LA Pays $2 Million Per Homeless Unit | Dr. Houman David Hemmati
Tue Feb 03 2026
Guest:
Dr. Houman David Hemmati, Entrepreneur & Political Activist
Guest Bio:
Dr. Houman David Hemmati is a physician, scientist, entrepreneur, and public advocate for medical freedom and ethical healthcare reform. With a background in biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and ophthalmology, he’s advised pharmaceutical companies, led biotech ventures, and become an outspoken voice on issues ranging from pandemic policy to the misuse of scientific authority. Dr. Hemmati is also a frequent media contributor and a passionate advocate for patient rights, transparency, and innovation in medicine
Show Summary
Los Angeles is collapsing in real time and Dr. Houman Hemmati says it’s not accidental.
In this episode, Dr. Hemmati joins Jon Slavet to expose what he calls the “homeless industrial complex,” a system incentivized to grow rather than solve the crisis. From Westwood turning into “Skid Row West” to taxpayer-funded housing scams costing up to $2 million per unit, Dr. Hemmati details how California’s homelessness policies have failed both the vulnerable and the public.
The conversation then turns to the proposed billionaire tax, why it threatens startup founders and innovation, and how taxing unrealized wealth could permanently drive entrepreneurs out of California. Dr. Hemmati explains why the state doesn’t have a revenue problem, but a spending problem, and why tough love may be the only path forward.
This is a candid, no-holds-barred look at the policies, incentives, and political realities shaping California’s future and what gives him hope that voters may finally be reaching a breaking point.
Chapters
00:00 – Dr. Houman Hemmati’s Path from Doctor to Activist
00:36 – Westwood’s Decline and “Skid Row West”
02:30 – The Failure of Local Government in Los Angeles
03:18 – How COVID Supercharged the Homeless Crisis
04:45 – Prison Releases, Incentives, and Manufactured Chaos
06:05 – The Homeless Housing Scam and Taxpayer Theft
07:15 – Moral Hazard and Why Current Policies Make Things Worse
08:40 – The Billionaire Tax Explained Simply
10:51 – Why Entrepreneurs and Capital Are Leaving California
12:45 – Taxing Unrealized Wealth and Constitutional Concerns
14:30 – California’s Spending Problem vs Revenue Problem
16:24 – Why California Needs an Intervention
18:10 – Rapid Fire: One Fix to Save California
18:21 – What Finally Gives Him Hope
21:45 – Why Ordinary Citizens Are Starting to Push Back
Connect with Dr. Houman David Hemmati
X: https://x.com/houmanhemmati/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/houman-david-hemmati-md-phd-aa0486/Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to our podcast, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and join the conversation on Instagram and LinkedIn with the hashtag #stateofgoldpodcast
Connect with State of Gold
X: https://x.com/realjonslavet Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stateofgold/about Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stateofgoldpodcast/?hl=en Website: www.stateofgold.com
More
Guest: Dr. Houman David Hemmati, Entrepreneur & Political Activist Guest Bio: Dr. Houman David Hemmati is a physician, scientist, entrepreneur, and public advocate for medical freedom and ethical healthcare reform. With a background in biomedical engineering, neuroscience, and ophthalmology, he’s advised pharmaceutical companies, led biotech ventures, and become an outspoken voice on issues ranging from pandemic policy to the misuse of scientific authority. Dr. Hemmati is also a frequent media contributor and a passionate advocate for patient rights, transparency, and innovation in medicine Show Summary Los Angeles is collapsing in real time and Dr. Houman Hemmati says it’s not accidental. In this episode, Dr. Hemmati joins Jon Slavet to expose what he calls the “homeless industrial complex,” a system incentivized to grow rather than solve the crisis. From Westwood turning into “Skid Row West” to taxpayer-funded housing scams costing up to $2 million per unit, Dr. Hemmati details how California’s homelessness policies have failed both the vulnerable and the public. The conversation then turns to the proposed billionaire tax, why it threatens startup founders and innovation, and how taxing unrealized wealth could permanently drive entrepreneurs out of California. Dr. Hemmati explains why the state doesn’t have a revenue problem, but a spending problem, and why tough love may be the only path forward. This is a candid, no-holds-barred look at the policies, incentives, and political realities shaping California’s future and what gives him hope that voters may finally be reaching a breaking point. Chapters 00:00 – Dr. Houman Hemmati’s Path from Doctor to Activist 00:36 – Westwood’s Decline and “Skid Row West” 02:30 – The Failure of Local Government in Los Angeles 03:18 – How COVID Supercharged the Homeless Crisis 04:45 – Prison Releases, Incentives, and Manufactured Chaos 06:05 – The Homeless Housing Scam and Taxpayer Theft 07:15 – Moral Hazard and Why Current Policies Make Things Worse 08:40 – The Billionaire Tax Explained Simply 10:51 – Why Entrepreneurs and Capital Are Leaving California 12:45 – Taxing Unrealized Wealth and Constitutional Concerns 14:30 – California’s Spending Problem vs Revenue Problem 16:24 – Why California Needs an Intervention 18:10 – Rapid Fire: One Fix to Save California 18:21 – What Finally Gives Him Hope 21:45 – Why Ordinary Citizens Are Starting to Push Back Connect with Dr. Houman David Hemmati X: https://x.com/houmanhemmati/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/houman-david-hemmati-md-phd-aa0486/Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to our podcast, leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and join the conversation on Instagram and LinkedIn with the hashtag #stateofgoldpodcast Connect with State of Gold X: https://x.com/realjonslavet Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stateofgold/about Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stateofgoldpodcast/?hl=en Website: www.stateofgold.com