Episode Overview
Title: The War on Health: Why MAHA is Changing Everything
Host: Riley Gaines
Guest: Admiral Brian Christine, Assistant Secretary for Health under President Trump
Air Date: January 30, 2026
This episode centers on the sweeping changes in American public health policy under the "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) initiative, recent shifts in leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and broader cultural and political developments affecting health, fitness, and gender policy. Riley Gaines and Admiral Brian Christine discuss the transformation of dietary guidelines, efforts to reduce the influence of Big Pharma and Big Food, updates to vaccine schedules, the administration’s stance on gender dysphoria in youth, and ongoing and upcoming public health initiatives.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Meet the New HHS Leadership
-
Introduction of Admiral Brian Christine
- Replaces Admiral Rachel Levine as Assistant Secretary for Health under President Trump.
- Urologist and men’s health specialist with 20+ years’ clinical experience and new to federal public health leadership.
- Emphasizes deep personal motivation and gratitude, calling President Trump and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (RFK Jr.) "truly devoted to making America greater than it’s ever been."
"It is truly an honor to serve them and to serve the people of the country." (Brian Christine, 03:47)
-
Inside the HHS Environment
- Christine finds the new role more demanding than private surgical practice, highlighting a long-hours commitment to public service and policy.
"Working harder now than I think I probably ever worked in my surgical practice... But the hours go by, they're full of opportunities to make the country better." (Brian Christine, 04:58)
- Christine finds the new role more demanding than private surgical practice, highlighting a long-hours commitment to public service and policy.
2. Health, Fitness, and National Readiness
- Military Fitness Concerns
- 77% of young Americans are unfit for military service, overwhelmingly due to obesity.
- Dietary changes seen as crucial to national security and military readiness.
"If we can eliminate the scourge of obesity in this country, think how much better off our war fighters are going to be." (Brian Christine, 07:33)
3. Revolutionizing Dietary Guidelines
- Critique of Old Guidelines
- Previous guidelines allegedly co-opted by "Big Pharma," "Big Ag," and "Big Food," and influenced by financial/self-interest rather than science or public health.
"Anything related to health and food and dietary guidance was really co-opted by big industry... even an equity and diversity agenda in those food recommendations." (Brian Christine, 09:04)
- Previous guidelines allegedly co-opted by "Big Pharma," "Big Ag," and "Big Food," and influenced by financial/self-interest rather than science or public health.
- The New Food Pyramid
- The pyramid has been "flipped": now focuses on whole foods, healthy meats, fish, eggs, and whole-fat dairy; minimizes processed and sugary foods.
"What we've done, we've flipped the pyramid on its head. Emphasizing nutrient-dense whole food, real food, not processed, sugary, ultra-processed food." (Brian Christine, 09:52)
- The pyramid has been "flipped": now focuses on whole foods, healthy meats, fish, eggs, and whole-fat dairy; minimizes processed and sugary foods.
4. Critique of Big Pharma, Big Food, & Influence on Health
- COVID as a Wake-Up Call
- Host and guest discuss how the pandemic highlighted manipulation by pharmaceutical companies and food industry, particularly in public health messaging and compliance culture.
"I think a lot of us had the veil lifted during COVID to how Big Pharma operates, how they manipulate and how they fear monger to get so many of us to comply..." (Riley Gaines, 10:41)
- Host and guest discuss how the pandemic highlighted manipulation by pharmaceutical companies and food industry, particularly in public health messaging and compliance culture.
- Guidelines Intended to Serve Public, Not Industry
"The purpose is to put health back into the people, to make our lives better, to make our lives healthier so we can support our military, so we can be out there with our kids." (Brian Christine, 11:46)
5. Changes to Vaccine Recommendations for Newborns/Children
- Significant Reduction in Recommended Vaccines
- New HHS policies have allegedly reduced the recommended childhood vaccine schedule from 72 to 11.
"He will never be afraid to lead where gold standard science guides... Science is leading this Department of Health and Human Services, Under Secretary Kennedy." (Brian Christine, 13:53)
- Emphasizes parental choice, access to information, and adaptation to emerging science.
“Science is dynamic, not static... there are more studies, we learn more things. We have to be nimble in terms of our recommendations.” (Brian Christine, 14:47)
- New HHS policies have allegedly reduced the recommended childhood vaccine schedule from 72 to 11.
6. Stance on Gender Dysphoria and Treatment of Minors
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Firm Opposition to Medical Transition for Minors
- Categorical rejection of gender transition surgeries or hormones for youth, framing previous policies as harmful and ideologically driven.
"Boys are boys, girls are girls. That doesn't ever change. Gender doesn't change." (Brian Christine, 16:06)
- Administration’s approach: "compassionate, competent mental health care and support," not surgeries or pharmaceuticals.
"We stand very firmly... to protect children in this country, our minors with gender dysphoria. They deserve love, they deserve compassion, they deserve competent counseling. What they do not deserve is surgery and these horrible chemicals that cause irreversible harm." (Brian Christine, 16:53)
- Categorical rejection of gender transition surgeries or hormones for youth, framing previous policies as harmful and ideologically driven.
-
Amplifying Detransitioner Voices
- Highlights testimonial of a detransitioner whose lingering physical consequences were allegedly not disclosed before treatment.
“They told me the outwardly observable effect... not that my vocal cords were going to dramatically thicken... meaning that my voice just always hurts.” (Detransitioner, 18:09)
- Christine reiterates HHS's opposition to surgeries/chemicals for minors:
“We are not going to lie to [children]. We're not going to push them down a road where you castrate them... or you do things that cause irreversible lifelong damage and harm." (Brian Christine, 19:26)
- Highlights testimonial of a detransitioner whose lingering physical consequences were allegedly not disclosed before treatment.
7. Political Bias in Health Care & Professional Conduct
- Condemning Hate and Partisanship in Medicine
- Plays viral videos of self-described healthcare professionals wishing harm or discussing sabotage against political/policy figures, calls for their disqualification and license revocation.
“I can’t even use the term health care professional for that woman. That is a hate filled woman." (Brian Christine, 23:17)
- Asserts that care should never be influenced by political differences:
"I've taken care of many patients who have different Political opinions than I do... You love your patient. You take care of your patient." (Brian Christine, 23:22)
- Plays viral videos of self-described healthcare professionals wishing harm or discussing sabotage against political/policy figures, calls for their disqualification and license revocation.
8. Impact of MAHA and Health on Upcoming Elections
- Health as a Political Force
- The “MAHA” movement is positioned as a major electoral driver, cutting across demographics.
“Maha, it resonated with a lot of voters across... demographics. Young, old, black, white, gay, straight... I would imagine most people care about their health, their longevity.” (Riley Gaines, 26:11)
- Christine frames policy victories—and threats to them—as highly dependent on upcoming elections:
"It only takes one election cycle to start to reverse those wins. So November is so critically important." (Brian Christine, 27:33)
- The “MAHA” movement is positioned as a major electoral driver, cutting across demographics.
9. Forthcoming Initiatives
-
Upcoming National Health Conferences
- Announcing a national women’s health conference in March, committing to parallel focus on men's health through a nascent "men’s health initiative".
"This conference will be in March... great content for America and for the health of women." (Brian Christine, 28:53) "Men really, we need a health awakening for men... That, to me, was the start of a national men's health initiative. I'm very interested in pursuing that." (Brian Christine, 31:22)
- Announcing a national women’s health conference in March, committing to parallel focus on men's health through a nascent "men’s health initiative".
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Continued Public Health Focus
- Will focus on sustaining new dietary guidelines, child protection in the context of gender dysphoria, and strengthening the Commission Corps as a "tip of the spear" for HHS’s mission:
"We're going to continue to work to make America healthier by carrying out what Secretary Kennedy wants us to do." (Brian Christine, 30:35)
- Will focus on sustaining new dietary guidelines, child protection in the context of gender dysphoria, and strengthening the Commission Corps as a "tip of the spear" for HHS’s mission:
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On work ethic in public service:
"Working harder now than I think I probably ever worked in my surgical practice."
(Brian Christine, 04:58) -
On military fitness:
"Over 75%... cannot meet the physical requirements to serve in the United States Armed forces. Most of that is because of obesity."
(Brian Christine, 07:08) -
On dietary guidelines:
"We have dietary guidelines whose sole function is to help guide us and make dietary recommendations to make this country healthier than she's ever been."
(Brian Christine, 08:57) -
On gender and medical transition for minors:
"Boys are boys, girls are girls. That doesn't ever change. Gender doesn't change."
(Brian Christine, 16:06) -
On politicization of health care:
"You love your patient. You treat that patient as the Good Samaritan would act. This is disgusting, what she said."
(Brian Christine, 23:22) -
On health as an election issue:
"It only takes one election cycle to start to reverse those wins. So November is so critically important."
(Brian Christine, 27:33) -
Final blessing:
“God bless President Trump, God bless Vice President Vance, and God bless Secretary Bobby Kennedy again. These men are amazing. Our country is amazing. God bless our republic.”
(Brian Christine, 34:04)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00–02:15: Introduction, political transitions at HHS
- 02:19–04:32: Guest background, confirmation story
- 06:03–07:56: US military readiness and fitness/obesity
- 07:56–10:41: History and overhaul of US dietary guidelines
- 10:41–12:58: Big Pharma, Big Food, and public health conflicts of interest
- 12:58–15:28: Newborn/childhood vaccination schedule changes
- 15:28–17:45: Administration’s stance on gender dysphoria in minors
- 17:45–20:57: Detransitioner testimony and discussion on informed consent
- 21:43–26:00: Political bias in the healthcare field—viral videos and professional ethics
- 26:00–29:15: MAHA’s impact on elections and importance of voter turnout for continued reforms
- 28:47–32:50: Forthcoming public health conferences, initiatives for women's and men's health
- 33:28–34:15: Closing remarks, calls for prayer and blessings
Conclusion
This episode of The Riley Gaines Show delivers a robust defense of the MAHA public health agenda, sharp critiques of previous health and gender policies, and candid discussion of the interweaving of culture, politics, and public health leadership. It features strong ideological messaging, repeated emphasis on individual dignity, and a rallying call to listeners to remain engaged, informed, and prayerful as consequential policy, health, and electoral battles continue.