Topic: Robert Johnson

Former acting CDC director Dr. Richard Besser expressed fear regarding the loss of leadership at the agency during public health emergencies. Besser, now CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, cited 200 annual pediatric COVID deaths as a reason to maintain broad vaccination efforts. The hosts criticize the foundation's focus on "health equity" and question the validity of Besser's statistics.

Dr. Richard Besser, CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, appeared on PBS to defend COVID-19 vaccinations despite the foundation being a major funder of the network. Financial disclosures reveal the foundation holds over $13 billion in assets, including significant investments in the stock market and private equity. Besser’s annual salary exceeds $1 million, leading to questions regarding the independence of public health experts funded by pharmaceutical-linked endowments.

Dr. David Weldon's nomination for CDC Director was withdrawn due to a lack of votes in the Senate HELP Committee. Senator Ron Johnson and Mary Holland of Children's Health Defense suggest that Big Pharma pressure was responsible for killing the nomination. Weldon was known for his outspoken views on the childhood vaccine schedule and chronic disease.

Dr. Robert Malone and Dr. Peter McCullough have begun discussing Famotidine, the active ingredient in Pepcid AC, as a potential COVID-19 treatment. This comes amid reports that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is showing diminished effectiveness against newer variants. Skepticism remains regarding the promotion of over-the-counter drugs like Pepcid as therapeutic interventions without further clinical validation.

The "Build Back Better" agenda is described as focusing on "human infrastructure" rather than traditional roads and bridges. Organizations like the National Interoperability Collaborative (NIC), supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, are working to create frameworks for sharing health and human services data across organizations.

FactCheck.org, a prominent social media fact-checking partner, faces scrutiny for its funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The foundation holds over $1.8 billion in Johnson & Johnson stock and is led by Richard Besser, a former acting director of the CDC. Critics argue this creates a significant conflict of interest regarding the evaluation of vaccine-related information.

The hosts examine the funding of FactCheck.org’s "Sci-Check" division, noting a $50,000 donation and Johnson & Johnson stock from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. They highlight that the foundation's CEO is a former CDC director, raising concerns about conflicts of interest in social media fact-checking.

CNN's Don Lemon is criticized for claiming the U.S. is "teetering on a dictatorship" due to the president's response to protests. The hosts argue that Lemon, as part of the "elite rich," ignores the class-based nature of the struggle. Meanwhile, BET founder Robert Johnson proposes a $14 trillion reparations plan to address the "stain of slavery" and create black wealth.

Dinesh D'Souza provides a historical critique of Democratic icons like FDR and Lyndon B. Johnson, highlighting their roles in blocking anti-lynching laws and maintaining segregation. D'Souza asserts that the "Southern Strategy" did not result in a mass switch of racist politicians to the Republican Party, noting that only Strom Thurmond made the move. He argues that Black voters were "bribed" into the Democratic Party by the New Deal rather than a shift in racial ideology.

The hosts thank their high-tier donors for episode 359, including Executive Producers Gerald Denski, Robert Goshko, and Adam Johnson. They read notes from donors who attribute their professional success to "No Agenda Karma" and grant "karma shots" to various listeners and their colleagues. Jonathan Dalrymple of Float-Write Limited is also acknowledged for his support while traveling in Malaysia.