The Highwire with Del Bigtree - NEWSOM’S AB144 POWER GRAB

Episode Date: September 20, 2025

California lawmakers quietly gutted budget bill AB144 on the last day of session and slipped in sweeping changes to vaccine and parental rights. Amy Bohn of PERK explains how the law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom bypassed the legislative process, hands vaccine decision-making power to the California Department of Public Health, revives HPV recommendations, expands liability protections, and sidelines future ACIP and CDC recommendations.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-highwire-with-del-bigtree--3620606/support.

While we're having amazing successes on the national front, and while Robert Kennedy Jr. is making huge strides now, we're having, we're going to talk about incredible ASIP meetings that are going on and all the changes that are happening. It sounds like we have breaking news now that California has decided to go even deeper into the dark ages. I'm being joined by Amy Bond. All right, Amy Bond, live from California. What is happening? All right, so there's never a dull moment in California, and honestly, I cannot believe this truthfully. So just a couple of days ago, what happened is there was a budget bill that was introduced in January of this year. It was just a placeholder bill. There was nothing to it. But on September 12th, the last day of the legislative session, they gutted and amended this entire placeholder bill and filled it. with everything that we would not want related to immunizations, health, health freedom, parental rights. It's atrocious. And they've already passed the bill. So they passed it without any due process, no public comment, no committee hearings, no stakeholders to oppose. And this bill is, it's awful.

I'm almost speechless. I'm not speechless, but I am almost speechless because it's so, so bad. So what it's done is it's going to be changing so many things related to immunizations in California. Do you want me to start to go into what the bill does? I mean, because, I mean, it's really unfortunate because there's been so much progress there getting people to relitigate SB277, SB276. You're even starting to get Democrats that are questioning it. I know there's those that were even signed on to SB 277 that are questioning it. but you're saying this thing just got backdoored right in and through under like, you know,

in a bill that had nothing to do, I'm assuming, with vaccines or education or any of it, they just sort of gutted that out, kept like the number basically built an entire thing and said, I mean, is this how this works? They basically said it was already approved. It's already made it through all committees, even it was about a completely different subject. Now we're going to pack it in under that number and make it all about vaccines. And now we don't have to go through hearings. Is it's just going to go through what, a committee vote or something and get forwarded?

Yeah, so basically they bypassed all of the legislative process. So typically if a bill is introduced, you have to, you know, it has to go through different committees to be heard and allow the public to oppose or support, as well as those committees to evaluate if the bill is good or not or bad policy. But in this scenario, none of that happened. they literally just crammed all of the worst stuff possible into this bill last minute, last day, and created, and the original bill is just about the budget. It's a budget bill. So if anybody remembers back to SB276, this is exactly what they did. They pushed through a trailer bill at the very end, last day of the session. There's no committee votes, no public review of it, no opposition, no ability for public to actually. have comments on it. And so it was originally a budget bill. So it was supposed to be just about the budget, a budgeted act. But lo and behold, on September 12th, that's not what it was.

It was amended. It was filled with a whole bunch of terrible things. Well, let's get into those terrible things. Let me hear about what are we talking about? How bad is it? I mean, you've got everybody terrified now living in California. So what are we talking about? All right.

So what we're talking about is that first of all, the bill, And this is already passed just so to make sure that that's clear. So what's happening is in the bill, it says that all immunization recommendations from January 1st in 2025 and prior to that will be the baseline for all recommendations. It's basically cutting out anything related to ASIP or the CDC. It no longer will allow for those recommendations to hold as it used to in legislative law and in California. So it's moved all power to the California Department of Public Health. No legislative process anymore to add any kind of invidations onto the schedule for children.

So Annie, basically, I mean, this is a preemptive strike. Any changes Robert Kennedy Jr. And the new ACE it might make, like we know right now, this week they're looking, hepatitis B and day one old babies. They're going to look at the COVID vaccine should be recommended in any way. California is basically saying we're going to stay in the dark ages. we want to be pre-Rober Kennedy Jr. pre-CDC. where it's at now, and we are not going to adhere to advisory committee recommendations at all. That's what they're saying. We're separating from any

federal government or health department. Yes, and additionally the CDC. So specifically this bill goes through all of the existing health codes and statutes and literally strikes out. You can see it just line, aligned through it. No longer will it be following. the recommendations from ASIP or the CDC and in addition to that it will be following so this is what they're doing they're moving all the power to set to the california department of public health and then they've also said they will follow the recommendations of the aAP america academy pediatrics you are obviously you know what's happening with that so it will follow that recommendation but most importantly it's moved all the power to the health department so there's no longer going to be a

legislative process to add any kind of recommendations or vaccines to the schedule. But I wish that was all that this bill is doing. But in addition to that, all the work that we all work together on, you know, you and I, your organization, our organization in 2023 to push back against that HPV vaccine mandate bill. They're pushing for it in this bill. So what they've done is as of July 1st, 2006, so just next year, it will fully be implementing into law that the HPV vaccine will be recommended for eighth graders. So middle school and high schoolers. And they added it also to college students recommendation. So anybody 26 years old or younger, they're going to recommend the HPV vaccine for that, for those age groups. So I can see it

as clear as day in the new writings in the amended version that was just passed. So they brought that back, all that hard work brought it back into this piece of legislation. Because truthfully, because they're cowards. They know that the public would oppose so vehemently every single one of these things. And there's still more to share it through that's in this law. But the public would not have stand for it because all the, you know, the tide is turning. All of the people, you know, everybody knows. Well, that's why you do something like, you do something like this when you do not have the will of the people.

I can't believe that Gavin Newsom is so short-sighted that he would sign this. First of all, you're now admitting I don't believe in process. I don't believe in the will of the people. I believe in cheating. I believe in backdoor, you know, making backroom deals. This is everything he's accused of. This is why America can't stand this guy and why I don't think he has a chance in heck of ending up as president of the United States. he may win what remains of the Democratic Party,

but there is no way the nation is moving this direction. It's really an abomination at a time where he should be reading the writing on the walls. You've got such a shift happening in California right now. I don't know. I mean, are you surprised he signed it? I'm not surprised. I think that Governor Newsom has shown that he's a coward, honestly. From the time that 276 passed, he signed it, I think, out of pressure.

and now we see this law being signed. You know, Governor Newsom could have done the right thing right now and vetoed it, but instead to allow it to pass, there's no transparency. He has no courage, in my opinion, no principles, and this is an indication of that, and no respect for the people, no respect for people being able to voice their opinion. But what else is in there? Tell me about it.

Also, in the category of the flu shot, it mentions that and removes any recommendations, again, from ASIP, from the CDC related to the flu vaccine. So this is like directly targeting that vaccine as well. The recommendations are shifted for that to the health department as well. I think one of, I think there's two more things that are atrocious and it's related to liability.

So as you know and as people know, that anyone who's been injured by a vaccine cannot, they don't have any recourse, they cannot sue the manufacturer, there's no recourse for injury, recourse for injuries except for in 1986, as you know, the childhood vaccine injury compensation program. So with that, what this bill does is instead of protecting the people, instead of making sure that a product that's brought to consumers is safe or effective or making sure that there's no harm

being done or people at least have recourse to sue the manufacturer if they hurt people, instead this bill goes further and expands on the liability-free component of this. So it says that anybody who prescribes, dispenses, orders, furnishes, or administers a vaccine shall not be held liable for any injury caused by that administration. So it expands this liability-free part of it. And then, unfortunately, it talks about minors, too. And this, This is really suspect for me. I know we don't want to, we don't know what this means yet, but what it says is that the expansion of liability removal also applies to minors.

So if a person gives and administers a vaccine, they will not be held liable for any injury caused by that who went if they administer it to a minor. So it specifically talks about minors and says, says that this part of this new law would go into effect on January 1st, 2030. So my question is, why is there anything in this piece of new legislation that would be five years removed from right now related to minors and any injuries that would happen to that are liability to be removed from anybody who administers vaccines? It mentions that any outreach programs are not liable for any harm or any injuries.

also again specifically related to minors. I don't know the answer to why that's in there yet, but I can tell you that this is very, very, very scary, I think for all Californians. And the fact that Governor Newsom has said, he's created an alliance or a pact with all of the West Coast states, Oregon, Washington, I think Hawaii may be part of it as well.

It's specifically to counter what we're seeing with Secretary Kennedy at the federal level. So this alliance, you know, they're shifting it to the health department. I would not be surprised if there's going to be other states who do this as well, aligned with what Governor Newsom just did. Again, you know, the People's Republic of California strikes. I mean, I just, it's really shocking. And it's funny because they always talk about, you know, Texas seceding in many ways.

This is like California seceding from the nation on where everyone else is at. We're all waking up to freedom, body sovereignty, freedom of speech, and it seems like California is moving into the dark ages. So sad, really scary for so many people. Yeah. And why would California do this or any of these states? Because in reality, if the CDC and ASIP are bringing in the best science, the best scientists, re-evaluating what was just passed often with conflicts of interest and really looking at this for the first time, you know, how does multiple vaccines, given to a child on the same day and two different limbs of their body impact that child. They've never had the answer for that.

So for us to have the opportunity for the first time under Secretary Kennedy's leadership for these things to be evaluated at the deepest level to protect children and to make sure we're not just pushing a product that's going to just, you know, continue to harm them. You know, Governor Newsom and these legislators, they're so out of touch. The people want the truth. And that transparency has been coming forward, I think, in magnificent. from Secretary Kennedy, HHS, and all the leadership and the things they're implementing there, this is a step backward. This is something where, honestly, I don't think the people are going to stand for it.

I don't know what that means, but I can say, you know, for us here in California, for myself, my family, the people that we serve, people are not going to stand for this. If that means we open up new schools and find a way around this, we are going to figure that out because this puts children in danger in a different way. Yes, it removes parental rights. There's so many issues with what they've just done, but I just, I don't know what the future looks like here. Honestly, this is really, really nerve-wracking. It is, and it's something that, you know, I talk to people, I talk to donors this week that are asking, you know, what about Washington? What about California? Yeah, we're winning in other places.

I mean, look, you're getting a response. This is sort of that natural response to the success that we've been having in medical freedom. is doubling down. And by the way, unless they decide to be like England, you know, and Europe and start censoring people's social media accounts, they're going to be watching the changes that are happening around the rest of the country. California is going to start feeling incredibly disenfranchised. And I hate to say it, maybe this is just the kind of mistake that's needed to wake up the politicians, to wake up the voters in California, to say, I'm voting all these people out. It's time for change. Maybe this is what's, you know, necessary.

But I also want to say to parents that are out there, you know, follow the work that Perk is doing, Amy Bond. You're on top of all of these things. But if you are coming down to the deadline and it looks like they're going to force vaccinate your kid, please don't say I didn't have a choice. You do have a choice. There are no, you know, giant walls around California yet. And there are many great states out there that are moving in a completely different direction. So I know, Amy, you're in there. fighting we always joke you know I left California went for Texas you went

from Texas to California I love that you're in this fight but for everyone out there you know the writing's on the wall you have some real morons that are running California right now they keep making bigger and bigger mistakes and the overall outcome could be great but if you're in the firing line start thinking about start thinking about what your next moves are Amy I want to thank you for bringing this to our attention thank you for this breaking news you know we'll stand beside you anything that you decide to do. Let us know where Perk is going and all the other great

non-profits that are out there in California that are really truly on the front lines of insanity. I was there. I know what it's like. You got Hollywood, these people. You know, I think we just start watching all cars mortality in California compared to the rest of the country. But for anyone that wants to follow the work that you're doing, where do they go? They can go to our website, perk dash group.com. They can also follow us on social media because that's where we put a lot of our calls to action and information to try to help people know what's going on. That's Perk underscore group. And I think what's also really sad now, I just want to say this too, that in light of the passing of Charlie Kirk and the assassination that happened, this all happened two days after that.

So while everybody was in grieving and mourning over the loss of such a great, great leader and how and what happened and the symbol that he is, they did this during that time. You know, and I just think that that is so shameful and should be brought to light that that's the timing of them pushing through this atrocious, atrocious, atrocious bill for Californians. And here we are. They pulled the stunt that they do. They went right in behind everybody because they called. couldn't have gotten it past, mark my words, they could not have gotten any of this past if the people knew this was happening and they had to go through the proper process through the committees, they wouldn't have been able to pass this.

Amy Bond, thank you for this report. Thank you for being on top of it. And keep us posted, okay? Thank you, Del. Thank you so much. Okay.