The Trump administration is starting to do to Medicare and Medicaid what it's been doing to Social Security.  Plus, Republicans in Congress want to cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid to pay for tax cuts for the rich. Medicare Rights Center President Fred Riccardi tells us it's a time to be concerned for the future of these programs --- and take action to defend them. He also has reservations about tv's Dr. Oz taking the helm of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

In this special episode, host Walter Gottlieb and digital media manager Shahab Shokouhi answer your questions & school the trolls from our Facebook page. Questions include:  Will Social Security still be there for me? How much money is in the trust fund? And when will people formerly limited by WEP & GPO get their checks?  We also answer the Facebook trolls who insist we are "commie Democrats spreading lies."  Fun times!  

Martin O'Malley warns Americans that their Social Security benefits are threatened by Trump & Musk's interference at the Social Security Administration, the agency he led under President Biden. The former commissioner says that Elon Musk wants to "destroy" Social Security and that the world's richest man "believes older and disabled beneficiaries are a waste." Using a phony hunt for 'fraud' as a cover, the Trump administration is sytematically dismantling SSA and undoing the customer service improvements O'Malley instituted. Americans need to wake up to the potential disruption of their earned benefits, says O'Malley, in this riveting and revealing interview. 

Laura Haltzel resigned from the Social Security Administration (SSA) at the end of February. In this exclusive on-the-record interview, she speaks out against Trump/Musk/DOGE abuses at SSA from an insider's eyewitness view. She says that "Mayhem is the M.O." of the new administration --- and that employees and the public are being hurt.  She believes that Musk's real agenda is to cut Social Security in a back-door way, while pretending to hunt for "fraud."  She says actual fraud in Social Security is .01% of all benefits paid.  In this episode, Laura takes a brave public stance as someone who was at SSA when Musk & DOGE took over. "This is too big. It's too important. I didn't dedicate 27 years of my career to Social Security to watch it dismantled." 

Ann Crittenden was a correspondent for the New York Times in the late 70s and early 80s. She left the paper to care for her newborn son --- and later become an advocate for the millions of Americans who stay at home to care for kids, elderly parents, or other relatives in need. Author of the 2001 best-seller, "The Price of Motherhood," Ann says it's finally time that our society placed more value on caregiving --- and caregivers!  She also reflects back on her time at the "Newspaper of Record," aka "The Grey Lady," including putting a member of Congress in jail and the perks of being a Times correspondent. 

Tom Harkin is very concerned about the future of Social Security. In this episode, the former U.S. Senator and one-time presidential candidate says seniors and their advocates must go on OFFENSE to protect the program from Donald Trump & Elon Musk. Otherwise, he says, they will "terminate Social Security as we know it." The Senator also sees nefarious motives behind Musk's getting access to Americans' sensitive personal data. "He wants the data on you and your kids and families so he can control you in the future," Harkin warns. He also shares stories from his 1992 presidential run, including the time he worked on a lobster boat in New England --- and the time he left the campaign trail to interrogate his teenage daughter's first date! 

Jon Bauman is best known for his 50s greaser character, Bowzer, from the band Sha Na Na and tv show of the same name. In addition to his career as an entertainer, Jon is an outspoken advocate for Social Security and Medicare! In this episode of the podcast, he tells us how we can save Americans' earned benefits during the Trump/Musk regime.  We also hear how Bowzer went from Doo Wop revivalist to seniors' activist. If you're wondering if Jon also will sing for us... well...  you can bet your rama-lama-ding-dong, Daddy-O! 

Rep. Maxwell Frost is the first Gen Z member of Congress. Now in his second term, Congressman Frost is helping lead the resistance to Trump and Musk's efforts to interfere with crucial federal programs --- including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Rep. Frost joins us with some solid advice on how to push back... without going crazy! 

A new survey released by the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) confirms that majorities of Americans across party lines support Social Security --- and do not want to see benefits cut.  In fact, most people are willing to pay more into Social Security to strengthen it for the future.  On this episode, NIRS research director Tyler Bond tells us that while policymakers in Washington are seriously divided, the public is largely united on the issue of Social Security. 

Elon Musk and his DOGE squad wants access to personal data and payment systems for Medicare and Medicaid --- among other crucial federal programs.  Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) says we can't let the richest man in the world and his wrecking crew interfere with our retirement & health security.  Plus... a flashback to 2017 and update on Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt's namesakes.