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Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo now deadliest in country’s history
At least 2,325 people have been killed, according to government data, surpassing the death toll from 2018-20 outbreak
Cory Mills went from hero to top Democratic target. Can he survive a GOP Primary challenge from Ryan Elijah?
The 2-term incumbent suffered an election cycle of scandals, and now faces 3 GOP challengers.
Political strategists clash over over growing divisions within Democratic Party
Political strategists Angie Wong and Melissa DeRosa join 'Fox News Live' to discuss internal divisions within the Democratic Party, the rise of DSA candidates and disputes over key policies.
Gloria Romero explains why she should be California's next Lieutenant Governor
Gloria Romero, a former Democratic state senator turned Republican, shared her vision for education reform, combating anti-Semitism, and addressing waste and fraud as she campaigns for California lieutenant governor.
4 Democrats believe they have what it takes to flip CD 2 from red to blue
Yen Bailey, Brice Barnes, Amanda Marie Green and Nic Zateslo face off in a Democratic Primary in the district.
Republicans won the redistricting competition. Don't tell that to this California congressman
The national redistricting competition between the parties means California’s conservative voters are going through the same thing as Democratic voters in Republican strongholds
Republicans won the redistricting competition. Don't tell that to this California congressman
The national redistricting competition between the parties means California's conservative voters are going through the same thing as Democratic voters in Republican strongholds.
Democratic Socialists of America grows in SF
SF group leads on controversial housing ballot measure.
His family fled socialism. He’s trying to spread it.
A young Cuban American is selling democratic socialism door-to-door across Miami. But he cannot bring himself to discuss it across his family’s kitchen table.
Democrats reckon with ‘Woke 1’ as the party seeks to define an era — and distance themselves from it
Recent remarks from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez opened a Democratic debate over how to address rhetoric that peaked in 2020.
Senate hopeful Talarico touts his faith. Texas Republicans call it blasphemy.
The Democratic nominee is seeking to win over faith-based voters in Texas, the Bible Belt’s largest state, but evangelical Republicans aren’t sold.
Democratic organizers, candidates attend rally [photos]
Click here to view this item from lancasteronline.com.
Democrats officially set their 2028 primary calendar, with South Carolina going first
The Democratic National Committee passed the party’s calendar Saturday.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dan Ahlers says South Dakota needs to invest more in small businesses
South Dakota Democratic governor nominee Dan Ahlers says the state lacks small business support and criticizes a $69 million Sioux Falls corporate incentive.
Democratic primary turnout has soared in some states. Can it carry over to November?
Democratic voters are turning out for this year’s primaries at levels not seen in more than 20 years.
Where healthcare could sway voters, Democratic canvassers ramp up an old tactic: talking to people
In Wisconsin, voters weigh candidates who backed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, and those who want to expand it
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.
Rash: This primary season, the Midwest is a political science laboratory
Though some fared better than others in the primaries, the competitiveness of progressives this year suggests Donald Trump has radicalized the Democratic Party, John Rash writes.
Opinion: Black Atlanta must decide its own political future
Black Atlanta residents built their prosperity through hard work and discipline. The rise of democratic socialism threatens the progress made over several generations.
Josh Turek talks costs, corruption at Iowa State Fair Political Soapbox
Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Josh Turek kicked off the Des Moines Register's Political Soapbox talking about taking on high costs and corruption.
Your Weekly Michigan Political Brief
Abdul El-Sayed announced that he had been endorsed by the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus in his run for U.S. Senate, alongside the entire Michigan Democratic slate for the 2026 midterm elections. El-Sayed was also endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. The Michigan Education Association has recommended Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s Democratic candidacy for […]
Opinion: After Michigan, Will Pro-Israel Politics Get a Ground Game?
Michigan’s $80 million Democratic U.S. Senate primary demonstrated that money can buy attention, but it cannot create a movement.
Opinion: After Michigan, Will Pro-Israel Politics Get a Ground Game?
Michigan’s $80 million Democratic U.S. Senate primary demonstrated that money can buy attention, but it cannot create a movement.
Graham Platner to speak at labor rally
Former Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner is scheduled to be the featured speaker at a Labor Day rally in what may be one of his first public appearances since a sexual assault allegation ended his candidacy.
Prediction markets are turning politics into a game, says Frank Luntz
Frank Luntz, FIL Inc. pollster and political strategist, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the 2026 midterm elections, takeaways from primary elections, when polls miss the mark, future of the Democratic Party, and more.
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.
Political parties can survive internal struggles over identity
"Both political parties will always struggle with their identity and that is a healthy democratic function."
Graham Platner to speak at labor rally, one of his first public events since ending Maine campaign
Former Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner is scheduled to be the featured speaker at a Labor Day rally in what may be one of his first public appearances since a sexual assault allegation ended his candidacy
How Thanksgiving Became Political: Francesca Hong’s Tweets Explained
Ahead of Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor, a past tweet by the assemblywoman that called for the holiday to be canceled was resurfaced.
As Abdul El-Sayed breaks a barrier, anti-Muslim vitriol surges on multiple fronts
Abdul El-Sayed made history this month in Michigan by becoming the first Muslim nominated by the Democratic Party to run for the U.S. Senate
Sizing up the 2028 Democratic presidential contenders
There’s a long list, but some are getting more traction than others.
What does Wisconsin’s chaotic Democratic primary for governor mean for progressive politics?
Feverish punditry about the significance of Wisconsin’s primary has distorted the real meaning of the results.
Three districts that will answer key Colorado political questions
Colorado’s legislature used to be a place where neither party was dominant. Dozens of seats were competitive and House and Senate majorities switched regularly. From 2010 to 2020, the House was predominantly Democratic with one two-year assembly under Republicans. The Senate had two assemblies from 2015 to 2018 under Republicans. John Hickenlooper was governor and […]
Hong’s Defeat in Wisconsin Sparks New Disagreements Within Democratic Party
Some Democrats said the outcome showed that the moderate wing of the party carried more electoral weight, while Ms. Hong’s strong showing gave some progressives hope.
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
How Amanda Janoo, a progressive political outsider, won Vermont’s Democratic primary for governor
“She represented a more authentic version of change, to enough voters, to give her the victory,” one observer said.
Democratic senator presses Pentagon over ‘broken toilets’ and ‘mental health’ aboard USS Lincoln
After families of sailors aboard the USS Lincoln described concerns to MS NOW about poor conditions and mental strain, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is demanding details from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
How the Democratic establishment beat the odds in Wisconsin
One month after he suspended his campaign, David Crowley’s victory in Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor on Tuesday marked an astonishing turn around.
How David Crowley pulled off the ‘unbelievable’: Winning in Wisconsin after dropping out
Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, entered the primary for governor with a polling lead. But several missteps — and a key phone call — pushed Crowley to the Democratic nomination.
How Crowley’s win could impact the campaign for WI-03
Incumbent Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden expected Francesca Hong to win the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor.
Warnock Leads Inquiry into State Department Efforts to Seek Personal Health Data in Exchange for Aid to Developing Nations » Reverend Raphael Warnock
In a new letter, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock presses the Trump Administration on their efforts to obtain personal health data from African countries in exchange for global health funding The Trump Administration has requested direct, real-time access to the health data of citizens in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Liberia, and several […]
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?
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.
Forget left vs. center. Democratic voters are making clear they just want change
Results in Democratic primaries in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Connecticut have reiterated that Democratic voters are hungry for change, even as they remain divided over the party’s ideological future
Analysis | With Crowley atop their ticket, Wisconsin Democrats hope for a 2026 sweep
The party establishment is breathing a sign of relief that democratic socialist Francesca Hong, who led the pre-election polls by double-digits, will not be topping their ticket.
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.
Wisconsin primary offers mixed signals for Democrats, and other election takeaways
David Crowley’s win by less than a percentage point over state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, showed neither side of the party debate was winning the argument convincingly.
How California's primary election reflects the perils facing the national Democratic Party
Low turnout among young and non-white voters in California signals that Democrats should focus on organizing to beat Republicans nationally.
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
Fact check: How Tim Scott and a Republican attack ad misleadingly snipped key context from El-Sayed’s ‘dangerous’ speech
The leader of Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, Sen. Tim Scott, said in a Sunday interview on CNN that people should believe something Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed supposedly said about himself. But Scott took El-Sayed’s quote out of context. So did an attack ad released last week by the group Scott chairs.
David Crowley defeats Francesca Hong in Wisconsin governor primary
Centrist David Crowley is projected to have beaten democratic socialist Francesca Hong, breaking a recent nationwide trend.
"Woke 1 was crazy": AOC seeks do-over on 2020-era rhetoric
The most prominent democratic socialist wants a mulligan.
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
8 Takeaways from Tuesday’s Primaries
A moderate won the closely fought Democratic primary for governor in Wisconsin, the latest contest between the party’s progressive and moderate wings.
8 Takeaways from Tuesday’s Primaries
A Democratic primary for governor in Wisconsin remained neck and neck early Wednesday, leaving a national battle between progressive and moderate wings largely unsettled.
Cooke wins Democratic primary in Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District
Cooke is making her second run against Van Orden, who defeated her in the 2024 general election.
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
Amanda Janoo wins Vermont’s Democratic governor primary
The economist, who was virtually unknown before announcing her campaign, beat out Aly Richards, the former CEO of a prominent child care lobbying and advocacy group.
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.
14-term Rep. John Larson ousted by challenger in Connecticut Democratic primary, CBS News projects
Rep. John Larson, a Longtime Lawmaker, Loses a Primary in Connecticut
In an upset, Luke Bronin, the former mayor of Hartford, won the Democratic nomination, capitalizing on calls for generational change.
Amy Klobuchar Wins Minnesota’s Democratic Primary for Governor
The fourth-term U.S. senator jolted Minnesota politics early this year by mounting a bid to succeed Gov. Tim Walz.
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.
Dems move to stop Blakeman’s AI depictions; he claims they’re trying to cheat
New York Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs filed a complaint with the state Board of Elections alleging the Blakeman campaign is violating state law.
A tale of two candidates in LD 14: Biggs’ political name versus Walsh’s career experience
Legislative District 14 is reliably Republican, making a Democratic upset this November a long shot.
Democrat Amy Acton breaks with party to support Issue 3
Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton is breaking with her party to support Issue 3, an amendment enshrining the state's voter photo identification requirement in the state constitution.
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.
Live Results: Connecticut midterm primaries
Two veteran Democratic incumbents in Connecticut face strong challenges in a state primary on Tuesday.
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
Alabama Republicans to pick nominee to challenge Democratic Rep. Figures in redrawn district
Six Republicans are competing in a special primary election Tuesday to challenge Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures in November. the district's Black voting age population dropped from 48% to 40%, making it more favorable for Republicans.
Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs chooses former GOP Mayor John Giles as running mate
Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has selected a Republican-turned-independent as her running mate in a tough reelection campaign.
Trump DOJ formally stakes out bold claim that presidential advisers outside government are protected by privilege
Communications that President Donald Trump has with advisers who don’t even work for his administration can be protected by executive privilege, the Justice Department said in a memo Monday evening that comes amid lawsuits and a possible Democratic takeover of Congress.
In a partisan age, a Democratic governor goes outside her brand for a running mate
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D), facing a tough reelection fight, chooses former mayor John Giles, a lifelong Republican who recently became an independent.
Dem governor booed at Virginia Old Fiddlers' Convention
Video shows Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger greeted by loud boos at the Old Fiddlers' Convention in Galax amid sagging poll numbers.
ND Expert on democracy: Can better civics education restore voter dissatisfaction over political corruption?
This summer, America celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, widely recognized as the formal founding of our nation and one of the early stages of establishing a democratic government. Over the past two decades, however, democracies all over the world have struggled with a lack of clear support. Democracy scholars have referred to these challenges as evidence of backsliding, a phenomenon that has many political and social scientists concerned, including Notre Dame development economist Enrique Seira Bejarano.
James Talarico Said He Wouldn’t Accept Any Endorsements From the Pulpit. He Just Did.
The Democratic nominee for Senate has decried such political engagement from pastors, saying that the church-state boundary is “sacred.”
Democratic progressives and establishment set to clash in more primaries
Tuesday’s competitions in Wisconsin and Minnesota follow similar battles for the direction of the party, including last week in Michigan where progressive Abdul El-Sayed triumphed
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
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
Wisconsin's Democratic showdown between Francesca Hong and David Crowley and more races to watch today
Top Obama ally reveals which far-left candidate needs to lose to help progressives win
David Axelrod calls Francesca Hong a "font of zany liberal, faculty lounge exotica" and says her Wisconsin primary loss would help Abdul El-Sayed.
How democratic socialism became Democrats' new purity test
DSA candidates are reshaping the Democratic Party – but the pull left may have less to do with policy than with the psychology of group belonging.
Wisconsin weighs a democratic socialist governor and other key races to watch in Tuesday’s primaries
The next battles over the Democratic Party’s ideological direction come Tuesday in a slate of primaries that includes showdowns in two upper Midwestern political battlegrounds.
Democratic rebellion against older politicians reaches new battleground
Former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, 47, is challenging Rep. John Larson, who is 78 and running for his fifteenth term representing Connecticut's first district.
Trump Stokes Islamophobia by Calling Democratic Candidates ‘Jihadists’
Along with his comments about Muslim candidates, Mr. Trump spoke disparagingly of Somalis in the United States, saying “they’re not smart.”
Wisconsin’s Roller Coaster of a Democratic Primary Race for Governor Crashes to an End
Democrats appear likely to nominate a democratic socialist for governor. How did they get here?
As Francesca Hong surged, Democratic rivals held their fire: From the Politics Desk
Plus, new bipartisan odd couple in the Senate.
Minnesota’s Democratic Senate Primary Pits Angie Craig Against Peggy Flanagan
The Senate primary race in Minnesota will be the latest test of left-wing energy in the party, in a state that was convulsed by the Trump administration’s deadly immigration crackdown this winter.
2026 APSA Theme Panel: US Democratic Decline and Its Implications for International Politics -
US Democratic Decline and Its Implications for International Politics Friday, September 4, 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm 2026 APSA Annual Meeting & Exhibition — Boston, MA | Register here In-person | Roundtable Participants: (Chair) Emilia Simison, Queen [...]
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Connecticut’s state primary
Two veteran Democratic incumbents in Connecticut face strong challenges in a state primary on Tuesday.
Socialists Need to Develop a Constitutional Politics
To win change for working people, the Democratic Socialists of America should expand its vision of how to change our constitutional order. We can smash unaccountable executive and judiciary power even without having to amend the Constitution.
How Troy Jackson went from Maine logger to the Democratic nominee for Senate
Troy Jackson's path to politics started during his time as a logger in Maine's north woods. Now he's the Democrat challenging five-term Republican Susan Collins for a Senate seat that could determine control of the chamber in November.
A new housing politics is taking shape on the left
Can democratic socialist Nithya Raman make Los Angeles build?
The 9 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2026
With less than three months until Election Day, the general election fight for control of the US Senate is in full swing after a summer of upheaval and decisions in Democratic contests.