In Episode 6 of Meidas Health, host Dr. Vin Gupta welcomes former Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure for a must-watch conversation on the future of drug pricing—and a scathing reality check for Donald Trump’s latest stunt.
As the former head of Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Biden, Brooks-LaSure helped lead the successful implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act’s historic drug price negotiation provisions—actual legislation that caps out-of-pocket Medicare drug costs at $2,000 and is already saving seniors billions. Compare that to Trump’s latest “executive order” on drug prices, which—as Dr. Gupta and Brooks-LaSure make clear—is little more than smoke, mirrors, and zero policy substance. No details. No enforcement. Just empty branding.
We need your help on getting out the truth! Add the MeidasTouch Podcast now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, leave a 5-star review, and spread the word!
Dr. Gupta doesn’t hold back, calling Trump’s move “a marketing campaign” dressed up as policy and noting the dangerous long-term effects of the Trump administration’s attacks on NIH research, biomedical innovation, and even vaccine credibility. Together, he and Brooks-LaSure lay out what real leadership looks like when it comes to health care—and how voters can see through the noise.
In a media environment that often rewards spin over substance, this episode is a reminder that the work of protecting our health care system—and democracy—depends on facts, not fantasies. Watch, share, and join the movement to keep policy grounded in truth.
Meidas Health is a groundbreaking new MeidasTouch series hosted by renowned physician, public health expert, and MSNBC contributor Dr. Vin Gupta. The series shine a spotlight on the public health threats posed by Donald Trump and his extremist allies. New episodes can be found on the MeidasTouch Podcast audio feed—so please make sure you add the show right now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Subscribe now to support independent media.
We must continue to peacefully, LOUDLY, and continuously fight the propaganda!
Thank you, Dr. Gupta & this brave former CMS Director.
Good luck if you think that you can turn back the Trump tide peacefully.
It's not going to happen. The Supreme Court is behind Trump and is allowing him to become our dictator. It's over
My Xeralto was $20. Now it’s $2100.00! I’m a senior widowed recently. I can’t afford this drug. I found a Canadian company that sells it for $67.25! Thank you CANADA! Fck Trump.
Good for you. Very glad for your strong spirit! I’m single & 80. So far I need little medication. But for us elders-it is frightening that any: prescription, SSec, SSI, could just disappear with this maniac & his supplicants.
I am only 38 years old, but I am already fearing growing older, becoming a widow, and handling everything alone in my oldest ages. Capitalism has its benefits but it does not when you are older. Debt collectors do not care, they will not hesitate to foreclose on your home, they don't care if you get your medication, they don't care that your income source is gone, they don't care if you lose social security, they don't care if no one will hire you, they don't care if you're safe or not in your own home, they don't care if the bank won't give you a loan. I know that becoming a long-term member of a church is one of the only ways an older woman can make it through, but I am autistic and I struggle creating and maintaining relationships (mostly out of fear, which will be increased in my older ages). I do everything else right and like I'm supposed to, but I figure the USA will eat me alive at that age and take anything of value that I have earned over my lifetime. I know I have a really pessimistic Outlook, but I genuinely had to share it because I don't think I'm the only one.
At 75, I’m sorry that now I’m glad I don’t have much longer on this plane. This is NOT the old age I had envisioned and I feel so very sorry for you, Kimberly, and for the children who are going to have to survive this ever-worsening disaster that seems to only be advancing at supersonic speed…with no rescue in sight. Protesting and “Vote them out!” sound good in theory but they’re stacking the odds against any of that. Too bad we don’t have the determination of South Koreans that would let us rise up and drive this corrupt administration out entirely but there are too many deep roots firmly planted for decades so that there are always some left to feed the will to destroy the way of life we thought would be here for us and our descendants. It hurts my mind and my heart.
I have been encouraging my son to leave the US for a country that cares about its citizens.
Well said. TYVM
Kimberly, thank you for sharing. 💞You are not the only one. I'm 80, and the garbage that's going on in America right now is straight out of a nightmare. I completely understand everything you said.
Don't rely on churches because most of them are little more than money grabs, Ponzi operations, and preaching condemnation as they grow rich daily. Truth be told--the church at Ephesus should be the model for modern-day operations. Sadly, they aren't.
They don't "care for the sheep," nor do they do much for the communities. It's awful, but the truth is church is just another off-Broadway show in many instances. I'm talking about mega churches. We used to belong to one. Joined when it was a tiny ministry, and people knew each other. It was warm and welcoming. As it grew, attitudes changed, and the once "simple country boy" pastor became proud, arrogant, and intolerant of some of us who volunteered. Awful. He became very wealthy--and puffed up with pride.
Today that ministry is world-wide and the "pastor" aka the pimp is filthy rich. Not so for many of the congregants. We know firsthand because we were referred to a social services agency when we faced a challenge. We made an appointment with the pastor, only to be greeted by one of his assistants. He was "not available." We've never been back!
One reason I left the RCC because I didn't see them serving others in the way they should have. Among others.
Oh Kimberly. I feel for you. There is a trick: small joys: a mighty golden dandelion pushed up in the tiniest crack of a sidewalk, the sky, ever changing (Hope u have a view),so many ways to get a lift.
And I just feel so lucky if I spot a bumblebee! Still this insanity can not be reconciled. It’s a one day at a time thing. 🙏🌺
Lovely!
It’s hilarious that Trump thinks it’s safe to eat anything he gets from McDonald’s.
Apparently his food tasters are accustomed to eating spit and snot.
It is becoming apparent that a large portion of Americans are not paying attention to what Trump and the GOP are going to them and their families when it comes to this “beautiful bill”. The shock will come when they get a notice from their health care provider stating they no longer have coverage or a local hospital shuts down or when they get a call from a nursing home to come pick up a loved one because the facility is closing or their bill hasn’t been paid by Medicade
True. The numbskulls who voted for him are feeling the effects already. I can't imagine how some folks are dealing with the aftermath of a storm--and no Fema coming to help.They should be joining the Resistance. Their orange hero is a zero and he won't do anything to help them. Are they beginning to see the light? Only time will tell.
"Trump’s latest “executive order” on drug prices, which—as Dr. Gupta and Brooks-LaSure make clear—is little more than smoke, mirrors, and zero policy substance. No details. No enforcement. Just empty branding." Worst is yet to come. Donald "The Beast" Trump is building a wall once again. Colossal tariff wall that is the beginning of the end for the system of down. At first the beast will pull the plug out of the global economy. The worst financial crisis of human history will pull a swarm of the banks underwater and the bank run begins. Then the beast will collapse a mountain of debt shattering the backbone of the monetary system causing a systemic risk to realize. Finally the beast will cast American citizens into a system slavery under the name of Ronald Wilson Reagan, just to "honor his legacy" count the number. After the destruction a new world order will be established in the US. And the Golden Age begins from the ruins of the world wide collapse. All of the system slaves will love it. No more cash - just digital transactions. No more traditional criminal activity. No more tax evasion. No more transactions without the "all seeing eye". Outcasts will hate the world without freedom, hope and privacy. To cover up the mess and distract the public by smoke and mirrors, the beast will engage in a war with Iran. Lies and deceit, corruption and decay, dancing on the graves will continue. Until; Black hole sun, won't you come, won't you come... I want to play a game. Time has come to opt out of the empire of filth. Live or die...
It will happen if this bill goes thru. Lord what a mess.
His secret weapon is outrage and controversy. Do not fall for his bait and switch tactics.
He promotes fake outrage against Springsteen and Oprah because everyone knows who they are. While we talk about them, dump is doing so many other things behind the scenes. The MSM is complicit, because the Springsteen "story" is easy and generates clicks.
Worst is yet to come. Donald "The Beast" Trump is building a wall once again. Colossal tariff wall that is the beginning of the end for the system of down. At first the beast will pull the plug out of the global economy. The worst financial crisis of human history will pull a swarm of the banks underwater and the bank run begins. Then the beast will collapse a mountain of debt shattering the backbone of the monetary system causing a systemic risk to realize. Finally the beast will cast American citizens into a system slavery under the name of Ronald Wilson Reagan, just to "honor his legacy" count the number. After the destruction a new world order will be established in the US. And the Golden Age begins from the ruins of the world wide collapse. All of the system slaves will love it. No more cash - just digital transactions. No more traditional criminal activity. No more tax evasion. No more transactions without the "all seeing eye". Outcasts will hate the world without freedom, hope and privacy. To cover up the mess and distract the public by smoke and mirrors, the beast will engage in a war with Iran. Lies and deceit, corruption and decay, dancing on the graves will continue. Until; Black hole sun, won't you come, won't you come... I want to play a game. Time has come to opt out of the empire of filth. Live or die...
Destroying alliances and adding tariffs to imported goods WILL NOT lower our drug prices or get us a better deal
Proves how stupid and incapable The Dictator Deranged More On is. He thinks it will just that.
Worst is yet to come. Donald "The Beast" Trump is building a wall once again. Colossal tariff wall that is the beginning of the end for the system of down. At first the beast will pull the plug out of the global economy. The worst financial crisis of human history will pull a swarm of the banks underwater and the bank run begins. Then the beast will collapse a mountain of debt shattering the backbone of the monetary system causing a systemic risk to realize. Finally the beast will cast American citizens into a system slavery under the name of Ronald Wilson Reagan, just to "honor his legacy" count the number. After the destruction a new world order will be established in the US. And the Golden Age begins from the ruins of the world wide collapse. All of the system slaves will love it. No more cash - just digital transactions. No more traditional criminal activity. No more tax evasion. No more transactions without the "all seeing eye". Outcasts will hate the world without freedom, hope and privacy. To cover up the mess and distract the public by smoke and mirrors, the beast will engage in a war with Iran. Lies and deceit, corruption and decay, dancing on the graves will continue. Until; Black hole sun, won't you come, won't you come... I want to play a game. Time has come to opt out of the empire of filth. Live or die...
I feel ya
Explain that to the 77 million who bought his bull shit and Here! We Are
The electorate opened Pandora’s box in 2024. It was only hope that was left when the lid was closed.
Well said. I am not too convinced the lid was shut all the way yet. 🙄
You are an optimist. Look how Trump and the MAGA right reacted to defeat in 2020. Next time they will be organized along with the backing of the various state tools (military, police, courts etc). I’m sorry to say the lid is firmly shut.
Im not sure if my understanding of the phrase is correct. Is the box open bad things coming out when the lid is open ,or good ? I thought bad. Either way, I meant we are screwed. Because alot of bad os still happening. Regardless of Pandora ✌️
It’s bad Ramona. It’s simply bad. And when the box was closed only hope remained, locked in.
I thought that was what you meant. I sure agree with you.
Worst is yet to come. Donald "The Beast" Trump is building a wall once again. Colossal tariff wall that is the beginning of the end for the system of down. At first the beast will pull the plug out of the global economy. The worst financial crisis of human history will pull a swarm of the banks underwater and the bank run begins. Then the beast will collapse a mountain of debt shattering the backbone of the monetary system causing a systemic risk to realize. Finally the beast will cast American citizens into a system slavery under the name of Ronald Wilson Reagan, just to "honor his legacy" count the number. After the destruction a new world order will be established in the US. And the Golden Age begins from the ruins of the world wide collapse. All of the system slaves will love it. No more cash - just digital transactions. No more traditional criminal activity. No more tax evasion. No more transactions without the "all seeing eye". Outcasts will hate the world without freedom, hope and privacy. To cover up the mess and distract the public by smoke and mirrors, the beast will engage in a war with Iran. Lies and deceit, corruption and decay, dancing on the graves will continue. Until; Black hole sun, won't you come, won't you come... I want to play a game. Time has come to opt out of the empire of filth. Live or die...
Thank you, Dr. Gupta and Ms. Brooks-LaSure. I am loving Meidas Health!
Very informative.
Excellent discussion! Thanks MTN, Dr. Vin Gupta and former CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure for outing Trump’s phony executive order!
The Dynamic Duo
The Orange Cheeto and Muskrat are birds of a feather Both consummate liars and fraudsters to achieve their financial needs In his performative art fashion Cheeto regularly misinforms, outright lies, or his favorite go to these days "I don't know anything about it" Often Cheeto will make outrageous statements that are provably false to create an "alternate reality" that he wants the world to believe
In the 2016 election Cheeto said "Don't believe what you see or hear Believe me" Unbelievably ridiculous!!
But now we see how Cheeto and Muskrat get along so well They both have a liar streak within so that both want to create an "alternative reality" Muskrat trying to salvage his Tesla brand amidst the protests at US dealerships, plummeting sales in Europe, and stiff EV competition in China with BYD, has resorted to outright total unreality as he explains how Tesla is really doing well
Lesson learned Can't believe one word that comes out of the piehole even if their tongues were notarized
I still want to know why my country wants me dead? And who will go after them for at the least, intentional harm if not the premeditated murder of We the People.
One reason I am not retiring at age 70, or going on Medicare is because four of my drugs aren’t even covered by Medicare. And I am a fairly healthy person.
Any legislation is subject to insurance and big pharma lobbying and has been since political donations were deregulated. Pressure= lobbying and political donations. Negotiable pricing is new in this country.
Excellent discussion! Thank you!!
I struggle with the co-pays and food costs. So far I have had to not pay my housing costs. Along with car payments and fuel, insurance and the phone bill, I consider these have to pay bills. I can't afford the internet or really any other form of outside communication.
I am solely reliant on my Social Security to pay these bills ... increased drug costs will NOT help me or any other retiree.
If the drug companies don’t keep getting higher prices in the US, then they may just quit making some of those drugs.
Dump and his cronies are doing everything they can to do away with this legislation. In fact, the Dictator Criminal Deranged Psycho in the oval office will no doubt do one of those "executive orders" (executive order like Dr. Vin Gupta mentioned here) and eliminate it.
The goal is to decimate the middle and lower classes to keep them sick and destitute. Then they are malleable. I detailed the CBO data before the CR bill came out of committee. The CBO projected the deficit at $52 trillion in 2035 without the new CR bill. I detail how it will actually be $60 trillion. Think $3 trillion annually in interest. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/over-budget-chaos?r=3m1bs
Now we will have to pay Trump Tax on top of huge prices since most of our drugs are imported.
What a great relief to see Dr. Brooks-LaSure. Excellent discussion and facts. This will be share widely. Thank you.
What are your thoughts about the cost of drugs and the research aspect of the drug business?
The bill has passed with special amendments giving Trump absolute power.
Bernie Sanders introduced a bill in the Senate to actually do this. To call the orange one's bluff. You know what happened.
And now the House approves Trump’s massive tax and immigration package. His “beautiful bill” as he banally puts it. Trump and his acolytes won’t let go without a fight when everyone is just standing back and watching them empty the coffers.
not a lot of specifics sounds pretty part for the course when it involves that president.
More Maga wanding. If the wizard says it it must be so.
Thank you, Dr. Gupta and Chiquita! Your expertise is valued!
I have meds I can’t afford and can’t take anymore. Namely, my asthma maintenance inhaler and when I was on a psych med.
I need clarification...She stated that Biden's negotiations on 10 Medicare prescriptions is the law of the land. I thought trump made them null and void with his EO on January 20. So should my Eliquis script be currently cheaper?
It going to be close to impossible to know what is and isn't true. That's the plan they had,all along.
ALOHA...
Stop normalizing Trump.
Worst is yet to come. Donald "The Beast" Trump is building a wall once again. Colossal tariff wall that is the beginning of the end for the system of down. At first the beast will pull the plug out of the global economy. The worst financial crisis of human history will pull a swarm of the banks underwater and the bank run begins. Then the beast will collapse a mountain of debt shattering the backbone of the monetary system causing a systemic risk to realize. Finally the beast will cast American citizens into a system slavery under the name of Ronald Wilson Reagan, just to "honor his legacy" count the number. After the destruction a new world order will be established in the US. And the Golden Age begins from the ruins of the world wide collapse. All of the system slaves will love it. No more cash - just digital transactions. No more traditional criminal activity. No more tax evasion. No more transactions without the "all seeing eye". Outcasts will hate the world without freedom, hope and privacy. To cover up the mess and distract the public by smoke and mirrors, the beast will engage in a war with Iran. Lies and deceit, corruption and decay, dancing on the graves will continue. Until; Black hole sun, won't you come, won't you come... I want to play a game. Time has come to opt out of the empire of filth. Live or die...
1.2 million Americans are dead because of the COVID pandemic that is still raging throughout the world. Vietnam, Thailand, and other countries are sounding the bell on the latest COVID variant and here we are sitting talking about the ongoing pandemic in the past tense because of Biden and Trump’s incompetence when it comes to public health.
We need competent leaders in the health department that will not abandon the American people for monetary gain like Biden did at the cost of 1.2 million Americans. We need real leaders in healthcare that do not deny suffering of its people.
https://www.stlamerican.com/your-health-matters/long-covid-continues-its-haunting-impact/