HHS on Autopilot and the "Secret Plan" to Cut Entitlements

HHS on Autopilot and the "Secret Plan" to Cut Entitlements

Fresh off the Committee to Protect Healthcare’s first National Organizing Summit in Chicago, Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson break down a chaotic week in American health policy where ideology is colliding head-on with public health reality. First, the hosts dive into explosive reporting exposing an absentee RFK Jr. at HHS, whose single-minded fixation on conspiracy theories has left critical public health infrastructure unattended during active global outbreaks. While he might be checked out of day-to-day management, his team is actively hunting for access to Americans’ private medical records, raising massive HIPAA, privacy, and political weaponization alarms. Plus, a look at the very real, very dangerous consequences of the anti-pasteurization movement as Idaho tackles a massive raw milk bacterial outbreak. And we dissect Speaker Mike Johnson’s “secret plan” to alter entitlement programs post-election and look at the fracturing political momentum of the MAHA movement in key midterm battlegrounds. In the second half of the show, Miles and Dr. Rob discuss the newly released interim final rule on Medicaid work requirements, a policy shift projected to strip health insurance from upward of 5 million Americans by 2034. They are joined by two expert guests to cut through the disinformation and lay out the ground reality: * Alice Miranda Ollstein (Senior Health Care Reporter, Politico) breaks down the national policy landscape, the administrative hurdles designed to trigger coverage losses, and the unexpected political fallout. * Anusha Thadakura (Health Care Advocate, Illinois) zooms in on the state level to share what these sweeping changes actually mean for working-class families on the ground. Take Action: The “interim final rule” on Medicaid work requirements is open for public feedback. Submit a public comment and ensure your voice is part of the legal and public record before the January 1 deadline HERE [https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/CMS-2026-2047-0002] LINKS * The New York Times: Kennedy Shows Minimal Engagement With Vast Health Portfolio [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/07/us/politics/ebola-vaccines-kennedy-health-department.html] * CNN: RFK Jr. seeks to peek at Americans’ medical records for clues on autism and vaccines [https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/04/health/medical-records-vaccines-autism] * Idaho Capital Sun: Nearly 60 Idahoans sick after drinking raw milk in past two weeks, officials say [https://idahocapitalsun.com/briefs/nearly-60-idahoans-sick-after-drinking-raw-milk-in-past-two-weeks-officials-say/] * ProPublica: The Milkman [https://www.propublica.org/article/mark-mcafee-raw-milk-recalls-maha] * POLITICO: RFK Jr.’s movement was supposed to save the GOP’s majorities. It’s not even in the game. [https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/06/rfk-maha-midterms-lyons-congress-00952583] * The Washington Post: Social Security shortfall expected to accelerate, with funds at critical low in 2032 [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/06/09/social-securitys-reserves-could-be-depleted-by-2032/] * MSNOW: Speaker Johnson eyes a new ‘plan’ for Social Security and Medicare to be shared in 2027 [https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/speaker-johnson-eyes-a-new-plan-for-social-security-and-medicare-to-be-shared-in-2027] * NBC News: Trump admin outlines who would be exempt from Medicaid work requirements [https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/trump-admin-outlines-exempt-medicaid-work-requirements-rcna347960] * Healthcare Dive: Over half of Medicaid enrollees say they’re unaware of upcoming work requirements [https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/over-half-medicaid-enrollees-unaware-work-requirements-health-management-academy-survey/822228/] * POLITICO: How sick is sick enough? New Medicaid work rule worries patient advocates, states. [https://www.politico.com/news/2026/06/07/how-sick-is-sick-enough-new-medicaid-work-rule-worries-patient-advocates-states-00952476] * Alice Miranda Ollstein at [https://www.politico.com/staff/alice-miranda-ollstein,%20https://www.politico.com/]POLITICO [https://www.politico.com/staff/alice-miranda-ollstein,%20https://www.politico.com/] * Alice Miranda Ollstein on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/alicemiranda.bsky.social] * Alice Miranda Ollstein on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/alicemirandaollstein/] * Anusha Thotakura at Citizen Action - Illinois [https://citizenaction-il.org/who-we-are] * Citizen Action - Illinois on X [https://x.com/CitizenActionIL] Join the fight at committeetoprotect.org. Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America. Have thoughts, questions, or your own health care story? Email us at feedback@pagingamerica.org. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pagingamerica.org/subscribe [https://www.pagingamerica.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Milkmaxxing and The Resurgence of Preventable Diseases in America

Miles and Dr. Rob are live from Chicago ahead of the Committee to Protect Healthcare’s first National Organizing Summit for Universal Care with LOTS to talk about: Preventable diseases are making a comeback as vaccine rates fall, with Rob reporting firsthand sightings of chickenpox and whooping cough in the ER for the first time in years. Then, Trump’s latest physical raises more questions than it answers. Why has Trump taken the Montreal Cognitive Assessment multiple times when it’s not a routine screening test? Why is he on two cholesterol medications and repeat coronary CT scans? Why does his physical mention improved ankle swelling that was never mentioned in last year’s report? The guys aren’t buying the spin, and they’re not alone: cardiologists and pulmonologists are publicly raising the same red flags. Miles sums it up bluntly: this is starting to feel less like political theater and more like an administration simply running out of convincing lies. Also on the docket: Americans infected with Ebola are being turned away from their own country, with the administration’s Plan A (send them to Kenya) blocked by a Kenyan court. Dr. Oz takes the White House podium to claim 35% of ACA enrollees may be committing fraud and that the biggest Medicaid cuts in history somehow saved Medicaid. And RFK Jr. hits the campaign trail in Wisconsin dairy country, making the case that whole milk is coming back to school cafeterias — and apparently that’s the hill this administration is choosing to die on. * The New York Times: Hospitals See Diseases Resurge as Vaccinations Decline [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/02/well/children-vaccines-illnesses.html] * MedPage Today: Read the Results of Trump’s 2026 Physical Exam [https://www.medpagetoday.com/washington-watch/washington-watch/121524] * The Hill: Trump’s checkup leaves unanswered questions [https://thehill.com/newsletters/health-care/5904757-trumps-checkup-leaves-unanswered-questions/] * The Hill: Key takeaways from Trump’s Cabinet meeting: Iran, Ebola, midterms [https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5898065-trump-cabinet-meeting-iran-ebola/] * The Washington Post: Kenyan court extends order blocking U.S. hospital for American Ebola patients [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/06/02/court-extends-order-blocking-us-plan-treat-american-ebola-patients-kenya/] * NBC News: Americans who get Ebola will go to Europe for treatment, not U.S., officials say [https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/americans-ebola-go-europe-treatment-not-us-rcna347364] * Reuters: Health officials oppose US plan to treat Ebola-exposed Americans overseas [https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/health-officials-oppose-us-plan-treat-ebola-exposed-americans-overseas-2026-06-02/] * The White House: CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz Briefs Members of the Media, Jun. 2, 2026 [https://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/cms-administrator-dr-mehmet-oz-briefs-members-of-the-media-jun-2-2026/] * The Washington Post: Trump betrayed farmers. Now real signs of anger show. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/06/01/trump-might-be-losing-farm-vote-over-trade-iran/] Join the fight at committeetoprotect.org. Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America. Have thoughts, questions, or your own health care story? Email us at feedback@pagingamerica.org. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pagingamerica.org/subscribe [https://www.pagingamerica.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Trump's Health Problems Won't Stop the Grift

In a win for grassroots democracy, the group Michiganders for Money Out of Politics turned in over 562,000 signatures this week — well above the threshold needed to put a measure on the November ballot that would ban corporate donations to political causes from public utilities and large state contractors. It’s a striking contrast to the week’s other big story: a deepening portrait of federal pay-to-play, with Trump’s portfolio managers day-trading health insurer stocks while Medicare Advantage payment policy was being written, and a $5 million Big Tobacco donation to MAGA Inc. preceding a very convenient FDA vaping decision by just days. Meanwhile, the NIH is so understaffed it’s asking grad students to volunteer as grants administrators, the Ebola outbreak has become the third-largest in history, and the acting head of the infectious disease institute just quit. Trump’s Surgeon General pick is exploiting a New Jersey farm tax loophole on her $5.8 million estate, chickenpox parties are making a comeback, and RFK Jr. got bitten by a snake at Dr. Oz’s house. Plus, Dr. Rob administered a cognitive test to legendary journalist Jim Acosta on his show. We interviewed him after the test to discuss his results and why Trump would be bragging about passing such an easy test. * Michigan Public: Petition drive to get “money out of politics” submits signatures for ballot campaign [https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-05-28/petition-drive-to-get-money-out-of-politics-submits-signatures-for-ballot-campaign] * Becker’s Payer Issues: Trump’s portfolio traded 7 health insurer stocks amid MA rate discourse [https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/medicare-advantage/trumps-portfolio-traded-7-health-insurer-stocks-amid-ma-rate-discourse/] * The Hill: FDA approves some flavored vapes after reports of Trump pressure [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5864811-fda-approves-flavored-vapes/] * The New York Times: A $5 Million Donation From Big Tobacco Preceded F.D.A. Vape Decision [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/us/politics/donation-big-tobacco-vaping.html] * Brennan Center for Justice: Unprecedented Big Money Surge for Super PAC Tied to Trump [https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/unprecedented-big-money-surge-super-pac-tied-trump] * Reuters: Acting head of US NIH infectious disease institute has left, senators say [https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/acting-head-us-nih-infectious-disease-institute-has-left-senators-say-2026-05-21/] * The New York Times: Trump Administration to Send Americans Exposed to Ebola to Kenya [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/us/politics/trump-ebola-kenya.html] * The Hill: Key takeaways from Trump’s Cabinet meeting: Iran, Ebola, midterms [https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5898065-trump-cabinet-meeting-iran-ebola/] * Wikipedia: Great Barrington Declaration [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrington_Declaration] * MedPage Today: CDC Chief Orders 2 Americans to Quarantine Over Hantavirus Concern [https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/publichealth/121369] * The New York Times: Health Experts ‘Stunned’ by Trump Officials’ Strict Quarantine Measures [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/us/hantavirus-ebola-quarantine-trump.html] * STAT: NIH behind in filling top roles, with 15 of 27 institutes led by acting directors [https://www.statnews.com/2026/05/20/nih-leadership-questions-15-of-27-institutes-acting-directors/] * NATURE: NIH staffing shortage could slash number of new grants issued this year [https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01537-1] * The Hill: GOP House rep’s wife to perform duties of U.S. surgeon general [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5887225-stephanie-haridopolos-surgeon-general/] * Nicole Saphier’s Instagram post saying she’s only pretending to be a doctor is HERE [https://www.instagram.com/reels/DJZFHk7txR6/] * POLITICO: Nicole Saphier is Trump’s pick for surgeon general. She’s also a ‘farmer’ in New Jersey — and gets a tax break. [https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/21/radiologist-by-trade-farmer-on-the-side-how-trumps-surgeon-general-pick-uses-a-tax-loophole-in-new-jersey-00930676] * WIRED: The Backward Logic of Chickenpox Parties [https://www.wired.com/story/chickenpox-parties-and-the-pre-vaccine-internet/] * RFK Jr.’s post showing him catching snakes is HERE [https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/2059273262220115998] * Video of RFK Jr. at Trump cabinet meeting talking about circumcision again is HERE [https://x.com/factpostnews/status/2059352723795931186] * MedPage Today: After 3-Hour Medical Visit, Trump Says ‘Everything Checked Out PERFECTLY’ [https://www.medpagetoday.com/washington-watch/washington-watch/121437] * Trump on Truth Social referencing his medical visit is HERE [https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116641867405994600] * NPR: Trump to get ‘routine annual’ medical exam 7 months after last visit to Walter Reed [https://www.npr.org/2026/05/25/nx-s1-5833855/trump-medical-checkup] * Dr. Rob Davidson administers a cognitive exam to Jim Acosta HERE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmSlNruP07k] * The Jim Acosta Show on Substack is HERE [https://jimacosta.substack.com/] Join the fight at committeetoprotect.org. Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America. Have thoughts, questions, or your own health care story? Email us at feedback@pagingamerica.org. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pagingamerica.org/subscribe [https://www.pagingamerica.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

MEMORIAL DAY WITH STEVE SCHMIDT, PLUS I TAKE THE COGNITIVE TEST, WITH DR. ROB DAVIDSON

Thank you Dani Smart [https://substack.com/profile/80855177-dani-smart], Peter W Shuster [https://substack.com/profile/117154132-peter-w-shuster], Bird Mama [https://substack.com/profile/300009110-bird-mama], Katherine Cooper [https://substack.com/profile/22009644-katherine-cooper], CO [https://substack.com/profile/287851315-co], and many others for tuning into my live video with Jim Acosta [https://substack.com/profile/36455327-jim-acosta] and Steve Schmidt [https://substack.com/profile/279803574-steve-schmidt]! Join me for my next live video in the app. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pagingamerica.org/subscribe [https://www.pagingamerica.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Purges and Implants and Grifting.. Oh My!

This week on the show, the Supreme Court has punted mifepristone access back to the notoriously hostile Fifth Circuit — a short-term win for advocates, but a longer-term gift to Republicans hoping to dodge the issue before the midterms. We break down what the ruling actually means and where Alito and Thomas signaled they want the case to go. Then we get into the chaotic state of public health leadership: the Trump administration tapped a penile implant specialist with a YouTube show called Erection Connection to front its hantavirus press conference. The surgeon general position remains vacant — until now, sort of, filled temporarily by a congressman’s wife. Plus: RFK Jr. is reclassifying hundreds of senior HHS career staff to strip their civil service protections, fired the leadership of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force without explanation, and his MAHA allies are celebrating after Sen. Bill Cassidy lost his Louisiana primary. We also look at stock trades suggesting Trump may have profited from insider knowledge on Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 drugs, the administration’s push to make European countries pay more for pharmaceuticals so Americans pay less, a quiet reversal on ACIP’s new charter, and TrumpRx’s new partnership with Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs. Plus, our interview with State Rep. Donovan McKinney, where he discusses Michiganders for Money Out of Politics, also known as Mop Up Michigan. It’s a ballot initiative to curb corporate influence in politics and address economic disparities. Representing the state’s lowest-income district, McKinney argues that corporate monopoly money stifles legislative action on crucial issues like rising healthcare costs and affordability. Background Reading: * The Hill: Supreme Court preserves abortion pill access over Alito, Thomas dissents [https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5879032-mifepristone-abortion-pills-ruling/] * ABORTION, EVERY DAY: Republicans Aren’t Done With Mifepristone [https://jessica.substack.com/p/republicans-arent-done-with-mifepristone] * CNN: Penile implant specialist with history of far-right comments led hantavirus presser [https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/15/politics/brian-christine-vaccine-skepticism-history] * KFF Health News: Trump Bought Stock in Drugmaker as His Government Boosted Its Obesity Drugs [https://kffhealthnews.org/health-industry/trump-stock-trades-eli-lilly-glp-1-weight-loss-drugs-invest-ethics-disclosures/] * The Hill: GOP House rep’s wife to perform duties of U.S. surgeon general [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5887225-stephanie-haridopolos-surgeon-general/] * STAT: Kennedy names interim surgeon general amid vacancies atop health department [https://www.statnews.com/2026/05/20/kennedy-names-stephanie-haridopolos-interim-surgeon-general/] * Bloomberg (via MSN): RFK Jr. taps Haridopolos as temporary surgeon general [https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/rfk-jr-taps-stephanie-haridopolos-as-temporary-surgeon-general/ar-AA23B7fx] * POLITICO: RFK Jr.’s department to make it easier to fire career staff [https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/15/rfk-civil-service-job-protections-00925102] * POLITICO: RFK Jr. fires leaders of group that determines what insurers must cover [https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/20/rfk-uspstf-preventive-care-task-force-00930447] * STAT: Top U.S. officials pressured Germany to pay more for prescription drugs [https://www.statnews.com/2026/05/15/trump-administration-presses-germany-presciption-drug-prices/] * Rep. Donavan McKinney’s House Dems webpage is HERE [https://housedems.com/donavan-mckinney/] * Planet Detroit: As Michigan insurance costs rise, ballot drive highlights Blue Cross lobbying [https://planetdetroit.org/2026/05/blue-cross-michigan-political-spending/] * The Michiganders for Money Out of Politics (Mop Up Michigan) website is HERE [https://mopupmichigan.org/] Join the fight at committeetoprotect.org [http://committeetoprotect.org/]. Subscribe, share, and leave a rating to help more people find Paging America. Have thoughts, questions, or your own health care story? Email us at feedback@pagingamerica.org [feedback@pagingamerica.org] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pagingamerica.org/subscribe [https://www.pagingamerica.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]