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

Jobless claims continue at very low levels

“Jobless claims continue at very low levels (plus an update on tech enshittification)”  – by New Deal democrat I’ll post on the updated housing situation later this morning. Meanwhile, before I get to jobless claims, a brief update on the tech situation. It turns out that I am not the only person having this problem. Basically […]

Here’s a project for RFK Jr

Vaccines have proven efficacy and public health value over billions of doses and, in many cases, decades of experience world-wide. In spite of this record, the Secretary of HHS insists on calling into question vaccine safety. Yet under his nose, Americans are experimenting with unproven and potentially dangerous peptide injections. “Here’s a new trend that […]

Election Funding to Aid Marginal Republicans in Elections

“The Rural Slush Fund” for healthcare that will be used to aid marginal Republicans during elections. Merrill Goozner GoozNews How the $50 billion bailout for rural health care providers will be used to aid vulnerable Republicans in the mid-term elections. Has it only been four days since the end of that brief moment when affordability, […]

Lower Drug Prices Brought to You by Trump? Nope . . .

During President Trump’s first term, the administration falsely claimed that prescription drug prices are high for Americans because they are lower elsewhere. He enlisted the U.S. Trade Representative to help raise medicine prices abroad by lengthening prescription drug monopolies in other countries. Don’t Buy Trump’s SOTU Claims on Drug Prices, Public Citizen President Trump and congressional Republicans’ Big […]

Many Generic Medications can be Sold at a Fraction of Current Prices

“Pharmaceutical Pricing: JAMA Talks with Mark Cuban on Public Health,” JAMA, JAMA Network Dr Bibbins-Domingo: You’ve basically shown that many generic medications can be sold at a fraction of current prices. In health care terms, what does this tell us about the market? Mr Cuban: It tells you that it’s not an efficient market…You mentioned [Cost Plus […]

Blocking Flu Shots

Started at the end rather than the beginning . . . Blocking Flu shots does not make much sense as Flu Shots are nothing new. The big issue is whether they chose the right vaccine for what will happen each year. “The Journal notes Moderna was one of nine companies to have received a surprise […]

National Healthcare Spending Briefly Reviewed

Briefly; Data pulled from HealthAffairs. I was curious as to how much healthcare costs have grown in the United States. As the detail from the article shows we have been experiencing costs increasing at 7+ percent the last two years. This is up from 4 and 5% in preceding years. I have not checked it, […]