Friday on the RealClearPolitics podcast, Andrew Walworth and Carl Cannon welcome RCP national correspondent Susan Crabtree and RCP White House reporter Phil Wegmann to discuss a new report on the extent of Medicare fraud in California, Crabtree’s investigation into former DHS Secretary Noem’s potentially corrupt spending on ads that seemed to promote herself, and the open jungle primary for governor in California. RealClearInvestigations contributor Ben Weingarten joins the show to talk about his new piece on the line between journalism and activism with regard to charges against Don Lemon. Finally, the panel gives their picks for the weekly “You Cannot Be Serious?!” roundup of entertaining headlines. You can listen to the show live, weekdays at 11:00 a.m. on SiriusXM’s Megyn Kelly Channel 111, and then on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and here on our website. *** The show opens with a shocking report from CBS News about the extent of Medicare fraud taking place in California, including hundreds of apparently fraudulent hospice companies in Los Angeles. “I took pride in it,” California native Carl Cannon joked. “The idea that Minnesota could have more fraud than us? I wouldn’t take that lying down!” “This systematic fraud in California is everywhere,” Susan Crabtree added. “But our book Fool’s Gold goes into a lot of this fraud that is taking place – insurance fraud, and now we know hospice fraud.” “Yeah, you can imagine the conversation in the editorial meeting where all the bigwigs were like, you’re telling me this kid with an iPhone wanders around Minneapolis and it’s a blockbuster story? We gotta get in on that,” Phil Wegmann added, referring to the “Quality Learing Center” story uncovered by YouTuber Nick Shirley in Minnesota. “This is a downstream effect of the DOGE project. That was unsuccessful at the federal level, but it attuned the public to the idea that there actually is fraud in the system, and it is worth investigating.” *** At minute 8, they turn to Susan Crabtree’s new report on the DHS Inspector General’s investigation into possible corruption related to millions in ad spending by former Secretary Kristi Noem, “DHS IG Launched Probe Into $ 220M Contract for Noem Ads,” and the latest on the California gubernatorial race. “It’s really the connections between the subcontractors – one of the press secretary’s husband’s companies,” Crabtree explained. “The IG was already looking into this in January, these $ 220 million worth of commercials that were for deportation… And the flip side of this is that they say the ads were actually effective.” They also break down the latest developments in California’s jungle primary for governor. “Paul Mitchell – who actually made the gerrymandered Prop. 50 maps – said there’s an 18% or 20% chance that two Republicans will emerge from this primary,” Crabtree commented. “Rusty Hicks, who’s the Democratic Party chairman out here, is trying to get other Democrats to get out of the race.” *** At minute 20, RealClearInvestigations contributor Ben Weingarten joins the show to talk about his new piece on the line between journalism and activism, with regard to the case of Don Lemon: “The Grey Zone: When Do Protest Observers Become Lawbreaking Participants?” “This is not only in the case of Don Lemon, which is interesting, and at least one other self-described journalist who was at that St. Paul church, but also in the case of some people who have tragically lost their lives in connection with some of these activities who have been said to have been trained legal observers,” he explained. “What do these titles actually mean? And when does a legal observer or a journalist turn into a participant and then potentially become liable, whether criminally or otherwise?” “So there are lots of interesting aspects to this, and I’m sure this story is only going to unfold further as we see more anti-ICE activity in the year ahead.” *** At minute 38, the group breaks down a bill passed in the Senate with the support of both Tim Scott and Elizabeth Warren to prevent Wall Street firms from buying single-family homes. Could House Republicans support it, and would President Trump sign it? “The White House incentive here is to get a good headline that says they did something about housing. But again, we’re going to have to wait for the details of the final legislation,” Wegmann added. “It’s really nice to see Congress working in a bipartisan fashion, and it’s nice to see Democrats willing to swallow their pride and do something that Trump will sign. That’s the good news,” Carl Cannon said. “The bad news is that the legislation is incredibly stupid and won’t help the problem.” *** Also, 45 minutes into the show, the panel gives their weekly “You Cannot Be Serious?!” roundup of entertaining headlines. *** Don’t miss a single episode of the RealClearPolitics weeknight radio show – subscribe at Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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