Why Pediatricians Should Lead Health Policy

Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician and Democratic candidate challenging Lindsey Graham for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, joins the Chuck ToddCast to discuss why healthcare providers must lead the fight for reform in an era of collapsing trust in federal institutions. Andrews explains that pediatricians should be at the forefront because Medicaid—the largest insurer of children—has been gutted, and doctors are now disputing dangerous government vaccine policies from an administration where medical information can no longer be trusted. She argues the healthcare system is fundamentally broken, rewarding providers for delivering more treatment rather than better outcomes while facing what she describes as a coordinated attack on healthcare. As a physician countering "Dr. Internet" disinformation, Andrews discusses running as a Democrat despite the challenges, emphasizing that Democrats have a severe geographic disconnect with rural voters, particularly rural Black voters in South Carolina for whom nothing has improved.

Andrews takes direct aim at Lindsey Graham, calling him a follower rather than a leader who simply follows Trump and supports unconstitutional actions while thinking he's politically invulnerable. She expresses disappointment that Nikki Haley and Nancy Mace couldn't stand up to Trump, noting both have "devolved in recent years." Drawing inspiration from the Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock blueprint for Democrats in the South, Andrews insists that if Democrats win the midterms they must be bold, hold Trump accountable, and not take impeachment off the table. Reflecting on her pandemic experience—a period she believes Americans still don't understand—Andrews criticizes D.C. politicians for being disconnected from the real world and argues that on issues like AI regulation, profits cannot be prioritized over common sense safety solutions.

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Timeline:

(Timestamps may vary based on advertisements)

00:00 Dr. Annie Andrews joins the Chuck ToddCast

01:15 When did you first want to enter politics?

03:30 Did you learn about the healthcare business in med school?

06:00 Pediatricians should be leading the way on healthcare reform

06:45 Medicaid is largest insurer of children & has been gutted

07:30 Pediatricians dispute government vaccine policy for kids

09:00 We can’t trust medical info from the federal government

10:00 Has any RFK proclamation or policy actually made sense?

11:15 How do you deal with “Dr. Internet”?

12:15 Doctors need an online presence to counter disinformation

14:00 Why is it more profitable to run a non-profit over for-profit hospital?

14:45 Healthcare system is rewarded for proving more treatment, not better

16:15 We’re seeing a coordinated attack on our healthcare system

17:00 Jaime Harrison’s campaign in SC was a disaster

18:15 Easiest way to run in the south is to erase the D by your name

19:00 Many challenges to running as an independent

20:30 Democrats have a geographic disconnect with rural voters

21:30 Nothing has gotten better for rural black voters in SC

23:30 The pandemic was a huge reason for Harrison’s bad loss

24:15 How do you win over a voter that supported Trump?

25:15 Lindsey Graham is supporting unconstitutional actions

26:00 Graham isn’t a leader, he’s a follower & he follows Trump

27:00 Disappointing Nikki Haley couldn’t stand up to Trump more

29:00 South Carolinians says they want outsiders, then vote for insiders

29:45 Graham thinks he’s politically invulnerable

31:00 People will have their lives negatively impacted by GOP policy

32:15 What do you make of Nancy Mace’s political saliency?

33:15 Nancy Mace has devolved in recent years

34:30 Thoughts on Chuck Schumer as Dem leader in senate?

35:45 Jon Ossoff & Raphael Warnock provide blueprint for Dems in south

37:30 Trump & the administration must be held accountable

38:45 Dems must be bold in their agenda if they win the midterms

39:30 Impeachment shouldn’t be off the table

41:30 Can you be both a fighter and a uniter as a candidate?

42:45 Too many D.C. politicians are disconnected from the real world

44:00 How should congress regulate AI?

45:45 Profits can’t be the priority over common sense safety solutions

46:45 Best TV doctor show that gets it right? E.R. & The Pitt

48:00 Americans don’t understand what hospitals were like during Covid

49:00 What’s your campaigning rhythm as a candidate?

50:15 Clemson or South Carolina?

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