Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

FDA director lied about COVID vaccine deaths

In November 2025, Vinay Prasad, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the FDA claimed, “career staff have found that at least 10 children have died after and because of receiving COVID-19 vaccination.” This statement was false. What’s the truth of the matter? “The final Dec. 5 memo, according to FDA employees […]

Republicans still Working Hard to Gain a Tax Cut at the Expense of a Million or so People

Quick update on what is going on with healthcare for citizens. Republicans are still working hard to cut healthcare benefits to 1.5 to 2 million citizens. Let’s not forget the reasoning for doing so. Tru_p’s tax cuts to the upper 1 or so percent of the population not needing a tax cut need a balance. […]

Increasing 2026 ACA Market Place Premiums

“How much and why ACA Marketplace Premiums are going up in 2026?” Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker Health insurers submit rate filings annually to state regulators detailing expectations and rate changes for Affordable Care Act (ACA)-regulated health plans for the coming year. A relatively small, but growing, share of the population is enrolled in these plans (compared […]

What Happens When the GriNch Steals Healthcare?

As taken from “Who Will Pay If ACA Tax Credits Lapse?” A commentary out of MedCity News which speaks to the issue of losing subsidies. The Republicans are the instigators in blocking healthcare subsidies for up to 700-800% FPL for citizens. They must have some serious IOUs tucked away to carry them above and beyond […]

Rural healthcare pay-to-play

The Trump Administration is holding a gun to the heads of rural citizens in blue states. To get taxpayer dollars to care for chronic illnesses and addiction and mitigate hours-long drives for basic services, states will need to change their laws: “When the Trump administration begins distributing the money at the end of the year, […]

GOP to Cover Fancy Saunas but Not Insurance Premiums

Health Savings Accounts Backed by GOP Cover Fancy Saunas but Not Insurance Premiums, MedPage Today With the tax-free money in a health savings account (HSA), a person can pay for eyeglasses or medical exams, as well as a $1,700 baby bassinet or a $300 online parenting workshop. Those same dollars can’t be used, though, to pay for most […]

Ch12 – MedPAC Report to Congress 2025

What you are reading here is a piece on the costs of Medicare Advantage Plans versus Traditional Medicare. Why is one so different than the other? The differences in MA and FFS are in coding intensity and selection. The later does not have such. MedPAC March 2025 report to the Congress Pages 338 to Page […]

Trump’s NIH director embraces red state DEI

During my career, I served on NIH study sections and NSF grant review panels. What I personally witnessed was discussions over the scientific merits of various applications. There was no discussion of whether a proposal should be prioritized because the investigator worked at an elite institution on the east of west coast. Could the applicant […]

Abbreviated Version of Medicaid and SNAP Cutbacks Impacting Healthcare

This entirety of this piece by Commonwealth Fund covers more than a Jobs cutback. There is a definite meanness in this legislation by President Tru_p and Republicans. It is meant to skew tax breaks to people who do not need tax breaks at the expense of overall healthcare cuts. This will impact more than just […]

Ultra-processed foods are not poison

One of embarrassments of our time is the medicalization of food. No, kale isn’t a superfood. No, Froot Loops are not poison. Food isn’t medicine. As for the risks of ultra-processed foods, any pharmacologist or toxicologist will tell you that the dose makes the poison. Ultra-processed foods don’t cause obesity. Obesity is caused by consuming […]