Congressman Mike Thompson on War, Veterans, and the Fight for Healthcare | 13th and Park

Congressman Mike Thompson on War, Veterans, and the Fight for Healthcare | 13th and Park

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051852/fan_mail/new] Congressman Mike Thompson joins Anthony Williams on 13th and Park for a wide-ranging conversation recorded at Ballard Studios' remote location in Sacramento, California. A Vietnam War veteran who earned a Purple Heart, Thompson reflects on how his military service shaped every chapter of his life, from dropping out of high school to eventually earning a GED, an undergraduate degree, a high school diploma, and a master's degree, and how combat gave him an unshakeable standard for voting to send American troops into harm's way. Thompson shares the story of uncovering Project Shad, a classified military program in which U.S. service members were unknowingly exposed to deadly chemical agents and then denied the healthcare they had earned. He describes working across party lines with then-Representative Jerry Moran to get those veterans recognized and covered, delivering one of the episode's most powerful lines: "If that's a problem, quit making veterans." The conversation turns to the state of healthcare in America today, with Thompson breaking down what families in his district are telling him about the Affordable Care Act, the impact of HR 1, and what cutting a trillion dollars from the healthcare system means for hospitals, clinics, and everyday people regardless of how they receive coverage. He also discusses his role as chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, the reauthorization of anti-doping legislation, and his efforts to secure the Congressional Gold Medal for cycling legend Greg LeMond. Thompson closes with a reflection on what still gives him faith in America, pointing not to institutions or legislation, but to the people themselves, and the importance of keeping them in the loop. Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:27 Assembly Fellows and Shared History 3:14 California Governor's Race 3:43 Vietnam Service and the Purple Heart 6:41 Vietnam Veterans Still in Congress 8:07 The Vietnam Wall 8:30 Project Shad and Veterans' Healthcare 11:09 The Affordable Care Act Today 13:22 Congressional Bike Caucus 14:23 Greg LeMond and the Gold Medal 17:27 Representing Wine Country 18:28 Faith in America Follow Us! X: https://x.com/13thandPark IG: https://www.instagram.com/13th_and_park/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/13thandpark TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13th_and_park Follow Mike Thompson X: https://x.com/RepMikeThompson Facebook: https://facebook.com/CongressmanMikeThompson Website: https://mikethompson.house.gov #mikethompson #congressmanmikethompson #vietnamveteran #purpleheart #veteranshealthcare #affordablecareact #californiapolitics #uscongress #projectshad #greglemond #bikecaucus #militaryservice #13thandpark #politicalpodcast #anthonywilliams #publicservice

Patrick Kennedy & Collin Gage on Addiction, Mental Health, and Fixing a Broken System | 13th & Park

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051852/fan_mail/new] Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Collin Gage, CEO of ARMR Sciences, join Alison Anway, Ballard Partners Health Policy Chair, for a candid and deeply personal conversation on addiction, mental health, and the fentanyl crisis reshaping American life. Kennedy reflects on his own public struggle with addiction, from being outed by a fellow rehab patient early in his political career in Rhode Island, to a DWI on Capitol Hill that sent him back to treatment. Rather than derailing his career, those experiences ultimately gave him the credibility and conviction to champion the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, landmark legislation that required insurers to cover mental health and addiction treatment on par with physical illness. He also discusses his ongoing work through the Kennedy Forum to build a bipartisan political movement around mental health. Gage shares the personal losses and family experiences that led him to found ARMR Sciences, a biotech platform developing vaccine-based and prophylactic technologies designed to prevent overdose death rather than simply react to it. He describes how the drug supply has become exponentially more dangerous, with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids now lacing everything from counterfeit prescription pills to marijuana and vape products. Both guests argue that the fentanyl crisis has escalated beyond public health into a national security threat, with Chinese precursor chemicals fueling what Kennedy calls a strategic asymmetric warfare campaign against the United States. The conversation closes on a message of hope, emphasizing community, family-centered treatment, and the importance of open dialogue as essential tools in addressing an epidemic that touches every corner of American society. Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:43 Welcome and Context 2:08 Kennedy on Being Outed and Going Public 4:49 DWI, Rehab, and Passing Parity 7:11 Collin Gage's Personal Story 9:24 What ARMR Sciences Is Building 12:10 How the Drug Supply Has Changed 13:29 Kennedy Forum and Political Strategy 16:51 Fentanyl as a National Security Threat 19:42 Personal Legacy and the Kennedy Family Mission 22:04 RFK Jr., Holistic Recovery, and Culture Change 25:31 Hope for the Next Five Years 27:43 Closing Thoughts Follow Us! X: https://x.com/13thandPark IG: https://www.instagram.com/13th_and_park/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/13thandpark TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13th_and_park Follow Patrick Kennedy & Collin Gage X: https://x.com/ARMRsciences X: https://x.com/PJK4brainhealth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/collin-gage/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/armrsciences/ About 13th and Park: 13th and Park is a dynamic media platform produced by Ballard Partners. We bring you insightful discussions, expert interviews, and in-depth analysis on key issues shaping industries, policy, and business trends. Our content features thought leaders, industry experts, and policymakers exploring topics ranging from policy influence, business innovation, trade regulations, and more. Subscribe to stay updated on the latest videos, exclusive interviews, and expert insights shaping the future of business, policy, and public affairs. #patrickKennedy #fentanylcrisis #addictionrecovery #mentalhealthparity #opioidepidemic #publichealth #armorsciences #drugpolicy #kennedyforum #mentalhealthadvocacy #syntheticdrugs #nationalsecurity #overdoseprevention #bipartisanpolicy #13thandpark #politicalpodcast

Former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra Makes His Case for Governor of California | 13th and Park

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051852/fan_mail/new] Xavier Becerra, former California Attorney General, HHS Secretary, and 12-term Congressman, joins 13th and Park for a wide-ranging conversation on his campaign to become Governor of California. Running to be the first Latino elected governor in the state's history, Becerra makes the case that his experience confronting the COVID-19 pandemic, negotiating drug prices, and defending California against federal overreach sets him apart in a crowded field. Becerra reflects on the defining moments of his public service career, from taking on the Trump administration as Attorney General to leading the Department of Health and Human Services through the worst pandemic in a century. He shares the personal story behind his decision to enter the governor's race, crediting his wife and his parents as the foundation of everything he wants to fight for as governor. On the campaign trail, Becerra says Californians are asking the same basic questions: Can I afford to fill my gas tank? Can I buy a house? Will healthcare bankrupt my family? He outlines a healthcare vision centered on integrated care, preventive wellness, and treating healthcare as a right, pointing to his track record negotiating up to 79% discounts on prescription drugs for Medicare as proof of what is possible. The conversation also covers the reshuffling of the governor's race following Eric Swalwell's exit, the historic significance of potentially becoming the first Latino governor in 150 years, and what Becerra sees as the deeper contrast between the California his parents built their lives in and the one too many families are struggling to access today. Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:28 Welcome and Shared History 2:04 Career Lessons and Public Service 3:25 Running HHS During COVID 5:01 The Decision to Run for Governor 7:55 What Californians Are Worried About 9:14 The Race Reshuffles After Swalwell 12:12 Restoring the California Way of Life 13:11 Growing Up in Sacramento 15:15 Healthcare Vision for California 17:25 Negotiating Drug Prices at HHS 18:38 Historic Significance of the Race 20:25 Closing Thoughts Follow Us! X: https://x.com/13thandPark IG: https://www.instagram.com/13th_and_park/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/13thandpark TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13th_and_park Follow Xavier Becerra X: https://x.com/XavierBecerra IG: https://www.instagram.com/becerraforgovernor/ #xavierbecerra #californiagovernor #californiapolitics #governorrace2026 #californiadream #healthcarepolicy #hhs #latinoleadership #californiaaffordability #democraticprimary #13thandpark #politicalpodcast #adampodcast #californiaprimary #costoflivingcalifornia #publicservice #californiaelection About 13th and Park: 13th and Park is a dynamic media platform produced by Ballard Partners. We bring you insightful discussions, expert interviews, and in-depth analysis on key issues shaping industries, policy, and business trends. Our content features thought leaders, industry experts, and policymakers exploring topics ranging from policy influence, business innovation, trade regulations, and more. Subscribe to stay updated on the latest videos, exclusive interviews, and expert insights shaping the future of business, policy, and public affairs.

Rep. Chris Deluzio on Youth Sports, Corporate Greed & the American Dream | 13th & Park

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051852/fan_mail/new] Congressman Chris Deluzio, a Naval Academy graduate and second-term representative from Pennsylvania's 17th District, joins 13th and Park for a candid conversation on economic power, the cost of living, and what he believes the government owes working families. Drawing on his upbringing in western Pennsylvania, his service during the Iraq War, and his background in election security law, Deluzio outlines a political identity rooted in hard work, patriotism, and skepticism of concentrated power. Deluzio discusses the Monopoly Busters Caucus he helped launch, explaining why he sees corporate consolidation as one of the defining threats to the American dream. From private equity gobbling up youth sports leagues to meatpacking consolidation squeezing farmers, he argues that the lack of economic competition is a nonpartisan problem with very real costs for families across the country. The conversation also covers the pressures facing families in competitive swing districts, the ongoing fight over election integrity, and his concerns about the cost of U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict. Deluzio is direct about the data: Americans his age and younger are statistically more likely to be worse off than their parents, and he believes Washington has to stop tinkering around the edges. Representing one of the most politically competitive districts in the country, Deluzio reflects on what it means to govern for everyone, not just a base, and why he remains optimistic about America's ability to course-correct at a critical moment for its democracy. Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:12 Western PA Roots and Values 3:00 Iraq War and Military Service 4:26 Voting Rights and Election Security 5:52 Youth Sports and Rising Costs 8:16 Monopoly Busters Caucus 10:09 The American Dream Under Pressure 11:51 What Constituents Are Saying 13:01 Governing a Swing District 14:15 Mentors and Resolve 15:13 Optimism for America's Future 16:47 Closing Thoughts Follow Us! X: https://x.com/13thandPark IG: https://www.instagram.com/13th_and_park/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/13thandpark TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13th_and_park Follow Chris Deluzio X: https://x.com/RepDeluzio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/repdeluzio #ChrisDeluzio #pennsylvaniаpolitics #congress #antitrust #monopolybusters #americandream #costofliving #youthsports #veteransinpolitics #swingdistrict #corporatepower #workingfamilies #13thandpark #politicalpodcast #washingtondc #navyvet

A Selfie Could Save Your Life: Helfie AI's Case for Early Detection | 13th & Park

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2051852/fan_mail/new] George Tomeski, founder and CEO of Helfie AI, and Dr. Ranya Habash, a physician and former healthcare technology leader with Microsoft, join 13th and Park to make the case for a fundamental reimagining of how Americans access and engage with their own health. For Tomeski, the mission is deeply personal: watching his mother suffer through 11 years of misdiagnosis before a terminal stage 4 stomach cancer diagnosis lit a fire that would eventually become Helfie AI, a smartphone platform designed to make health screening continuous, affordable, and universally accessible. Dr. Habash, an ophthalmologist at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and a pioneer in telemedicine, brings the clinical perspective. She explains how the eye alone can reveal signs of diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and early-onset dementia, and how the full face, analyzed through a smartphone camera, can deliver vital health data in real time. During the episode, she conducts a live demonstration on host Adam Goodman, pulling blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen, and respiratory data from a simple selfie in seconds. The conversation tackles some of the biggest structural failures in American healthcare: declining provider access, the cost spiral, health inequity in rural communities, and the gap between extraordinary medical innovation and stubbornly poor population outcomes. Tomesky argues that the phone is the missing infrastructure layer, capable of delivering continuous, low-cost health monitoring at cents per check, not dollars, and that early detection across conditions like COPD, skin cancer, and hypertension could dramatically reduce the $5 trillion healthcare burden. From regulatory reform and data sovereignty to the role of the MAHA movement and clinical trial diversity, this episode covers the full landscape of what it would take to turn a smartphone into every American's first line of defense against preventable disease. Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:37 Welcome and Show Overview 2:33 George's Mom and the Origin Story 4:36 Dr. Habash's Rural West Virginia Roots 6:46 MAHA Movement and Rural Healthcare 8:28 The Phone as the Healthcare Equalizer 9:13 Cost of Screening: Cents Not Dollars 11:31 What the Eyes Reveal About Your Health 12:55 Live Helfie AI Demo on Adam 16:07 Conditions Helfie AI Can Detect 18:41 Data, Clinical Trials, and Health Equity 22:54 Telemedicine, Wearables, and Where Healfie Fits 25:42 Regulatory Changes Needed 26:57 How Doctors View Helfie AI 27:33 The Name and the Mission Follow Us! X: https://x.com/13thandPark IG: https://www.instagram.com/13th_and_park/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/13thandpark TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13th_and_park Follow George Tomeski & Dr. Ranya Habash LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gtvs/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranya-habash-md-6491ba96/ About 13th and Park: 13th and Park is a dynamic media platform produced by Ballard Partners. We bring you insightful discussions, expert interviews, and in-depth analysis on key issues shaping industries, policy, and business trends. Our content features thought leaders, industry experts, and policymakers exploring topics ranging from policy influence, business innovation, trade regulations, and more. Subscribe to stay updated on the latest videos, exclusive interviews, and expert insights shaping the future of business, policy, and public affairs. #healthcareai #healtheinnovation #preventivecare #digitalhealth #aiinhealthcare #healthequity #ruralhealthcare #earlydetection #mahamovement #telemedicine #healthtech #smartphonehealth #cancerprevention #13thandpark #politicalpodcast #washingtondc #healthreform