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State announces $4.5M in funding for Alaska health projects
The 19 projects across the state will receive federal funding under the Rural Health Transformation Program.
Promising research for ALS treatment underway at Temple Health in Philadelphia
Scientists Overfed a Tiny Worm… And It Started Growing a Chain of Clones
This gives new meaning to the term 'food baby'.
Luján, hospital leaders talk Medicaid 'headwinds' and rural health gaps at Rio Rancho roundtable
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, a Democrat from New Mexico, told hospital administrators at Presbyterian Rust Medical Center that Republican-backed federal Medicaid cuts won’t just hurt New Mexicans enrolled in the program — they’ll raise care and insurance costs for everyone else, too. Presbyterian Delivery System President Chad Aduddell told Luján the nonprofit system — […]
Business owners and residents fed up with frequent power outages in Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood
Collinwood business owners and residents said they are frustrated with recurring power outages. They said their neighborhood, on Cleveland's East Side, has experienced frequent outages this summer, even with clear skies and no rain.
Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit alleging antisemitism at Harvard
The decision from U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns said President Donald Trump's administration failed to prove an ongoing violation of federal civil rights laws.
How is the National Guard deployment changing D.C. politics?
At-Large D.C. Councilmember Christina Henderson speaks to WAMU about the anniversary of President Trump's federal troop surge and how a year of National Guard presence is shaping city politics.
Trump’s handpicked Kennedy Center board votes a second time to close performing arts center for renovations
President Donald Trump’s handpicked John F. Kennedy Center board has voted a second time to close the performing arts institution for renovations, according to a person who was briefed on the decision.
Universal Health Coverage Could Save $1 Trillion and 114,000 Lives Every Year, Yale Study Projects
A single-payer universal health care system could cover every American, save more than 100,000 lives a year, and still cost $1 trillion less than the system it
New Executive Order Undermines Child Health
On August 10, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at making major changes to federal vaccine policy. Among several other actions, this order would make major revisions to the childhood vaccination schedule, direct care providers to administer monovalent vaccines as soon as they are available (starting with splitting up the MMR (measles, mumps, […]
Cleveland Fed’s Hammack questions whether U.S. inflation will keep slowing
The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland president says more needs to be done to get to the Fed's 2% target for inflation.
Nielsen data shows more fans are watching women’s sports than ever before
Rural health panel divvies $205M in federal funds for Wyoming healthcare
by Katie Klingsporn, WyoFile In its marathon meeting Tuesday, Wyoming’s new rural health advisory panel earmarked roughly $200 million in President
Rural health panel divvies $205M in federal funds for Wyoming healthcare
by Katie Klingsporn, WyoFile In its marathon meeting Tuesday, Wyoming’s new rural health advisory panel earmarked roughly $200 million in President
Trump administration finalizes rule to end federal support for gender-affirming care
Move blocking funds through Medicaid and Chip to make it harder for vulnerable children to get healthcare, experts say
Tylenol precedent threatens to tighten science vetting in Camp Lejeune toxic water trials
In a national lawsuit, parents claimed taking acetaminophen during pregnancy caused their children to develop autism or ADHD. A higher appeals court recently issued a major ruling on how strictly trial judges must vet medical experts and scientific data before a jury is allowed to hear it. Now, federal lawyers have formally flagged that case for the Camp Lejeune judges, hoping to tighten restrictions on what science is allowed at trial.
It’s not just a gut feeling: Foodborne illness outbreaks are especially bad this summer
Federal data suggests that this is a particularly bad summer for foodborne illness outbreaks in the US.
In Paramount merger, law and politics collide
David Ellison is threatening to pull Paramount out of Hollywood if the state continues its lawsuit against his merger. Is that a real threat?
Head Start changes could eliminate important child health and safety standards in Ohio, nationally
Child advocates in Ohio and nationally have said proposed changes to the federal early childhood education program Head Start would be “devastating” and eliminate important health and safety standards for children.
Nvidia Could Hit $7.5 Trillion in Value Thanks to This Overlooked Business Opportunity
Nvidia's networking business gives it another way to capture the tech sector's AI infrastructure spending.
A Surprise Credit After an Overseas Purchase: the Tariff Refunds Now Flowing Through Shippers
NEW YORK (AP) — If you bought something from an overseas vendor last year, it might be time to check your bank account. Shippers including FedEx and UPS that acted as customs brokers for imported packages and received tariff refunds from the U.S. government have started to pass on those refunds to ...
Sen. Carla Nelson Earns Perfect Score on Small Business Voting Record
State Senator Carla Nelson (Rochester) received a 100% rating from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a national organization representing small business owners, according to a scorecard the group released this month. Sen. Nelson was one of 26 Minnesota senators who voted to support local business priorities on every bill NFIB tracked during the...
Sen. John Jasinski Earns Perfect Score on Small Business Voting Record
State Senator John Jasinski (Faribault) received a 100% rating from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a national organization representing small business owners, according to a scorecard the group released this month. Sen. Jasinski was one of 26 Minnesota senators who voted to support local business priorities on every bill NFIB tracked during the...
How Nevada made big strides to keep kids with behavioral health issues out of institutions
Four years ago, the federal government found the state was sending too many kids out of state for treatment. That number has been cut by more than half.
UCR researchers join DOE effort to speed scientific discovery
Two UC Riverside computer scientists are joining federally funded projects that use artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific discovery. Their work will focus on making quantum computing faster and more reliable and building smarter networks for sharing scientific data and research resources.
The Politics of the Fire Service
Dennis Compton explains why maintaining close relationships with federal officials and fire service partners is critical for the fire service to sustain success in addressing ...
Asia-Pacific parliamentarians urge bolder action for universal health coverage, climate resilience and responsible AI
Parliamentarians representing 16 countries from across the Asia-Pacific region concluded the Ninth Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health (APPFGH) today, reaffirming their key role in advancing universal health coverage (UHC) amid the risks and opportunities posed by AI and climate change. In adopting the Phnom Penh Communiqué, parliamentarians urged fellow legislators regionwide to strengthen sustainable financing for UHC to widen access to health for all, including the most vulnerable populations; promote responsible governance of AI amid ethical concerns over this fast-evolving technology; and build climate-resilient health systems to anticipate and respond to mounting pressures ranging from rising sea levels in coastal areas to air pollution and other environmental degradation.The National Assembly of Cambodia, with support from Cambodia’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), hosted the Forum in Phnom Penh from 11 to 13 August 2026 – the first time the Forum has convened in a Mekong country.Parliamentarians urge action to close gaps in accessIn the Communiqué, parliamentarians recognized that at-risk and marginalized groups are the ones most severely affected by gaps in access to health services. These groups include people living in poverty, women and children, persons with disabilities, older people, migrants, refugees, and those in rural, remote or island communities. The Communiqué urges fellow parliamentarians and policy-makers to advocate for laws and policies that support sustainable financing to protect people from financial hardship, with a focus on primary health care, prevention and equity. "The Communiqué is a call to action. It sets out ambitious, concrete measures that deliver meaningful impact on the ground. We are all accountable for advancing universal health coverage and translating our commitments into tangible results. Cambodia is fully committed to advancing UHC, including the promotion of ‘healthy people, prosperous country’ campaign,” said Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia.His Excellency Professor Chheang Ra, Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia, highlighted the need for collaboration beyond the health sector. “Universal health coverage cannot be achieved by the Ministry of Health alone. It requires support, particularly from parliamentarians, across political, legislative, financial, social protection, education, infrastructure, and environmental domains. While each country follows its own path, one factor is universally critical for success: strong governance and leadership. We all believe in this principle, and in our respective political roles, we remain committed to strengthening these key success factors to ensure that no one is left behind.”Promoting responsible AI adoption Parliamentarians acknowledged that, while AI has already demonstrated its ability to improve access to health services and support delivery, careful and ethical governance is necessary to safeguard quality, safety, privacy and public trust. This underscores the importance of parliamentarians in promoting legal and regulatory frameworks addressing liability, records ownership and data governance, while embracing innovation that protects ethical practice.“Without strong governance, safeguards for privacy and data security, sustainable financing, and attention to those most at risk of exclusion, new technologies may widen existing gaps instead of closing them. This is why parliamentarians matter. We pass laws. We approve budgets. We scrutinize government action. We represent communities. We can ask whether health services are reaching rural, remote, ageing, poor, and marginalized populations. We can ask whether innovation is being guided by equity, evidence, and ethics,” said Hon. Man Hee Lee, President of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health.Building climate-resilient health systemsParliamentarians also reiterated that the climate crisis is a direct threat to people’s health and to achieving UHC more broadly, deepening the same gaps in access already faced by at-risk and marginalized communities. They recognized the need for WHO Member States to ensure sufficient national appropriations and oversight, and for parliamentarians to raise awareness in their constituencies and mobilize local action in building climate-resilient and sustainable health systems.“Universal health coverage, climate change and AI cannot be addressed in isolation. The same communities struggling to access health services today are often the ones most exposed to climate shocks, and most in need of the opportunities AI can offer if this technology is governed responsibly,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “Having served previously in this Forum myself as a parliamentarian from Tonga, I recognize how the Phnom Penh Communiqué reflects the shared resolve of legislators across the Asia-Pacific region: the laws parliamentarians pass and the budgets they approve help ensure this progress reaches the people who need it most.”As the Forum drew to a close, delegates reflected on what they would carry back to their own parliaments and constituencies.“I wish to share three points here worth carrying home from Phnom Penh: we need to invest in primary health care as the foundation of coverage; we need to remove the barriers that keep people from care, whether financial, geographic or social; and we need to build systems that are inclusive by design, protecting those most at risk of being left behind,” added Hon. Ouch Borith, First Vice-President of the Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia.###Notes for editors:The Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health (APPFGH) is a platform for parliamentarians to exchange ideas, build political will, strengthen capacity and foster collaboration towards sustainable health action. This was the ninth meeting of the APPFGH, with the theme “Universal Health Coverage in the era of Climate Change and Artificial Intelligence”. Target 3.8 of the Sustainable Development Goals calls on countries to achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health services, and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. In the Western Pacific, UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1) rose from 63 in 2000 to 81 in 2023 (figures include Indonesia), and roughly one in four people in the Western Pacific have experienced financial hardship (SDG 3.8.2). Progress towards UHC in the Asia-Pacific region remains uneven, with hundreds of millions of people still lacking access to essential health services or facing financial hardship due to health-related expenses. Strengthening the role of parliaments – through legislation, financing and oversight – is central to closing this gap and accelerating progress towards UHC across the region.Parliamentarians participating in APPFGH in Cambodia this week include: Hon. Pehin Dato Adanan YUSOF, Brunei Darussalam; Hon. Rosmawatty ABDUL MUMIN, Brunei Darussalam; Hon. LORK Kheng, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. YOS Phanita, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. KHOUN Khundy, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. HENG Halim, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. KHOENG Noupheap, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. SENG Nhak, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. LY Sukry, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. NHOEURN Raden, Kingdom of Cambodia; Hon. Dr Ratu Atonio LALABALAVU, Republic of Fiji; Hon. Vijay NATH, Republic of Fiji; Hon. Man Hee LEE, Republic of Korea; Hon. Dr Jiho CHA, Republic of Korea; Hon. Jonghun BAEK, Republic of Korea; Hon. Youngsuk SEO, Republic of Korea; Hon. Dr Phayvanh KEOPASEUTH, Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Hon. Suhaizan Bin KAIAT, Malaysia; Hon. Dr Perpetua KONMAN, Federated States of Micronesia; Hon. Ganmaa DAVAASAMBUU, Mongolia; Hon. Charmaine SCOTTY, Republic of Naoero; Hon. Vincent Ambance KUMURA, Papua New Guinea; Hon. Dr Edwin CRUZADO, Republic of the Philippines; Hon. AUUAPAAU Mulipola Aloitafua Mulipola, Samoa; Hon. ASIATA TAVUI Tafu Salevao, Samoa; Hon. Dr Alani Petelo TANGITAU, Tonga; Hon. Paul PAOLO, Republic of Vanuatu; Hon. Franklyn Ezra WILLIAM, Republic of Vanuatu.For more information, contact: WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific: wprocom@who.int National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia (International Relations Department): ir.nacambodia@gmail.com
Gov. Hochul puts $7M toward legal services for immigrant minors
The funding is meant to fill a hole left by the federal government that allowed a multimillion-dollar contract to lapse.
Padilla leads Democrats in push for answers about cancelled wind projects
Over the last several months, the Trump administration has made a series of announcements that the federal government would be buying back off-shore wind leases issued during the Biden administration for billions of dollars.
Brewers’ Drohan Reveals Brutal Way He Learned Skubal Trade News
A fan’s loud announcement delivered the crushing news that the Milwaukee Brewers’ trade pursuit of Tarik Skubal failed, leaving pitcher Shane Drohan stunned.
Federal judges describe violent threats amid 'dehumanizing attacks' from political leaders
Infleqtion: Losses Are Growing but So Is Its Crucial Federal Quantum Business.
Infleqtion says it remains on track to deliver a ‘utility-scale’ quantum computer later this year.
Health Gorilla lawsuits consolidated into multidistrict litigation
Nine class action privacy suits have been consolidated in federal court, and it could signal that judges are scrutinizing accountability for healthcare data in motion, say privacy experts.
Wrapbook Launches New Entertainment Production Finance Series: WRAPPED
Wrapbook, the AI platform with an all-in-one solution for production finance, today announced the launch of WRAPPED, a short-form original video series exploring the business and financial mechanics behind film, television, and digital production. The inaugural episode explores the legacy and the future of federal film production incentives, diving deep to explain the recently expired and often misunderstood tax provision, Section 181.
Gates Foundation’s $540 million gift to science comes as the federal government pulls back on funding
The historic gift to a University of Washington research institute lands as the federal government retreats from funding science.
Consumer Debt Data Shows ‘Overall’ Health Amid Persisting Divides
Homeowners with low fixed-rate mortgages lead a resilient picture of the economy. But many consumers are frustrated with declining real wages and other loans.
Christian Gonzalez shares cryptic post after missing practice
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez's recent social media post has NFL analysts questioning if it's contract-related.
Lakers being sold to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for record-breaking $12 billion
The Lakers will reportedly once again change hands.
Make policy based on science, not on RFK’s lifestyle choices
Kennedy is neither a doctor nor a medical researcher, and his personal practices should not guide federal policies.
USPTO Expands Category A Patent Bar Admission Criteria to Include Biomedical Science Degree
The USPTO published a Federal Register Notice Tuesday announcing administrative updates to the General Requirements Bulletin (GRB).
BOP Public Health Service Officer Earns Prestigious Award
Honoring a career committed to improving patient outcomes across federal health systems.
Inflation cooled in July but remained elevated as Fed weighs rate hikes
The Labor Department released the consumer price index (CPI) for July which showed that inflation cooled, even as the pace of price growth remained elevated.
2026 St. Jude Championship Preview, Full Field And Odds
Taking a look and previewing the field, purse, picks, and predictions for the first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the St. Jude Championship.
An Overview of State-Directed Payments and Medicaid Provider Taxes: History and Potential Effects of the Working Families and Tax Cut Legislation on Health Care Costs
Health care provider taxes and state-directed payment policies in the Working Families and Tax Cut legislation are expected to reduce non-Medicaid prices by up to 3.5 percent in markets with provider taxes and reduce spending on Medicaid, commercial and Medicare coverage. Our spending estimates indicate that there will be an additional $29 billion in federal savings on Medicare and commercial coverage for each $100 billion that federal Medicaid spending is reduced.KEY POINTS
1 injured after fire englufs business in the Bronx, firefighters say
Early morning fire damages Biloxi business, cause under investigation
The fire broke out at Perry’s Refrigeration and Air Filter Services.
Rural health panel divvies $205M in federal funds for Wyoming healthcare
Panel assigned money to hospitals, EMS services and maternal care in attempt to shore up medical access.
Nuclear power push ramps up uranium mill
Federal efforts to revive uranium mining in the West and decrease reliance on Russian uranium raise concerns about drinking water for tribal communities reckoning with the industry's deadly legacy.
US bars federal funding of gender-affirming care for low-income minors
WASHINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - The Trump administration finalized a rule on Tuesday barring two major federal health programs from funding puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries to treat gend...
Why Tencent Music Entertainment Stock Dived by Nearly 12% Today
The Asia-based company posted its second-quarter results early Tuesday.
Trump administration bans the use of federal Medicaid funds to cover gender identity healthcare
The Trump administration finalized a rule that will bar Medicaid from covering gender identity healthcare for children.
Game Thread: Reds (56-61) at White Sox (61-56)
Sean Burke and the South Siders host Cincinnati for a three-game series, kicking it off with Pope Night at the park.
Trump administration finalizes rule restricting trans healthcare for minors on Medicaid
The Trump administration on Tuesday released a final rule blocking the use of federal Medicaid dollars for transgender healthcare for minors, as well as barring Children’s Health Insurance Program …
Judge again bars Trump administration from implementing order that sought to limit mail voting
A federal judge has agreed to halt President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to have the U.S. Postal Service play a central role in deciding who can receive a mail ballot
Judge bars Trump administration from implementing order to limit mail voting
The president sought to create a federal voter list and involve the U.S. Postal Service in election operations in a way that would limit mail voting
Judge bars Trump administration from implementing order to limit mail voting
The president sought to create a federal voter list and involve the U.S. Postal Service in election operations in a way that would limit mail voting
Lakers’ Marquee Matchups Revealed for First Season Without LeBron James
The Los Angeles Lakers' schedule comes out later on in the week, but the NBA has already unveiled some of the marquee games. The post Lakers’ Marquee Matchups Revealed for First Season Without LeBron James appeared first on LA Sports Report.
The Trevor Project Condemns New Federal Rule to Restrict Health Care for Transgender Youth in the U.S.
Your Support Saves LGBTQ+Youth's Lives Every DayDonateResearch shows that access to transgender health care is associated with significantly lower rates […]
Villa's World Cup trio will miss Super Cup
Ollie Watkins, Emi Martinez and Ezri Konsa will not face Paris St-Germain.
The Department of Energy looks to create science-specific AI models
And, how IT cuts led to delays in IRS’s processing of paper returns.
Broadband Breakfast on September 9, 2026: Small Business and Broadband
How can better broadband help small businesses?
Are the Lakers already being overlooked for next season?
The Lakers have made a ton of changes, but with Luka Dončić running things everything will be just fine.
Report: Cubs Nearly Made Major Trade Deadline Splash
Confederate Railroad headlines Jefferson County Fair entertainment
LEETOWN — Whether fairgoers come for the music, the motors, the magic or the midway, the Jefferson County Fair will offer plenty of entertainment options throughout the week.
Small business optimism rebounds to highest level since Aug. 2025: NFIB
Small businesses last month scaled back both actual and planned price increases for the first time this year, the National Federation of Independent Business said.
Despite federal efforts to drop some children’s vaccine recommendations, Texas requirements unchanged
Public health officials said some parents are confused about what vaccines are required to attend Texas schools amid efforts to change recommendations.
Despite federal efforts to drop some children’s vaccine recommendations, Texas requirements unchanged
Public health officials said some parents are confused about what vaccines are required to attend Texas schools amid efforts to change recommendations.
Former OMB, State Budget Leader Lauren Larson Joining the Bipartisan Policy Center as Executive Vice President for Economic and Health Policy
Washington, DC — Today, the Bipartisan Policy Center announced that Lauren Larson will join the organization as executive vice president of economic and health policy on August 25. Larson brings deep expertise in fiscal and health policymaking at the state and federal levels. She will run the economic policy and health programs and lead the … Continued
Trump Administration Bypasses Science Again, Doubles Down on Restrictions to Childhood Vaccines
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Trump administration today issued a new executive order directing changes to the federal childhood vaccine schedule that, if fully implemented, would reduce access to life-saving vaccines for children, add new barriers to care, and further degrade the scientific process the federal government has relied on for decades to ensure vaccine access […]
Under 500 Employees, Over $500 billion: Small Business Payroll Taxes
Small businesses, those with fewer than 500 employees, are a pillar in the U.S. economy and account for a large share of federal payroll tax revenues. These taxes are paid by both the employer and employee and are primarily used to fund the Social Se
America Already Built the World's Largest Science-Vetting Machine | The Foundation for American Innovation
Every year, federal agencies assess over a hundred thousand proposals that they never fund. Treating those peer review as public infrastructure could help unlock much more philanthropic capital for American research.
5 things to do this week in Greenville
See our curated list of upcoming and ongoing arts, culture and entertainment events in the Greenville area. Send us your events at greenville@postandcourier.com.
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
Greg Dortch impressing in camp as potential fourth Lions receiver
Thanks in part to his familiarity with Drew Petzing, Greg Dortch could emerge as both a top specialist and No. 4 wide receiver.
Agency offering disaster loans to businesses
The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the availability of low-interest federal disaster loans for eligible small businesses and private nonprofit organizations impacted by ongoing drought in areas of the
Medical systems, health agencies get $80 million from feds to boost rural health
Dozens of projects from county health departments, healthcare systems and Maryland hospitals will share $80 million in new federal funding to improve access to healthcare in Maryland’s rural communities, the Moore administration announced Monday.
Patients Wary of Governments, Companies Pushing AI as a Rural Healthcare Solution
The $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program is set to flood rural America with new AI health tools. That’s despite little evidence on whether health-related AI can improve access to care and patient health in those communities.
The Weeknd says he’s not changing his stage name as planned: ‘Imma be here forever with you’
The “Blinding Lights” singer had said that he wanted to drop his stage name.
A Fake Email Redirected $113,050 Into His Business Account, Then Nearly All the Money Was Gone in Hours
A North Dakota man is facing federal fraud charges after prosecutors say a nearly identical email address redirected $113,050 owed to an art dealer into ... Read More
North Dakota receives $6 million federal grant to expand children's behavioral health services | Health and Human Services North Dakota
North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has been awarded a new $6 million federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand community-based behavioral health services for children, youth and families in north central and southeastern North Dakota.
State finalizing agreements for about $39 million in Rural Health Transformation funding, Singh says
The West Virginia Department of Health is finalizing agreements to award approximately $39 million in federal funding.
Energy Department wants to create science-specific AI models
The agency is collecting information from interested organizations that could provide foundational open-weight systems, scientific datasets for pretraining or fine-tuning expertise.
1. Self-Certification System Leaves Small Business Contracts Unverified 2. Federal Contracting Relies on Firms to Police Own Size 3. Size Protests Emerge as Primary Small Business Eligibility Check
How small businesses self-certify for federal contracts with minimal SBA oversight. Explore size protests and eligibility verification gaps affecting...
Thousands of Endangered Species Condoms Distributed to Health Clinics, Mutual Aid Groups After Federal Funding Cuts
TUCSON, Ariz.— The Center for Biological Diversity has distributed more than 20,000 free Endangered Species Condoms so far this year to health clinics, mutual aid groups and social service organizations in the wake of federal funding cuts, including recent cuts to the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program.
4 studs from Day 9 of Chicago Bears training camp
The Chicago Bears were back out on the practice field Sunday. Here are four players who stood out on Day 10.
Custom Recipes: Play fantasy with new preset scoring formats
Custom Recipes mark Day 1 of the 29 Days of Fantasy.
MLB wild card standings: Which teams hold final playoff spots?
Hemp businesses ask federal judge to block Virginia’s new THC cap
Seven Virginia hemp businesses are asking a federal judge to block new restrictions on consumable hemp products, arguing the changes will wipe out much of their inventory, trigger layoffs and force some companies to close when they take effect on Aug. 15.
Feds investigating if captain of boat that flipped in New York Harbor was running illegal charter business
Padres Hammer Houston, 7-2, With Home Run Power
The San Diego Padres took the series finale last night with an impressive show of home run power.
New rules for federal funding would threaten critical research, St. Louis scientists say
“Those are profound changes to how science would be administered in America."
Top salaries at Erie Family Health 2024
The Federal Qualified Health Center serves about 94,000 mostly low-income patients at 13 locations.
A DC trial was wrapping up when jurors made a discovery that shocked the courtroom
The charges at a month-long criminal trial in Washington’s federal court last month were fairly straightforward: That one man had allegedly held up seven 7-Elevens and a few other gas stations in spring 2023, and stolen cars on two of the days.
Hemp businesses ask federal judge to block Virginia’s new THC cap
Seven Virginia hemp businesses are asking a federal judge to block new restrictions on consumable hemp products, arguing the changes will wipe out much of their inventory, trigger layoffs and force some companies to close when they take effect on Aug. 15. The lawsuit, filed July 31 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, challenges a new provision in the state budget that will eliminate an exception for products containing more than 2 milligrams of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per package when they also contain at least 25 times as much cannabidiol (CBD).
Same Knee Surgery, Twice the Price: Hospital Monopolies Push Up Healthcare Costs
A federal disclosure rule is offering new insight on the effect of healthcare monopolies on pricing, following a wave of U.S. mergers.
🚨 Total split: UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF issue statement against Infantino
Political earthquake in world football. The three most influential confederations on the planet —UEFA, AFC and Concacaf— have published a heartbreaking open letter directly accusing Gianni Infanti...
Vintage computer collectors are reviving machines from the '80s
As Silicon Valley invents the artificial-intelligence future, a growing community of hobbyists is preserving the classic computers that helped launch the digital revolution.
6 things you didn’t know about federal healthcare fraudbusters
One major operation is largely camouflaged—in fact it’s effectively out of sight—but it’s a prime mover in the Trump administration’s ongoing crackdown on healthcare fraud.