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What Dallas Mavericks, Klay Thompson Buyout Means for Organization
The Dallas Mavericks are very clearly heading into a new era.From hiring Masai Ujiri as the franchise’s lead executive, to moving on from Jason Kidd to Dusty May as head coach – there’s little secret that Dallas is turning a new leaf.This much is continuing to be true with the franchise’s announcement that Klay Thompson […] The post What Dallas Mavericks, Klay Thompson Buyout Means for Organization appeared first on HEAVY.
iPhone Ultra lands September 18 at $2,000 and kills the visible crease
Every foldable phone you have ever held has a crease in the middle of the display, and that crease has been the category's most embarrassing open secret since 2019. Samsung has refined it, minimized it, and shot their devices in lighting specifically designed to hide it. Google's Pixel Fold was a little better. The Honor
Scientists finally know why astronauts struggle to poop in space — and reveal a hidden risk of long-haul spaceflight
A new NASA-backed study has pinpointed why astronauts often experience constipation in space and how that might affect their health on long-haul missions to Mars and beyond.
UCO FSI Celebrates a Decade of Training Forensic Science Educators Across the Nation
The University of Central Oklahoma’s W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute (FSI) recently welcomed 30 middle and high school science teachers from across the country for its 10th annual High School Teachers Forensic Science Curriculum Training.
Beyond the Business Card: Networking to Drive Growth
J. Michael Fischer Jr. discusses networking strategies to grow your career and achieve dealmaking success
This iOS 27 Shortcut Stopped My Mindless Scrolling
I could just delete the addictive social media apps, but what’s the fun in that?
Scientists catch a hidden electronic state forming in just 30 femtoseconds
Scientists watched a light-triggered hidden state form inside a material in only 30 femtoseconds, revealing a step that had never been seen before. The material first entered a fleeting electronic state in which its bonds reorganized in a repeating pattern, followed by tiny atomic shifts. This ultrafast pathway could offer a new way to control electronic properties with light and help inspire faster, more responsive technologies.
Most Americans aren't anti-vaccine. They're uncertain — and that's a growing public health challenge
The bigger issue at hand may be that many Americans fall into a large, uncertain middle ground – neither firmly pro-vaccine nor staunchly opposed.
Camera AirPods Code Reveals Image Capture Resolution, Status Light, Person Detection, and More
Apple is working on camera-equipped AirPods, as indicated by various reports and a demo video of them in action discovered earlier this week. The video was found by MacRumors in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate, but it turns out there are even more details in the code. MacRumors forum member mactracker has discovered a hidden macOS framework called "AccessorySensorManager" that manages sensor data from the AirPods when they are connected to a Mac.
Why 'science-backed' is becoming an important label in wellness
Social media is the go-to place for wellness content today. Influencers promote everything from health tips to supplements and provide education on numerous health issues. Wellness content has even led viewers to seek help or get a diagnosis. However, wellness content is largely riddled with misinformation and conflicting advice. Influencers are encouraged to make
Hidden magnetism inside atoms may explain mysterious gamma rays
For decades, scientists have puzzled over why certain atomic nuclei unexpectedly produce large numbers of low-energy gamma rays. A new experiment traced the effect to magnetic changes inside the nucleus, where protons and neutrons effectively flip their tiny internal magnets. The discovery could sharpen models of everything from nuclear reactions on Earth to the creation of heavy elements in stars and neutron star mergers.
Texas, Iowa Senate races shift to toss ups: Cook Political Report
The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report shifted its ratings for both the Texas and Iowa Senate races to “toss ups” on Thursday as Republicans grapple with a scandal-ridden candid…
A Hidden Pattern in Your Saliva Can Predict Risk of Colorectal Cancer, Study Finds
Easier to check this end.
Experimenting with Science and Structure in Government
"What excites me is that it's very tempting to be very discouraged, and say, ‘Oh, we've got these archaic institutions that are calcified and you could never change them.’ But I think we're in the middle of a technological revolution that will upend lots of things, and does provide a window."
Scientists crushed diamond beyond Neptune-like pressures—and solved a 20-year mystery
Extreme experiments have revealed how diamond behaves at crushing pressures beyond those inside Neptune and Uranus, resolving a decades-old conflict between theory and observation. The results could help scientists boost fusion energy output while revealing more about the exotic diamond rain hidden inside ice giant planets.
Registration open for Albemarle Park & Rec middle school sports
Albemarle County Parks and Recreation opened registration for fall middle school sports.
Mass. hopes to create an umbrella agency to regulate youth sports
Massachusetts lawmakers are aiming to be the first to create a statewide agency that would regulate sports for elementary and middle school-aged athletes.
Ex-counterterrorism chief advocates for Trump to 'walk away from' Iran war, yank troops out of Middle East
Former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent is advocating for President Donald Trump to get the U.S. out of the Iran war and remove U.S. troops from the Middle East.
NASA Study Reveals Hidden Stage of Arctic Freeze
As autumn gives way to winter across the Arctic, the ground doesn’t immediately freeze solid. Instead, soils often linger near the freezing point for days or
I hid a speakeasy in a gas station and now the business brings in about $5 million a year
Tony Donatell, 46, took over an failing gas station and convenience store in 2024. Since Donatell opened a hidden bar in the space in May 2025 called The Farmer's Cellar, the business — which includes the speakeasy, the convenience store and the gas station itself — has brought in almost $5 million in revenue in one year and is profitable.
Surrounded yet alone: The hidden loneliness behind Israel’s mental health crisis
A large and important study of online mental health support, conducted by the University of Haifa and Ben-Gurion University, analyzed real-time helpline data following the October 7 massacre.
Pollen has a surprising problem — and honeybees have found a way around it
Honeybees can apparently detect when their food has the wrong balance of essential nutrients and adjust how much they eat to avoid potentially harmful excesses. They also transform pollen into remarkably well-balanced “baby food” for their larvae, revealing a sophisticated nutritional strategy hidden inside the hive.
16 mummies and a dog reveal a hidden order inside an ancient Egyptian tomb
A tomb in Egypt’s Theban Necropolis reveals a surprisingly organized story of burial, reuse, and changing beliefs spanning hundreds of years. Researchers found 16 mummified people, the remains of at least four more, and a mummified dog, with burials ranging from wealthy individuals laid in coffins with amulets and imported goods to later bodies carefully stacked in increasingly crowded spaces.
New medical office building at Three Rivers Health to replace 3 others damaged in tornado
WWMT-TV Newschannel 3 provides local news, weather forecasts, notices of events and entertainment programming for Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, South Haven, Paw Paw, Portage, Otsego, Texas Township, Oshtemo, Plainwell, Allegan, Holland, Saugatuck, Holland, Wayland, Kentwood, Middleville, Hastings, Marshall, Three Rivers, Sturgis, Constantine, Coldwater, Albion, Wyoming, Hudsonville, Allendale, Byron Center, Hudsonville, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Sparta, Rockford, Belding, Greenville, Ionia, Cedar Springs and their surrounding areas.
The hidden health cost of dollar store groceries
New UC Riverside research shows a link between dollar store food quality and higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.
Vermont student survey shows improvements in mental health, declines in substance use
The latest survey of Vermont high school and middle schoolers shows improvements in mental health and declines in vaping, alcohol and marijuana use, according to the Vermont Department of Health
A popular sleeping pill stuns scientists with unexpected Alzheimer’s breakthrough - Futura-Sciences
An Unlikely Ally Hidden in the Medicine Cabinet Alzheimer’s disease, the bane of an aging brain, might just have found itself an unexpected friend right in our own pharmacies. Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis have shed new light on the connection between sleep and brain health. They found...
Maternal mental health in focus following Lindsay Clancy murder trial
The Lindsay Clancy trial highlights the critical issue of maternal mental health. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Bober joins to discuss postpartum depression, its hidden dangers and symptoms to watch out for.
Oil climbs as fading US-Iran peace hopes raise supply risks
Oil prices rose on Tuesday as a deal to end the Middle East war seemed further out of sight with Iran saying it will adopt a more offensive stance and the U.S. ruling out extending a ceasefire agreement, heightening worries about energy supply.
Congressional hearing in Biddeford examines ICE shooting
Political leaders and activists testified Monday at a special hearing in Biddeford regarding the July 13 shooting death of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero by an ICE agent.
Roane State inks articulation agreements with MTSU for aerospace and fire science pathways
HARRIMAN, Tenn. — Roane State and Middle Tennessee State University have signed articulation agreements partnering with Tennessee Flight Training and supporting streamlined transfer opportunities for students pursuing two of the community college’s newest offerings — aerospace and fire science. Presidents from both institutions, along with the president of Tennessee Flight Training, met at Roane State’s campus in Cumberland County on […]
The problem with Trump’s foreign policy by empty threat
Monday should be a very scary day for the small Middle Eastern country of Oman after a threat from President Donald Trump. But he’s done this before.
The hidden politics of time: How clocks, calendars — and now-contentious time zones
NEW YORK (AP) — It flies. It heals all wounds. It can be of the essence, and it can be money. We thrill in the best of it, lament the worst. We’re warned not to waste it, since we can’t turn it back — even as we try to make up for when it’s lost. […]
Making computer science more accessible beyond English
When Siddhartha Jayanti sat down to write the first computer science paper in Telugu, an Indian language with approximately 100 million speakers, he realized he first had to solve a problem that had little ...
Will the AI bubble break American politics?
Is the massive investment in artificial intelligence creating a catastrophic economic bubble? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Damir Marusic sits down with Impact Theory co-founder Tom Bilyeu to break down the risks of AI-driven debt, shadow banking, and fast-depreciating GPU hardware. They examine how an AI market correction could ignite political extremism, critique US fiscal policy under Donald Trump, and discuss what it will take to rebuild the American middle class.
The hidden politics of time: How clocks, calendars — and now-contentious time zones
Experts explore how the social and political construction of time has evolved from ancient natural rhythms to modern standardized systems like time zones and daylight saving time.
Scientists Uncovered a Hidden Switch Inside Our Cells That Could Slow—or Even Reverse—Aging
Mitochondria have long been understood as the powerhouse of the cell. Are they also the powerhouse of rejuvenation?
Middlesbrough 2-1 Lincoln
Middlesbrough and Lincoln City fans react to their Championship meeting on Saturday.
USS Washington to relieve USS Lincoln after concerns about the crew's mental health
The carrier USS Washington is on its way to the Middle East to relieve the USS Lincoln. The Lincoln has been at the center of concerns over crew mental health and a lack of fresh food and supplies.
Lankshear outlines Premier League dream with Boro
Middlesbrough's new goalscoring hero Will Lankshear says his dream is "to play in the Premier League" and that his team-mates share that ambition.
Mind hacking: Stanford neuroscientist seeks to decode the brain’s toughest riddles
Stanford neuroscientist Karl Deisseroth is decoding the human brain to understand how our emotions are formed.
Tresean Gore Reacts to Career-Best UFC 330 Victory
UFC middleweight Tresean Gore shared his reaction to defeating Vicente Luque via unanimous decision at UFC 330.Gore picked apart Luque on the feet for the majority of the 15 minutes and was able to avoid his opponent’s submission attempts to win his second straight fights inside the Octagon after finishing Azamat Bekoev in his last […] The post Tresean Gore Reacts to Career-Best UFC 330 Victory appeared first on HEAVY.
Vicente Luque Releases Statement After UFC 330 Defeat
Longtime UFC fighter Vicente Luque released a statement following a unanimous decision defeat to Tresean Gore at UFC 330.Luque was outpointed by three rounds by the younger, faster, and more powerful Gore as he lost a unanimous decision in his second fight at middleweight, following a successful debut in the weight class earlier this year […] The post Vicente Luque Releases Statement After UFC 330 Defeat appeared first on HEAVY.
CNBC Daily Open: U.S. Navy faces mental health challenges as Mideast conflict drags on
Mental health challenges aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are raising concerns over the health of U.S. soldiers, as the Middle-East conflict drags on.
Oil treads water as US-Iran peace talks stall, Hormuz shipping slows
Oil prices barely moved in early trade on Monday as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed over the weekend with no peace deal in sight between the United States and Iran to end the conflict in the Middle East.
Concerns over conditions aboard the USS Lincoln, mental health impacts
Congressional lawmakers are demanding more information about conditions aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, which is deployed in the Middle East. Democrats are raising questions about supply shortages, water contamination and deteriorating mental health.
Admiral Claims USS Abraham Lincoln’s Mental Health Cases Are Relatively Low—Despite Reported Crisis
The USS Abraham Lincoln has been supporting military operations in the Middle East against Iran for more than 260 days.
Former Joint Chiefs chair: Truth about issues on USS Abraham Lincoln ‘somewhere in the middle’
Retired Adm. Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Sunday the truth about the reported mental health concerns among service members on board the USS Abraham Lincoln is…
U.S. pulls last aircraft carrier in Asia as Trump focuses on other regions
The USS George Washington is departing the Pacific and expected to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East
Medieval times? You’re living in them
As they lose trust in public institutions and the health care system, people are increasingly turning to Middles Ages-style wisdom to cure what ails them.
Why the middle of the country is back in the center of American politics
The heartland Democrat is making a comeback.
A Hidden Cause of Aging May Spread From Deep Inside Your Bones
Could bones become a target for reducing age-related inflammation?
Shields eyes Price after dominant middleweight return
Claressa Shields makes a powerful return to middleweight, stopping Kaye Scott in the sixth round to reclaim the WBA and WBC titles in Atlanta.
Voices: Paul Jaglowski, Partner, Experience Management, Relias
This article is sponsored by Relias. Experience data only matters when organizations can act on it. For behavioral health, ABA, and IDD providers,
Physicists discover a hidden gluon structure inside protons that could rewrite textbooks
Physicists may have uncovered a hidden feature inside protons that helps preserve one of matter’s most fundamental properties. RHIC collision data suggest baryon number is carried not simply by three quarks, but by a Y-shaped junction of the gluons connecting them. The finding challenges a decades-old textbook picture and could deepen our understanding of why protons—and ultimately matter itself—remain stable.
Shedeur Sanders throws for 79 yards, an interception vs. Bears
After quarterback Deshaun Watson had a so-so first half against the Bears, throwing for 126 yards, Shedeur Sanders also had a middling performance in the second half of the Browns’ first preseason game.
Russia’s role in Middle East politics endures, shifts to being ‘secondary power’
Two Russian military bases will remain in Syria as the region continues to recalibrate its relations with major powers amid the Iran war.
Middle School student agendas contain misspelled states and science errors, raising AI questions
A student agenda at Farnsley Middle School misspelled state names on a U.S. map and contained science errors. Jefferson County Public Schools says it is communicating with parents about the inaccuracies.
Middle School student agendas contain misspelled states and science errors, raising AI questions
A student agenda at Farnsley Middle School misspelled state names on a U.S. map and contained science errors. Jefferson County Public Schools says it is communicating with parents about the inaccuracies.
Trump says USS Lincoln’s deployment was ‘not nearly long enough’
President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed claims that families of service members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have concerns about conditions aboard the aircraft carrier, which has been deployed for nearly nine months supporting operations in the Middle East.
APS science teacher selected as Albert Einstein fellow at Library of Congress
An Arlington educator was honored by county school leaders this week after being selected to participate in a prestigious federal fellowship program. Daniel Bernhardt, who teaches science at Swanson Middle School, has been selected as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow and appointed teacher in residence at the Library of Congress for the 2026-27 school
Growing Into the Middle Market: How Small Businesses Size Up
National Business Capital's Joe Camberato is back on the podcast to discuss scaling small businesses with a calibrated capital stack
The hidden politics of time: How clocks, calendars — and now-contentious time zones
It flies. It heals all wounds. It can be of the essence, and it can be money. We thrill in the best of it, lament the worst. We’re warned not to waste it, since we can’t turn it back — even as we try to make up for when it’s lost.
You Don’t Always Need a Student ID for Apple’s Back-to-School Deals
Apple has a hidden certified refurbished store that offers the popular MacBook Neo for $100 off.
Immune cells flood into the aging brain, Stanford scientists discover
Scientists have discovered that the aging human brain may be far less isolated from the rest of the body than once believed. Stanford researchers found that large numbers of immune cells from the blood begin entering the brain as early as middle age, where they can transform into microglia, the brain’s specialized immune cells. The finding overturns a long-standing assumption that these cells remain largely separate from the body’s immune system throughout life.
Liberty Bank sponsors new science class at Alton Middle School
As the new school year gets ready to begin, Alton Middle School students will have a brand new class to enjoy thanks to the generosity of Liberty Bank. The class,
Georgia GOP push politics of the past, including Communism and Shariah
Republican candidates are campaigning on the types of culture war issues that have animated the GOP base for years. Some fear that could alienate voters in the middle.
The hidden politics of time: How clocks, calendars — and now-contentious time zones
Time is a concept that varies across cultures and history
The hidden politics of time: How clocks, calendars — and now-contentious time zones
NEW YORK (AP) — It flies. It heals all wounds. It can be of the essence, and it can be money. We thrill in the best of it, lament the worst. We're warned not to waste it, since we can't turn it back — even as we try to make up for when it's lost.
The hidden politics of time: How clocks, calendars — and now-contentious time zones
NEW YORK (AP) — It flies. It heals all wounds. It can be of the essence, and it can be money. We thrill in the best of it, lament the
The hidden politics of time: How clocks, calendars — and now-contentious time zones
NEW YORK (AP) — It flies. It heals all wounds. It can be of the essence, and it can be money. We thrill in the best of it, lament the worst. We’re warned not to waste it, since we can’t turn it back — even as we try to make up for when it’s lost. […]
Jared Kushner to visit Israel and Egypt next week with Board of Peace officials to talk Gaza
President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and negotiator Jared Kushner will travel to the Middle East next week to try to advance plans for an end to the conflict in Gaza after a deal recently announced by the Trump administration ran into Israeli opposition
Holiday music events feature fiddles, hymns, harmony
Music will again be a cornerstone of the Cherokee National Holiday, and visitors can avail themselves to events such as the fiddlers’ contest, gospel hymns performed in the Cherokee language,
Families concerned about reports of mental health crisis on USS Lincoln
Families of marines are voicing concern over reports about the USS Abraham Lincoln, a naval aircraft carrier based in San Diego that has been in the Middle East supporting the Iran war for over 200 days. Families say their loved ones onboard are dealing with food shortages, plumbing problems and mental health issues. NBC News’ Dan De Luce reports on the lawmakers demanding answers and the broader implication that the war in Iran is having on the military.
Another Ship Reportedly Taking USS Abraham Lincoln’s Place In Middle East After Reports Of Mental Health Crisis
The USS Abraham Lincoln has been supporting military operations in the Middle East against Iran for more than 260 days.
Computer and environmental science take flight with bird conservation collaboration
Susquehanna University’s computer science department is getting involved with bird conservation through a data management collaboration with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association.
After this week's Elder Scrolls 6 tease, fans think they've figured out its full name - and it was hidden in Starfield all along
Elder Scrolls fans are putting together clues they say confirms the full name of the series' next instalment.
Congress Face-Plants on Surprise Health Care Bills
Lawmakers wanted to reform surprise billing so patients weren’t hit with unexpected charges. But they also created a parallel system with new middlemen that is increasing health care costs.
Middle Georgia skywatchers get a sunny science lesson, eclipse or not
Even without a solar eclipse overhead, skywatchers in Middle Georgia still found a way to join in the excitement Wednesday — with a little help from science, a
Rams star names 49ers nightmare he ‘hates’ facing
“There’s nobody that covers that much space,” Nacua said. “It’s scary. The middle of the field is terrible.”
Twitch Is Now Using Your Content To Train Amazon AI Models And Has Hidden The Option To Opt Out
For now at least, you can stop Amazon from using your streams and chat to train its generative AI tools
Navy meets with USS Abraham Lincoln families over mental health worries
Navy leadership has reportedly met with the family members of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier over worries that the ongoing Middle East deployment will lead to worsening men…
Mental Health Crisis Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln—As U.S. Sailors Mark More Than 260 Days At Sea
The USS Abraham Lincoln is supporting military operations in the Middle East against Iran.
Politicians among mourners gathered for funeral service of Ann Widdecombe
Family, friends and colleagues attend service at Buckfast Abbey in Buckfastleigh, which former MP described as her ‘safe haven’
Astorg Acquires Thermo Fisher Microbiology Business, Forms Independent Company
Astorg has completed its acquisition of Thermo Fisher’s microbiology business, which will operate independently under CEO Dirk Bontridder.
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
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.
Ozempic may have revealed the brain’s hidden “craving center”
Ozempic-like drugs appear to weaken more than hunger—they may also reduce cravings for alcohol and other addictive substances. Scientists are increasingly tracing this effect to the lateral septum, a brain region that helps connect memories and surroundings with rewarding experiences. Packed with GLP-1 receptors, it may act as a crucial control point between thinking about a reward and feeling compelled to pursue it. The discovery could open new approaches to treating addiction as well as obesity.
Tennessee to execute Anthony Hines as attorneys raise concerns over health, execution team
Fox 17 provides local news, weather, sports, traffic and entertainment for Nashville and nearby towns and communities in Middle Tennessee, including Forest Hills, Brentwood, Franklin, Fairview, Dickson, Clarksville, White House, Greenbrier, Springfield, Gallatin, Hartsville, Lebanon, Mt Juliet, Smyrna, College Grove, Thompson’s Station, Centerville, Murfreesboro, Columbia, Lewisburg, Shelbyville, Manchester, McMinnville, Smithville, Sparta, Cookeville, Hohenwald, Waverly, Camden, Paris, Lafayette, Portland, and in Kentucky, Russelville, Bowling Green, Franklin, Alvaton, Scottsville, Hopkinsville, Glasgow.
Ann Widdecombe: the redoubtable Tory politician turned TV personality
Known for her uncompromising ‘carapace’, Widdecombe enjoyed a second lease of life as a TV personality later in her career
Oil rises as doubts over US-Iran deal heighten supply concerns
Oil prices rose on Wednesday morning as doubts about a U.S.-Iran peace deal and attacks on two ships fuelled concerns about Middle East supply disruptions, even as industry data showed U.S. crude inventories expanded.
Anti-ICE protestors call out Susan Collins in Biddeford
Protestors took to the streets outside of the offices of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) statewide, demanding she take responsibility for what they said was support of ICE.
Lord Of The Rings Xbox 360 Game Gets Surprise Shadow Drop For Modern Platforms
"Step into a darker, grittier Middle-earth."
Dem governor booed at Virginia Old Fiddlers' Convention
Video shows Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger greeted by loud boos at the Old Fiddlers' Convention in Galax amid sagging poll numbers.
For Eons, Human Evolution Barely Budged—Then It Exploded. Now Scientists Know Why.
A hidden force let humans smash a barrier that had trapped our ancestors for millions of years.
Latest iOS 27 Beta References Six Unreleased iPhone Models
Macworld reports that iOS 27 beta 5, released to developers on Monday, contains hidden code revealing six unreleased iPhone models – although you've probably heard of them before.
The US tried to stop cartel money-laundering. It devastated mom-and-pop businesses instead
Small businesses pay hidden toll after money-transfer rule change to curb illicit activities near the US-Mexico border
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
Australian Business Confidence Drops on Middle East Uncertainty
Australian business confidence snapped three months of gains as uncertainty over the Middle East conflict and persistent energy price strength weighed on the outlook.
I Just Had My Mind Blown By A Car Museum In The Middle Of Nowhere Built By A Scrap-Metal Magnate
Having lived in Detroit, LA, and Bavaria, and having a brother who lives in Hong Kong, I’ve been lucky enough to see some of the greatest car museums/collections this world has to offer. This past weekend, while on vacation with my family in Iowa, I saw one that surprised me and that I feel compelled […]