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Health Care Affordability in the United States, From Crisis to Action
U.S. health care costs exceed $5T yearly, driving delayed care and debt. Experts urge reforms to improve affordability, access, and health outcomes. delivery of health care; financial stress; health care costs; health policy; patient advocacy
Viewpoint: A career in science is possible, and worth it
Starting a career in science is exciting, but also demanding, with researchers often faced with intense competition, long working hours and high levels of stress. A pioneer in the field of mass spectrometry, Carol Robinson has been there. She speaks with Science|Business on the importance of creating a supportive environment, particularly for women.Robinson did not wake up one day thinking that she would become a scientist. It was only late in school that she developed an interest in chemistry. “The more you work at something, the more you think, actually, this is fascinating. So, I went much further and deeper than I ever needed to pass the exam. And then I loved it,” she says. “I thought, I’m going to give it my all. I’m going to enjoy it while I’m here. But I didn’t think this would be my career for 50 odd years.”She left school at 16 to become a lab technician with the drug company Pfizer, which is where she first worked with mass spectrometry. Fascinated, she was encouraged to take a part-time degree and then a PhD. She went on to do pioneering work in native mass spectrometry, a technique that is used to study protein structures in their natural state, paving the way for breakthroughs in drug discovery. She also broke new ground by becoming the first female professor of chemistry at the University of Cambridge, and then the first female professor of chemistry at the University of Oxford, her current home.She now wants to show young researchers that a career in science is worth it. “Sometimes, I believe the culture isn’t very encouraging, and that’s something I have worked on,” Robinson says.In 2021, she launched the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery at Oxford, whose acronym gives a sense of what she hopes it will achieve. “Maybe it is corny,” she says. “It’s just a reminder that I would like it if we could all be kind to each other and supportive, especially for early-career researchers of either gender, because there’s quite a big attrition rate in science, and maybe it just doesn’t feel like a very friendly place to work.”And yet, a career in science comes with a lot of flexibility. “There are few careers where you have that amount of freedom, to go to conferences, to the library. Just because you didn’t see me didn’t mean I wasn’t working,” she says. “And I’m excited to come in every day. So, I don’t want people to think it’s a terrible place.”Gender equality is also important when it comes to the quality of science as a career. “The more women we have, the better it becomes,” Robinson adds.Imposter syndromeAccording to EU data, women outnumber men in university education but account for just about a third of graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem). And while the number of women working as scientists and engineers in the 27-member bloc is on the rise, their representation remains below that of men, at 41%. This discrepancy is even more pronounced in top-tier functions across these fields, where women fill just 20% of positions.Having supervised many young scientists, Robinson sees that women continue to have a greater propensity than men to doubt their abilities, a feeling she once shared. “When I was doing my PhD at the University at Cambridge, I really felt like an imposter,” she says. “I don’t think I ever felt I deserved to be there or owned it and was proud. I just thought I was lucky.” Later on, she adds, “I was always that person who said, I can’t apply yet because my CV is not strong enough.”She has now made it her job to encourage women to break with this imposter syndrome. For example, rather than calling for volunteers to give a lecture in the groups that she mentors or teaches, which nearly always results in men stepping forward, she goes straight to the women, “because I know they won’t push themselves forward.”But the gender gap in science is not just down to imposter syndrome. The “obvious” reason, Robinson says, and the reason that is on everybody’s mind when discussing workplace gender equality, is the balance between work and raising a family. Her own path was to choose between the two, taking an eight-year break after completing a postdoctoral training fellowship to bring up three children. And she continues to advise women not to work part-time while they raise a family. “You’ll just get half the pay and continue to work full-time because you are not able to fit everything in,” she says. “You should be able to have a family and come back to have the career that you want.”The solution is for men to also take career breaks. “That kind of evens it up, so that it’s not such a big thing for women,” Robinson says. “I always encourage men in my groups to do that. I think it’s important to take your share of the duties.”Support produces resultsAccording to the Women in Stem Network, a UK advocacy group, countries with strong childcare systems and equal pay policies retain more women in technical careers. In Europe, these are primarily found in the Nordic region and parts of central Europe.At the EU level, the European Commission asks all Horizon Europe applicant organisations to have a gender action plan in place. Since this criterion was introduced in 2021, the share of women leading consortia has increased to 31%, against 23% in Horizon 2020. Their overall participation, however, has risen just 1%, to 38%. After trying to weaken the requirement for gender action plans in 2025, the Commission now intends to adopt a plan for supporting women in research and innovation.Related articlesCommission scraps plan to water down gender requirements in HorizonHow gender balance can swing who wins Horizon Europe fundingRobinson herself has benefited from three Advanced Grants from the European Research Council. “I was extremely honoured and privileged to get those, because they really allowed me to fuel my passion,” she says. “Without that, it would have been a much harder slog.”Beyond applying gender rules, she says that more work is needed on translational enterprise, where women are, once again, largely underrepresented. The European Patent Office found that only 13.8% of applications were filed by women in 2022. “We have so many more women doing amazing science; why do they feel it’s not a thing to have a company?” she asks.She founded her own spin-out company, OMass Technologies, in 2016, and remains chair of its scientific advisory board now that it trades as OMass Therapeutics. As for research, Robinson is now studying how changes in the brain may be linked to depression, using port-mortem tissue. “We’re hoping to publish soon,” she says. “We had to consult with a lot of people who knew a lot more about the brain than we did. So, we’ve learnt a lot, and that’s always a lot of fun to learn a new thing. That’s what keeps you going.”
Health care costs reach a breaking point
Embargoed until 5:00a.m. ET / 4:00am CT / 30, April 2026 Statement Highlights: New American Heart Association Presidential Advisory warns that U.S. health care affordability has reached a crisis point. Rising health care costs, driven largely by...
Supporting better health through sustainable weight management
Through Weight Engage, Optum Rx is helping people build healthier habits while supporting better outcomes and greater affordability for employers and patients alike
Mamdani: City Hall volunteers will be independent in outreach about RBG hearings
Last year, only 400 New Yorkers gave public testimony for a decision impacting more than 2 million New Yorkers.
Motorola just revealed the Razr Fold’s price and hoo boy
A more affordable foldable this is not.
Northwood University Celebrates 2026 Class of Outstanding Business Leaders
Gala honors achievement, raises scholarship funds, and inspires students to pursue lives of meaning, leadership, and earned success Northwood University celebrated five honorees whose vision and leadership have transformed industries and communities on Saturday, April 18, during the 46th Outstanding Business Leader Awards Gala at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. The gala brought together honorees, alumni, students, donors, and university leaders for a signature event rooted in Northwood’s mission to develop free-enterprise leaders who drive global economic and social progress. This year’s honorees represented an array of industries, including entertainment, entrepreneurship, construction, manufacturing, motorsports, and automotive retail. “Outstanding Business Leader Awards is one of the most meaningful traditions at Northwood University,” said Dr. Kent MacDonald. “It gives our students the opportunity to learn directly from leaders who have built exceptional careers through vision, perseverance, personal responsibility, and service to others. What makes these honorees special is that their impact reaches far beyond business success. They create jobs, strengthen communities, open doors for others, and lead with purpose. They remind our students that free enterprise, when guided by character and integrity, can be a powerful force for good.” Since 1981, the Outstanding Business Leader Awards have recognized exceptional business leadership while supporting student opportunity through the Outstanding Business Leader Endowed Scholarship Fund. Prior to the gala, honorees met with Northwood students during a roundtable conversation designed to give students direct access to first-hand mentorship and career insight. The student-centered experience continued that evening, as each honoree was formally introduced by a Northwood student selected through a competitive process that drew more than 50 applicants this year. The experience reflects Northwood’s emphasis on learning through experience and providing students with meaningful opportunities to build confidence, connections, and professional momentum before graduation. The following honorees and presenters were featured at this year’s Outstanding Business Leader Awards Gala: Paul A. Glantz, chairman and CEO, EH Real Estate LLC; chairman emeritus, Emagine Entertainment Inc., was introduced by Kennedy Williams, a marketing communications and automotive aftermarket management student from Farmington Hills, Michigan. They are pictured with Gala Emcee Steve Madincea (far left) and Northwood University President Kent MacDonald. Jennifer Tenaglia Panning ’92, president, Artisan Tile Inc., was introduced by Karley Baker, a finance and marketing student from Washington Township who is enrolled in Northwood’s four-year bachelor/MBA track. Danny Sullivan, 1985 Indianapolis 500 champion, 1988 IndyCar World champion, and 1994 Rolex 24 at Daytona champion, was introduced by Max Hart, an automotive marketing and management student from Cheboygan, Michigan. Reagan Cordes, a sales management student from Davison, Michigan, is pictured introducing Linzie Venegas, chief operating officer of Ideal Group, who was unable to attend the gala. Larry Zinn, executive general manager of Warren Henry Auto Group and a 2008 Northwood alumnus, was honored to accept the Outstanding Business Leader Award on behalf of his father, Warren Henry Zinn ‘77, who was unable to attend Saturday’s gala. Larry Zinn was introduced by Bella Smylie, a data analytics student from Clare, Michigan. “This gala is about more than recognizing business excellence; it’s also about investing in students and reinforcing the relationships that make Northwood special,” said Advancement Vice President Murray Kyte. “We celebrate leaders whose lives reflect The Northwood Idea while raising scholarship funds to invest in students whose ambition, character, and entrepreneurial spirit reflect the values Northwood seeks to advance.” “During my time at Northwood, I’ve been fortunate to experience things I never could have imagined,” said Baker, who added she was honored to form a meaningful connection with her Outstanding Business Leader honoree. “…Northwood builds a network that stretches far beyond these walls, one shaped by shared values, a belief in free enterprise, and a conviction that business, done right, can change lives.” To learn more about this year’s honorees and gala sponsors, visit the Outstanding Business Leaders Awards webpage at www.northwood.edu/advancement/signature-events/outstanding-business-leader-awards/. Share this page
Why Treehub Is Investing In Science-First Founders Leading Healthcare Innovation
Treehub, the Stanford-adjacent residency program backed by the AI Health Fund, is focused on building the next generation of great healthcare founders born in labs, hospitals and academia instead of traditional startup circles.
Why Treehub Is Investing In Science-First Founders Leading Healthcare Innovation
Treehub, the Stanford-adjacent residency program backed by the AI Health Fund, is focused on building the next generation of great healthcare founders born in labs, hospitals and academia instead of traditional startup circles.
What did Scottish party leaders do before politics?
Reform's Malcolm Offord bought six boats with a fortune made in banking - but other leaders had a life before politics too.
Poll: The Cost of Health Care Remains at the Top of the Public’s List of Economic Concerns, Even as Concerns About Gas Prices Climb
Health care costs continue to top the public’s list of economic anxieties, even as fuel prices and economic uncertainty rose following the start of the Iran war, a new KFF Health Tracking poll finds. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. adults are worried about being able to afford health care costs, including three in ten who say they are “very worried.” The same share (64%) are worried about gasoline or other transportation costs, up from about half (52%) in January.
KFF Health Tracking Poll: Health Care Costs and the Midterms
This KFF poll finds that health care costs continue to top the public’s list of affordability worries, even as concerns about gas prices have risen in recent weeks, with two-thirds of the public expressing worry over affording health care costs.
Collaborative Coding, Better Scaling, Health Tracking: HAI Awards $2.17M to Innovative Research
Seed grants will fund 29 research teams pursuing novel research ideas across disciplines.
YIGBY could be Connecticut’s solution to health and housing crisis
This bill would make it easier for religious organizations like churches and synagogues to build affordable housing on their own land.
Notre Dame Women’s Basketball: KK Bransford transfers to UCLA
A big surprise and defection from the Notre Dame Women’s basketball program.
Takeaways from the latest California governor’s debate
Eight candidates seeking to become California’s next governor met for an unwieldy debate Tuesday, where the candidates discussed their plans to make the state more affordable and sought to gain ground in an unsettled field. Xavier Becerra emphasized his past jobs as HHS secretary and California attorney general. But he also put aside a nice guy reputation with a few shots at his opponents. San Joe Mayor Matt Mahan pushed back on California’s gas tax, calling it regressive and arguing that rural and working-class Californians pay more to protect the roads than “wealthy EV owners.” And he said everyone else on stage had healthcare wrong.
Entertainment Listing: April 29
Wednesday April 29 Hangar 9 • Carbondale Star Wars Trivia, 8 p.m. PK’s • Carbondale Trivia, 8 p.m. Thursday April 30 Advertisement Hangar 9 • Carbondale International Jazz Day, 5 a.m. Urban Cowboy Line dancing, 7 p.m. Brews Brothers • Murphysboro Trivia, 8 p.m. Route 51 • Elkville Nate Graham, Tim Whiteford and Tall and...
Mac Deford talks Congressional run, SC politics
Deford is now considered one of the Democratic frontrunners for the First Congressional District nomination
Health system CEOs get off easy at Congressional hearing on affordability
Committee members largely blamed the other party’s health care policies for driving U.S. health care prices to levels inaccessible to many Americans.
Kelly to Health System CEOs: "It's about the math."
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, during a hearing with leaders of some of the nation's top hospital CEOs, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) questioned the executives about ways rural health care can improve while also highlighting the need for more affordable and accessible health care in Rural America.
ECU Health CEO Dr. Michael Waldrum testifies before U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means on rural health care access, affordability
Dr. Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health, testified before the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means on rural health care access and affordability.
Nvidia Is Finally Doing Something About the RAM Apocalypse
Hopefully, it’s the start of better, more affordable GPU options.
CT business group warns changes to workforce bill would raise costs, liability
A broad amendment to a major workforce bill proposed during the state’s current legislative session is drawing pushback from business leaders, who warn the expanded proposal could increase costs and legal risks for employers in the state.
Nursing leader shines with cheer, fiery commitment to care
Kammy Ellwanger was instrumental the day that a fire broke out at Good Samaritan in Wanger, SD, and leading up to the location's reopening.
Spanberger marks first 100 days with focus on healthcare, housing and energy affordability
Gov. Abigail Spanberger celebrated her first 100 days in office Monday in Richmond by touting her administration’s progress on healthcare, housing, and energy affordability measures. She had less to say, however, about the delayed state budget, which lawmakers haven’t finalized but must send to her desk for signature in the coming weeks.
When getting care means going into debt
Healthcare affordability is not just an economic issue; it is a public health crisis. Connecticut lawmakers have a chance to help.
Man Utd beat Brentford to close on Champions League berth
Manchester United moved within touching distance of qualifying for the Champions League as Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko sealed a 2-1 win against Brentford on Monday.Diallo's determination to win a tackle deep inside his own half started the move before Fernandes drove towards the Brentford area, slipping a pass to Sesko, who lashed home from 10 yards.
The Tech Elite Sure Have a Boring—and Expensive—Idea of Immortality
If you’re one of the lucky few who can afford to live forever, at least do something more interesting than measuring the “quality and durability of nocturnal erections.”
From Casual to Costly: How Rising Prices Make Entertainment Less Accessible
The rising costs of entertainment make it difficult for consumers to afford media and leisure.
Stanford streak: How the Cardinal have stayed gold for 50 years
Stanford has won at least one NCAA team title in 50 straight academic years, and the data shows no other school is remotely close.
Opinion: Illinois’ ‘flat’ tax isn’t flat — and it’s costing us billions
Illinoisans are struggling to afford the basics. The least we can do is stop subsidizing the luxuries of people who have everything they need and then some.
America Can’t Lower Healthcare Costs Without A Moonshot
Why fee-for-service and value-based care are failing, and why only a “moonshot” in healthcare payment models can make care affordable again.
Denver business owners worried they'll be forced to close following plans for Asia Center demolition
The Asia Center's owner has submitted plans to the city to demolish the strip of stores for a mixed-use development project, including affordable housing and retail.
CT Business Blend: April 27, 2026
Hartford Business Journal’s Greg Bordonaro and WTIC’s Brian Shactman explore the people, companies and trends shaping Connecticut’s business scene every Monday at 8:30 a.m. on WTIC 1080 AM.
Distribution and training facility proposed for Bristol business park
Two, 10,000-square-foot buildings for a distribution and training facility have been proposed for a vacant lot in a Bristol business park.
This policy is at the root of unaffordable health care
The current system incentivizes employer compensation through insurance rather than cash, driving up costs.
Will this be the year CT lawmakers curb private equity in health care?
Legislators will try for the third year in a row to address the fallout from private equity ownership of three Connecticut hospitals. Despite years of bipartisan calls for reform, proposals […]
Health Care: Our Plan for Taking Care of ME
Maine’s health care is under threat. From closures to unaffordable premiums, policies like the Big Beautiful Bill are making an already terrible problem worse. Health care is nonnegotiable, and we plan to make health care affordable, wide-ranging, and invest in medical education.
Jersey Bulls Women win league title in style
Jersey Bulls Women complete a perfect season after thrashing Milford and Witley 12-3 to win their league title.
Questionable pitching moves cost Pack9 series at Virginia Tech
NC State could ill afford to lose the series versus the Hokies
Match Preview: Manchester United vs. Brentford
Manchester United could move a step closer to confirming UEFA Champions League football for next season, when we host Brentford on Monday evening. The Reds need a maximum of two wins from our final five fixtures to rubberstamp a top-five finish, but may require even fewer points by the time we kick off against the Bees. Keith […]
Baseball Walks Off Twice For Sweep of George Mason
Bronx, N.Y. – (April 26, 2026) – It's rare to see a walk-off win, but to see two in a doubleheader is special day. That is exactly what happened on Sunday at Houlihan Park, as the Fordham Rams posted walk-off wins in both ends of a doubleheader to sweep a three-game series from the George Mason Patriots by scores of 2-1 in seven innings and 5-4 in 12 innings.
Oxford chairman says club will 'regroup quickly'
Oxford United chairman Grant Ferguson says the club are determined to learn from their relegation next season.
'Who is taking care of us?': Childcare workers can't afford insurance
Andreya Chapman's job is her passion. But it's also why she's struggled to afford health coverage, an issue that pushed off a cancer diagnosis.
Health insurance a struggle for Michigan childcare workers
Andreya Chapman's job is her passion. But it's also why she's struggled to afford consistent health coverage, an issue that pushed off a can
Video: Skyrocketing Health Insurance Forces Americans to Scramble for Care
Older people who are medically high risk, but too young for Medicare are facing unaffordable health insurance premiums after federal health care credits lapsed earlier this year. Now that the grace period has expired, some Americans are struggling to get the care they need.
CT hospital’s $950M tower is a whopper, ‘most advanced’ in nation. What it will look like and when.
The hospital tower will be double the height of the next tallest building on the 70-acre campus: …”the most advanced, most sophisticated hospital building anywhere in the country.”
WATCH: Hartford HealthCare’s 2026 Black & Red
Join us for Hartford HealthCare’s Black & Red fundraising event on WTNH News 8. Discover the life-saving work and inspiring stories in our community.
15 Healthy Trader Joe’s Finds a Dietitian Recommends for Spring
These products have spring-forward flavors, and they're convenient and affordable.
Florida hospital leaders advocate for healthcare accessibility and affordability in Washington
Floridians deserve timely, accessible care, and hospitals are continually working to deliver it.
Fair Game Project aims to expand access to youth sports across OPS
New sports federation connects students to year-round opportunities while city invests in facilities and affordability
Camp safety, state tourism, Hartford Whalers Day: CT politics news
Plus: Help for college gamblers, medical credit card advertising regulations, and a small business 'concierge' through DECD.
Chicagoans grapple with higher health insurance premiums
Health insurance premiums for Affordable Care Act plans have gone up about 25%, according to Illinois officials.
Universal Entertainment Secures Five-Year Deal With Jez Butterworth
Ford v. Ferrari scribe and The Agency and MobLand series EP, Jez Butterworth, has inked an overall five-year deal with Universal Entertainment across TV, streaming and film.
Breaking Point: Why the Affordable Housing Business Model Is Unraveling
With rising insurance, debt, and operating costs outpacing rents and subsidies, affordable housing is becoming harder to finance.
This Rare Sports Car Sold by Jim Farley Has a Surprising Ford Backstory
The 1972 DeTomaso Pantera recalled Ford’s work with Italian carmakers from the 1970s, which brought Detroit muscle to European exotics.
Waiting through the night for free health care at a Seattle clinic
The Seattle/King County Clinic offers free medical, dental and vision care for anyone willing to wait. It is a lifeline as demand for affordable care keeps growing.
Poloncarz highlights 'lowest tax rate in county history' during annual address
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz emphasized goals such as affordability, housing, parks and more during the State of the County address Thursday.
Business Briefs: Brodie Plans, Bank Settlement
Alpine Village Proposed for Brodie Mountain NEW ASHFORD, Mass. — A group of investors who purchased Brodie Mountain three years ago is proposing a $200 million investment to revive...
Man shot outside sports bar in Philadelphia's Frankford section
Investigators say more than a dozen shots were fired, and the victim was hit six times.
Stamford High $27.5M renovation includes 15 new science labs
“This is a gut renovation job,” said Travis Schnell, principal architect for KG+D. “Walls will be shifting.”
The day of the baby boomers is finally done in Australian politics
Labor is well aware of the resentment from younger people who see themselves as paying for their elders while struggling to afford housing
Former councilman rallies against bill defunding sports complex
In a letter to the Minnesota House and Senate Taxes Committees, Bransford argues the state should not interfere with the result of a 2023 ballot measure, which approved a sales tax extension to raise $65 million for indoor and outdoor sports facilities.
Arete Health Launches Affordable Healthcare Plan for Dallas Food Industry Workers
The new partnership with Dallas-Dallas County Food Collaborative targets food entrepreneurs and small operators with a low-cost alternative to traditional insurance.
WATCH LIVE: President Trump hosts White House event on health care affordability
President Trump hosts an event in the Oval Office to discuss health care affordability.
Watch live: Trump gives remarks on health care affordability
President Trump is hosting an event at the White House on Thursday afternoon centered on health care affordability. Trump is expected to announce a new deal with pharmaceutical company Regeneron, a…
Land, Power, and Property Rights: The Political Economy of Land Titling in Sub-Saharan Africa -
Land, Power, and Property Rights: The Political Economy of Land Titling in Sub-Saharan Africa By Matthew K. Ribar, Stanford University Only 15% of African households possess a formal title for their agricultural land, despite the [...]
Ontario Premier’s Recommendation to Trump: Take a page out of Ronald Reagan’s book
The intersection of music in sports: behind the curtain
Music and sports are great separately, but when placed together, they create an atmosphere like no other. Correspondent Molly McCleary examines how music in sports, like gymnastics and softball, is essential for both the players and fans.
From ‘Human Fracking’ to Women’s Health: 6 Takeaways from Research Day
Fordham University experts lead new studies on AI cybersecurity, constitutional law reform, and the impact of perimenopause on the brain.
Health Care Affordability
At Penn LDI’s convening at Penn Washington, leading experts found notable consensus on the drivers of health care costs, and some potential paths forward.
Watch live: Trump participates in event on health care affordability
Watch live coverage as President Trump participates in an event on health care affordability at the White House.
Thursday Morning Links
Morning, all! Wyatt Langford has a grade 1 flexor strain in his right arm, which marks the fifth IL stint for a soft tissue injury in the first two years of his career. Skip Schumaker says it’s because he “has more muscles than most people.” Langford is hoping to spend no more than the minimum […]
An AI Health Coach Could Change Your Mindset
Bloom, a health coaching app created by Stanford researchers, helps people tap into their own motivations.
Chelsea: No shortlist and no No 1 candidate to replace sacked Liam Rosenior - what's next at Stamford Bridge?
Brain to behavior to belief: Stanford Veritas Forum advocates role of science and faith in a fulfilled life
Arthur Brooks and Andrew Huberman shared the science behind fulfillment and how their Christian faith has played a role in their pursuit of happiness.
'We need to do something': Break-ins rise in Seattle’s Wallingford area as business owners consider shared security
Stanford Health Care and the American Cancer Society plan a Hope Lodge for patients and family members
Stanford Health Care commits $10 million to help the American Cancer Society build a new Hope Lodge to provide temporary lodging for cancer patients traveling to the Bay Area for treatment.
People tell us how much they spent on Coachella 2026
From ICU nurses to broke college students and a lady who won VIP passes for life, people tell us how they managed to afford their Coachella trips this year.
High school sports top performers from Tuesday aren't taking it easy
They certainly aren't on a break. Tuesday's Fantastic 5(+1) high school sports performers put up big numbers and delivered in the clutch.
On Earth Day, how to eat well for your health and the planet, on a budget
The price of kitchen staples like eggs, milk and cheese as well as prices for meats have soared since the pandemic. So is it possible to eat affordable, healthy food that's also good for the climate?
Los Angeles Residents to Gain Faster Access to New Affordable Housing through Health Net's $10 Million Investment in "Guarantee Fund"
Partnership with LA4LA will accelerate construction of affordable and mixed-use housing across LA County SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Net, one of California's most...
Chelsea Women to make Stamford Bridge permanent home
Chelsea Women will make Stamford Bridge their permanent home in 2026/2027.The Blues announced the news via a post on their official club website this morning.Chelsea will play all of their Barclays Wo...
Minnesota educators fight for a way to lower skyrocketing health insurance costs
As health insurance premiums continue to rise, Minnesota school districts – especially small, rural ones – struggle to find good, affordable health care coverage for their staff. Minnesota educators across the state want to be able to band together for better coverage and bargaining power in the marketplace.
It’s time Colorado built back to affordability
By Samuel G. Michael The price of calling Colorado home has climbed faster than its fourteeners, and not everyone can keep up. Our beloved state is an increasingly unaffordable place to live, pricing out the very people who make it thrive. Without decisive legislative action, we risk losing the essence of what makes Colorado special. […]
Carter, Muller Earn Top Business Student Awards
Josiah Carter of Sanford, Fla., and Ashley Muller of Cabot received the top two annual student awards presented by the Arkansas Tech University LeMoyne Smith School of Business during an awards reception at Chambers Cafeteria West Dining Room on Tuesday, April 21. Carter is the winner of the 2026 ATU…
Stetson Bennett’s bid to succeed Matthew Stafford takes a hit
The Rams don't sound too convinced Stetson Bennett can takeover for Matthew Stafford.
Is Netflix Making a Big Real Estate Move In L.A.?
The streaming giant is reportedly in talks to acquired the Radford Studio Center.
Bug & Bud Festival releases entertainment schedule ahead of April 25 event
Organizers of Milford’s annual Bug & Bud Festival have released a full “run of show” schedule, outlining a day of performances and activities planned for
Stanford's sports teams capture an NCAA championship for a 50th straight year
Stanford just captured an NCAA championship for a 50th consecutive year.
Stanford's sports teams capture an NCAA championship for a 50th straight year
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Dick Gould has been around Stanford sports long enough as a tennis player and coach — a remarkable run of seven decades — that he clearly remembers some down years for the university's sports programs.
AHA chair speaks at Politico Health Care Summit
Marc Boom, M.D., president and CEO of Houston Methodist and 2026 AHA board chair, spoke today at POLITICO’s Health Care Summit about health care affordability.
Navy tests jet-powered JDAM for affordable long-range strikes
Navy fighter jets test-fired a new long-range variant of the widely used JDAM bomb. Unlike other versions, this one is powered by a jet engine.
Bulls' Marsters out for season with Achilles injury
Bradford Bulls centre Esan Marsters will miss the rest of the season with an Achilles injury, boss Kurt Haggerty says.
Inside the debate that sank a small business health insurance bill
With the state legislature focused this session on affordability, a proposal that aimed to lower health insurance costs for small and midsize businesses appeared to have momentum — including backing from Gov. Ned Lamont. But the bill stalled in the Appropriations Committee.
L-Mount cameras have a new affordable everyday lens. The Panasonic Lumix S 40mm f/2 is lighter and brighter than some kit lenses – but two more lenses are coming
The Panasonic Lumix S 40mm f/2 is a new everyday prime with a compact design, but a new lens roadmap says that's just the start
New York Giants open voluntary three-day minicamp
The New York Giants open their voluntary three-day minicamp on Tuesday in East Rutherford.
Shaky political science: using "simulated" elections over real-world elections
[Dear DSOS readers – this article is the latest in our “Shaky Political Science” series. In our 38 page report, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting,” released in early December, we examined over 40 studies focused on ranked choice voting. We found that many of these studies suffered from puzzling research methodologies, poorly constructed surveys, unrealistic simulated elections, cherry picked data, and faulty analyses that often were contradicted by results from real-world elections (a link to our full paper is here). Here are links to the first three articles in our series: the first one summarizing the overall results of our report, the second one analyzing a study co-authored by University of Minnesota academic Larry Jacobs, which was one of the most error-prone of all the research we reviewed in our report, and a third article showing an admirable example of two political scientists holding two other political scientists accountable for their flawed, sloppy research]. In this fourth article in our “Shaky Political Science” series, we shine a spotlight on seven studies that were web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group (the ERRG is an ad hoc committee headed by New America’s Political Reform Program and joined by the American Enterprise Institute, the Unite America Institute and Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law). This research consortium has been led by Lee Drutman, senior fellow with New America’s Political Reform Program. These seven studies are simply not credible from any objective standard about how political “science” is supposed to illuminate our understanding of either ranked choice voting or politics in general. The feature that six of these seven studies have in common is that they all used surveys – artificial, simulated elections -- to attempt to say something cogent or interesting about ranked choice voting (RCV) elections. None of them used real world data from actual RCV elections – either the 1000+ elections in the US or the many thousands of elections from places like Australia, Ireland and elsewhere where RCV has been used for 100 years. While a few of these studies conclude with some mixed positives about RCV, our analysis here is content neutral. The idea that, with a political reform like RCV, you can ask respondents in a mock, artificial election to vote with that method, with only the barest of explanation about how RCV works or its likely impacts (i.e. no spoiler candidates, majority winners, voters liberated to pick their favorite candidates, coalition-building), and then ask them their thoughts/reactions about voting in that system, with fake candidates and no real campaigning, no real exposure to an actual election or actual candidates, rests on some very puzzling assumptions. The findings of these seven studies actually are contradicted by the findings from many other studies based on real-world RCV elections. These New America studies also failed to list the real-world RCV studies in their own citations, instead including those studies that reinforced their conclusions. The seven studies featured in this article were chosen because they form a cohesive cohort which precisely illustrates one of the main points of our research paper, namely that using surveys, i.e. artificial elections, or mathematical/theoretical models, instead of real-world data, is in fact “shaky political science.” Below are summaries of our analysis of five of the seven New America studies. You can read our complete analysis of all seven studies at our paper, “Shaky political ‘science’ misses mark on ranked choice voting.” Choosing to “Vote As Usual” by Andre Blais, Carolina Plescia, and Semra Sevi. New America. (Blais et al., 2021). This study, web-hosted and funded by New America’s Political Reform Program and its Electoral Reform Research Group, used two surveys in which respondents completed ballots for simulated elections using plurality, approval, RCV and point (Score) voting. In both cases the authors provided the respondents with only minimal explanation of each method. For example, the entire explanation for RCV was “For this vote, rank the candidates from your first to your last choice (you do not need to rank them all). This is called the ranked vote.” That’s it. The study did not provide any context or explanation to survey respondents about why she/he might want to rank multiple candidates. Participants were not even told that ballots would be tabulated using an “instant” runoff, not to mention any description of RCVs ability to eliminate the spoiler effect or liberate voters to rank their favorite candidates without fear of helping the “greater evil” candidate to win. That’s like taking an iPhone back in time to 1970 and asking someone if they like it better than their rotary phone without explaining how it works. Their first survey targeted states that held 2020 Super Tuesday Democratic primaries and used the real candidates’ names in the survey; the second survey used fictitious candidates. In other words, they surveyed respondents who had only ever participated in plurality elections, had no history or background with using RCV or any of the other methods, had no clue about its likely impacts, and did not communicate how the alternative methods would be counted, and then asked them: “How satisfied are you with using each system?” Predictably, the winner was plurality elections, the system used for president, Congress, gubernatorial and state legislative elections – in other words, the method they have been using, year after year, all their voting lives. With so little explanation of RCV and its impacts, this study is simply not credible in discovering anything useful about real-world RCV elections. It merely shows that a basic voter education campaign is needed when adopting a new election system. Additionally, the result contradicts many other post-election surveys following real RCV elections, asking opinions from voters who had just participated in a RCV election, that showed a great deal of satisfaction with RCV (see details on that in Studies 22-25 in our paper, as well as the four studies cited in the review for Study 28). Share Other studies on “satisfaction” and “understanding” make similar mistakes, in terms of basing their surveys on inadequate explanation to respondents and lack of education about context. How could any survey ever hope to measure accurately, in essence simulate a real-world election, without actual campaigning candidates, the media writing about those candidates, organizations endorsing candidates and voters being inundated with crucial information? More than anything, what these “studies” based on surveys show is that if you ask voters about something they don’t know very much about, and fail to adequately educate them, their responses will unsurprisingly reflect their confusion. Equally puzzling is that New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group, headed by political scientist Lee Drutman, found this to be a credible enough study that they not only published it but highlighted it in Drutman’s own discussion of research related to ranked choice voting. This pattern was repeated in study after study featured by New America’s Electoral Reform Research Group. For example in Ranked-Choice Voting and Political Expression: Voter Guides Narrow the Gap between Informed and Uninformed Citizens by Cheryl Boudreau, Jonathan Colner, and Scott MacKenzie, the researchers based their analysis on a survey which found that respondents who were asked to vote in a simulated RCV election, with minimal explanation of RCV or how it works, displayed less evidence of being informed about how to use RCV effectively, with the least informed voters ranking fewer candidates. As pointed out under the study above, in a real election voters are informed by a wide variety of methods, including public education by the election administration, by interested political groups, the media, and the candidates themselves who benefit from voters being aware of how to vote in the new system. In Support for Ranked-Choice Voting across Race and Partisanship by Joseph Anthony, David C. Kimball, Jack Santucci and Jamil Scott, the researchers used respondents from different parties and races voting in simulated plurality and RCV elections, who indicated their satisfaction with each voting method. Instead of using real world election results, the authors fell back on the easy, armchair and less reliable academic research methodology of making up mock elections. As with the other studies, little explanation was given of how RCV works or what its implications might be (electing majority winners or eliminating spoilers, for example). Unsurprisingly, this study found that respondents were not very satisfied with RCV. However, when the authors added an explanation that RCV has a tendency to elect more women and people of color, they found that this greater explanation increased the preference for RCV. The more voters were familiar with it, and the more they understood potential positive impacts – surprise! -- the more they were open to switching away from the status quo. Of note, the results from this study are thoroughly contradicted by a number of other studies whose data was obtained from real RCV elections with real voters. Those studies show a great deal of satisfaction with RCV. More “fake election” research An interesting wrinkle on this “research by fake elections” approach, which only served to illustrate how unreliable such “research” can become, was taken in Ranked-Choice Voting, Runoff, and Democracy: Insights from Maine and Other U.S. States by Joseph Cerrone and Cynthia McClintock_,_ also web-hosted and funded by New America’s ERRG. It gets high marks for creativity, but an eye-roll for thinking this could possibly add anything meaningful to our understanding of real world RCV elections. This study tried to determine whether RCV, plurality or two-round runoff elections provided greater voter satisfaction and acceptance of election results. To determine that, the authors conducted a survey asking if voters were satisfied with a fictional newspaper report of an election, with three different versions given to respondents – plurality, runoff and RCV, with variations of Republican/Democrat winners and variations of “come-from-behind” winners,” i.e. candidates not initially in first place but who win the “runoff.” Again, a minimal explanation of RCV or how it works was given, and the survey showed that respondents had the greatest unfamiliarity with RCV than the other methods. The unsurprising result? Respondents were much more satisfied with “come-from-behind” victories in a traditional two-round runoff election than in RCV, even though RCV is also a runoff system but with a single round of counting. Interestingly, the dissatisfaction with RCV disappeared for those who were more familiar with RCV. In fact, among those respondents who were “very familiar” with RCV, they were equally satisfied with RCV, runoff and plurality. Surprise, surprise. Again, what this study revealed, more than anything, is not only the inadequacy of the explanation for RCV given by the authors of this study, but the failure of the research format itself, thinking that such an artificial mock election could somehow simulate what actually happens in the real world in a real RCV election. Those four studies reviewed above are fitting examples of inadequate and shaky political “science.” Other studies reviewed in our paper from the New America/Electoral Reform Research Group cohort which also used mock elections included: Ranked-Choice Voting is an Acquired Taste by Joseph Anthony and David C. Kimball. New America. (Anthony et al., 2021). Ranked-Choice Voting is No Refuge for Extreme Candidates by Melissa Baker. New America. (Baker, 2021). Also included in this New America cohort is Does Ranked-Choice Voting Reduce Racial Polarization? by Yuki Atsusaka and Theodore Landsman, which actually did use real-world election results data but applied an odd and unconventional methodology to the data which relied on shaky assumptions and non-real-world scenarios that were too divorced from reality. To determine levels of “racially polarized voting,” the researchers imagined “ethnic parties,” by which they mean political parties for each ethnic group, which was especially odd since the election data they were using came from nonpartisan RCV races. But then they made an even odder assumption, namely that since race and ethnic characteristics of studied voters were not available, the authors tried to infer that information based on who voters selected and the racial make-up of voters in each district. This amounted to little more than vague and ambiguous guesswork dressed up with a bunch of mathematical equations used to give it a veneer of scientific appearance. Indeed, it seemed to assume racial polarization in order to prove racial polarization. Based on this questionable methodology, the authors concluded that RCV doesn’t reduce racial polarization. But the premise of this study missed an obvious reality: since RCV incentivizes more candidates to run and can result in more diverse fields of candidates, one would expect more racially-polarized voting in voters’ top rankings, not less, because more voters would have someone on that ballot who represents their racial or ethnic identity and more freedom to vote for their real first choice. By encouraging more diverse candidates and eliminating the spoiler effect, RCV facilitates voting for a favorite candidate of your own race and then selecting a second choice with the best likelihood of winning. The real measure is what voters do with their additional rankings – do they consider other candidates and vote “for the best of the rest”? This study didn’t tell us anything useful about that. But readily available data shows this is common in real RCV elections, and candidates act on this knowledge by engaging with voters outside their racial group. So the authors of this study failed to consider or account for what actually happens in real-world elections, and their conclusions are tainted by this failure. New America has contributed a great deal over the past 2.5 decades to our understanding of many policy areas, including politics and political reform (full disclosure: Steven Hill, one of the authors of this article and of the “Shaky Political Science” research paper and series, is a former senior fellow and former director of New America’s political reform program, 2005-2010). So it was especially disappointing that New America funded and published such a large batch of dubious studies about ranked choice voting. The stated praiseworthy goal of its Electoral Reform Research Group was to inspire new academic research about ranked choice voting that would shed light and help the public better understand the impacts of RCV. Instead, the ERRG research did just the opposite. It produced dubious research that created more confusion and misinformation. In so doing, New America’s political reform program contributed to “shaky political science.” Steven Hill and Paul Haughey Share Upgrade to $5 subscription Thanks for reading DemocracySOS, a reader-supported digital portal for the pro-democracy movement. Subscribe for only $5 per month to receive full benefits and to support our work. Subscribe
Rep. Blake Moore discusses health care affordability
Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, vice chair, House Republican Conference and member of the House Ways and Means Committee and its Subcommittee on Health, joined Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health and AHA chair-elect, for a fireside chat. While the conversation covered topics including health care access and regulation, the overarching theme was making health care more affordable for both patients and hospitals and health systems.