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GOP gubernatorial hopeful’s pro-Trump pitch to voters clashes with paper trail inside his own company

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FIRST ON FOX: A billionaire gubernatorial candidate in Georgia, who has said there is “no bigger supporter of Trump right now than I am,” is facing questions after a healthcare company within his business empire criticized President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

Rick Jackson has spent months trying to cast himself as the race’s most pro-Trump candidate who will be Trump’s “favorite governor” despite Trump’s endorsement of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. However, one of his companies has repeatedly criticized the OBBBA, a landmark GOP legislative package that Trump endorsed and signed into law last year.

Jackson Physician Search, a subsidiary of Jackson Healthcare, said on its website in September 2025 that the bill’s “sweeping cuts to Medicaid and ACA programs raise serious concerns about access, equity, and sustainability,” and warned that some hospitals may need to “adapt or close their doors.”

In a February 2026 recruitment report, the company also said the law was projected to cause “between 10 and 15 million people” to lose health coverage, while Medicare and Medicaid cuts were creating “significant financial pressure” across healthcare organizations and considerable “fear and uncertainty” about what lies ahead.

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“Rick supports the Big Beautiful Bill. Period,” Mike Schrimpf, a spokesperson for Jackson’s campaign, told Fox News Digital. “Growing up in the projects, Rick believes in the dignity of work and is a strong proponent of work requirements for that reason. He has long opposed Obamacare and regularly touts President Trump’s healthcare policies, like TrumpRx, on the campaign trail. That’s why Rick Jackson will be Donald Trump’s favorite governor.”

Schrimpf added that “for months” Democrats have been attacking Jackson for his support of the OBBBA, noting “this attack makes about as much sense as accusing a pilot of hating to fly.”

At a campaign event last month in Thomasville, Georgia, Jackson told constituents that he thought there were “many parts” of the OBBBA that were “great,” and said he would be paying “40 percent more in taxes” if it had not passed, and defended work requirements in the bill by saying they motivate people to be productive and get off Medicaid.

“The worst thing that we can do is tell people — is get people relying on government where they have no incentive to work,” Jackson told constituents. 

“It’s the most dehumanizing thing that you can do,” he continued. “God made us to be productive.”

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Jackson has also drawn himself closer to Trump by praising his tariff policies. “I believe in fairness,” Jackson said in March. “Don’t want somebody to take advantage of us in a business transaction. That’s what he’s trying to do. So I support.”

Meanwhile, Jackson, who reportedly modeled his campaign launch after Trump with a celebratory elevator descent, said he can’t name a single White House policy he disagreed with, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

But, despite these assertions from Jackson on the campaign trail, his remarks stand at stark odds with his physician search firm warning in a February white paper about “considerable fear and uncertainty” for what is to come as the result of the OBBBA.

 “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is projected to cause between 10 and 15 million people to lose health coverage,” the white paper notes, citing new public healthcare work requirements implemented by the OBBBA. “Medicare and Medicaid cuts are creating significant financial pressure across healthcare organizations,” it continues.

The same report, which includes comments from the firm’s senior leadership and other content on the search firm’s website, also slammed H-1B visa provisions in the OBBBA aimed at restoring integrity to the immigration program that has reportedly been rife with fraud, arguing it would be a net negative for the healthcare industry.

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The materials and resources also said OBBBA would promote physician burnout, would likely force rural hospitals to shut down, would discourage hopeful physicians from going to school, thus exacerbating the existing doctor shortage, and briefly emphasized the negative impact of Trump’s tariffs on physician recruitment.

“My team works with clients throughout the Midwest who are facing department closures if they can’t hire a physician or advanced practice provider. For proof, just look at the number of labor and delivery departments forced to close in the past few years,” said Senior Vice President of Recruiting at Jackson Physician Search, Tara Osseck. “Now, recent policy changes — including provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and increased fees affecting international visas — are adding new layers of complexity to an already challenging physician recruitment environment.”

“The implications are significant,” Osseck adds. “Coverage losses can lead to increases in uncompensated care, placing additional strain on already thin operating margins. When financial pressure mounts, healthcare organizations may delay service expansions, reduce hiring plans, or freeze recruitment altogether.”

The OBBBA, a wide-ranging bill, included reforms to the federal student loan program aimed at making education more affordable. However, Regional Vice President of Recruiting at Jackson Physician Search, Tonya Hamlin, warned the reforms will actually make it harder for hopeful physicians to get to college.

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“These reforms could force students to absorb the difference through private loans or personal resources,” Hamlin wrote in a blog post on the search firm’s website. “They could also cause lower-income students to reconsider attendance altogether.”

Hamlin went on to warn that with fewer people able to go to medical school, the shortage of physicians will only get worse for hospitals and clinics.

“Despite these additional hurdles, clinicians and trainees must not be deterred,” Hamlin encouraged. “Stay focused on the higher purpose of your calling while staying informed, planning ahead financially, and engaging in ongoing advocacy.”

The Republican primary race for Georgia governor has been a messy one between Jackson and other frontrunner candidates, including Jones, Attorney General Chris Carr, and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. In particular, Jones and Jackson have been sparring over who is more aligned with Trump.

“This Primary Election is very simple,” Jones says on his campaign website. “There is one authentic conservative who has fought for President Trump.”

Jackson, meanwhile, donated $1 million to the president’s political action committee, MAGA Inc. less than two months before he jumped into the race in February and has faced backlash for cutting 6-figure checks to the presidential campaigns of Trump’s former GOP rivals during the 2024 Republican primary. 

Jackson also reportedly ran an ad against Raffenspeger portraying him as the Biblical character Judas in an attempt to portray him as a traitor for defying Trump’s efforts to challenge Georgia’s 2020 election results.

The Republican primary to see who will move on to the general election in Georgia’s gubernatorial fight will take place on May 19. The first and only debate between the candidates is scheduled for Monday.

Fox News Digital reached out to Jackson Physician Search.

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Another day in DC, another amnesty deal attempt for illegal immigrants

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Whenever Washington politicians tell you that a new, 250-page bipartisan immigration bill isn’t amnesty, it’s probably amnesty. And sure enough, the “Dignity for Immigrants while Guarding our Nation to Ignite and Deliver the American Dream” (DIGNIDAD) Act of 2025… is amnesty.    

Like Hollywood executives incapable of telling original stories anymore, Washington’s corporate establishment is trying to reboot a failed franchise — Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) — that audiences never embraced in this first place. DIGNIDAD is the legislative equivalent of Howard the Duck II.

Like all CIR proposals, DIGNIDAD ostensibly improves immigration enforcement policy in exchange for amnestying millions of illegal immigrants. It would legalize — and create a pathway to citizenship for — aliens who came here illegally as children. Second, it would create an all-new amnesty program for illegals who came here prior to Joe Biden’s open-borders fiasco in 2021. Third, it gives amnesty to a spouse or child of a U.S. citizen, even if they had a visa denied or received a deportation order.

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The 19 Republicans who have co-sponsored the bill insist that their new “Dignity” amnesty would be temporary — apparently unaware that this makes the legislation worse. If 10 million illegal immigrants are granted seven years of amnesty, then in seven years’ time, the American people will be emotionally blackmailed into making the amnesty permanent.

In the meantime, temporary amnesty will give the bill’s real authors — the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — what they want most: a huge population of cheap, legally vulnerable foreign workers they can underpay and exploit.

DIGNIDAD’s combination of faux-libertarian lawlessness, elitist exploitation, and corporate welfare is what the Washington Establishment calls a “win-win.” The American people might use a more colorful term.

All the old arguments against CIR apply to DIGNIDAD, too.

First, while the amnesty half of the bill is real, the enforcement half is fake. Establishment presidents of both parties have shown they have no compunction about ignoring immigration laws to facilitate illegal in-migration. Trading phony enforcement for real amnesty is not a compromise — it’s a scam.

Second, even if the new enforcement measures were implemented, they would be inadequate to the challenges we face. Indeed, they would impede enforcement. For instance, DIGNIDAD would bar federal agencies from sharing information about red-flagged illegals who failed to qualify for amnesty, effectively using federal resources to aid and abet federal criminals.

Finally, amnesty would only invite more illegal immigration. It would signal the rest of the world that if you can get in, even by breaking our laws, you’ll be able to stay. That is what happened after the infamous 1986 CIR deal. It is what the Gang of Eight was up to in 2013. And rest assured, it is absolutely the intent of the corporate lobbyists who actually drafted this legislation.

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The real problem with DIGNIDAD — and CIR in general — is that it’s an elitist solution in search of a problem. The bill’s supporters — on Capitol Hill, K Street, and Wall Street — believe that the only problem with American immigration law is that America has immigration law.

They look at the 20 million foreigners residing here illegally and take for granted that it’s on us to figure how they can stay. As if the fundamental problem with these 20 million people is their legal status. No. The problem is their presence. The problem is they broke our laws coming here and continue to break them by staying.

We already have a simple solution to that problem, as President Donald Trump and Border Czar Tom Homan have shown for the last 15 months. Secure the border so no new illegal immigrants enter the country, and send home those already here.

Illegal immigrants don’t need a path to citizenship. They already have citizenship — in their own countries.

That this approach is inconvenient to corporate elites and the bipartisan politicians whose campaigns they finance is not the American people’s problem. Our problem is the 20 million foreigners that the Washington establishment invited into our country to suppress workers’ wages, drive up housing prices, and drain government budgets. Amnesty undermines the rule of law, social solidarity and cultural assimilation, and treats working Americans like second-class citizens.

The lawless, globalist, elitist DIGNIDAD Act is everything congressional Republicans were elected to stop.

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Thinking about peptides? Doctors reveal key dos and don’ts as ‘Wild West’ market grows

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The peptide boom is under scrutiny as the FDA weighs easing restrictions on several drugs in the category.

Peptides, which are short chains of amino acids that serve as the building blocks of proteins, have gained popularity among wellness influencers and fitness gurus as a means of building muscle, healing injuries or appearing younger.

Similar to how GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists) suppress appetite and trigger weight loss, peptides can signal other functions, like the release of growth hormones.

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But unlike GLP-1 drugs — which were extensively studied and regulated — many peptides lack comparable evidence and oversight, said New York endocrinologist Dr. Philip Rabito, adding that some are “not reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness or quality before marketing.”

Peptides under FDA review, including BPC-157, are often marketed for tendon and gut healing, injury recovery and inflammation reduction, despite warnings about the risks of unapproved treatments.

Even as regulators consider loosening restrictions, the market has been widely described as a “Wild West,” with various versions sold online without a prescription.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, board-certified internist and longevity expert Dr. Amanda Kahn, who prescribes peptides in her own New York practice, confirmed that interest has grown “significantly” across the U.S.

Peptides are popular because they “sit at the intersection of wellness optimization and medicine,” according to the doctor.

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“As a class, they are targeted biosimilar molecules that can influence specific pathways like inflammation, recovery and metabolism in a way that feels more biologically synergistic than traditional pharmaceuticals,” she said.

Most patients spend a few hundred to thousands of dollars on these drugs per month, according to Kahn. Costs can be high because peptides are often custom-made and must meet strict quality and sterility standards.

“At the same time, patients today are far more proactive and invested in their health,” Kahn added. “They’re not waiting to get sick; they want to feel better, recover faster and age more intentionally.”

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Peptides have evolved rapidly from just a few years ago, when they were largely focused on weight loss, the expert said, with growing interest in energy, post-illness or injury recovery, muscle preservation and sleep quality.

But these drugs are not one-size-fits-all, experts warn, especially when not prescribed by a professional or cleared by a reputable pharmacy.

Experts shared the following guidance on using peptides.

Kahn recommends using peptides with “a clear, clinical rationale, not just because they’re trending.”

“Think of peptides as part of a broader health plan, not a standalone solution,” she advised.

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Kahn said patients often come into her practice focused on weight or appearance, but in-depth testing may uncover underlying issues such as inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, hormonal imbalance or recovery deficits.

“It’s both aesthetic and medical, but the trend in my internal medicine practice has always been toward specific health concerns,” she added.

Dr. Kent Bradley, chief medical officer at 10X Health in California, recommends approaching peptides with “curiosity and rigor” and discussing the science with a physician.

“Work with a clinician who provides a baseline of biomarkers before you introduce peptides,” he recommended during an interview with Fox News Digital. “You will need to know where you’re starting in order to measure the impact.”

Peptides should always be purchased from “reputable compounding pharmacies by prescription,” Kahn emphasized.

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“While they are powerful signaling molecules, when used appropriately, they can be very safe and effective,” she said. “When used incorrectly, [with] the wrong dose, wrong indication or poor sourcing, they can be dangerous or ineffective.”

She added, “The key is clinical oversight, proper selection and individualized use.”

The current peptide ecosystem — including unlicensed providers and “gray market” access — is “more dangerous than the molecules themselves,” Kahn warned.

It’s important to use pharmacies that meet FDA 503A or 503B regulations to ensure consumer safety, the expert added.

Multiple peptides should not be combined without understanding how they interact with each other, nor should they be injected as mixtures, Kahn warned.

“Don’t treat them as risk-free supplements,” she said. “They are biologically active and should be used thoughtfully.”

“Peptides should be cycled, paused and re-assessed — don’t ‘set it and let it go.’”

Dose-response and drug interactions require medical oversight, and peptides should be prescribed by a doctor, according to Bradley. Some products that are marketed as “natural” may still have the capacity to do harm to the body, he warned.

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Fundamental pillars of health, like sleep, nutrition and exercise, should be addressed before using a peptide as a “shortcut” to fix health complications, Kahn said.

Bradley agreed, adding that “the same instinct that drives patients toward unnecessary surgery drives them toward complex peptide stacks when the real leverage is upstream and boring.”

Kenny Santucci, a fitness expert and founder of Strong New York, shared with Fox News Digital that he takes peptides for muscle building himself – but noted that it’s not right for everyone.

Especially for younger individuals, whose bodies are “already working at optimal levels,” peptides may be unnecessary, he said.

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“If you take care of yourself — if you’re eating right, sleeping right, working out — you probably don’t need much,” he said. 

“I think as you get older, these things start to help out a little bit, or if you suffer from an injury and you want to take something that will help repair the tissue quicker, that’s great.”

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Stephen A Smith could get an on-screen WWE role at SummerSlam, reports say

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Fans joked that WWE’s landmark rights deal with ESPN last year would lead to Stephen A. Smith appearing in the ring. That idea is no longer just a joke or social media meme.

According to Fightful Select, a source known for reporting accurate wrestling information, there are discussions about giving Smith an on-screen role this summer.

The report says ESPN is “pleased and enthusiastic” about the potential for Smith to get more involved in the partnership.

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Notably, Smith is represented by Mark Shapiro, the president of WWE parent company TKO. WWE president Nick Khan is also Smith’s former broadcast agent. The TKO and ESPN relationship has already led to an in-storied crossover, with Pat McAfee’s involvement in the WrestleMania storyline between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.

McAfee, who works with TKO CEO Ari Emanuel, says he is done with WWE as part of the stipulation if Orton loses.

If McAfee is actually done with WWE, Smith would be a logical replacement. By most metrics, McAfee and Smith are the two biggest stars at ESPN and its most pro-wrestling-style personalities.

McAfee was a natural fit. He excelled on the WWE broadcast booth, on the mic as a manager and even in the ring as a wrestler. It is unclear whether Smith would have the same success.

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That said, he was loudly booed at WrestleMania this month in Las Vegas. In wrestling, boos are just as effective as cheers. If Smith leans into a heel role similar to McAfee, he could have a fun run in WWE.

Look for SummerSlam as a possible date for Smith’s debut.

SummerSlam is the second biggest WWE event of the year after WrestleMania and is also held over two nights. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on ESPN.

Possible roles for Smith include a storyline, hosting duties or entertainment segments with comedic wrestler and merchandise megastar Danhausen, who recently “cursed” the ESPN broadcaster.

As tired as many viewers are of seeing Stephen A. Smith discuss sports and politics, the idea of him appearing in WWE is fun. Hopefully, he takes a bump or two, or even a spear from Roman Reigns.

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