Paging America

Paging America
  • 4.8 (26)
  • POLITICS

Exploring the power, profit & politics shaping American health care with hosts Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson. New episodes every Thursday. www.pagingamerica.org

  1. 1D AGO

    Michigan’s Plan to Stop Corporate Money in Politics

    Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson unpack the proposed healthcare cuts to fund the war in Iran, new polling showing healthcare as the top voter issue, and ongoing attacks on reproductive rights, abortion pills, and Medicaid. The episode highlights how political decisions in Washington are directly affecting patients and providers nationwide. Later, Sean McBrearty, Vice Chair of the Michiganders for Money Out of Politics campaign, joins the show to discuss a major anti-corruption ballot initiative in Michigan – Michiganders for Money Out of Politics. He explains how the effort would curb corporate political spending, especially from powerful health care insurers, and close major campaign finance loopholes. The reform could reshape health care policy by weakening lobbyist influence and expanding what’s politically possible in the state. Background reading: * AXIOS: GOP weighs health care cuts to pay for Iran war * Navigator: March 31 Budget Priorities polling * Trump on not paying for daycare, Medicare, and Medicaid to pay for war * The Hill: Health care polling as top issue for first time since 2020: Gallup * Guttmacher: Full-Year 2025 Estimates Show Overall Stability in Abortion Incidence, Decreased Travel and Increased Telehealth Provision * Reuters: US Senate Republicans launch probe of abortion pill makers, escalate pressure on FDA * ABORTION, EVERY DAY: The GOP’s Plan to Shut Down Abortion Pill Websites * NBC News: Medicaid cuts threaten hundreds of hospitals, new report finds * Fierce Health Care: RWJF: Between 5M and 10M people could lose Medicaid coverage in 2028 under work requirements * POLITICO: Poll: The battle for MAHA that could sway the midterms * POLITICO: RFK Jr. launches midterm travel push to shore up MAHA support * POLITICO: Poll: Here’s what MAHA actually believes * AP: RFK Jr is launching a podcast to expose ‘lies’ that have made Americans sick * The current ACIP charter is HERE * The proposed ACIP charter is HERE * The “Eight Magic Words” for advocacy ads * Michiganders for Money Out of Politics website * Committee to Protect Health Care Organizing Summit 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

    50 min

  2. MAR 26

    No Kings and the Fight for Democracy with Ezra Levin

    Miles and Dr. Rob are joined by Ezra Levin, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Indivisible, to talk about the explosive growth of the “No Kings” movement, and why it’s about more than just protests. Levin breaks down how grassroots organizing, especially in small towns and overlooked communities, is driving real political momentum and could shape upcoming elections. Later in the episode, Miles and Dr. Rob dive into new polling showing health care costs remain voters’ top concern, the Trump administration pushing controversial health care changes, and battles over abortion access intensifying. They also highlight Democrats’ early plans for health care reform, and whether they’re bold enough to meet the moment. Background reading: * Ezra Levin on Substack * Indivisible on Substack * Ezra Levin’s bio is HERE * NoKings.org * KFF poll: Cost Concerns and Coverage Changes: A Follow-Up Survey of ACA Marketplace Enrollees” * ABC News: 1 in 10 ACA enrollees dropped their coverage due to rising health care costs: Poll * Navigator poll: Perceptions of Food and Ag Policy in the House and Senate Battlegrounds * STAT: Automatic enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans under consideration, top Trump health official says * AP: Judge rules US government overreached with transgender health care declaration * The New York Times: Trump to Delay Nominating New C.D.C. Director * The Washington Post: MAHA’s political power tested as surgeon general pick stalls * The Guardian: Confusion abounds over future of US vaccine advisory committee * CNN: Federal vaccine panel in disarray after judge blocks changes * Fierce Pharma: ACIP member’s miscommunication on vaccine panel’s future adds to confusion after court ruling * BioSpace: HHS Denies Disbandment of CDC Vaccine Advisory Group in Wake of Court Ruling * NBC News: White House expands TrumpRx with three new drugs * MedPage Today: FDA Chief’s Kid Will Only Get Antibiotics if He’s ‘On His Deathbed’ * The New York Times: Trump Vowed to Crack Down on Fraudsters, but He’s Pardoned Dozens * KFF Health News: Oz Escalates Medicaid Fraud Claims Against States After Focus on Minnesota * POLITICO: Federal workforce unhappy, disengaged, new survey finds * STAT: Senate Democrats lay out plans to overhaul health insurance after setbacks under Trump * Mississippi Today: Lawmakers in Mississippi consider bill to restrict abortion medication * St. Louis Review: Sen. Hawley introduces bill to revoke FDA approval of abortion pill * Sen. Josh Hawley press release: Hawley Introduces Bill to Ban Chemical Abortion Drug, Hosts Press Conference Featuring Pro-Life Testimonies & Leaders * Sen. Josh Hawley press release: Hawley Opens Investigation into Abortion Drug Companies, Creates Hotline for Victims to Report Harms * Chicago Tribune: Judge allows for religious exemption to Indiana’s abortion ban 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

    52 min

  3. MAR 23 ·  BONUS

    The 16 Year Anniversary of the ACA: An Interview with Hon. Mark Schauer

    Miles Baker is joined by Mark Schauer, former Congressman, Vice President of Winning Connections, and board member of both Planned Parenthood in Michigan and the Committee to Protect Health Care. Mark shares his firsthand experience helping pass the landmark legislation, working alongside Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi, and facing intense political and public backlash. Schauer also looks ahead, discussing the ongoing challenges to the ACA, the need to strengthen and expand coverage, and why future progress depends on both public support and electoral victories, all while keeping the goal of accessible, equitable health care for all at the center. Background reading: Wikipedia: Mark Schauer Wikipedia: Affordable Care Act HuffPost: Rep. Schauer Challenged from Left and Right at Town Hall 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 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

    21 min
  4. How RFK Jr Dismantled America's Health Care Infrastructure in 1 Year

    MAR 20

    How RFK Jr Dismantled America's Health Care Infrastructure in 1 Year

    Thank you Laura A. Drury, the real pambo, Rachel-We are Renee and Keith, Nick G, A Dude On The Couch, Rhonda Foster, and many others for tuning into my live video with THE LEFT HOOK with Wajahat Ali! 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

    35 min

  5. MAR 19

    Sen. Peter Welch Takes on Big Pharma

    Miles and Dr. Rob unpack a critical moment in U.S. health care, from a federal judge blocking key vaccine policy changes tied to RFK Jr., to growing fractures within the “Make America Healthy Again” movement. They also dig into the real-world impact of rising health care costs, with new data showing Americans skipping meals, delaying major life decisions, and struggling to stay insured as premiums climb and coverage becomes less affordable. Later, Dr. Rob sits down with U.S. Senator Peter Welch for a candid conversation about what’s going wrong in Washington, particularly as it relates to health care. Sen. Welch breaks down the stakes of expiring ACA subsidies, calls out misleading drug pricing efforts like “Trump Rx,” and explains his bipartisan push to take on Big Pharma’s patent abuses. He also lays out a broader vision for reform, arguing that the U.S. must move toward a system where health care is treated as a right, not a privilege. Background reading: * Dr. Rob’s interaction with Vice President Mike Pence in January 2020 is HERE * Reuters: Pope Leo calls universal healthcare a ‘moral imperative’ * The New York Times: Judge Strikes Down Kennedy’s Vaccine Policies * NOTUS: RFK Jr.’s MAHA Allies Call to Eliminate All Childhood Vaccine Recommendations * MedPage Today: Republicans Fret Over RFK Jr.’s Anti-Vaccine Policies While MAHA Moms Stew * STAT: White House says it’s ‘done’ with vaccines. MAHA begs to differ * POLITICO: ‘I share your outrage’: Democrats woo MAHA moms ahead of the midterms * The Washington Post: One-third of Americans skip meals or other needs to afford health care * NBC News: Dr. Oz says Obamacare enrollment may be ‘too high’ * The Wall Street Journal: Millions of Americans Are Going Uninsured Following Expiration of ACA Subsidies * Sen. Peter Welch on X, Facebook, Threads, YouTube, and Bluesky * The New York Times: Trump Promised the ‘World’s Lowest’ Drug Prices. We Checked the Numbers. Press Release: Welch, Durbin, Warren Sound Alarm on Launch of TrumpRx 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

    59 min

  6. MAR 12

    The Drug Price Reform Big Pharma Fears

    Miles is joined by emergency physician and Committee to Protect Health Care board member, Dr. Chris Ford, to break down the turmoil surrounding Surgeon General nominee Casey Means, whose ties to wellness influencers and sponsored health products are drawing criticism from across the medical community. They also examine RFK Jr.’s latest viral messaging campaign targeting Starbucks and Dunkin products. The conversation shifts to what Americans are actually worried about: rising health care costs. Later, special guest Virginia Delegate Karrie Delaney joins the show to discuss her effort to lower prescription drug prices in the Commonwealth. Delaney explains how Virginia lawmakers are advancing a new approach to prescription drug affordability, one designed to move faster than similar efforts in other states, and why she believes the reform could become a model for tackling drug costs nationwide. Background reading: * Rolling Stone: RFK Jr’s Pick For Surgeon General Cashed In Promoting Companies With a History of Unsafe Products * The Hill: RFK Jr. puts Dunkin’ on notice; Massachusetts governor says ‘come and take it’ * Newsweek: RFK Jr.’s Dunkin’ Plan Sparks Avalanche of Jokes, Memes * “Donut Tread on Me” meme on X * Newsweek: RFK Jr. Responds to Backlash Over Dunkin’ Comments * Newsweek: Dunkin’ Might Be RFK Jr.’s Most Difficult Battle Yet * The Washington Post: Scientists create autism panel, citing RFK Jr.’s politicization of research * The Washington Post: FDA scales back vision for drug it touted as possible treatment for autism * Annenberg Public Policy Center: Stark Divide: Americans More Confident in Career Scientists at U.S. Health Agencies Than Leaders * The Washington Post: A new poll shows who Americans trust over the CDC * NBC News: RFK Jr. vowed to restore public trust in health. It’s not working, a new survey suggests. * Navigator: Perceptions of Health Care in the Congressional Battleground * Delegate Karrie Delaney’s website is HERE * Delegate Karrie Delaney on X, Facebook, and Instagram * STAT: Virginia lawmakers push a new approach to a prescription drug affordability board * REPRO Rising Virginia * The Virginia Independent: Virginia prescription drug affordability bill would lower costs of medicines * Ballotpedia: Virginia Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (2026) * Virginia Mercury: Bedford County supervisor files suit challenging reproductive rights constitutional amendment * Dr. Chris Ford’s podcast Pulse Check: Wisconsin 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

    52 min

  7. MAR 5

    Justice on the Ballot in Wisconsin

    Miles is joined by OB-GYN, Committee to Protect Health Care Board Chair, and health care advocate Dr. Kristin Lyerly to unpack another week in American health politics. They discuss the shaky confirmation prospects for Surgeon General nominee Casey Means, as well as the Texas Democratic Senate primary, where James Talarico’s victory could set up a race that determines control of the U.S. Senate. The conversation also dives into the latest round of headline-grabbing moves from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., from controversial nutrition/affordability messaging to a bizarre government social media video, alongside a serious warning about new proposals that could push Affordable Care Act deductibles as high as $31,000 for families. Later in the episode, Miles and Dr. Lyerly speak with Judge Chris Taylor, a candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, about why her race could have major implications for reproductive rights, voting access, and the balance of power in the state and even the country. Taylor reflects on her decades-long career advocating for women and patients, from her work with Planned Parenthood to serving in the Wisconsin legislature and judiciary, and explains how the courts are increasingly becoming the last line of defense for fundamental rights. With a closely divided court and multiple elections ahead, Taylor argues the stakes for Wisconsin’s judiciary, and for democracy, have never been higher. Background reading: * POLITICO: Trump’s surgeon general pick, Casey Means, still lacks votes for confirmation * Sign the Committee’s letter to stop Casey Means from becoming Surgeon General: ProtectMed.org/caseymeans * AXIOS: James Talarico wins Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Texas * The New York Times: Three Reasons John Cornyn Is Fighting for His Political Life * Houston Public Media: AG Ken Paxton sues more out-of-state providers for allegedly shipping abortion pills to Texas * James Talarico on health care * Rep. James Talarico discusses health care costs, term limits in run for U.S. Senate * MedPage Today: RFK Jr. Says He Has ADHD * The Hill: RFK Jr. suggests buying liver or ‘cheap cuts’ instead of steak * RFK Jr. promotes fake action figure HERE * The Lancet: Robert F Kennedy Jr: 1 year of failure * The New York Times: New A.C.A. Plans Could Increase Family Deductibles to $31,000 * The Orange County Register: CalOptima reports steep membership drop as providers brace for surge in uninsured patients * JD Vance blames rural hospital closures on Biden HERE * State Court Report: State Supreme Court Races to Watch in 2026 * Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: In the Supreme Court race between Taylor and Lazar, ‘undecided’ leads * Marquette Today: New Marquette Law School Poll finds large majorities of Wisconsin voters undecided on candidates for state Supreme Court, governor * Spectrum News 1: State Supreme Court candidates look ahead to April election * PBS Wisconsin: Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor face off in the 2026 election for an open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat * Ballotpedia: Wisconsin Supreme Court elections, 2026 * Donate to Judge Chris Taylor’s campaign HERE * Volunteer to help get out the vote for Judge Chris Taylor’s campaign HERE * Dr. Kristin Lyerly’s Substack is HERE 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

    51 min

  8. FEB 26

    The Weird and Wild Casey Means Confirmation Hearing

    Miles and Dr. Rob break down the confirmation hearing of Surgeon General nominee Casey Means, and ask the uncomfortable question at the center of it: is she actually practicing medicine? From dodging questions on vaccines and the MMR shot to conflicts of interest tied to glucose monitors and supplement culture, the hearing revealed deep concerns about qualifications, transparency, and the future of public health messaging. Plus: Susan Collins’ surprising focus on magic mushrooms, and what it all says about the politics of “MAHA.” The hosts also unpack Trump’s latest health care claims during his State of the Union address, the looming Medicaid funding freeze in Minnesota, Dr. Oz’s appearance in the Epstein files, and a major shakeup in Wisconsin politics as rural hospitals close and longtime GOP leadership exits. As Republicans float an alternative to the WHO that would cost significantly more than current U.S. contributions, one question keeps surfacing: is this health policy — or political theater? Background reading: * The Hill: Senators grill surgeon general pick Casey Means on vaccines * The Hill: Trump’s surgeon general pick won’t urge vaccines for measles, flu, whooping cough * The Hill: Collins questions Casey Means on ‘magic mushroom’ use during confirmation hearing * Trump saying he’s “lifted 2.4 million Americans off of food stamps” is HERE * CNN: Fact check: Trump makes false claims about the economy, elections and crime in State of the Union * NPR: Read NPR’s annotated fact check of President Trump’s State of the Union * CNN: Trump wants to focus on health care in the midterms, creating headaches for the GOP * Navigator: Trump’s Priorities Still Seen as Out of Whack * Reuters: Senior US health official Oz invited Epstein to Valentine’s Day party, documents show * CNBC: Vance says administration is pausing some Medicaid funding to Minnesota because of fraud concerns * The Washington Post: After blasting WHO costs, Trump officials propose more expensive alternative * CNBC: FDA chief Marty Makary says ‘everything should be over the counter’ unless drug is unsafe or addictive * WISN: Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announces he won’t run for reelection * Wisconsin Public Radio: Issue of health care access hits close to home in western Wisconsin * WPSU: Bradford hospital submits closure notice. Ending emergency, inpatient and long-term care services by mid-2026 * POLITICO: FDA’s reversal on Moderna flu shot bid followed White House pressure * RFK Jr.’s statement justifying his support of Trump’s Exec. Order on glyphosate is HERE * AP: Bayer agrees to $7.25 billion proposed settlement over thousands of Roundup cancer lawsuits * Toby Rogers on X * thereal_truther on X * Environmental Working Group: Trump’s glyphosate executive order a ‘big middle finger to every MAHA mom’ 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

    50 min
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4.8
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Exploring the power, profit & politics shaping American health care with hosts Miles Baker and Dr. Rob Davidson. New episodes every Thursday. www.pagingamerica.org

Information

  • Creator
    Paging America
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Paging America
  • Show Website
    Paging America

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