In the second episode of Meidas Health, Dr. Vin Gupta delivers a blistering, no-holds-barred interview with former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, warning viewers about the catastrophic consequences of Donald Trump’s extremist health agenda.
For those who may not have heard, Meidas Health is a groundbreaking new series on the MeidasTouch Network hosted by renowned physician, public health expert, and MSNBC contributor Dr. Vin Gupta. The series shines a spotlight on the public health threats posed by Donald Trump and his extremist allies. Because now more than ever, facts and expertise matter.
From gutting federal agencies to empowering conspiracy theorists like RFK Jr., Episode 2 pulls back the curtain on how Trump and his cronies are actively dismantling the very systems designed to keep Americans safe and healthy.
Dr. Califf, who served as FDA Commissioner under both President Obama and President Biden, recounts the shocking purge of 3,500 FDA employees—many with decades of institutional knowledge—carried out with no regard for continuity or public safety. Entire departments overseeing drug safety, food inspections, and vaccine approvals have been decimated, leaving gaping holes in America's health defense systems.
As Dr. Gupta and Dr. Califf explain, these aren’t abstract policy debates. They’re about whether the next life-saving treatment for Alzheimer’s or cancer ever gets developed, whether you can trust the safety of your food and medication, and whether your kids are protected from preventable diseases like measles. Spoiler: If Trump and his anti-science gang have their way, the answer is no.
The episode is also a dire warning about the brain drain already underway, as top scientists flee a hostile environment that now punishes truth-telling and rewards pseudoscience. Dr. Califf notes that even long-serving vaccine experts like Dr. Peter Marks have resigned in protest—after being pressured by RFK Jr.’s team to invent links between vaccines and autism.
If you care about the future of medicine, innovation, and your family’s health, this is essential viewing. Trump’s Project 2025 health agenda isn’t just political—it’s a public health nightmare in the making.
Watch the full episode of Meidas Health above on Meidas+ or listen on the MeidasTouch Podcast. I’ll provide the podcast links below so you can help amplify the truth. Because we need to—before it's too late.
Become a paid subscriber now if you haven’t yet to support more content like this.
How much more damage will that damn GOP allow him to do before they axe him!
Project 2025 is in full swing of being implemented. The heads of departments were put there to dismantle them & burn it all to the ground not to run them. Then Trump will declare how inefficient government employees are, privatize everything, sell the government buildings & give the money to billionaires in the form of trillions in tax breaks. Exactly why Musk is there taking everything apart.
Who do we start suing for lack of care of grandparents children!!!??
Republicans will do nothing to stop this. They are all being bullied into following.
I'm so glad Meidas is doing a health podcast!!
Vote them OUT!!!!!!!
Thank you Dr Gupta! Might you add a Mental Health Psychiatrist? Public Health for "healthy mind" teaching critical thinking, empathy, compassion, etc
Problem is that for critical thinking topics, based on geography and their news sources, most MAGAs cannot be reached. I looked up the online news channel for a rural area where relatives live - absolutely nothing on politics, nothing on the market machinations, nothing on tariffs or any national news - only local weather, sports, and a few local events happening.
What will RFK attack next? Soap?
Wouldn't doubt it.
Yeah, he'll have us washing with the leaves of the urushiol plant aka poison ivy, poison sumac and poison oak. 🤬
Or promote rubbing Giant Hogweed sap in our eyes.
Dr.Gupta great podcast. Please bring on some public Health officials also. Thank you. RFK is Ignorant in terms of medicine.
......and everything else. Typical of the Dictator Ignorant Deranged Psycho best friends.
Thank you, Meidas, for the most comprehensive, fearless news reporting!!!
Keep being loud!
Use this spreadsheet to call/email/write any of our representatives as often as possible. Not just your own state reps, reach out to those in other states. Be as loud as you can and share this. Use your voice and make some “good trouble.”
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13lYafj0P-6owAJcH-5_xcpcRvMUZI7rkBPW-Ma9e7hw/edit
Add a comment to help keep this bumped so more people see it 🤞
Thank you. Will share as much as I can.
Thank you so much! No need to credit me when you share it, I just want as many people to be able to find it as easy as possible to use their voice right now 🤞💙
Seems to me that as long as Trump is president there will be little that can be done effectively. America elected him and his vice president is probably perfectly willing to take over should trump become ill or other things intervene. Persistent protest and work stoppage might help but protest may mean great risk for those protesting. Democracy is in a trap.
I am hopeful that with our voices being load and overwhelming, Congress will shift just a bit. But we’ll see. I know for me right now, quiet is complicity and I am going to be loud as long as I can because I fear we have to if we want to save our democracy ❤️🩹
Crooks they do not care about our children. Protect them from pathological liars that is hurting our kids, seniors and American Citizens!!!! Wake up!!!
Everyone needs to read up on the 1890s so they can see exactly what these monsters want
Hell. These fools want to go back to the 18th century. They don't care about Americans. They wish to replace us with robots.
Thank you MTN for adding this health segment to your network! Keep growing and expanding! 💙
The biggest issue is not that people don't understand the impact of cuts to NIH and FDA. It's more that we feel helpless to do anything about it. No one seems to be able to hold DOGE in check. And the Supreme Court has been no help in preserving rights.
I hope you’re at least partly wrong— but …
My father's research exemplifies the necessity for NIH research. My father spend his entire professional life, beginning with research on sexing fruitflies, studying sex hormones. He never worked with people because he was Ph.D., no M.D. He worked with guinea pigs and primates to find basic information. He began in the 1930's, worked until he died in 1965. If he hadn't learned what he did about estrogen and progesterone--and I'm sure there were many other researchers, some of them my father's students--involved. by the time I needed birth control in the 1960's, there was The Pill available. Now we have more methods--and the more the better. So we're talking about 30 plus years of research. Someone has to fund that 30 years before industries can make use of it. Cancer research, brain research---expect decades of basic science before results are applied for the benefit of individuals.
Thanks for this. The FDA, to joe citizen, is just a distant bureaucracy that, if it does anything, delays miracle cures. A narrative that helps people realize the FDA is the reason you can feel safe when someone starts an IV on your sick family member and hangs a powerful therapeutic agent-- that's what's desperately needed. Further- that narrative needs to make clear that the work is hard, and requires hard earned expertise.
That hospital IV is also safe due to continuous vigilance by JCAH- joint commission on accreditation of hospitals.
The Dump regime is a disease affecting every supporter - an absolute disregard for the welfare of U.S. citizens. Wait until a pandemic hits those supporters and they're told to go on a diet and guzzle cod liver oil.
Will your vote count in the upcoming election? Your health will depend on it
The Nazi regime is hard at work on voter suppression as Nazi’s Hitler talks about a third term There is no need to stop future elections just rig them so voter ballots are disqualified or disenfranchise existing voters through state vigilante voter challenges https://bit.ly/4hVFyeC
The US Nazi leader just announced by an executive order(EO) that mirrors the SAVE act that the Nazis are currently pushing through the House The SAVE ACT will require people who register or re-register to vote (31m do that every year….for various reasons change address/change county, change name with marriage) that they prove they are citizens in order to vote This can be done in 2 ways: 1) proof of birth either by original birth certificate(who has that?) or 2 passport (12% have passports and are usually white and wealthy) What about women who have different last names now? Try to register if you do not have your original birth certificate because marriage licenses, military ID’s will not count Estimates for 2026: 7million voters will be disqualified or not counted
The result of the SAVE ACT and Hitler’s EO is : Massive drain and purge of the voter rolls
What to do?? 1 Call your congressperson to vote against the SAVE ACT 202 224 3121
2 Check voter registration 80d ahead of election and don’t use a provisional ballot…nearly 50% don’t get counted
3 Most of the voter suppression laws on the books are to disqualify or disenfranchise Black voters, women voters, Hispanic voters ….good old fashioned Jim Crow 2.0….talk to your minority voting friends about the dangers of the Nazis coming after their votes
4 Protest the USPS being brought under the Commerce Dept because this is the step to privatize and then control mail in voting(if this happens 1 in 7 votes will be lost….MIT doubles that to 1 in 4)
5 Join the Resistance movement at mobilize.us OR indivisible.org
6 Do NOT vote for Nazis or their policies aka Republicans and closely vet Independents who may be Nazis
Yes…Trump’s Grandfather and Father were into Nazism and had join KKK…His Grandfather left Germany to avoid being drafted and after living here went back to Germany to see if they would take him back and they refused him…This info I found recently and it makes sense since Trump keeps a book of Hitler’s speeches called Mein Kamp…He is following the same strategy with his antics to control America…Look for example his way with the tariffs and the response he got so what he does is play the hero by doing a pause…He has the GOP and Supreme Court snookered…He must be stopped…Rallies nationwide will help to slow down his destructive plan to control us…..
thanks great info
Thank you!
This is phenomenal addition to Meidas touch. Such a good, thorough and thoughtful discussion, devoid of silly and dangerous information. A truly respectful community service for thinking people. Bravo.
Why is no one talking about RFKs INVOLVEMENT IN THE 2019 MEASLES OUTBREAK IN SAMOA?
Check Wikipedia “2019 Measles outbreak in Samoa.” 83 deaths of mostly small children and infants.
Great article!
Thank you!! We are more educated because of you Meidas!!❤️
These people are clueless. Let's kill the children then we have less SS to pay later.
I just wish we could convince more people to understand real science and not the pseudoscience supported by RFK. Real science takes time and money. It is based on our best knowledge of the way things work and that knowledge is constantly evolving as we learn more about the world. This is especially true in the life sciences where genetic mutations add an extra layer of uncertainty. However too many so called “scientists” peddle their nonsense directly to the public to enrich themselves through the sale of books and useless supplements to the gullible who are looking for easy solutions. Right now the inmates are in charge of the asylum and too many citizens believe the inmates.
Thank you Drs!!
Great post. The US has been a leader because we support innovation. The future economy is in industries that use research funded by the US government. Congress has the power to end the destruction. Please call your representatives and senators in Congress.
I am so grateful for this channel. I have been so worried about my aging parents health..my dad just had a TAVR procedure and a pacemaker. Thankfully he got it in before they destroy Medicare. My mother has long term issues as well and needs a procedure done. Both are on medications. My husband is on meds too and I just worry that they will get rid of everything and tell us all it is in our heads just drink castor oil and you will be fine.
I feel for the American People with what Trump is doing. But I also feel for other countries who have depended on the research.
IMPEACH LIAR, TRAITOR, FELON Trump NOW!!
Hi Dr Gupta ty for a very informative podcast and for inviting the former FDA commissioner as a guest Please invite him back as I was so pleased to hear him report that he is already forming a shadow cabinet or shadow team that will continue to help keep the public informed.
I was thrilled when Ben and the MTN announced the addition of you and a health pod cast. I gleaned today that this will be interdisciplinary....I encourage you to invite the eminent Dr Bandy X Lee as a guest to your podcast or that she heads the Mental Health new Medias podcast!!! You can learn more about her at BandyLee.com. She is a Forensic Psychiatrist and an expert in violence prevention. Mental health is a critical component of physical health and many in the public are suffering from stress, anxiety and depression due to the uncertainty and Constitutional crisis we are facing. Please, the public is also in dire need of mental health education. Ty for the consideration.
Thank you for posting this Meidas Health episode on Substack
Welcome to the Dark Ages
Brilliant informative episode.
Thank you.
Thank you
The overseeing of medical products such as Elon Musk medical device he’s been pushing and doesn’t want any oversight on
Dear Dr Gupta,
I very much appreciate your podcast and the callibe of your guests today is impressive. I respect you and your expertise and hope that you might consider inviting Dr Bandy X Lee forensic psychiatrist and violence expert. I along with many of my friends and family are concerned that mental health issues are on the rise to include stress, anxiety and depression especially related to today's uncertainty in the government and roller-coaster of firings and tarriffs. All this is affecting and creating a public health crisis and the piece of this conversation that seems to be missing is mental health.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Take care
How do we Stop this Madness❓️‼️💯🎯
We need this information! Keep it coming! Thanks, Dr Gupta and MT!
The orange idiot, felon is a dangerous threat to all of us. Truth is the way!
Excellent discussion !
I received a recall notice from CVS Caremark about one of the medication‘s. I take. CVS doesn’t fill my prescriptions that comes from Kroger. I find it interesting that CVS is sending out the recall notice rather than Kroger or the FDA.
I don't know what drugs RFK Jr is taking but he really needs to lay off them the man is a complete imbecile those vaccines have kept us healthy for years and and doing away with vaccines and bringing on a measles epidemics not what I call taking care of the public so that we don't bring back diseases that have been dead for many a decade the man is a complete idiot and I really do think he's bringing damaged get him out of office before he gets this country back what it was health-wise before we had any of these vaccines
Thank you for addressing these important areas about our food safety and healthcare that are threatened by the reduction in staffing at HHS and the FDA. It's been a concern of mine. It boggles the mind the choices that govt is making right now that can impact us much into the future, healthwise and as a global leader in drug research.
It seems the Trumpian goal is to reduce the surplus population.
i.e., Trumplent Green is people!
Less of us to complain about losing jobs to AI.
I thought of that before with these cuts
Trump is making America last.
He’s trying to destroy America….
Thanks for doing this informative exchange.
This is an amazing platform. As we are a medical family, thank you for this measured and expert analysis of our current situation. Very sad and heartbreaking but we have to stay engaged.
Looking forward to the next podcast. Thank you again!
Thank you, Dr. Gupta! As a nurse, it is chilling to hear how careless, ignorant decisions by this administration has endangered all of our lives. I have heard other speakers say, and I agree, the America we knew is gone and we will never get it back. I am heartbroken for all of us but particularly my beloved grandchildren.
I truly enjoy this new Health Podcast. Thank you for adding this.
Speaking of health, at my doctor's appointment today I asked if she had seen many patients coming in with anxiety over what's going on in our country. She said yes, they were concerned about the price of groceries and gas, to which I replied,"It's much more than that." I told her that Black contributors were being erased from history, that references to women were being removed from scientific papers, that innocent people were being sent to a prison in El Salvador based on their skin color and tattoos, that Trump based his tariffs on a book by Peter Navarro( and his fake expert) that Eric Kushner found on Amazon during his first term, that Social Security and all of our other government safety programs were being cut, and, at the end, I invited her to check out Substack and Meidas Touch. I could tell that she was Trump leaning and many of the facts I told her she replied," I didn't know that." She said that she wanted to know the truth,so I hope she follows through.
This is all very important information. Thank you all for providing this!
I could never ride on roller coasters or other amusement rides because it made me sick to my stomach. This good news then bad news every day is a roller coaster ride and it's having the same effect for me. I've been posting comments on here for quite a while now, but today I feel like I need to just step back and not read anything, because I feel like I can't take it anymore.
Wow! Thanks for this info!
Right out in the open.. invent the data that doesn’t exist to connect measles vax to autism? 🤬🤬🤬
Given the impact on food inspections, drug approvals and others it seems that accepting any food or drug related products from the US in any other country would be very scary. Canada already has restrictions on some US products due to what is approved but with poor outcomes now the problems are greater.
Time to heed the advice of a 16th century philosopher, LaBoetie, whose writing seems so relevant to the crisis we ar facing today.
Discourse on Voluntary Servitude:
Why People Enslave Themselves to Authority
By E. LaBoetie (Philosopher and Writer, 1530-1563)
(A 3-part essay. Excerpts with some adaptation for readability)
“How does it happen that an entire nation suffers under a single tyrant?
People suffer plundering, wantonness, cruelty on account of a single little man. Too frequently this same little man is the most cowardly in the nation, a stranger to the powder of battle and hesitant on the sands of the tournament, and with hardly enough virility to bed with a common woman. Who could really believe that one man alone may mistreat millions and deprive them of their liberty?
The answer? We let ourselves be deprived before our own eyes of the best part of our liberties. This misfortune, this ruin descends upon us not from alien foes but from the one enemy whom we ourselves render as powerful as he is.
The more a tyrant pillages, the more he craves, the more he ruins and destroys. And the more we yield to him and obey him, the mightier and more formidable he becomes, the readier he is to annihilate and destroy us.
But if not one thing is yielded to him, if without any violence he is simply not obeyed, he becomes naked and undone and nothing, just as when the root receives no nourishment, the branch withers and dies.
He has indeed nothing more than the power that we confer upon him to destroy us.
He does not have any power over us except through us.
Let’s not grow accustomed to the idea of subjection.
Let’s not lose warlike courage, all signs of enthusiasm because our hearts are degraded, submissive, and incapable of any great deed. A tyrant is well aware of this, and in order to degrade his subjects further, he will do what he can for us to assume this attitude and make instinctive.
The tyrant may reduce our freedom of action, of speech, and almost of thought, but in spite of this we will stand together in our aspiration. Our love for liberty and valor will not perish.
The desire for True Liberty must give us new strength. Not the notion of ‘liberty’ that is used to cover a false enterprise.
If things are to change, we must also realize the extent to which the foundation of tyranny lies in the vast networks of corrupted people with an interest in maintaining tyranny.
Such men must not only obey orders, they must anticipate his wishes, to satisfy him they must foresee his desires; they must wear themselves out, torment themselves, kill themselves with work in his interest, and accept his pleasure as their own, neglecting their preference for his, distorting their character and corrupting their nature; they must pay heed to his words, to his intonation, to his gestures, and to his glance. Can this be called a happy life? Can it be called living? Is there anything more intolerable than that situation … for anyone having the face of a man?
Still, men accept servility in order to acquire wealth and personal power.
The fact is that the tyrant is never truly loved, nor does he love.
There can be no friendship where there is cruelty, where there is disloyalty, where there is injustice. And in places where the wicked gather there is conspiracy only, not companionship. They have no affection for one another. Fear holds them together. They are not friends, they are merely accomplices.
We simply will give the tyrant nothing.
We will not weaken ourselves in order to make him the stronger and the mightier to hold us in check.
We are resolved to serve him no more and aim to regain your freedom.
We will simply no longer support him.
Like the great Colossus whose pedestal has been pulled away, he will fall of this own weight and break into pieces.”
Trump and his administration are setting back medical science and medical care at least 75 years.
Thank-you so so much for these podcasts. Trump and company must be handcuffed and hauled out of our White House. The insanity just never stops. I call or write my "senators" Tillis and Budd almost daily. I have repeatedly told them they are at fault for all deaths from measles and liver failure from the children who were overdosed on codliver oil. It will get worse.
It is so vital more than ever that we the people need to engage the Supreme Court on the outlandish dismantling of our health systems that are vital to everyone’s health and well being…Trump has gone dangerously too far on dismantling agencies crucial to the health of the American people…RFK Jr. adds fuel to the fire by his recommendations when he has No Medical background…Necessary Protests on the steps of the Supreme Court is crucial…
Thank you! Great podcast. I wonder what the future damage will be.. when MPH student workers at state health centers have been fired in the mass cdc layoffs.
Why isn’t this being carried to every news outlet ? This is what all parents need to hear. Should be on Meet the Press and other national programs
Thanks MTN for your expansion in health we your subscribers are grateful for every truthful information shared💯👍💙
I feel sick with everything going on. I can't sleep at night. I don't worry about myself but I worry about all the children, senior citizens, the disabled, the veterans and the families that are being destroyed. I cry. Republicans will not stand up to the atrocities. There is no heart in fascism. I cry. When is this going to stop? When are we going to say enough and really fight back?
I am an Australian listening to this conversation and what is interesting is that America is so far behind in the tobacco war. You have now lost any progress you have made with this Regime at the helm.
The city where I live banned smoking in public places back in the 1990s. Our Local Government was the first to win against the tobacco companies. We brought in package warnings followed by sale restrictions to minors and then no over the counter sales. We also taxed tobacco heavily.
This has worked. Europe then followed us.
The tobacco industry then introduced vapes and now we find that vapes are actually worst than tobacco.
The problem we now face is the illegal tobacco trade which is now booming and causing our government losses in tax revenue.
The war on tobacco is a tough one.
However, the changes have been extremely benefical especially in health cost to society.
The change to the new Regime has now come back at the Australian Government demanding to remove all restrictions on tobacco and other products that have been regulated and applied to American products.
Joint research grants have been removed from six Australian Universities.
Big Pharma want all pricing arrangements removed.
Social media companies are demanding that we remove regulations to prevent hate speech.
In 1996, the Conservative Government lead by John Howard defunded universities and stopped research and development. Our best people fled overseas to Europe and America. We suffered the biggest brain drain ever and have paid dearly for it.
This defunding cause huge financial problems for the universities and the only way to survive was to increase international students and the overall university student intake.
Now international students are blamed for causing the housing shortage along with migrant intake. We are having an election in May and the Conservative Opposition want to slash migrant and student intake.
Every University that was in a joint partnership with an American University is now going bankrupt.
Hopefully many with come back to Australia but given the situation we doubt it.
China and Europe are the winners.
Ok honestly why the hell aren't more people raging about this ??!!! This is insanity. Scary !!!! This is the classic, TYRANTS WANT YOU SICK, STUPID, POOR, AND DYING!!!! WAKE PEOPLE, THIS IS SERIOUS !!!! C'monCorp media and dems get with the program and save the American people from this fascist pig already !!!!! I love MTN, THANK YOU for keeping me sane…. somewhat… lol
We need to get rid of the republican demons in order to survive this regime.
Welcome Dr Gupta. So appreciated your input during CoVid
is any of this research moving to other countries where they can salvage and continue the work of the past
Fascinating read. I’m Harrison, an ex fine dining industry line cook. My stack "The Secret Ingredient" adapts hit restaurant recipes (mostly NYC and L.A.) for easy home cooking. Dm me if interested in a recommendation swap — we’re growing fast!
check us out:
https://thesecretingredient.substack.com
I am looking forward to future episodes and watching this area of MeidasTouch to expand and grow as a Registered Nurse I know just how extremely important it is to keep people informed so they can make healthy decisions.
I am hoping to see this area expand with more specialities gving us updates in their areas of expertise.
I do hope to see Dr Calif back on your show again. He's very informative 👍 👍
Excellent episode. Thank you!
I love this information & transparency. Can we also place them in YouTube? It will make it easier to share with others. Thank you for all you do!!!
Someone should stop him, Why hasn't this been done????
Because we had a chance to stop this Nov 5, 2024 and people stayed home.
But we, I say, we, I'm in London UK, you have a chance to stop him now and you'll do it, Meidas Touch has been Brilliant!
Thank you for revealing this information to the world Meidas. This government isn’t there for the citizens of The USA, they’re here to destroy Democracy and strip The USA of The Constitution. Trump is a psychopathic narcissist who can only think about what he will gain from his time as President.
Next election, EVERYONE should register to vote and turn up to vote this corrupt, monster out of power and send him, Vance and his so called friend Muskrat to gaol.
Love from Australia
Dr Calif, it would help to have a darker background. You’re getting lost with the light.
For sure! He was in an airport when he shot this because he wanted to make sure he brought this info to the people. All things considered, he sounds quite good!
Did not realize that initially
I am a paid subscriber…when I signed up using my gmail address…why can’t you fix this?