Why Do "They" Want Americans So Unhealthy? ft. Calley Means

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Charlie Kirk Show – "Why Do 'They' Want Americans So Unhealthy? ft. Callie Means"

Release Date: February 1, 2025

In this compelling episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, host Charlie Kirk engages in a pivotal conversation with Callie Means, co-author of Good Energy and a staunch advocate for public health reform. Together, they delve deep into the alarming decline of American children's health, the political maneuvers surrounding Bobby Kennedy's confirmation, and the grassroots movements striving to restore trust in science and healthcare.

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1. Setting the Stage: Bobby Kennedy’s Confirmation Fight

[00:00 – 01:23]

Charlie Kirk kicks off the episode by emphasizing the critical battle surrounding Bobby Kennedy's confirmation. Callie Means lauds Kirk’s efforts, stating, "Charlie Kirk's running the White House, folks" (00:27), highlighting his pivotal role in building Turning Point USA into a formidable youth organization.

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2. The Health Crisis: Unveiling the Truth Behind Children's Health Issues

[01:36 – 08:02]

The core of the discussion centers on the dire state of American children's health. Callie Means articulates the sinister incentives within the healthcare system, revealing, "There's nothing more profitable than a sick child. The insurance industry, pharma industry and hospitals make money when a child is sick with a chronic disease for a longer period of time" (05:25). She criticizes the American Academy of Pediatrics for advocating processed foods and promoting drugs like Ozempic as standard care, leading to skyrocketing rates of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease among children.

Notable Quotes:

• Callie Means: "1 in 30 kids in California having autism. That's really, really scary." (05:36)
• Charlie Kirk: "Illness has become very profitable." (06:45)

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3. Political Strategy: Securing Republican Backing for Bobby Kennedy

[08:02 – 15:02]

The conversation shifts to the political landscape, focusing on Senator Bill Cassidy's pivotal vote on Bobby Kennedy's nomination. Callie Means underscores the importance of Cassidy's decision, asserting, "I believe a yes vote from Senator Cassidy and every Republican senator. I believe they will consider it one of the greatest votes of their career" (05:25). She urges supporters to engage positively with Cassidy, emphasizing his influence as the "doctor of the Senate" and the chair of the Health Committee (14:14).

Notable Quotes:

• Callie Means: "We're at a fork in the road for American health." (15:50)
• Charlie Kirk: "This is right at that 48, 49 vote threshold, right?" (13:57)

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4. The Maha Moms Movement: Grassroots Mobilization for Health Reform

[03:57 – 16:18]

Callie Means introduces the Maha Moms movement, a coalition of concerned mothers advocating for healthier futures for their children. She highlights their unwavering support for Kennedy and their significant influence on Republican senators, noting, "The Maha moment is a huge part of it" (09:41). The movement's grassroots efforts, including mass mobilizations on campuses and heartfelt testimonies, play a crucial role in pressuring legislators to prioritize public health reforms.

Notable Quotes:

• Callie Means: "I believe he's the traditional system and Bobby represents this new paradigm." (14:34)
• Charlie Kirk: "It was supposed to be like 22 points and it was eight, it's my understanding." (09:41)

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5. Systemic Corruption: Exposing the Crony Capitalism in Healthcare

[16:09 – 19:34]

The discussion delves into the systemic issues plaguing the American healthcare system. Callie Means details how crony capitalism and corporate capture have rigged Medicare, Medicaid, FDA, and NIH policies to favor pharmaceutical profits over genuine health improvements. She contends, "We have this CMS situation where outside groups, literally lobbying organizations, make logic that underlie our entire healthcare paradigm" (16:16), advocating for a fundamental overhaul to incentivize disease prevention and longevity.

Notable Quotes:

• Callie Means: "We are 4% of the world's population and 75% of all worldwide pharmaceutical profits." (16:09)
• Charlie Kirk: "How is it possible that we're 75%?" (16:24)

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6. Call to Action: Mobilizing for a Healthier America

[15:02 – 16:18]

As the episode nears its conclusion, Callie Means urges listeners to actively support Bobby Kennedy's confirmation. She emphasizes the critical nature of Cassidy's vote, stating, "This is historic" (05:25) and paints a dire picture of America's standing, with the nation ranking 60th in life expectancy. The urgency of restoring trust in science and reforming healthcare policies is palpable, rallying the audience to participate in grassroots movements and influence legislative outcomes.

Notable Quotes:

• Callie Means: "This is the biggest and most powerful industry in the country." (20:03)
• Charlie Kirk: "We are right there. Is that correct?" (12:40)

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7. Conclusion: Vision for a Healthier Future

[19:18 – 21:29]

The episode wraps up with a vision for transforming the American healthcare system. Callie Means outlines a positive future where research funding is redirected to impactful studies, regulatory bodies promote genuine health innovations, and the medical code system rewards preventive care. She remains confident in Bobby Kennedy's leadership, predicting a significant positive shift in American health standards.

Notable Quotes:

• Callie Means: "We've got to get Cassidy." (14:05)
• Charlie Kirk: "God bless." (46:47)

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Key Takeaways:

• Alarming Health Statistics: The United States is facing a crisis with skyrocketing rates of chronic diseases among children, largely driven by systemic corruption in the healthcare industry.

• Political Battle: The confirmation of Bobby Kennedy is crucial for implementing much-needed health reforms, with Senator Bill Cassidy's vote being a linchpin in this process.

• Grassroots Mobilization: Movements like Maha Moms are instrumental in pressuring legislators to prioritize public health over pharmaceutical profits.

• Systemic Reform Needed: A fundamental overhaul of Medicare, Medicaid, FDA, and NIH policies is necessary to incentivize disease prevention and genuine healthcare improvements.

• Call to Action: Listeners are encouraged to support Bobby Kennedy's confirmation, engage with grassroots movements, and advocate for transparent and effective health policies.

For more insights and to get involved, visit freedomarliekirk.com or contact Turning Point USA at tpusa.com.

Transcript

[Charlie Kirk]

Hey, everybody, where is Bobby Kennedy? Stand in the confirmation fight. We sit down with Kali Means. Straight from Washington, D.C. to discuss, email me as always, freedomarliekirk.com and get involved with Turning Point [e-mail] that is tpusa.com Start a high school or college chapter [e-mail] Buckle up, everybody. Here we go. Charlie, what you've done is incredible here. Maybe Charlie Kirk is on the college campus. I want you to know we are lucky to have Charlie Kirk.

[Callie Means]

Charlie Kirk's running the White House, folks.

[Meghan McCain]

I want to thank Charlie.

[Callie Means]

Charlie's an incredible guy. His spirit, his love of this country. He's done an amazing job building one of the most powerful youth organizations ever created, Turning Point usa.

[Charlie Kirk]

We will not embrace the ideas that have destroyed countries, destroyed lives, and we are going to fight for freedom on campuses across the country. That's why we are here. Noble Gold Investments is the official gold sponsor of the Charlie Kirk Show, a company that specializes in gold IRAs and physical delivery of precious metals. Learn how you could protect your wealth with Noble gold investments@noblegold investments.com that is noblegoldinvestments.com it's where I buy all of my gold. Go to noblegoldinvestments.com joining us now is Cali Means Cali. Great to see you.

[Callie Means]

Great to see you, Charlie. Just in from D.C. yeah, you and.

[Charlie Kirk]

I both were there. I was in the White House yesterday. You were actually with Bobby Kennedy for his two hearings. Also, you're the co author of Good Energy. Everyone should check it out. Callie, give us a status report from the front lines on Bobby.

[Callie Means]

Let's take the Dems off the table. I mean, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are two of the largest recipients of pharma dollars. Total shills. They were talking about baby onesies. They were acting like they cared about children's health, but they didn't say the words diabetes, obesity, or heart disease. The things that are really the scourge of childhood health right now. They didn't say those words one time in the hearing. So let's take them off the table. The bottom line, Charlie, is we've got to get the Republicans on board. And Bill Cassidy, to his credit, was direct at the end of the last hearing and he said he's still on the fence. I think your tweet, Charlie, was pitch perfect. I think we need to take Senator Cassidy his word that he is a doctor, he does care about public health, and I think he's talking a bit past each other with Bobby Kennedy. He says his vote's contingent on knowing that Bobby Kennedy is going to maintain trust in science. The truth. As we know as parents, we're not scared for our children's health because of Bobby Kennedy. We are scared because the American Academy of Pediatrics is pushing processed food on our kids. We're scared because they're pushing Ozempic and other drugs on our kids as the standard of care. We're scared because still the CDC is saying a six month old should get a COVID 19 shot. The public health authorities are responsible for the breakdown of public health. And you know this, and I know this. I know you've been very close to Bobby throughout this process. He has hell bent. His life's mission with President Trump is to restore trust and in science. You've seen these meetings. I'm shocked it would shock anyone. I'm not shocked. But behind closed doors, it's not about an ideology, it's truly about getting the NIH money to the best researchers. Yeah, that's what they want to do.

[Charlie Kirk]

So let me just ask, is there going to be some follow up privately with Cassidy and Bobby? I imagine they can meet as much as they want. I mean what happens publicly is somewhat performative.

[Callie Means]

I want to talk to the Maha moms because as we both know, Bobby Kennedy more than maybe any other cabinet secretary came in there with a great coalition. I mean it's incredible coalition. You saw it visually at the hearings. I mean, thousands of Baha moms packing the halls. So I want to be really clear to everyone watching because I know everyone's really fired up and I think we understand the societal stakes of this nomination. Let's talk to Senator Cassidy with respect, as you did. I think we need to bring him along. The Maha is a new movement that health is not about the intricacies of Medicare, Medicaid policy. It's about really getting the root cause of why we're getting sick. And I think Senator Cassidy can be brought along on that. Private conversations, of course those are happening. Of course those are happening. I think he's an independent guy. He's obviously made some decisions we disagree with in the past.

[Charlie Kirk]

But voting to convict the president, but.

[Callie Means]

Some big ones, this could go a long way. There's some really obviously water on the bridge going backwards. Looking forward to this is what I'd say to him. And honestly, Charlie, I think it's probably what's being said behind closed doors is that he's concerned with public trust in science and Bobby Kennedy and President Trump. It's promises made Promises kept. And they had two promises in this campaign. It's to return to gold star research. And it was really a positive health future where 95% today of healthcare costs are managing chronic disease. We could have an incentive system where companies are incentivized to reverse disease to promote longevity. You know, I know me and you read a lot of health blogs and books. We can put that into medicine and incentivize and reward companies. Right now we have a crony capitalist system that profits when we're sick. So there's this positive vision forward that I think they're telling Cassidy behind closed doors. I'll say this, Charlie, and I believe this with all my heart. I believe a yes vote from Senator Cassie and every Republican senator. I believe they will consider it one of the greatest votes of their career. In four years, at the end of the Trump administration. I'm not joking about this. I think President Trump will be winning the Nobel Prize. I think science is so. We're so lost right now. We know the predetermined outcome. Before we do this study, we are going to get back to asking tough questions. And President Trump, he said it again and again. We're going to figure out why the hell our kids are so sick and we're going to steer research that that's what's going to happen.

[Charlie Kirk]

I want to play a piece of tape here in a second. But just really quick, can you riff how sick our kids actually are? Grandparents sometimes don't realize or recognize. Oh, kids get sick all the time. No, they are chronically, not acutely ill.

[Callie Means]

I mean, every parent watching you and me, I am really, that's what got me into this along with my mom's death. I am scared about the future our kids are walking into. 1 in 30 kids in California having autism. That's really, really scary. I'm frankly, to be honest, concerned about the pharmaceutical projects. I'm concerned about the pharmaceutical products that are shoved down kids throats. 40% of teens are on a pharmaceutical right now. We have 50% of teens overweight or obese and it's 3% in Japan. The Biden administration held this number until after the election, but According to recent reports, 3,38% of teens are pre diabetic. We have a devastation among children's health. President Trump held up this graph on the Joe Rogan podcast. It showed we are spending three times more per capita than Europe, which by the way has terrible health care policy on health and living. Ten years less than our friends in Switzerland or Japan and seven years less than The Italians. There's something really broken about our health incentives. And Bobby Kennedy said it, Charlie, there's nothing more profitable than a sick child. The insurance industry, pharma industry and hospitals make money when a child is sick with a chronic disease for a longer period of time. And they lose money when a child's healthy. That's the fundamental problem.

[Charlie Kirk]

I mean, it begs the question, then they want you sick because they make more money.

[Callie Means]

And this was really galvanized, I think you and many other people and these incredible turning point events during the campaign. It's not a slight on any one person, we all know good doctors, but as a simple statement of economic fact, because of the crony capitalism, because of the rigging of our CMS department, our FDA and our nih, you know, the standard of care if a kid has high cholesterol is a statin. The standard of care if they're a little bit sad is an ssri. That's all because of the corruption in our agencies, the corporate capture. Doctors aren't talking to kids about healthy eating or functional medicine, blood testing or getting outside. These things could be incentivized with our medical system. It's not a woo woo thing. We spend $4.5 trillion on healthcare. And just as a simple fact, 95% of that is after we get sick, it's managing disease. Again, I mentioned they didn't say the word obesity. Diabetes, heart disease, those chronic conditions are 92% of deaths in America right now. They said the word measles 25 times. The Democrats, 300Americans, just 300Americans a year, died of measles in 1962 before the vaccine was admitted. It's a problem. Right. But we're not focused on the main issue as a health care system. And that's the opportunity that that Bill Cassidy frankly has with this vote. This is historic.

[Charlie Kirk]

Illness has become very profitable. And Bobby Kennedy's gonna ruin the annuity business model of keeping our kids sick. I wanna play this piece of tape here of the political power of Maha. This is from Meghan McCain. Play cut 236.

[Meghan McCain]

Let me tell you something just really quick. There are a lot of women in my life, including Jessica Krause, who were not Republicans five years ago, that because of Tulsi and rfk, came to Trump. I mean, a lot. And I would love to see the data on it, particularly with moms post Covid. If they screw these two people and they don't get confirmed, it is a flesh wound for the Trump administration. If Maha goes down and Tulsi goes down, there will be.

[Charlie Kirk]

Is that correct in your estimation, keeping it positive.

[Callie Means]

This 24 hours, we're making the positive element, but this is part of the. I know, I know, I know. Well, the ascendant, the retribution. Yeah. So she's implying that there'll be retribution. I want to make the positive spin is that there is a absolute realignment of Republican politics due to Donald Trump. A lot of reasons, but I was talking to John McLaughlin. I know the administration sees this. The Maha moments is a huge part of it. I mean, it's been called one of the biggest realignments in American politics, you know, and you were a big part of this, Charlie, with young people. But you saw that. You saw that at the events, the young people were very animated about the Maha thing, about not poisoning kids and then drugging them for profit. The gender gap closed much more than we expected. I think it was supposed to be like 22 points and it was eight, it's my understanding. So the gender gap closed and then independence. I mean, if you said eight years ago that the degree of young people, independents and women were gonna come to the Trump coalition, they'd think you were crazy.

[Charlie Kirk]

That's right.

[Callie Means]

This was a multifactorial issue, but clearly cause the Maha moment, and I would just say we cannot get worse than where we are right now. We are the sickest country in the developed world. Our public health authorities have totally let us down from Fauci on down. Not only that, there's a true, like, very optimistic vision ahead. I mean, Jay Bhattashari at the NHS is just an incredible pick. Marty Makary at the fda, I mean, it's just unbelievable.

[Charlie Kirk]

And their Senate confirmed too, right?

[Callie Means]

Their Senate confirmed and I think they'll be great. But.

[Charlie Kirk]

And they're under the tree of hhs.

[Callie Means]

Yeah, yeah. And Bobby is an incredible manager. He's a magnetic personality, as you know, but he set the vision and he's going to let them run wild with the mandate to get money to the best researchers. And importantly, reorient our corrupt American Medical association codes that say right now that a two year old can have gender transition surgery. Reorient the codes to incentivize longevity. We can do that. The whole sick care system we have isn't the free market. It's rigged CMS codes that incentivize us to be. Dr. Oz will be doing CMS and he's a hero.

[Charlie Kirk]

I really just. So I understand the lay of the land, is it really all down to Cassidy? What other senators are. Have yacht Give us the bullpen.

[Callie Means]

I'm going to. I'm just giving my brass tacks here. I believe that Cassidy sends a signal to potentially other wobbly ones. And I do believe. I don't want to mince word. As Cassidy goes, so does the vote.

[Charlie Kirk]

Oh, wow.

[Callie Means]

That's my opinion, Charlie and I think everyone here should be sending positive messages to Cassidy. Positive saying the opportunity for American health. We have. You've got the wobbly ones who voted against Hegseth. And I think that they. I really think Cassidy's gonna set a tone here. I think we've got to get Cassidy.

[Charlie Kirk]

So with. And Cassidy has not signaled either way, he's legitimately undecided.

[Callie Means]

He said at the end of the hearing, actually very directly that he was torn on this and was going to be talking to Bobby this weekend.

[Charlie Kirk]

So then we also have Susan Collins, Murkowski and McConnell.

[Callie Means]

Collins made some nice comments at the hearing.

[Charlie Kirk]

Yeah, Collins actually has been more effusive in support than Cassidy, it seems.

[Callie Means]

Oh, absolutely. Collins. Lyme disease is a huge issue in her state. Bobby's been a world leader on Lyme disease.

[Charlie Kirk]

By the way, they were trying to attack Bobby Kennedy for this lab leak. It's almost certainly from a laboratory in Connecticut. I'm sorry, if you look at it, it was like a couple miles away. I don't want to get into this right now.

[Callie Means]

No, it's true. Everyone look at it.

[Charlie Kirk]

Tucker did a whole program on this where Lyme is a very unusual phenomenon in the upper Northeast.

[Callie Means]

Senator Bennett, who is a senator from Colorado, a Dem who was one of my favorite Dems, just disgraced himself with. He disgraced himself at this year.

[Meghan McCain]

No.

[Callie Means]

And he's usually sometimes think he's kind of reasonable. He disgraced himself.

[Charlie Kirk]

Well, I don't understand. In the Northeast, that Vermont main corridor, there's a lot of anti vax like or like mom energy against the whole industrial complex.

[Callie Means]

I've learned a lot from you, Charlie. We got to sprint through the finish line here. I think Collins looks good. I think Lankford Collins would be great. I think Lankford looks good. But I got to get Cassidy.

[Charlie Kirk]

I've always defended.

[Callie Means]

Yeah, we gotta get Cassie.

[Charlie Kirk]

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[Callie Means]

And I think Cassidy is weathervane. I think he gives a signal if he votes no. I think it's a problem. Just the brass tacks are Cassidy's an influential guy.

[Charlie Kirk]

Yeah. I mean he's considered to be medical.

[Callie Means]

The doctor of the Senate. He's the, he's the chair of the health committee. You know, and to his credit, he, he's been a long term good doctor.

[Charlie Kirk]

I think the mom, I'm gonna be so kind but like when I hear that someone's a doctor, I'm like, okay, you have to earn my trust. Okay. The title does not again, he, I, I'm giving him the opportunity, but the title does not like guarantee it's nothing personal against him.

[Callie Means]

I just, there's no question in my.

[Charlie Kirk]

Head trust must be earned in every domain.

[Callie Means]

Absolutely. There's no question in my head that he cares in his head about public health and cares about the American patient. I actually think there's this, it's almost a symbolic thing. He's the traditional system and Bobby represents this new paradigm. He's CMS policy. Bobby's. How do we actually incentivize better health? So them merging together I actually, I actually think could be successful.

[Charlie Kirk]

So what is the gentle call to action, positive reinforcement for Senator Cassidy?

[Callie Means]

Yeah. And I know you know, we all.

[Charlie Kirk]

Have not the you better.

[Callie Means]

No, it's, it's not the threat. I mean Cassidy said this, he said he, I think he said in his career he's never gotten more phone calls from, from that he has this time from the maha moms.

[Charlie Kirk]

They Took down the phone number.

[Callie Means]

Yeah, they're camping out at his office. I mean, I could. I just want to say, Charlie, I mean, I mean, channeled by Turning Point, you know, in the campaign and now here, this grassroots mobilization around so many issues, but around health, I mean, it's pretty inspiring to see. I mean, there were moms that drove 10 hours with their kids to come to this hearing. It was pretty damn cool. And the senators have said they've seen nothing like it in a long time. So he's feeling that. And that, I would say, is both a positive and a negative. Clearly, there's going to be massive ramifications for any Republican that votes. No, it's particularly with Bobby Kennedy. But.

[Charlie Kirk]

Yeah.

[Callie Means]

I just wanted to say this to everyone right now. This is a big vote. We're at a fork in the road for American health. I think it's a. I believe it's a societally destabilizing situation we're in where we are 4% of the world's population, 75% of worldwide pharmaceutical profits, and 60th in life.

[Charlie Kirk]

So we're 4% of the world's population and 75% of all worldwide pharmaceutical profits.

[Callie Means]

And we are 60th in life expectancy.

[Charlie Kirk]

I mean, but you would. You would think that if something is tied to population, it's not. There are other wealthy countries.

[Callie Means]

So of course Europe as a whole is about the same GDP as us.

[Charlie Kirk]

So how is it possible that we're 75%?

[Callie Means]

Let's get into what this. And this gets into the positive vision we can all paint. Let's get into what Bobby can actually do. So how are drug prices 10 times more expensive? How are the United States citizens on more drugs? Well, it's because you first read the NIH research. The NIH research is 85% pharmaceutical R& D, basically saying not what causes Alzheimer's, but to find little band aids for Alzheimer's. Then the FDA approval process is totally dominated by Big Pharma. They pay for 75% of the budget and it costs $3 billion to get a therapeutic through which only necessitates large pharma things. Not innovative AI things or not innovative therapeutics from startups. Then the FDA approvals underlie the CMS codes which are the backbone of our economy. 20% of our economy is basically driven by that, our entire healthcare system. So you have this CMS situation where outside groups, literally lobbying organizations, make logic that underlie our entire healthcare paradigm, which basically wait for people to get sick and then jab a drug there's no reason, Charlie, we don't have more codes in Medicare Medicaid to be more preventative or to have more root cause interventions. The goal of healthcare obviously should be the most efficacious way to prevent or reverse disease. As a statement of fact, the Medicare Medicaid system right now is waiting for people to get sick and then drugging them and managing disease. That's by design and it's through corruption, it's through rigging. Every single step of the value chain. That's why Bobby has told Senator Cassidy, and he means this, the place you need to start is the nih. You need to get the research on why we're getting diabetes epidemic rates, why we're so much sicker than Europe, why, whether the food dyes are healthy, which the FDA currently says they are, whether these, all these atrazine, which Alex Jones is right about that. It's true. It is true. It is a huge estrogen. It changes our testosterone. Estrogen.

[Charlie Kirk]

Alex Jones is right about most. He's right about everything.

[Callie Means]

This is definitive. It changes testosterone to estrogen. Okay? Like that is banned in every other country and we are spraying in our food. By the way, that chemical atrazine specifically comes from China and it's not used in China. So there's real national security implications here. So you start with the nih, then that underlies the FDA approval process. You do regulate the fda. You have more robust competition for the best therapeutics. And then you get to our, the gold star, the big kahuna here, Charlie, is the medical codes, those are totally captured right now. It's a boring part of the world. And I think what Bobby and President Trump and this great team he's put together, they can communicate. We've got you, we've got Joe Rogan, we've got independent media ready to carry the church. Megyn Kelly was sitting right behind Bobby at the hearing. We are ready to shine a light on this again and again and again and use the grassroots army to get Americans healthier.

[Charlie Kirk]

And it's gonna start hopefully soon with. So when is the vote? What is the timeline here?

[Callie Means]

Cassidy said he's going to talk to Bobby this weekend. Cassidy's on the Finance Committee and the Finance Committee will be voting.

[Charlie Kirk]

The committee that's voting, isn't there a health committee, too?

[Callie Means]

The Health committee will not be voting out of committee.

[Charlie Kirk]

Yes, so I think he'll be okay in committee.

[Callie Means]

Cassidy's on that committee and has some sway, but he's on both committees. Yes, but listen, I think we're looking good. He is going to be confirmed. This is an absolute campaign mandate. Bobby's going to be confirmed. I'm taking a lesson from you which is not let up the gas. I'm taking that lesson I saw from you during the campaign. I might be sounding a little paranoid. I think we've got to give a positive message to Cass. We should be paranoid, Charlie, because this is the biggest and most powerful industry in the country.

[Charlie Kirk]

Yeah, that's right.

[Callie Means]

Pharma spends five times more on lobbying than the oil industry. And if we can get this win, it is a huge, huge win for the American.

[Charlie Kirk]

Callie, thank you so much. Email us freedom charliekirk.com Contact your Senator with a persuasive, uplifting email. Hey everybody, Charlie Kirk here. There's a lot of excitement in Washington D.C. as we start the year, but I wanted to talk to you about something just as exciting happening outside the D.C. beltway. A revolution in the States. It's the Education Freedom movement. It's real. It's growing and growing because some states, as they should, are putting parents in charge of the education of their kids. Everyone knows education has the power to change a kid's life and anyone who raised a child knows each has different needs, learning styles and God given talents. The fact is, parents know their own children best, knows what's best for their development and future. Education freedom legislation puts parents, not zip codes and politicians, in charge of these important family decisions. It's why I strongly support making universal education freedom a reality for every parent in every state. To find out where your state legislature stands and to make sure your voice is heard, go to educationfreedomusa.com now. Educationfreedomusa.com let's throw live to White House Press Secretary 27 years old Caroline Levitt.

[Meghan McCain]

Let's listen in protocols made during the prior four years and to take all necessary corrective actions to achieve uncompromised aviation safety. The review will include a comprehensive assessment and reversal of any deterioration in hiring standards and aviation safety standards and protocols. During the previous administration, aviation safety was addressed by President Trump before this tragic collision even took place. On his second day in office, the President signed a memorandum to immediately stop Biden DEI hiring programs and return to non discriminatory merit based hiring. And in 2018, during President Trump's first term, the Department of Transportation announced it would put an end at that time to use the biological questionnaire that was introduced by the Obama administration which punished skilled applicants. President Trump has long led on the issue of aviation safety and he will continue to do so, he will continue to deliver on the promises he made to the American people at record speed. The Senate has already confirmed eight of President Trump's exceptional cabinet nominees, including most recently, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. As you of course know, EPA Secretary Lee Zeldin and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who is scheduled to be sworn in later today. We expect the Senate to continue quickly confirming, affirming the remainder of President Trump's well qualified nominees in the days ahead. Earlier this week in the East Room, the President proudly signed the Lake and Riley act into law. Surrounded by Laken's loving parents and sister. This common sense bipartisan law mandates the federal detention of illegal aliens who are accused of theft, burglary, assaulting a law enforcement officer and any crime that causes death or serious bodily injury, like the animal who murdered Lakin Riley in cold blood. This was the first piece of legislation President Trump proudly signed as the 47th President of the United States, and it will guarantee that Lakin did not die in vain. As Lakin's mother, Allison tearfully said during the signing event, President Trump said he would secure our borders and that he would never forget about Lakin. And he hasn't. He's a man of his word and we trust that he will fight for the American people. Those are the words of Lakin's mother and we will never forget them. So to help lock up even more criminal illegal aliens, President Trump signed a memorandum this week to detain them at Guantanamo Bay. This action will expand the Migrant Operations center at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to full capacity to provide critical extra detention space for high priority criminal illegals. Our brave ICE agents continue to arrest more and more of these types of individuals every day in communities across our country. And I have more updates for you. On January 27, 2025, ICE Chicago arrested a citizen of Guatemala who has been convicted of solicitation to meet a child disturbing and sentenced to 24 months probation. On January 28, 2025, ICE Atlanta arrested a citizen of South Korea who has been convicted of nine counts of possession or control of material depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct. On January 28, ICE New York arrested a Mexican national previously charged by the State of New York for attempted murder and possession of a weapon and assault. And on January 28th, ISIS Philly arrested a citizen of Mexico who has been convicted of possession of child pornography. Our message is simple. If you are a criminal illegal alien, you will be arrested and deported on another important matter. The nation's report card was released this week and the news is not good. It showed that US Students had record low reading comprehension scores last year. It's National School Choice Week, and in part of the President's commitment to education, he just left a roundtable in the Roosevelt Room focused on this issue with leaders from across the country. The national report card showed that 70% of 8th graders were below proficient in reading and 40% of 4th graders did not even meet the basic reading levels. This is completely unacceptable to the President, and he continues to take aggressive actions to address this education problem in our country. He signed an executive order this week prohibiting federal funding of the indoctrination of our children, including radical gender ideology and critical race theory in the classroom. The President believes American education should focus on cultivating patriotic citizens who are ready for the workforce. And this action will help get schools back on track and defend fundamental parental rights in education. The President also signed a school choice executive order expanding educational freedom and opportunity for families. And in lighter news, but in exciting news, after announcing our briefing room changes on Wednesday, this White House has received more than 10,000 submissions from individuals across the country who are eager to join all of you. We might have to make this room a little bit bigger to do that. Who want to participate in our new media seat at a future briefing? So, in this seat today, we have the ruthless podcast. They humbly started by entertaining small audiences on Capitol Hill. But after four years, this program has become one of the most influential podcasts in America. They previously reached number one on the charts and earned over 25 million downloads as they deliver political news with a humorous touch. The hosts are Josh Holmes, Michael Duncan, comfortably smug, and the man joining us today, John Ashbrook. So with that, I will take your questions. John, please kick us off.

[Charlie Kirk]

Thank you very much. You know, Caroline, in your first briefing, the media went after this administration for deporting illegal immigrants they claimed were not.

[Meghan McCain]

Certainly is out of touch. And I think that's proven by a number of things, John. Number one, there was a New York Times poll that was released prior to President Trump's inauguration by the New York Times, which of course is a legacy media outlet, that showed that 83% of Americans support deporting the individuals that you mentioned, illegal immigrant criminals, especially those who have committed heinous crimes in the interior of our country. And I received a very actually interesting statistic on this front from ICE this week. 97% of the deportations that this administration has made thus far are of individuals who had a removal order from the previous administration, but were never removed from the interior of our country. So this shows that the previous administration was actually defying our laws, and all this administration is doing is simply following the laws, the immigration laws of this great country. Thanks for the question, John. Anything else?

[Charlie Kirk]

No, that's it.

[Meghan McCain]

Okay, great.

[Charlie Kirk]

Peter if President Trump is telling us that air traffic control towers are staffed with unqualified controllers, these DEI hires who never should have been brought on, then it's not safe to fly commercially, is it?

[Meghan McCain]

Ms. The President was asked and answered this yesterday and he believes that it is still indeed safe and Americans should feel safe traveling our skies. With that said, two things can be true at the same time, and we certainly have seen the deterioration of federal hiring standards at the Federal Aviation Administration, and the president wants to increase those standards. He wants pilots in this country who have the great responsibility of flying American citizens by the tens of millions every single day to be chosen for that position based on their merit and their skills. And so the administration will continue to prioritize this.

[Charlie Kirk]

Was the air traffic controller in the DCA tower on Wednesday night hired or not fired at some point because of his or her race?

[Meghan McCain]

That investigation is ongoing. And so when we have updates on the exact individuals who were involved in the collision, including the air traffic controller, also the pilots of the helicopter and others, we will confirm those I don't want to confirm names from this podium today. We're not in a position position to do that. But I will say the president has still rightfully pointed out that there has been problems with the aviation industry over the past several years and this started under Barack Obama in 2014.

[Charlie Kirk]

And when the president says untruth social the Black Hawk helicopter was flying too high by a lot. It was far above the 200 foot limit. That's not really too complicated to understand, is it is he suggesting a helicopter malfunction or a crew error or a crew doing this intentionally?

[Meghan McCain]

No, the President is simply stating what he said in that true social post, which is that the helicopter was flying higher than it should have been, which is one of the reasons that led to this collision and the other reasons for that are still being investigated and I will let that investigation play out to perform these irreversible procedures on kids, such as a double mastectomy on minor girl. Ms. Well, the President has already taken a very strong stance on this issue this week with the signing of his executive order, a few executive orders in this space. First, he made it the official policy of the federal government that there are only two sexes, male and female, and we have directed all federal agencies to comply with that policy. As for congressional legislation, to support the president's agenda in this space and certainly ending the mutilation of young children, the chemical castration of young children, which is a barbaric practice that the vast majority of Americans do not support for young minor children. Certainly the President would support Congress's efforts, as he has already made that very clear this week. Jennifer, on Rick Grinnell's trip to Venezuela to meet with Nicolas Maduro, is there anything you can share on timing on that, what his agenda is, what the mission of that trip is?

[Caroline Levitt]

Ms.

[Meghan McCain]

Yes. So I can confirm that Rick Grenell is in Venezuela today. I can confirm that Rick Grenell is going to Venezuela or is in Venezuela with very two immediate directives from the President of the United States. Number one, Rick Grenell has been instructed to identify a place and ensure that repatriation flights of trend Aragua members, Venezuelan nationals who have broken our nation's laws will land in Venezuela. As I said at this podium a few days ago, we expect every nation on this planet to cooperate with the repatriation of our citizens. And so Rick Grenell is in Venezuela to ensure that can continue. And number two, Verconel is in Venezuela to ensure that all US Detainees in Venezuela are returned home. That's his mission. And I will provide a readout after this trip. Rob Hernandez, can you tell us if anyone has approached the White House or the president about a pardon or a commutation? Ms. I have not been part of those discussions. If they have, I am not sure if they have, but I won't speculate on potential pardons that may or may not happen. To my awareness, the answer is no. Justin.

[Charlie Kirk]

Friends at Reuters are reporting that the president has made a decision on the Canada Mexico tariffs, but that they won't actually be implemented until March 1st. I was wondering if you could confirm that and talk through some of the President's.

[Meghan McCain]

Ms. I saw that report and it is false. I was just with the president in the Oval Office and I can confirm that tomorrow, the February 1st deadline that President Trump put into place, that a statement several weeks ago continues. The president will be implementing tomorrow 25% tariffs on Mexico, 25% tariffs on Canada and a 10% tariff tariff on China for the illegal fentanyl that they have sourced and allowed to distribute into our country, which has killed tens of millions of Americans. These are promises made and promises kept by the president.

[Charlie Kirk]

The president yesterday said that last night he was planning to discuss whether an exemption would be made on oil imports. Do you have any information on what decision he made there or will there be exemptions at all offered under this?

[Meghan McCain]

Ms. I don't have an update on or readout for you on the exemptions, but those tariffs will be for public consumption in about 24 hours tomorrow, so you can read them then. Carlene Steven Nelson, thank you very much, Caroline.

[Caroline Levitt]

I have three questions if that's all right. I'd like to ask you about press freedom and then about to economic matters.

[Meghan McCain]

Sure.

[Caroline Levitt]

On press freedom On Tuesday you announced plans to roll back the more restrictive press badge policy of Biden White House, but there's a different anti press freedom policy I wanted to ask about. The Biden White House adopted a mysterious prescreening process where journalists allowed into large event spaces that in the pre pandemic phase of the first Trump term were open to all journalists on campus. This effectively limited the diversity of reporters present and blocked the asking questions that large segments of the American public wanted answered. As press Secretary, can we commit to abolishing this mysterious screening process?

[Meghan McCain]

There were a lot of mysterious processes that my team and I have had to unravel over the past two weeks that were implemented by the previous White House and in particular the previous press shop here. And so I can commit to.

[Charlie Kirk]

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[Meghan McCain]

It's open press.

[Caroline Levitt]

So just to confirm this pre screening thing is something you're aware of and they work to undo the maximum extent possible.

[Callie Means]

Ms.

[Meghan McCain]

When we say something is open press, it will mean it's open press.

[Caroline Levitt]

Economic matters and I can just ask them both at once for you. In New York City, Governor Vocal's congestion pricing went into effect this month. Vehicles that drive through parts of Manhattan have to pay a $9 toll. President Trump has made clear his opposition. He said that it's the most progressive tax known to womankind. Will the administration be trying to block this? And the second question is millions and maybe tens of millions of Americans who voted for President Trump were excited about his plans to do away with taxes on tips over time, Social Security benefits. But there's uncertainty about the timing of this. So can you clarify for them when this is going to happen? Does President Trump want to see all three of those in the first batch of legislation early this year?

[Meghan McCain]

Ms. Well, to answer your question, in one swoop, I will say that President Trump is committed to lowering taxes for Americans, cutting taxes for Americans. As for congestion pricing in New York, I do know that the president spoke with Governor Hochul about that. I don't have any, you know, actions, so to speak, to read out for you on that issue today. Number two, when it comes to no taxes on tips and Social Security, the president has made it very clear to our allies on Capitol Hill that is a critical piece of this reconciliation package. And he expects that his tax cuts from 2017, which put a lot more money back into the American people's pockets, those must be implemented. And no tax on tips. The president is intent on delivering on that promise and he will get it.

[Caroline Levitt]

Done and overtime also as part of reconciliation.

[Meghan McCain]

Ms. Yes, sure things, Caroline. Can you guarantee that those tariffs won't increase prices for Americans, including at the gas pump in the grocery store? I think Americans who are concerned about increased prices should should look at what President Trump did in his first term. He effectively implemented tariffs. And the average inflation rate during the first Trump administration was 1.9%. In fact, when President Trump left office, it was 1.4%. So President Trump is going to do everything he possibly can to cut the inflation crisis that the previous administration imposed on the American people, and he will continue to effectively utilize tariffs. Carrots do increase prices for Americans. Will the administration reverse them? Ms. That's a hypothetical question. And the president is intent on ensuring that he effectively implements tariffs while cutting inflation and costs for the American people. And, you know, the media has this way of just looking at everything in a microscope rather than looking at the whole of government economic approach that this president is taking. He will effectively implement tariffs. He's also, as I just answered from Steven's question, committed to tax cuts. He's also clearly committed, as evidenced by his executive orders, to unleashing the might of our energy industry, which we know will eventually drive down inflation. And all the other economic measures that this president has made will have a Trump incoming economic boom, just like we saw in our first term. And has the White House found any Fox Business? Yes, go ahead.

[Callie Means]

Thanks, Karen.

[Meghan McCain]

You're welcome.

[Callie Means]

Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister minister.

[Caroline Levitt]

Said today that if the US Imposes.

[Callie Means]

Tariffs, he will respond and he will.

[Caroline Levitt]

Not relent until the tariffs are removed.

[Meghan McCain]

Are we seeing the start of a.

[Caroline Levitt]

Trade war with Canada?

[Meghan McCain]

Ms. I don't think so. I think the president is going to implement those tariffs tomorrow and he will respond to Mr. Trudeau's comments in due time, I am sure.

[Callie Means]

What kind of things have to happen? What does the administration need to see in order to avoid those tariffs?

[Meghan McCain]

Ms. Well, the tariffs are incoming tomorrow on Canada, and the reason the reason for that is because both Canada and Mexico have allowed an unprecedented invasion of illegal fentanyl that is killing American citizens and also illegal immigrants into our country. In fact, I have more language for you right here. Canada, Mexico and China, which, as I mentioned, President Trump will implement a 10% tariff on China, have all enabled illegal drugs to pour into America. The amount of fentanyl that has been seized at the southern border in the last two years alone has the potential to kill tens of millions of Americans. And so the president is intent on doing this, and I think Justin Trudeau would be wise to talk to President Trump directly before pushing outlandish comments like that to the media.

[Callie Means]

Yes, Lindsey, let me go back to.

[Charlie Kirk]

The plane crash for just one second.

[Meghan McCain]

You're interrupting your calling, but sure. I'm sorry. I thought you called on I called on Lindsey.

[Callie Means]

The president this morning said the Black Hawk helicopter was flying.

[Charlie Kirk]

I'm wondering if he's basing that on what he learned from investigators and if.

[Callie Means]

You could offer a little bit more.

[Charlie Kirk]

Of a window into how he is keeping abreast of this investigation.

[Meghan McCain]

Ms. Sure.

[Charlie Kirk]

Is the NTSB briefing him separately? Is he meeting in the Situation Room? Can you just sort of offer a window into that?

[Meghan McCain]

Ms. Yeah. The President based that statement on truth because it is truth and it's fact, and it was relayed to him by the authorities who are overseeing the investigation into this horrific plane collision. And the president, as I said in my opening remarks, continues to be briefed on the collision by everybody across his Cabinet, the secretary of Transportation, the secretary of defense, the ntsb, who the commissioner there was in the Oval Office with him yesterday. Lindsay. Lindsay, go ahead, Lindsey, go ahead. Thank you. The CIA actually revealed that they do also believe that COVID 19 was from a lab leak in Wuhan, China. How is the president planning on responding to this additional intel from the CIA and will it impact how he responds to them with tariffs? Ms. Yeah. Kudos to John Ratcliffe for revealing that truth and that fact to the American people many years too late. The Biden administration had it. We now know that to be the confirmable truth. It took many years for it to come out, but the president was right in this instance. Again. Sure. Caroline, thank you. I wanted to ask about Secretary Rubio's trip to of Panama first. What do the conversations look like with President Trump on that? The president of Panama says it is impossible to negotiate over the canal. So what are you expecting from this visit? Ms. So I have not been present for Secretary Rubio's conversations with President Trump about the Panama Canal. I have been present for President Trump's own thoughts on the Panama Canal and you've all seen them as well. In his public statements that he has has shown he believes it's unacceptable that the canal is essentially run by the Chinese Communist Party. If you look at both ends of the canal, massive Chinese Communist Party linked companies run the canal. That's unfair to the American people, many of whom lost their lives many years ago building this canal. The American taxpayers are paying millions of dollars for the canal and the president believes it's in our national interest as a nation for Secretary Rubio to to go there and begin these discussions. And that's exactly why he's doing that.

[Charlie Kirk]

Caroline.

[Meghan McCain]

Sure.

[Charlie Kirk]

Thank you very much, Caroline.

[Callie Means]

It's the United States in the process of pulling out of Syria militarily because the president wanted to do that in.

[Meghan McCain]

His first term as well.

[Callie Means]

And he had a lot of pushback.

[Meghan McCain]

From the Pentagon and Congress.

[Charlie Kirk]

And based on what he said yesterday.

[Callie Means]

Is he considering doing that in a short time?

[Meghan McCain]

Ms. The President was asked and answered this question yesterday and he, as the commander in chief of the United States Military Reserves, the right to review troop deployments overseas at any point in time.

[Callie Means]

Is that a topic right now?

[Meghan McCain]

Yes. Thank you.

[Callie Means]

Two questions. So we now know that the staffing was not normal at the air traffic tower.

[Meghan McCain]

And so with the government raising the.

[Callie Means]

Hiring of new federal workers and offering by are you not afraid that more.

[Meghan McCain]

Incidents of different kind could happen with less staffing in regard to well, the president is intent on ensuring that we are increasing staffing at these agencies, and that's why he signed a Very strong executive order on his second day in office immediately terminating DEI hiring practices at the faa. He also, following the tragic crash, as you all know, in the Oval Office yesterday, signed a memorandum directing an immediate assessment of the FAA to ensure the federal government is maintaining the highest personnel in aviation safety standards. And I would also just say there's a cultural piece to this as well. If you are an American who has spent many years studying aviation and you graduate from school and you're an air traffic controller based on skill and merit, and then you apply for a job and you're forced to fill out a biographical questionnaire asking you the color of your skin and asking you where you're from in details that aren't relevant at all to the job destroyed. I think that deteriorates the morale of people in this industry. And if you talk to people in this industry, they'll tell you that, in fact, many of them filed a lawsuit against the FAA a couple of years ago under Joe Biden's administration because they were denied positions because of this DEI hiring practice that was putting identity politics over merit and skills. That's unacceptable. And I think, just to put a fine point on this, because this is the third or fourth question I've answered on this subject. When you are flying on an airplane with your loved ones, which every one of us in this room has, do you pray that your plane lands safely and gets you to your destination, or do you pray that the pilot has a certain skin color? I think we all know the answer to that question. And as President Trump said yesterday, it's common sense. Rob Crilly. Yeah. I'd just like to follow up on that last question, actually.

[Callie Means]

Has there been any sort of assurance.

[Meghan McCain]

From the FAA that they will immediately.

[Callie Means]

Improve staffing levels given the reports of.

[Meghan McCain]

Not normal staffing levels? Oh, absolutely. You had Secretary Duffy here yesterday at the White House at this podium saying that he is on it and we can all trust that he definitely will be. John Decker.

[Callie Means]

Thanks a lot, Carolyn. You called on me, right?

[Meghan McCain]

Yes, I did.

[Callie Means]

Thank you very much.

[Meghan McCain]

As long as your name is still John Decker.

[Callie Means]

It is.

[Charlie Kirk]

Absolutely.

[Callie Means]

Thank you. The president's meeting today with the founder and CEO Evan Video. What is that meeting concerning and who sought that meeting? Ms.

[Meghan McCain]

I don't have details on this. It's a private meeting. It will take place at 2:30pm I'll try to get there in time and I can let you know after.

[Callie Means]

How's that on Guantanamo Bay? Can you give more details about setting up that detention facility at Gitmo? How will that come about? What's the timing in terms of standing it up? And of course, this has happened before during the Clinton administration. Administration.

[Meghan McCain]

Yeah, that's right.

[Callie Means]

Detainees of Cuban and Haitian descent were both detained at Guantanamo. Are you looking at that model in setting up this detention facility?

[Meghan McCain]

Ms. Secretary HEGSETH I believe was on television this morning answering this question and he said that the Department of Defense is already on it. He has directed his agency to ensure that Gitmo is increasing their capacity for beds. And that's exactly what President Trump's executive order did. It directed Secretary Hegseth and also Secretary Noem to expand the migrant operations center at the naval station to provide for this extra detention space. And as Secretary Hegseth confirmed this morning, that operation is underway.

[Charlie Kirk]

Thanks so much for listening, everybody. Email us as [e-mail] thanks so much for listening and God bless.

[Callie Means]

For more on many of these stories and news you can Trust, go to charliekirk.com.