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The political map is anyone's guess after a Democratic wave in the midterm elections
Voters have dramatically shifted the political landscape by electing Democrats in traditionally Republican states.
The political map is anyone's guess after a Democratic wave in the midterm elections
Voters have dramatically shifted the political landscape by electing Democrats in traditionally Republican states.
Democrats seize Congress in sweeping midterm repudiation of Trump
Democrats seized control of both the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday, scoring sweeping victories in Republican strongholds for the first time in generations.
Patriots Get Offensive Line Reinforcement Ahead Of Packers Game
New England made several roster moves Tuesday, but the return of an offensive tackle could become particularly important as the Patriots prepare for Green Bay.
CVS Health: Q3 Earnings Snapshot
(AP) — CVS Health Corporation (CVS) on Wednesday reported third-quarter net income of $2.The Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based company said it had net income of $1.
Cutting Away More Healthy Tissue Might Not Meaningfully Reduce Future Cancer Risk
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterWEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Doctors removing cancers surgically might not need to cut away lots of healthy tissue to make sure they’ve gotten all the tumor, a new study says. For one form of childhood cancer, the chances it might come back can be ...
A blue tsunami wipes out Republicans
Jonathan Freedland and Shrai Popat run through the results of the US midterms, on a historic night for Democrats and a night to forget for Republicans
Xeris adds longtime biotech exec to its board
The move to bring Menassie Taddese on comes amid reports that the Chicago-based rare disease and endocrinology drug company is being considered for acquisition.
Trump has defied political consequences for years. The midterms changed that
The elections were a categorical repudiation of a Republican president who has spent the first half of his second term governing without regard to consequences.
Jack Williams makes his TSSAA football first round playoff predictions
Tennessean high school sports reporter Jack Williams makes his predictions for the top TSSAA football games in the first round of the playoffs.
Market Chatter: CVS Health Reportedly Planning to Split Businesses in 2028
CVS Health (CVS) plans to split its business into two companies in early 2028, separating retail pha
49ers Get Strong Message After Brandon Aiyuk Hires Drew Rosenhaus
After being away from the news cycle for a few months, San Francisco 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk is back after he hired Drew Rosenhaus to represent him. As a result, Aiyuk looks ready to return to playing football, but will that be with the Niners?Aiyuk will need to apply for reinstatement, given that he’s on […] The post 49ers Get Strong Message After Brandon Aiyuk Hires Drew Rosenhaus appeared first on HEAVY.
Reports: CVS Health plans breakup that would separate Hartford-based Aetna from drugstore chain
The CVS Health Aetna breakup would separate its drugstore chain from Hartford-based Aetna and Caremark, creating two public companies by early 2028.
Savannah Black Business Gala marks 10th anniversary
The Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce celebrates a decade of supporting local entrepreneurs this December.
Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan race for Senate
El-Sayed bested Republican Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim senator in US history.
El-Sayed Celebrates ‘an America Big Enough for All of Us’
In Michigan, Adbul El-Sayed outlasted former Representative Mike Rogers in a Senate campaign marred by ugly attacks.
Watch CNN’s coverage of Election Night in 5 minutes
The 2026 midterms results have revealed a blue tsunami as Democrats take back control of Congress. CNN’s coverage over the night highlights the stunning turn of the tides for Donald Trump’s Republican Party.
West Ham: Scott Parker returns to east London after 15 years to succeed Nuno Espirito Santo as Hammers head coach
Parker replaces Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked on November 3 after just over 13 months in charge; the 46-year-old returns to east London 15 years after leaving as a player; he has won promotion from the Sky Bet Championship on three occasions
Troy Jackson topples Republican Susan Collins in Maine Senate race
Democrat Troy Jackson defeated five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, despite only becoming his party’s nominee in July.
Ubisoft reportedly seeking to acquire Arkane Lyon from Xbox
Reports suggest Ubisoft is one of three companies looking to buy studio following extension of consultation period
What’s next after Trump’s massive miscalculation triggers historic defeat
There’s only way to view the Democrats’ staggering midterm election triumph: It is one of the most colossal repudiations of a sitting president in modern history.
It’s time to reunite
Election season is over. Most of us exercised our constitutional right to choose representatives for office who best reflected our values and those we believed were best prepared to lead and solve the very real challenges facing our state, nation and county. The 2026 election season was full of both extreme highs and extreme lows. […]
Titans’ biggest problem to fix during 2026 bye week
The Tennessee Titans are approaching their 2026 bye week with more questions than answers. Sure, Cam Ward’s development remains central to the franchise’s long-term ambitions. However, Tennessee’s struggles extend well beyond the quarterback position. The offense has shown occasional flashes of explosiveness. The defense, though, has repeatedly […] The post Titans’ biggest problem to fix during 2026 bye week appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Race, Making History as First Muslim Senator
El-Sayed has defeated former Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan’s open Senate race, making him the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate.
A Political Reckoning Shatters Trump’s Grip on Washington
Republican midterm losses leave the president weakened during his final two years in the White House.
“Sad To Hear What Jorge Posada Had To Say” – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Takes Shots at Aaron Boone and Yankees Management
U. S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has questioned the New York Yankees’ decision to retain manager Aaron Boone, calling for changes within the organization after another disappointing season.
Ex-UK political aide Steve Hilton loses bid for California governor
Hilton, who was endorsed by President Trump, faced an uphill battle as a Republican in the widely liberal state.
WATCH: Democrat Troy Jackson speaks after Maine Sen. Susan Collins concedes
Jackson won election Wednesday to the U.S. Senate representing Maine, defeating Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.
WATCH: Sen. Chuck Schumer speaks after Democrats win control of Senate
The longtime Democratic leader told reporters in Washington that “Americans voted for change” and that there had been a “generational remake of the Senate map.”
Democrat J.D. Ford wins election to U.S. House in Indiana's 5th Congressional District
In an upset that many analysts did not see coming, Democratic nominee J.D. Ford defeated three-term Rep. Victoria Spartz in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District in Tuesday's election.
Trump reacts to Republican losses and declines to take blame
By the time the House and Senate had been called for Democrats on Tuesday, a consensus among members of both parties was forming: voters had rejected President Donald Trump’s record in office, and he would face a starkly different political reality for the remainder of his term.
NBA Fans Outraged Over Adam Silver’s Latest Idea
The NBA fans are pushing back against Adam Silver’s interest in shorter games, and their objections go beyond simply resisting change. A post from NBACentral, citing Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, revived discussion of the commissioner’s preference for 40-minute contests. Several responses challenged whether cutting basketball is the right solution to the league’s problems.The replies showed […] The post NBA Fans Outraged Over Adam Silver’s Latest Idea appeared first on HEAVY.
WATCH: Democrat Annie Andrews' full victory speech after flipping South Carolina Senate seat
Andrews' victory in a state President Donald Trump won three times by double digits is a stark defeat for the Republican Party.
Letters: Credit card change could hurt small businesses
I recently read an op-ed in this newspaper arguing that the Durbin-Marshall credit card mandates would ease pressure on Louisiana businesses and keep our economy growing. As an entrepreneur, I
Nebraska football’s special teams search for consistency as kicking woes persist
A major talking point with Nebraska football is a lack of consistency on special teams. These failures have led to Matt Rhule replacing Kyle Cunanan with Matt Hohl for all field goals and points after touchdowns.
How a Ms. Frizzle-esque librarian helped Flagship’s Louisa Helms find biotech
BioSpace 40 Under 40 honoree Louisa Helms is a lot of things—athlete, scientist, entrepreneur and likely future biotech executive. Just don’t ask her to pick up any pipettes.
Political analysts discuss Wisconsin governor's race results
Democrat David Crowley defeated a Republican with close ties to President Donald Trump on Tuesday, rising from a childhood in one of the nation’s poorest neighborhoods to become the first Black person to lead the battleground state.
WATCH: Republican Ken Paxton speaks after losing Texas Senate race
"I will commit that I will be praying for him, that he will do good for Texas and this nation," Paxton said about Talarico.
Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov has been on fire since trade request
Nikita Kucherov wants out of the Tampa Bay Lightning , but he still can’t stop going all out for his team. Reports surfaced last Friday that the 33-year-old Kucherov had already asked the Lightning to move him. In the two games since, the two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner has done nothing on the ice but rack up points. Against the Nashville […] The post Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov has been on fire since trade request appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Democrats flip four governorships, extending the party’s inroads into red states
Republicans entered Tuesday’s midterms with a 26-24 advantage in governor’s offices across the country.
Trump says Democrats 'did a good job,' blames Republican candidates for midterm losses
Voters delivered a significant rebuke to President Donald Trump on Tuesday by handing Democrats control of the Senate, rejecting his handpicked candidates while airing widespread concerns about high costs in the wake of his war against Iran and his punishing tariff policy.
WATCH: Democrat James Talarico speaks after winning Texas Senate seat
Talarico's victory represents the first time a Democrat has won a statewide office in Texas since 1994, a shakeup for a state long dominated by Republicans.
Incumbent Republican Dave Zimmerman handily wins 99th House District
Republican Rep. Dave Zimmerman was reelected to an eighth term in Pennsylvania’s 99th House District on Tuesday with 68% of the vote. He defeated Democratic challenger Ethan Gabrick, who received
Amy Acton reflects on her childhood in acceptance speech
Democrat Amy Acton reflected on her journey from childhood homelessness to becoming a doctor and now projected as Ohio’s next governor as she celebrated her win over Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. The former state health director will become the first woman elected governor of Ohio and the first Democrat to win the office since 2006.
Cannabis Legalization Prevails in Massachusetts; Repeal Question Soundly Defeated
Ten years after legalizing adult-use cannabis, the Bay State voters rejected a prohibitionist proposal, Question 8, which aimed to wipe out the industry.
‘Became a RINO’: President Donald Trump blames Abbott’s lost in Texas governor race on political life
Republican President Donald Trump released a public statement after incumbent Republican Greg Abbott conceded the Texas governor’s race to Democrat Gina Hinojosa.
Texas Politics Enter a New Era After Hinojosa's Win
Texas State Rep. Gina Hinojosa won the race for governor, the first Democrat to win the office since 1990. She beat incumbent Greg Abbott, who was seeking a fourth term.
Republican Steve Mentzer wins another term to the 97th House District
Republican Steve Mentzer will serve another term in Pennsylvania’s 97th House District after winning 55.6% of the vote Tuesday.
AFGHS co-signatory countries ask health care users to help fill the financing gap
Hundreds of thousands of Ugandans living with HIV on antiretrovirals could be targeted for user fees or community health insurance schemes requiring modest premium payments, according to the April 2026 version of the country’s America First Global Health Strategy implementation narrative.1 As part of the “sustainable financing for the private not for profit sector” strategy, 491 facilities will be targeted for a phased introduction of user fees and scale up of community health insurance programs.2 In the Ugandan context, PNFP facilities include faith-based hospitals and other health facilities, US missionary organizations and centers of excellence—services that are often co-located at government facilities but run with additional financial and technical resources. 402,000 people—or about 28 percent of the total Ugandan adult PLHIV population on treatment—get ART from the private not for profit sector. The selected facilities provide the majority of ART and prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) services. The plan doesn’t give the total number of clients served by the 491 facilities, so it is not possible to give a precise number. But the majority of 402,000 is a figure in the hundreds of thousands—hence the estimate I’m using.3 The April draft of the Ugandan implementation plan narrative is the only one I’ve been able to review. But the government of Uganda is not alone in turning to health care users to help fill the financing gaps caused by the abrupt withdrawal of US funds. In July 2025, the Government of Liberia introduced user fees for previously free services including “registration, accommodation, patient feeding, hospitalization, and a wide range of surgical and diagnostic procedures.”4 Earlier that year, Liberia rolled out a revolving drug fund designed to stabilize drug supplies by “allowing patients to pay a small fee for standardized, quality medications,” according to a Ministry of Health press release.5 (Both of these approaches had been proposed in the National Health Policy 2022-2031; media coverage explicitly connects the launch with the US foreign aid cuts.) The health financing strategies proposed by Uganda and established in Liberia are qualitatively different from user fees officially adopted by specific health facilities to cover funding shortfalls caused by the new US approach.6 The latter is a stopgap, adhoc change. The former is a national governmental adoption of policies that pass costs on to health care users, despite evidence that such approaches can exacerbate inequities and leave deficits unfilled. Two countries does not make a pattern, but they do point to urgent questions: Have other countries, including Liberia, included user fees or community health insurance schemes in their implementation plans? If so, do any of these narratives have what Uganda’s lacks: a fall-back plan in place in case these strategies for sustainable health systems fail to deliver—as they have before? I wonder if you think about it Subscribe Predictable pitfalls Both community-based health insurance and user fees are as old as the hills. And after decades of people climbing up these hills, duking it out, climbing back down—neither strategy has shown the results the Ugandan implementation plan is counting on. This is, in fact, a hill some folks are willing to die on. (You knew I’d get there, right?) In November 2025, an African-led team of health system experts published a paper directed at low- and middle income country governments trying to figure out how to create self-sustaining health systems. The money wasn’t coming back. It had been more than nine months since the season of freezing, waivering and wood-chippering; two months since AFGHS tumbled into the world touting co-financing requirements and reductions in future US government health aid. Governments were looking for strategies for sustainable, self-financed health systems, the authors wrote. For countries considering user fees and community health insurance to fill the financing gaps, they had a simple message: Don’t. On user fees, the paper states: “Reliance on user fees is ultimately a regressive and inequitable approach. It places a disproportionate burden on the poor and undermines health system goals of equity and financial protection. […] There is overwhelming evidence that user fees mobilise very limited resources for the public health sector, making it an inefficient mechanism for revenue mobilisation.” On community health insurance: “Attempting to shift the burden of funding previously donor-funded services, such as HIV care and management, and TB treatment, onto contributory schemes would exacerbate their fragility and fail to protect the population.”7 The WHO says that community-based health insurance “cannot be expected to provide a major source of funding or coverage,” and noted that most schemes offer only moderate benefit to individuals paying into them, and exclude the poorest segment of the population.8 And yet, the US-Ugandan implementation plan says that community health insurance is “the central pillar of this [PNFP] sustainability strategy” and that this approach that will generate “pre-paid pooled funding at facility and community level [that] improves financial risk protection for households, reduces catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure, and generates structured, transparent revenue streams that can progressively absorb recurrent costs including health worker salaries.” Unfortunately, Uganda’s own history suggests the pillar might not be able to bear this weight. Ugandans Have Been to this Rodeo Before—and Some Want Their Money Back Uganda introduced its first community health insurance scheme in 1996 with support from international donors.9 Thirty years later, somewhere between 0.2 and 0.3 percent of the population is covered by CHI; just over 1 percent has any kind of health insurance.10 User fees were universally introduced in 1993 as a condition of a World Bank loan.11 They were abandoned in 2001, and in 2004—the year I moved to Uganda to watch the free HIV program get underway—a definitive study found that the fees did not improve health systems and outcomes.12 In 2004, most clinics and hospitals had ‘free’ and ‘fee for service’ options for getting care.13 The fee for service, or “cash and carry” programs had often been established in the years prior to PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. People who could afford to paid for the drugs, often at facilities in the private-not-for-profit (PNFP) sector. When free drugs arrived, some people who’d been paying kept on doing so, perhaps because of shorter wait times, greater confidentiality, convenience or other factors. But in the year that I spent visiting the same clinics around the country week after week—including a “center of excellence” that maintained separate days for cash and carry clients and those accessing free ARVs—lots of people who had been paying tried to switch to the free option. They’d paid because they had no other choice. They’d sold pieces of family land, begged family members for loans, bought pills by the week, and sometimes by the day. Or they were just cash-strapped, like most of us, and wanted the funds for other things. 14 Twenty-two years later, this hasn’t changed. Ugandans pay out of pocket for 30-40 percent of their health care costs, leading one paper to declare that “falling ill is more than a health crisis. It is a financial emergency.”15 One recent study found that up to 48.5 percent of households dealing with tuberculosis sold something, took out a loan or dug into savings to defray the costs of TB care—which is supposed to be universally free.16 The Ugandan implementation plan does anticipate challenges. It proposes a phased approach, with 187 facilities introducing user contribution systems in Year 1, 152 in Year 2, and 153 in Year 3. Willingness to pay and feasibility studies will precede roll out; fees will be tiered by region, and a waiver system is proposed to ensure that no one has to pay who is unable to. Moreover, the plan provides for quarterly reviews of epidemiological data to “ensure that user contributions do not compromise epidemic control gains, ART continuity for the client cohort, TB case management, or PMTCT services.” Alt text: A screenshot of a table included in the implementation plan narrative that is the subject of this stack. It’s got a fetching pink bar at the top. It uses the abbreviation “CHI” which is Community Health Insurance, and FBO which is Faith Based Organizations, and it details the number of facilities that will implement user fees with waivers and community health insurance schemes over the five years of the agreement. As I said in the footnote, this is a super interesting document with a lot of other rich material. Tell me what you see—and what you would have focused on. And if you’ve seen something like this, or anything else that strikes you, in another implementation plan, tell me that too. You can use the Substack message platform or try me on Signal at @endaplague_again.25 (because @mercoonfan was, weirdly, taken). But the plan doesn’t fully explain what will happen if this approach doesn’t work out. Yes, progress will be monitored, and corrective action triggered. However, there is no specified funding replacement if premium and fee revenue prove inadequate. Instead, the authors write, “Currently, COEs serve a total client cohort of over 180,000 across 28 facilities. In the initial years, the U.S. Government (USG) will provide financial support for clients; over time, user fees generated by COEs will become the primary source of funding for sustaining their services.” Failure does not really seem to be an option. Health insurance schemes are more acceptable to the Ugandan population than user fees. Members of Parliament and civil society traveled to Ethiopia to see how that country’s scheme worked. In a follow up report, a veteran civil society group recommended allowing the “health insurance ecosystem to grow organically and [to] keep reviewing the law and regulations as this growth takes root.”17 One study found that more than three-quarters of Ugandans were willing to join a health insurance program.18 However, coverage of community-based health insurance is minimal, as is coverage of any kind of insurance—including private plans.19 A national health insurance scheme bill has been stalled for several years and presently sits with President Yoweri Museveni.20 Community-based health insurance scheme that do exist are expanding in number, but losing enrollees. Between 2022 and 2026, the number of community-based health financing schemes across the country increased by 42 percent, while the number of people enrolled decreased by nearly 11 percent.21 None of this means that community-based health insurance should not happen in Uganda—or that people do not want insurance. It doesn’t even mean that user fees and waivers won’t ever work. But there is highly relevant evidence from Uganda and the surrounding region that it is quite optimistic to describe community health insurance and user fees as central supports for sustainable financing in any sector of the health system. And now for the best-case scenario In the best-case scenario22, the Ugandan approach does exactly what it sets out to do, and so does the Liberian fee structure and revolving pharmacy fund—though I’ve not confirmed that these are in the MoU. In one best-case scenario, Uganda is an outlier, and user fees and community health insurance are not recurrent pillars of self-sustaining financing in other countries’ implementation plans. In another best-case scenario, all countries that include these strategies enjoy success beyond anyone’s evidence-informed wildest dreams: reliable funding generated by health care users fees, great health care outcomes for everyone, no exacerbation of inequities, no crippling household debt. No sold land, repurposed school tuition or high-interest loans. In the best-case scenario, not one of the hundreds of thousands of Ugandans living with HIV receiving antiretrovirals from 491 PNFP facilities misses a refill or leaves care because of user fees or community health insurance premiums. This is the best-case scenario for these people for their own health, and for their families. It is also the best-case scenario if Uganda wants to stay on the path to eliminating HIV as a public health threat. According to the country’s most recent data, 96.5 percent of people living with HIV on antiretrovirals are virologically suppressed. Epidemic control depends ensuring that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those individuals are on ART, and 95% of those individuals are virologically suppressed. Uganda is still struggling with the first “95"—a frankly abysmal 85.3 percent. If HIV epidemic control and the attendant prevention of new infections, avoidable suffering and premature death matter, the country cannot afford to lose any clients who are currently in care.23 As I write this a couple hours before the polls close for the US elections in the city I live in, I say with soul-deep sincerity: I am rooting for the best-case scenario. I think it’s safe to say that we all are.24 I think it’s also safe to say that if the US and co-signatory governments have inked plans that lead to successful expansion of community health insurance and strategic use of user fees, we all would like to know, now, so that we don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate when success happens. The implementation plan narratives have to enter the public domain. They are the fullest expression of a strategy co-created by two governments. There are assumptions and details that people living in the US and co-signatory countries need to understand that are not available in the MoUs or, to date, in the Congressional Notifications. Some of these details can help other countries that are, as I write this, still working on implementation plans. Others, like a solid count of how many other countries have plans for expanding user fees or health insurance, are important for regional and global health architecture reform initiatives. No matter how this election night turns out, there will be a slew of new Congressional member orientations, briefings and talking points papers in the next few months. Release of implementation narratives should be a bullet point in every context that AFGHS is discussed. These documents can be redacted so that procurement sensitive information isn’t disclosed. There is much more historical precedent for sharing such documents than there is for relying on user fees to fill health financing gaps. Let’s look at the information together so we can hope for the best and prepare for, you know, the other thing. Alt text: A substack first: a bicep selfie! It’s my arm - peachy-white skin, black shirt (flannel, notch neck, too hot for this appallingly balmy November weather, if you’re wondering) and a sticker that says I VOTED 2026. Beige letters on red for I voted. Beige on blue for 2026. You bet I did.25 In your wildest dreams. Subscribe 1 This is a really, really rich 95 page document. There are fascinating ideas and detailed plans in it. It is all worth reading AND I have, in this post, highlighted an instance of content that could pose challenges and certainly posits success of strategies that haven’t worked before. I would love to hear what readers’ see that’s interesting and should be lifted up as something to check for in other implementation plans. I will also shortly be adding a static page to the substack site where implementation plan documents will live. I will put the url into this footnote and it will also be there on emilybass.substack.com by the end of the week. Uganda Implementation Narrative Section 4 April 22 2026 Draft 1.51MB ∙ PDF file Download Download 2 User fees are costs charged for visits, labs, medicines or other health services, usually at the time they are provided. Community health insurance, or community-based health insurance, is what the World Health Organization calls “micro insurance,” which is health insurance targeted at low-income people. 3 As usual (by which I mean always), please prove me wrong. 4 https://smartnewsliberia.com/liberias-ministry-of-health-announces-2025-hospital-service-fees-for-public-facilities/?utm 5 https://moh.gov.lr/news/2025/grand-cape-mount-leaders-residents-embrace-new-community-pharmacy-program/?utm 6 https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/09/hiv-usaid-pepfar-africa-foreign-aid-cuts-mission-hospitals/?utm 7 https://gh.bmj.com/content/10/11/e021270 8 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/community-based-health-insurance-CBHI 9 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2827475/ 10 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10861328/#b3-jpmph-23-110 11 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC527704/ 12 Same citation as the footnote 2 - the article is called “Learning from failed health care reform in Uganda.” To which I say: If only. If. Only. 13 There is a whole taxonomy of user fees to be aware of, if not commit to memory. Out of pocket costs are everything that someone pays for themselves. In this Stack, user fees are planned and policy-supported out of pocket costs. There are also out of pocket costs that people pay to buy drugs or receive tests or health care assessments that would be free if the drugs were on the shelves, or the machines or kits were available, or the staff were on site. A user fee is usually designed to be modest, pegged to willingness to pay, and may be waiveable at the point of care for anyone who is unable to do so. The costs for things that would otherwise be free are whatever the market will bear and people either have to pay them or go without. Out of pocket costs for services and stuff that aren’t available in public facilities are different again from bribes or unofficial fees that some health workers may impose, even though most are indefatigable, tireless and tired, and devoted to their clients. 14 For the record—which really is these footnotes—I would give a whole stack of fridge magnets for a systematic analysis of the economic and social impact of the Mass Unemployment Event in AFGHS countries among the very people who used to be able to afford and cover user fees, both for themselves and vast family networks. Locally employed USAID technical staff, house cleaners, caregivers, drivers and technicians were financial anchors for cousins, friends, friends’ children, friends’ childrens’ cousins, teachers, pastors, neighbors and so many other kinds of kin. Aid recipients lost direct funding; many other people who had not been aid recipients, but parts of the elaborate care webs that function as safety nets for so many people, lost crucial support too. And that’s even before we get to the people who worked at the hotels and restaurants and bars where people employed by the US and its implementing partners used to spend disposable income. Those businesses have lost revenue; those folks have lost jobs. It will be some time coming—and someone will have to fund this work—but I do hope it happens. And I hope, as usual, to be proven wrong. 15 https://eprcug.org/blog/how-out-of-pocket-healthcare-costs-keep-driving-ugandans-into-poverty/ 16 Another straight-to-the-point journal article title. Households experiencing catastrophic costs due to tuberculosis in Uganda: magnitude and cost drivers. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32938411 17 https://www.cehurd.org/download/technical-policy-brief-on-community-health-insurance-scheme/?wpdmdl=13661&refresh=6ae9122f5d4ed1793659439 18 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10125197/ 19 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10861328/#b3-jpmph-23-110 20 https://ugandapost.news/uganda-to-make-health-insurance-mandatory-by-2026/ 21 https://shu.org.ug/download/235 22 With a nod, tip of the stack hat, and wag of the Mercoon tail to a deeply valued reader who told me that I have a tendency to speculate about the worst-case scenarios a little too much of the time. 23 https://news.mak.ac.ug/2026/10/uphia-2025-shows-ugandas-hiv-status-awareness-gap-despite-strong-treatment-outcomes/ As you’ll see in the next footnote, I’ve already written a subSubstack on another topic, so I will be brief with regard to the study referenced in this article. The Uganda Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment, or UPHIA, will never happen in this way again. For more than a decade, PHIAs have been supported by the US government as a way to generate accurate estimates of country progress on key HIV indicators. They are a holdover from the PEPFAR program that was laser focused on ensuring US taxpayer dollars subsidized progress in pandemic control. There may be other population-level surveys and the data may even be publicly released, as the entire set of FY2026 MER data have not. But PHIAs will never happen again. If you’re wondering whether the estimates of HIV progress at country level might get less reliable….you’re not alone. 24 Ooh baby, I hate “we” in almost all forms. But sometimes I go there, when I am looking for company, which I am. Because this Stack moves into the somewhat-uncharted territory of assessing what the implementation plan narratives may suggest about co-signatory countries’ roles and responsibilities to the people living within their borders. The MoUs, specimen and data sharing agreements were templates. Countries’ answers fit into pre-specified questions that did not include, “how are you going to fill financing gaps and stabilize your health system as this plan unfolds?” In contrast, the implementation narratives are open form—the product of co-creation between the two governments. Co-creation can mean lots of things, but nothing leads me to believe that implementation plans are ghost-written by the US government, or that contents were imposed by the US counterparts. Instead, I think the parts of the plans that read like country government initiatives are endorsed, if not initiated by, those governments. For instance, the Ugandan implementation plan narrative describes plans for revenue-generation through fees charged for equipment calibration, repair and maintenance provided through Uganda’s National Equipment Calibration Laboratory, and laboratory accreditation through the Uganda National Accreditation Service (UGANAS), targeting private sector, PNFP, research and academic clients. That’s super specific and also quite ambitious. It doesn’t read like an American idea. There’s also a provision for solar panels, and other stuff that feels country owned and driven. This is where it gets interesting. If co-creation is the case, then both the US and co-signatory governments are accountable for the contents and the outcomes. Most discourse about AFGHS to date has focused on the decisions that America has made, or demanded that other countries make. The AFGHS architects have monopolized the hot seat. As they should, in so many ways. America absolutely created the conditions under which countries needed to come up with health financing strategies to fill unanticipated, catastrophic funding gaps. And with not-too-long a lens, we can look back and see that America is also on the hook for its role in the Bretton Woods institutions that made user fees and health system fiscal austerity conditions of loans during the era of structural adjustment. But in the here and now, it is not at all clear to me that the US is requiring Uganda or any other country to implement specific approaches to sustainable financing. Instead, it is as the authors of that paper up in footnote 6 suggest: African governments have agency. As implementation plans roll out—whether or not the narratives are shared—it will be important to understand what this agency looks like and what it means for people, including the poorest of the poor. And it will be important to figure out how to talk about it safely, respectfully and critically in places other than the literal and metaphorical footnotes. 25 This week’s song is “Once upon a time” by the Moody Blues. (I know, this is gonna be a weird, largely banger-free end of 2026 playlist. HMU with requests.) AND please do watch the video and appreciate the truly amazing opening sequence—a drum kit wasteland, a coupla plastic bags, a bit of sand. Sort of like the hill where fiscal austerity policies that put costs on health care users might go to perish. But then there’s a lady with amazing hair. It’s worth it.
U.S. Congressman Tim Moore, a longtime fixture of NC politics, defeated in reelection bid
Before moving to Congress, Moore was the longest-sitting Speaker of the N.C. House of Representatives.
Democrats take control of the Senate after winning key midterm races
Democrats have won the U.S. Senate, ending Republican dominance in Washington by harnessing voters' frustration with President Donald Trump.
Republicans win contested legislative races in the Fort Smith metro
Republicans prevailed in all contested legislative races in the Fort Smith metro, with Sen. Justin Boyd, R-Fort Smith, returning to the Arkansas Senate for a second term, and Charlene Fite...
Democrat Rob Sand wins election to be Iowa’s next governor
Democrat Rob Sand has won Tuesday’s election to be the next governor of Iowa. His win flips the seat held by a retiring Republican governor and likely sets up four years of divided government in the state.
Democrat Gina Hinojosa wins election for governor in Texas
Democrat Gina Hinojosa won election Tuesday as governor of Texas, defeating Republican incumbent Greg Abbott.
Democrats capture full control of Congress, NBC News projects, fueled by victories in deeply Republican states
Democrats capitalized on voter anger over Trump and affordability, flipping seats in deep-red and major battleground states alike.
Marni von Wilpert flips California House seat, bringing a personal health care fight to Congress
The bisexual lawmaker from California flipped a Republican-held seat amid an overwhelming blue wave.
Democrat James Talarico will win Texas Senate race, CNN projects
Democratic state Rep. James Talarico will win the Senate race in Texas, CNN’s Decision Desk projects, delivering a stunning defeat to Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Tom Jones reclaims 36th Senate District for Republicans
Republicans took back Lancaster County’s 36th Senate District Tuesday, a year-and-a-half after a shock special election win by Democrat James Malone.
Takeaways from election night: Young voters, Hispanics shift away from the GOP as voters show unhappiness with Trump
President Donald Trump repeatedly encouraged voters to pretend he's on the ballot this Election Day. They appear to be taking his advice — and that's not a good thing for the Republican president or his party.
Democrat Xavier Becerra wins California governor's race, defeating Republican Steve Hilton
The odds were in Becerra's favor as a Democrat running in a state that hasn't elected a Republican statewide in 20 years.
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra wins California governor’s race
Becerra, a longtime fixture in Democratic politics in the state, beat Republican Steve Hilton, NBC News projects.
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra wins California governor’s race
Becerra, a longtime fixture in Democratic politics in the state, beat Republican Steve Hilton, NBC News projects.
Democrat Janelle Stelson wins election to U.S. House in Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District
Democrat Janelle Stelson won election Tuesday to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District, defeating Republican incumbent Scott Perry.
Takeaways from the midterms: Americans broadly rejected Trump — and Democrats stand to make huge gains because of it
The Democratic wave is here — and now, as votes are counted in key states, the question is how many Republicans it will wipe out.
JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton declared winners
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WATCH: Republican Byron Donalds speaks after winning election for governor in Florida
Donalds, who will become the nation's first elected Black Republican governor, fended off David Jolly, a former Republican congressman who switched parties and ran a centrist campaign.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker reelected to 6th term
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Democrat Bob Brooks wins election to U.S. House in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District
2026 ELECTION COVERAGE: Watch Live | Poll Closing Times | All Live Results | Live Updates | Live Fact Check Democrat Bob Brooks won election Tuesday to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, defeating Republican incumbent Ryan Mackenzie. Brooks, who worked as a firefighter and union leader, concentrated on his blue-collar background, saying he understood the affordability issues facing voters in the Lehigh Valley battleground district. Mackenzie's ties to President Donald
Democrat Zach Dembo wins election to U.S. House in Kentucky's 6th Congressional District
Democrat Zach Dembo won election Tuesday to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Kentucky's 6th Congressional District, defeating Republican Ralph Alvarado.
UNM football is all about their business on the field as national buzz grows
Local Reporting You Can Trust
Democrats flip New Jersey House seat held by Republican Tom Kean
Democrat Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot, on Tuesday defeated two-term Rep. Tom Kean, who missed four months of votes in Washington this year as he underwent treatment for depression, a diagnosis he did not disclose until his return.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey wins reelection after strengthening protections for trans health care
The Democrat defeated Republican Mike Minogue after a first term that included stronger safeguards for abortion and gender-affirming care.
Bruins Among Teams Talking To Red Wings About Blockbuster Trade
Reports say the Boston Bruins aren’t among the six to eight teams on Dylan Larkin’s list. That said, they want to be, and general manager Don Sweeney is kicking tires.Pierre LeBrun of TSN reports that the Bruins have called the Detroit Red Wings about a Larkin trade. Unfortunately, of the ten teams Larkin’s camp has […] The post Bruins Among Teams Talking To Red Wings About Blockbuster Trade appeared first on HEAVY.
Democrats win control of the House of Representatives, with a vow to combat Trump
NBC News projects that Democrats will take control of the House next year, giving them the power to investigate Trump and advance legislation to check his policies.
Political newcomer tapped by voters to lead Oklahoma Insurance Department
In a race that saw both candidates vowing to tackle the state’s soaring insurance rates, voters selected a Republican to lead the state’s Insurance Department.
AP Voter Poll: How key demographic groups voted in the 2026 midterms
The poll, an expansive survey of about 80,000 voters in all 50 states, suggests young voters were less likely to back House Republicans this year than they were to support Trump in 2024.
Hochul beats Blakeman to win another term as NY governor
NEW YORK — Gov. Kathy Hochul beat Republican Bruce Blakeman Tuesday to win reelection for a second full term as governor as New York Democrats turned out in droves in
Abortion rights amendment passes in Virginia
2026 ELECTION COVERAGE: Watch Live | Poll Closing Times | All Live Results | Live Updates | Live Fact Check Voters have approved a ballot measure that creates a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom” in the Virginia Constitution. The amendment passed Tuesday ensures abortions can occur during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. It allows government regulations during the third trimester while still ensuring that abortions can be carried out to protect the life and
False accusations and unverified claims quickly spread about Election Day voting
Election Day was barely underway before misinformation about voting irregularities surfaced online. Election officials reported voting problems in parts of the United States but there were no verified examples of malfeasance in the hours before polls closed across the country.
Yankees’ perfect trade offer for Brewers’ Trevor Megill
The New York Yankees should pursue Trevor Megill with an offer that supports the Milwaukee Brewers’ championship defense. New York needs late-inning pitching , but Milwaukee needs a reason to surrender its proven closer. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Monday that the Brewers would at least listen to offers for Megill. This package is a proposal, with […] The post Yankees’ perfect trade offer for Brewers’ Trevor Megill appeared first on ClutchPoints.
Michigan voters pass 'Money out of Politics' proposal, reports say
Michigan voters approved a ballot initiative banning utility companies and other state contractors from making political donations.
Gina Hinojosa holds early lead over incumbent Greg Abbott in Texas’ race for governor
Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa has taken an early lead over Republican Gov. Greg Abbott as votes are counted in Texas. Abbott is seeking his fourth term in office.
Keisha Lance Bottoms wins the Georgia governor’s race, flipping the office for Democrats
NBC News projects that Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, defeated billionaire Republican Rick Jackson in the contest to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp.
Women Entrepreneurs Rock 12 Celebrates Revolutionary Thinking and Bold Moves
Women Entrepreneurs Rock 12 Celebrates Revolutionary Thinking, Bold Moves, and the Power of Women Supporting Women New Jersey Small Business Development Center at Brookdale Community College marks 12 years of inspiring entrepreneurs, strengthening businesses, and
Jülich Hosts EVE Language Model for Earth Observation and Earth Science
Nov. 3, 2026 — The Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) has started a new collaboration with Pi School, an international centre of excellence for AI headquartered in Rome that brings together innovators, thinkers and entrepreneurs. As a result, JSC’s Helmholtz Blablador infrastructure now hosts the EVE-Instruct model, a large language model (LLM) for Earth observation (EO) and […]
John Frieda, Celebrity Hair Stylist and Hair Care Business Entrepreneur, Dies at 75
The celebrity hair stylist’s death was announced by his salon on Tuesday, Nov. 3
WATCH: Rep. Mike Collins speaks after loss in Georgia Senate race
Jon Ossoff's victory over Republican Mike Collins is a notable turnabout from last year, when Republicans were optimistic about the state, given that Trump carried it narrowly in the 2024 presidential race.
Political science professor sees signs of increased competition in Indiana races
By Sydney Byerly The Indiana Citizen November 3, 2026 As election results began to come in Tuesday night, Laura Merrifield Wilson, a professor of political science at Indiana University Indianapolis, said some of Indiana's traditionally Republican districts were showing signs of increased competition, potentially reflecting a broader shift in Democratic momentum. One of the biggest
Political science professor sees signs of increased competition in Indiana races
By Sydney Byerly The Indiana Citizen November 3, 2026 As election results began to come in Tuesday night, Laura Merrifield Wilson, a professor of political science at Indiana University Indianapolis, said some of Indiana's traditionally Republican districts were showing signs of increased competition, potentially reflecting a broader shift in Democratic momentum. One of the biggest
Juliana Stratton makes history with Black women in the Senate
Democrat Juliana Stratton won election Tuesday to the U.S. Senate representing Illinois, defeating Republican Don Tracy. Currently lieutenant governor, Stratton will succeed Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat who is retiring after five terms. Stand with free and independent journalism. Join Press Pass from PBS News Stratton will be the second Black woman to serve Illinois in the Senate. She was twice elected lieutenant governor as Gov. JB Pritzker’s running mate and had Pritzker’s endorsement in
Democrat Chris Pappas will win New Hampshire Senate race, CNN projects
Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas will win New Hampshire’s open Senate seat, CNN’s Decision Desk projects, making history as the first out gay man to be elected to the chamber.
University of Toledo to launch online master’s degree in data science and AI in spring 2027
According to UToledo, graduates will be prepared for jobs that use advanced analytics, machine learning and AI to drive better decisions, inform strategy and advance innovation.
Democrat Mark Warner wins reelection to U.S. Senate from Virginia
Democratic incumbent Mark Warner won election Tuesday to the U.S. Senate representing Virginia, defeating Republican Bert Mizusawa.
Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz wins reelection to U.S. House in Florida’s 20th District
Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz won election to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Florida’s 20th Congressional District, defeating Republican Brent Andersen.
USC Back in the Spotlight After Win Over Ohio State Produces Top-Tier Ratings
USC's 30-18 victory over Ohio State drew a massive 7.1 million viewers. Discover what this national exposure means for the Trojans and coach Lincoln Riley. The post USC Back in the Spotlight After Win Over Ohio State Produces Top-Tier Ratings appeared first on LA Sports Report.
CVS Health to split into two publicly traded companies by 2028, FT reports
Investing.com-- CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS) is planning to split its retail pharmacy business from its insurance operations, potentially unwinding one of the U.S. healthcare industry's largest vertical integration deals, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Florida Democrat defies gerrymandering in bad sign for GOP
Rep. Jared Moskowitz won a district that was redrawn to favor Republicans.
AP Voter Poll: Senate voters in South Carolina have doubts about Darline Graham’s experience
About 6 in 10 Senate voters in South Carolina say Darline Graham does not have the right experience to serve as a senator, though most Republican voters believe she does.
Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) Nears Earnings, Is The 11% Undervalued View Still Convincing?
Live Nation Entertainment (LYV) heads into its 5 November third quarter 2026 earnings release with investor attention on concert demand, fan attendance trends, and how ticket sales translate into reported profitability. At a share price of $178.87, Live Nation Entertainment has logged a 1-month share price return of 5.98% and a year-to-date share price gain of 23.10%. The 1-year total shareholder return of 18.65% and 3-year total shareholder return of 107.67% point to momentum that has cooled...
Michigan US Senate election results: Abdul El-Sayed vs Mike Rogers
See live election results in Michigan's US Senate race between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.