The
HighWire
with Del Bigtree delivers a powerful episode
covering vaccine messaging, an impending global food crisis, autism
communication rights, and cutting-edge stem cell science.
One of the most powerful human events The
HighWire
has covered centers on the film Spellers, and the communication method
that allows non-speaking individuals with autism to express themselves through
spelling. Dawnmarie Gaivin, AT-ACP, founder of the Spellers Freedom
Foundation, joins Del, along with Spellers cast member Elizabeth
Bonker, for an inspiring conversation exposing the growing battle over the
right to communicate.
Non-speaking autism advocate, Elizabeth Bonker, and
Dawnmarie Gaivin, founder of the Spellers Freedom Foundation, join Del to
challenge one of the most entrenched assumptions in autism care: that
individuals who cannot speak also lack the ability to think or understand.
Through spelling-based communication, many non-speakers are now demonstrating
that their silence may stem from motor planning challenges, not intellectual
disability.
Bonker, who communicates by spelling,
graduated as valedictorian of Rollins College and now serves on the federal
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC). Her story illustrates how
non-speaking individuals can possess rich cognitive abilities that often go
unrecognized when speech is treated as the only measure of intelligence.
Gaivin explains how spelling-based
communication methods are helping non-speakers access education, express
complex thoughts, and participate more fully in society. Together, they are
advocating for broader recognition of spelling as a legitimate form of
communication and pushing for schools, therapists, and policymakers to presume
competence and expand communication access for non-speaking individuals with
autism.
The
HighWire
:
Watch
'Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe'
Instagram:
Spellers Freedom Profile Page
Instagram:
Communication4All Profile Page
NY Senate:
NY SB 7792 Amendment B
NY Senate:
NY SB 7792 Amendment C
LIVE: INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING
COMMITTEE (IACC) MEETING
Autism
Committee Hears from Non-Speakers, Parents During First Meeting Under RFK Jr.
Confidence in COVID-19 vaccines in the
United States appears to be shifting, as new developments point to declining
public engagement and demand. A halted clinical study by Pfizer and BioNTech,
reportedly due to an inability to recruit enough participants, marks a rare
moment where a widely recommended vaccine could not generate sufficient
interest for ongoing research.
This
trend aligns with broader declines in vaccine uptake following the peak of the
COVID-19 pandemic, as fewer individuals pursue boosters and participation in
follow-up studies drops. The slowdown is also impacting pharmaceutical markets,
which are seeing reduced demand compared to earlier stages of the
rollout.
The
recruitment challenges highlight evolving public sentiment and may signal a
turning point in how COVID-19 vaccines are perceived, studied, and integrated
into future public health strategies.
The Epoch Times:
Biden White House Edited Messaging on Strokes
After COVID-19 Vaccination
Stat:
Pfizer seeks authorization for updated Covid
vaccine, without fresh clinical trial data
the study found a
statistically significant, transient rise in NT-
proBNP
,
a biomarker associated with cardiac wall stress, especially within 14 days
after the second dose.
Nearly
49% of participants showed an increase of more than 1.5 times their personal
baseline.
Pharma
Bribes to Increase Vaccine and Drug Sales
THE WORLD FOOD CRISIS HIDING BEHIND THE IRAN CONFLICT;
Higher
energy and fertilizer prices are affecting the economy that millions depend on.
With roughly one-third of the world’s fertilizer trade moving through this
narrow passage, even minor instability is already translating into higher input
costs and growing uncertainty for farmers worldwide.
Hear
how rising oil prices and constrained fertilizer exports, particularly from
major producers like Russia and China, are creating a ripple effect across
global food production. As energy costs surge, so too do the expenses tied to
planting, harvesting, and transporting crops, with staples like corn at the
center of the impact. Because corn is foundational to the U.S. and global food
system, affecting everything from cereals to livestock feed, any sustained
price increase has the potential to cascade across nearly every aisle of the
grocery store.
Compounding
the issue, countries heavily reliant on imported energy are beginning to
declare emergencies and prioritize domestic supply, signaling the early stages
of a broader global resource squeeze. From Southeast Asia to Europe, tightening
reserves and export restrictions are accelerating fears of prolonged shortages.
At the same time, U.S. farmers are already adapting by shifting acreage away
from fertilizer-intensive crops like corn toward alternatives such as soybeans,
an early indicator of how geopolitical conflict can directly reshape
agricultural strategy and output.
Framed
through the lens of long-term economic and societal impact, they highlight a
critical warning: when energy and fertilizer markets destabilize, food security
is never far behind. As the Iran conflict continues to evolve, the risk of
sustained inflation, disrupted harvest cycles, and global supply imbalances
raises urgent questions about resilience, preparedness, and how quickly
interconnected crises can escalate into worldwide consequences.
Reuters:
Russia stops ammonium nitrate exports for one month
amid global supply crunch
Reuters:
China restricts fertilizer exports, further crimping
war-tightened supply
Newsweek:
US Ally Declares National Emergency Due
To
Oil Crisis from Iran War
Romania Journal:
Romania Declares Oil Market Crisis, Caps Fuel
Margins
White House:
15 Days to Slow the Spread
Forbes:
Emissions Fell During Lockdown. Let's Keep It That
Way
WHO:
Considerations in adjusting public health and social
measures in the context of COVID-19
IEA:
Sheltering from Oil Shocks
Farms:
US Farmers Shift Acres from Corn to Soybeans In 2026
Del sits down with Ed Clay, a former MMA fighter
whose family health crisis led him deep into the world of stem cell therapies
and cancer research. He now leads one of the biggest clinics in the world doing
this work, in Mexico. It’s a jaw-dropping conversation about why this science
is happening outside the United States and what it could mean for the future of
medicine.
THE
FIGHT FOR REGENERATIVE MEDICINE: ED CLAY’S STORY
Nashville-born entrepreneur,
philanthropist, and former MMA fighter Ed Clay joins Del to discuss his journey
into regenerative medicine and the growing interest in stem cell therapies.
Clay explains how his search for answers while helping his mother, who was
suffering from an autoimmune condition and severe complications from
conventional treatments, led him to explore emerging therapies outside the
traditional medical system.
That
search ultimately led Clay to help establish a regenerative medicine center in
Mexico, where patients seek stem cell and immune-based treatments not widely
available in the United States. He discusses the potential of regenerative
medicine while also addressing the regulatory barriers and skepticism
surrounding these therapies.
As
interest in stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine continues to grow
worldwide, Clay and Del explore the broader implications for medical
innovation, patient choice, and the future of treatment options beyond
conventional pharmaceuticals.
Cellular
Performance Institute Website
The People Vs
Poison Rally Website
PBS News:
Judge blocks RFK Jr. from scaling back childhood
vaccine recommendations
Guests: Dawnmarie Gaivin, AT-ACP, Elizabeth Bonker,
Ginnie Breen, Ed Clay’
Airdate: April 2, 2026