About this episode
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is currently working to "streamline" the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). Not surprisingly, Gov. Hochul's idea of streamlining the program involves unionizing the entire program and attempting to consolidate the current number of service providers from just over 600 companies, who are caring for 280,000 patients across New York, into a single company. How is New York supposed to move from 600 service providers down to just one? Well, only four bids were considered, and it was widely expected in Albany that the winning company would be the one whose CEO donated the most to Democratic campaigns. Why does this matter? Beyond what appears to be government corruption and opening the door to fraud, the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program is New York's Medicaid program that allows individuals with disabilities to hire their own caregivers. Only one person truly knows what the best home care for you should look like — you. But these new changes would take most of those choices away from the individuals and most likely put about 600 companies out of business, not for failing to provide quality home care, but for not being adequately connected to the movers and shakers in Albany. Julian Hagmann, the Chief Operating Officer of Caring Professionals, Inc., joins me to discuss Donald Trump went off on a rant during a recent cabinet meeting, calling Somali immigrants "garbage" and stating that they should be sent back home as the administration was preparing to increase immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Trump went off on Somalis and Ilhan Omar inparticular in response to questions regarding the recent New York Times reporting of at least eight billion dollars in fraud committed against the Minnesota taxpayers, mainly perpetrated by Somalis in Minnesota, where, according to reports, a considerable amount of the stolen money was directed to the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab. Chris Salcedo, a veteran television and radio broadcaster, political analyst, podcaster, Executive Director of the Conservative Hispanic Society, and the author of the new book The Rise of the Liberty-Loving Latino: A New American Revolution, joins me to discuss the issue of the fraud and what the reactions should be. Following heightened attention on the recent U.S. naval strikes against Venezuelan vessels and an oil tanker, speculation and accusations have abounded. However, very little has focused on the issue from an experienced, command-level military viewpoint. Retired Marine Corps combat veteran, attack helicopter pilot, President of Strategic Resilience Group, LLC., and author of Gunfighters Rule!, Col. William "Burner" Dunn joins me to discuss the evolving security challenges in maritime zones where trafficking networks and unstable state actors converge.Become a supporter of this podcast:
