CDC’s Chaos, Florida’s Denial & Medicare’s AI Death Panels

Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson dive into a whirlwind of health and political news that hits close to home for millions of Americans.

First, they break down Florida’s shocking new move to eliminate vaccine mandates in schools, a decision that could put kids, families, and entire communities at risk. Dr. Rob explains why herd immunity matters, what history teaches us about preventable illness, and why parents everywhere should be paying attention.

Then, they revisit the implosion at the CDC, where the ousting of former Director Susan Monarez and the resignations of top officials have left public health leadership in chaos. They highlight the bravery of officials like Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who spoke out against political interference and warned that public trust in vaccines is being deliberately undermined.

Finally, they turn to the rollout of “AI death panels,” where new pilot programs could let artificial intelligence companies deny care to seniors for profit. From pain management to incontinence treatment, life-altering procedures could be blocked by algorithms.

To close out, Miles interviews Matt Lackey, from Tavern Research, whose groundbreaking survey research sheds light on the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. They discuss what Americans really think about food safety, vaccines, and wellness politics, and how opinion is more divided (and complicated) than headlines suggest.

It’s a packed episode exploring how politics, profit, and public health collide… and what that means for all of us.

Want to watch this week’s full episode? Become a paid subscriber of Paging America’s Substack to unlock this week’s full episode.

Background reading:

KFF Health News: Senior CDC Officials Resign After Monarez’s Ouster, Citing Concerns Over Scientific Independence

CNN: Video shows crowds cheering as CDC officials who resigned walk out of building

AP: Photos show workers rally for senior CDC officials forced off Atlanta headquarters

The New York Times: Medicare Will Require Prior Approval for Certain Procedures

CMS.gov: CMS Launches New Model to Target Wasteful, Inappropriate Services in Original Medicare

Common Dreams: 'AI Death Panels': Trump Pilot Program Seeks to Bring 'Very Worst' For-Profit Insurance Practices to Medicare

Tavern Research: Surprising new research finds Americans oppose technology that kills us, support technology that saves lives

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 healthcare story? Email us at [e-mail].

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