The Vault Expert — Following the Money: VA Accountability, Brain Science & Headlines You Need to Know

Air Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Time: 9:30 PM Eastern

Network: Brushwood Media Network

Host: Patti Katter

Episode Description

Where is the money intended for America's veterans going? What happens when government accountability falls short? And can your brain understand language even when you're unconscious?

This week on The Vault Expert, Patti Katter takes a closer look at important developments affecting veterans, American families, national security, and emerging technology.

From billions in VA payment errors and a controversial $27 billion electronic health records contract ceiling to a remarkable neuroscience discovery, we're covering stories that deserve more attention.

Inside This Week's Vault

• VA Accountability — Following the Money: Billions in improper payments, documented fraud, veteran refund backlogs, and growing questions surrounding the VA's electronic health records modernization program.
• Veterans' Healthcare and Suicide Prevention: Troubling delays in medical authorizations, disability claims errors, and new findings about veteran suicide rates and access to care.
• The Unconscious Brain: Scientists discover that parts of the brain can continue processing spoken language under general anesthesia. What does that tell us about consciousness?
• Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity: Newly disclosed software vulnerabilities reveal how AI is changing the battle between cybersecurity researchers and hackers.
• National Security and Prediction Markets: New Pentagon restrictions raise questions about classified information, online betting, and military security.
• Social Media and Constitutional Rights: A Florida law restricting children's social media accounts raises questions about parental authority, privacy, and First Amendment protections.
• The Amelia Earhart Mystery: A new expedition investigates a possible clue to the disappearance of one of aviation's most famous pioneers.
• Protecting Veterans and Seniors from Scams: Federal regulators take action against a debt-relief operation accused of exploiting vulnerable consumers.
• Breaking Records on Mars: NASA's Perseverance rover reaches a remarkable milestone in autonomous planetary exploration.
• Caitlyn "Katie" Sandt — FBI Update: A renewed effort to locate a missing young Florida woman brings national attention to a family's ongoing search for answers.

The world is complicated, and there's always another side worth examining.

Listen Tuesdays at 9:30 PM Eastern on Brushwood Media Network.