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NEW: Arab AI Slop and the Precarious Politics of Digital Kitsch
Dear Friends and Comrades, If you spend any time on social media, you’ve seen the uncannily rendered videos and memes known colloquially as AI slop, crudely generated videos playing on stereotypes meant to generate viral outrage. In our upcoming summer issue of Middle East Report, Nermin Elsherif looks at
Why Publishers Need Live Events Strategies to Thrive
TIME, Axios and other media companies are turning live events into growing revenue and audience businesses
NFIB survey: small business optimism continues to rise
Hiring plans hit their strongest level since 2022, even as owners reported stubborn uncertainty and difficulty finding qualified workers.
Oblivion Remastered Could Finally Be Fixed on PS5 as Bethesda Promises 'Optimisations' Patch
Take your time
Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) Reports Q4 Loss, Tops Revenue Estimates
MSG Entertainment (MSGE) delivered earnings and revenue surprises of +69.05% and +17.68%, respectively, for the quarter ended June 2026. Do the numbers hold clues to what lies ahead for the stock?
All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman makes his debut for Red Sox
Three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman went 1 for 3 and walked twice in his Red Sox debut as Boston lost its fourth straight, 5-3 to Toronto.
Report: Nate Wiggins avoided structural damage in Tuesday's injury
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said there was optimism that cornerback Nate Wiggins avoided a serious injury after Wiggins was carted off at Tuesday's practice and further testing reportedly supported that feeling.
Space tech: an orbiting market opportunity | Investors Lab
While AI models are excellent at parsing massive amounts of data, they struggle to pivot when faced with unprecedented events — the kind that frequently occur in the vacuum of outer space. Space operations are a zero-tolerance environment where the cost of a software miscalculation can be a total loss of assets or human lives. The solution isn't to abandon the technology, but to pivot toward human-assisted systems where an AI algorithm handles the heavy computational lifting while human experts serve as guides on the ground and remain the ultimate decision makers in aerospace technology. SN's Aaron Tremper takes us there.
Scientists discover a hidden brain rhythm that could improve Parkinson’s treatment
Scientists have pinpointed a brain network—and its distinctive electrical rhythm—that appears to drive the benefits of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease. The discovery could lead to more precise, personalized stimulation settings and better results for patients.
UC San Diego Health and West Health Accelerate Future of Patient Care
The West Health Accelerator at UC San Diego Health will transform how patients navigate care to ensure every person gets the right care, at the right time.
Why is climate action “easier said than done”? The key lies in the strong coupling between climate and society
A new Perspective in Science Bulletin argues that the persistent gap between climate science and climate action stems from a conceptual blind spot: treating climate and social systems as separate domains rather than as one integrated, co-evolving entity. The authors introduce the Climate-Social Coupling System (CSS) paradigm and, by re-contextualizing the classic Environmental Kuznets Curve, sort national trajectories into “strong,” “weak,” and “de-coupling” states, showing that governance is the decisive, reversible steering mechanism that determines a country’s climate future.
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 $100 billion that federal Medicaid spending is reduced.KEY POINTS
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ENTERTAINMENT ($MSGE) Releases Q4 2026 Earnings
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ENTERTAINMENT ($MSGE) posted quarterly earnings results for Q4 2026 on Wednesday, August 12th. The company reported earnings of -$0.13 per share, beating estimates of -$0.42 by $0.29. The company also reported revenue of $196,320,000, beating estimates of $169,951,125 by $26,368,875.You can see Quiver Quantitative's $MSGE stock page to track data on insider trading, hedge fund activity, congressional trading, and more.
SpaceX’s High-Margin Software Business Could Soon Hit $33 Billion. Investors Are Underestimating It.
Wall Street is fixated on SpaceX's lockup expiration while analysts quietly model a software business inside the company that could dwarf Google Cloud by 2030. Here is why the market may be pricing the wrong asset entirely.
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.
Tigers seek series-clinching win over Guardians on Wednesday night
The Detroit Tigers took the first game of a critical home series against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night with a narrow 6-4 victory. The good guys got their first win against Tanner Bibee since July 2024 thanks to some well-timed offense, and somehow, Kenley Jansen did not blow the save despite feeding the batters […]
Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet Are ‘Vehemently Opposed’ to Kris Jenner’s ‘Televised’ Wedding Plans
Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet are ready to follow in the footsteps of friends Tom Holland and Zendaya by tying the knot privately, a source tells In Touch. “They love that Zendaya and Tom were ab...
Weird Science: Flush with data, North Carolina sewage is exposing community nutrition and food insecurity
A newly published study has successfully demonstrated that analyzing residual plant and animal DNA in municipal wastewater can deliver accurate, real-time population nutrition data. Researchers say this breakthrough could fundamentally change how public health officials monitor dietary habits, food insecurity, and economic health.
Scooters are canceled, plus a sports agent and an unsolved murder
The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Hide your best player today. Coming up: 🛴 In MLB, scooter angst 🔍 An unsolved murder 🏈 Minny’s new QB I need to express an old-man sentiment, one that’s festered within me for years: I loathe electric scooters. I recoil every time I travel to a city where they are popular, with sidewalks and plant beds awash in discarded lanky little vehicles. Also, as a new-ish dad, I always think about how dangerous they can be. Anyone,...
Character test awaits Dundee Utd after Hearts humbling
What will we learn a lot about this newly assembled Dundee United squad over the next few weeks? Romanian left-back Kevin Ciubotaru last week became manager Jim Goodwin's 11th summer signing. While a lot of United's transfer business was done earlier in the window, given the size of the player overhaul it is still fair to assume it could take this new-look squad time to gel.
Time Mission bringing 'real-life video game' experience to Nashville
A Florida company billing itself as a "real-life video game" operator is opening its largest location yet in Nashville. Read the exclusive details.
We asked Madison: How much money do you make?
Over a dozen states have pay transparency laws, including Illinois, Minnesota, New York and Washington. While no such laws exist in Wisconsin, money is still at the top of mind
Six ways Minnesota’s primary upended political assumptions
Progressives gained momentum, Republican voters bucked party leaders and Trump and Minnesota set up a historic race for governor. Here are six takeaways from Tuesday’s primary.
Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and the risky business of second acts
The Patriots’ former QB and coach have mutated in ways that are starting to obscure — maybe even tarnish — their twin legacies as the greatest of all time at their respective positions.
Telescope Spots Two Black Holes on the Cusp of Merging
New images from the James Webb telescope show a galaxy with a trio of supermassive black holes. Two of them appear to be locked in a tight tango.
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.
Recurring Issues Hurt Cleveland Guardians in Loss to Detroit Tigers
The Cleveland Guardians lost to the Detroit Tigers for the first time during the 2026 season.
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.
Chicago Cubs Announce Edward Cabrera Update During Nationals Series
During their series with the Washington Nationals, the Chicago Cubs received an update on SP Edward Cabrera, who has missed a lot of time this season due to injury. Prior to the Cubs-Nationals series, which kicks off on Tuesday evening, Chicago won its last series against the Royals and has been a surging team in […] The post Chicago Cubs Announce Edward Cabrera Update During Nationals Series appeared first on HEAVY.
Republican survives primary on Tim Walz's old congressional turf as Dems eye seat flip
Brad Finstad faced challengers Gregory Goetzman and Oliver Morlan in the Minnesota 1st Congressional District Republican primary on Tuesday.
Hochul, Blakeman campaign in NYC with less than 3 months until Election Day
Hochul spent time on the Lower East Side promoting a food benefits program for kids, and Blakeman was in Flushing, Queens, with business leaders.
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.
Saber denies replacing Rideshare Stimulator’s writers with ChatGPT
Stella Sacco says Saber is “trying to have it both ways” on AI.
CBS Sports chief says ‘no timetable’ on Tony Romo’s future after OWI arrest
CBS Sports president David Berson says the network is still assessing the lead NFL analyst’s future following last month’s arrest
What Devon Witherspoon said about contract negotiations with Seahawks
Devon Witherspoon remains in contract negotiations that could make him the highest paid cornerback in the NFL, but the Seahawks star said he's fully focused on the field.
Cameron Holmes embracing versatility as Arizona freshman finds his footing
Cameron Holmes is seeing playing time "everywhere" as Tommy Lloyd tinkers with configurations ahead of Arizona's upcoming Lithuania trip.
My partner is monitoring his sleep score, steps and fibre intake. He has become a dry shite
Tell Me About It: What happened to spending half the day in bed, eating chocolate, wine and olives?
CBS Sports president says there’s no timeline for a decision on Tony Romo’s future
CBS Sports president David Berson said Tuesday he does not have a timeline for a decision about Tony Romo’s future.
Real-time X-ray data analysis with DONUT accelerates materials science
What if scientists could get a taste of discovery as soon as their experiment finishes? Thanks to a new machine learning tool called DONUT, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne ...
Some Big Sur residents stay behind to protect homes, businesses as Timber Fire burns
As Big Sur’s Timber Fire continues to crescendo, many locals have chosen to stay and fight for their homes and businesses in spite of mandatory evacuation orders.
CBS Sports president says there's no timeline for a decision on Tony Romo's future
NEW YORK (AP) — CBS Sports president David Berson said Tuesday he does not have a timeline for a decision about Tony Romo's future.
Crimson Desert dev comments on status of Nintendo Switch 2 port, targeting first half of 2027
Pearl Abyss has commented again on the Nintendo Switch 2 port of Crimson Desert, providing the most encouraging update we’ve had thus far. In its latest earnings letter, the company said that it’s now “currently playable at a foundational level, and technical evaluations are underway to ensure performance optimization and compliance with our quality standards.” The other piece of important...
Tiffany Haddish pleads guilty in DUI case, avoiding more jail time
Tiffany Haddish pleaded guilty in a Georgia DUI case, avoiding more jail time. The ‘Girls Trip’ actress was sentenced to 12 months probation.
Satechi Launches 240W ChargeView Desktop Charger With Six USB-C Ports
Satechi today launched the ChargeView 240W Desktop Charger, a successor to the 140W ChargeView released last year. The ChargeView 240W can power multiple devices at one time, splitting 240W across six USB-C ports. The ChargeView 240W has an LCD display that shows the live wattage of all ports that are in use. The C1 and C2 ports offer up to 140W each, while ports C3 and C4 can deliver up to 100W each. The final two ports offer up to 30W.
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.
Girls in Ocean Science returns to SBMM - Santa Barbara News-Press
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) is pleased to announce the return of its Girls in Ocean Science Conference (GiOS) on September 26 and 27, 2026.
California to phase out paraquat, a powerful weedkiller associated with serious health issues
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation said all manufacturers of pesticide products containing paraquat have "voluntarily canceled" their product registrations.
CBA Profit Tops Estimates as Home and Business Lending Grows
Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s full-year profit topped estimates as lending grew in its key businesses of mortgages and loans to companies.
CBS president: 'No timetable' on future of Romo after arrest
CBS Sports president David Berson said on Tuesday that there is 'no timetable' on the future of NFL analyst Tony Romo following Romo's arrest on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence.
Orlando Magic Team Reporter Kendra Douglas’ Game plan: Dish Assists to Other Women
As a regional sideline reporter, Kendra Douglas serves as the primary bridge between the team and the public, which sometimes means traveling across the coun...
Small business optimism rebounds in July, led by stronger hiring plans
NFIB said small business optimism rose above its long-term average in July, driven by stronger hiring and investment plans, though uncertainty remained elevated.
The science behind European heat domes
Parts of Europe see intense heat domes, which can break daily, monthly and even all-time record temperatures.
Marketplace Spotlight: Sulfur Cube-Inspired
Minecraft Marketplace moves fast. With every week that goes by, incredible new add-ons, worlds, mini games, and mash-up packs join the plethora of DLC already roosting on the Marketplace like loveable little birds. You can download birds, right? And now, with the arrival of sulfur cubes, it seems that Marketplace creators are working even faster, harder, and creative-er. How else would you explain the smorgasbord of new sulfurous delights now available for your delectation? How else would you explain the fact that these add-ons and worlds transform Minecraft with sulfury sports, sulfury contests, and even sulfury weapons? You simply can't. So, it's time for this humble (yet heroic) Minecraft.net writer to jack in to the Marketplace matrix once again and report back on what he finds. Will he come away with first impressions of seven new pieces of DLC or just a severe case of sulfur-induced nausea? Spoiler: it's both.
It’s Kyler Murray’s Team Now, for Better or Worse
The Vikings have finally announced the results of the team’s contentious quarterback competition, and according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kyler Murray has been named the Week 1 starting quarterback for the 2026 season, putting an end to the much-talked-about position battle and handing the keys to the Vikings offense to the former Cardinals veteran. After an open battle to start camp got going, Murray put distance between himself and now-backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy over the past few weeks, and while there were some recent struggles that might have put into question Murray’s lead in the QB race, it ultimately didn’t matter to the Vikings brass, who felt they needed to make a decision before the Vikings’ preseason opener against the Giants this Saturday.
Ari Emanuel's events business will acquire theater owner ATG Entertainment
Mari, an events and experiences business founded by Ari Emanuel, plans to acquire ATG Entertainment, the owner of theater venues in areas including London's West End. The financial terms were not disc...
Ari Emanuel's events business will acquire theater owner ATG Entertainment
Mari, an events and experiences business founded by Ari Emanuel, plans to acquire ATG Entertainment, the owner of theater venues in areas including London's West End. The financial terms were not disclosed.
Ari Emanuel's events business will acquire theater owner ATG Entertainment
Mari, an events and experiences business founded by Ari Emanuel, plans to acquire ATG Entertainment, the owner of theater venues in areas including London's West End. The financial terms were not disc...
Ari Emanuel's events business will acquire theater owner ATG Entertainment
Mari, an events and experiences business founded by Ari Emanuel, plans to acquire ATG Entertainment, the owner of theater venues in areas including London's West End. The financial terms were not disclosed.
Majority of VA mental health visits are timely, but referrals lag: Watchdog
The VA watchdog found that 80% of referrals for mental health services in the Community Care program were scheduled within 30 days.
Feeling sick? Some Minnesotans are asking AI what to do
Patients are turning to AI chatbots for help diagnosing symptoms and navigating the health care system—even as questions about accuracy and privacy persist.
Fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history has claimed 2,000 lives. Here's why it is hard to contain
Congo’s health authorities report 4,381 confirmed cases, including 2,011 deaths. This outbreak is spreading almost three times faster than the 2014-16 outbreak in West Africa, the deadliest in history.
Trump cheers Alito staying for another Supreme Court term: 'One of the greatest of all time'
President Donald Trump praised Associate Justice Samuel Alito's decision to stay on the U.S. Supreme Court in a social media post on Truth Social.
The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Switch 2 Console Images Reportedly Leak
Leaked images of a The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Switch 2 console and Pro Controller appear to be circulating online.
Bethesda Acknowledges Demand for Oblivion Remastered Patch, Calls for Calm
"We are looking into bringing [Switch 2 optimisations] to other platforms."
Curtain Call Cabaret & Lounge launches new pay model for entertainment, food
The Curtain Call Cabaret & Lounge in downtown Medford has introduced an innovative Pay-What-You-Want model that includes both admission and its food menu. For all Curtain Call-produced performances, guests may […]
Lucas Museum announces new restaurant inspired by Skywalker Ranch
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on Tuesday announced its flagship restaurant, Skywalker Grill. Nestled at the top of the museum with sweeping city views, the classic American eatery is now taking reservations.
University of Michigan Will Ease Up on Grades for Student Mental Health
The university will make first-semester grades pass or fail, to encourage students to explore different classes and lessen fears that “a low grade may have long-term consequences.”
As Trump Media scraps some businesses, it’s doubling down on Truth Social and the president
The platform is offering a new service that grants fast access to Trump’s posts for a fee.
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.
Pittsburgh Pirates Insider Drops Concerning Paul Skenes Update
A longtime Pittsburgh Pirates insider has weighed in about what could be causing Paul Skenes' struggles.
Dan Campbell gives update on Kerby Joseph injury timeline
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph’s rehab appears to be going well, and we have a better idea of his return date.
How extreme weather is becoming a business expense
Extreme weather is creating growing financial challenges for businesses and households as heat waves, storms, wildfires and heavy rain become more disruptive, The New York Times reports. In Chicago, for example, a bakery owner lost inventory and spent $1,700 on dry ice after a storm caused a power outage, while other businesses have faced higher […]
What’s In The $100 ‘GTA VI’ Ultimate Edition, Which Most Fans Are Buying
While most players are upset the price of gaming is going up, a majority of them are willing to pay $100 for the GTA VI Ultimate Edition. Here's what's inside.
Mexican restaurants receive low health inspection scores
A group of Mexican restaurants were among those getting low inspections scores this week.
New images of the sun show its surface in the finest detail yet
It’s dangerous to look directly at the sun without proper eye protection. But researchers were able to peek at its scorching surface with the help of the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope.
2026 NFL Christmas Games: Schedule, Teams, How to Watch
See the complete 2026 NFL Christmas Day schedule, including matchups, kickoff times, TV channels and streaming information for all three games.
iPhone 18 Pro Will Reportedly Start With 256GB of Storage
While the iPhone 17 Pro has double the base storage compared to the iPhone 16 Pro, there will apparently be no further increase this year. In a report this week estimating that the iPhone 18 Pro's bill of materials will be nearly 40% higher than the iPhone 17 Pro, Taiwanese research firm TrendForce said the iPhone 18 Pro will start with 256GB of storage, matching the iPhone 17 Pro's minimum capacity.
LeBron James set to return to L.A. for Lakers-76ers Christmas matchup
LeBron James, who signed with the Philadelphia 76ers last month, will be making his return to Los Angeles on Dec. 25 when the Lakers host Philadelphia at Crypto.com Arena.
Galaxy Z Fold 8’s wider shape still survives bend test, teardown shows off titanium and poor Qi placement [Video]
Durability is perhaps the single-biggest hesitation about folding phones, but Samsung has proven time and time again that its foldables...
Rockport nonprofit sports complex completes $6.9M expansion
Midccoast Recreation Center sees over 100,000 visits each year. With the expansion, it's able to accommodate more programming and playtime.
Why GameStop’s bold $56-billion play for eBay is suddenly in doubt
(Bloomberg) -- GameStop Corp., led by Chief Executive Officer Ryan Cohen, is considering withdrawing its $56 billion bid for eBay Inc., according to people familiar with the matter.
Motorola Moto Watch (2026) review: Looks can be deceiving
Motorola’s Moto Watch looks like a capable and affordable timepiece, but looks are deceiving.
Ari Emanuel’s Company to Acquire 7 Broadway Theaters and 10 in the West End
The purchase of ATG Entertainment, which operates dozens of venues worldwide, will require regulatory approval.
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
Ari Emanuel's Mari Acquires Theater Owner ATG Entertainment For $6B
The deal size has been estimated at $6 billion, as the live events company establishes a bigger foothold in the theater industry.
WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conferences
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. (Nasdaq: WBTN) (“WEBTOON Entertainment” or “the Company”), a leading global entertainment company and home to some of the world’s largest storytelling platforms, today announced it will participate in the following upcoming investor conferences: Deutsche Bank 2026 Technology ConferenceAugust 26, 2026Location: Dana Point, CA Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology ConferenceSeptember 10, 2026Presentation Time: 4:25 PM PTLoc
Mizzou discovery could change how scientists measure the universe
Study challenges a decades-old assumption used by astronomers to estimate the mass and evolution of distant galaxies.
U.S. small business sentiment surged to an 11-month high in July as hiring plans jumped
The optimism index climbed 2.4 points to 99.8, surpassing its 52-year average, while planned hiring jumped to its highest level since October 2022
U.S. Says It Revoked More Than 175,000 Visas Under Trump
Most visas were rescinded over criminal accusations, the State Department said, while some were revoked from people who had celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Victor Wembanyama's Hall of Fame Hype Isn't Premature
Victor Wembanyama hasn't been in the NBA nearly long enough to warrant serious Hall of Fame discussions, but if he stays anywhere close to the same trajectory he's on, it's only a matter of time.
Abbott and Google launch first-of-its-kind partnership to transform everyday health through glucose insights and AI
Multi-year collaboration combines ongoing glucose insights from Abbott's Lingo biowearable with Google Health's technology to create a more comprehensive view of personal health Partnership...
Cardinal Health forecasts full-year profit above estimates on specialty drug strength
U.S. drug distributor Cardinal Health on Tuesday forecast fiscal 2027 profit well above Wall Street expectations after topping fourth-quarter profit estimates, driven by sustained demand for specialty drugs.
Cardinal Health Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2026 Results and Provides Fiscal Year 2027 Guidance
Fourth quarter revenue increased 6% to $63.7 billion Fourth quarter GAAP1 diluted EPS increased 70% to $1.70 Excluding a one-time positive impact of $0.31 from...
GTA 6 might not cost $100, but most of the people pre-ordering it are buying it at that price, Take-Two reveals
Rockstar put a lot of effort into enticing people into pre-ordering the more expensive Ultimate edition.
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
US small-business sentiment rises to 11-month high in July, labor shortages a worry
U.S. small-business sentiment increased to an 11-month high in July amid a surge in the share of owners reporting plans to boost hiring, suggesting that last month's slump in nonfarm payrolls was probably temporary.
US small-business sentiment rises to 11-month high in July, labor shortages a worry
WASHINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - U.S. small-business sentiment increased to an 11-month high in July amid a surge in the share of owners reporting plans to boost hiring, suggesting that last month's slump in nonfarm payrolls was probably temporary. The ...
Yankees legend says goodbye as he battles health issues: ‘Thank you & God Bless’
Former MLB pitcher Tommy John, a four-time All-Star, missed New York Yankees' Old-Timers' Day this past weekend.
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