Aug 5, 2026 3-5pm ET
Wednesday on The Robert Scott Bell Show:
Hour 1
Rand Paul Issues Subpoena Forcing Anthony Fauci to Testify Under Oath on COVID Origins Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has issued a subpoena compelling former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci to testify under oath before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee regarding his role in the origins of COVID-19, potential cover-up of the lab-leak hypothesis, and oversight of gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, marking a significant escalation in congressional efforts to hold Fauci accountable for public statements and funding decisions that shaped the global pandemic response. The subpoena follows testimony from CIA whistleblower James Erdman, who alleged that Fauci provided investigators with a curated list of scientists promoting the natural origin theory, many of whom had financial ties to the research, and intervened to steer intelligence assessments away from the lab-leak conclusion despite early internal concerns about the virus’s features and U.S.-funded work in Wuhan. Paul has long accused Fauci of misleading Congress about gain-of-function research, suppressing dissenting scientific views, and using his position to influence policy on lockdowns, masks, and vaccines while evading FOIA transparency through personal email accounts. The subpoena demands Fauci appear and produce documents related to his communications, funding decisions, and interactions with intelligence agencies during the critical early months of the outbreak. Fauci has previously denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the research was not gain-of-function as defined by U.S. policy and that his public statements reflected the best available science at the time. The development reflects ongoing bipartisan and public demand for transparency on pandemic origins, with critics arguing that full accountability is essential to restore trust in public health institutions and prevent future lab-related incidents. Children’s Health Defense and health freedom groups welcomed the subpoena as a step toward genuine investigation, while noting that previous congressional hearings have been limited by partisan divisions and institutional resistance. The subpoena underscores persistent questions about U.S. involvement in high-risk research abroad and the handling of emerging evidence that challenged the preferred zoonotic narrative during the height of the crisis.
Special Guest: Shonna Calica
Dr. Shonna Calica, ND, is a licensed naturopathic doctor and classically trained homeopath whose expansive expertise spans women’s health, complex chronic conditions, mental health, and beyond. She works with a broad spectrum of health concerns, skillfully tailoring her approach to meet each individual’s unique needs. With advanced studies in depth psychology and holistic counseling, Dr. Calica is deeply committed to guiding patients on transformative healing journeys—helping them discover personal meaning, build resilience, and achieve lasting wellness. Her method combines precise homeopathic case analysis with a comprehensive understanding of the mind-body connection, empowering patients to foster both physical healing and emotional strength.
Dr. Calica continually refines her clinical practice through ongoing case analysis, mentorship, and continuing education. As an active member of the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians (HANP), the Institute of Natural Medicine (INM), and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), and through her regular engagement with the C.G. Jung Study Center of Southern California, she remains passionately dedicated to advancing whole-person health through thoughtful, patient-centered care. Dr. Calica is a Provider with Global Natural Health Solutions, bringing expert clinical experience and a thoughtful, individualized approach to homeopathy.
Special Guest: Dr. Andrew Chambers
Andrew Chambers, ND. is a licensed naturopathic doctor specializing in homeopathy for adults and children. After graduating from the Sonoran University of Health Sciences, he completed a 3-year post-doctoral fellowship in Homeopathy and Lifestyle therapeutics in Phoenix, Arizona where he specialized in treating complex, chronic diseases, auto-immune conditions, and mental/emotional disorders in both adults and children. Dr. Chambers is a member of both the American Institute of Homeopathy (AIH) and the Homeopathic Association of Naturopathic Physicians (HANP).
Welcome back to another “Homeopathic Hits” episode on The Robert Scott Bell Show!
Today’s Homeopathic Hit is Guarana, also known as Paullinia sorbilis.
Boericke highlights this caffeine-rich remedy for certain forms of sick headache, especially in people who have used tea and coffee excessively, as well as throbbing headache after liquor, unusual bowel discharges, urticaria, and marked sleepiness after eating.
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Hour 2
What’s Behind Skyrocketing Autism Rates? Better Diagnostics or Avalanche of Toxins? JAMA A new analysis in JAMA Pediatrics questions whether the dramatic rise in autism spectrum disorder diagnoses from roughly 1 in 150 children in 2000 to current estimates approaching 1 in 36 is primarily the result of improved diagnostics and broader criteria or reflects a genuine increase driven by environmental toxins, with researchers acknowledging that while better awareness and screening explain part of the trend, the scale and speed of the increase suggest additional factors including prenatal and early-life exposures to heavy metals, pesticides, phthalates, air pollution, and vaccine-related aluminum adjuvants that may interact with genetic vulnerabilities during critical neurodevelopmental windows. The piece highlights studies showing temporal correlations between expanded vaccine schedules, rising glyphosate use, maternal PFAS levels, and autism prevalence, alongside mechanistic evidence that these toxins can trigger neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disrupted synaptic pruning in susceptible children. Critics of the “better diagnosis only” explanation point out that severe “profound autism” cases requiring lifelong care have also increased substantially, undermining claims that the rise is solely artifactual, while proponents of environmental causation call for urgent investigation into cumulative toxin burdens rather than accepting autism as an inevitable genetic destiny. The article notes that despite official narratives emphasizing genetics, multiple lines of evidence including twin studies showing discordance, post-mortem brain findings, and epidemiological clusters near pollution sources support a significant environmental component that has been understudied due to institutional resistance and pharmaceutical influence. Children’s Health Defense and researchers like Dr. Brian Hooker argue that dismissing environmental triggers has delayed prevention strategies and left families without answers, urging independent research free from conflicts of interest and policy changes to reduce exposures during pregnancy and early childhood. The developments reflect growing alignment with Make America Healthy Again priorities focusing on root causes rather than lifelong management of neurodevelopmental disorders.
The U.S. Infant Mortality Rate Fell to an All-Time Low. That’s Still Worse Than Other Nations The U.S. infant mortality rate dropped to a new all-time low of slightly fewer than 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025 according to preliminary CDC data, continuing a long-term decline driven by medical advances and public health efforts while translating to hundreds fewer infant deaths annually compared to previous years, yet the rate remains nearly twice as high as several other high-income democratic nations including Italy, Japan, Spain and Sweden according to a 2025 JAMA study. The provisional figures show infant deaths falling to about 19,350 in 2025 from roughly 20,050 in 2024, with declines observed in both neonatal deaths under 28 days and postneonatal deaths, alongside improvements in full-term infant survival, though significant racial disparities persisted with rates for Black infants more than twice as high as those for Hispanic, white and Asian American infants. Experts attribute recent gains partly to new RSV prevention measures including a lab-made antibody shot for infants and a maternal vaccine given between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, along with better education on safe sleep practices that may have reduced sudden infant death syndrome cases, while noting that the overall U.S. rate has improved from 7.5 per 1,000 three decades ago but continues to lag peer countries due to factors such as poverty, inadequate prenatal care, and uneven access to quality healthcare. Mississippi recorded the highest state rate at 9.65 deaths per 1,000 births while New Hampshire had the lowest at under 3 per 1,000, reflecting broader geographic and socioeconomic variations in outcomes. March of Dimes officials described the data as encouraging but stressed the need for continued efforts to address persistent inequities and support maternal and infant health programs, as the U.S. still trails comparable nations despite incremental progress in reducing infant mortality over time. The findings come amid ongoing national discussions about healthcare access, public health investments, and disparities that affect the youngest and most vulnerable Americans.
Federal Judge Blocks USDA’s SNAP Restrictions on Soda, Candy in Five States A federal judge blocked the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s restrictions on using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to purchase soda and candy in five states, ruling that Congress did not authorize the agency to redefine what qualifies as “food” under the program. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, an Obama appointee for the District of Columbia, issued the order halting pilot projects submitted by Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia between April and August 2025 that sought to waive the federal definition of food and remove soft drinks, candy, and similar items from SNAP eligibility. The judge determined that the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 clearly defines eligible food items and does not grant the USDA authority to amend or exclude categories through experimental waivers, emphasizing that the law focuses on addressing obesity and health issues by increasing access to nutritious options rather than restricting specific products. Jackson wrote that while the rise in obesity is a serious concern, particularly among low-income populations, the agency’s approach exceeded its statutory limits and improperly altered the program’s foundational structure. The decision preserves the ability of SNAP recipients in those states to use benefits for a broader range of items while the legal challenge proceeds, reflecting ongoing debates over how best to promote healthier eating habits within the massive federal nutrition assistance program without overstepping congressional intent. USDA officials had argued the pilots were necessary to test innovative approaches to improving dietary quality, but the ruling reinforces that major changes to benefit eligibility require explicit legislative approval rather than administrative action. The case highlights tensions between federal efforts to combat diet-related chronic disease and concerns about government overreach into personal food choices, especially as Make America Healthy Again initiatives push for reduced consumption of ultra-processed foods and sugary beverages. Advocates on both sides of the issue are closely watching the outcome, with some viewing the block as protecting consumer freedom and others arguing it hinders meaningful reform of a program that distributes billions in taxpayer dollars annually. The judge’s decision does not affect existing SNAP rules nationwide but prevents the five states from implementing their proposed exclusions during the litigation.
Zero Sugar, More Problems? Study Reveals Surprising Gut Health Effects A study presented at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, suggests that completely removing sucrose, or table sugar, from a low-fat diet may unexpectedly harm gut health and disrupt the body’s natural metabolism, even without causing weight gain. Researchers at the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait City conducted a 16-week experiment on two groups of mice fed low-fat diets, with one group receiving a standard amount of sucrose and the other consuming a completely sugar-free version. Throughout the trial, scientists monitored weight, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, hormone levels, inflammation, and gut bacteria composition. The sugar-free group developed significant imbalances in gut microbes, increased inflammation in the intestines and liver, poor glucose regulation, insulin resistance, and cellular changes associated with fatty liver disease, despite showing no extra weight gain compared to the control group. Principal scientist Rasheed Ahmad stated that completely removing sucrose from a low-fat diet may negatively affect gut microbiota and metabolic health, highlighting that dietary carbohydrates appear to play a valuable role in supporting balance between the immune system and the gut microbiome. While high-sugar diets are well-established as harmful, the study notes that little prior attention has been given to the effects of total sugar elimination from low-fat meals. The findings suggest future dietary guidelines may move away from strict absolute sugar bans and instead emphasize overall gut health through balanced nutrition. Because the research was conducted on mice over a relatively short period, further clinical trials are needed to determine whether similar gut and liver inflammation occurs in humans, and whether results apply across different dietary patterns such as higher-fat or ketogenic plans. The team believes these insights could eventually help improve strategies for preventing and managing metabolic disorders, fatty liver disease, and chronic inflammatory conditions.Hour 3 (Bonus Hour)
Special Guest: Dr. Andrew Wakefield
Bonus Time Special Guest: Andy Wakefield
The Bequest | Explore Now – Experience Powerful Stories
Dr. Andy Wakefield first drew international attention for his 1991 work on inflammatory bowel disease and again in 1998, for the discovery of a novel intestinal disease in many children with autism. But pursuit of links between childhood vaccines, intestinal inflammation, and neurological injury in children, cost him his job in the Department of Medicine at London’s Royal Free Hospital, his country, career, Fellowships, and his medical license. Wakefield moved to Texas as a political and professional exile. He has since been proven right.
What happened to Wakefield – classic cancel culture – was almost unheard of until recently. With COVID the world has become familiar with this insidious process, often driven by vested interests. The country’s top physicians and scientists have become expendable when it comes to protecting such interests.
Wakefield has been a longstanding resource and adviser to industry and agency whistleblowers and for the past 20-years has pursued a career as an author and filmmaker. His first documentary, Who Killed Alex Spourdalakis, made American legal history by changing the outcome of a case of alleged murder. He produced, directed and co-wrote VAXXED, a CDC whistleblower story confirming the finding and attempted cover-up of the MMR vaccine-autism link, and one of the top US documentary features of 2016. In 2020 Wakefield released 1986: The Act, a docudrama story of the corruption behind liability protection for vaccine manufacturers. A year later he released Infertility: A diabolical agenda, a movie produced with Robert Kennedy Jr, about a clandestine campaign to sterilize African women using a deliberately contaminated tetanus vaccine. He directed his first major narrative feature, Protocol 7, a story of corporate fraud co-written with Terry Rossio.
To date, this movie has received 34 film awards.
An Inconvenient Study. https://www.imdb.com/video/vi440715289/
Determinants of Autism Spectrum Disorder. October 2025. DOI:10.5281/zenodo.17451259
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