Facts Matter – Episode Summary

Podcast: Facts Matter (The Epoch Times)
Host: Roman
Date: October 24, 2025
Episode: Third Assassination Attempt Against Trump?; FDA Issues Major Drug Recall

Overview

This episode of "Facts Matter" dives into three pressing national stories:

1. A newly discovered possible assassination attempt against Donald Trump near Palm Beach, Florida.
2. An outbreak of a rare, more dangerous monkeypox strain in Los Angeles County.
3. The FDA’s recall of a widely prescribed generic cholesterol medication.

True to the show’s ethos of "no spin, no favorites," the host presents evidence, timelines, and official statements, inviting listeners to form their own opinions on these high-stakes developments.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Potential Third Assassination Attempt Against Trump

[00:00–08:45]

• Discovery of Hunting Stand Near Trump’s Arrival Zone

  • FBI Director Kash Patel announced (10/19) the uncovering of an "elevated hunting stand" in clear line of sight of the Air Force One landing zone at Palm Beach airport.
    • Quote [A quoting Patel, 01:10]:

      "Prior to the President's return to West Palm Beach, U.S. Secret Service discovered what appeared to be an elevated hunting stand within sight line of the Air Force One landing zone. No individuals were located at the scene."

  • No suspects found at the scene; FBI is leading the investigation with a focus on forensic and cell phone data.

• Forensic Investigation and Security Upgrades

  • FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino:
    • Quote [03:05]:

      "This hunting stand was appropriately dismantled ... All the forensic tools we have, from digital tools to biometric tools, are all going to be applied to try to find out who put this up there and why."

    • Secret Service “made some changes to the security around the Palm Beach International Airport,” although details withheld for safety.
  • No public suspects identified; official analysis ongoing.

• Recent Context: Prior Attempts

  • The host recounts (with strong language emphasizing concern) two previous attempts on Trump’s life:

    • September 2024: Ryan Ruth attempted to assassinate Trump at his golf course.
      • Quote [05:20]:

        "Ryan Ruth, 59 years old, sought to kill Trump as he pointed a rifle through a fence while the then Republican candidate for president was playing golf. A Secret Service agent discovered Ruth ... and opened fire at him, prompting him to flee the scene..."

      • Ruth prepared for ten hours, had a rifle, body armor plates, and a surveillance camera.
    • July 2024: Trump was shot in the ear during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
      • No additional detail, but the incident underscores escalating threats.

  • Host’s Reflection:

    • [06:30]:

      "Frankly, rereading the details of that earlier assassination attempt ... it really does put into starker contrast and starker focus the danger that that hunting perch represented near the airport."

2. Monkeypox (Mpox) Outbreak – Clade 1 in Los Angeles

[08:46–14:12]

• Emergence of a More Dangerous Strain

  • LA County Dept. of Public Health confirmed a second case of the rare Clade 1 mpox in an adult with no travel history, raising concerns of local spread.
    • Quote [09:25]:

      "It is investigating the possibility of a local spread of Clade 1 MPOX cases after confirming its second case ... the person was hospitalized and is now at home and recovering."

  • Clade 1 is described as more dangerous than the Clade 2 variant prominent during the 2022 global outbreak.

• Transmission and Community at Risk

  • Cited higher spread among "gay and bisexual men," especially those with weakened immune systems.
  • Quote [11:10]:

    "Clade 1 and pox cases can be severe. Risk of severe disease and hospitalization are highest for people with weakened immune systems." "It's critical to protect yourself by getting both doses of the MPOX vaccine if you or your sex partners may be at risk."

  • Reminds listeners that symptoms can range from mild (fever, chills) to severe (lesions on face, hands, chest, genitals).

• Historical Parallels and Recommendations

  • Recounts 2022 monkeypox outbreak, near 500 cases per day at its peak, mostly in men who have sex with men; rare instance of transmission to pets cited as evidence of viral adaptability.
  • Urges at-risk individuals in California to get vaccinated.

3. FDA Recalls Major Generic Statin (Atorvastatin)

[14:13–20:05]

• Scope of the Recall

  • FDA announced a recall of at least 140,000 bottles of generic Atorvastatin (marketed as Lipitor’s generic) due to "failed dissolution specifications."
  • The recall affects tablets made by India-based Alkem Laboratories, distributed by Ascend Laboratories (NJ).
  • Quote [15:32]:

    "FDA said that several versions of generic Atorvastatin calcium tablets are under recall because of failed dissolution specifications indicating the drug did not dissolve at the expected rate. Under FDA guidelines, this means that a patient may not be able to absorb the medication properly."

• Patient Guidance

  • Encourages all Atorvastatin users (and their families) to check current medication against FDA notices to ensure it is not part of the recall.
  • Recalled batches include 10mg tablets (90, 500, 1000 count bottles).
  • Quote [16:50]:

    "If you're watching this and you take it, or perhaps if your parents or grandparents take it ... I would highly recommend that you check what's actually in your medicine cabinet ... And if it is [under recall], well make sure to switch it out asap."

• Company’s History and Drug’s Prevalence

  • Notes this is not Alkem Laboratories’ first FDA compliance issue; prior citations included “broken equipment, unsanitary conditions, incomplete records.”
  • Atorvastatin described as "one of, if not perhaps the most prescribed drug in the United States right now," estimated at 29 million users.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Airport Perch (Assassination Attempt):

  • "There are no elk in West Palm Beach. There are no hunting animals at all, aside from maybe a few seagulls that fly around. So you combine that ... and that's pretty bad, to say the least." – Host, [02:05]

• About the Prevalence of Threats:

  • "That's where we're currently at, both as a country as well as in this case." – Host, [06:55]

• On the Importance of Staying Informed:

  • "You can get informed with the facts, and then ... make a judgment call as to what that event means to you based on your own life experience, your own perceptions, your own narratives. We don't push the narratives on you. We just equip you the facts." – Host, [21:20]

Timestamps of Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------------|-------------------| | Introduction and Show Themes | 00:00–00:50 | | Palm Beach Hunting Stand Discovery | 00:50–05:20 | | FBI and Secret Service Investigations | 03:00–05:20 | | Review of Prior Trump Assassination Attempts | 05:20–07:00 | | Reflection on Security Climate | 07:00–08:45 | | LA Clade 1 Monkeypox Outbreak Details | 08:46–12:00 | | Mpox Vaccine Urgency Statement | 11:10 | | 2022 Clade 2 Monkeypox Recap, New Warnings | 12:01–14:12 | | FDA Atorvastatin Recall – Details & Guidance | 14:13–18:20 | | Atorvastatin Prevalence, FDA History | 18:21–20:05 | | (Ad/Outro for The Epoch Times, not summarized) | [skipped] |

Final Notes

This episode stands out for its factual, rapid-fire delivery, combining critical updates with historical context and practical advice. Notable is the show’s encouragement for personal responsibility: listeners are urged to verify their own medical supplies and remain alert to public health advisories and political safety risks.

The host leaves with a reminder of the podcast's commitment to unbiased journalism:

"We just equip you the facts so that you can piece together your own vision of what life actually is. In my opinion, that's what a news source should be." – Host, [21:50]

For more details, official statements, and recall lists, listeners are directed to the episode’s description links.