“The Springfield cat story turned out to be largely fiction,” writes Pedro Gonzalez, a reporter who investigated shocking claims of Haitian immigrants eating pets in Ohio. But somehow, the story was prominently mentioned in the most important presidential debate of the year. How was a former President baited with virally-manufactured misinformation – and why did Kamala repeat the long-debunked “fine people” hoax? Joel Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large and In-house Counsel at Breitbart News. Born in South Africa and educated at Harvard, he holds degrees in Social Studies, Environmental Science, and Law. Pollak served as chief speechwriter for the Leader of the Opposition in South Africa’s Parliament and completed an MA in Jewish Studies at the University of Cape Town. He’s the author of “The Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days“. Follow him at https://x.com/joelpollak Dr. Alex Balekian is an intensive care physician and candidate for California’s 30th Congressional district. Born and raised in Glendale, Balekian secured second place in the 2024 primary election, advancing to the general election. As a first-time candidate (often referring to himself as a “Deukmejian Republican”) he’s known for his unique profile: Middle Eastern, son of immigrants, pro-choice, and married to a man. Balekian’s platform focuses on public safety, tax reduction, and limited government. Follow Alex at https://x.com/AlexBalekian and learn more at https://alexforca30.com/ 「 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 」 Find out more about the brands that make this show possible and get special discounts on Dr. Drew's favorite products at https://drdrew.com/sponsors • FATTY15 – The future of essential fatty acids is here! Strengthen your cells against age-related breakdown with Fatty15. Get 15% off a 90-day Starter Kit Subscription at https://drdrew.com/fatty15 • CAPSADYN - Get pain relief with the power of capsaicin from chili peppers – without the burning! Capsadyn's proprietary formulation for joint & muscle pain contains no NSAIDs, opioids, anesthetics, or steroids. Try it for 15% off at https://drdrew.com/capsadyn • PALEOVALLEY - "Paleovalley has a wide variety of extraordinary products that are both healthful and delicious,” says Dr. Drew. "I am a huge fan of this brand and know you'll love it too!” Get 15% off your first order at https://drdrew.com/paleovalley • THE WELLNESS COMPANY - Counteract harmful spike proteins with TWC's Signature Series Spike Support Formula containing nattokinase and selenium. Learn more about TWC's supplements at https://twc.health/drew 「 MEDICAL NOTE 」 Portions of this program may examine countervailing views on important medical issues. Always consult your physician before making any decisions about your health. 「 ABOUT THE SHOW 」 Ask Dr. Drew is produced by Kaleb Nation (https://kalebnation.com) and Susan Pinsky (https://twitter.com/firstladyoflove). This show is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.