Informed Dissent

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – We set aside health care and politics for a festive Christmas and New Year conversation with former Major Leaguer and author Greg Pryor. He recounts an unlikely rise from undrafted teen to 10 MLB seasons and a 1985 champion with the Kansas City Royals. Pryor previews stories from *The Day the Yankees Made Me Shave*, packed with legends,...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – Vaccine mandates continue across California despite the medical crises of recent years. Alix Mayer of the Free Now Foundation leads efforts to challenge mandates, expand exemptions, and defend medical freedom. Through legal action, public advocacy, and community programs, the organization works to protect parental rights and push state l...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – Christmas is often portrayed as joyful, but for many it brings grief, loneliness, and emotional strain. This piece explores why the holidays can hurt and offers practical, compassionate ways to care for mental health, set boundaries, reduce isolation, and find meaning, connection, and hope during a difficult December season...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – Medicine faces a crisis of trust, effectiveness, and purpose as chronic illness rises and life expectancy falls. Jeff and Mark speak with Dr. Aaron Kheriaty about what went wrong in modern healthcare, how the pandemic accelerated systemic failure, and what ethical, cultural, and institutional reforms are needed to heal medicine and resto...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – A growing health crisis is reshaping masculinity and dating as young men experience historically low testosterone. Physicians explore cultural, lifestyle, and environmental drivers, from screens to substances, and outline practical solutions. From strength training to medical care and mentorship, healing men’s health may help restore rel...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – Jeff explores inflammation with Dr. Barry Sears, revealing how chronic low-level immune activation silently damages bodies and minds. He highlights the AA to EPA ratio, the power of omega-3s, and a steady, protein-balanced, polyphenol-rich eating plan that supports AMPK and healing while warning against quick fixes like GLP-1 drugs that...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – A therapist challenges current trends in youth gender medicine, stressing honesty, holistic care, and family involvement. Physicians warn about rapid medicalization and urge careful evaluation. The piece emphasizes protecting children through truth, thoughtful therapy, and courage from parents, clinicians, and communities committed to th...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – Former police officer Eric Moutsos challenges official narratives and defends the right to question authority. Physicians echo his call for transparency, free speech, and honest inquiry. They argue that skepticism builds trust, not division, and that courage, humility, and open debate are essential for restoring public confidence and pro...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – Ashley Grogg, co-host of Nurses Out Loud, shares how informed dissent can revive nursing’s true mission. In Resuscitating Nursing: A Tactical Roadmap for Nurses Who Refuse to Be Silenced, she urges nurses to reclaim advocacy, integrity, and courage—challenging policies that replace ethics and inspiring a moral awakening across healthcare...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – Bitcoin is often confusing, yet understanding it matters. Brian Harrington, a Bitcoin and real estate investor since 2015, shares why owning Bitcoin offers financial protection. As trust in government fades, he explains how Bitcoin empowers individuals to secure their wealth and prepare for uncertain times, turning digital currency into...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – “America’s Mom,” Sherronna Bishop, moves her family from Colorado to Texas, standing firm against Marxist ideology and the erosion of conservative values. A passionate constitutional patriot, she defends faith, family, and freedom, inspiring others to resist cultural decay and protect parental rights in a nation she believes is under rel...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – Jeff and Mark explore why many Americans stay trapped in false mindsets, pointing to a lack of curiosity and flawed education. They discuss cultural obstacles to growth and share insights from a church teaching on public dating—highlighting how bringing relationships into the community can build accountability, deepen trust, and reveal g...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – President Trump focuses on lowering prescription drug costs while appearing cozy with Big Pharma figures. Jeff and Mark question the true meaning of accountability in his administration, exploring how it affects medicine, the military, and the FBI. They argue that without holding powerful individuals responsible, the nation struggles to...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – Jeff and Mark dive into the debate on vaccine safety and efficacy with Aaron Siri, author of Vaccines, Amen: The Religion of Vaccines. Exploring federal cracks since RFK Jr.’s appointment, they examine science, law, and civil rights. Aaron shares insights from his legal career and offers a heartfelt response to Charlie Kirk’s shocking as...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – Public reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk exposes a stark divide between decency and indecency. Some Americans shockingly cheer or mock the violent death of a husband and father, revealing a darker side of society. Jeff and Mark reflect on how this tragedy may unite decent people across political lines, fostering recognition o...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – Mark explores the argument that SSRIs are contributing to mass shootings in America. Does Prozac cause someone to commit murder? Mark challenges that position, suggesting that blaming drugs is not the answer and is not correct. There are far more obvious causes, and we are not addressing them adequately today...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – The American Academy of Pediatrics faces criticism for pushing strict vaccine mandates and rejecting exemptions, raising questions of political and corporate influence. Dr. Barke outlines ten reasons the organization has lost credibility and ten ways traditional health insurance harms care, from denied procedures to eroding trust in the...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – The MAHA movement accelerates as RFK Jr. takes charge as Health and Human Services Secretary, determined to reform America’s broken food and medicine systems. Supported by Dr. Jay Richards and the Heritage Foundation, his mission balances urgency with strategy, aiming to outpace entrenched lobbies while building lasting change that resto...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – We explore the tension between modern egalitarian ideals and traditional gender structures. The focus highlights men’s roles in protection, labor, and stability, while questioning whether cultural narratives reflect reality. We challenge you to consider how debates over masculinity, family, and social order shape national identity and in...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – Dr. Kelly Victory, MD, shifts from vaccine advocate to outspoken skeptic, challenging the medical establishment with over 30 years of clinical expertise. Known for co-hosting with Dr. Drew Pinsky on KABC radio, she shares her journey of questioning lockdowns and vaccines while leading emergency and disaster medicine at The Wellness Compa...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – I am a wife, mother of four, and passionate parental rights advocate. My journey begins in 2016, challenging harmful education policies and standing for curriculum transparency. After winning a school board seat, I face fierce opposition yet remain steadfast, empowering families, revitalizing local groups, and promoting faith-based educa...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – Born and raised in Montana, I am a nurse, mindset coach, and now a first-time author. My passion is helping others break the silence around mental health by sharing my personal journey. Through my story, I hope to inspire others to seek support, communicate openly, and understand that their mental health journey truly matters...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – California lawmakers push dangerous bills stripping parents of their rights, enabling forced abortions, transgender medical procedures, and loss of school choice. I expose how AB 495, AB 1087, and AB 84 threaten our children’s safety and freedom, and why we must act now to stop the state from taking control of our families...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – I share my experience traveling through Lebanon and Kurdistan, challenging common misconceptions about safety and culture in the Middle East. What I discover is a deep sense of community, faith, and family—values often lost in American society. Join me as I explore what makes these regions unique and what we can learn from their way of l...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – Dr. Simone Gold and John Strand, both arrested for peacefully entering the US Capitol on January 6, share their experiences of selective prosecution and time in federal prison. Now free, they reveal how they secured their release and continue advocating for government accountability and justice for others who were wrongly imprisoned for...