Healthcare activist, Adi Barkan, has died at the age of 39 of the neurodegenerative disease

ALS. After his diagnosis in 2016, Adi Barkan dedicated his life to the fight for single

payer health care. He continued to speak out even after ALS left him physically unable

to talk, communicating with a computerized system that translated his eye movements into

spoken words. In 2019, Adi used the device to deliver powerful opening remarks at the

first ever congressional hearing on Medicare for All. His story is told in the documentary

not going quietly. In 2021, I spoke with Adi Barkan just ahead of the film's premiere.

We end today's show with one of the most remarkable health care activists in the country.

His name is Adi Barkan. He's a 37-year-old lawyer and father who's dying of terminal ALS.

Since his diagnosis in 2016, Adi's dedicated his life to pushing for Medicare for All. He's

continued to speak out even after losing his voice. He now uses a computerized system

that tracks his eye movements and turns them into spoken words. Adi's story is told

in the new documentary not going quietly. This is the trailer.

Now, I want to have a chance to tell the story about my friend, Adi Barkan. He's been

an activist and an organizer all of his life. With us today is Adi Barkan. I can't do

Adi's story justice. I will let him tell it. After Carl was born, we felt like we had

reached the mountain top. And then out of the clear blue sky, we were struck by lightning.

I was diagnosed with ALS today. The knowledge that I was dying was terrible. But dealing

with my insurance company was even worse. I wanted to spend every moment I had left

with Rachel and Carl. But then Congress came after our health care. I couldn't stay

quiet any longer. My next guest made headlines when he confronted a Republican Senator on

an airplane. This is your moment in American Europe. We decided to start a movement.

...