An episode pulled from the archives, Joe Grogan and Eric Ueland welcome Dr. Tevi Troy, former Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, presidential historian, and best selling author of Fight House: Rivalries in the White House from Truman to Trump. First aired in February 2023 at the midpoint of the Biden administration, this conversation diagnoses how White House infighting actually works, why the Biden team leaked so much less than its predecessors, and what discipline does and does not buy a president.From there the conversation turns to the machinery of the State of the Union, why the speech always collapses into a laundry list, and how Ronald Reagan invented the pageantry that every president has copied since. Troy then makes the bipartisan case for reforming the Centers for Disease Control, arguing for a congressional charter and a sharper pandemic mission separate from behavioral health. Along the way Joe, Eric, and Tevi cover Lyndon Johnson and Vietnam, Ed Koch and the art of criticizing opponents without alienating voters, the real origin of the Bull Connor line in Biden speeches, and why Troy believes the Republican party has a brighter future after Trump than the Democrats have after Biden.TIMESTAMPS0:00   Tevi Troy on a brighter Republican future after Trump0:47   DC EKG intro1:10   Joe and Eric welcome Tevi Troy, refill context from February 20233:00   Why the Biden White House leaks far less than Trump's did6:15   Neera Tanden, Afghanistan, and where the grumbling did surface9:30   Is the press softer on Democratic administrations12:10   Lessons from the hyper disciplined Bush 43 operation15:00   Friction as a feature: Johnson, Ford, and creative tension18:20   Johnson, Vietnam, and the limits of dominating Congress21:00   Biden faces a Republican House and a debt ceiling fight24:15   How a State of the Union actually gets built27:30   Why every State of the Union becomes a laundry list30:45   Reagan, Lenny Skutnik, and the birth of pageantry33:50   The case for reforming the CDC with a congressional charter36:20   Behavioral health versus the pandemic mission39:10   Ed Koch, Carter, and criticizing without alienating voters41:40   Where Meacham's Bull Connor line came from44:30   Troy's path to DC: AEI, Ben Wattenberg, and the PhD47:15   The conservative movement in flux and the future of the parties48:33   Wrap upABOUT OUR GUESTDr. Tevi Troy is a presidential historian, best selling author, and former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. An insider's insider in Washington, he warned of US vulnerability to coronavirus in 2016 and has since written widely on the failures at the CDC. He began his career at the American Enterprise Institute working for Ben Wattenberg, earned a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin, and served in a range of roles in the George W. Bush administration, including at the Domestic Policy Council. He is the author of Fight House: Rivalries in the White House from Truman to Trump, What Jefferson Read, Ike Watched, and Obama Tweeted, and Intellectuals and the American Presidency, along with more than four hundred articles.CREDITSPodcast: DC EKG with Joe GroganEpisode: 137bGuest: Dr. Tevi Troy, former Deputy Secretary of Health and Human ServicesSponsor: Survivors for Solutions, https://survivorsforsolutions.orgExecutive Producer: John “CZ” Czwartacki, DC EKG PodcastProducer: Stay on Course Studios, https://www.stayoncourse.studio

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya on COVID-19 Seroprevalence, Natural Immunity, and the Great Barrington Declaration (Originally Aired July 20, 2023)This episode originally aired on July 20, 2023, the same day Stanford University President Tessier-Levine was forced to resign. Dr. Jay offers detailed commentary on the hostile work environment at Stanford and how government, big tech, and academia conspired to suppress scientific voices.Episode DescriptionIn this wide-ranging conversation, Joe Grogan and Eric Ueland sit down with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to discuss his groundbreaking work on COVID-19 seroprevalence studies, the suppression of natural immunity data, and the origins of the Great Barrington Declaration.Dr. Bhattacharya shares his immigrant family story and early recognition that COVID-19 was far more widespread than official counts indicated. He conducted one of the first seroprevalence studies in April 2020 in Santa Clara and Los Angeles Counties, using antibody test kits provided by Major League Baseball, and found that the disease was 40 to 50 times more common than reported cases.The episode covers the intense backlash Dr. Bhattacharya faced for publishing these findings, including death threats, racist attacks, and institutional pressure from Stanford to suppress the research. He discusses how public health authorities suppressed evidence of natural immunity, the unethical decision-making by officials like Tony Fauci and Debbie Birx, and the formation of the Great Barrington Declaration.Dr. Bhattacharya details the coordinated campaign against him, censorship on social media, including Twitter blacklisting, federal government threats to ensure censorship, and the terrible price paid that will echo through generations. He reflects on the failures of scientific institutions and the reforms needed to restore public trust in science.Key Timestamps4:27 Background: born in India, immigrant family, father was a rocket scientist14:07 COVID enters consciousness: late December 2019, early January 202016:47 Wall Street Journal op-ed calling for seroprevalence studies19:06 Major League Baseball provides 10,000 antibody test kits20:30 Study results: 3 percent of Santa Clara had COVID by April 202026:12 Death threats, racist attacks, and pressure from Stanford34:51 Evidence of natural immunity being suppressed by Fauci and Birx39:52 Genesis of Great Barrington Declaration, October 202050:10 Hostile work environment at Stanford and Tessier-Levine impact56:44 FOIA requests revealing government targeting1:00:16 Twitter blocklist discovery and Elon Musk's Twitter Files1:05:00 Reform is needed in the scientific community to restore public trustAbout the Guest (at time of recording, July 2023)Dr. Jayanta Jay Bhattacharya is a Professor of Health Policy at Stanford University's School of Medicine and a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He holds an MD and a PhD in Economics from Stanford. Born in Kolkata, India, he immigrated to the US at age four. His research focuses on the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. He has published over 160 peer-reviewed articles and is the author of a leading textbook on health economics. Dr. Bhattacharya co-authored the Great Barrington Declaration and is a co-founder of the Academy of Science and Freedom.Dr. Jay's Current Role (June 2026)Since this episode was recorded in July 2023, Dr. Bhattacharya has assumed significant leadership roles in the federal government. He is the 18th Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), confirmed March 25, 2025, and took office April 1, 2025. As of February 18, 2026, he also serves as Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bringing his emphasis on scientific integrity and evidence-based policy to these critical positions.Podcast: DC EKG with Joe GroganGuest: Dr. Jay BhattacharyaHost: Joe Grogan and Eric UelandSponsor: Survivors for SolutionsExecutive Producer: John CZ

DC EKG with Joe Grogan Episode 137: Tax Expenditures, 340 B Drug Pricing, and Kidney Donation Reform Air Date: June 15, 2026 Episode DescriptionIn this episode, Joe Grogan sits down with Dr. Ike Brannon, President of Capital Policy Analytics and Senior Fellow at the Jack Kemp Foundation, to discuss hidden tax expenditures, the 340 B drug pricing program, and innovative solutions to the kidney shortage crisis. Dr. Brannon brings decades of Capitol Hill experience, including roles as chief economist of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and senior advisor to Senator Orrin Hatch. He and co-author Tony LoSasso recently published groundbreaking research in Health Affairs Forefront arguing that the 340 B drug pricing program should be classified as a hidden tax expenditure costing the federal government 15 to 20 billion dollars annually. The conversation covers how the 340 B program evolved from providing discounted drugs to uninsured patients into a massive subsidy for nonprofit institutions with little benefit to poor patients. Dr. Brannon explains how the same drug acquired at a 340 B discount often results in full commercial copays for patients. Joe and Dr. Brannon explore other problematic tax expenditures including the mortgage interest deduction, employer health insurance exclusion, and credit union tax breaks. The episode pivots to Dr. Branons passionate work on kidney donation reform. Forty-five thousand Americans die annually from end stage renal failure due to kidney shortage, disproportionately affecting African Americans. Dr. Brannon advocates for fully reimbursing kidney donors for all expenses. Key Topics340 B drug pricing program, tax expenditures, pharmaceutical discounts, nonprofit hospitals, mortgage interest deduction, kidney donation, end stage renal failure, organ shortage, entitlement reform, social security, Medicare, federal deficit, health economics Key Timestamps 0:00 Opening: What should be in a reconciliation bill?4:38 The 340 B drug pricing program explained13:54 How the 340 B discount does not reach patients20:13 Mortgage interest deduction: the most irritating tax break31:00 Prospects for reconciliation under Trump administration34:57 The kidney donation crisis: 45,000 deaths per year39:02 How kidney donation reimbursement would work40:00 Would you allow kidney sales? The ethical debate45:13 Final thoughts About the GuestDr. Ike Brannon is President of Capital Policy Analytics and Senior Fellow at the Jack Kemp Foundation. He holds a PhD in Economics from Indiana University. Dr. Brannon served as chief economist of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, senior advisor to Senator Orrin Hatch on tax and trade policy, and has worked at the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, Treasury Department, and for the McCain presidential campaign. He is founder of the Prosperity Caucus and focuses on growth-oriented economic policy and healthcare innovation. Featured ResearchThe 340 B Drug Pricing Program is a Hidden Tax ExpenditureHealth Affairs Forefront, April 24, 2026Co-authored by Ike Brannon and Tony LoSassohttps://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/340b-drug-pricing-program-hidden-tax-expenditure Podcast: DC EKG with Joe GroganEpisode: 137Guest: Dr. Ike Brannon Sponsor: Survivors for SolutionsProducer: Stay on Course StudiosExecutive Producer: John CZ Czwartacki, DC EKG Podcast

DC EKG with Joe GroganThe Economics of Ozempic and Other Weight Loss DrugsEpisode 136.5 (“Prescription Refill” – A replay from the archives)Original Air Date: May 2024In this episode, Joe Grogan welcomes Ben Ippolito, Senior Fellow in Economic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, to discuss the rapidly evolving economics of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.Ben explains the two main competitors in this market—Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy versus Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound. Revealing how insurance coverage decisions drive pharmaceutical marketing strategy.The conversation reveals a critical irrationality in Medicare policy: the statutory prohibition on covering weight loss drugs despite their profound clinical and quality-of-life benefits. Yet these same drugs are covered for diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction.Ben explores the surprising economics of drug pricing through gross-to-net pricing—the massive gap between list prices and what insurers actually pay through rebates and discounts.The episode examines critical implications of the Inflation Reduction Act's price negotiation provisions. Once Medicare negotiates Ozempic's price, that same price applies to all products using the same active ingredient. This creates cascading market effects: competitors must match those prices to remain on formularies, new entrants face lower pricing power even if clinically superior, and pharmaceutical companies may abandon promising programs due to regulatory uncertainty.Ben argues Congress doesn't need to act immediately to expand Medicare coverage, but likely will within a few years.Joe and Ben discuss unintended consequences of government price regulation, including effects on innovation and drug development pipelines. They explore how price controls announced before elections affect pharmaceutical strategy and development timelines.Concluding with Ben's research on Medicare Advantage and why both Democrats and Republicans scrutinize this private alternative to traditional Medicare. With over 50 percent of seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, bipartisan interest in reform is reshaping healthcare policy conversations on Capitol Hill.Key TopicsGLP-1 drugs, Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, weight loss medications, obesity treatment, Medicare coverage, drug pricing, Inflation Reduction Act, pharmaceutical competition, rebates, gross-to-net pricing, health economics, cardiovascular benefits, diabetes treatment, Medicare Advantage, healthcare policy, innovation incentivesKey Timestamps00:00 Cold Open: "Turned Up to 11"00:24 Welcome to DC EKG00:46 Meet Ben Ippolito (AEI)03:48 The GLP-1 Landscape: Ozempic, Wegovy, and the Field05:04 One Drug, Two Names06:45 Medicare's Weight-Loss Coverage Ban07:21 Blockbusters and Big Effect Sizes09:32 Why Isn't Congress Acting?10:17 Why It Costs Less Than You Think12:34 The Coverage Irrationality14:05 Quality of Life as a Real Benefit15:17 Beyond Weight: Cravings and Addiction18:21 Devil's Advocate: Why Cover It At All?19:48 Gross-to-Net and the Rebate Problem22:41 Why Can't You Just Pay Cash?25:43 The IRA and the Ozempic Price Cut27:32 One Ingredient, One Price30:10 Unintended Consequences in Part D34:01 New Competitors and Killed Programs38:03 What's Next: Medicare Advantage42:04 Wrap-Up and CreditsAbout the Guest(As of May 2024) Ben Ippolito is a Senior Fellow in Economic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. He holds a PhD and Master's degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Economics from Emory University. Ben examines drug pricing policy, Medicare Advantage, and healthcare innovation economics with regular engagement with Congress.Podcast: DC EKG with Joe GroganGuest: Ben IppolitoSponsor: Survivors for SolutionsProducer: Stay on Course StudiosExecutive Producer: John CZ Czwartacki, DC EKG Podcast

In Episode 136 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan hosts Tom Barker, a top drug-pricing attorney at Foley Hoag and former acting general counsel of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Bush administration. Tom helped implement Medicare Part D and now advises drugmakers and policymakers on complex pricing issues. The episode traces 20 years of policy: what went right with Part D, what the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) did, and what effective policy should look like.Tom explains that Part D's success rested on three pillars: private plans only, limited government control over benefit design, and a non-interference clause barring the government from intervening in negotiations among plans, pharmacies, and manufacturers. Competition worked and premiums stayed low, until the government asserted more control and weakened those pillars. The IRA, he argues, was a 16-year Democratic effort to repeal non-interference, creating price controls disguised as negotiations.The Trump administration has taken a different tack, focusing not on the IRA but on MFN and Globe Guard models pegged to other developed countries. Tom also breaks down the 340B program, now the country's second-largest expenditure program, and the fight between manufacturers and covered entities over contract pharmacies.His prescription is simple: let competition work. Speed FDA approval of generics and biosimilars, and trust the marketplace over price controls. He points to hepatitis C, where prices fell sharply once competition entered.In This ConversationThe three pillars that made Part D successful for 20 yearsHow non-interference kept government from setting drug pricesThe IRA as a 16-year Democratic push to repeal non-interferenceWhy Tom calls the IRA price controls disguised as negotiationsThe Trump administration's focus on MFN and Globe Guard pricing340B and the battle between manufacturers and covered entitiesThe Chevron repeal's impact on drug pricing lawHRSA's proposed rebate model and ongoing 340B litigationWhy effective policy means competition, not controlsTom's work helping North Korean defectors and refugeesKey Timestamps1:51 Tom's background at HHS and CMS2:30 The three pillars of Part D's success5:10 Why Democrats wanted to repeal non-interference5:55 Ted Kennedy's compromise and bipartisan votes11:38 The IRA as a 16-year repeal attempt12:03 What the IRA changed in Part D15:02 IRA negotiations vs. real negotiations16:25 How the excise tax makes it no real negotiation21:32 Trump's focus on MFN and Globe Guard25:37 340B's history back to 199128:45 340B as the second-biggest expenditure program29:30 Manufacturer vs. covered-entity acrimony33:18 The Chevron repeal's impact on pricing34:54 HRSA's rebate model, the next step on 340B35:40 The lawsuit over "patient" in 340B38:18 Tom's advice: let competition work39:30 Hepatitis C: competition drives prices down40:34 Competition for gene therapies and CRISPR41:36 Tom's work for North Korean defectors44:49 Sponsoring Free North Korea RadioMedicare Part D, drug pricing policy, Inflation Reduction Act, non-interference clause, 340B program, MFN pricing, Globe Guard pricing, pharmacy benefit managers, covered entities, contract pharmacies, biosimilars, generics, federal drug pricing, government price controls, Tom BarkerAbout the GuestTom Barker is a partner at Foley Hoag in Washington, DC, and one of the country's top drug pricing attorneys. He served as acting general counsel of HHS and chief legal officer at CMS under the Bush administration, where he helped implement Part D from its inception. He is now a go-to expert on drug pricing, and helps North Korean defectors navigate US immigration law.Podcast: DC EKG with Joe Grogan Episode: 136 Guest: Tom Barker Sponsor: Survivors for Solutions - https://survivorsforsolutions.org Executive Producer: John "CZ" Czwartacki, DC EKG Podcast Producer: Stay on Course Studios - https://www.stayoncourse.studio

In Episode 134 of DC EKG, former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield joins Joe Grogan to discuss his new book, Redfield's Warning, and break down three major threats to public health: Long COVID, Hantavirus, and bird flu. Dr. Redfield explains the persistent viral reservoirs in long COVID patients, the cognitive dysfunction and autonomic dysfunction that devastate these individuals, and why the federal government must partner with the private sector to develop meaningful treatments. He also walks through the current Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, the human-to-human transmission of the Andes virus strain, and why bird flu is the most likely candidate for the next pandemic. Throughout, Dr. Redfield emphasizes the critical importance of antiviral development and the dangers of gain-of-function research.In This ConversationThe current Hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship and human-to-human transmissionThe Andes virus strain and why it differs from Sin Nombre and Four Corners DiseaseTwo transmission routes: aerosolization and direct contaminationAsymptomatic transmission and the intrinsic bias in testingWhy has the US government not developed Hantavirus countermeasures in 70 yearsBird flu is the most likely candidate for the next pandemic.Gain-of-function research and the public disclosure of dangerous genetic dataLong COVID: viral reservoirs and the need for effective antiviral treatmentsWhy antivirals should be the priority over vaccines for emerging virusesOperation Warp Speed and the importance of private sector partnershipsThe dismissal of long COVID patients as psychosomatic and the need for validationKey Timestamps1:49  Details of the Hantavirus outbreak and cruise ship cases3:00  Two methods of transmission: aerosolization and direct contamination5:24  Asymptomatic transmission and testing bias10:35  The Hantavirus family and why the Andes virus goes from human to human12:35  How nervous should the public be16:43  Shifting to bird flu and Redfield's Warning19:00  Bird flu spread in US poultry and mammal populations22:00  The four amino acids for bird flu to infect humans23:30  The debate with Fauci over gain-of-function research27:55  Unregulated gain-of-function research worldwide33:35  Why antivirals should be the priority37:55  Long COVID viral reservoirs and treatment gaps42:37  The economic burden and need for solutions43:57  The story of Joy and psychiatric misdiagnosis of long COVID48:12  The solvability of long COVID and the importance of investingHantavirus, Hantavirus transmission, Andes virus, Sin Nombre virus, Four Corners Disease, cruise ship outbreak, bird flu, avian influenza, gain of function research, Dr. Robert Redfield, CDC Director, antivirals, vaccines, long COVID, pandemic preparedness, infectious disease, virology, Redfield's WarningAbout the GuestDr. Robert Redfield is the former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A trained virologist with decades of experience in infectious disease, he has been a leading voice on public health policy, pandemic preparedness, and biosecurity. He is the author of Redfield's Warning: What I Learned as CDC Director and What We Must Do to Be Prepared for the Next Pandemic, available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Redfields-Warning-Learned-Couldnt-Might/dp/1510785051Podcast: DC EKG with Joe GroganEpisode: 134Guest: Dr. Robert Redfield, former CDC DirectorSponsor: Survivors for Solutions – https://survivorsforsolutions.orgExecutive Producer: John "CZ" Czwartacki, DC EKG PodcastProducer: Stay on Course Studios – https://www.stayoncourse.studio

In Episode 133 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan welcomes back Dr. Christiaan Alting von Geusau for Part 2 of their conversation, this time turning to the European Union. Christiaan walks Joe through the post-World War II origins of the EU as a peace initiative built around the Schuman Plan, the pooling of coal and steel between France and Germany, and the visionary leadership of Robert Schuman and Konrad Adenauer. He explains why understanding the EU's founding purpose is essential to understanding what has gone wrong since. Joe and Christiaan unpack the principle of subsidiarity, the rise of EU bureaucracy and over-regulation, the ideological capture of Brussels institutions, and the long detour into cultural battles that were never the EU's job to fight. They discuss Germany's strategic mistake of abandoning nuclear energy, the widening economic gap between the US and Europe, and why Friedrich Merz himself has called the EU the world champion of over-regulation. The second half of the episode looks at the US-EU relationship under President Trump's second term, including the Digital Services Act and free speech, decades of European free-riding on American defense, and the rise of bilateral engagement between Washington and individual European capitals. The conversation closes with a sharp discussion of the leadership vacuum across the West and Europe's growing economic dependence on China. In This Conversation How the European Union began as a Franco-German peace project Why the Schuman Plan and the pooling of coal and steel still shape Europe today The principle of subsidiarity and how Brussels has overstepped it Why Germany's abandonment of nuclear energy was a strategic disaster How EU institutions have been captured by ideology The Digital Services Act and the threat to free speech in Europe Why the US-EU relationship is under serious strain Whether Washington should deal with Brussels or with national capitals Europe's leadership vacuum and growing dependence on China Timestamps 0:00  Why Brussels has become the global champion of over-regulation 1:10  Joe welcomes back Christiaan for Part 2 1:32  Christiaan reintroduces himself and his background 3:00  Why the EU is misunderstood on both sides of the Atlantic 4:15  The historical origins of the EU and the Franco-German conflict 6:00  The Schuman Plan and the pooling of coal and steel 11:30  Truman, the Marshall Plan, and Dean Acheson 12:37  What went wrong with the EU 14:50  Bureaucracy, nuclear energy, and the German mistake 19:35  The principle of subsidiarity and why it matters 23:24  Cultural overreach by Brussels 26:44  Friedrich Merz on EU over-regulation 27:28  The widening US-EU economic gap 32:03  Free speech, the Digital Services Act, and Trump 38:33  European free-riding on American defense 44:07  Should Washington bypass Brussels 48:30  The rise of bilateral engagement 51:23  The leadership vacuum across the West 58:30  Europe's economic dependence on China 1:01:12  Wrap-up European Union, EU history, Schuman Plan, Franco-German conflict, subsidiarity, EU bureaucracy, EU overregulation, German nuclear energy, Digital Services Act, free speech Europe, US-EU relations, Trump and the EU, NATO defense spending, Europe-China dependence, transatlantic relationship, Christiaan Alting von Geusau, DC EKG About Our Guest Dr. Christiaan Alting von Geusau is a lawyer, professor, advisor, and host of the podcast The Educated Leader. Born in the United States and raised in the Netherlands, he studied law at Leiden University and Heidelberg University. He earned his doctorate in philosophy of law at the University of Vienna. He leads the International Catholic Legislators Network, serves as the principal of Ambrose Advice, and is the Rector emeritus and Professor of Philosophy of Law and Education at ITI Catholic University in Austria. Podcast: DC EKG with Joe Grogan Episode: 133 Guest: Dr. Christiaan Alting von Geusau Sponsor: Survivors for Solutions –  https://survivorsforsolutions.org Executive Producer: John “CZ” Czwartacki, DC EKG Podcast Producer: Stay on Course Studios –  https://www.stayoncourse.studio

In Episode 132 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with Dr. Christiaan Alting von Geusau for a timely discussion on Hungary’s election, Viktor Orbán’s loss, and what comes next under Peter Magyar. Christiaan explains why the size of the election wipeout surprised even seasoned observers, why the mainstream narrative about democracy in Hungary misses key facts, and why the new Hungarian parliament remains entirely on the right side of the political spectrum.  Joe and Christiaan break down the structure of Hungary’s political system, the collapse of Orbán’s long-running coalition, the rise of Peter Magyar out of a political scandal, and the challenge of governing with a brand new party full of political newcomers. They also discuss whether Western media is misreading the result as a rejection of conservatism and why the more important question may be whether the new government has the experience to govern effectively.  The second half of the episode turns to Hungary’s position on Russia and Ukraine, the country’s cultural conservatism, the future of its relationship with the European Union, and the dangers of revenge politics after a major political transition. This is a wide-ranging conversation on democracy, power, media narratives, and the future of Hungary in Europe.  In This Conversation What happened in Hungary and why Orbán lost so badly Who Peter Magyar is and why his rise shocked the political class Why Hungary’s new parliament is still entirely right of center What the election means for democracy and conservatism Hungary’s position on Russia Ukraine and the European Union Why the competence of the new government may matter more than ideology The risks of revenge politics after a major political transition Timestamps0:00 Is Hungary’s election really a repudiation of conservatism0:55 Joe welcomes Christiaan Alting von Geusau1:14 Christiaan’s background and his dual US Dutch perspective4:00 Why Hungary matters and what makes its politics unique5:30 What happened in Hungary and why the wipeout was so large10:06 How Hungary’s electoral system magnified the result11:48 What happened to Fidesz and the Christian Democrats12:37 Why the new parliament is still entirely right of center16:00 The scandal that changed Hungarian politics18:20 Peter Magyar’s rise and political comeback20:00 Who Peter Magyar is and what he believes22:50 What changes Peter Magyar is likely to make24:00 The risks of governing with political newcomers28:50 What this means for Russia Ukraine and the EU34:33 Will Hungary remain culturally conservative36:34 Are Western media misreading the result41:06 Has Christiaan’s view changed since election night43:24 The economic challenges facing the new government44:04 Why revenge politics can damage a country48:03 Outro Hungary election, Viktor Orban, Peter Magyar, Christiaan Alting von Geusau, Fidesz, Christian Democrats, Hungary politics, European Union, Russia Ukraine war, democracy, conservatism, revenge politics, cultural conservatism, political transition, DC EKG About Our GuestDr. Christiaan Alting von Geusau is a lawyer, professor, advisor, and host of the podcast The Educated Leader. Born in the United States and raised in The Netherlands, he studied law at Leiden University and Heidelberg University and earned his doctorate in philosophy of law at the University of Vienna. He leads the International Catholic Legislators Network, serves as principal of Ambrose Advice, and is Rector emeritus and Professor for Philosophy of Law and Education at ITI Catholic University in Austria. Podcast: DC EKG with Joe GroganEpisode: 132Guest: Dr. Christiaan Alting von GeusauSponsor: Survivors for Solutions – https://survivorsforsolutions.orgExecutive Producer: John “CZ” Czwartacki, DC EKG PodcastProducer: Stay on Course Studios – https://www.stayoncourse.studio

In Episode 131 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with Dr. John Goodman to discuss what both parties continue to get wrong about healthcare, why patient incentives still matter, and how market-based reforms could lower costs and improve access. Drawing on decades of work in health economics and policy, Dr. Goodman explains how special interests helped shape Obamacare, why supply-side constraints still distort care, and why patients are too often left out of the policymaking process.  The conversation then turns to Health Savings Accounts, Medicaid reform, emergency room overuse, and why policymakers remain so resistant to giving patients more control over healthcare dollars. Dr. Goodman also outlines his view that self-directed care and consumer choice can improve value and expand access, especially for vulnerable populations.  In the second half, Joe and Dr. Goodman dive into reference pricing as a major reform idea. Using real-world examples, they discuss how clearer prices and patient-driven decision-making could create more meaningful competition across healthcare markets. The episode closes with a broader conversation on bipartisan reform, the tax code, and why durable change remains so hard to achieve in Washington.  In This Conversation What both parties keep getting wrong about healthcare How special interests shaped Obamacare and why patients were left out Why HSAs remain controversial and what they change about incentives Medicaid reform, emergency room use, and patient access How self-directed care can improve outcomes and satisfaction What reference pricing is and why it could create real competition Why bipartisan healthcare reform keeps breaking down in Washington Timestamps0:00 How special interests shaped Obamacare0:46 Joe welcomes Dr. John Goodman1:09 Dr. Goodman’s background and the origins of HSAs5:22 What both parties get wrong about healthcare7:36 Why physician supply stays restricted9:26 Spending more without getting healthier14:16 What Washington should actually be debating15:52 Insurance that meets patients’ needs20:06 HSAs and consumer-directed care22:29 Why Medicaid patients rely more on emergency rooms24:50 Medicaid reform and letting patients pay the difference28:07 Self-directed care and “Cash and Counseling.”29:35 Reference pricing explained32:14 How reference pricing could reshape insurance markets36:06 Why Dr. Goodman is optimistic40:36 The tax code and healthcare policy44:22 Where to find Dr. Goodman’s work45:42 Outro Obamacare, health savings accounts, HSA, John Goodman, Joe Grogan, healthcare reform, healthcare policy, Medicaid reform, emergency room visits, patient incentives, consumer-directed care, reference pricing, tax policy, bipartisan reform, healthcare economics About Our GuestJohn C. Goodman is President of the Goodman Institute for Public Policy Research and is widely known for his work in health economics, Health Savings Accounts, and consumer-directed healthcare reform.  Podcast: DC EKG with Joe GroganEpisode: 131Guest: John C. GoodmanSponsor: Survivors for Solutions – https://survivorsforsolutions.orgExecutive Producer: John “CZ” Czwartacki, DC EKG PodcastProducer: Stay on Course Studios – https://www.stayoncourse.studio