A $200 Debit Card Won’t Do Much for Seniors’ Drug Costs

Harris Meyer If they’ve been listening to President Donald Trump, seniors may be expecting a $200 debit card in the mail any day now to help them pay for prescription drugs. He promised as much this month, saying his administration soon will mail the drug cards to more than 35 million Medicare beneficiaries. But the cards — if they are ever sent — would be … Continue reading A $200 Debit Card Won’t Do Much for Seniors’ Drug Costs

It Isn’t Just Trump’s Behavior

Miles Taylor, chief of staff to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, was the author of “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration,” a 2018 New York Times essay published anonymously that led to a subsequent book, A Warning, also published anonymously. The essay was scathing, opening with an attack both on President Trump’s intelligence and his White House: “The dilemma … Continue reading It Isn’t Just Trump’s Behavior

If Trump Wins, Don’t Hold Your Breath Waiting for That ACA Replacement Plan

Julie Rovner If President Donald Trump wins reelection next week, it seems unlikely he will unveil the health plan he’s been promising since before his election in 2016. Still, other aspects of health care could be featured in his second-term agenda. Not having a replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act may be just fine with many of his supporters and conservatives. Most Republicans don’t … Continue reading If Trump Wins, Don’t Hold Your Breath Waiting for That ACA Replacement Plan

You Asked: Was Willy Wonka’s “Golden Ticket” scheme a big moneymaker?

On Patreon, we ask supporters to occasionally toss questions over to us that they want answered that are a little bit harder to get an answer to than something you might ask on Quora. For this, the introductory piece in our new series You Asked, we’re tackling an economic question. I know this isn’t politics but it’s related, I think: how much revenue did Willy … Continue reading You Asked: Was Willy Wonka’s “Golden Ticket” scheme a big moneymaker?

Last, and Also Least

Yesterday was a milestone in our long national nightmare: the last debate of the 2020 election cycle!  Well, unless we really are in a time loop.  As FiveThirtyEight points out, probably more than a quarter of the votes in this election (including mine) have already been cast, and although voters who dislike both candidates and are still undecided in the last two weeks of the … Continue reading Last, and Also Least

Biden’s Big Health Agenda Won’t Be Easy to Achieve

Julie Rovner, Kaiser Health News If Joe Biden wins the presidency in November, health is likely to play a high-profile role in his agenda. Just probably not in the way he or anyone else might have predicted. Barring something truly unforeseen, it’s fairly certain that on Jan. 20 the U.S. will still be in the grip of the coronavirus pandemic — and the economic dislocation … Continue reading Biden’s Big Health Agenda Won’t Be Easy to Achieve

Despite Pandemic Threat, Gubernatorial Hopefuls Avoid COVID Nitty-Gritty

Katheryn Houghton and Matt Volz October 21, 2020 Just 15 days ahead of the election, Montana Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney laid out his ideas on how he’d handle the COVID-19 pandemic if elected governor. Details were few, but the Democrat’s plan became one of only a handful being offered by candidates in the 11 U.S. governor’s races about how they’ll approach what’s certain to be … Continue reading Despite Pandemic Threat, Gubernatorial Hopefuls Avoid COVID Nitty-Gritty

Trump mistaking a satirical site for genuine news is honestly very on-brand

“Wow, this has never been done in history,” tweeted President of the United States Donald John Trump on Friday. “This includes his really bad interview last night. Why is Twitter doing this. Bringing more attention to Sleepy Joe & Big T.” (Big T appears to refer to Big Tech. Sleepy Joe is Trump’s political rival, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden) Assuming the tweet remains up, … Continue reading Trump mistaking a satirical site for genuine news is honestly very on-brand

The Debates Are Better When They Aren’t Debates

Well, just as I suspected, there was no presidential debate this week.  After Trump tested positive for COVID, Biden refused to participate in the next debate, which was to be a town hall style event with questions from a live audience, if Trump was still contagious.  The Commission on Presidential Debates offered to hold a virtual debate, which Trump refused to participate in, and Trump’s … Continue reading The Debates Are Better When They Aren’t Debates

Majority of Voters Tilt Toward Biden as Health Issues Weigh Heavily

Emmarie Huetteman At least half of voters prefer former Vice President Joe Biden’s approach to health care over President Donald Trump’s, suggesting voter concern about lowering costs and managing the pandemic could sway the outcome of this election, a new poll shows. The findings, from KFF’s monthly tracking poll, signal that voters do not trust assurances from the president that he will protect people with … Continue reading Majority of Voters Tilt Toward Biden as Health Issues Weigh Heavily