Jamie and Melissa Anne address the escalating violence and the tragic loss of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a VA ICU nurse who was killed by ICE agents on Saturday, January 24, 2026, in Minnesota. Speaking not just as nurses, but as witnesses to the "best and worst of humanity," they deliver an urgent message to those who have previously remained silent or supported the current administration’s immigration policies.

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In this episode, Jamie and Melissa Anne unpack reports of a CDC-funded study in Guinea-Bissau that would randomize newborns to receive the Hepatitis B vaccine at birth versus a delayed dose, which is framed by RFK Jr. as “gold standard science.” They break down what decades of evidence say about Hep B transmission and why the birth dose matters, then dig into the ethical red flags of testing delayed protection in a hyper-endemic setting, including concerns about vulnerable populations, justice, and preventable harm. We also connect the this "gold standard science" experiment to research ethics frameworks and discuss potential investigator bias and “cronyism” concerns. We also ask why this story hasn’t gotten more mainstream attention?

For more head to Nursingthenation.substack.com.

We’re excited to share a special bonus episode today. Jamie and Melissa recently joined host James Hodgson on Humanism Now, a podcast that explores how compassion, curiosity, equality, and freedom can help us build a fairer and more humane world. The show showcases the values and applications of a Humanist worldview. It's not anti-religion — it’s pro-human — and each week James speaks with thinkers, community leaders, and everyday people about how humanist values shape their lives and work.

This podcast highlights various conversations that align with a shared mission of Nursing the Nation: from science and education to ethics, the arts, and social care, Humanism Now celebrates the one life we have and the responsibility we share to leave a better world for those who follow.

If you enjoy this conversation, you can find Humanism Now on all major podcast platforms and on social media at @HumanismNowPod — links are in the show notes. James also runs Humanise Live, a production team helping charities and purpose-driven organizations start podcasts with heart, so do reach out if you’ve ever wanted to share your mission through podcasting. James was wonderful to work with!

Here’s our conversation with Humanism Now. Remember to head to Nursingthenation.substack.com.