer of preventable danger to American families who simply want to travel safely on roads built and maintained by prior generations. As Elizabeth Nickson has powerfully documented in her recent Substack column “White Boy’s Summer,” the impact across Europe has been devastating. Decades of mass migration have been accompanied by a deliberate political project that has taught many newcomers to view the native populations — the very citizens who built and sustain these societies as producers, taxpayers, and keepers of the culture — with resentment and outright hatred. (See: White Boy’s Summer [https://elizabethnickson.substack.com/p/whiteboysummer-are-you-ready-for]) The Spiritual Dimension This is not merely political or economic. It is spiritual. We agreed that there is a degree of evil walking the world that we have not seen before. Both concepts of evil and love have been banished from intellectual discussion, laughed at as old-fashioned. Cultural relativism — the idea that all cultures and moral systems are equally valid with no objective standard by which to judge them — is the opposite of these terms. Allan Bloom’s 1987 bestseller, The Closing of the American Mind, sounded the warning but was quickly buried in intellectual and media circles with a wave of multiculturalism, DEI, calls of racism to silence critics, and a focus on bending reality with transgenderism and other tales that have left devastation in their path. J.J. speaks as a believer who sees Satan as the source of evil roaming the earth, a force that delights in the slaughter of the innocent — 63 million abortions, the mutilation of children under transgender ideology, and the darkest allegations tied to elite networks like those surrounding Jeffrey Epstein. The failure to fully release the Epstein files, despite promises and power, is a profound betrayal. When those in authority protect the powerful at the expense of justice for children, the system stands condemned. Peter and I have long warned about the moral free fall — the erosion of the Ten Commandments in public and private life, the suppression of love and conscience, the celebration of evil in entertainment and elite circles. Occult influences, ritualistic abuses, and a rejection of God create a void that darkness eagerly fills. We see it in the boldness of anti-human spectacles at major events and in the quiet despair of families watching their children be targeted. We Refuse Despair We do not exempt leaders from scrutiny. While Donald Trump remains the strongest border president in modern memory, serious disappointments linger — continued promotion of mRNA technology, the absence of full accountability for past crimes, and an emperor-like tone in some foreign policy pronouncements. Real change requires more than one man. It demands people willing to reclaim their inheritance. Yet we refuse despair. Peter reminded us of the Black Robed Regiment — the ministers who fueled the American Revolution with Judeo-Christian conviction. The Black Robed Regiment was the courageous pastors and clergy of the Revolutionary era. They preached biblical principles of liberty, justice, and resistance to tyranny from their pulpits and from town to town in Colonial days, leading up to the American Revolution, while dressed in their distinctive black robes. These men were instrumental in shaping the fundamental, encompassing worldviews of individual freedom, liberty, and release from tyranny. These courageous and hardy pastors, ministers, and clerics rallied the American people, framing the fight for independence as a sacred duty and providing the moral and spiritual backbone of our nation’s birth. We need a similar revival today: a return to the fundamentals of faith, family, and constitutional order. J.J. finds hope in his teenage son’s generation and the friends he drives around — young people who are more politically engaged and spiritually aware than many in prior generations. They are turning away from the emptiness of the sexual revolution, materialism, and identity chaos, and they want none of it. Across the country, our youngest generations — Gen Z and Alpha — are showing signs of a quiet but powerful shift, returning to God, traditional churches, and core American values of family, self-reliance, and ordered liberty. Reports and surveys document rising interest in Christianity, declining support for extreme gender ideology, and a renewed appreciation for the Founding principles that made this nation exceptional. Young girls, too, are increasingly rejecting the glitter culture of hyper-sexualization and fluid identity in favor of something more grounded and enduring. Small Is Beautiful: Love in Action In the face of such overwhelming disorder, the answer begins at home. Make your home a sanctuary. Love your spouse fiercely. Raise your children in truth. Plant apple trees — literally, as Peter and I recently did in our backyard. Build a real community where you are. Civility, trust, and decency radiate outward from strong families. As Peter emphasized at the close, the world’s evil fades by comparison to the love we put into it. God will measure us by that love. In a time when elites peddle division and death, we counter with creation, fidelity, and courage. This conversation with J.J. Carroll is raw, unflinching, and necessary. We invite you to listen to the full episode. Let it stir you — not to hopelessness, but to renewed commitment. Speak truth. Reject the lies about our nation’s Founding and character. Protect the innocent. Cling to God. And never apologize for loving your people, your culture, and your children’s future. We continue our series on living faithfully in dark days — see our recent “Small Is Beautiful” piece on Substack. [https://gingerbreggin.substack.com/p/human-sized-living-as-a-defense-against?r=ae2lk] Your presence here, your subscriptions, and your own acts of courage sustain our work. We love you, dear audience. Stay strong. The fight is generational, but good men and women — and a sovereign God — are not easily defeated.

The Dr. Peter Breggin Hour - 6-17-26

We were delighted to welcome Seth Holehouse, host of the popular podcast Man in America [https://maninamerica.com/], to The Breggin Hour [https://www.americaoutloud.news/author/peter-breggin-md-and-ginger-ross-breggin/]. With over a million listeners dedicated to uncovering the forces reshaping our nation, Seth brings a thoughtful, big-picture perspective that resonates deeply with our own work exposing global predators. This wide-ranging conversation touched on the Epstein files, MKUltra, satanic ritual abuse, compromised elites, spiritual warfare, and the practical steps each of us can take to live freely in an upside-down world. As always, we encourage you to listen to the full episode for the complete exchange. The Epstein Files: A Crack in the Veil Seth first encountered the Epstein story years ago amid early discussions of Pizzagate, the Podestas, disturbing artwork, and high-profile figures like Bill Clinton. The more recent document releases struck a chord, especially with younger people encountering the horror on TikTok. “There are a lot of people that… look around and just have this sense that something’s just not right with the world.” These awakening moments—whether from 9/11, COVID, or the Epstein revelations—pierce the illusions. Seth urges us to step back and take the broader view rather than getting lost in distractions or narrow slices of the truth. This aligns with our own experience: the more we step back and examine the complete picture, the clearer the patterns of predation become.  MKUltra, Survivor Testimony, and the Pyramid of Control Seth has conducted powerful interviews with survivors of MKUltra and satanic ritual abuse, including a dedicated series exploring these dark networks [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGFpB8GzP2mwN4uUn3DoOQQBi_mghblEj&si=C0XzgWg_C6yKmipK]. These accounts reveal how compromise, blackmail, and ritual abuse serve as tools to control those who rise in elite circles. He draws on important works, including Fritz Springmeier’s Bloodlines of the Illuminati, Jim Marrs ‘ Behold a Pale Horse, and especially Andrzej Łobaczewski’s Political Ponerology [https://a.co/d/0cUKlljp]. Łobaczewski, a Polish psychiatrist who survived both Nazi and Communist regimes, studied how pathological personalities—particularly psychopaths and character-disordered individuals lacking conscience and empathy—infiltrate and corrupt institutions. This leads to pathocracy, or “rule by evil,” where a small minority of disordered people seize power, distort ideologies, and promote their own kind. The process, called ponerization, gradually transforms normal groups into pathological ones through infiltration, blackmail, and twisted moral justifications (paramoralisms). Visible politicians, celebrities, and CEOs often serve as puppets in a modern Allegory of the Cave, while real power lies higher up within protected bloodlines and networks. Compromise—frequently involving the abuse of children—ensures loyalty. This framework helps explain the spread of evil at the highest levels and why left-right political theater so often distracts from deeper systemic pathology. As Seth’s survivor interviews illustrate, these mechanisms are not abstract—they destroy lives and souls. Facing this kind of evil is not easy. Ginger noted how confronting the Epstein files broke her heart and made it difficult to continue looking for a time. Peter connected it to his lifelong reform work protecting children and the vulnerable from institutional and psychiatric abuse. Spiritual Warfare and the Choice Before Us We see these issues as fundamentally spiritual—a testing ground where individuals and societies must choose virtue, love, and truth over base appetites and predation. Seth, raised in a Christian home with an emphasis on simply being a good person, describes a predator-prey dynamic operating at elite levels. Peter and I shared reflections on our partnership, including the challenges of Peter’s stroke and his remarkable recovery through hyperbaric oxygen therapy and other supports. After decades together fighting for patients and human freedom, we know the sustaining power of love and mutual commitment in the face of darkness. Spotting Controlled Opposition and Questioning Authority Seth offered practical wisdom for navigating today’s information landscape—wisdom we have learned through hard experience: * Heavy focus on left-right political divides often serves the control grid by keeping people distracted and divided. * Beware influencers who shut down discussion of “forbidden” topics or demand unquestioning loyalty. * Prioritize sources with evidence and receipts rather than vague “secret intel.” * Maintain an open mind and even question your own assumptions. “It’s my moral duty to question everything… even to question my own beliefs.” This spirit of honest inquiry is essential. As we have seen time and again, real reform begins with refusing to accept surface narratives and insisting on truth. Prep Like Noah: Returning to Human Living Living near a major population center, Seth speaks from experience about preparedness—not driven by fear, but by a return to traditional, responsible ways of life. His forthcoming book Prep Like Noah [https://preplikenoah.com/] and the new private community The Ark (buildthearc.com [https://www.americaoutloud.news/seth-holehouse-exposes-the-forces-reshaping-america/buildthearc.com]) focus on self-reliance in food, energy, homeschooling, and community. The coming “flood” may involve digital IDs, surveillance, engineered shortages, and expanding tyranny. By reclaiming control over the essentials of life, we become less vulnerable. Like Noah, we build what we can control and allow pathological systems to collapse under the weight of their own evil, incompetence, and infighting. Peter found Seth’s grounded, calming perspective especially helpful. We agree: returning to authentic human connection, family, and stewardship is one of the strongest defenses against the demoralization that global predators promote. Final Thoughts Conversations like this remind us that while the forces arrayed against humanity are formidable, truth-seeking, moral courage, strong families, and practical action offer real hope and freedom. We are grateful to Seth Holehouse for joining us and look forward to future discussions. Connect with Seth Holehouse: * Website: SethHolehouse.com [https://sethholehouse.com/] * Podcast: Man in America * Book & Community: Prep Like Noah / BuildTheArc.com [https://buildthearc.com/] Conversations like this remind us that while the forces arrayed against humanity are formidable — truth-seeking, moral courage, strong families, and practical action offer real hope and freedom. We are grateful to Seth Holehouse for joining us and look forward to future discussions. ______   Learn more about Dr. Peter Breggin's work: https://breggin.com/ [https://breggin.com/]   See more from Dr. Breggin's long history of being a reformer in psychiatry: https://breggin.com/Psychiatry-as-an-Instrument-of-Social-and-Political-Control [https://breggin.com/Psychiatry-as-an-Instrument-of-Social-and-Political-Control]   Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal, the how-to manual @ https://breggin.com/a-guide-for-prescribers-therapists-patients-and-their-families/ [https://breggin.com/a-guide-for-prescribers-therapists-patients-and-their-families/]   Get a copy of Dr. Breggin's latest book: WHO ARE THE “THEY” - THESE GLOBAL PREDATORS? WHAT ARE THEIR MOTIVES AND THEIR PLANS FOR US? HOW CAN WE DEFEND AGAINST THEM? Covid-19 and the Global Predators: We are the Prey Get a copy: https://www.wearetheprey.com/ [https://www.wearetheprey.com/]   “No other book so comprehensively covers the details of COVID-19 criminal conduct as well as its origins in a network of global predators seeking wealth and power at the expense of human freedom and prosperity, under cover of false public health policies.”   ~ Robert F Kennedy, Jr Author of #1 bestseller The Real Anthony Fauci and Founder, Chairman and Chief Legal Counsel for Children’s Health Defense.

The Dr. Peter Breggin Hour - Heroic Reiner Fuellmich is still imprisoned by Germany

In the world of leaders who have investigated and informed citizens everywhere about the malevolent intentions behind the COVID pandemic, one of the most effective has been lawyer Reiner Fuellmich, who continues to be silenced and imprisoned in Germany after one of the most bizarre and abusive “trials” ever to occur in a modern courtroom in the Western World.  The German administration should be genuinely ashamed for exposing themselves as puppets of the Globalist cabal who are silencing dissenters who revealed the true nature of the COVID policies and practices. Reiner Fuellmich began his professional career with a doctorate in law. His first focus was on medical and pharmaceutical law at the University of Gottingen, where he worked as a research assistant. This background would prove invaluable when he began in 2020 to investigate and expose the COVID conspiracy and the hidden hands of the elite internationalists manipulating [https://www.americaoutloud.news/books/covid-19-and-the-global-predators-we-are-the-prey/] the shuttering of national economies and installing control of whole populations. As a consumer protection and trial lawyer in Germany and in California, Reiner opened his own law firm in 1993. He may have been best known for his successful work in representing consumers who were sold Volkswagen vehicles with defective emissions devices. His background included consumer law related to international banks, including Deutsche Bank, and investor protection suits representing victims of “junk real estate” investments. But Dr. Reiner Fuellmich was just getting started in his advocacy. As with so many others in the “new freedom leadership,” Reiner and his wife recognized the authoritarianism embedded in the early 2020 COVID pandemic lockdowns, other mandates, and sudden legal declarations. People were ordered to stay home; no public gatherings were allowed; masks were required when going out; and all small businesses were closed, except for a few. Children were ordered to stay home from school to “learn remotely.” All these interventions, along with their draconian enforcement by law enforcement, were a red flag. So he and his wife left California and returned to their home country, Germany, where he could gather more information. The Corona Investigative Committee was the immediate result of Reiner’s return. Over the next 2 years or so, Reiner and colleagues conducted approximately 400 interviews with physicians, scientists, medical specialists, economists, historians, investigative journalists, and others seeking answers to the unprecedented shutdown of the world. Reiner was the primary member of the task force, and Dr. Breggin was one of his key witnesses. The Corona Investigative Committee was so successful that it was an enormous threat to the globalist overlords. The committee members saw other groups and individuals around the world having bank accounts seized or frozen, including the fundraising account for the COVID-19 protesting Truckers in Canada. They agreed with legal documents to disperse the funds within the leadership to be held securely until such time as the threat of seizure was passed. In 2022, Reiner traveled to the US to participate in a speaking tour titled “Crimes Against Humanity,” and while he was out of the country, the other primary member of the committee removed Reiner from the group. There was a general “disruption” among the four members of the original investigative committee (which we have seen happen often when an organization begins to have an impact) Reiner was forced to go to and remain in the US and then Mexico, where he began another investigative committee: the International Crimes Investigative Committee. Reiner’s first formal interview [https://rumble.com/v1wc7vy--reiner-fuellmich-naomi-wolf-and-peter-breggin-discuss-the-mrna-covid-jabs-.html] for the new committee was conducted with expert journalist Naomi Wolf, psychiatrist Peter Breggin, and Prof. Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi and his wife Prof. Dr. Karina Reiss. That seminal first interview explored the vital issue of “stunning personality changes” caused by mRNA covid vaccines. Despite everything, Dr. Fuellmich was undeterred in his international investigation of the globalists and the United Nations/World Health Organization/World Economic Forum efforts to capture control of the free world. Germany brought criminal charges against Dr. Fuellmich for taking the protective measures that had been taken to protect CIC funds. Dr. Fuellmich was accused of embezzlement. Reiner was marooned in Mexico after being denied visa entry again into the United States. His passport disappeared, and when he went to the German embassy in Mexico to collect a new passport, he was captured, held, and transported back to Germany. Arrested by German authorities, Dr. Fuellmich was transported to the maximum-security prison in Rosdorf. He has remained incarcerated by German authorities to this day. Dr. Fuellmich directly addressed the various rumors and whispers about his legal case on March 10, 2026, in his “Press Release – ICIC. law—The History of Dr. Reiner Fuellmich’s Kidnapping. [https://open.substack.com/pub/drreinerfuellmich/p/press-release-iciclaw?r=ae2lk&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer]” Dr. Reiner Fuellmich declared: Here I have once again put together the story of my kidnapping from Mexico in the context that is relevant from my point of view, so that anyone who has already heard a little about the case – “embezzlement, he screwed everyone over, but somehow something is really fishy” – can immediately see that this is certainly not a criminal case being pursued, but rather a political case that has been fabricated. The Fuellmich trial was a mockery, bleeding on for over a year, before and during which Reiner was subjected to shocking neglect and abuse within prison [https://sebaterribilini.substack.com/p/the-full-story-of-dr-reiner-fuellmich-e60]. The outcry about the false imprisonment, massive trial manipulations, and human rights violations committed while holding Dr. Fuellmich before and after trial are covered in detail by our guest this week, Seba Terribilini. She is a Swiss activist. She has followed Reiner’s work, dedicated the past two and a half years to attending the entire trial proceedings, and is now trying to raise awareness of him. She has also visited him three times in prison. Film director and investigative journalist Philippe Carillo, along with Seba Terribilini, is currently working on a documentary [https://substack.com/@sebaterribilini/p-196329279] about Reiner’s persecution [https://substack.com/@sebaterribilini/p-195993558]. The trailer for the Free Reiner film is here [https://substack.com/@sebaterribilini/p-192741292]. We greatly admire and heartily support Reiner Fuellmich as well as Seba Terribilini for her efforts to increase public awareness of Dr. Fuellmich’s plight and his need for justice. May God bless both Fuellmich and Terribilini. ______   Learn more about Dr. Peter Breggin's work: https://breggin.com/ [https://breggin.com/]   See more from Dr. Breggin's long history of being a reformer in psychiatry: https://breggin.com/Psychiatry-as-an-Instrument-of-Social-and-Political-Control [https://breggin.com/Psychiatry-as-an-Instrument-of-Social-and-Political-Control]   Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal, the how-to manual @ https://breggin.com/a-guide-for-prescribers-therapists-patients-and-their-families/ [https://breggin.com/a-guide-for-prescribers-therapists-patients-and-their-families/]   Get a copy of Dr. Breggin's latest book: WHO ARE THE “THEY” - THESE GLOBAL PREDATORS? WHAT ARE THEIR MOTIVES AND THEIR PLANS FOR US? HOW CAN WE DEFEND AGAINST THEM? Covid-19 and the Global Predators: We are the Prey Get a copy: https://www.wearetheprey.com/ [https://www.wearetheprey.com/]   “No other book so comprehensively covers the details of COVID-19 criminal conduct as well as its origins in a network of global predators seeking wealth and power at the expense of human freedom and prosperity, under cover of false public health policies.”   ~ Robert F Kennedy, Jr Author of #1 bestseller The Real Anthony Fauci and Founder, Chairman and Chief Legal Counsel for Children’s Health Defense.

Dr. Breggin Hour 6-3-26

In the early months of 2020 state and federal authorities implemented a massively restrictive collection of guidelines and orders which authorities claimed were to prevent spread of COVID, but which resulted in the restriction of all citizens except “essential workers” to their homes, the closure of more than 2.7 million shuttered businesses [https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/NGA.SmallBusinessImpacts.Report.VFINAL2-05.19.20.pdf], and the permanent shuttering of more than 100,000 small businesses, the deep wounding of the American economy and the destruction of the social fabric of the citizenry through stay-at-home orders, masking, and restriction of public and private gatherings. The fear was palpable among the population, with some individuals driven to turn on their neighbors and other citizens for rule infractions—the so-called “Karens” [https://www.emerald.com/ijssp/article-abstract/40/9-10/929/166870/Does-Karen-wear-a-mask-The-gendering-of-COVID-19?redirectedFrom=fulltext] who aggressively enforced COVID-era policies and mandates.

Dr. Peter Breggin Hour - 5-27-26

In early May 2026, transport vans rolled out of Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin [https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2026/05/01/1500-ridglan-beagles-purchased-by-animal-welfare-groups-lead-activist-in-court/], carrying beagles toward new lives—grass under their paws, sunlight on their faces, and homes instead of stacked wire cages. Nearly 1,500 beagles were purchased by rescue organizations like Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Beagle Freedom Project after years of documented suffering at one of the nation’s largest commercial beagle breeders for biomedical research. This outcome marks a rare, tangible win for animal advocates. But it came only after daring direct-action raids, mass protests met with tear gas and rubber bullets, a special prosecutor’s investigation, and persistent legal pressure. Even now, roughly 500 dogs may remain behind as Ridglan winds down its commercial breeding operations by July 1, 2026. The Ridglan story is not just about one facility. It exposes deep, systemic failures in U.S. law that leave millions of animals in laboratories with minimal protections—and even those “covered” by federal rules often receive little meaningful relief. The Raids That Forced Change On March 15, 2026, activists from groups linked to the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs [https://www.nonhumanrights.org/client/ridglan-beagles/] breached fences and buildings at Ridglan Farms. They removed around 22–30 beagles. Some were successfully rehomed; others were recovered by police. However, an estimated 2000 beagles remained in captivity, potentially subject to additional horrific experimentation. Our guest, Dean Guzman Wyrzykowski, was one of these activists [https://open.substack.com/pub/urbananimal/p/today-i-was-released-from-jail-for?r=ae2lk&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web]. A second, larger action on April 18 drew roughly 1,000 protesters to rescue the remaining beagles. Law enforcement responded with tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets. No additional dogs could be rescued that day. Dozens of protesters were arrested, including our guest on The Breggin Hour, Dean Guzman Wyrzykowski, a San Francisco Bay Area-based animal rights activist and political organizer. He is co-founder of The Simple Heart Initiative—a nonprofit dedicated to advancing species equality through open rescue, impact litigation, undercover investigations, and activist training. With over eight years in nonprofit advocacy, Dean has recruited and trained hundreds of activists and is one of the lead organizers of the Ridglan campaign. He now faces serious felony burglary charges—potentially up to 12 years in prison—along with several co-defendants for the first March 15, 2026, rescue effort. Further charges may be pending. As a top priority, we urge that the charges be reduced or dropped to reflect the vastly important ethical basis of the actions of these animal advocates. How to Help Dean Dean reports that the best way to assist him with legal costs is to become a paid subscriber to his Substack at Urbananimal.substack.com [https://urbananimal.substack.com/]. To support ending the breeding of dogs for lab testing, go to Save the Dogs [https://savethedogs.io/], make a donation, and join over 111,581 others who have already signed the petition to end breeding of dogs for laboratory use. These weren’t the first efforts to expose and stop the abuses of these dogs. Ridglan had faced scrutiny for years, including earlier investigations. The raids amplified public outrage and accelerated negotiations between rescuers and Ridglan Farms. In late April, rescue groups announced they had reached a deal to acquire ~1,500 dogs. Transports began in early May, with many “frosted face” seniors (older dogs with graying muzzles) now adjusting to life outside the facility—initially flinching at touch but quickly learning to wag tails and play. Decades of Alleged Cruelty at Ridglan — and Why It Is Winding Down Ridglan Farms operated for decades as a major supplier of beagles for testing. Former employees and state inspections described windowless warehouses, stacked cages over waste pits, high ammonia levels, rusted wires causing injuries, and routine surgeries (including eye procedures and devocalizations) performed without anesthesia or proper pain relief—sometimes by non-veterinarians. In 2025, Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) cited Ridglan for hundreds of violations. A judge found probable cause for animal cruelty. Special Prosecutor Tim Gruenke was appointed to investigate. Rather than face criminal charges, Ridglan chose to wind down [https://savethedogs.io/ridglan]. In a negotiated settlement in late 2025, the company agreed to surrender its Wisconsin commercial dog-breeding license by July 1, 2026 [https://www.nonhumanrights.org/client/ridglan-beagles/]. This effectively ends its large-scale commercial breeding and sales of beagles to external laboratories. In exchange, the state dropped the threat of felony animal cruelty prosecutions. This agreement was driven by years of accumulated citations, whistleblower testimony, undercover investigations, and intense public and activist pressure. While Ridglan can still conduct limited on-site research under its federal USDA licenses, its days as a major commercial beagle supplier are over. Parallels with Envigo and Other Scandals Ridglan is far from isolated. In 2022, a major scandal erupted at Envigo’s breeding facility in Cumberland, Virginia [https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdva/pr/animal-breeder-sentenced-animal-welfare-and-water-pollution-crimes-will-pay-more-35m]. PETA’s undercover investigation revealed severe neglect: inadequate food, veterinary care, housing, and staffing; dead puppies were left among litters; and unqualified staff performed invasive procedures. The U.S. Department of Justice intervened, leading to the rescue of over 4,000 beagles—the largest such seizure in U.S. history. Envigo (and its parent company Inotiv) later pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act and the Clean Water Act, agreeing to pay a record $35 million+ in fines [https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdva/pr/animal-breeder-sentenced-animal-welfare-and-water-pollution-crimes-will-pay-more-35m] and shutting down the breeding operation. From the Beagles to the Breggins, Senator Bill Stanley Sought Justice for the Underdog At a state level, key Virginia state legislators were involved in advocating [https://virginiamercury.com/2022/03/08/virginia-lawmakers-pass-new-regulations-for-controversial-beagle-breeding-facility/] for stronger animal welfare regulations in response to documented Animal Welfare Act violations, poor conditions, and high puppy mortality in the facility. Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Franklin County) was a leading champion at the state level. He visited the facility multiple times, co-sponsored several “Beagle Bills” in 2022 (e.g., SB 87, SB 88, SB 90, SB 604) to increase oversight, close loopholes for research animals, require adoption offers before euthanasia, and penalize repeat violators. He adopted two Envigo beagles (Daisy and Dixie) and worked on adoptions/rescues. We are especially happy to acknowledge Sen. Stanley’s contributions because, among several attorneys we contacted to defend us against Robert Malone’s lawfare defamation suit against us for $25 million [https://gingerbreggin.substack.com/p/breggins-prioritize-free-speech-above], Bill was the first attorney willing to seriously pursue our case, which ended in the presiding judge throwing Malone’s case out of court [https://open.substack.com/pub/gingerbreggin/p/judge-dismisses-robert-malones-25?r=ae2lk&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web]. From the beagles to the Breggins, Senator Stanley has sought justice for the underdog. The Sand Fly Experiments and High-Profile Scandals Public outrage over government-funded beagle suffering peaked in the early 2020s with revelations about NIH-funded experiments under Dr. Anthony Fauci’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). One widely criticized study involved beagle puppies in Tunisia exposed to sand flies carrying parasites (to study leishmaniasis). Reports described dogs having their heads locked in mesh cages filled with infected sand flies, being used as live bait in desert cages overnight, and in some cases undergoing cordectomies (vocal cord removal) to silence barking. The experiments sparked bipartisan congressional criticism [http://lieu.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/bipartisan-legislators-demand-answers-fauci-cruel-puppy-experiments] and intense media coverage. The Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) and partners filed habeas corpus petitions seeking court recognition of the Ridglan dogs’ right to freedom from cruelty and immediate remedies. While initial petitions faced dismissal, appeals continue for the remaining animals. Why U.S. Law Fails Experimental Animals The core federal statute is the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) [https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R47179] of 1966 (and its amendments), enforced by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). It sets minimum standards for housing, feeding, veterinary care, and handling of certain animals. Critical Limitations Include: * Massive Species Exclusions: Rats, mice, and birds bred for research—accounting for roughly 95% of lab animals—are explicitly excluded. Cold-blooded animals and others also fall outside coverage. * Weak Standards for Covered Species: Even for dogs, cats, primates, etc., the AWA permits painful procedures if deemed “scientifically necessary.” There is no outright ban on specific types of experiments. * Self-Regulation via IACUCs: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees—dominated by researchers at the institutions they oversee—review protocols. Approval rates hover near 98%, with limited external oversight. * Enforcement Gaps: Under-resourced inspections, reliance on self-reporting, and modest penalties limit impact. Ridglan itself had passed many USDA inspections despite state-level findings of serious issues. * Property Status: Animals remain legal property. Novel habeas efforts like the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) [https://www.nonhumanrights.org/] challenge this but face significant judicial hurdles [https://www.nonhumanrights.org/strategic-initiatives-new-pathways-to-legal-rights-for-animals/], as courts have historically rejected animal “personhood” claims. For those of us who learned in childhood about unconditional love from our dogs [https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1120000/full], they are not only of equal value to people, but they seem on a higher spiritual level in the love they have given to us. Other frameworks, such as the Public Health Service Policy, apply only to federally funded research and offer even less robust enforcement. The 2022 FDA Modernization Act opened doors to non-animal alternatives, but broader statutory mandates for the “3Rs” (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) remain limited. Reform efforts often stall due to powerful research lobbies, congressional agriculture committees’ oversight, and public support for medical research that can overshadow welfare concerns. Broader Context and the Path Forward Ridglan and Envigo show that systemic problems persist despite occasional rescues and fines. Millions of animals continue to be used annually in U.S. labs, yet positive developments exist: growing adoption of alternatives (organ-on-chip, AI modeling, human cell cultures), increased rehoming programs, and shifting public opinion favoring stronger protections. The Ridglan victory shows that sustained pressure—investigations, lawsuits, public protest, and direct rescue—can force change where law falls short. Yet relying on activists risking felony charges is not sustainable. Meaningful reform requires: * Expanding Animal Welfare Act coverage to all vertebrates. * Stronger, independent oversight and enforcement with real penalties. * Mandatory consideration and funding for non-animal methods. * Judicial tools (like effective habeas relief) to address cruelty in licensed facilities promptly. A Call to Readers The beagles now tasting freedom represent hope—but hundreds may still face uncertainty, and systemic issues persist for countless others. Share their stories. Support reputable rescues and organizations like The Simple Heart Initiative, the Nonhuman Rights Project [https://www.nonhumanrights.org/client/ridglan-beagles/], Beagle Freedom Project, and others working on legal and legislative fronts. Contact your representatives and demand real modernization of the Animal Welfare Act. Persistence works. Now we must translate outrage into lasting legal change—so no more facilities like this exist in the first place. What are your thoughts on balancing research needs with animal welfare? Have you followed the Ridglan story, the Envigo case, Dean’s work, or the earlier sand fly scandals? Drop a comment or share this post. References / Endnotes 1. Wisconsin Examiner / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage of Ridglan rescues and settlement (2026). 2. Nonhuman Rights Project – Ridglan Beagles case page. 3. U.S. Department of Justice – Envigo sentencing and $35M+ resolution (2024). 4. Bipartisan congressional letters on NIAID/Tunisia sand fly experiments (2021). 5. Dean Guzman Wyrzykowski / The Simple Heart Initiative statements (2026). 6. USDA Animal Welfare Act overview and limitations. 7. Additional reporting from WPR, Right to Rescue, and related investigations.   ______   Learn more about Dr. Peter Breggin's work: https://breggin.com/ [https://breggin.com/]   See more from Dr. Breggin's long history of being a reformer in psychiatry: https://breggin.com/Psychiatry-as-an-Instrument-of-Social-and-Political-Control [https://breggin.com/Psychiatry-as-an-Instrument-of-Social-and-Political-Control]   Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal, the how-to manual @ https://breggin.com/a-guide-for-prescribers-therapists-patients-and-their-families/ [https://breggin.com/a-guide-for-prescribers-therapists-patients-and-their-families/]   Get a copy of Dr. Breggin's latest book: WHO ARE THE “THEY” - THESE GLOBAL PREDATORS? WHAT ARE THEIR MOTIVES AND THEIR PLANS FOR US? HOW CAN WE DEFEND AGAINST THEM? Covid-19 and the Global Predators: We are the Prey Get a copy: https://www.wearetheprey.com/ [https://www.wearetheprey.com/]   “No other book so comprehensively covers the details of COVID-19 criminal conduct as well as its origins in a network of global predators seeking wealth and power at the expense of human freedom and prosperity, under cover of false public health policies.”   ~ Robert F Kennedy, Jr Author of #1 bestseller The Real Anthony Fauci and Founder, Chairman and Chief Legal Counsel for Children’s Health Defense.