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Business and labor square off in West Valley's 3rd District L.A. City Council race
Gaspar touts his experience as a small business owner, while Worth Girvan says her experience in the public sector will make her a stronger advocate for Valley constituents.
Business and labor square off in West Valley's 3rd District L.A. City Council race
Gaspar touts his experience as a small business owner, while Worth Girvan says her experience in the public sector will make her a stronger advocate for Valley constituents.
What Happens When Public Health and Computer Science Build AI Together?
As universities race to prepare students and researchers for an AI-driven future, a new perspective from George Washington University public health researcher Seble Frehywot argues that one of the biggest opportunities may be hiding in plain sight: bringing public health and computer science departments together.
Asset Managers: Business Model Transformation & AI
Asset managers must embrace business model transformation. New study urges a systems-level investing approach for survival amid evolving client demands and AI impact.
Grant will support reporting on women in politics
Deep South Today will deepen its reporting about redistricting, statehouse races and local elections in Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas, focusing how these events affect women's political participation and representation.
The State of Politics: What Wisconsin Primary Fight Means for 8 Democrats
Lots of losers in race for governor. How does it affect their political future?
Hospitals say they found a tool to help reduce childbirth risks: wristbands
Hospitals across the U.S. are trying to reduce maternal deaths and complications after pregnancies using one small tool: a silicone wristband stamped with the declaration “I Gave Birth.”
The national focus on politicians' health is making its way into the Oklahoma GOP race for governor
Mike Mazzei’s performance in recent debates have created a conundrum for him and our state’s pool of undecided Republican voters who are still trying to suss out their best nominee for governor.
The national focus on politicians' health is making its way into the Oklahoma GOP race for governor
Mike Mazzei’s performance in recent debates have created a conundrum for him and our state’s pool of undecided Republican voters who are still trying to suss out their best nominee for governor.
Some Democrats trying to reclaim the issue of faith from the Republican Party
In some of the most critical races this election cycle, several Democrats are sharing how their faith has shaped their views and politics.
Health records in GOP race for Oklahoma governor could help sway voters, experts say
Gentner Drummond’s push to pressure his opponent into taking a drug test taps into voter concerns over candidates’ health and could tip the outcome of the contentious runoff election for Oklahoma’s Republican nominee for governor, some political observers said.
Annual PMR Children’s Business Fair applications open
MARION — A bracelet maker, young author or budding artist may notthink of themselves as a business owner yet — but the PMR Children’s Business Fair gives them the chance
Politics Unplugged (Full Episode) August 16, 2026
From GOP teen to Dem candidate, Jacob Martinez eyes District 9; consultants Grodsky & Dell'Artino break down the Governor's race and Mark Kelly's likely 2028 presidential bid.
Sunday Briefing: Special interests in politics; Flock cameras
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – On this week’s Sunday Briefing: With millions of dollars being spent on Ohio’s U.S. Senate race, it will be one of the most watched this November. “There are billionaires wh…
The 10 Biggest GPU Flops In History
The GPU race is as competitive as ever. With AI pushing demand past the red line, we look back on some graphics cards that didn't exactly keep pace.
Corgi races delight fans at Rockingham County Fair
Pounding music blared from loudspeakers at a small enclosure at the Rockingham County Fair on Friday.
Canadian business braced for 50% US tariffs
US-Canada trade talks go down to the wire, plus Japanese growth figures and a UK inflation update
Politics chat: Democrats take lessons from the primaries, set 2028 calendar
We look at how the Democrats are gearing up for the 2028 presidential primaries, as well as their takeaways from the current batch of primary races.
How Republicans Embraced Brandon Herrera, a Texas Republican Candidate and Gun Influencer
Brandon Herrera, long an anti-establishment outsider, is trying to help the party defend a red-leaning House district in West Texas. It’s proving messy.
Column: Kyle Larson is My Race Car Hero
Kyle Larson Is the Reason I Keep Going I can’t sleep. I’m sitting here after one of the most ridiculous nights I have ever witnessed in motorsports, and I genuinely don’t know how I’m supposed to go to bed. Because tonight wasn’t just another Kyle Larson performance. It reminded me why I fell in love…
Bernie-backed California House candidate called DEI a ‘social justice-driven duty,’ embraced activist role
Bernie Sanders-backed California candidate Randy Villegas promoted DEI as a "social justice-driven duty" in his academic writings on community colleges.
Scientists documented 1,121 previously unknown marine species in a single year — increasing the annual identification rate by 54 percent — yet the head of science at Ocean Census says researchers are still in a race against time, with estimates suggesting up to 90 percent of ocean species remain undiscovered.
Ocean Census documented 1,121 candidate marine species in one year, but its rapid discovery status is distinct from a completed formal taxonomic description.
Prediction markets and sports betting: How this UK exchange is trying to do both in the U.S.
Smarkets is entering the U.S. prediction market race but also applying to run as a sportsbook within states amid regulatory uncertainty at the federal level.
Trump embraces a political strategy of being in charge of everything but responsible for nothing when things go badly
His unwillingness to accept blame sometimes leads him to deny that there are problems at all.
New money and political comebacks punctuate otherwise sleepy Clearwater City Council races
2 candidates are making another go of it, while 2 others are scooping up conservative credentials and cash.
‘I’ll settle for not crazy’: Denver business leaders brace for socialist shift after big win for DSA
Denver business owners react to the rise of socialist candidates and how their policies could shape the economic landscape in the Colorado capital.
Democrats abandon deep-red state Senate races, boosting independents
Democratic Senate nominees in Nebraska, Idaho and South Dakota dropped out, clearing the way for independents. But Alani Bankhead in Montana declined to join them.
Niagara County radiation investigation collides with governor’s race
Some affected homeowners have spent weeks asking Gov. Kathy Hochul to visit their neighborhood and hear their concerns firsthand.
Turning science students into problem solvers
BELIEVE Academy science teacher Seyi Akoko can trace his love of science back to a seventh-grade classroom. Curious about a lesson on evaporation, he went home and mixed salt with water in an attempt to recreate the experiment for himself. His experiment may have gotten him into trouble at home, but it also ignited a […]
Entertainment with the Illinois Times
There's more than just the Illinois State Fair happening in Springfield -- including music and remembrances of the 1908 Springfield race riots.
Russell Fry Backs Darline Graham in South Carolina Senate Runoff Amid Trump Pressure
The president has been focused on the race since the death of Lindsey Graham in July. Ms. Graham, the late senator’s sister, is competing against Representative Ralph Norman in a runoff on Aug. 25.
Donald Trump to give speech on crime and safety during New York visit
President visiting police academy in Long Island as he looks to boost Republicans in battleground races ahead of November midterms
The year Elvis changed entertainment takes center stage at Graceland
70 years after Elvis claimed his crown as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, his fans celebrated his meteoric rise during the “Elvis 1956” event at Graceland.
How Rep. Max Miller’s Democratic opponent is navigating a ‘surreal’ political opportunity
Brian Poindexter has built a unique coalition around the establishment and Bernie Sanders and is sticking to his working-class message in a suddenly competitive Ohio race.
Steelers HC Mike McCarthy Gives Troubling Remark on Will Howard
As Drew Allar dazzles in the preseason opener, Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy’s critique of Will Howard’s "peaks and valleys" signals a tightening race for the final roster spots.
Wiregrass farmers embrace new ag tech as HudsonAlpha program brings science to the field
Grant-funded program tests soil product and integrates drone imaging on four Wiregrass farms.
DOJ Declares 3 Race-Based STEM Programs Unconstitutional
The programs received about $104 million in federal funds this past year.
Bernie Sanders says he can’t get involved in every race. Some allies wish he would.
Some high-profile progressives are blaming the Vermont senator for not endorsing Francesca Hong in Wisconsin. Sanders told POLITICO he has “limited resources.”
Business and labor groups both backed Golden in 2024. Now they’re split over LePage v. Dunlap
With U.S. Rep. Jared Golden on his way out of Congress, the business and labor groups that united behind him are once again at odds in the 2nd District. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed Republican Paul LePage in the race Thursday. In contrast, Democrat Matt Dunlap has the backing of several major unions. It’s […]
How Rocket Science Could Save Pacific Raceways
Aerospace development may provide the financial lifeline the historic Seattle-area racetrack needs to preserve its NHRA dragstrip and road course for generations.
At FAMU & Crawfordville, Gwen Graham, Byron Donalds preview campaigns
Gwen Graham voted at FAMU to honor FAMU's legacy of activism, while Byron Donalds campaigned in Crawfordville ahead of Florida's governor race.
BREAKING: Netflix to shut down two more game studios
Netflix is sticking with video games but once again reducing the number of studios it owns making games. The streaming giant is closing Los Angeles-based Night School studio, which it acquired in 2021 and plans to close Helsinki-based Moonloot, which was founded in 2022. Just six weeks ago, Night School had released Unhinged, a novel 30-minute first-person horror game, streamable on TVs to Netflix users. The game was hailed by Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters in a call with investors. Six weeks later, Night School is closing. Prior to its Netflix tenure, Night School had developed the award-winning supernatural thriller Oxenfree. A second Oxenfree game followed after the purchase, as well as a mobile game designed to tie in to an episode of the Netflix show Black Mirror. Netflix attributed the studio closures to a prioritization around kids gaming, party games, story-driven fare and games with mainstream hooks, such as a recently released FIFA game. “We see an opportunity to be more focused in our execution, so we are making organizational changes to the business to match those priorities,” a Netflix spokesperson told Game File. Netflix is also cutting jobs from its internal games team. A rep declined to say how many jobs were being lost by these cutbacks. “We are incredibly grateful to the talented colleagues we’re saying goodbye to today. We thank them for all their contributions to Netflix, and wish them the best,” the rep said. Netflix started releasing video games, initially on mobile as a free bonus to subscribers, in 2021. By 2023, Mike Verdu, then the head of Netflix’s game operations, was telling me that the company was committed to growing carefully, as it offered more games and built up internal game studios. At the time, it hadn’t made any gaming job cuts. Since then, Netflix has altered its approach. In 2024, it shut down Team Blue, a start-up studio led by ex-Call of Duty and Halo developers that was exploring making a high-end first-person game for the service. Last October, Netflix shut down another studio, Boss Fight, shortly after Peters praised the team’s Squid Game game to investors. (One of Boss Fight’s main developers now works on the Netflix FIFA game for outside studio Delphi.) And in December, Netflix sold cozy game studio Spry Fox back to its founders. Amid all of this, Netflix has shifted from emphasizing mobile games to offering games through TVs and PCs, via streamed connections, with phones used as controllers. That’s how Night School’s Unhinged worked, along with games such as Boggle and Party Crashers that have collectively helped the Netflix game controller app chart well on mobile app stores. The studio cuts leave Netflix with a central gaming team that works with external developers, and a dedicated first party studio in, Helsinki-based Next Games, which produced many of the company’s couch-centric party games. The move away from having a roster of internal game studios aligns with Netflix’s own approach to shows and movies, which are largely produced externally. The company owns few TV/film production studios of its own. The gaming industry overall is seeing large holders of multiple studios cut back, with Sony, Ubisoft, Embracer, Microsoft and other giants closing or selling off studios. Cuts in California-based studios, where costs often run relatively high, have been particularly acute. Netflix has faced skepticism about its gaming plans for years. The moves today are likely to fuel them, and the company has few upcoming projects to counter the narrative. Among the few hinted, acclaimed independent studio Don’t Nod said last year it was working on a game tied to a major Netflix franchise.
3 Entrepreneurs Want to Be Chicago’s Next Mayor. Each Has a Different Plan for the City
With the next mayoral election less than a year away, a number of well-known founders and business leaders have entered the race to lead the Windy City.
Hutchins Forum Continues to Put Politics of Race Center Stage
It was 1995, and Henry Louis (Skip) Gates Jr. was four years into his tenure at Harvard University, when he was tasked with building the “greatest center of African and African American studies in
Americans’ use of social media for health information differs by race and ethnicity
Hispanic, Black, and Asian adults are more likely than White adults to get health information from social media and turn to health and wellness influencers.
How Lisa Demuth’s Republican rivals gave her a lane in the governor’s race
Plus: DFLers are winning the enthusiasm race.
High-flying entertainment: Airway X Motocross wraps up Cyber Optics races starting this weekend
Airway X Motocross begins its final two Cyber Optics night races of the season this weekend, with the finale set for Aug. 28-29 and a $10,000 purse for professional riders. The night series features racing for riders of all ages and skill levels.
How San Francisco's ridiculous housing prices are defining the race to replace Pelosi
As San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan and Sen. Scott Wiener fight to succeed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, their track records on affordable housing could be decisive in the tight race for Congress.
Pokémon Pokopia Fetching Scales for Feebas Event Guide, From Prism Scales to Milotic
Two Water-types grace Pokopia for a limited-time only
Ramstad: A good governor’s race is at hand for Minnesota businesses
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth is the best Republican, but DFLer and U.S. Sen. Klobuchar is a heavy favorite who is liked by businesspeople.
Virginia hemp businesses brace for stricter THC limits
Retailers say the new cap will make much of their inventory illegal and could force some to close.
After years of landslide victories, Klobuchar faces a tougher political fight against Demuth
The governor’s race will be Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s toughest test in a statewide election, following a series of easy reelections to the U.S. Senate. Republicans see Lisa Demuth as their best shot at capturing anger over fraud scandals and fatigue with the Walz administration.
Embracer tops quarterly profit expectations as PC, console business improves
Swedish gaming company Embracer posted first-quarter adjusted operating profit that more than doubled analysts' expectations on Thursday, driven by stronger earnings from its PC and console games business.
Mayer Embraces Fresh Start After Joining Giants
Former Boston Red Sox top prospect Marcelo Mayer seeks to revitalize his career after a high-stakes trade deadline move to the San Francisco Giants.
In Senate race, Flanagan and Tafoya bring vastly different politics, experience
Democrat Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya have come to politics from very different routes and backgrounds. As the two battle it out for an open U.S. Senate seat, analysts expect a large amount of money to flow into the race.
Shedeur Sanders gets more bad news on Browns’ QB1 race
What's new on the Browns' QB1 competition?
A-List Editors’ Choice Awards 2026: Arts, Culture & Entertainment
SPECIALTY BOOK CLUB Shakespeare Festival Reads If you long for the welcoming embrace of high-school English class as an adult, the Shakespeare Festival Reads book club may be for you. This collab between Left Bank Books and St. Louis Shakespeare Festival guides readers through monthly picks from The Bard and titles that help expand your […]
Why Were Polls So Wrong in the Wisconsin Governor’s Race?
Francesca Hong, the democratic socialist running in Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor, had a double-digit lead in polls as recently as last week. Then she lost. What happened?
Star Politics: Can Hamilton beat Marshall in Kansas? Here’s the latest on Senate race
We’re exploring whether the Rev. Adam Hamilton gives Kansas Democrats a rare chance to snap their 94-year U.S. Senate losing streak in 2026.
Minnesota is first state to set all-female matchups for the biggest races
Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya are running for Senate, while Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) and state House Speaker Lisa Demuth are running for governor.
Sports fans never sleep: Ericsson says 5G is becoming central to game-day
Fans increasingly expect seamless digital experiences before, during and after sporting events, p | The World Cup may be over, but the race to improve fan experiences is not. Advanced 5G networks are increasingly shaping everything from stadium connectivity and concessions to media production and public safety.
‘The Amazing Race’ season 39 cast features a 2-time World Cup champion
The ‘Amazing Race’ season 39 cast has been revealed, and it features a two-time World Cup champ. Also, a new twist has been added to the game.
NASCAR All-Star Race Returns To North Wilkesboro
NASCAR's All-Star Race is going back to North Wilkesboro in 2027.
Kamin Science Center puts Pittsburgh’s newest indoor racetrack in gear
Kamin Science Center’s Science of Speed adds an 800-foot electric kart track, F1 simulator and real race vehicles to its new motorsports exhibit.
2027 INDYCAR Schedule Tracker: First 8 Dates Announced
Where and when will the INDYCAR Series race in 2027? Here are the latest updates.
David Crowley wins Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor over Francesca Hong
Crowley narrowly defeated democratic socialist Hong, who was hoping to ride the wave of recent victories by progressive candidates, including Abdul El-Sayed in neighboring Michigan’s U.S. Senate race last week.
US Employers Abandon Group Health Insurance as Price Hikes Bite
As US employers brace for the largest price hikes on employee health plans in 15 years, a growing number are opting out of group insurance altogether.
Moderate Dem scores upset in Wisconsin governor's race; Darline Graham in runoff
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley managed a razor-thin victory over his democratic socialist challenger, state Rep. Francesca Hong
Elon Musk says Grok will be trained on SpaceX employee data
SpaceX has become the latest tech giant to target employee data in the race to improve its AI models.
Six ways Minnesota’s primary upended political assumptions
Progressives gained momentum, Republican voters bucked party leaders and Trump and Minnesota set up a historic race for governor. Here are six takeaways from Tuesday’s primary.
Siena poll: Hochul's lead over Blakeman narrows as voters weigh issues
Likely voters were also asked about statewide races for attorney general and state comptroller.
Hospitals Say They Found a Tool To Help Reduce Childbirth Risks: Wristbands
North Carolina and other states have embraced “I Gave Birth” wristbands as a way to encourage women to seek help when they have postpartum complications. They’re gaining steam as the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicaid threaten postpartum care.
David Crowley defeats Francesca Hong to win Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor
Crowly pulls off last-minute victory in tight race after polls had shown his progressive opponent as a clear frontrunner
America's sunk so low, dishonor and disgrace don't end political careers. Ohio politicians prove it.
Dishonor should be disqualifying in politics. It is not. Scandalous behavior or public corruption should end political careers. They do not. Ohio politicians proved the point last week.
Advancing the science of dietary nitrate with integrated vascular assessment
Standardised beetroot-derived dietary nitrate supports endothelial function, arterial compliance, central haemodynamics and nitric oxide bioavailability, thereby promoting systems-based research in vascular nutrition
Hollywood goes quiet as stars rethink speaking out on politics
As the midterm elections are heating up, more and more Hollywood stars say they’re putting a freeze on speaking out about politics, perhaps feeling burned by the 2024 White House race. …
Progressive Peggy Flanagan sweeps Minnesota Senate primary in race defined by anti-ICE anger
State’s Democratic lieutenant governor bests Angie Craig in another election contest pitting a progressive against a moderate
Van Orden to face Cooke again in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District race
Van Orden, who is seeking a third term representing western and central Wisconsin, narrowly defeated Cooke by about 11,000 votes in 2024.
Dems eye pick-up in Wisconsin swing district as Rep Van Orden set for rematch in key House race
Rebecca Cooke won Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District Democratic primary, setting up a rematch with Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden this fall.
Rebecca Cooke Wins Democratic Primary for Key Wisconsin House Seat
Ms. Cooke, a three-time congressional candidate, held a huge fund-raising edge in a western Wisconsin race that Democrats consider pivotal to their hopes of flipping the House.
Areas to Watch in Wisconsin’s Democratic Primary for Governor
A race between Francesca Hong and David Crowley could highlight the fault lines between Madison and Milwaukee.
Businesses brace for impact of Trump's tariffs on Canada
50% tariffs on a slew of Canadian goods are scheduled to take effect Aug. 19 unless the two countries strike a deal.
Small business owner and veteran Sam Jimenez joins East Palo Alto council race
Sam Jimenez submitted papers to run for one of two open seats on the City council that will go before voters in the November election.
Democrats swap candidates in key metro State House race
New Mexico Democrats are swapping candidates in a key State House race in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights where they have their target set on unseating one of the few Republicans representing a House or Senate district in Albuquerque. This story was originally published at New Mexico Political Report, a nonprofit news service covering politics and policy […]
What to watch in primaries in Wisconsin and Minnesota and beyond
The left vs. center theme is on display in Democratic primaries in multiple states voting Tuesday, with other significant races in places like Alabama and South Carolina.
It’s Kyler Murray’s Team Now, for Better or Worse
The Vikings have finally announced the results of the team’s contentious quarterback competition, and according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kyler Murray has been named the Week 1 starting quarterback for the 2026 season, putting an end to the much-talked-about position battle and handing the keys to the Vikings offense to the former Cardinals veteran. After an open battle to start camp got going, Murray put distance between himself and now-backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy over the past few weeks, and while there were some recent struggles that might have put into question Murray’s lead in the QB race, it ultimately didn’t matter to the Vikings brass, who felt they needed to make a decision before the Vikings’ preseason opener against the Giants this Saturday.
Fueled by national movement, democratic socialist shakes up Wisconsin's governor's race
A democratic socialist is trying to rise above the governor’s endorsed candidate in Wisconsin’s chaotic primary race for governor.
The Guardian view on AI money in US politics: not the way to hold an urgent democratic debate
Editorial: Amid public concern over the impact of new technology, Silicon Valley’s use of its wealth to influence specific election races is an unwelcome development
Local business braces for increase on Canadian tariffs
Some experts believe those tariffs could have a big impact small and local businesses.
Healthcare matters to Georgians in governor's race, study finds. Bottoms and Jackson have different plans
A poll conducted by the Georgia Health Initiative in partnership with UGA's Public and International Affairs Survey Research Center finds that Georgia voters see healthcare as a top priority for the next governor.
College football realignment may not be done after late Protect College Sports Act provision
A 180-day grace period in the Protect College Sports Act could give Power Four schools a rare chance to change conferences without a five-year penalty.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs chooses former Republican as running mate in re-election bid
Hobbs faces a competitive re-election race against GOP Rep. Andy Biggs, former chair of the House Freedom Caucus.
MAHA Political Endorsements Shape August Republican Primaries
MAHA political endorsements target state Republican primary elections with medical freedom legislation. Analysis of Kennedy's health policy impact on 2026 races.
The U.S. Healthcare System is Already Mostly Socialized
Now that Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s open Senate seat, the outcome of this crucial race will depend mainly on two things: Whether Republicans succeed in demonizing El-Sayed because he’s brown and a Muslim, and whether they succeed in demonizing him as a left-wing radical. I will defer for the now the question of whether bigotry will be effective this year, although I will address it another day. What I want to address instead is El-Sayed’s signature issue — healthcare. Yes, El-Sayed advocates Medicare for All, a position the usual suspects denounce as “socialism.” I will get to the politics of his stance soon. Today, however, I want to talk about the substance. We should be clear that El-Sayed doesn’t even call himself a socialist. On the contrary, he explicitly disavows the label, saying “I’m a capitalist who just knows about capitalism”. In fact, as I explained in a previous post, the policies that El-Sayed advocates qualify him as a social democrat, not a socialist. Still, El-Sayed advocates a system under which the government would pay almost all medical expenses. Isn’t that socialism? Well, if that is the criterion then much of U.S. healthcare is already socialist. In fact, the government’s role is so large that U.S. healthcare is better described as partially privatized socialism than as anything resembling a free market. Let’s start with the raw numbers on health insurance, which pays the bulk of Americans’ medical expenses. Americans receive health insurance either from private companies or from public programs, overwhelmingly Medicare and Medicaid. Here’s what the breakdown of coverage and spending between private and public looked like in 2024: While a majority of Americans with health insurance get it from private companies, well over 100 million of us are covered by government programs instead. And these government programs pay more total dollars for medical bills than the private insurers do. Why do government programs that cover a minority of the population account for a majority of health insurers’ outlays? Mainly because Medicare covers seniors, and we’re expensive. Also, while Medicaid covers many younger Americans, disabled and elderly beneficiaries account for most of its spending. Even by the raw numbers, then, U.S. health insurance looks as much public as private. But that understates the government’s role: Private health insurance in the U.S. is both highly regulated and heavily subsidized. This is obviously true for the insurance coverage purchased by tens of millions of Americans through the exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act. But employment-based health insurance, which covers 161 million Americans, is far more of a government creation than most people realize. For employment-based insurance exists largely because of huge implicit government subsidies that come with major strings attached. Here’s how that works. If your employer pays you $10,000, that’s taxable income. But if your employer pays $10,000 toward a company health insurance plan that meets certain criteria, it isn’t taxable. That’s a huge effective subsidy, running at more than $300 billion a year. Take that subsidy into account, along with the more than $100 billion per year spent subsidizing policies purchased under the ACA, as well as the outlays on Medicare and Medicaid, and net effect is that the government pays for more than two-thirds of Americans’ health insurance. Granted, there are strings attached. Roughly speaking, employment-based health plans can’t discriminate based on medical history — that is, they can’t deny coverage to employees with pre-existing conditions — and they also can’t offer the plans only to highly compensated employees — a health plan that is only for the C-suite is considered taxable income. So given the restrictions of the federal tax code, employer-based health insurance is a lot like Obamacare, which also prohibits discrimination based on medical history and provides subsidies to make insurance affordable to lower-paid workers. The fact is that virtually all of private healthcare insurance is already well under some form of government control through regulation and tax subsidies. How should we think about this system? First of all, is Medicare socialist? Don’t tell anyone, but the way Medicare operates — it covers every senior’s medical expenses, whatever they turn out to be, while being funded by taxes that depend on one’s income — could be summarized by the old Marxist slogan “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” And back in 1961, when Ronald Reagan was the face of a last-ditch effort by the American Medical Association to block the creation of Medicare, he denounced Medicare as “socialized medicine” and warned that it would destroy our freedom. In reality, American freedom survived until Jan. 20, 2025, while Medicare is immensely popular, with an 82 percent favorable rating in the most recent KFF survey. Medicaid, government health insurance for lower-income Americans, comes in at 73 percent. This is in sharp contrast to public views about private insurers, who are widely disliked if not hated and accused of denying essential care. Furthermore, if Medicare is socialism, then the whole U.S. health insurance system, with the government paying most of the bills and placing conditions on private insurers, is almost equally socialist. If you insist on calling any program the government pays for and regulates socialist, then U.S. healthcare would best be described as a partially privatized form of socialism. And one must ask, what is the point of the part that is privatized? Do private insurers add anything positive? Or are they simply parasites, skimming off money that could have been paying for care? The case for viewing insurers as parasites is strong. Many Medicare benefits are now delivered via Medicare Advantage, that is, plans paid for by the government but run through insurance companies. MedPAC, an independent advisory commission, estimates that last year Medicare Advantage plans were overpaid by $84 billion, thanks to practices such as “upcoding,” in which patients’ health problems are overstated to get larger sums from Medicare. Assessing the waste from employer-based insurance is harder, but most evidence suggests that private insurers have substantially higher administrative costs than Medicare does. Furthermore, the complexity of private insurance, with multiple payers all trying to deny care when they can, is a huge burden both on providers — doctors, nurses, and hospitals — and on patients. What do private insurers offer to compensate for these costs? One must go through intellectual contortions to avoid the conclusion that they are, in fact, parasites. Which brings me back to El-Sayed. In supporting Medicare for All, he’s basically calling for an end to the partial, parasitic privatization of a healthcare system that is already hugely dependent on public funding. When one looks at it that way, it’s not at all a radical proposal. Admittedly, the political lift requires overcoming the opposition to higher taxes to pay for Medicare for All. Political realism rather than economics was the reason I and many other progressives supported Obamacare, with all its complexities, rather than demanding an immediate move to Medicare for All. But the political calculus may very well have shifted since the 2000s, as Americans are fed up with a system of unaffordable premiums, rampant claim denials, and byzantine claim administration. Moreover, funding healthcare insurance through taxation would allow for a much more progressive distribution of the cost. That is, compared to the present system, middle-income households would pay less as high-income households would pay more. And the U.S. would stop wasting large sums on pointless administrative costs. So let’s be clear: El-Sayed’s healthcare platform is perfectly reasonable on the merits of cost, fairness and health efficacy. And with private insurers never more hated, while millions of Americans are losing their health insurance, 2026 may be its time. MUSICAL CODA
GOP senators rally behind 9/11 families in push to ban Mamdani from anniversary ceremony: 'He's a disgrace'
Republican senators back 9/11 families' petition to block Zohran Mamdani from attending the 25th anniversary remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero.
‘Fiercely independent’ South Carolina votes on Lindsey Graham’s Senate successor
Republicans, including Graham’s sister Darline, expedite campaigns to replace late senator in special primary race
Wisconsin considers democratic socialist for governor amid US wave of progressive wins
Francesca Hong is Democratic frontrunner in four-way primary race to lead the swing state, a test of anti-establishment sentiment