The Highwire

Rising tensions tied to the Strait of Hormuz are sending shockwaves far beyond the battlefield, with global energy and fertilizer markets now under mounting pressure. Jefferey explores how disruptions linked to the Iran conflict are threatening critical supply chains that underpin modern agriculture, highlighting the fragile “just-in-time” global economy that millions depend on. With roughly one-third of the world’s fertilizer trade moving through this narrow passage, even minor instability is already translating into higher input costs and growing uncertainty for farmers worldwide.

Hear how rising oil prices and constrained fertilizer exports, particularly from major producers like Russia and China, are creating a ripple effect across global food production. As energy costs surge, so too do the expenses tied to planting, harvesting, and transporting crops, with staples like corn at the center of the impact. Because corn is foundational to the U.S. and global food system—affecting everything from cereals to livestock feed—any sustained price increase has the potential to cascade across nearly every aisle of the grocery store.

Compounding the issue, countries heavily reliant on imported energy are beginning to declare emergencies and prioritize domestic supply, signaling the early stages of a broader global resource squeeze. From Southeast Asia to Europe, tightening reserves and export restrictions are accelerating fears of prolonged shortages. At the same time, U.S. farmers are already adapting by shifting acreage away from fertilizer-intensive crops like corn toward alternatives such as soybeans—an early indicator of how geopolitical conflict can directly reshape agricultural strategy and output.

Framed through the lens of long-term economic and societal impact, they highlight a critical warning: when energy and fertilizer markets destabilize, food security is never far behind. As the Iran conflict continues to evolve, the risk of sustained inflation, disrupted harvest cycles, and global supply imbalances raises urgent questions about resilience, preparedness, and how quickly interconnected crises can escalate into worldwide consequences.

Non-speaking autism advocate, Elizabeth Bonker, and Dawnmarie Gaivin, founder of the Spellers Freedom Foundation, join Del to challenge one of the most entrenched assumptions in autism care: that individuals who cannot speak also lack the ability to think or understand. Through spelling-based communication, many non-speakers are now demonstrating that their silence may stem from motor planning challenges, not intellectual disability.

Bonker, who communicates by spelling, graduated as valedictorian of Rollins College and now serves on the federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). Her story illustrates how non-speaking individuals can possess rich cognitive abilities that often go unrecognized when speech is treated as the only measure of intelligence.

Gaivin explains how spelling-based communication methods are helping non-speakers access education, express complex thoughts, and participate more fully in society. Together, they are advocating for broader recognition of spelling as a legitimate form of communication and pushing for schools, therapists, and policymakers to presume competence and expand communication access for non-speaking individuals with autism.

RFK Jr. is working to reconstitute ACIP, and the media propaganda machine has apparently settled on a new attack line against anyone questioning vaccines. We break it down so you can recognize it when you see it.

Then, the war in Iran is creating an international food and energy crisis most people aren’t paying attention to yet. About one-third of the world’s fertilizer ingredients move through the Strait of Hormuz. The ripple effects are already in motion, and Jefferey Jaxen has the details.

Also, one of the most moving conversations The HighWire has ever had involves Spellers, a communication technique that has allowed non-speaking individuals with autism to break through and communicate in their own words. Now they’re fighting for the legal right to spell to communicate. Del hears directly from one of the spellers themselves.

And, Del sits down with Ed Clay, a former MMA fighter who delved deep into investigating stem cell therapies and cancer research after his family's health crisis. He now leads one of the biggest clinics in the world doing this work, and he has to do it in Mexico. This conversation will blow your mind.

The HighWire - this Thursday at 11 AM PT and 2 PM ET - don’t miss it.

📅April 2, 2026

In a major legal development, courts have delivered a decisive ruling against government-backed social media censorship during the COVID-19 era—marking what many are calling a landmark victory for the First Amendment. This case, involving federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Office of the Surgeon General, found that government pressure on tech platforms to suppress certain viewpoints crossed constitutional boundaries. The settlement now restricts these agencies from coercing or threatening social media companies over protected speech, reinforcing that digital platforms do not alter fundamental free speech protections.

The ruling goes further, clarifying that labeling content as “misinformation,” “disinformation,” or “malinformation” does not strip it of constitutional protection—a critical point in the broader debate over online censorship and government overreach. Internal communications released during the case revealed extensive coordination between public health officials and major tech companies, including Meta Platforms, raising new questions about the role of Big Tech in moderating public discourse. For many, this decision represents a turning point in the ongoing fight for transparency, accountability, and the preservation of open dialogue in the digital age.

At the same time, courts are increasingly weighing in on vaccine mandates and religious exemptions, with multiple rulings affirming the legal strength of religious accommodation claims. Recent cases against hospitals and employers—including actions supported by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission—have resulted in financial penalties for failing to honor religious objections to COVID-19 vaccination requirements. These outcomes signal a growing legal framework supporting informed consent, individual rights, and protections against compelled medical interventions.

Meanwhile, a wave of lawsuits targeting major tech companies is gaining momentum, with juries finding platforms liable for harms related to content moderation, child safety, and social media addiction. High-profile cases against companies like Meta Platforms and YouTube suggest a broader legal reckoning may be underway—one some are comparing to past industry-defining litigation. As hundreds of cases move forward and new legislation emerges at the state level, these developments point to a rapidly evolving legal landscape shaping the future of free speech, public health policy, and Big Tech accountability in America.

Brain health expert and author Dr. Patrick Porter joins Del to discuss how chronic stress, information overload, and modern technology are affecting mental clarity and overall brain health.

Dr. Porter explains how the brain and nervous system respond to constant stimulation and why sleep quality, breathing, and lifestyle habits play a critical role in cognitive performance and emotional resilience.

He also shares practical strategies, from breathing and movement to emerging brainwave technologies, that may help restore balance, sharpen focus, and support long-term brain health in an increasingly demanding world.

ICAN lead attorney, Aaron Siri, joins Del Bigtree for an in-depth discussion on efforts to reform the U.S. vaccine regulatory system and increase transparency within federal health agencies—on the heels of the American Academy of Pediatrics filing a lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services.

A federal judge has since issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily blocking recent HHS actions and invalidating decisions made by a newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) panel—effectively freezing proposed changes to the nation’s vaccine schedule while the case moves forward.

Drawing on years of litigation and government record requests, Siri explains how legal battles have exposed internal decision-making at agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, raising new questions about how vaccine safety is evaluated, monitored, and communicated to the public.

ICAN has also taken direct action, filing a formal petition with the HHS Secretary to add more than 300 reported injuries to the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) table, as required under the 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act. In addition, ICAN has submitted proposed charter language for ACIP, aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and adherence to statutory requirements in how vaccine recommendations are developed.

Siri outlines broader proposals to improve oversight of vaccine approval and recommendation processes, including strengthening clinical trial standards, increasing transparency in safety monitoring systems, and restoring informed consent in medical decision-making. The conversation also explores how mounting legal challenges—including the AAP’s lawsuit and the court-ordered pause—reflect a broader shift in how federal health institutions are being scrutinized.

As pressure builds from multiple fronts, Siri and Del examine how legal action and structural reform could reshape how vaccines are tested, recommended, and regulated in the United States.

Jefferey Jaxen investigates the rapidly expanding influence of artificial intelligence and the growing concerns surrounding its impact on society, the economy, and global power structures.

As governments and corporations race to deploy increasingly powerful AI systems, the technology is transforming industries, automating jobs, and reshaping how information is created and distributed. While some see AI as a driver of unprecedented innovation and productivity, others warn it could deepen economic inequality, concentrate control among a handful of tech giants, and introduce new forms of digital influence.

Concerns are also intensifying around AI’s role in national security. Leaders in the field, including Alex Karp of Palantir Technologies, have openly stated that their platforms are designed to support military operations, including targeting and eliminating enemies—highlighting the growing intersection between AI development and modern warfare.

At the same time, new research suggests that people are often able to distinguish between human-created and AI-generated content, raising questions about authenticity and trust in an increasingly synthetic information landscape. Paradoxically, studies also indicate that workers who rely on AI tools frequently report feeling an increased workload, challenging the assumption that automation will simply make jobs easier.

As AI becomes more deeply embedded in everyday life, Jefferey asks whether society is truly prepared for the cultural, economic, and intellectual shifts ahead—and who ultimately controls the future of this rapidly evolving technology.

This week on The HighWire, a precedent-setting $2 million malpractice verdict signals a turning point in how courts are treating medical interventions performed on minors. As more states extend statutes of limitations, accountability is finally entering a space long shielded from liability.

Jefferey Jaxen also unpacks how powerful narratives—pandemic, climate, and beyond—are constructed, defended, and enforced, even when evidence begins to fall apart.

Then, a chilling look at the future: artificial intelligence is now being used to assist in biological research, including the creation of entirely new viruses. What safeguards exist—and who decides what lines shouldn’t be crossed?

Plus, Del speaks with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton about medical freedom, patient consent, and an investigation into financial incentives driving medical decision-making.

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On today’s HighWire, Former CDC Director Robert Redfield is now saying the quiet part out loud, admitting we were right about mRNA and spike protein. Also, Del Celebrates RFK Jr.’s Announcement of 21 new members of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), the committee responsible for coordinating the government’s autism research and response. This is huge, and Del has the details.

Then, we examine Moderna’s announcement that it is halting new Phase 3 vaccine trials, citing reduced market incentives under increased federal oversight. What does this decision reveal about safety testing, accountability, and public health priorities?

Also, a deep dive into the UK’s newly announced AI surveillance system — described by officials as a “panopticon.” We unpack the origins of the term and what it signals about the future of mass surveillance.

Plus, as fraud investigations rock Minnesota, autism education providers are facing devastating funding cuts. Jennifer Larson of Holland Center joins Del to explain how legitimate, long-standing programs are now at risk — and how families are paying the price.

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The U.S. Navy issued a rare and revealing apology tied to its COVID-era policies—quietly acknowledging the damage caused by mandates and disciplinary actions imposed on service members. Once unthinkable, the apology signals a deeper reckoning as institutions begin to confront the real-world consequences of pandemic decision-making.