How the FDA Opens the Door to Risky Chemicals in America’s Food Supply
By David Hilzenrath
The FDA has relied on food companies for decades to determine whether their ingredients are safe. Some chemicals and additives are tied to health risks while others are absent from product labels.
Millions in US Live in Places Where Doctors Don’t Practice and Telehealth Doesn’t Reach
By Sarah Jane Tribble and Holly K. Hacker
Data visualizations by Lydia Zuraw
Nearly 3 million Americans live sicker, shorter lives in the hundreds of rural counties where doctor shortages are the worst and poor internet connections mean little or no access to telehealth services.
Daily Edition for Friday, March 7, 2025
Governor Makes Waves For Stance On Trans Athletes In Women’s Sports: Gov. Gavin Newsom — an outspoken champion of LGBTQ+ rights — publicly criticized the “unfairness” of transgender athletes participating in women’s sports, splitting from his party on an issue that Republicans capitalized on in the presidential election. Read more from the Los Angeles Times. Also, what others are saying.
She Co-Founded the Office That Became DOGE. Now, She Sees ‘Irresponsible Transformation.’
By Sarah Kwon
As a deputy chief technology officer in the Obama administration, Jennifer Pahlka brought Silicon Valley talent to Washington to streamline public access to government services. She believes better government technology could both ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t wasted and that people who need health care and food assistance receive it.
Medicaid Advocates Say Critics Use Loaded Terms To Gain Edge in Congressional Debate
By Phil Galewitz
As policymakers in Washington debate potentially steep funding cuts to Medicaid, Republicans are using terms such as “money laundering” and “discrimination” to make their case. Language experts and Medicaid advocates say their word choice is misleading and designed to sway the public against the popular program.
Marty Makary, Often Wrong as Pandemic Critic, Is Poised To Lead the FDA He Railed Against
By Arthur Allen
Should Marty Makary take the reins at the FDA, transitioning from gadfly to the head of an agency that regulates a fifth of the U.S. economy, he would have to engage in the thorny challenges of governing.
KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': The State of Federal Health Agencies Is Uncertain
The Supreme Court opined for the first time that Trump administration officials may be exceeding their authority to reshape the federal government by refusing to honor completed contracts, even as lower-court judges started blocking efforts to fire workers, freeze funding, and cancel ongoing contracts. Meanwhile, public health officials are alarmed at the Department of Health and Human Services’ public handling of Texas’ widening measles outbreak, particularly the secretary’s less-than-full endorsement of vaccines. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Stephanie Armour of KFF Health News join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.
Daily Edition for Thursday, March 6, 2025
California’s Bird Flu Outbreak Is Slowing: There have been no new cases in humans since January, said Dr. Erica Pan, director of the Department of Public Health. And State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones said the state’s almost 1,000 dairy herds of cows are getting sick at a slower pace. Read more from Politico.
For Seniors With Hoarding Disorder, a Support Group Helps Confront Stigma and Isolation
By Sarah Boden
Hoarding disorder disproportionately affects older people. As baby boomers age, it is a growing public health concern. Effective treatments are scarce, and treating hoarding can require expensive interventions that drain municipal resources. Some experts fear a coming crisis.
Para pacientes, padres y cuidadores, los recortes a Medicaid son una afrenta personal
By Bernard J. Wolfson
La primera semana de marzo, la Cámara de Representantes aprobó un plan presupuestario republicano que podría reducir el gasto de Medicaid en $880.000 millones a lo largo de 10 años.
