In this episode of PAC & Forth, we’re joined by two veterans of California politics — Andrew Acosta and Rob Stutzman — who have shaped some of the state’s biggest campaigns, from the historic 2003 recall to statewide ballot fights and major policy battles.

This conversation pulls back the curtain on:

• Why the 2026 governor’s race has no clear frontrunner and why that matters
• How California’s open primary could produce unexpected outcomes
• The real political power of affordability, homelessness, and crime
• Whether single payer and health care expansion still have political momentum
• Why structural budget deficits make big promises harder to keep
• What independent physicians and small businesses should be watching closely

If you want to understand where Sacramento is headed and how that direction will affect access to care, reimbursement rates, and the future of private practice, this episode is essential listening.

PAC & Forth is a podcast about the forces shaping health care in California and the people working to change it.

Produced by the Physician Association of California and hosted by PAC CEO, Matthew Robinson, PAC & Forth brings together physicians, policy insiders, advocates, and industry leaders for candid conversations about independent medicine, health care policy, and the real-world impact of decisions made in Sacramento.

A practical, grounded discussion from people on the front lines, in exam rooms, boardrooms, and the Capitol.

Whether you’re a physician, policymaker, health care professional, or someone who simply cares about the future of patient-centered care, PAC & Forth offers insight, perspective, and a seat at the table.

What happens when doctors lose the freedom to treat patients the way they believe is right?

In our very first episode of PAC & Forth, we sit down with Dr. Omer Deen, nationally recognized clinical nutrition expert, private practice physician, and Chair of the Physician Association of California, for a candid conversation about healthcare in California.

We unpack:

• Why private practice physicians are vanishing and what’s driving them out
• How declining reimbursements and growing bureaucracy are impacting patient care
• Why “more efficiency” in healthcare often means less time with your doctor
• How policy decisions in Sacramento directly affect access, quality, and trust
• What real advocacy looks like and why physicians can’t stay on the sidelines

Autonomy, access, and the future of the doctor-patient relationship, told by someone living it every day.

If you care about healthcare that’s personal, accountable, and centered on patients, this conversation is for you.

Listen now and join the conversation!