Former Health Secretary Becerra on RFK Hearing and CA Gov Race

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The MeidasTouch Podcast 18 min 2 speakers 8 chapters transcribed 3 days ago
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What happened at the disastrous RFK Jr. hearing and how did Republican senators react?

Ben Meiselas 0:00
So you have Republican senators who were even grilling RFK Jr. during that disastrous hearing that took place this week, who are physicians who were grilling him, saying, You're killing the American people with your anti-vax policies. Our constituents are dying. Okay. But then when the hearing was over, or even right before the hearing, when they were asked by the press, so do you have Have no confidence in this guy, they would run away from the press and say, Look, whatever Donald Trump wants, we got to give Donald Trump whatever he wants. So, you know, even though you saw what went down in there, if you don't believe me, here's Senator Barroso from Wyoming. He's a physician, Republican senator, like the number two in the Senate.
Ben Meiselas 0:42
Again, a physician. Here he is, running away from the press, and you'll hear him say, We just have to give whatever Donald Trump wants. He literally says that here play this clip.
Unknown 0:52
Do you still have confidence in him, Senator? His ability to lead HHS?
Ben Meiselas 0:59
Do you have confidence in him, Senator?
Unknown 1:02
Is there a reasonable? If you have confidence in what the President of the United States is doing, then I will not second it.
Ben Meiselas 1:07
Your job is literally to second guess it like oversight is mean second guess. Your job is to say, wait a minute, maybe we're a co-equal branch and what you're doing is killing people. This was that guy's questioning right before that. This is Barrasso questioning RFK Jr. Here, watch this.
Unknown 1:28
I support vaccines. I'm a doctor, vaccines work. Secretary Kennedy, in your confirmation hearings, you promised to uphold the highest standards for vaccines. Since then, I've grown deeply concerned. The public has seen measles outbreaks. Leadership in the National Institute of Health questioning the use of mRNA vaccines. The recently confirmed director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fired. Americans don't know who to rely on.

Why do senators like Barrasso and Cassidy appear to avoid answering questions about confidence in the Health Secretary?

Unknown 1:55
You know, recent polls that 89% of Voters, 81% of Trump voters agree vaccine recommendations should come from trained physicians, scientists, public health experts. So, you know, they believe, you know, Senator Marshall, Senator Cassidy, they believe me when it comes to vaccines. If we're gonna make America healthy again, we can't allow public health to be undermined.
Ben Meiselas 2:16
Well, so you're gonna kill me? But I I and I'm angry at it, but go and do it. Go what am I in the Looney Tunes here? What am I missing? And then Senator Cassidy from Louisiana, also a physician, here he is running away from the questioning. Here, play this clip.
Bill Cassidy 2:34
Do you do you regret your vote? I mean junior you know I've I've I knew I've You can refer to our tweet on that. I'm asking uh question. And s we we we I know you asked some different questions, but you're trying to get into something similar. Uh and uh this is not gonna come in. How about whether you still
Unknown 2:50
stand by that vote?
Ben Meiselas 2:53
See, like covering his face. Like how how are how are these people real? Like, how am I what am I watching is actual United States senators? Here's what Cassidy was saying during his questioning of Health Secretary RFK Jr. Here, play this clip. The first one. I would say effectively we're denying people vaccines. Here, play this clip.
Bill Cassidy 3:13
Secondly, an email from a physician friend of mine. Hey Bill, I'm not even sure what I'm asking. But we're all confused and concerned about who can get the COVID vaccine. We are having our attorney try and render an opinion. But there's no firm guidance and concern about liability if vaccines are given to a patient requested but not on the current CDC list. Pharmacists are requiring a prescription now even for patients over sixty-five, creating a huge headache.

How is the CDC’s advisory committee being politicized and why does it matter for vaccine policy?

Bill Cassidy 3:39
I submit these for the record. Without objection. I would say effectively we're denying people vaccine. I Senator Catwell. I get wrong.
Ben Meiselas 3:47
All right, now let's bring in the former Secretary for Health and Human Services, Javier Basera, under the uh Biden administration. Uh, Secretary Basera is also running for governor of the state of California, which we'll talk about as well. But I gotta start by asking you about that RFK Junior hearing, and we'll get into more of what he's doing at the agency, the sprawling agency.

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