Category: National Issues

Repealing the ACA without a Replacement — The Risks to American Health Care

The following commentary by former President Barack Obama was posted on the New England Journal of Medicine website January 26, 2017:

Health care policy often shifts when the country’s leadership changes. That was true when I took office, and it will likely be true with President-elect Donald Trump. I am proud that my administration’s work, through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other policies, helped millions more Americans know the security of health care in a system that is more effective and efficient. At the same time, there is more work to do to ensure that all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable health care. What the past 8 years have taught us is that health care reform requires an evidence-based, careful approach, driven by what is best for the American people. That is why Republicans’ plan to repeal the ACA with no plan to replace and improve it is so reckless. Rather than jeopardize financial security and access to care for tens of millions of Americans, policymakers should develop a plan to build on what works before they unravel what is in place. Continue reading “Repealing the ACA without a Replacement — The Risks to American Health Care”

Bannon Takes Control

While Trump lies, the former Breitbart chief seizes the reins of power.

The following article by Jefferson Morley was posted on the AlterNet website January 26, 2017:

PHOTO: AP Photo

One key question of the Trump presidency in its first week is: who is actually going to perform the tasks associated with the job?

While the liberal comedians and right-wing pundits agitate themselves about crowd sizes, odd tweets and imaginary voter fraud, Politico and the Hill supply some data points about the all-important paper flow in Washington. Steve Bannon, the former Goldman Sachs executive-turned-Breitbart news chief, is running the government, while the president argues with actresses.

Politico reports that the executive orders Trump has been signing were prepared and coordinated by Bannon. Various Cabinet secretaries and congressional leaders were not consulted, according to the story. Such procedural corner-cutting is not inconsequential when it comes to spending $25 billion of taxpayer funds or running the CIA. Continue reading “Bannon Takes Control”

Kim Kardashian West Sends a Not-so-subtle Message After Donald Trump’s Immigration Ban

The following article by Blake Bakkila of People Magazine was posted on the Yahoo website January 29, 2017:

On Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that temporarily bans any refugees from entering the U.S., indefinitely bans refugees who hail from Syria and temporarily bans citizens from several Muslim countries from entering the U.S.

The controversial order that has sparked protests across the country has outraged many, including a slew of celebrities and politicians. Kardashian West has joined the growing list of people sharing their grievances online. Continue reading “Kim Kardashian West Sends a Not-so-subtle Message After Donald Trump’s Immigration Ban”

We kept our baby. Here’s how Republicans can prove that they’re pro-life, too.

The following article by Emily Barbero was posted on the Washington Post website January 27, 2017:

Emily Barbero lives in Minneapolis.

In 2012, while expecting our first (and only) child, my husband and I went in for a routine ultrasound. The technician saw something and alerted the resident perinatologist, who alerted the genetics team. We quickly wiped the gel from my belly, and they escorted us down the hall. In the rush, the black-and-white photos of our baby were left on the printer. Someone probably threw them away long ago.

After reviewing our file, the genetics counselor explained to us that they couldn’t quite know what was wrong for sure without further testing, but that our son’s brain showed clear anatomical issues. She said that some children with our son’s condition never walk or talk. They sometimes have cognitive, social and emotional delays. Their quality of life can suffer, and they can be a considerable drain on the emotional and financial health of families. Continue reading “We kept our baby. Here’s how Republicans can prove that they’re pro-life, too.”

An ‘America first’ philosophy? During May’s visit, it’s more like ‘Trump first.’

The following article by Ashley Parker was posted on the Washington Post website January 27, 2017:

The world according to President Trump is mostly about President Trump.

Even with British Prime Minister Theresa May standing at the lectern just to his right Friday, the new president used his first joint news conference with a world leader to underscore that while his campaign message may have been “America first,” his actual guiding philosophy is more “Trump first.”

On a host of issues, from Russia to torture to Brexit, Trump cast his policy positions almost entirely in terms of personal — not foreign — relations. Continue reading “An ‘America first’ philosophy? During May’s visit, it’s more like ‘Trump first.’”

Russians Charged With Treason Worked in Office Linked to Election Hacking

The following article by Scott Shane, David E. Sanger and Andrew E. Kramer was posted on the New York Times website January 27, 2017:

WASHINGTON — Ever since American intelligence agencies accused Russia of trying to influence the American election, there have been questions about the proof they had to support the accusation.

But the news from Moscow may explain how the agencies could be so certain that it was the Russians who hacked the email of Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee. Two Russian intelligence officers who worked on cyberoperations and a Russian computer security expert have been arrested and charged with treason for providing information to the United States, according to multiple Russian news reports. Continue reading “Russians Charged With Treason Worked in Office Linked to Election Hacking”

Inside the Financial Holdings of Billionaire Betsy DeVos

The following article by Ben Miller and Laura Jimenez was posted on the Center for American Progress website January 27, 2017:

AP/Carolyn Kaster
Secretary of education nominee Betsy DeVos testifies at her confirmation hearing in Washington on January 17, 2017.

On Friday, January 20, 2017, the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, or OGE, released the paperwork and pledge for President Donald Trump’s secretary of education nominee Betsy DeVos. The 108-page document is rife with private equity and hedge fund investments that are opaque to the public.

Overall, DeVos’ paperwork showcases an extensive web of investments, several of which raise eyebrows. She has investments in companies that hound students to pay their federal loan debts, as well as in psychiatric hospitals under federal investigation for Medicare fraud. She also has more than $1 million in an undisclosed venture related to education. And although her filings do not show any direct ownership stake in a private for-profit college, she has chosen to put some of her money into firms that are invested in that industry. Continue reading “Inside the Financial Holdings of Billionaire Betsy DeVos”

The leaks coming out of the Trump White House cast the president as a clueless child

The following column by Chris Cillizza was posted on the Washington Post website January 26, 2017:

All White Houses leak. Sometimes the leaks are big, sometimes small. But there are always people willing to talk to reporters about the “real” story or about why the chief executive made a mistake in regard to some decision he made.

That said, I’ve never seen so much leaking so quickly — and with such disdain for the president — as I have in the first six days of Donald Trump’s presidency. Continue reading “The leaks coming out of the Trump White House cast the president as a clueless child”

Behind closed doors, Republican lawmakers fret about how to repeal Obamacare

The following article by Mike DeBonis was posted on the Washington Post website January 27, 2017:

President Trump, accompanied by Vice President Pence, center, shakes hands with House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) on Thursday at a Republican congressional retreat. (Matt Rourke/AP)

PHILADELPHIA — Republican lawmakers aired sharp concerns about their party’s quick push to repeal the Affordable Care Act at a closed-door meeting Thursday, according to a recording of the session obtained by The Washington Post.

The recording reveals a GOP that appears to be filled with doubts about how to make good on a long-standing promise to get rid of Obamacare without explicit guidance from President Trump or his administration. The thorny issues lawmakers grapple with on the tape — including who may end up either losing coverage or paying more under a revamped system — highlight the financial and political challenges that flow from upending the current law. Continue reading “Behind closed doors, Republican lawmakers fret about how to repeal Obamacare”