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Nintendo Switch 2 Homebrew Is ‘Very Close to an Amazing Era,’ Says Modder Behind a 60 FPS Mario & Luigi: Brothership Mod
A Nintendo Switch 2 mod runs Mario & Luigi: Brothership at 60 FPS, showing the power of backward-compatible homebrew
'Energy Switch' continues the discussion on the health of our oceans
In part 2 of this discussion, we talk about plastic pollution, fertilizer runoff and oil spills along with potential solutions.
UT Martin student attends national forensic science academy
UT Martin senior Harlee Veazey of Paris hopes to have a career in law enforcement investigations.
New Research Tests Whether AI Models Know Their Own Thoughts
By injecting “thoughts” directly into large language models, researchers are trying to map out AI’s capacity for introspection.
Cuyahoga County’s health and human services levy passes
Voters went to the polls and approved Issue 11, a levy for the Cuyahoga County Department of Health that sought to increase funding to keep essential services running.
Alexa Rendell joins Sky Sports F1 team ahead of Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil
Alexa Rendell has joined the Sky Sports F1 team ahead of this weekends Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil; watch Fridays practice sessions for the Sao Paulo GP from 3.30pm and 7pm, live on Sky Sports F1
UK government announces public interest investigation into Sky deal to takeover ITV's media arm
U.K. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy says she will intervene in the planned 1.6 billion-pound or $2.2 billion deal between Sky and ITV’s media and entertainment arm. Nandy said Wednesday that
I On Politics
CB2 MEETING: Community Board 2 has scheduled a Regular Monthly Meeting and Public Hearing of the Full Board: Thursday, November 5, 2026, 6:30 P.M., at Sunnyside Community Services, 43-31 39th Street, Ground Floor, Sunnyside. CB6 MEETING: Community Board 6 Meeting Notice: Thursday, November 12, 2026 at Queens Borough Hall, Helen Marshall Cultural Center, 120-55
CVS Health to split in two, separating pharmacy business from insurance
Health insurers have grappled with higher medical costs recently, while drugstores face mounting competition from Amazon and a declining foot-traffic.
CVS Health to split in two, separating pharmacy business from insurance
Health insurers have grappled with higher medical costs recently, while drugstores face mounting competition from Amazon and a declining foot-traffic.
As Holidays Approach, No One Cares About Amazon’s Biggest Business
Amazon quietly became America's largest company by revenue, yet holiday shoppers and Wall Street investors seem far more focused on its AI ambitions than its massive e-commerce engine, and that split attention may be hiding a serious risk.
New UND non-thesis biomedical graduate program adds to number of programs offering alternative experiences
The Department of Biomedical Sciences at the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences is offering a non-thesis option of its Master of Science graduate program.
Experts criticise clubs' rhetoric on ending betting sponsorships
The tone adopted by representatives of Brazilian clubs during Tuesday’s (3) public hearing at the Supreme Federal Court (STF) on the ban on betting companies drew criticism from football marketing a...
Can Meta’s Business Pay For Its Spending?
For questions about this article or underlying research, email help@trefis.com.Management said on its October 21, 2026 call that Meta Platforms (META) is spending heavily on servers, data centers and network infrastructure.
Analysis-AI shopping agents could threaten Amazon and Walmart’s ad business
By Juveria Tabassum, Nicholas P. Brown and Arriana McLymore Nov 4 (Reuters) - The rise of AI-led shopping is posing a conundrum for retailers like Walmart and Amazon: how to enable AI agents to shop on their websites, without threatening their lucrativ...
Analysis-AI shopping agents could threaten Amazon and Walmart’s ad business
By Juveria Tabassum, Nicholas P. Brown and Arriana McLymore Nov 4 (Reuters) - The rise of AI-led shopping is posing a conundrum for retailers like Walmart and Amazon: how to enable AI agents to shop on their websites, without threatening their lucrativ...
Department of Political Science welcomes new leadership
The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Department of Political Science welcomed William Franko as the new department chair and Vito D’Orazio as the director of graduate studies
Department of Political Science welcomes new leadership
The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Department of Political Science welcomed William Franko as the new department chair and Vito D’Orazio as the director of graduate studies
Regional business leaders share their perspectives on giving back
This month we asked: In what ways does your organization give back to the community?
Video: McKennie joins Juventus group training before AZ Alkmaar clash
Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie trained with his teammates at Continassa this morning, on the eve of a Europa League game against AZ Alkmaar.Juventus are preparing for Thursday’s away Europa Lea...
Sanford Health Column: Keeping human connection at the heart of healthcare
When used appropriately, AI documentation can make a visit feel more personal, not less. Instead of dividing attention between a patient and a computer screen, a clinician may be able to focus more fully on the conversation.
Report Milan agree record 50m-a-year Adidas kit deal
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Milan have reached a record €50m-a-year agreement with kit manufacturer Adidas, which will design the Rossoneri’s shirt for ten years starting in 2028.Milan wi...
St. Monica High reaches flag football final in inaugural season
St. Monica put together its girls' flag football program for this season and they'll be playing for the Southern Section Division 6 championship.
‘Extreme’ orchestra feat coming to Paramount Theatre
Acclaimed pianist Stewart Goodyear joins Orchestra Iowa at Cedar Rapids’ Paramount Theatre on Nov. 14-15 to perform all five Beethoven piano concertos in chronological order across two days.
HCPSS Teams Up with Student Group to Drive Student Interest in and Understanding of Coding, Computer Science, and Artificial Intelligence
Several years ago, Julie Wray and Carrie Trudden, Howard County Public School System’s (HCPSS) then- and current coordinators of Instructional Technology, began receiving emails from a group called Howard County Hour of Code (HocoHOC). At the time, Wray and Trudden were unfamiliar with the group and skeptical about its offer to partner with the district […]
Rising Stars: Publicis Health’s Ariel Rabinowitz knows what it takes to 'meet people where they are'
Marketing was always the plan for Ariel Rabinowitz, who felt a pull to an agency job in New York City upon graduating from Syracuse University with a dual degree in marketing and advertising. | Publicis Health’s Ariel Rabinowitz learned lessons about health literacy, trust and access firsthand while teaching at a school in the Bronx.
‘Arrested Development’ alum David Cross coming to Iowa City
Comedian David Cross, known for his work on “Mr. Show” and “Arrested Development,” talked with The Gazette about fatherhood, his career and more ahead of his appearance Nov. 10 at
State employees to see small jump in health premiums under new PEIA proposal
During a hearing Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, the PEIA Finance Board released a plan that raised health insurance premiums 2% next year. This affects West Virginia state government employees.
Jayson Tatum diagnoses Celtics' main early season struggle
After breaking their five-game winning streak to the Rockets, Jayson Tatum had a major insight on what the Celtics led by Coach Joe Mazzulla are struggling with.
Fit Tips: The science of recalling your forgotten glutes
To fix gluteal amnesia (or “dead butt syndrome”), you need to stretch tight hip flexors and retrain your brain to fire your glute muscles using targeted activation exercises. Movement is how you remind your glutes what they’re capable of doing.
'Full-time job to keep up with it': Drug pricing program changes worry WV clinic
Beginning in 2027, Trump administration changes to the federal 340B drug pricing program will increase the purchasing and administrative costs for eligible clinics, including in West Virginia, which will have to pay up front for the drugs and seek rebates from drug manufacturers.
Is One Stalled Business Reason Enough To Sell Zoom Stock?
For questions about this article or underlying research, email help@trefis.com.The growth outlook for the Online business is the one number that should worry a Zoom Communications (ZM) holder, though the concern remains a moderate one. Online brought in about 38% of Zoom's revenue in fiscal Q2 2027.
'Richard Avedon: Hollywood' is now on view at Gagosian in L.A.
A new exhibit at Gagosian, 'Richard Avedon: Hollywood,' features more than 120 images, spanning from 1947 to the year Avedon died in 2004.
Marc Maron is figuring out what to do with all his free time
After ending ‘WTF With Marc Maron,’ the comedian is embracing privacy, pursuing new projects and figuring out life beyond the microphone.
Outback franchisee files for bankruptcy, citing California labor costs
San Diego-based Cerca Trova Restaurant Group, which once operated nearly 100 Outback Steakhouse restaurants, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday.
Election 2026 live updates: Democrats take Congress as Trump distances himself from historic losses
Democrats have taken control of the House and Senate and are poised to launch a wave of investigations into President Donald Trump's administration.
These 9 candidates for governor just made history
Voters on Tuesday elected the nation's first Black woman governor and the nation's first Native American woman governor.
This 4-billion-year-old Martian meteorite fell to Earth – and scientists used a genius trick to work out exactly where it came from | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Scientists have discovered that Mars meteorite Teghaza 001 is in fact one of the oldest Martian meteorites ever discovered.
Benefits Can Help Older Adults Stretch Their Budgets and Protect Their Health
Every year, older adults leave $58 billion in benefits unused, money that could help cover groceries and prescriptions.
DAZN Pulse: Miami wins college football's bizarre Midterm Elections
Miami Hurricanes take center stage in college football’s bizarre midterm elections, with the latest headlines, analysis and reaction. Read more at DAZN News.
Today’s Papers
La Gazzetta dello SportReal InterThe Nerazzurri restart in style: Feyenoord crushedBisseck opens the account, then Pio and Zielinski score. Chivu keeps climbing the table: ‘Our best version.’Roma ...
Colorado measure banning transgender athletes from gendered sports is too close to call
Proposition 134 would prohibit athletes it defines as male from playing on female sports teams, though it provides exceptions for athletes it defined as female who want to play on boys teams
Arizona voters poised to approve restrictions on transgender athletes
A ballot measure that would restrict transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports appeared headed to approval Tuesday night.
Lewiston’s mayor faces runoff after a tumultuous year in city politics
Challenger Rick LaChapelle had 45.7% of votes to 35.3% for Mayor Carl Sheline, according to unofficial results.
St. Albert the Great Academy: Finding amazement in agrarian science
St. Albert the Great is typically remembered in history by his Latin title, "Albertus Magnus." This Dominican abbot and bishop in the Catholic Church is remembered not just for his
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.
Susan Collins concedes race to Troy Jackson in stunning political upset
The election all but ends the political career of one of Maine’s most famous and scrutinized elected officials.
SC secretary of state wins 7th term leading office for business filings
South Carolina’s longtime secretary of state, Mark Hammond, won a seventh term in office.
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.
These college students launched legal tech startup during finals week
Raphael Lim and Jamison Teng have had to sacrifice social life, grades, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training to build up Jam & Raph.
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.
Early results show AZ voters backing Prop. 318, restricting transgender student sports, bathrooms
Early returns show a ballot measure to ban transgender students from using preferred bathrooms and locker rooms is leading in the polls.
What Becerra's historic win says about Latino political power in California
Many voters were already shrugging about the significance of Xavier Becerra’s likely victory — especially Latinos. Only 45% of Latino voters felt “proud” about the prospect of a Latino governor, according to a recent poll.
Democrat James Talarico wins election to U.S. Senate from Texas
Democrat James Talarico wins election to U.S. Senate from Texas.
Michigan votes in favor of Proposal 2 to get ‘Money Out of Politics,’ AP projects
Watch News 10+ for continuing election coverage
WATCH: Democrat Chris Pappas speaks after winning New Hampshire Senate seat
Pappas, a four-term House member, said his U.S. Senate victory is proof that Washington needs a "new generation at the table to fix things."
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ prison release date moved up following transfer
The disgraced music mogul is now projected to be released in early 2028 following a transfer to a low-security facility in Pennsylvania.
Billy Evans discusses full frontal nudity in 'You Can See Everything'
Billy Evans, the partner of former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes and 'You Can See Everything' antagonist, addresses hot topics from Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s new documentary in a candid AMA.
Jon Ossoff wins reelection in Georgia, easily defeating Republican Mike Collins
A year ago, the Georgia Senate race was considered one of the cycle's marquee Senate showdowns. In the end, Ossoff easily defeated Collins.
The Last Disney+ Original?
(Welcome to my weekly streaming ratings report, the single best guide to what’s popular in streaming TV and what isn’t. I’m the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming executive who now analyzes business strategy in the entertainment industry. If you were forwarded this email, please subscribe to get these insights each week.) Before we get going, I wanted to remind readers about how I plan to keep your trust while I add advertising to this newsletter. As you’ve no doubt noticed, I’m running ads now, but the danger is that it could impact my analysis and writing. I have a list of sponsors on my About Page, so if you think I’m biased, you can check out who’s sponsored this newsletter! This is something that I’m not sure anyone else in digital media does (if you’re a writer or media outlet and you do this, let me know and I’ll shout you out!) but it’s something I’d love to see embraced by the entire industry. Sunlight, i.e. transparency, is often the best disinfectant. Okay, on to this week’s issue. We (finally) have another major Disney+ TV show to talk about, so that’s my main focus for today. Plus, we had a lot of new shows come out, including the fourth seasons of The Diplomat and Tulsa King! And Love is Blind! The Lowdown! Also, four (four!) straight-to-streaming films came out this week, featuring a lot of big names and celebrities, so I’m going to look at those. All that, mixed news for the WNBA, Reacher ends its run on the charts, Skydance does well in September viewership, NYU’s Sundance dominance, all the flops, bombs and misses, and a whole lot more. Let’s dive right in! (Reminder: The streaming ratings report focuses on the U.S. market and compiles data from Nielsen’s weekly top ten viewership ranks, Luminate’s Top Ten Data, JustWatch and Reelgood interest data, Samba TV household viewership, company datecdotes, Netflix hours viewed data, Google Trends, and IMDb to determine the most popular content. While most data points are current, Nielsen’s data covers the weeks of October 12th to October 18th, 2026. You can find a link to my terminology here.) Subscribe Television - Disney+’s Porridge Problem Listen, per my headline, VisionQuest isn’t the last Disney+ Original. At least, I’m pretty sure it’s not. They have other MCU shows in development. Well, maybe one: But it sure feels like the end of an era. I’d call it their “porridge too hot” era, to quote myself from The Ringer. I told Ben Lindbergh that Disney+ seemingly couldn’t figure out the right amount of content. In the heights of the Streaming Bubble Era (circa 2019 to 2022), they started releasing an insane amount of TV shows. After their growth slowed, they’re down to two or three shows a year, and that might be down to 1 by 2027. Here’s my TV shows by year chart: Even at the time, I thought Disney was making too many shows (that cost too much). Today? They’re definitely making too few shows (though the budgets are more in check, at least according to the reporting). Porridge too hot, porridge too cold; too many shows, now not enough. Which makes evaluating VisionQuest so interesting. This show didn’t have a great lead-in, whether it be a Marvel Cinematic Universe film (the last non-Sony-produced-Spider-Man flick came out The Fantastic Four from July of 2025) or Marvel Cinematic Universe TV show (the two this year were Wonder Man back in January and _Daredevil: Born Again_in May, both of which underwhelmed). And so far, VisionQuest hasn’t quite recaptured the MCU Originals glory, but it has some signs of sparks. First, it made Samba TV, though at a lowly ninth place. At least it made it, a feat some other Marvel shows didn’t accomplish. (Ironheart landed on the Samba TV charts one week at tenth place, but Wonder Man and Daredevil: Born Again both missed.) VisionQuest also made Luminate, though with only 3.0 and 7.6 million hours. But it missed Nielsen in its first week. The best news might be its 7.8 on IMDb, on 12K reviews so far, great numbers, even for a superhero show. Looking at those numbers, this show will really need to pick up in future weeks—and it may since it’s coming out weekly—or Disney will have another disappointment on its hands. Disney+ binge-released their last few shows to try to boost numbers, but that meant shows like Iron Heart and Wonder Man didn’t last long on the charts. _Daredevil: Born Again’s_last season missed entirely (though it came out weekly). Here’s the Disney+ Originals by totals: And for a fun new look, here are those same shows, rearranged by the years they came out: That really shows that, in addition to Disney+ releasing fewer shows, those shows just don’t hit like they once did. If I had to offer one main explanation, it’s that Marvel Studios moved away from characters who starred in the Avengersmovies (The Scarlett Witch, Vision, Hawkeye, Loki, Falcon, Winter Soldier) to characters who didn’t (Moon Knight, She-Hulk, Iron Heart, Wonder Man, Daredevil). It sounds trite, but more popular IP tends to do better than less popular IP. In Marvel’s case, beloved, decades-old characters trump newer ones. And yes, I think this is a problem for Disney. The failure of Marvel TV shows to linger for weeks on the charts, unlike in 2021 and 2022, explains why Disney’s share of the charts has plummeted: That’s a strategic issue. Yes, these shows are really expensive, but without them, Disney+ will struggle, especially if Disney+ keeps raising prices AND licenses out its shows non-exclusively. My recommendation? Return to the core value proposition, which is Disney+ as “genre HBO”. The goal is six shows a year, coming out weekly, spaced out throughout the year. When a show hits, keep it coming back. Make three to four of those shows Marvel or Star Wars, and fill out the rest with IP swings like Percy Jackson, Goosebumps or something like National Treasure. And make YA-skewing shows like Coven Academy to fill out the schedule. Disney, you can get this porridge just right, er, make the right number of shows. Quick Notes on TV Netflix’s sophomore, er, junior, er, senior season slump abated very, very slightly this week. I speak of The Diplomat, which returned for its fourth season on 15-Oct. Credit where credit is due, this show debuted in April of 2023, and has put out new seasons every year since. Has that helped the viewership? Not really. This season opened to 16.4 million hours, which is down significantly from the first season (21.7 million hours) and down somewhat from the second season (18.0 million hours), but it is up from last year’s 14.2 million hours opening. On Samba TV, it opened to third place; that’s also very good. On Luminate, it opened to 25.0 million hours, which is good, but over thirty million hours is a hit on that platform. Netflix wisely renewed it, since it’s steady and, frankly, Netflix needs hits.1 Paramount+ put out Tulsa King’s fourth season on a Friday. After putting out most of their big, usually-Taylor Sheridan-scripted shows out on Sundays last year, they’ve clearly moved to Fridays going forward. Was this a thought-out strategic change, Netflix mimicry, or a data-inspired move? Tough to say. Fridays are crowded with new movies, but so are Sundays with new shows. Anyways, this one is coming out weekly, and we haven’t seen it hit the Nielsen or Luminate charts yet. But it did make Samba TV at fifth place, which is a good opening. Still, if this doesn’t make Luminate or Nielsen next week, I’d call it a disappointment. Netflix had two unscripted shows hit the charts this week, one a docu-series and one a reality competition show. Tyson is a four-episode docu-series about one of boxing’s most popular fighters, and it made both the Samba TV and Luminate charts, but not Nielsen. That’s a solid run for only four episodes (assuming it didn’t cost an arm and a leg to produce). Netflix’s latest season of Love Is Blind also returned for its eleventh season, which opened to 10.0 million hours, down from previous seasons. It also had 11.0 million hours according to Luminate, roughly in line with the Nielsen numbers. Last issue, I analyzed the triple successes of Below, Carrie and Crystal Lake, noting that all three have done well. I mostly used Nielsen, but all three shows also made Samba TV (see above). Crystal Lake in particular did very well on Luminate, getting 35.0 million hours, top for Peacock among first seasons: The top “show” of the week would have been Thursday Night Football again, at 41.7 million hours. This is still above last year’s game, but it continues the season’s overall downward trend, which happens every year. (Though a big week is coming, based on the news stories I’ve seen.) As I said before, I’ll do a deeper dive on all the October games later this month, with comparisons to previous years. One company is quietly on a roll, when you consider the shows it makes and streams. I speak of Skydance—a point Variety made—noting that it produces Neagley and Reacher for Amazon, along with Paramount+’s Lioness, which means it produced three of the top four shows of September according to Nielsen. By the way, Neagley fell off the Nielsen charts after four weeks, which is a pinch short for how well it started, but it’s still a huge success. (Interestingly, it finished just 7.3 million hours ahead of the cancelled Ride or Die.) The point, though, which I’ve made before, is that Prime Video still has a problem with how many co-productions it buys, most notably _The Boys_from Sony and Reacher/Jack Ryan from Skydance. It’s not a critical flaw—everyone licenses shows—but Amazon still struggles to make its own hits. Reacher finally fell off the Nielsen charts, so here’s its final rank for season four: We’re just getting started with this issue, but the rest is for paid subscribers of the Entertainment Strategy Guy, so if you’d like to find out… ...An example of the algorithm NOT picking a film… …whether or not Netflix buys shows simply for the movie poster… ...if East of Eden is above the Obliterated Line... ...what four star-studded straight-to-streaming films didn’t chart... ...and a whole lot more... ...please subscribe! We can only keep doing this great work with your support. If you want an idea of just how much content you’d get in a full issue, check out this older issue.
Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass—Part 2: Dazzling Decorations Available December 9
The Pokémon Pokopia Expansion Pass—Part 2: Dazzling Decorations paid DLC arrives December 9, 2026.
IUP, IRMC announce plans for fifth annual Rural Health Conference at KCAC
Plans announced for fifth annual Rural Health Conference at KCAC.
Ex-FanDuel executive to lead Empire State Building’s observatory business
Tourist attraction sees third-quarter attendance drop 26% as income falls 41%
Jets sign OL Blake Freeland off Bengals' practice squad
The Jets signed offensive tackle Blake Freeland off the Bengals' practice squad, the team announced Tuesday.
Banks moving to provide AI toolkits to small-business clients
Huntington plans to roll out an AI operating system aimed at time-strapped owner-operators. Goldman Sachs is focusing on education and research.
Community rallies around Akron catering business owner after fire destroys home
An Akron catering business owner known for feeding and helping others is now receiving an outpouring of support after a fire destroyed her home and nearly all of her belongings.
Disney has fought AI firms over copyright. Now it’s testing AI lyric videos.
Disney is working with AI startup OpenArt to conceptualize lyric videos, starting with ‘Go the Distance’ from ‘Hercules.’
Health Brief: Health care’s election night watch list
The health care stakes in the fight for Congress, key governor’s races and ballot measures
Nicole Taylor, one of band Taylor Red's identical triplets, dies at 35
Nicole Taylor, one of country band Taylor Red's identical triplets, has died. The singer succumbed to breast cancer at 35.
LIVE SCORE UPDATES & ANALYSIS: Arkansas basketball vs. UAPB
Follow along as the Razorbacks play the Golden Lions at Bud Walton Arena.
Is politics pushing Americans away from religion?
Some researchers argue that political views are shaping religious affiliation rather than the other way around, a dynamic they say could be hazardous to both American politics and the country’s religious landscape
Disney plans thousands of layoffs, targeting 20% cost savings
Some of Disney’s operations, which include theme parks, TV channels and the movie studio, will be affected disproportionately.
Vendors flagged with health code violations at Taste of Chicago raises questions on food safety
Inspectors logged more than 160 violations during the festival.
Yankees take a calculated risk on Jazz Chisholm free agency
Jazz Chisholm Jr. can talk to other clubs without the draft-pick penalty attached to a qualifying offer. For the Yankees, […]
Who celebrities are voting for in the L.A. mayoral election
Jane Fonda, Samuel L. Jackson, George Lopez, Stevie Wonder, Bob Odenkirk, Mindy Kaling, Adam Scott and Jaboukie Young-White reveal whether they're voting for Karen Bass or Nithya Raman.
As local post-production dwindles, a Burbank studio makes cuts
Southern California's post-production industry has been reeling from an unprecedented industry contraction, partly due to the flight of filming to other states and countries.
Joseph Charter School broadens fire science pathways to reach more students
JOSEPH — Joseph Charter School is expanding the career possibilities connected to its fire science ...Read More
Two big office building sales show strength of owner-occupiers in Cleveland market
The buildings, in Independence and Beachwood, were purchased by local groups that, like other owner-occupiers, enjoy a financing advantage when it comes to office buildings.
Benefis Health System to restructure services, citing financial pressure
Benefis Health System is preparing to restructure several services in Great Falls beginning December 19 and continuing into the new year.
MSHA rolls out ‘professionalism’ training for its inspectors
“Our relationship with the mining industry is crucial to the health and safety of miners,” agency administrator Wayne Palmer said.
Rocket attacks broker conversion issues with new tool
The new app, called Quick Counter, allows brokers to build, adjust and deliver a competitive refinance loan estimate while the client is still on the phone.
Harmony at craft fair
New Harmony Jazz Band will be at the Davis Craft & Vintage Fair in Central Park from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14. Enjoy two free sets of big
Study of janitors explores the safety and health impacts of working alone
To supervisors, finishing work on time is more important than finishing the job safely, many participants said.
Analysis | Five races that will tell us where election night is headed
A handful of House, Senate and governor’s races could signal whether a blue wave is materializing.
Twenty-five faculty receive new Provost Awards for academic excellence
Twenty-five Penn State faculty earned one of two new Provost's Awards recognizing full-time faculty of any rank, tenure-line or non-tenure-line, whose accomplishments during the current year distinguish them as top performers within their units.
watchOS 27.3 Brings Live Rewind and Siri Recap to Apple Watch
With the first beta of watchOS 27.3, Apple is introducing new Audio Intelligence features it previewed for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 earlier this year. Powered by the S11 chip, Audio Intelligence includes Live Rewind, Siri Recap, Sound Recognition, and Shazam Music Recognition. Sound Recognition and Shazam are already on the watch, but Live Rewind and Siri Recap are now available in the beta. Live Rewind can show you a transcript of the last 15 seconds of a conversation.
A downtown Royal Oak parking garage has been razed. Now the city is asking developers what’s next.
Demolition on the garage started several weeks ago.
Q2 News wants to hear what Montanans are seeing and how health insurance costs are affecting their families
Open enrollment is now underway for Montanans who buy their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. And this year's shopping might come with some sticker shock.
Gotham Sports App shut down: How to switch to DAZN
Find out what happened to the Gotham Sports app and how to watch the New York Knicks, Yankees, Rangers, Islanders and more on DAZN, including subscriptions, pricing and supported devices.
Nov. 5 talk: Using chemical vapor deposition to improve battery materials
Jeffrey Elam, senior chemist and Argonne Distinguished Fellow at Argonne National Laboratory, will present “Chemical vapor fictionization of battery materials” at 3:05 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5, in 10 Sparks Building on the University Park campus.
Hospital School Program opens new classroom at Monroe Carell
The K-12 Hospital School Program recently opened its new classroom located on the 14th floor of Monroe Carell.
Google researchers demand freedom to tell the world what they know about AI
Employees said that employment contracts at Google's AI division deter workers from speaking out about the dangers of the technology.
North Atlantic’s ‘cold blob’ may contain climate nuance
Climate observers have long tied the strength of a major ocean current to water temperatures in the so-called “cold blob” in the North Atlantic Ocean. New models signal that the relationship between the "blob" and the major ocean current driving its colder temperatures is more dynamic than previously understood.
Your Apple Watch Can Automatically Identify Songs Around You
Ever been in a situation where you hear a song in a cafe, a shop, or a car, and wonder what it is? On the latest Apple Watch models, your watch can work it out for you, and you don't even need to ask. The music doesn't have to be playing on the watch. It just needs to be audible around you. Apple Watch does the rest. It's all thanks to a new automatic feature in iOS 27 called Music Recognition, which is just one of Apple's new Audio Intelligence features.
XBOX just launched one of the greatest gaming handheld bundles I've ever seen
A lot of people are going to buy a gaming handheld or Windows PC for the holidays. Microsoft's latest promotion throws in more than $500 worth of games for free.
Aaron Glenn on job security: I understand the business, but only think about the team
The Jets' loss to the Raiders in Week 8 dropped them to 2-6 and it left their record since hiring head coach Aaron Glenn at an unimpressive 5-20.
Arc Raiders devs say that using generative AI voice acting was necessary as actors "would just go crazy if they had to read all of that"
In a new video released by Embark Studios, audio director Bence Pajor spoke on the process of using generative AI and how he believes it was a benefit for VA's.
How big-name hedge funds performed in a volatile October
Funds had to contend with tech sell-offs, shaky credit markets, and a surprise election in Brazil.