American Thought Leaders

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.

“We get a lot of inappropriate over-prescribing for almost everything,” says drug policy researcher and journalist Alan Cassels.Cassels is the co-author of “Selling Sickness: How the World’s Biggest Pharmaceutical Companies Are Turning Us All Into Patients.”For Cassels, it was one disease in particular—osteoporosis—that changed his entire view of medicine.Based on changing definitions of the disease, large swaths of Americans could suddenly be declared sick and in urgent need of drug treatment.They “medicalized normal aging of basically the entire female population. Overnight,” he says.In our interview, we discuss the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on overdiagnoses and prescriptions, and how the criteria for many diseases can be expanded arbitrarily.“When you look closely at the quality of prescribing, a lot of times, the decision-making is not really driven by evidence. It’s driven mostly by … marketing, biases, influence from thought leaders, and influence from guidelines, medical guidelines themselves, which are often appallingly biased,” he says.Many doctors, Cassels says, know little about the adverse effects of the many drugs they prescribe to their patients.We also dive into the connection between psychiatric drug prescriptions and violence, how psychiatry labels normal behaviors as abnormal, and how exaggerated statistics are used to sell theories of disease and drug treatments.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

“COVID was a really dark time for me and for a lot of people,” said Rob Schneider.For the famous comedian and actor, the years of the pandemic were a time to take stock of what had become of America, speak up about it—and even write a book. “You Can Do it! Speak Your Mind, America” was published in September 2024.“If we’re going to continue to have a free society, it’s going to require people to step up and be courageous,” Schneider said.Schneider, who is also a screenwriter and director, rose to prominence as a cast member and writer of NBC’s Saturday Night Live. He earned three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his writing on the show.In this episode, he reflected on our current political and cultural moment.What really happened when Rob bumped into Robert De Niro at the SNL reunion? What is the role of comedy in an age of outrage? And how do we turn around the tribalism he sees gripping America?Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

As early as 1989, intelligence officers in the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) recognized China as the next threat, says former DIA officer and physicist Michael Sekora.“We identified what [China] was doing to become a superpower faster than any country in history, and we were on track to containment,” Sekora says.Back in the 1980s, he led a classified Defense Intelligence Agency program called “Project Socrates” that was created under the Reagan administration to determine the cause of U.S. economic and military decline, find a way to reverse it, and outcompete Moscow. Later they turned their sights to Beijing.“It was very obvious what was going on: China was executing a national technology strategy, which basically was playing ... a very adroit game of worldwide offensive, defensive, technology exploitation chess,” Sekora says. “What we had in Socrates could have easily contained China.”The project was defunded by the Bush administration, and the United States went the opposite route, allowing many key technologies to be handed over to Beijing over the course of several decades.In this episode, he breaks down why he believes the United States has lost its edge in technological innovation and how this can be turned around.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Robert Whitaker, an investigative journalist and author known for his work on psychiatric treatment, challenges the long-held belief that psychiatric drugs fix chemical imbalances in the brain. He reveals how this myth helped expand the pharmaceutical industry despite a lack of supporting evidence. Whitaker discusses alarming findings on long-term outcomes for schizophrenia and the potential harm of psychiatric medications, which can lead to chronic symptoms. He advocates for alternative approaches like Finland's Open Dialogue, suggesting a shift in how mental health is treated.

Gen. Charles Flynn (Ret.), a former four-star general and Pacific commander, delves into the intricacies of Taiwan's defense strategy against China. He highlights how China's rapid military mobilization could threaten Taiwan and stresses the importance of a strong U.S.-Asian alliance. Flynn warns of the urgent need to adjust military resources and strategies to counter China's regional ambitions. He also discusses the necessity for partner nations to bolster their own defenses while advocating for innovative military diplomacy and public-private partnerships.

Baiba Braže, Latvia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, is a champion of Baltic security and transatlantic cooperation. She shares insights on Latvia's strong defense spending, aiming for 5% of GDP, and its geographical importance against Russian expansion. Braže discusses the need for a Ukrainian-led peace deal and the vital role of increased pressure on Russia. She also outlines Latvia's shift to U.S. energy sources and emphasizes the importance of NATO’s collective security while addressing broader global priorities.

Dr. Robert Redfield, former director of the CDC and expert in HIV/AIDS, advocates for the removal of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, stressing the need for accountability from vaccine manufacturers. He discusses the possible lab origins of SARS-CoV-2 and criticizes America's pandemic response. Redfield calls for a focus on vulnerable populations rather than broad vaccine mandates and emphasizes the importance of natural immunity. He also highlights the distinction between long COVID and vaccine injuries, urging transparency and improved health policies.

In this engaging dialogue, Robert Kiyosaki, the acclaimed author of 'Rich Dad Poor Dad', dives into the crumbling state of America’s middle class amid rising inflation. He highlights the dangers of unchecked monetary policy by the Federal Reserve and shares insights from witnessing hyperinflation in Zimbabwe. Kiyosaki emphasizes the importance of financial education, skill development for entrepreneurs, and using debt wisely to create wealth. His perspective challenges conventional views on prosperity, advocating for innovation over fixed resources.

Dr. Michael Egnor, a pediatric neurosurgeon and author, challenges conventional neuroscience, arguing for the soul's existence beyond the brain. He discusses his transformative journey from atheism to dualism, revealing that reason and free will aren't just brain functions. Egnor references historical insights and presents compelling case studies, like individuals functioning without large brain sections. He also explores near-death experiences, emphasizing their scientific significance and implications for understanding consciousness.