Vaccine Passports and the Erosion of Constitutional Rights

On August 4, 2021, Kim Monson examines the alarming expansion of government powers through vaccine mandates and passport requirements. Award-winning investigative reporter Joshua Philipp of The Epoch Times breaks down how the federal government circumvents constitutional limits by pressuring private businesses to enforce vaccination requirements, threatening the fundamental relationship between citizens and their government.

Vaccine Passports and the China Model of Government Control

Start listening at 28:53 – Hour 1

Joshua Philipp, senior investigative reporter with The Epoch Times and host of Crossroads, sounds the alarm on the federal government’s strategy to implement vaccine mandates through private businesses. The Justice Department has determined that emergency declarations make it permissible for businesses and government agencies to require vaccinations, creating a framework that allows unprecedented restrictions on daily life.

Philipp traces the vaccine passport model to China’s Communist Party health code system, warning that governments worldwide are adopting this totalitarian approach. New York City under Mayor Bill de Blasio has become the first major U.S. city to require proof of vaccination for indoor dining, gym access, and entertainment venues. The reporter explains that while the Justice Department has offered its assessment, courts have not yet weighed in, and significant legal challenges are expected.

The investigation reveals a troubling pattern where emergency powers granted during the pandemic are not being relinquished. States like Texas and Florida have rolled back restrictions, while California and New York continue to expand them. Philipp argues this creates a two-tier system of rights, where freedoms are selectively restored based on vaccination status rather than being recognized as inherent.

“Rather than, for example, giving you back your rights, your rights are given back to you by the government selectively on a condition, and that condition is whether or you’re vaccinated. As I’ve said before, freedom then becomes something given to you by the government, not something you inherently have.”

Joshua Philipp, Senior Investigative Reporter, The Epoch Times

Election Integrity Audits and the 2022 Outlook

Start listening at 47:15 – Hour 1

The conversation shifts to election integrity, where Philipp reports on ongoing audits in Arizona and their potential ripple effects across the nation. The reporter contrasts the media’s treatment of election concerns in 2016, when Russian interference claims dominated headlines for years, with the current suppression of any discussion about 2020 election irregularities.

Philipp identifies over 16 states considering similar election audits following Arizona’s lead. He notes that Republican-controlled state legislatures hold constitutional authority over election administration, giving them significant leverage despite federal pressure. The Justice Department has launched lawsuits against individuals and groups involved in audit efforts, while social media platforms actively suppress related content.

Despite the challenges, Philipp expresses cautious optimism that the audits will expose significant issues and lead to strengthened election laws before 2022. He emphasizes that election integrity concerns cross party lines, with Americans of all political persuasions sharing interest in fair and transparent elections.