Courage in the Face of Cruelty: Dr. Rishi Manchanda on H.R.1, Protest Fasts & Hope

Welcome back, dear colleague!

In this important and urgent conversation, Dr. Rishi Manchanda, physician, public health innovator, and founder of HealthBegins, joins our Pedja Stojicic to unpack the passage of H.R.1 and what it reveals about the political and moral moment we’re living through.

This is a powerful conversation about courage, cruelty, and collective care in the aftermath of H.R.1, what some are calling the “Big Beautiful Bill,” but what Rishi unapologetically calls a "policy agenda marked by corruption, extremism, and cruelty."

Dr. Manchanda takes us beyond policy critique and into the emotional terrain many organizers and clinicians are navigating right now. He explores how those feelings can either shield us from each other or push us into action.

Featured in this episode:

• H.R.1 - a policy agenda built on corruption, extremism, and cruelty

• How “cruelty is the point” and why it’s meant to paralyze us

• The "Empty Plates Protest" and what a fast taught him about hope

• Reclaiming personal agency

• Why courage is contagious

• The importance of shared language, shared assessment, and collective care

Whether you're a clinician, organizer, or seeking a way to turn outrage into action, this conversation offers an important reminder: We are not alone and that changes everything.