Podcasts about Affordable Care Act

Reports from a top artificial intelligence company that it found and stopped attempted uses of its product to manufacture a potential bioweapon caught the attention of lawmakers in Washington this week, although it is still unclear whether or when they will act to regulate the fast-moving industry. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump wants to send $500 checks to about a million enrollees in Affordable Care Act plans. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Tami Luhby of CNN, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner talks with Sabrina Corlette of the Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms about some potential fixes to the nation's health system.Visit our website to read a transcript of this episode.Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KJZZ Phoenix's “Data Shows DES Failed To Complete Most SNAP Eligibility Interviews, Resulting in Massive Cuts,” by Camryn Sanchez.  Tami Luhby: The Washington Post's “What ‘Ferritin Face' Means — And How To Tell If You May Be Iron-Deficient,” by Erica Sloan.  Anna Edney: Bloomberg News' “Patients Who Fight Health Insurance Denials Often Win,” by John Tozzi, Tanaz Meghjani, and Ike Swetlitz.  Alice Miranda Ollstein: KFF Health News' “Indigenous Groups Are Exempt From Medicaid Work Rules, but Native Hawaiians Aren't,” by Ashley Mizuo.  

“I don't need to track it. I just listen to my body,” says Ezekiel J. Emanuel, M.D., Ph.D., Ms.C.  Dr. Emanuel is an oncologist and world leader in health policy and bioethics. He is the Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania, and holds appointments in the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy in the Perelman School of Medicine and the Department of Health Care Management in the Wharton School. He is Special Advisor to the Director General of the WHO, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He was founding chair of the Department of Bioethics at the NIH. He served as a Special Advisor on Health Policy to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and National Economic Council. In this role, he was instrumental in drafting the Affordable Care Act. He served on the Biden-Harris Transition Covid Advisory Board. Dr. Emanuel is the most widely cited bioethicist in history with over 350 publications. He has authored or edited 16 books. His newest book, Eat Your Ice Cream, is out now.  00:00 - When tracking our health goes overboard 06:19 - The health markers worth testing 08:03 - Daily nutrition habits 09:34 - What it means to “eat your ice cream” 14:15 - The importance of social connection 19:12 - Why willpower fails & habits win 24:47 - Everest, introverts, & grip strength 27:52 - How purpose is linked to health 31:06 - Why & how the Emanuel brothers succeeded  35:21 - Rethinking retirement for brain health 36:42 - Age-old health wins (& that's a relief) 40:10 - Favorite ice cream shops Referenced in the episode:  For more about Emanuel, visit his website: https://www.ezekielemanuel.com/  Buy Eat Your Ice Cream here: https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Your-Ice-Cream-Healthy/dp/1324117532/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?tag=mind0a3-20  Find our episode on the rabbit cholesterol here: https://youtu.be/er3k40nlCh8?si=MxeG7IxEVnirxIoX We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: podcast@mindbodygreen.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The high profile Jews getting behind Abdul El-Sayed... plus - why are Affordable Care Act rates exploding?.. and the Trumpapoolza nonsense can't hide Trump's mismanagement of our government and of our economy.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of John Solomon Reports, host John Solomon dives into a compelling discussion with Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who is leading a bipartisan initiative to cap insulin prices at $35. As the healthcare debate heats up ahead of the fall elections, Solomon and Miller-Meeks explore the implications of this landmark legislation and the broader Republican strategy to tackle rising healthcare costs.Miller-Meeks, a physician herself, shares her insights on the impact of the Affordable Care Act on prescription drug prices and the urgent need for reform. The conversation highlights the importance of affordable insulin for millions of Americans living with diabetes and the steps being taken to ensure that no loopholes undermine the proposed cap.The episode also touches on the cultural significance of familial relationships and the potential impact of new initiatives aimed at supporting nuclear families. As the discussion unfolds, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the intersection between healthcare policy and family dynamics, and how these issues are shaping the political landscape as we approach the elections.Later in the episode, Brent Hamachek joins Solomon to discuss his new book, which provides a unique perspective on Charlie Kirk's evolution and the broader cultural shifts in America. Hamechek reflects on the importance of persuasive communication in political discourse, drawing on his experiences with Kirk.Finally, Dr. Chad Walding from NativePath provides valuable insights into the importance of hydration for muscle health, especially as we age. He emphasizes the role of hydration in maintaining independence and functional strength, offering practical advice for listeners to incorporate into their daily routines.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You can do everything “right,” hit a big retirement number, and still find out you can't afford to retire at 60. That's the uncomfortable math behind Robert and Susan's $1.6 million plan and it has nothing to do with under-saving. The real issue is where the money lives and how withdrawals show up on your tax return. When your nest egg is concentrated in a traditional 401k and IRA, the IRS takes a bite of every distribution as ordinary income, turning a simple spending goal into a much bigger tax problem than most people expect. Let's dig into the five-year gap before Medicare and why Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies can vanish if your household income crosses a hard line. For a couple, going even $1 over the threshold can wipe out the subsidy completely, which can make health insurance dramatically more expensive right when you're trying to keep retirement expenses predictable. If you're planning early retirement, the way you sequence withdrawals matters as much as your investment returns. 

Dave Rubin of "The Rubin Report" talks about Dan Bongino telling Fox News' Laura Ingraham why Abdul El-Sayed has begun to regret using Hasan Piker to get young socialist voters; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez trying to avoid any questions about Hasan Piker from the press as his latest antisemitic comments start to backfire for Democrats; Bernie Sanders trying to dismiss concerns about Hasan Piker to Politico while a clip of them together goes viral; Caleb Hammer doing a brutal financial audit of a young liberal woman who complains about the U.S. healthcare system while being forced to admit that she hasn't signed up for the health insurance provided by the Affordable Care Act; a resurfaced clip of Abdul El-Sayed attacking laws banning Sharia law that could doom his campaign; Marcus Coleman, father of Dalilah Coleman, who was killed by an illegal immigrant truck driver, calling out the fake sympathy from Democrats during a live House hearing; a news report on the Islamic Center of Clermont, Florida, being forced to withdraw its plans for a massive expansion after public outcry; and much more. Today's Sponsors: Kalshi - Download the Kalshi app and use code RUBINREPORT to get $25 when you trade $25 or go to https://kalshi.com/r/RUBINREPORT DISCLAIMER: 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Event contract trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices, values, and available markets may differ from those mentioned. For more information see kalshi.com/regulatory. Relief Factor - Relief Factor is an alternative to help your body's natural inflammatory response so you can keep doing the things you love. Try Relief Factor's 3-Week QuickStart—just $19.95 Go to: https://www.relieffactor.com or call 800-4-RELIEF.

In this episode, we speak with Chris Hamilton, Partner and Employee Benefits Practice Leader at Hotchkiss Insurance, an independent insurance agency based in Texas. With nearly 20 years of experience in corporate finance and employee benefits, Chris helps employers better understand healthcare costs, improve plan performance, and explore alternatives to traditional insurance models. Chris is also the founder of Benefits Insider, an educational platform focused on helping employers understand how healthcare financing works. Through case studies, industry insights, and practical examples, he gives business leaders the information they need to make smarter decisions about employee benefits and healthcare spending. Recognized as the 2025 BenefitsPro Advisor of the Year, Chris is a respected voice on healthcare transparency, employer-sponsored health plans, and cost-control strategies. His work helps simplify a complex system and gives employers a clearer view of the forces driving healthcare expenses. This conversation explores: ·       Chris's journey into healthcare and employee benefits ·       How the Affordable Care Act has affected employers and healthcare costs ·       The incentives influencing insurance companies, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and other healthcare stakeholders ·       Different strategies employers can use to control healthcare spending Connect with Chris: Personal Website Hotchkiss Insurance LinkedIn YouTube TikTok Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/38oMlMr 

They Called it the Affordable Care Act, but 16 Years Later Healthcare Costs are Exploding, Trump Speaks about the Midterms, MSNOW Hypes the Destruction on Black and Brown Lives Lie, and we have Panthers and Mustangs taking over the Circus

Health Affairs Publishing's Jeff Byers welcomes Dan Arnold of Brown University to discuss the rapid growth of Medicaid spending on autism treatment and the expanding role of private equity-backed providers in the applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy market. He explores the drivers behind rising costs, emerging concerns about care quality and fraud, and the challenge of balancing oversight with continued access to services for families.Related Links:The Business Of Autism Treatment: Private Equity Implications For State Medicaid Programs (Health Affairs Forefront)Sign up for Health Affairs' free newsletter to catch up on our new articles, podcasts, and events.

Here's your local news for Wednesday, August 26, 2026:Check in on the heating-up Madison Mayor RaceLearn about a new Dane County Clerk's Office Election Center on the east sideSee how Wisconsin is holding Meta accountable for the damaging effects of social media on kidsExamine how the budget cuts to the Affordable Care Act is causing Americans to become uninsuredWe'll go back in time to State street during the Vietnam warAnd Much More

Nancy Pelosi spent nearly two decades as the most powerful woman in American political history — the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives, twice over, steering the country through the financial crisis, the passage of the Affordable Care Act, and the certification of an election under siege on January 6th. In this conversation, she reflects on that career as a case study in the institution itself: what it takes to hold a fractious caucus together, what she learned seeing America through the eyes of colleagues who see it differently, and what she still believes those in Congress owe the voters who sent them to Washington.Beneath the career retrospective runs the argument that matters most: that belief in the republic must to outlast the evidence against it — that every hard call along the way was worth its cost — which is how she arrives, again and again, at the same hopeful place: the flag is still there.Is that earned, or is it the sentence Americans reach for so they don't have to ask what happens if it isn't? Casper Thomas, who spent years reporting on American politics for a Dutch audience, for both the Het Financieele Dagblad and de Groene Amsterdammer, takes up the question directly. He names the contradiction Pelosi doesn't quite resolve — a Congress unified overseas, hollowed out at home — and tests "win the election" against what actually happened the last time Democrats did exactly that. Drawing on a recent trip back to the U.S. that surprised him, we ask whether Pelosi's allusion to imagery of the national anthem  is resilience, or simply reliance on stale folklore.Out of Many, One Republic marks America's 250th anniversary by asking what actually holds a republic together once the founding generation is gone — and whether trust, once broken, can still be rebuilt from within the institutional structure itself.Support the showThe John Adams Institute is Amsterdam's home for independent American thought. John Adams himself said “Let us tenderly and kindly cherish...the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.” For four decades, we have amassed a unique archive of great thinkers, speakers and writers, from Toni Morrison to Timothy Snyder, and from Jane Fonda to Jill Lepore. It has been our pleasure to share this treasure trove of thought and word with you. In this exclusive miniseries, we're sitting down with a few prominent voices from both sides of the Atlantic to take stock of the United States, two hundred and fifty years into its experiment in self-governance. We believe John Adams would have wanted it that way – in fact he explained as much in a letter to his wife, Abigail, on 3 July 1776; “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival.”  And so, from Amsterdam, it's Bright Minds; Out of Many, One?  the podcast from the Adams Institute! If you're a friend of free thinking and the communities that support it, please, become a member. Our independence is something we cherish, and it comes with a cost. The John Adams is an independent foundation without structural subsidy, and there's always room at our table for more.Click here to find out about sponsorship or becoming a member...

A flash rainbow rewind remembers lesbian purges in the military leading to the conclusion of Pat Bond's classic tale of lesbians in the U.S. military during World War II, Murder in the WAC. In the news this week, Russia's crackdown forces the Russian LGBT Network to shut down while England offers new hope to people with drug-resistant HIV. A U.S. federal judge blocks the Trump administration from excluding gender-affirming care from the Affordable Care Act and Ohio makes it harder for trans people to change gender markers on state IDs. Canada unveils a powerful new monument honoring victims and survivors of the historic LGBT Purge. Featured speakers: Dara Adkison is Executive Director of trans equity organization, Visual artists Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Millan, Pat Bond. Credits: Associate Producer/Host Lucia Chappelle, Producer Brian DeShazor, News writer Jeb Backe, Murder in the WAC was recorded and produced by Katherine Davenport and Frieda Werden of WINGS, the Women's International News Gathering Service. NewsWrap reporters Tanya Kane-Parry and RET. a music: 14th Army WAC Band, Gail Belmont of the WAC Band and theme music by Kim Wilson.

Your rent is up, groceries cost more than they did last year, and health care still feels like a maze with a price tag attached. That's the backdrop for our Candidate Conversation with Paul Barringer, the Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in North Carolina's 13th Congressional District, where he makes the case that Congress should stop rubber-stamping and start protecting everyday people.We dig into the three issues he says are front and center for District 13 voters: affordability, health care, and corruption. Paul draws on decades of health care policy and legal work to explain why access to affordable coverage is often the difference between getting care and going without, what he believes is at stake for Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies, and why reforms have to lower the underlying cost of care, not just shift the bill around. He also lays out an anti-corruption agenda aimed at rebuilding trust, including stronger ethics rules and a push to ban stock trading by members of Congress.Then we widen the lens to what's landing locally right now: transportation and infrastructure for rapidly growing communities, the rise of hyperscale AI data centers in rural North Carolina, and the privacy risks that come with governments and contractors holding massive amounts of personal data. We close with practical voting reminders for the 2026 midterm election so you can make a plan and help your neighbors do the same.If this conversation helps you sort through the noise, subscribe, share the episode with a friend in NC, and leave a review so more voters can find it.Paul Barringer: Campaign Finance ReportFacebook/Instagram/Threads/X/Bluesky/TikTok/YouTubePaul@PaulBarringer.comVoter Information (Register, Am I Registered?, Election Information) Voter Info (Designated Polling Places, Sample Ballots, Registration Status, Voting Jurisdiction, Verify Address and Party Affiliation) Election Information (Absentee by Mail Voting, Early Voting, Election Day Voting) Early Voting - October 15-31Closest Early Voting Locations WE Hunt Recreation Center-Holly SpringsHilltop Needmore Town Park Clubhouse-Fuquay VarinaBeech Bluff County ParkWake Tech-Southern CampusELECTION DAY Tuesday, November 3 from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PMSupport the showAs always, if you are interested in being on or sponsoring the podcast or if you have any particular issues, thoughts, or questions you'd like explored on the podcast, please email NCDeepDive@gmail.com.  Your contributions would be greatly appreciated.Now, let's dive in!

August 20, 2026Republicans are trying to hide the cuts they have made to health care in the US, Republicans are working to undo the progress made with the Affordable Care Act, The work requirement they have imposed on the ACA is really a paperwork requirement, Up to 15 million people are at risk of losing Medicaid coverage, In 1883 sociologist Wiliiam Graham Sumner published an influential book that concluded that citizens owe nothing to each other, Those succeeding in the industrializing economy agreed, The Trump administration appears to embrace the belief that the nation depends upon the survival of the fittest, Robert F Kennedy's beliefs about vaccines seem to align with that idea, The US is experiencing a wave of foodborne illnesses, The administration cut back mandatory tracking of eight pathogens that had been covered by FoodNet before the administration cut six of them, The leadership positions at the CDC and FDA are vacant and need to be filled, Keeping government out of society undermined public health and safety in the past, Middle class Americans demanded regulation of the food and drug industry, ushering in reforms. Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

State regulators announced rate hikes for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans, more Cyclosporiasis cases in the Grants State and Gov. Scott wants to make changes to primary elections. Plus, listen to track of local music about “adulting” on the Friday Song.

Health Affairs Publishing's Jeff Byers welcomes Erica Socker of Georgetown University to the pod to discuss her recent Forefront article that explores how the Medicare Advantage quality bonus program is working in the wake of a Clover Health-CMS lawsuit over star ratings. They discuss the court's ruling, CMS's policy response, and why the case could become a catalyst for broader reforms to a program that now distributes billions of dollars annually. Related Links:Medicare Advantage Quality Bonus Program: Court Decisions Spotlight Flaws (Health Affairs Forefront)Sign up for Health Affairs' free newsletter to catch up on our new articles, podcasts, and events.

The Morning XTRA with Tug and Los delivers conservative talk on the biggest political, cultural, and news stories of the day. Smart analysis, unapologetic opinions, and real conversations every weekday morning. Every weekday from 6a to 10a! The 8 o'clock hour is brought to you by Central Heating & Air, your Atlanta Carrier Experts. 770-GET-HEAT, Centralheat.com Storytime Jr: You may know how we whooped the communists, but do you know how we destroyed the socialists Flashback: What Obama promised vs what was delivered Watch The Morning XTRA every weekday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the Xtra 106.3 YouTube or listen on the Xtra 106.3 App

The Morning XTRA with Tug and Los delivers conservative talk on the biggest political, cultural, and news stories of the day. Smart analysis, unapologetic opinions, and real conversations every weekday morning. Every weekday from 6a to 10a! With Tug out on vacation, Los takes the wheel as the show covers everything from the Braves, snakes, and cocaine to the latest developments in the Cal Berkeley story. He also digs into Medicare for all, hears from Tom Mitchell of The Honest Car Guy, revisits the history of defeating communism and socialism, and compares what Obama promised with what was actually delivered. Plus, Los takes a look at what actual New Yorkers think about Zohran Mamdani and asks, “When did this happen to Subaru, by the way?” Watch The Morning XTRA every weekday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the Xtra 106.3 YouTube or listen on the Xtra 106.3 App

Protect Our Care estimates that 8 million Americans have lost Medicaid, CHIP or Affordable Care Act coverage, while more than 1,100 health care providers have closed, cut services or are considered at risk. The Congressional Budget Office projects the number of uninsured Americans will rise from 30 million this year to 37 million by 2036. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thank you Tamar Kranick, Gilda Johnson, LBW, and many others for tuning into my live video!* Angie Nixon snags Democratic nomination, heads to General Election against Ashley Moody: The sitting state lawmaker and Democratic Socialists of America member overcame a massice fundraising disadvantage to win the nomination. [More]* When Voters Vote ‘F You': Republican Failure Opens the Door to Democratic Socialists: A Republican strategist admits the GOP has no real message and says MAGA voters will listen when democratic socialists address healthcare and economic anxiety. [More]* ‘Eight Million Americans Have Lost Their Healthcare': Trump-GOP Cuts Wreak Havoc in All 50 States: New fact sheets detail how people in every US state are suffering from the Republican Party's assault on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. [More] To hear more, visit egberto.substack.com

Freelance journalist Alex Jobin joined me today to discuss his piece chronicling a struggling Montgomery, Alabama hospital and its biggest creditor - Jackson Healthcare - ready to profit off its bankruptcy at the expense of local and state taxpayers. Like Georgia, Alabama refuses to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act and hospitals throughout that state or scaling back services or shuttering altogether. Fear not, though, Rick Jackson's company profits through it all, meaning - he and his company can prey on the healthcare industry when healthcare access to the poor and working poor is limited.

Health care feels personal until you try to navigate it and realize how many parts are designed to be confusing. From the Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with former Michigan U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow for a fast, candid conversation about what's working, what's breaking, and what Michigan communities need next.We start with the pressure points she's most concerned about right now: mental health access, Medicaid cuts, and affordability. Stabenow explains why community behavioral health clinics with 24-hour access matter, not just for patients in crisis, but for families, hospitals, and communities trying to keep people out of emergency rooms and jails. We also talk about rural health care in northern Michigan, where hospitals are often the biggest employer and the backbone of local access, yet many are being forced to cut beds, reduce services, or stop delivering babies.Then we zoom out to the national policy fights. Stabenow reflects on the Affordable Care Act, what she would keep, and what she would change, including her push for a public Medicare option to drive real competition. She shares a stark reminder of why “essential health benefits” matter by revisiting the days when pregnancy could be treated like a pre-existing condition and prenatal coverage was far from guaranteed. We close on prescription drug prices, Medicare Part D, and the long-running impact of blocking Medicare from negotiating prices, plus how PBMs add yet another layer of complexity.If you care about Michigan health care, rural hospitals, mental health policy, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and prescription drug costs, this one's for you. Subscribe, share this conversation with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find The Common Bridge.Support the showEngage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

Why does the United States spend more on healthcare than any other advanced nation while producing some of the poorest health outcomes? In this episode of The Rational View, I speak with Dr. John E. McDonough about the history behind America's uniquely expensive healthcare system and the argument at the center of his new book, America's Wrong Turn: US Health Care in the Neoliberal Era. John E. McDonough, DrPH, MPA, is Professor of the Practice of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He previously served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and played a key role in Massachusetts health reform and the development of the Affordable Care Act. John traces the shift from the New Deal era to the free-market philosophy that gained political power under Ronald Reagan. We discuss deregulation, Milton Friedman's influence, shareholder value, the rise of for-profit healthcare and private equity, and why these ideas had a different impact in the United States than in countries with universal healthcare. We also look at what actually works. John explains why neither public nor private healthcare is automatically efficient, what the U.S. can learn from other countries, and why seemingly promising models like capitation can create their own perverse incentives.

A new report shows homes are selling below asking price in 38 of the 50 biggest U.S. cities, a signal that the long-dominant seller's market may be finally turning. We examine what this shift means for real estate as an asset class, homebuilder stocks, and mortgage-sensitive portfolios.Today's Stocks & Topics: AeroVironment, Inc. (AVAV), Market Wrap, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN), Affordable Care Act (ACA), Onto Innovation Inc. (ONTO), U.S. Housing Market Cracks: Homes Selling Below Asking Price in 38 Major Cities, Pulse Biosciences, Inc. (PLSE), Uber Technologies, Inc. (UBER), Robinhood Markets, Inc. (HOOD), Dillard's, Inc. (DDS), Margin Debt.Our Sponsors:* Check out Anthropic and use my code Claude.ai/invest for a great deal: https://www.anthropic.com* Check out Quince and use my code quince.com/INVEST for a great deal: https://www.quince.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this episode of Health Affairs This Week, David Betts, founder and board chair at StoryFlight Labs, shares how his ALS diagnosis inspired him to launch StoryFlight Labs and develop Talk To Me Goose, an AI-powered tool that helps people with speech-limiting conditions retain their voice and communicate with loved ones. He discusses how AI can empower patients, the need for faster healthcare innovation, and policy changes that could improve access to ALS treatments and support.Sign up for Health Affairs' free newsletter to catch up on our new articles, podcasts, and events.

Ben Wikler, hailed as the "preeminent state party chair" by Nancy Pelosi, led Wisconsin Democrats through a series of hold-your-breath fights against right-wing extremists that resulted, against the odds, in the unrigging of the political system of the most divided — and, until recently, most gerrymandered — state in the nation. His new book, This Is The Plan: How to End America's Meltdown and Save Democracy, draws on decades of experience in everything from school-board races to presidential elections to bring readers inside the hidden web of power that shapes our lives. At every step, he shows what individuals and small groups can do to help build a future where democracy thrives, and our country works for everyone. With verve, infectious humor, and a rallying-cry energy that has inspired tens of thousands of volunteers. Wikler offers an idealistic yet practical guide to turning the present crisis into a better future. Ben Wikler has spent over two decades at the forefront of progressive advocacy and political action, serving as chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin from 2019 to 2025. Wikler led the party to win 10 out of 13 statewide races—including Joe Biden's presidential win in 2020, Tony Evers' reelection in 2022, and Tammy Baldwin's victory in 2024, as well as three state Supreme Court landslides that flipped the majority and ended the state's extreme partisan state legislative gerrymander. Before leading the Wisconsin Democratic Party, Wikler worked for MoveOn, where he helped spearhead campaigns to protect the Affordable Care Act. Over the past thirty years, Governor Jay Inslee has provided bold leadership at the local, state, and federal levels that has demonstrated the powers of innovation and inspiration to move our communities forward. More recently, his leadership as the three-term governor of Washington State has led to unprecedented success in building a clean energy economy, fighting climate change, improving opportunities for working families and advancing progressive values of Washingtonians. 

For millions of Americans, health care benefits come from their jobs and now small businesses are finding they can no longer afford to offer them. Bob Herman, STAT's business of health care reporter, joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how the end of subsidies to the Affordable Care Act means small businesses and those self-employed can no longer find an insurance option that fits their budget and how some employers are choosing between cutting insurance and cutting jobs. His series is “Out of Pocket, Out of Reach.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Childcare costs in Missouri and Kansas can now rival a mortgage for working families, but two Midwestern lawmakers are fighting to change that. Plus: After the Affordable Care Act tax credits lapsed, healthcare premiums spiked for millions of farmers and ranchers.

Send us Fan MailA cancer diagnosis used to be enough to qualify as medically frail and exempt from Medicaid work requirements. A new federal rule says it no longer is, and nobody has defined what will be enough instead.In this clip from our episode “The Hidden Cost of Medicaid Work Requirements”, hosts David E. Williams and John Driscoll break down the last-minute rule change narrowing the definition of medical frailty and why 25 states say the federal government has gone beyond what Congress ever authorized.Listen to the full episode here

Congress can't solve America's biggest challenges if it's stuck—and this conversation explored why, and what it will take to move forward.On August 5, Dr. Maya Kornberg, Senior Research Fellow at the Brennan Center ‪and author of "STUCK: How Money, Media, and Violence Prevent Change in Congress", and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), examined the forces that keep Congress from delivering results, including relentless fundraising demands, the growing threat of political violence, media incentives, and outdated institutional structures. Despite these barriers, both speakers emphasized that meaningful reform is possible through stronger ethics rules, campaign finance reform, better-resourced congressional staff, and a renewed commitment to making government work for the people it serves. They also challenged Americans to embrace a forward-looking vision of democracy that reflects the nation's growing diversity rather than clinging to the past.The discussion closed with a clear reminder that protecting democracy requires more than voting—it demands sustained civic engagement. With Election Day approaching, attendees were encouraged to take action every day by organizing, advocating, and helping build a government that truly represents the American people.Check out Dr. Maya Kornberg's book STUCK here:https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/54126/stuck?utmLearn more about the Brennan Center for Justice here:https://www.brennancenter.org/ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:Maya L. Kornberg, Ph.D., is a senior research fellow and manager at NYU Law's Brennan Center for Justice. She is the author of the book “Stuck: How Money, Media, and Violence Prevent Change in Congress” (Johns Hopkins University Press) and “Inside Congressional Committees: Function and Dysfunction in Lawmaking” (Columbia University Press). Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, NPR, BBC, The New York Times, Newsweek, The Hill, Slate, and other outlets.Congresswoman Lauren Underwood represents Illinois' 14th Congressional District and is the first woman, first person of color, and first millennial to serve her community in Congress. A registered nurse, she is the co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, leading efforts to improve maternal health outcomes and eliminate disparities. She also serves as Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee and on the House Appropriations Committee. Before Congress, Rep. Underwood served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she helped implement the Affordable Care Act and strengthen the nation's public health. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bigtentnews.substack.com

When you're moving into retirement, you're most likely to be starting to ask yourself which investment accounts you should start drawing from first. There's really no universal answer—retirement withdrawal strategies are deeply personal and situation-dependent. But understanding the implications of each account type and the factors that influence withdrawal order can have a massive impact on your tax burden and the longevity of your assets.    You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... [00:00] Retirement withdrawal strategy options [06:37] Roth IRA and taxable accounts [07:47] Tax implications for investment gains [14:12] Roth IRA conversion strategy [16:17] Real-life retirement income strategies [19:36] Importance of a withdrawal strategy   Understanding the Account Types and Their Tax Impact   The foundation of your strategic withdrawal plan begins with understanding how each investment account is taxed:   1. Pre-tax Retirement Accounts These include traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, SEP IRAs, and similar plans. Contributions offer a tax deduction, and growth is tax-deferred, but withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income. These accounts are eventually subject to required minimum distributions (RMDs), currently beginning at age 73 or 75, depending on your birth year. Withdrawals here not only increase your reported income but can also impact Medicare premiums and Social Security taxation.   2. Roth Accounts Roth IRAs and Roth 401(k)s are funded with after-tax contributions. Qualified withdrawals are tax-free and—if the original contributor owns the account, not subject to RMDs in your lifetime. This makes Roth accounts especially valuable for flexible, later-stage withdrawals.   3. Taxable Brokerage Accounts These are standard investment accounts not designated for retirement. Withdrawals of principal do not create taxable events; only realized capital gains, dividends, and interest are reported for taxes. One major benefit: capital gains rates can be lower than ordinary income rates and may even reach 0% for some filers. Withdrawals can be easy to manage for opportunistic or requirement-driven needs.   Questions to Consider with Personalized Withdrawal Planning Several personal factors play into the best withdrawal order: Are you retiring before 65 and in need of Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance? Do you want to minimize future RMDs or leave assets to heirs? When will you begin Social Security or receive pension income? What is your preferred tax bracket and desired lifestyle flexibility?   These questions should be revisited regularly, as changes in tax law, health, or legacy wishes can affect your strategy.   Real-World Withdrawal Scenarios Coordinating Withdrawals for ACA Subsidies Jonathan retires at 57, pre-Medicare, and must carefully manage his modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) to retain ACA health insurance subsidies. My suggested plan is to combine modest 401(k) withdrawals, reportable dividends, and money market interest to stay below the MAGI threshold. Additional cash needs are met from accounts, like the money market, which don't affect taxable income. This keeps his subsidy and aligns with income limits, demonstrating the need for multi-account coordination.   Reducing Future RMDs and Leaving a Legacy Walter and Amy, 62, want to avoid burdening their heirs with high-tax inheritance on pre-tax accounts. Instead of focusing solely on paying the least tax today, they prioritize Roth conversions while Social Security is delayed, taking advantage of lower brackets now to transfer wealth into tax-free vehicles. Over several years, they could convert hundreds of thousands into Roth IRAs, significantly reducing future RMDs while maximizing wealth transfer.   Minimizing Tax on Social Security Christian, 68, blends Social Security with distributions from non-taxable sources like his money market to avoid triggering federal taxes on his Social Security. Careful planning allows him to either keep Social Security tax-free or, with limited IRA withdrawals, incur only minimal tax.   The Importance of Ongoing Review and Professional Advice Your withdrawal strategy is not a "set-and-forget" plan. Tax laws, account balances, and individual goals will change over time. I suggest annual reviews and, ideally, working with a specialized financial advisor to continually adjust the plan for optimal tax efficiency and income sustainability. A thoughtful approach, tailored to your personal circumstances and updated regularly, will help you balance tax efficiency, income needs, and legacy goals.    Resources Mentioned Retirement Readiness Review Subscribe to the Retire with Ryan YouTube Channel Download my entire book for FREE    Connect With Morrissey Wealth Management  www.MorrisseyWealthManagement.com/contact Subscribe to Retire With Ryan

Now that you've completed your FFM certification, what's next? Continue your learning with our list of resources! Launch into ACA sales by increasing your knowledge of the marketplace. In this episode, we'll teach you what you need to know about selling Affordable Care Act plans.   Read the text version   Get Connected:

The Food and Drug Administration approves the first mRNA influenza vaccine. More than 20 Democratic attorneys general sue the federal government over Affordable Care Act marketplace changes. And HCA Healthcare expands its Texas footprint with a major urgent care acquisition. Listen to the latest episode of The Gist Healthcare Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Health Affairs Publishing's Jeff Byers gets meta and invites Kent Anderson and Joy Moore, authors of the new book How The Internet Disrupted Science, onto the podcast to discuss how media trends have affected academic authors' research and get their work noticed and distributed in The Attention Economy.Both Kent and Joy are currently consultants. Kent was the co-founder of The Scholarly Kitchen and current author at The Geyser. Joy has worked at Silverchair and The American Medical Association.Sign up for Health Affairs' free newsletter to catch up on our new articles, podcasts, and events.

Send us Fan MailMedicaid work requirements take effect in every expansion state by January 1, 2027. But half the states just sued to stop the rules that govern them. They're challenging a new federal rule that narrows who counts as “medically frail” and adds paperwork for people trying to prove they're exempt. We'll discuss what the fight means for coverage, providers, and for the states preparing to implement.In our latest episode, David E. Williams (President, Health Business Group) and John Driscoll (Chairman, UConn Health) dig into what these cuts will really cost. They break down the CBO's projections for coverage and dollars over the next decade, and why a last-minute federal rule narrowing the definition of "medical frailty" may be the most consequential, and least understood, piece of the whole debate.

Former state solicitors general Michael Mongan and Kevin Gallagher discuss the evolving role of state solicitors general and how states work together to shape legal battles before the Supreme Court. --- When states go to court, the battles are not always divided along party lines. State solicitors general often work across state lines to defend shared interests, coordinate legal strategy, and help shape cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. In this episode, former California Solicitor General Michael Mongan, JD '06 (BA '01), and former Virginia Solicitor General Kevin Gallagher, now partners at WilmerHale, join podcast host Professor Pam Karlan to discuss how the role of state solicitors general has evolved. They discuss multistate litigation, bipartisan coalitions, and how states can work together when their legal interests align. Mongan explains that bipartisan cooperation often happens when “they share sovereign interests as states and those interests are genuinely threatened.” Michael Mongan  >>> WilmerHale Page Kevin Gallagher  >>>  WilmerHale Page Connect: Episode Transcripts >>> Stanford Legal Podcast Website Stanford Legal Podcast >>> LinkedIn Page Rich Ford >>> Twitter/X Pam Karlan >>> Stanford Law School Page Stanford Law School >>> Twitter/X Stanford Lawyer Magazine >>> Twitter/X Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:03 What does a State Solicitor General actually do?  04:24 Independence from the Governor  06:10 Who speaks for the state?  09:22 How Virginia united every state  12:44 Where red and blue states actually agree  15:12 The mechanics of building a multistate coalition  17:06 Avoiding duplicate briefs: who writes first?  19:53 From public service to a state AG private practice  20:55 Why firms are racing to build state AG expertise  24:57 Favorite cases 28:44 Closing  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

P.M. Edition for Aug. 4. Millions of Americans are going without health insurance after the end of federal subsidies that kept their Affordable Care Act premiums down. WSJ reporter Anna Wilde Mathews discusses how that's weighing on hospital profits. Plus, strong earnings and hopes for an Iran deal send markets soaring. McDonald's aims to shake up its U.S. operations with a new boss after the U.S. division fell short in its most recent quarter. And SpaceX's revenue rose 92% in the first quarter since its IPO, while it reported a net loss of $541 million. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andy Schoonover is the founder and CEO of CrowdHealth, a community-powered alternative to traditional health insurance that is rethinking how Americans pay for and access healthcare. His journey began after his own family was hit with an $8,000 medical bill for his daughter's ear procedure… despite having health insurance. Frustrated by a system he believed was putting bureaucracy and financial incentives ahead of patients, Andy decided to build a better alternative. Through CrowdHealth, Andy is working to give individuals greater control over their healthcare, increase price transparency, reduce unnecessary costs, and put the patient, not the insurance company, back at the center of the system. If you are interested in the Exit Diabetes Pilot Program, see the links below to book a screening call! In this episode, Dr. Brian, Dr. Tro, and Andy talk about… (00:00) Intro (03:02) Issues with big health insurance companies in our post-Affordable Care Act world (17:00) Why the health insurance system is working against the patient (26:32) The slow shift away from massive healthcare companies and toward cheaper, patient-focused, sustainable options and how Crowd Health is leading the way (37:57) Perverse incentives and how to switch the incentive structure of the health insurance system to make patients healthy (42:47) Ignorance surrounding just how toxic so much of our food is (46:41) Crowd Health's new Exit Diabetes Pilot Program (01:05:05) Outro For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening! Links: Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/ Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Andy Schoonover: CrowdHealth: https://www.joincrowdhealth.com Exit Diabetes Pilot Program: https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/exit-diabetes-pilot-program (Click to book a screening call!) X: https://x.com/andyjschoonover?lang=en Dr. Brian Lenzkes:  Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author Dr. Tro Kalayjian:  Website: https://toward.health Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/ Toward Health App Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together.  Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more.  Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888  Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US Learn more: https://toward.health/community/

Frank Schaeffer welcomes David Blumenthal and James Morone to discuss their book Whiplash: From the Battle for Obamacare to the War on Science.The conversation explores the Affordable Care Act, Operation Warp Speed, the COVID pandemic, political polarization, misinformation, and the role of presidential leadership during national crises.Together they examine why America's health care debates have become arguments about identity, community, science, and democracy itself._____LINKWhiplash: From the Battle for Obamacare to the War on Sciencehttps://www.commonwealthfund.org/person/david-blumenthalhttps://www.commonwealthfund.org/person/james-morone_____I have had the pleasure of talking to some of the leading authors, artists, activists, and change-makers of our time on this podcast, and I want to personally thank you for subscribing, listening, and sharing 100-plus episodes over 100,000 times.Please subscribe to this Podcast, In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer, on your favorite platform, and to my Substack, It Has to Be Said. Thanks! Every subscription helps create, build, sustain and put voice to this movement for truth. Subscribe to It Has to Be Said. The Gospel of Zip will be released in print and on Amazon Kindle, and as a full video on YouTube and Substack that you can watch or listen to for free.Support the show_____In Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer is a production of the George Bailey Morality in Public Life Fellowship. It is hosted by Frank Schaeffer, author of The Gospel of Zip.Learn more at https://www.thegospelofzip.com/Follow Frank on Substack, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube.https://frankschaeffer.substack.comhttps://www.facebook.com/frank.schaeffer.16https://twitter.com/Frank_Schaefferhttps://www.instagram.com/frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.threads.net/@frank_schaeffer_arthttps://www.tiktok.com/@frank_schaefferhttps://www.youtube.com/c/FrankSchaefferYouTubeIn Conversation… with Frank Schaeffer Podcast

Americans are spending more time, money, and energy trying to change how they look. Many adults want to lose weight; millions are using GLP-1 drugs, and the anti-aging industry continues to grow. For teens, appearance concerns are increasingly shaped by social media, with girls reporting especially high levels of pressure to look good. At the same time, the rise of looksmaxxing shows how boys and young men are also being drawn into increasingly intense, and sometimes dangerous, efforts to improve their appearance. Next, we're talking about “job lock" -- that's what a growing number of workers are in by staying in jobs they would rather leave if not for the health insurance tied to employment. As healthcare costs rise, coverage is influencing whether Americans change careers, start businesses, or pursue work they find more fulfilling. With broad concern about affordability and continued debate over the Affordable Care Act, we ask whether health insurance should still be so closely connected to where someone works. Finally, we are whistling while we work...well, some of us are anyway!

Photo by Kristine Wook on Unsplash HR.1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that Donald Trump signed into law a year ago, cuts Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding substantially and makes changes in the Affordable Care Act's insurance coverage such that an estimated that over 10 million people will become uninsured and millions more becoming food insecure from cuts to or termination of their SNAP benefits. But these cuts affect all of us, as hospitals and other health care organizations will lose revenue that they need to support offering services that communities need. This is such an issue in rural communities that some of these hospitals may close. In response to this concern, Congress created the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) to bring money to health care in rural communities. HealthCetera producer and host, Dr. Diana J. Mason, RN, talked about these cuts with Dr. Leighton Ku, Professor in the Deptment of Health Policy and Management and Director of the Center for Health Policy Research at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. He and his colleagues conducted an analysis of what the impact of HR 1 cuts would be on rural communities and whether the RHTP would offset the losses from Medicaid and insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act. The paper is titled “H.R. 1 Funding Cuts Will Overshadow Gains from the New Rural Health Transformation Program” and it was published on June 9, 2026, by The Commonwealth Fund. This interview first aired on HealthCetera in the Catskills on WIOX Radio on July 8, 2026. The post The Rural Health Transformation Program in Response to Medicaid and SNAP Cuts appeared first on HealthCetera.

We interrupt the summer break for this special "emergency pod" episode. Health Affairs Publishing's Jeff Byers welcomes Dr. Aaron Carroll, President and CEO of AcademyHealth, back to the pod to examine the sudden discontinuation of over $100 million in ongoing Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) grant funding, raising questions about transparency, federal priorities, and the future of health services research.Related Links:AcademyHealth's Situation Report (Substack)HHS research agency ends funding for dozens of health studies (Roll Call)AHRQ Is Being Dismantled and the Consequences Will Reach Every Part of American Health Care (Academy Health Situation Report)U.S. judge rejects Trump's justification for terminating thousands of grants (Science)Sign up for Health Affairs' free newsletter to catch up on our new articles, podcasts, and events.

Health care is among the affordability issues on Ohioans' minds.Last week came news that the state saw the largest decline in Affordable Care Act enrollment in the country.Campaign donations and endorsements are rolling in for Ohio's two candidates for governor: GOP hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy got a $5 million check from trillionaire Elon Musk.Challenger Amy Acton notches her own historic haul as a Democrat.While in Washington, one Ohio senator seeks to punish Canada for the wildfire smoke that blew our way.And there's a move to make daylight savings time permanent.We're talking about all of these topic during a special Tuesday edition of the Weekly Reporter Roundtable.Guests:Jessie Balmert, state government and politics reporter, Columbus Dispatch Andrew Tobias, state government and politics reporter, Signal OhioSabrina Eaton, Washington bureau, Cleveland.com(photo: Rebecca Blackwell / AP)

Our analysts Andrew Sheets and Mark Schmidt unpack why U.S. healthcare feels so expensive and the potential impacts of rising hospital costs.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Andrew Sheets: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Andrew Sheets, Global Head of Fixed Income Research at Morgan Stanley. Mark Schmidt: And I'm Mark Schmidt, Head of Municipal Strategy at Morgan Stanley. Andrew Sheets: And today on the program, a discussion into one of the biggest mysteries in one of the biggest sectors of the economy. We're talking about healthcare costs. It's Friday, July 17th at 2pm in London. Mark Schmidt: At 9am in New York. Andrew Sheets: So, we're talking today about healthcare, which represents roughly a fifth of the U.S. economy, the bulk of job creation over the last several years, and in my view, honestly, one of the biggest inflation paradoxes that we see in the market. On the one hand, the high cost of healthcare is taken as a given, and it's something that many Americans still struggle with financially. But if you look at the official inflation data in the U.S., healthcare costs have been lower than normal, and that's been true now for a number of years. So, what's going on? How do we tie this together? And Mark, you just wrote a report that tries to do exactly that. So, what did you hope to accomplish with this report? Mark Schmidt: You're absolutely right. It's hard to underline enough just how large healthcare is to the U.S. economy overall. Americans spend nearly $6 trillion on healthcare. That's more than the GDP of the entire country of Germany. And if we think about prices, Americans pay more. A knee replacement, for example, costs $25,000 in the United States. That same procedure costs just $6,000 in France. Common heart treatments that would cost $3,000 in Germany or $10,000 in Australia cost $34,000 in the U.S. It also matters for everyone's local community. Healthcare jobs have been growing twice as fast as the rate of job growth in the economy overall. And those are good jobs. They pay above average wages. For many Americans these days, the most secure path to the middle class is a career in healthcare. Now, this may seem a little bit arcane, but it probably hits close to your portfolio as well. Earlier in the year, when we took a look at how equity separately managed accounts invest, they typically have a core overweight to healthcare. And even though American prices may seem like an American issue, many of the largest and most profitable healthcare companies in the world are actually headquartered in Europe. So, whether you're sitting in New York or sitting in London, the price of American healthcare probably matters to you. But as you noted, Andrew, it does feel like a paradox because although Americans cite healthcare costs as one of their top concerns, and although healthcare spending is growing at 6 percent a year or more, the official inflation data says that healthcare prices are in check. And at one point earlier in the year, healthcare inflation, according to official data, even dipped below 3 percent. It just didn't make a lot of sense, and that's why we got together with our colleagues across equities, fixed income research, public policy, and economics to dig into what was actually going on. Andrew Sheets: So, Mark, let's dig right into that. I mean, it seems like a perfect encapsulation of the so-called Main Street versus Wall Street perception of the economy. So, what's going on? How does one kind of square those two numbers? Mark Schmidt: The easiest way to understand it is that you can't walk through a grocery store and figure out the price of a knee replacement. And that's true both for you and me. It's also true for the government. They have to survey hospitals and health insurance companies. The trouble is that the prices that health insurance companies pay hospitals, well, those are trade secrets. So, at any given point in time, even for the best government economists, it's not entirely clear what the price trends are. And that's why when you look at the official data, healthcare inflation typically has relatively lumpy jumps in the series. You could see several months of 0.1 or 0.2 percent official growth in healthcare inflation. Or as earlier this week, you could see certain categories jump to 0.4 or even 0.8. Andrew Sheets: Another element, Mark, that you talked about in the report is that people are also consuming more healthcare. So, talk a little bit about that. How that factors into this dynamic, and again, is that just going to be the new normal as the population ages and we tend to spend more on healthcare as we get older? Mark Schmidt: That's right. The good news is that we're living longer lives. The bad news is that means that we have more chronic healthcare conditions to deal with. The good news is that more procedures can be done in outpatient settings, and those, generally speaking, are cheaper. The bad news is that inpatient care, inpatient prices go up as the complexity of procedures that actually happen in a hospital setting increase significantly. When you balance it all out, it's a situation where, thankfully, the United States and most Americans have the means and the wealth to pay more for healthcare. The flip side of that is that they are paying more for healthcare, and that's why we think that the recent softness in healthcare inflation is actually too good to be true. Andrew Sheets: Something that jumped out at me from this report, Mark, was just how important hospitals are in this equation. And the experience of the patient and the experience of the hospital can be different economically. And that difference can also matter for how this shows up in official inflation and government statistics.So, you know, it would be helpful maybe just to walk the listener through. If I go into the hospital and I need knee surgery. You know, how does that look like from my perspective in terms of paying for it, assuming I have health insurance through my employer? How could that look like to the hospital? And how could that look like coming out the other end into the official government statistics? Mark Schmidt: Well, of course, Andrew, the first thing that you do when you break your leg is you call six hospitals and shop around for the cheapest price, right? Andrew Sheets: [Laughs] Of course. Mark Schmidt: So that's actually the problem because when you get care, you're not in a place to ask about the price. And frankly, even if you asked your doctor or nurse what the price is, they probably wouldn't know. Not only is it not their job to know the price, but all of those negotiations happen after the fact – with the prices that the insurance companies negotiate with the hospitals. After COVID, hospitals had a lot more costs to spread out among the people who were coming in the door, and so they raised prices across the board, not just for procedures that were related to respiratory illness. Naturally, insurance companies noticed that, and they started to push back. So long after you get a cast for your broken leg – and by the way, I wish you a speedy recovery – insurance companies end up going back and forth negotiating with your doctors for exactly how much they should pay you. And although these prices were loosely set well before you walked in the door, the exact way it gets billed and coded? Well, let's just say there's a lot of back and forth. For a well-run hospital, the cost of talking to and ultimately getting reimbursement from your insurance company, that alone could be 2 to 4 percent of revenue. And in especially complex cases, that whole negotiation can eat up 5 to 7 percent of the total bill. You're also right to flag that hospitals really are still the central point of the U.S. healthcare system. Americans spend $2 trillion in a hospital setting. And hospitals overwhelmingly coordinate care for both primary, specialty, and pharmacy services. Andrew Sheets: Mark, another issue I wanted to ask you about was the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid, and how those programs fit into the story? Mark Schmidt: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act included a variety of measures to slow the overall growth rate of healthcare. Now, for all the reasons we just discussed, that's probably warranted. The Affordable Care Act is another wrinkle. Enhanced subsidies, which were already set to expire – did in fact expire at the end of last year. And as a result, more Americans are now uninsured. It remains to be seen how that impacts overall costs. In the United States, when you have a health emergency, a hospital is legally obligated to treat you because of a 1990s law called EMTALA. Even if you can't pay, the system eventually does. Historically, uncompensated care costs have been passed on to individuals and companies with insurance. For now, however, it remains to be seen whether these changes in law and in the overall number of people with insurance will cause healthcare prices to rise or fall. Andrew Sheets: And Mark, just for the broad-based implications of this, right? It's fair to say that in any health insurance system, there are some people who consume a lot more healthcare. They're unhealthy or they're unlucky. And there are some who consume a lot less. And, you know, this is something where that overall coverage question matters. Because if you have things that reduce the number of otherwise healthy people who are in those healthcare pools, it can raise the cost for everybody else. Those people who were in some ways subsidizing the higher consumers of healthcare are no longer there. Is that a fair way to frame it, do you think? And are there potential changes given some of these legislative actions that could lead to changes of what the pool looks like – and what overall costs could look like? Mark Schmidt: That's a great point. And healthcare is probably the only part of our economy where you would say, "Thank goodness I did not get my money's worth." As we think about it… Andrew Sheets: [Laughs] Very true. Very true. Mark Schmidt: As we think about it, most young and healthy people are going to be paying more for their health insurance than they receive in healthcare. Again, that's a good thing. Because American healthcare prices are so much higher than anywhere else in the world, paying in more than you get back? Well, that hits the wallet harder in America than it does in other countries. And that's why for many people – choice – choosing how much health insurance to have and how much to pay for it, really is central to keeping the American economy dynamic. The flip side, however, is that as Americans get older, more people have Medicare. Now, Medicare is pretty good if you have it. But the catch is that Medicare prices, according to most independent estimates, do not fully reimburse for the cost of care. So, as more seniors take up more beds in a hospital, that means that commercial prices, the prices for people who have private insurance through their employer, are likely to rise even faster. Andrew Sheets: So, Mark, I think a good place to close it out and kind of bring this all together is a really important conclusion of this report – is that hospitals have been absorbing a number of these rising costs of healthcare through lower margins for the hospital. And that has resulted in lower ultimate inflation because the inflation is measured out the other side, out ultimately what the hospital earns. And if you could just maybe talk a little bit more about that. To what extent have those margins been compressed? And what that might mean for things going forward? Mark Schmidt: That's right. We dug into the finances for hundreds of not-for-profit hospitals in the United States. They are facing higher costs and shrinking margins. Historically, hospitals have partially passed on expense increases of this magnitude. Now, in their conversations with insurance companies, the biggest benchmark setting of prices happens once every two to three years. So, we're not going to see hospital prices show up in the inflation data overnight. But when we look at hospitals across the country, their budget information and their guidance is consistent with firming prices. Andrew Sheets: Great. Thank you so much, Mark. I've really enjoyed the conversation. Mark Schmidt: Thanks for having me, Andrew. Andrew Sheets: And thank you for listening. If you enjoy Thoughts on the Market, please share it with a friend or colleague today. And rate and review us on wherever you listen. It helps more people find the show.

US Representative Tom Suozzi (D NY3) talks about national politics and his call for Democrats to embrace patriotism and defend capitalism in the wake of DSA victories. Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 17: Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) speaks with members of the media outside the U.S. Capitol on December 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. Four Republicans Representatives join Democrats to sign a petition forcing a vote on legislation that will extend premium tax credits for the Affordable Care Act. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk www.LearningLeader.com New Book - The Price of Becoming - www.LearningLeader.com/Becoming This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My guest: Ezekiel J. "Zeke" Emanuel, MD, PhD, is a prominent oncologist, bioethicist, and health policy expert. Currently Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania, he was instrumental in shaping the Affordable Care Act and served as the founding chair of the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health. Key Learnings Zeke's dad was called "Speedy." He was a Chicago pediatrician who worked 24-hour call, walked so fast the nurses had to run to keep up, and had a rule: the fourth child in any family was free. He recognized the financial strain on families and just wouldn't charge. Zeke's mom was the definition of the anti-helicopter parent. At the playground, she sat on the bench. At the beach, she dropped the boys off with a blanket and a snack. "You go play. Something goes wrong? Okay, that's how it goes." That's how three future powerhouse leaders learned to negotiate, create, and figure it out. The Emanuel brothers' group text is full of bragging. Zeke posted his 51.9 VO2 max score at 68 years old, asking, "Do I win in the family?" His kids replied that they don't even read the articles Zeke and Rahm forward anymore. Close doesn't mean uncompetitive. A dozen years ago, Zeke wrote his most famous article, "Why I Hope to Die at 75." He still stands by it. The point wasn't that he wants to die. The point is that after 75, he won't take medical treatments meant to prolong life.  By age 75, 30% of adults have Alzheimer's or cognitive impairment. By 80, it's 40%. Zeke doesn't want to be remembered as a doddering old man who can't recognize his own family. Living a long time is a means, not an end. It's not the goal of life. It's what allows you to be present, engaged, and useful for the years you have. Biohacking is a lie: It suggests you know better than millions of years of evolution and the entire medical profession. The body isn't about maxing. It's about balance. Too much immune response gives you autoimmunity. Too little makes you sick. The body finds health in the median. You're not going to be perfect over decades. Wellness isn't a four-minute figure skating routine graded on execution. It's a lifetime practice. So build habits you enjoy and can sustain without thinking about them. Zeke's six simple rules for a long and healthy life: Don't be a schmuck. Avoid activities riskier than driving. Smoking, vaping, base jumping, climbing Everest. Talk to people. The number one predictor of a long, happy life. Expand your mind. Travel. Talk to the chef. Learn something new. Eat your ice cream. Moderation over perfection. Fermented foods and fiber. Move. Aerobic, strength, and flexibility. All three. Sleep like a baby. You can't will it. But you can create the conditions. The Harvard Adult Development Study followed people for 85 years. John F. Kennedy was in it. Ben Bradlee was in it. The finding: close friends and being married correlated with the healthiest, longest, happiest lives. Not exercise. Not diet. Relationships. Having no close friends is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. That's how bad loneliness is for you. It's not just psychological. It's physical. Introverts get the same happiness boost from social interaction as extroverts. A University of Chicago study by Nicholas Epley found that introverts assume they won't enjoy talking to strangers on their commute. They were wrong. When they did it, they were just as happy as extroverts. Take the headphones off. Zeke has been telling people this since the iPod era. Random encounters increase your surface area for luck, learning, and connection. You never know who you're going to meet or what they might tell you. To be interesting, you have to be interested. Zeke asks to meet the chef at every great restaurant. He asks his Ethiopian Uber driver which tribe he's from. He talks to the person on the plane. It's virtuous. Good for you AND good for them. Zeke's hero is Ben Franklin. Franklin came back to America at 80 after negotiating the end of the Revolutionary War. The first thing he did was build a library for his curiosity and a dining room for his social dinners. That's the way to live. The wellness trifecta: hosting a dinner party with curious people. You're eating good food. You're getting together with people. Your mind is being stretched by great conversation. Three benefits from one activity. Zeke is anti-wellness-industrial-complex. Peptides from your corner store: disaster, unregulated, no idea what's in them. Testosterone replacement therapy without a real deficiency: bad idea, accelerates prostate cancer. Growth hormone for aging: promotes cancers. That's being a schmuck. Sleep is the one wellness practice you can't will yourself into. You can only build the conditions for it. Dark room. Cool temperature. No caffeine or alcohol eight hours before bed. Phone in another room. Read a book. Everything else is up to your body. Ice cream actually decreases your risk of type 2 diabetes. The fat content softens the glycemic response. Plus, you usually eat it with other people. Social eating matters. Zeke's champagne moment a year from now: finishing his next book on how to fix the American healthcare system, and turning 70. Reflection Questions Are you optimizing for length of life, or for the quality of years you actually get?  When was the last time you turned your headphones off, introduced yourself to a stranger, or asked to meet the chef?  Who are the friends you rely on for social interaction? Not casual acquaintances, but the ones who lift your health, longevity, and happiness. When did you last make plans with them? More Learning #607 - Dr. Meg Meeker - Raising Resilient Kids (Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters) #690 - Austin Kleon - Why Activated Leaders Win #682 - Will Guidara - Adversity is a Terrible Thing to Waste

Sen. Mitch McConnell’s monthslong absence is complicating GOP efforts to pass a spending bill. The Washington Post’s Jarrell Dillard explains how the missing vote has stalled a key committee. Maine Democrats are racing to replace Graham Platner in the Senate race ahead of a convention deadline, after his campaign collapsed amid sexual-assault allegations. The Maine Morning Star’s Eesha Pendharkar breaks down who’s vying to replace him. Millions of Americans dropped their Affordable Care Act coverage after pandemic-era subsidies expired. The Associated Press’s Ali Swenson details how the trend varied among states. Plus, the roommate of Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer says the suspect regretted his actions, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is being drained again, and the women’s Wimbledon final is set. Today’s episode was hosted by Gideon Resnick.

Wednesday, July 8, 2026   Today, the Maine Democratic Party is weighing its options for selecting a new candidate should Graham Platner drop out; a Trump-appointed judge blocks the government from getting the names of 2020 Georgia election workers; new data shows that Obamacare enrollment has dropped dramatically over the past year; a new lawsuit shows the United States shared asylum application details with Iran; an Afghan national who fought with US forces has died in ICE custody; the family of a man shot by the Tennessee National Guard is demanding answers; Belgium beats and then trolls the US Men's National Team on Monday night; plus Allison and Dana deliver your Good News. The Daily Beans is proud to partner with Miles Taylor and our friends at DEFIANCE.org For a limited time, members of the Daily Beans community can receive a FREE 3-month full membership to DEFIANCE.org and gain access to one of the fastest-growing pro-democracy movements in America. Join here: https://www.defiance.org/beans   Thank You, IQBAR Text DAILYBEANS to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.  Join The Daily Beans and give a gift today to ensure The Trevor Project can continue its crucial work in the face of continued challenges. Donate to The Trevor Project - Daily Beans Podcast Guest: Miles TaylorDefiance.org The Latest Breakdown:The Breakdown | Todd Blanche Could Be in Contempt Days Ahead of His Confirmation Hearing Stories Bernie Sanders Calls on Graham Platner to Drop Senate Bid After Rape Allegation | The New York Times Federal judge rejects Trump administration effort to get names of 2020 election workers in Fulton County Obamacare rolls shrank dramatically in many states over the past year, new federal data shows | AP News New lawsuit alleges U.S. shared asylum application details with Iran | NPR The family of a man shot by the Tennessee National Guard demands release of video | AP NewsGood TroubleContacting U.S. Senators | Senate.gov →Show up for our Libraries - action.ala.org →goodtroubleliveson.org/ July 17-19 →How to help those impacted by the Venezuela earthquakes|AP →Oppose House Amendment to Defund the Peace Corps! →Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance -  Open For Comments →Stand With Minnesota →ICE List  →iceout.org Good NewsThe Bloggess | Jenny Lawson Sistrum - Lansing, Sister Singers Network dana-goldbergs-southwest-funnyfest Oct 9 -Email Dana@DanaGoldberg.com for sponsorship information Tour - DANA GOLDBERGTickets for Dana Goldberg: Outrageous - Sep 23 - Den Theater - Chicago  →Share your Good News & Good Trouble - The Daily Beans   →Beans Talk audio -beans-talk.simplecast.com →Email Dana LGBTQ Owned eating establishments in your area - hello@mswmedia.com Subject: “Dana's Project” Subscribe to the MSW YouTube Channel - MSW Media - YouTube Our Donation Links The Trevor Project - trevorproject.org/beans Blue Wave California - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/msw-bwc Donate to Public Citizen - https://citizen.org/beans/ The Daily Beans is donating $10,000 and invites you to give what you can to support their life-affirming work - Donate to It Gets Better / The Daily Beans Fundraiser Pathways to Citizenship link to MATCH Allison's Donationhttps://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_86ff5236-dd26-11ec-b5ee-066e3d38bc77&WidgetId=6388736 Join Dana and The Daily Beans in support of Human Rights Campaign http://onecau.se/_ekes71 More Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - Donate, ActBlue.com/donate/msw-bwc, WhistleblowerAid.org/beans Dr. Allison Gill - The Breakdown | Allison Gill, Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com - Bluesky, MSW & The Daily Beans Podcast @muellershewrote - Instagram, MSW Media - YouTube →Federal workers - email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen.  Dana Goldberg - Dana is on Patreon! At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook,  DanaGoldberg.com More from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Healthcare is one of the biggest unknowns in any FIRE plan. If you're considering early retirement, self-employment, or leaving a traditional job, understanding health insurance costs could save you thousands of dollars per year and prevent costly planning mistakes. In this episode, we break down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance, premium tax credits, MAGI planning, and how healthcare costs vary by state. We also walk through a healthcare cost estimator tool that can help you project future expenses and build a more resilient financial independence plan. Resources Featured in the Episode: Healthcare Cost Projection: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/healthcarecosts/ 2026 Tax Projection: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/income-tax-projection/ How Health Insurance Works in Early Retirement Blog Post: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/how-health-insurance-works-in-early-retirement-and-self-employment-2026/ How to Plan for Healthcare Over Early Retirement Blog Post: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/planning-for-healthcare-costs-over-a-decades-long-early-retirement/ To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney  Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you're starting. Let's get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No-nonsense advice on sleep, diet, exercise, social connection, keeping your brain sharp, and not being a schmuck. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD is a Vice Provost and Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. A bioethicist, health policy expert, and oncologist, he was one of the architects of the Affordable Care Act. He is a regular guest on CNN and MSNBC and frequently contributes to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Atlantic. His new book is Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life. In this episode we talk about: Why longevity shouldn't be the goal — and what to aim for instead The single most powerful intervention for a long, healthy life (hint: it's not exercise) The neuroscience of friendship: how social connection literally changes your brain and body Six practical, science-backed rules for living well — from an oncologist with nothing to sell Why ultra-processed food and sugary drinks are doing more damage than almost anything else The case for eating ice cream (yes, really) — and why moderation is the new discipline What retirement does to your brain, and how to protect your cognitive function as you age ChatGPT as a diagnostic tool — and what a doctor actually thinks about that Why the wellness industrial complex is making you worse, not better Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris This episode is sponsored by:  BiOptimizers: Magnesium Breakthrough delivers seven forms of magnesium to support your nervous system, stress response, and daily recovery. Try it risk-free with their 365-day guarantee — head to bioptimizers.com/happier and use code HAPPIER for 15% off plus free gifts at checkout. Eight Sleep: The Pod automatically heats and cools your bed, tracks your sleep without a wearable, and their testing shows users get up to 34% more deep sleep. Use code DanHarris at eightsleep.com/danharris for up to $350 off the Pod 5, with a 30-day trial if it's not for you.