Healthcare Cuts Threaten Sullivan’s Reelection Chances in Alaska
Alaska’s healthcare landscape has been reshaped by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the expiration of ACA premium subsidies, pushing average insurance costs up by more than $1,800. The fallout has become a focal point for Democrats, who are using the issue to challenge Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan’s re‑election bid. In response, Sullivan broke with his party twice this month, supporting Senate‑Democrat amendments aimed at lowering out‑of‑pocket costs and curbing insurer delays. Despite these moves, polls show former Rep. Mary Peltola leading Sullivan by roughly seven points, and she has out‑raised him in the first quarter.
Health Insurance Marketplace Feels Growing Tremors From GOP Cuts
State ACA marketplaces are feeling the fallout from Congress ending enhanced premium subsidies, with total enrollment slipping to roughly 23 million—a drop of over 1 million from the previous year. HealthCare.gov enrollments fell 8% while state‑run exchanges grew modestly 2%, and new...
Abortion Pill Fight Thrust Into Spotlight as Midterms Heat Up
The Supreme Court temporarily reinstated mail‑order access to the abortion pill mifepristone after a federal appeals court barred telehealth prescriptions, reigniting a national legal battle. Justice Samuel Alito’s one‑week order follows a broader fight over medication abortion that intensified after...
Live Updates: Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Open; RFK Jr. Defends Trump's Sanity
Iran announced that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz is "completely" open following a temporary cease‑fire between Israel and Lebanon, a move that could ease shipping bottlenecks for global oil markets. President Donald Trump welcomed the news but reiterated that...
Trump's Surgeon General Nominee Caught in GOP Crossfire over MAHA
President Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, health‑coach Casey Means, remains stalled in the Senate as key Republican senators refuse to back her. Means, an influencer with an expired medical license, faces criticism over her lack of public‑health experience and controversial...
Most ACA Enrollees Cutting Back on Food, Household Needs to Pay for Health Care: Poll
A KFF poll shows that 55% of returning ACA marketplace enrollees are reducing spending on food, clothing and other essentials to afford increasingly costly health coverage. The survey indicates that rising premiums and cost‑sharing are straining household budgets, prompting many...
Smokeless Nicotine Seen as 'Bridge' For Military Members, Veterans Quitting Cigarettes
The Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs are promoting smokeless nicotine as a transitional tool to help service members and veterans quit combustible cigarettes. About 30% of active‑duty personnel use tobacco, roughly twice the civilian rate, prompting a new joint...
Childhood Obesity at a Record High as MAHA Presses for Changes to Kids' Diets
New CDC data shows over one‑in‑five U.S. children were obese between 2021‑2023, a record high and a sharp rise from 5.2% in the 1970s. The surge coincided with pandemic‑related school meal disruptions and cuts to nutrition programs, prompting the Make...
Trump’s Atypical Surgeon General Pick Faces Senate Scrutiny: Key Takeaways
President Trump nominated Casey Means, a 38‑year‑old Stanford‑trained physician‑influencer, as surgeon general, but she has not completed her residency and holds an inactive medical license. During her HELP Committee hearing, senators pressed her on vaccine positions, past social‑media statements, and...
Monsanto, Plaintiffs Seek $7.25B Settlement over Roundup Cancer Claims
Monsanto and plaintiffs have agreed to a $7.25 billion settlement covering both current and future Roundup-related cancer claims, specifically non‑Hodgkin lymphoma. The proposed class‑action deal would compensate thousands of claimants and fund ongoing medical monitoring. Settlement approval remains pending before a...