2.12.25 Protests against Elon Musk, World Tour, and mothers fight for children’s health

Summary

The World and Everything In It – Episode 2.12.25 Release Date: February 12, 2025

Host: Lindsay Mast
Co-Hosts: Kristin Flavin and Nick Iger
Produced by: WORLD Radio

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1. U.S. Political Developments: Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Timestamp: 00:05 – 14:20

The episode opens with a discussion on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new federal agency spearheaded by Elon Musk. This initiative aims to streamline government operations by addressing inefficiencies and reducing the national debt. However, DOGE's expansive authority has sparked significant controversy and protests.

Key Events:

• Mark Fogle's Release: President Trump, alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson, welcomed Mark Fogle outside the White House after his release from a Russian prison. Fogle was detained over accusations related to prescribed medical marijuana within the White House premises. Musk lauded the diplomatic efforts that led to Fogle’s release, emphasizing bipartisan support (01:01–02:49).

• Diplomatic Efforts: President Trump signaled potential negotiations to end the Ukraine war, with both he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu setting deadlines for Hamas to release hostages. Protests emerged in Tel Aviv against the ceasefire agreement, reflecting public dissent towards governmental decisions (01:27–03:30).

• Elon Musk’s Role in DOGE: Musk criticized the existing bureaucracy, labeling it an “unelected fourth unconstitutional branch of government” with undue power (03:30–04:18). Under his leadership, DOGE initiated federal hiring freezes and proposed significant workforce reductions, exempting critical areas like national security and law enforcement (04:18–05:39).

• Transparency and Accountability Issues: Concerns were raised about DOGE's transparency, with Musk asserting that all actions are documented on their website (03:30). Additionally, watchdog groups highlighted potential financial mismanagement, particularly targeting USAID's substantial federal funding (04:18–05:10).

Notable Quotes:

• Bella Yawn (05:10): “I think we've never seen someone boldly and openly represent the mothers. And that's such a powerful thing.”
• Elon Musk (03:30): “We have this unelected fourth unconstitutional branch of government, which is the bureaucracy, which has in a lot of ways currently more power than any elected representative.”

2. International News Roundup

Timestamp: 14:52 – 19:48

Ecuador Presidential Election: Ecuador held a runoff presidential vote where incumbent Daniel Noboa narrowly led over leftist Luiza Gonzalez. Both candidates fell short of securing over 50% of the vote, necessitating a second round on April 13th. The campaigns focused on the nation's economic woes and escalating crime rates attributed to regional drug trafficking (14:52–18:56).

Protests in Slovakia: In Slovakia, tens of thousands protested against Prime Minister Robert Fico, accusing him of undermining the country's EU standing and fostering anti-democratic practices. Protests intensified following Fico’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with demonstrators demanding his resignation (14:52–19:48).

Smartphone Ban in Brazilian Schools: Brazil enacted a nationwide ban on smartphones in classrooms and during breaks to improve student concentration and social interactions. At Porto Seguro Private School in São Paulo, students must keep their phones locked away all day. The Ministry of Education emphasized that the policy aims to safeguard students' physical and mental health (14:52–19:48).

Death of Namibia’s First President: Namibia mourned the passing of Sam Nuyoma, the country's first democratically elected president and a pivotal figure in its independence movement. Nuyoma is remembered for promoting national healing and reconciliation post-independence (14:52–19:48).

Australian Politician Ben Dawkins – “Aussie Trump”: In a strategic move ahead of elections, Australian MP Ben Dawkins legally changed his last name to Trump, aiming to capitalize on the political persona associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Dawkins believes that aligning his name with Trump's brand will bolster his political identity and appeal (19:48–21:06).

Notable Quotes:

• Pedro da Fonseca (18:56): “Dr. Sam Nuyoma’s loss is truly great, not just for us, but also for Africa. He is one of the last standing leaders from a truly revolutionary regime for Africa.”

3. Mothers Fight for Children’s Health: Maha Moms and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Timestamp: 21:06 – 28:39

The podcast delves into the Make America Healthy Again (Maha Moms) movement, which fervently supports Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s (RFK Jr.) nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The movement is characterized by mothers advocating against vaccine mandates and pushing for more natural wellness approaches.

Key Stories:

• Bella Yawn’s Testimony (21:33–27:59): Bella Yawn recounts her family's tragic experience with her brother's severe reaction post-vaccination, leading them to distrust conventional medicine. Her advocacy through documentaries and social media underscores the personal motivations behind the Maha Moms' cause.

• Support for RFK Jr.: Maha Moms appreciate RFK Jr. for his willingness to listen and address their concerns regarding children's health and vaccine safety. They view his potential leadership as a beacon for reforming public health policies to better align with their values (22:53–27:59).

• Vaccine Skepticism: The movement highlights concerns over the number and ingredients of vaccines, advocating for informed consent and religious freedoms. Critics fear that RFK Jr.’s leadership could result in lower vaccination rates and a resurgence of preventable diseases, despite his claims of supporting certain vaccines like measles and polio (25:01–27:59).

Notable Quotes:

• Bella Yawn (21:27): “I think we've never seen someone boldly and openly represent the mothers, and that's such a powerful thing.”
• Toni Creel (26:11): “The medical freedom, the informed consent, the religious freedom. Those are basic human rights.”
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (27:15): “Some Americans are healthy again, but to make all of our people healthy again.”

4. The Role and Controversy of Executive Orders

Timestamp: 28:39 – 34:11

The episode transitions to a critical analysis of executive orders utilized by President Trump’s administration, with insights from World Opinion’s contributor Adam Carrington.

Key Points:

• Historical Context: Executive orders have been a tool for presidents to implement policies without Congressional approval. Trump issued over 20 executive orders on his first day, a practice that has faced bipartisan criticism over potential overreach (28:39–30:02).

• Constitutional Debate: Carrington explains that while executive orders are constitutionally permissible for the President to direct the enforcement of laws, they risk overstepping by effectively creating new legislation without legislative backing. This challenges the separation of powers as outlined in the Constitution (28:39–30:22).

• Case Studies:

  • Biden’s Student Loan Cancellation: Considered an overreach by some, leading to Supreme Court intervention.
  • Obama’s DACA/DAPA: Faced public and political backlash for perceived legislative overreach.
  • Trump’s Border Wall Funding: Criticized for questionable statutory authority and conflicting with previous legislative efforts (28:39–30:22).

• Implications for Governance: Carrington emphasizes the importance of evaluating each executive order individually to ensure it adheres to constitutional boundaries and does not undermine the legislative authority of Congress. Misuse of executive orders can erode limited government principles and individual liberties (30:23–34:11).

Notable Quotes:

• Adam Carrington (30:05): “Wait, you have to go through Congress at some point? Oh, that’s adorable.”
• Elon Musk (10:37): “Everything went so horribly wrong with Joe Biden that the American people are giving us a lot of room to clean this thing up.”

5. Closing Remarks

The episode concludes with reflections on the ongoing political and social dynamics shaping both national and international landscapes. The hosts highlight the interconnectedness of governmental actions, public response, and the pivotal role of leadership in steering societal outcomes.

Notable Quotes:

• Kristin Flavin (34:11): “Peace.”

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Conclusion

This episode of The World and Everything In It provides an in-depth exploration of the current political climate, both within the United States and globally. It examines the controversial role of Elon Musk in governmental restructuring, the passionate advocacy of Maha Moms for children’s health, and the broader implications of executive power in modern governance. Through comprehensive reporting and insightful analysis, WORLD Radio continues to deliver critical perspectives on the events shaping our world.

Transcript

[Lindsay Mast]

Good morning. Today on Washington Wednesday, the Department of Government Efficiency is stirring things up. But what are the limits of its authority?

[Nick Iger]

What's the plan?

[Elon Musk]

What's the plan?

[Kristin Flavin]

Also today, our weekly international news roundup on World Tour and later, mothers find an ally in RFK Jr and his plans for making America healthy again.

[Bella Yawn]

I think we've never seen someone boldly and openly represent the mothers. And that's such a powerful thing.

[Kristin Flavin]

And what the Constitution has to say about executive orders.

[Lindsay Mast]

It's Wednesday, February 12th. This is the world and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Lindsay Mast.

[Kristin Flavin]

And I'm Nick Iger. Good morning.

[Lindsay Mast]

Up next, Kent Covington with today's news.

[Kent Covington]

President Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson and others stood in the snow last night to greet Mark Fogle outside the White House. Fogle is an American teacher who had been imprisoned in Russia over what his family said was prescribed medical marijuana inside the White House. Moments later, Fogle thanked those who worked to secure his release. President trump these men that came from.

[Elon Musk]

The diplomatic service, the senators and representatives that passed legislation in my honor to get me home.

[Kent Covington]

Trump officials say his release came amid a diplomatic thought that the president hopes will lead to serious talks aimed at ending the Ukraine war. President Trump also indicated that another prisoner release could be announced today. Hamas has until noon on Saturday to release all of its remaining hostages or else. That was the deadline given by both President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He says if the hostages are not released, Israel will pull the plug on the ceasefire agreement and resume attacks against Hamas. Both Trump and Netanyahu say the terror group is already in violation of that agreement after it announced that it was halting the further release of hostages. Meantime, in Tel Aviv, demonstrators took to the streets once again carrying signs that read don't blow the deal and calling on the Israeli government to end the war. President Trump also discussed the situation in the Middle east with another of America's allies in the region.

[Elon Musk]

The king just left and we've had a great discussion, terrific discussion concerning Gaza and everything else.

[Kent Covington]

King Abdullah of Jordan met with the president at the White House. He later dodged questions about Trump's request to resettle Palestinian refugees in Jordan while the United States takes over in Gaza and works to rebuild it. Jordan has agreed to take in some 2,000 sick Palestinian children to start. A short time later, the president and Elon Musk welcomed reporters in the Oval Office to talk about the ongoing efforts of doge, the Department of Government Efficiency. Musk, who leads that effort, said reining in the spiraling national debt is critical for America's future. And he said taking an axe to the entrenched administrative state is also a must.

[Elon Musk]

We have this unelected fourth unconstitutional branch of government, which is the bureaucracy, which has in a lot of ways currently more power than any elected representative.

[Kent Covington]

In response to complaints and concerns about transparency, Musk said all actions are shared on the DOGE website. President Trump also signed an executive order Tuesday directing DOGE to limit federal hiring to essential positions only. The plan is to replace just one federal worker for every four who leave, aiming to streamline government. But key areas like national security and law enforcement are exempt from that order. And a conservative watchdog group says it has a really good idea for the next place DOGE can look to save American taxpayers big money. World's Kristin Flavin has more.

[Elon Musk]

According to a report from the Government Accountability Office, Planned parenthood received roughly $75 billion in federal taxpayer dollars from 2019 to 2021. That included more than 20 billion in Health and Human Services grants and over 50 billion from public health programs. And the head of Advancing American Freedom, Tim Chapman, wrote to Elon Musk on Tuesday. He said the time has come for the United States to finally defund the largest abortion provider in America. The letter added, while we are grateful for your work eliminating waste, fraud and abuse throughout the federal government, we truly believe that the opportunity to defund Planned Parenthood may be yours and President Trump's greatest moment for world I'm Kristen Flavin.

[Kent Covington]

Straight ahead, a closer look at Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency plus women supporting the Make America Healthy Again movement. This is the world and everything in it.

[Lindsay Mast]

It's Wednesday, 12th February. Glad to have you along for today's edition of the World and Everything In It. Good morning. I'm Lindsay Mast.

[Kristin Flavin]

And I'm Nick Iker. Time now for Washington. Wednesday, the Trump administration's move to shut down the US Agency for International Development sparked considerable debate. Federal employees sued and a judge put the plan on hold. But now the key question is around the status of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. Does it have legal authority to shut agencies down?

[Lindsay Mast]

Washington bureau reporter Carolina Lumeta has the story.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Democratic lawmakers rallied in Washington last week to protest Elon Musk's new role in the federal government.

[Elon Musk]

He's gotta go, but you gotta stay.

[Nick Iger]

And we gotta fight back.

[Carolina Lumeta]

At a gathering on Capitol grounds, Florida Congresswoman Lois Frankel read protesters signs Stop.

[Elon Musk]

The Freeze when USAID disappears. Terrorists reappear, Defend democracy Stop the coup.

[Carolina Lumeta]

USAID operates in more than 130 countries, running programs from health initiatives to food banks. Congress gives about $50 billion to the agency each year.

[Kent Covington]

I'm sure that there's stuff going on in USAID that isn't consistent with the mission, just as there would be in any organization.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Brian York works in restaurants in Fairfax County, Virginia, west of Washington. His wife and several family members work for usaid.

[Kent Covington]

To my mind, proper management doesn't look.

[Elon Musk]

Like if you get a splinter in.

[Kent Covington]

Your finger that you cut off your arm.

[Elon Musk]

Proper management is dealing with issues on.

[Kent Covington]

A case by case basis and responding accordingly.

[Carolina Lumeta]

But the Trump administration and growing numbers of Republican lawmakers say USAID has been funding anti American activities and wasting money on a large scale. They argue Trump's Stop Work order is part of a necessary audit. Trump and Musk have accused the agency of using taxpayer dollars for diversity, equity and inclusion programs or even funneling aid money indirectly to terrorist organizations. Trump has named Secretary of State Marco Rubio the acting administrator for the agency. Here's Rubio visiting a maintenance company in El Salvador last week.

[Elon Musk]

Every dollar we spend and every program we fund that will be aligned with the national interest of the United States. USAID has a history of sort of.

[Lindsay Mast]

Ignoring that and deciding that they're somehow.

[Elon Musk]

A global charity separate from the national interest.

[Kent Covington]

These are taxpayer dollars.

[Carolina Lumeta]

So what does Elon Musk have the authority to do? Democratic lawmakers say he is exceeding the advisory role the White House gave him. Delaware Senator Chris Coons told World his office phone has been ringing off the hook.

[Kent Covington]

I've gotten calls about Department of Education.

[Elon Musk]

I've gotten calls about DoD, I've gotten calls about USAID.

[Kent Covington]

But the 1100 calls were mostly about how did Elon Musk and Doge get access to Americans private information.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Legal experts say Musk's role is testing the separation between legislative and executive powers, but that does not mean it's illegal.

[Elon Musk]

There's no evidence that he's anything more than another employee or appointee.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Tom Renz is an attorney and conservative talk show host. He explained that while Musk has massive wealth and social influence, his government role is limited to leading a rebranded federal agency. Former President Barack Obama created the Digital services department in 2014 after the bumpy rollout of the healthcare Web portal created by the Affordable Care Act. Now Trump has repurposed that department into doge.

[Elon Musk]

All they did was they put Musk, who just happens to be a software genius, in charge of the department that was looking over the software for the government. And I Haven't seen any direct evidence that these guys are doing anything illegal. Now, you can debate about whether or not it's acceptable to shut down this funding or that funding. I mean, that we can talk about, but that's not doge. What DOGE is doing is just simply looking at the software, which is definitely within the purview of the usds.

[Carolina Lumeta]

But Democrats say Doge is doing more than just an audit. Employees gained access to Treasury Department systems and shut off payments to USAID contractors. DOGE staffers then sent emails telling employees in Washington not to come to the office. Many blame Elon Musk for the changes. But Rens points out that the executive order establishing DOGE did not grant decision making power to Musk.

[Elon Musk]

We don't know precisely who's making the decision, but we know that a lot of that's being done elsewhere.

[Carolina Lumeta]

President Donald Trump said in a news conference last week that checks and balances still apply.

[Elon Musk]

Well, he's got access only to letting people go that he thinks are no good if we agree with him. But. And it's only if we agree with him. He's a very talented guy from the standpoint of management and costs, where we think there's a conflict or there's a problem, we won't let him go near it.

[Carolina Lumeta]

According to the White House, Musk holds a special government employee status. He's unpaid, but has direct access to the President. He's also exempt from filing conflict of interest forms, even though companies he owns do business with agencies he is investigating. Jim Copeland, a legal fellow at the Manhattan Institute, says that is not something to ignore.

[Elon Musk]

Sure, he's got conflicts of interest, and, you know, this is what the press is about, is trying to watch that. And that's what congressional oversight committees are about, is trying to watch such things and make sure that there's not impropriety.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Congress traditionally holds the power of the purse, and it is also Congress's responsibility to close or create federal agencies. But Republican lawmakers say Musk's budget cuts accomplish what they haven't been able to with narrow majorities. I spoke with Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas near an elevator in the Capitol.

[Elon Musk]

I think Elon's doing a great job. The will of the people are behind him.

[Kristin Flavin]

So the American people want President Trump to address fraud, ways to abuse and incompetence.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska says he's all for efficiency updates, and that's under the White House's purview.

[Elon Musk]

The executive branch is the only place that you can really effectively do process improvement Congress, it doesn't have an operational role. So therefore, while we can certainly encourage those sorts of good things, you need the executive branch to actually do it.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Few Republicans have expressed concern about Musk's level of access. Instead, most say they're comfortable giving the billionaire a long Runway. That includes Florida Congressman Byron Donalds.

[Elon Musk]

I think everything went so horribly wrong with Joe Biden that the American people are giving us a lot of own to clean this thing up. And that's what we're going to do.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Yesterday, a federal judge blocked DOGE employees from accessing Treasury Department payment systems. Another federal judge blocked a deadline last Friday for federal employees to accept a buyout offer and resign from their posts. And yet another federal judge temporarily paused a February 7 deadline to place all USAID direct hires on indefinite administrative leave. Here's Copeland with the Manhattan Institute.

[Elon Musk]

You know, ultimately the president may lose some of that if they're really trying to curtail appropriations without congressional authority. But to the extent they're freezing certain payments that are going out where there's not an express congressional directive and then they're repurposing that in some other direction, I think a lot of that's going to pass muster.

[Carolina Lumeta]

Trump has said Musk will also look into the Education Department and the Pentagon. And during a news conference yesterday, Elon Musk explained why DOGE exists.

[Elon Musk]

If the bureaucracy is in charge and then what meaning does democracy actually have? If the people cannot vote and have their will be decided by their elected representatives in the form of the president and the Senate and the House, then we don't live in a democracy. We live in a bureaucracy.

[Carolina Lumeta]

As an unelected federal worker himself, Elon Musk said his department will be transparent. Reporters asked who manages conflicts of interest so such as Musk's federal contracts with the Pentagon, here's how he answered.

[Elon Musk]

Well, we actually are trying to be as transparent as possible. In fact, our actions repost our actions to the DOGE handle on X and to the DOGE website. So all of our actions are maximally transparent, in fact. And you can see am I doing something that benefits one of my companies or not?

[Carolina Lumeta]

After the news conference, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to comply with dogecoin. It also says agencies must plan for large scale workforce reductions. Reporting for World I'm Carolina Lumeta in Washington.

[Kent Covington]

Additional support comes from Ambassadors Impact Network.

[Elon Musk]

Where entrepreneurs can discover faith aligned funding opportunities.

[Kent Covington]

[e-mail].

[Kristin Flavin]

Coming up next on the WORLD and Everything in It World tour with our reporter in Africa Onize.

[Nick Iger]

We start today in Ecuador, where presidential election ended in a runoff. In Sunday's vote, incumbent President Daniel Noboa scored a narrow lead over his top rival, leftist Luiza Gonzalez. But both contenders fell short of the 50% of votes needed to avoid another round of voting. Their campaign centered on Ecuador's economic and security struggles. The country has seen record murder rates, along with rises in kidnapping and extortion cases. Authorities have blamed cocaine trafficking in neighboring Colombia and Peru for the increased violence. Voter Manuel Brito said he hopes for better security. He says that frequent violence makes it nearly impossible to leave the house. Both presidential candidates will face off again on April 13th. Over in Slovakia, Poland's southern neighbor, tens of thousands of people chanted at anti government demonstrations across some 40 towns. Protesters called for populist Prime Minister Robert Fico to step down. Fico has faced demonstrations for weeks as opponents accuse him of undermining the country's position in the European Union. The latest protests follow his visit to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin back in December. Barbora Kabinova is a homemaker who joined the Friday march. She says the ideal case would be for Fico to step down and pave the way for people who respect democratic principles to assume office. Fico has accused his opponents of staging a foreign backed coup. His government has questioned the supremacy of the EU's legislation over national law. It also faced backlash for its position on only two sexes and for shielding children from adoption by LGBTQ parents. The protest will resume again next week. In Brazil, school authorities began implementing new smartphone restrictions as classes resumed last week. President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva signed a bill earlier in the year to ban smartphones from classrooms and break times in public and private schools. Some regions and schools already implemented some level of restrictions ahead of the federal law. At the Porto Seguro private school in Sao Paulo, authorities expanded the restrictions to include hallways. That means students have to keep their phones in their lockers for the entire school day. Maydy Nucito is the school principal. She says that before the ban, students struggled with concentrating and also isolated themselves during breaks. Brazil's Ministry of Education says the policies are intended to protect the physical and mental health of students. We wrap up today in Namibia, where residents are more warning the passing of one of the country's freedom fighters. Sam Nuyoma, an independence activist who also served as the country's first president, died late on Saturday. He was 95. Nuyama spent nearly 30 years in exile. During that time, he championed the country's independence movement in the aftermath of Germany's colonial rule and then from South Africa's occupation. He became Namibia's first democratically elected president in 1990 and served for 15 years. Namibians also laud him for promoting national healing and reconciliation after the war with South Africa. Pedro da Fonseca is a resident of the capital city of Windek.

[Elon Musk]

Dr. Semnioma's loss is truly great, not just for us, but also for Africa. He is one of the last standing leaders who comes from a regime where we can talk about Nelson Mandela, Kwan Nkrumah, you know, Kenyattas. He comes from a regime where they were truly revolutionary for Africa. And such a loss, him being one of the lost greats.

[Nick Iger]

Standing tributes have poured in from the African Union and other African leaders. That's it for this week's world tour. Reporting for world I'm Onizio Dua in Abuja, Nigeria.

[Kristin Flavin]

What's in a name? Well, for one elected official in Australia, apparently what's in a name is an entire political identity. Plain old member of Parliament Ben Dawkins wants everyone to think of him as the Aussie Trump.

[Elon Musk]

This is a political protest. I want to be like Trump in the sense of calling out woke leftist nonsense.

[Kristin Flavin]

Lot easier to do if your name matches your attitude. So Dawkins got the paperwork to prove it. Official first name, now Austin official last name, Trump. Aussie Trump. Get it?

[Lindsay Mast]

Got it.

[Kristin Flavin]

Good. And what do locals have to say about Aussie Trump?

[Carolina Lumeta]

Look, I don't know.

[Elon Musk]

I'm speechless.

[Kristin Flavin]

Elections are next month. Dawkins hopes his punchy new calling card will truly be the trump card he was hoping for. It's the world and everything in it. Today is Wednesday, February 12th. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning, I'm Nick Iger.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. Coming next on the World and everything in it, Maha moms.

[Kristin Flavin]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. S nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services has sparked fierce debate, especially over his views on vaccines, big pharma, and industrialized agriculture. But among his loudest supporters, they are moms who have rallied behind the slogan make America healthy again.

[Lindsay Mast]

I spoke with some of these maha moms about why they see this moment as a turning point for the country's health.

[Bella Yawn]

He lost all eye contact. He lost all language that he had at 18 months. You know, just a few words that he had. But he lost it all, really. Just a very sick child. Magic gastrointestinal issues.

[Lindsay Mast]

Bella Yawn says her family's life changed forever. The day, her 18 month old brother had a seizure in the pediatrician's office. Her parents had taken him in for a routine vaccination in her home country of England.

[Bella Yawn]

That was enough for my parents to say, no more. We know what happened to our son and we're going to look into this and make sure that it doesn't happen to anyone again.

[Lindsay Mast]

So the family has documented Bella's brother's struggles on YouTube and in documentaries.

[Bella Yawn]

What kind of work does Billy do?

[Nick Iger]

I'm just working short.

[Lindsay Mast]

She says. He never recovered and he'll never live on his own. Her family became distrustful of doctors, embraced natural wellness, and passed those interests on to her. Yawn lives in Florida now, where she's a military wife, mother and nutritionist with a well curated Instagram page.

[Bella Yawn]

We've got two cups of organic strawberries and I've just chopped mine up nice and finely.

[Lindsay Mast]

She and her family have worked for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. S nonprofit organization, Children Children's Health Defense. It has mounted numerous legal challenges to vaccine mandates and other public health campaigns. Jan says Kennedy has the support of women like her because he listened to their concerns about their children's health.

[Bella Yawn]

I think we've never seen someone boldly and openly represent the mothers, and that's such a powerful thing. He has taken the time over his years of activism to truly sit and listen to what people are saying about their kids.

[Lindsay Mast]

The ideas behind the Maha movement have been growing for years. If Kennedy takes the helm of hhs, supporters hope their concerns will have a powerful champion.

[Kristin Flavin]

There's no issue that should unite us more than this chronic health epidemic.

[Elon Musk]

There's no such thing as Republican children or Democratic children.

[Kent Covington]

These are our kids.

[Lindsay Mast]

Lots of people do agree on that point. Many Americans, both children and adults, are sick. Data from a 2018 study found that more than half of all Americans have at least one chronic disease conditions like diabetes, obesity, hypertension and asthma. More than a quarter have two or more. But how to fix the problem? That's harder to find agreement on. Many in the Maha movement say it will take dismantling existing food and healthcare.

[Bella Yawn]

Systems, protein, fiber and healthy fats.

[Lindsay Mast]

If you search Maha moms on social media, you'll see women touting the benefits of homegrown and home cooked foods getting outside more. Many avoid everything from antibiotics to fluoride to food dyes.

[Bella Yawn]

And here's my hydroponically grown batter, lettuce.

[Lindsay Mast]

So I'm gonna just but it's vaccine skepticism that has served as a particularly unifying force. Vaccine skeptics voice concern over both the number of recommended childhood vaccines and the ingredients in them. In a child's first six years, a typical vaccine schedule includes 30 doses, not counting the recommended annual flu or Covid shots. Kennedy has expressed his own doubts about the safety of vaccines. That doesn't sit well with many medical professionals and politicians who have opposed his nomination. Critics fear his influence will mean lower vaccination rates and an increase in diseases. Immunization campaigns are widely credited with allowing more people to survive deadly diseases like rubella and polio. This one in Florida in the 1960s was covered by the British press.

[Elon Musk]

The new vaccine is one of three types, all claimed to be an improvement.

[Kristin Flavin]

On the famous salk vaccine.

[Elon Musk]

Between them, they may make polio as rare as smallpox.

[Lindsay Mast]

Some sources estimate that in the last 50 years, vaccines have averted 154 million deaths globally. But maha moms like Bella yawn think that has come at a cost. Her objections to vaccines go beyond her personal experience with her brother. She ties them to her faith, too.

[Bella Yawn]

There are very questionable ingredients in the vaccines, including those that have been cultured on aborted fetal tissue, which for me, as a bible believing Christian, is an absolute. No, no. I also believe that God made us the way he made us, and we don't need things injected into our body to survive and thrive.

[Lindsay Mast]

It's not really a different aspect of faith drives Toni creel, a Florida acupuncturist and medical freedom advocate. One of the things that this movement.

[Elon Musk]

Is about is exposing the corruption between government and the various industries that are making us so unhealthy.

[Lindsay Mast]

She objects to mandatory vaccine requirements like the ones found in public schools based on three main ideas.

[Elon Musk]

The medical freedom, the informed consent, the religious freedom. Those are basic human rights.

[Lindsay Mast]

Creel believes injecting vaccines into the body is a form of defilement. A and says a person who believes the same should always have the right to decline a vaccine.

[Elon Musk]

I mean, you don't have to know anything else. You don't have to be a rocket scientist. You don't have to look at all the studies, anything. All you have to realize that this is a basic human right. Why wouldn't we want that?

[Lindsay Mast]

Exemptions for personal and religious reasons have been the subject of multiple court cases over the years. And not every mom of children with a chronic illness thinks Robert F. Kennedy Jr. S appointment is the answer to the problem. I talked to several, and while they declined to be interviewed on tape, one expressed her belief that genetics, not vaccines, may have played a role in her son's autism. Another said her trust in God's sovereignty compels her not to question her son's diagnosis. Kennedy said last week that he is not anti vaccine.

[Kristin Flavin]

The president's pledge is not to make.

[Kent Covington]

Some Americans healthy again, but to make.

[Kristin Flavin]

All of our people healthy again.

[Kent Covington]

There is no single culprit in chronic disease.

[Lindsay Mast]

He said he supports the measles and polio vaccine. He's also said he wants to look at vaccine safety data and share his findings regardless of the outcome of the Senate vote on Kennedy. The moms I spoke with expressed hopefulness for an America that is healthier in ways beyond just the vaccine question.

[Bella Yawn]

I know these mothers and we will never stop fighting for our children.

[Lindsay Mast]

I think moms like Bella Yon see momentum behind their movement and kind of.

[Bella Yawn]

Introduce this conversation that was very much shunned and wasn't being discussed. And I think with all of us together, we will continue to fight for this.

[Lindsay Mast]

They say they're not stopping, even if RFK Jr. S cabinet opportunity does. Today is Wednesday, February 12th. Good morning. This is the world and everything in it from listener Supported World Radio. I'm Lindsay Mast.

[Kristin Flavin]

And I'm Nick Eicher. For the last few weeks, the Trump administration has been running at a fever pitch, stepping up immigration enforcement, refusing aid to foreign organizations that provide or advocate for abortion, and pulling out of the Paris climate accord. He's following through on lots of campaign promises, but there is a catch. As World Opinion's contributor Adam Carrington explains.

[Elon Musk]

President Trump has acted mostly through executive orders, including more than 20 issued on his first day in office. Presidential use of executive orders has come under significant Criticism in the 21st century. This criticism has crossed party lines, whether you be a Republican or a Democrat. Political opponents have attacked presidential executive orders with verve. President Trump was criticized during his first term for executive actions such as reallocating money for building a wall along the Southern bor. President Biden has sought to cancel significant amounts of student loan debt in this manner as well. One more example. In November of 2014, President Obama's DACA and DAPA actions garnered a mocking sketch from Saturday Night Live. I'll create a national park or a new holiday, or grant legal status to 5 million undocumented immigrants.

[Kent Covington]

Wait, what?

[Elon Musk]

Some criticisms of executive orders stem only from opposition to the specific policy or to the president who made them. But some make a different objection, one based not in policy or partisanship, but on constitutional grounds. Wait a second. Don't you have to go through Congress at some point?

[Kristin Flavin]

Oh, that's adorable.

[Elon Musk]

You still think that's how government works. The SNL sketch pointed to the core constitutional criticism levied at executive orders that they violate separation of powers. Our Constitution vests national lawmaking authority in Congress. Yes, the President signs and vetoes bills, but that is a carefully, narrowly limited exception to the general rule. Instead, the President's core function in our system consists of enforcing the law made by Congress. Executive orders look like the President sidestepping, if not outright contradicting Congress by by legislating on his own. Can one make a constitutional defense of executive orders? Yes, there is a legitimate role for them in our system. In Article 2, the Constitution vests the entire national executive power in the President. To carry out that massive and growing task, the president always has needed subordinates within the executive branch to enforce laws. How does the President exert control over these officers and thus maintain his own responsibility to take care that the laws be faithfully executed? One way is that the President can give orders explaining his understanding of federal law and then direct how he desires executive officials to enforce those laws. That is the original intention of executive orders. They do not make any new law. They merely enable the President to direct the enforcement of existing statutes. If you read executive orders, you will notice that they note and interpret statutes and constitutional clauses the President believes enable, even require, the action the executive order commands. Now, the fact that executive orders can be constitutional does not mean every executive order is constitutional. Presidents can, and do, grossly overread the discretion a law gives them to act. They can do so to score partisan points. One of President Biden's biggest student loan cancellations, for example, fell into this category. It was rightly slapped down by the Supreme Court. President Trump's border wall funding also rested on shaky statutory ground, including being in tension with his own prior statements and efforts to secure new congressional appropriations for the project. Therefore, we must judge President Trump's executive orders individually. Each order must be evaluated accordingly. Doing so, of course, includes assessing whether we think the policy pursued is a good one. However, we also should consider whether the order falls within existing law. Is the president, in other words, fulfilling his role as exerciser of the executive power or intruding into Congress's legislative sphere? If we do not seriously consider this question of separation of powers, we face the temptation of pursuing beneficial goals in damaging ways. Such an error of omission would undermine the constitutional structure and thus lay the groundwork for future threats to limited government as well as individual liberty. I'm Adam Carrington.

[Kristin Flavin]

Tomorrow, more than 6,500 federal employees have accepted buyouts to leave government. We'll consider some of the reasons why and what it may mean. And just in time for Valentine's Day, the great American super and the music of romance. That and more tomorrow. I'm Nick Iger.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. Oh, Lord, make me know my end. And what is the measure of my days? Let me know how fleeting I am. Verse 4 of Psalm 39. Go now in grace and peace?

[Bella Yawn]

Peace.