The Victor Davis Hanson Show: Government Health Policy and the Trump Nominees

Episode Information:

• Title: Government Health Policy and the Trump Nominees
• Release Date: December 16, 2024
• Hosts: Victor Davis Hanson and Guest Stephen Quay

1. Introduction to the Episode

Victor Davis Hanson kicks off the episode by welcoming back Stephen Quay, a distinguished businessperson, MD scientist, author, and CEO of Atossa Therapeutics. Quay is known for his insightful analysis of public health policies and his advocacy for the Wuhan lab origin theory of COVID-19. Hanson sets the stage for a deep dive into the challenges facing public health under the new Trump administration, focusing on recent appointments to key health agencies.

2. Importance of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Hanson and Quay discuss the pivotal role of the HHS, highlighting its vast budget and influence.

• Stephen Quay ([04:31] [04:31]): "HHS is quite a remarkable organization, right? They have a $1.7 trillion budget. They only have 83,000 employees."

Quay emphasizes that HHS oversees critical agencies like the CDC, FDA, NIH, CMS, and Social Security, making its leadership appointments crucial for national health policy.

3. RFK Jr.'s Health Policy Agenda

The conversation shifts to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) and his proposed agenda for public health.

• Stephen Quay ([04:42] [04:42]): "He has sort of five major focuses. Enhanced vaccine safety, transparency... reform food safety regulations... combat chronic disease... address environmental health risks... restructure health agencies to make them more available to the public and to remove corporate influence."

Quay outlines RFK Jr.'s priorities, which include increasing vaccine transparency, reforming food safety, addressing chronic and environmental health issues, and reducing corporate influence within health agencies.

4. Conflicts of Interest in Health Agencies

A significant point of discussion is the existing conflicts of interest within agencies like the FDA, where funding often comes from pharmaceutical companies.

• Stephen Quay ([06:53] [06:53]): "Conflicts of interest."

Hanson draws parallels between the military-industrial complex and the pharmaceutical-industrial complex, suggesting that revolving doors between agencies and industries can lead to policy biases.

5. Jay Bacharya and NIH Reforms

Quay introduces Jay Bacharya, the new nominee for the NIH, highlighting his background and potential impact.

• Stephen Quay ([15:44] [15:44]): "Jay's approach to medical research... is to look at the effects of healthcare policies, decisions on populations."

Bacharya aims to pivot the NIH towards population health studies, emphasizing the need to evaluate how policies affect public health outcomes rather than just individual treatments.

6. Vaccine Policies and Controversies

The discussion delves into vaccine safety, particularly mRNA vaccines, and the regulatory environment post-pandemic.

• Stephen Quay ([09:00] [09:00]): "These vaccines probably could not stay in interstate commerce if HHS said the pandemic was over."

Quay criticizes the accelerated approval processes during the pandemic, suggesting that vaccines were released without the usual safety standards. He anticipates that RFK Jr. will push for conventional vaccine approval standards.

Hanson adds personal reflections on vaccine efficacy and public trust, noting declining booster uptake and skepticism towards current vaccine policies.

7. NIH’s Role in Medical Research and DEI

Hanson and Quay explore the NIH's structure and its shift towards integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into research funding.

• Stephen Quay ([35:30] [35:30]): "These folks will be able to push back the DEI things at their level in their organizations."

Quay expresses hope that new NIH leadership under Bacharya will reduce the emphasis on DEI, focusing more on scientific merit and less on social factors affecting research grants.

Hanson draws historical parallels, comparing current policies to the Soviet commissar system, raising concerns about ideological influences undermining scientific objectivity.

8. Breast Cancer Research and Atossa Therapeutics

A significant portion of the episode highlights Quay’s work in breast cancer prevention through Atossa Therapeutics.

• Stephen Quay ([38:03] [38:03]): "We're presenting the results of a two-year study... lowers the incidence of cancer."

Quay discusses a groundbreaking study where a low-dose drug reduced mammogram density, potentially lowering breast cancer incidence by half. This preventive approach aims to identify high-risk women early and intervene effectively.

Hanson shares a personal narrative about his family's struggle with cancer, underscoring the real-world impact of such research.

9. Impact of COVID-19 Policies on Society

The conversation touches on the broader societal impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns and public health measures.

• Stephen Quay ([48:22] [48:22]): "It's probably still controversial, but the science is settled in terms of looking at the effects..."

Quay references natural experiments between states like Florida and California, arguing that lighter-touch policies yielded better overall outcomes in various health and societal metrics.

Hanson reflects on the psychological and educational damages caused by extended lockdowns, suggesting that these policies had far-reaching negative consequences beyond immediate health outcomes.

10. Anthony Fauci’s Prominence and Future of Health Agencies

Hanson and Quay examine Anthony Fauci's influential role and the potential restructuring of health agencies.

• Stephen Quay ([56:00] [56:00]): "After 9/11, Dick Cheney said that bioweapons research... should be moved out of DoD into the NIH."

Quay explains how Fauci's leadership in NIAID and his involvement in bioweapons research elevated his status, giving him unprecedented influence over public health policy.

They discuss the challenges new nominees might face in dismantling Fauci’s established prominence and the structural power of health agencies.

11. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, Hanson and Quay emphasize the significance of the Trump administration’s health agency appointments and their potential to reshape American public health policy.

• Stephen Quay ([58:40] [58:40]): "It is remarkable that the president doesn't see the strategic value of stepping up."

Hanson acknowledges the fear and uncertainty among established health officials due to politicization, while Quay remains cautiously optimistic about the proposed changes bringing a return to evidence-based medicine.

Notable Quotes:

• Stephen Quay (04:31): "HHS is quite a remarkable organization, right? They have a $1.7 trillion budget. They only have 83,000 employees."
• Stephen Quay (04:42): "He has sort of five major focuses. Enhanced vaccine safety, transparency..."
• Stephen Quay (09:00): "These vaccines probably could not stay in interstate commerce if HHS said the pandemic was over."
• Stephen Quay (15:44): "Jay's approach to medical research... is to look at the effects of healthcare policies, decisions on populations."
• Stephen Quay (35:30): "These folks will be able to push back the DEI things at their level in their organizations."
• Stephen Quay (38:03): "We're presenting the results of a two-year study... lowers the incidence of cancer."
• Stephen Quay (48:22): "It's probably still controversial, but the science is settled in terms of looking at the effects..."
• Stephen Quay (56:00): "After 9/11, Dick Cheney said that bioweapons research... should be moved out of DoD into the NIH."
• Stephen Quay (58:40): "It is remarkable that the president doesn't see the strategic value of stepping up."

Conclusion: In this episode of The Victor Davis Hanson Show, Hanson and Quay offer a comprehensive analysis of the Trump administration's appointments to key health agencies. They explore the implications of these appointments on public health policy, emphasize the need for transparency and evidence-based practices, and discuss the potential shifts in focus away from corporate influence and DEI initiatives. Through personal anecdotes and expert insights, the episode underscores the critical juncture at which American public health stands and the profound impact these leadership changes may have on the nation's health trajectory.