American Thought Leaders

“Minnesota … is just the tip of the iceberg,” says Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).Minnesota has become the epicenter of several overlapping fraud investigations of childcare programs, small business pandemic loans, and Medicaid services. Earlier this month, Dr. Oz traveled to Minnesota to tour suspected fraud sites and meet with whistleblowers and announced that over $2 billion in annual Medicaid funding might be withheld.“What we’re seeing in Minnesota, which is billions of dollars of fraud that hurts our most vulnerable people and puts them at risk … is dwarfed by what I saw in California, which is whole-scale cultural malfeasance around health care,” Dr. Oz says.“The magnitude of fraud there, we believe, is approximating $4 billion just in hospice and home health care,” he says.Dr. Oz oversees programs that together constitute about one-fourth of the entire U.S. federal budget.In this episode, he breaks down how the home health care and hospice systems are being exploited on a massive scale and also how Medicare beneficiary numbers are being stolen and weaponized for fraudulent billing schemes.As the administration approaches its one‑year mark, he reflects on efforts to cut waste, lower drug prices, and transform health in America.President Donald Trump has recently unveiled his new “Great Healthcare Plan” to lower prices and increase transparency.“For decades, Americans have been paying three times more than Europeans and other developed nations have been paying for the exact same drugs made in the same facilities,” Dr. Oz says.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

One of the first executive orders President Donald Trump signed after his inauguration last January was titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.” The order directed the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to produce a systematic review of pediatric transgender procedures and their impact on children within 90 days.In May 2025, HHS published a more than 400-page review, titled “Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices.” In November last year, an updated, peer-reviewed version was published with additional appendices and supplements.Leor Sapir, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, is one of the report’s main outside co-authors. In our in-depth interview, Sapir provides a detailed overview of the review’s findings and conclusions.“We tried to be as factual and defensible as we possibly could,” he said.The goal of the report, he says, is to “engage with people in the medical profession who may not be aligned with the administration, but who do care about questions of medical evidence and medical ethics.”In this episode, he breaks down:- The prevalence of sex-changing procedures in the United States, as well as the reversal in approaches in various Scandinavian countries and in the UK.- How misleading and unscientific language was used by professionals across many fields to promote pediatric sex transitioning.- The role of the organization, World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), in establishing “gender-affirming care” as the accepted standard.- How clinicians, in his view, distorted the principle of patient autonomy to increase pediatric sex change surgeries.There is one chapter in the report that everyone should read, Sapir said. And that is the chapter about ethics.“The question on everybody’s mind is: Should we do it? That’s an ethical question. And medical ethics is, you would hope, [what] governs the field of medicine,” he told me.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Mark Joseph, a film and music producer and founder of MJM Entertainment, dives into the fascinating journey of creating the biographical film about Ronald Reagan. He reveals how Reagan's childhood sermons ignited his anti-communist passion, recounts filming the project during the pandemic, and highlights the divide in critical versus audience reception. Joseph also shares Reagan's iconic moment at the Berlin Wall, emphasizing the historical significance behind his famous words, and discusses future plans to tell more rich, nuanced American stories.

Devin Nunes, a former U.S. congressman and current CEO of Truth Media & Technology Group, dives into the ongoing implications of the Russiagate investigation and the politicization of intelligence agencies. He discusses the controversial Nunes memo and its revelations, media collusion, and the recent merger with TAE Technologies for fusion energy. Nunes highlights the urgent need for energy independence and free speech, while raising concerns about competition with China and the importance of protecting intellectual property.

In this engaging discussion, Kelly Loeffler, former U.S. senator and current Administrator of the Small Business Administration, shares her mission to tackle loan fraud, revealing her team's discovery of 8,000 fraudulent loans during investigations in Minnesota. She emphasizes the importance of supporting domestic manufacturing and discusses initiatives to combat debanking. Loeffler also reflects on her journey from a family farm to a successful financial career, advocating for American values of self-reliance and opportunity for small businesses.

J. Michael Waller, a senior analyst at the Center for Security Policy, dives into the geopolitical fallout of capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. He discusses how this action challenges China's influence in Venezuela, a crucial part of their global strategy. Waller also highlights Venezuela's transformation into a crime-ridden state under Maduro, the implications for U.S. and Chinese military credibility, and how this could reshape the balance of power in the region. Expect insights on the future of Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran amidst shifting alliances.

Jonathan Choe, a reporter and senior journalism fellow, shares his insights on the troubling connections between Antifa and homelessness nonprofits. He reveals how some organizations have turned into profitable ventures while failing to truly help the homeless. Choe discusses the concerning trend of giving out harmful drug paraphernalia instead of support, and highlights an alarming infiltration of Antifa ideology within the sector. His emphasis on a treatment-first approach underlines the need for genuine reform in tackling the homelessness crisis.

Independent journalist Alex Berenson, a former New York Times reporter, dives into the contentious debate over cannabis and its rescheduling by the DEA. He argues that moving marijuana to Schedule III sends a dangerous message about drug use and advocates for stigma around drug consumption. Berenson highlights the alarming rise in THC potency, connecting it to increased mental health risks like psychosis and schizophrenia. He critiques public health's failings in providing honest information and discusses the significance of early prevention in combating addiction.

Chloe Cole, a detransitioner and children's rights advocate, shares her harrowing journey of undergoing medical transition as a minor before realizing her mistake. She discusses the backlash from the transgender community upon her detransition and the vindication she feels with recent government actions targeting gender-affirming care for minors. Chloe highlights the profound psychological and physical impact of these procedures, the misinformation surrounding regret rates, and her ongoing lawsuit against medical providers, calling for accountability and reform.

Andrew Doyle, a writer and comedian known for his satirical character Titania McGrath, discusses the peak of woke ideology and the potential rise of new authoritarian impulses. He explores how wokeness has transformed society and highlights alarming trends in speech policing, especially in the UK. Doyle critiques media bias and its impact on reporting, while warning of the detrimental effects of DEI initiatives on race relations. He advocates for free speech and stresses the importance of cultural assimilation and rigorous education to preserve liberal values.