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No catastrophic financial hit required to fight climate change, scientists say in landmark court case
Canada does not need to shut down its industries or take a catastrophic financial hit to effectively fight climate change, one of the country's leading climate scientists testified during a landmark trial in a Vancouver courtroom this week.
Paul will 'hang up gloves' if he loses to Doumbe
Jake Paul says he will retire from boxing if he loses to MMA star Cedric Doumbe on 24 December in Dubai.
Ubisoft reportedly seeking to acquire Arkane Lyon from Xbox
Reports suggest Ubisoft is one of three companies looking to buy studio following extension of consultation period
Texas Democrats pull off the breakthrough they’ve chased for decades
For decades, Texas Democrats have dreamt of turning the state blue, rallying around exciting candidates who drew big crowds and big money but could not ultimately overcome the state’s stubborn conservative majority.
Europa League lights in Brussels await!
Preview of RSC Anderlecht clashWith four points already on the board and plenty of momentum behind them, our Red Bulls head into a crucial phase of the UEFA Europa League this Thursday at 18:45 CET. I...
Jets Make NHL History With Stunning Comeback Win Against Habs
The Winnipeg Jets appeared destined for what would have been a 10th straight loss, finding themselves trailing by a 4-0 score against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Tuesday night.But then, suddenly, everything clicked and resulted in a stunning and historic turnaround, not only ending their miserable losing skid but also setting a new […] The post Jets Make NHL History With Stunning Comeback Win Against Habs appeared first on HEAVY.
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed projected to win Michigan and become nation’s first Muslim senator
Meghan Markle ‘Doomed To Be a Hate-Watch’ on MasterChef Australia
Meghan Markle’s MasterChef Australia gig might grab attention for the wrong reasons. According to a source, the Duchess of Sussex’s appearance in next year’s Junior MasterChef could steal the spotligh...
What’s next after Trump’s massive miscalculation triggers historic defeat
There’s only way to view the Democrats’ staggering midterm election triumph: It is one of the most colossal repudiations of a sitting president in modern history.
Washington voters backing initiative to keep transgender girls out of girls’ sports
Washington state voters backing initiative to ban transgender girls from girls' sports, election results show
It’s time to reunite
Election season is over. Most of us exercised our constitutional right to choose representatives for office who best reflected our values and those we believed were best prepared to lead and solve the very real challenges facing our state, nation and county. The 2026 election season was full of both extreme highs and extreme lows. […]
Democrats seize power in Texas, ending decades of GOP dominance
Texas’ governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and every other statewide candidate fell, upending the state’s political power structure in one night.
Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Senate Race, Making History as First Muslim Senator
El-Sayed has defeated former Rep. Mike Rogers in Michigan’s open Senate race, making him the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate.
Angry Voters Usher in Beginning of the End to the Trump Era
The electoral backlash extended even into deep red states and indicated that President Trump has lost his hold over the coalition that lifted him to the White House twice.
Colorado measure banning transgender athletes from gendered sports is too close to call
Proposition 134 would prohibit athletes it defines as male from playing on female sports teams, though it provides exceptions for athletes it defined as female who want to play on boys teams
Arizona voters poised to approve restrictions on transgender athletes
A ballot measure that would restrict transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports appeared headed to approval Tuesday night.
Michigan's 'money out of politics' measure passes, faces legal challenge
Unofficial results from the New York Times show Proposal 2 received support from 81% of Michigan voters.
Sabres Get Major Zach Benson Update After Missed Practice
The Buffalo Sabres got some worrisome news on Monday. In addition to Konsta Helenius being ruled out as week-to-week, Zach Benson missed practice. It wasn’t necessarily an expected absence, and so it raised worries about a potential injury absence for the dynamic winger. Buffalo was returning home from a West Coast trip, and the Sabres […] The post Sabres Get Major Zach Benson Update After Missed Practice appeared first on HEAVY.
Nebraska voters appear to say 'no' to legalizing online sports betting
Though margins were still slim late Tuesday night, Nebraska voters were on track to reject a pair of ballot measures looking to legalize and regulate online sports betting, according to unofficial results. Initiative Measures 440 and 441 would together amend the Nebraska Constitution and state law, respectively, to legalize and regulate online sports wagers. Initiative […]
“I Don’t Know If I’m Willing to Do It Just to Fight” – UFC Fans May Have Seen the Last of Beneil Dariush Inside the Octagon
Fans may have already seen the last of Beneil Dariush inside the Octagon. The veteran lightweight has endured a difficult stretch lately, losing four of his last five UFC fights, with all four defeats coming by knockout. Most recently, Dariush was stopped by Quillan Salkilld at UFC Perth in May 2026. Before that, he suffered …
Lewiston’s mayor faces runoff after a tumultuous year in city politics
Challenger Rick LaChapelle had 45.7% of votes to 35.3% for Mayor Carl Sheline, according to unofficial results.
WATCH: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks after winning reelection
This is Hochul's second time being elected governor. She was serving as lieutenant governor when Andrew Cuomo resigned in 2021, and she ascended to take his place.
Trump reacts to Republican losses and declines to take blame
By the time the House and Senate had been called for Democrats on Tuesday, a consensus among members of both parties was forming: voters had rejected President Donald Trump’s record in office, and he would face a starkly different political reality for the remainder of his term.
WATCH: Democrat Annie Andrews' full victory speech after flipping South Carolina Senate seat
Andrews' victory in a state President Donald Trump won three times by double digits is a stark defeat for the Republican Party.
Letters: Credit card change could hurt small businesses
I recently read an op-ed in this newspaper arguing that the Durbin-Marshall credit card mandates would ease pressure on Louisiana businesses and keep our economy growing. As an entrepreneur, I
Tight race between LA Mayor Karen Bass and democratic socialist Nithya Raman
The first returns were a tally of mail ballots received before Election Day. Others, including results from in-person voting, were to follow.
Tight race between LA Mayor Karen Bass and democratic socialist Nithya Raman
The first returns were a tally of mail ballots received before Election Day. Others, including results from in-person voting, were to follow.
Cold showers: A rewarding way to cut your emissions?
Making this small change to your daily routine could be as impactful as recycling.
Problems at health trust buildings could cost additional £20m
The maternity building on the Royal Victoria Hospital site is already tens of millions of pounds over budget.
Nebraska football’s special teams search for consistency as kicking woes persist
A major talking point with Nebraska football is a lack of consistency on special teams. These failures have led to Matt Rhule replacing Kyle Cunanan with Matt Hohl for all field goals and points after touchdowns.
How a Ms. Frizzle-esque librarian helped Flagship’s Louisa Helms find biotech
BioSpace 40 Under 40 honoree Louisa Helms is a lot of things—athlete, scientist, entrepreneur and likely future biotech executive. Just don’t ask her to pick up any pipettes.
Political analysts discuss Wisconsin governor's race results
Democrat David Crowley defeated a Republican with close ties to President Donald Trump on Tuesday, rising from a childhood in one of the nation’s poorest neighborhoods to become the first Black person to lead the battleground state.
How the Stock Market Is Reacting to the Midterm Elections
U.S. stock futures fell as the first results came in, but later traded higher as investors assessed the outlook for artificial intelligence and other key sectors as the balance of power shifts in Washington.
Here are the results from the sports wagering ballot measures
Two ballot measures are seeking a constitutional amendment to legalize online sports betting in the state and to create the regulatory framework to tax the wagers.
Issue 3 trails; voters approve other constitutional amendments
A proposed constitutional amendment that would allow cities and counties to form economic development districts to attract retail businesses and other operations was at slightly below 50% as of 11...
Issue 3 trails; voters approve other constitutional amendments
A proposed constitutional amendment that would allow cities and counties to form economic development districts to attract retail businesses and other operations was at slightly below 50% as of 11...
Cannabis Legalization Prevails in Massachusetts; Repeal Question Soundly Defeated
Ten years after legalizing adult-use cannabis, the Bay State voters rejected a prohibitionist proposal, Question 8, which aimed to wipe out the industry.
Accel Entertainment, Inc. 2026 Q3 - Results
2026-11-04. The following slide deck was published by Accel Entertainment, Inc.
Texas Politics Enter a New Era After Hinojosa's Win
Texas State Rep. Gina Hinojosa won the race for governor, the first Democrat to win the office since 1990. She beat incumbent Greg Abbott, who was seeking a fourth term.
The dangerous myth of the well-meaning health guru
In healthcare, a warm heart is no substitute for a trained mind. Banned Australian naturopath Barbara O’Neill built a global empire on the defense that she "just wants to help," but good intentions mean nothing when uncredentialed health advice causes real-world harm.
Nature comes to life in ‘MOMIX: Botanica’ at the Schaefer Center on Nov. 12
MOMIX presents Botanica, a visually stunning dance and illusion show exploring nature’s rhythms, at Appalachian State University’s Schaefer Center on November 12. This multisensory performance combines athleticism, inventive props, and atmospheric music to transform dancers into flowers, insects, and fantastical creatures.
Event to celebrate anniversary of ‘Gone With the Wind’
Ninety years after Margaret Mitchell introduced readers to a world that would become one of the most recognizable stories in American literary and cinematic history, the story is coming home.
US stock futures mixed as Democrats score key midterm election wins
Wall Street faces fresh uncertainty over what Democratic control of Congress could mean for taxes, government spending and regulation.
US stock futures tumble as Democrats score key midterm election wins
Wall Street faces fresh uncertainty over what Democratic control of Congress could mean for taxes, government spending and regulation.
AFGHS co-signatory countries ask health care users to help fill the financing gap
Hundreds of thousands of Ugandans living with HIV on antiretrovirals could be targeted for user fees or community health insurance schemes requiring modest premium payments, according to the April 2026 version of the country’s America First Global Health Strategy implementation narrative.1 As part of the “sustainable financing for the private not for profit sector” strategy, 491 facilities will be targeted for a phased introduction of user fees and scale up of community health insurance programs.2 In the Ugandan context, PNFP facilities include faith-based hospitals and other health facilities, US missionary organizations and centers of excellence—services that are often co-located at government facilities but run with additional financial and technical resources. 402,000 people—or about 28 percent of the total Ugandan adult PLHIV population on treatment—get ART from the private not for profit sector. The selected facilities provide the majority of ART and prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) services. The plan doesn’t give the total number of clients served by the 491 facilities, so it is not possible to give a precise number. But the majority of 402,000 is a figure in the hundreds of thousands—hence the estimate I’m using.3 The April draft of the Ugandan implementation plan narrative is the only one I’ve been able to review. But the government of Uganda is not alone in turning to health care users to help fill the financing gaps caused by the abrupt withdrawal of US funds. In July 2025, the Government of Liberia introduced user fees for previously free services including “registration, accommodation, patient feeding, hospitalization, and a wide range of surgical and diagnostic procedures.”4 Earlier that year, Liberia rolled out a revolving drug fund designed to stabilize drug supplies by “allowing patients to pay a small fee for standardized, quality medications,” according to a Ministry of Health press release.5 (Both of these approaches had been proposed in the National Health Policy 2022-2031; media coverage explicitly connects the launch with the US foreign aid cuts.) The health financing strategies proposed by Uganda and established in Liberia are qualitatively different from user fees officially adopted by specific health facilities to cover funding shortfalls caused by the new US approach.6 The latter is a stopgap, adhoc change. The former is a national governmental adoption of policies that pass costs on to health care users, despite evidence that such approaches can exacerbate inequities and leave deficits unfilled. Two countries does not make a pattern, but they do point to urgent questions: Have other countries, including Liberia, included user fees or community health insurance schemes in their implementation plans? If so, do any of these narratives have what Uganda’s lacks: a fall-back plan in place in case these strategies for sustainable health systems fail to deliver—as they have before? I wonder if you think about it Subscribe Predictable pitfalls Both community-based health insurance and user fees are as old as the hills. And after decades of people climbing up these hills, duking it out, climbing back down—neither strategy has shown the results the Ugandan implementation plan is counting on. This is, in fact, a hill some folks are willing to die on. (You knew I’d get there, right?) In November 2025, an African-led team of health system experts published a paper directed at low- and middle income country governments trying to figure out how to create self-sustaining health systems. The money wasn’t coming back. It had been more than nine months since the season of freezing, waivering and wood-chippering; two months since AFGHS tumbled into the world touting co-financing requirements and reductions in future US government health aid. Governments were looking for strategies for sustainable, self-financed health systems, the authors wrote. For countries considering user fees and community health insurance to fill the financing gaps, they had a simple message: Don’t. On user fees, the paper states: “Reliance on user fees is ultimately a regressive and inequitable approach. It places a disproportionate burden on the poor and undermines health system goals of equity and financial protection. […] There is overwhelming evidence that user fees mobilise very limited resources for the public health sector, making it an inefficient mechanism for revenue mobilisation.” On community health insurance: “Attempting to shift the burden of funding previously donor-funded services, such as HIV care and management, and TB treatment, onto contributory schemes would exacerbate their fragility and fail to protect the population.”7 The WHO says that community-based health insurance “cannot be expected to provide a major source of funding or coverage,” and noted that most schemes offer only moderate benefit to individuals paying into them, and exclude the poorest segment of the population.8 And yet, the US-Ugandan implementation plan says that community health insurance is “the central pillar of this [PNFP] sustainability strategy” and that this approach that will generate “pre-paid pooled funding at facility and community level [that] improves financial risk protection for households, reduces catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure, and generates structured, transparent revenue streams that can progressively absorb recurrent costs including health worker salaries.” Unfortunately, Uganda’s own history suggests the pillar might not be able to bear this weight. Ugandans Have Been to this Rodeo Before—and Some Want Their Money Back Uganda introduced its first community health insurance scheme in 1996 with support from international donors.9 Thirty years later, somewhere between 0.2 and 0.3 percent of the population is covered by CHI; just over 1 percent has any kind of health insurance.10 User fees were universally introduced in 1993 as a condition of a World Bank loan.11 They were abandoned in 2001, and in 2004—the year I moved to Uganda to watch the free HIV program get underway—a definitive study found that the fees did not improve health systems and outcomes.12 In 2004, most clinics and hospitals had ‘free’ and ‘fee for service’ options for getting care.13 The fee for service, or “cash and carry” programs had often been established in the years prior to PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. People who could afford to paid for the drugs, often at facilities in the private-not-for-profit (PNFP) sector. When free drugs arrived, some people who’d been paying kept on doing so, perhaps because of shorter wait times, greater confidentiality, convenience or other factors. But in the year that I spent visiting the same clinics around the country week after week—including a “center of excellence” that maintained separate days for cash and carry clients and those accessing free ARVs—lots of people who had been paying tried to switch to the free option. They’d paid because they had no other choice. They’d sold pieces of family land, begged family members for loans, bought pills by the week, and sometimes by the day. Or they were just cash-strapped, like most of us, and wanted the funds for other things. 14 Twenty-two years later, this hasn’t changed. Ugandans pay out of pocket for 30-40 percent of their health care costs, leading one paper to declare that “falling ill is more than a health crisis. It is a financial emergency.”15 One recent study found that up to 48.5 percent of households dealing with tuberculosis sold something, took out a loan or dug into savings to defray the costs of TB care—which is supposed to be universally free.16 The Ugandan implementation plan does anticipate challenges. It proposes a phased approach, with 187 facilities introducing user contribution systems in Year 1, 152 in Year 2, and 153 in Year 3. Willingness to pay and feasibility studies will precede roll out; fees will be tiered by region, and a waiver system is proposed to ensure that no one has to pay who is unable to. Moreover, the plan provides for quarterly reviews of epidemiological data to “ensure that user contributions do not compromise epidemic control gains, ART continuity for the client cohort, TB case management, or PMTCT services.” Alt text: A screenshot of a table included in the implementation plan narrative that is the subject of this stack. It’s got a fetching pink bar at the top. It uses the abbreviation “CHI” which is Community Health Insurance, and FBO which is Faith Based Organizations, and it details the number of facilities that will implement user fees with waivers and community health insurance schemes over the five years of the agreement. As I said in the footnote, this is a super interesting document with a lot of other rich material. Tell me what you see—and what you would have focused on. And if you’ve seen something like this, or anything else that strikes you, in another implementation plan, tell me that too. You can use the Substack message platform or try me on Signal at @endaplague_again.25 (because @mercoonfan was, weirdly, taken). But the plan doesn’t fully explain what will happen if this approach doesn’t work out. Yes, progress will be monitored, and corrective action triggered. However, there is no specified funding replacement if premium and fee revenue prove inadequate. Instead, the authors write, “Currently, COEs serve a total client cohort of over 180,000 across 28 facilities. In the initial years, the U.S. Government (USG) will provide financial support for clients; over time, user fees generated by COEs will become the primary source of funding for sustaining their services.” Failure does not really seem to be an option. Health insurance schemes are more acceptable to the Ugandan population than user fees. Members of Parliament and civil society traveled to Ethiopia to see how that country’s scheme worked. In a follow up report, a veteran civil society group recommended allowing the “health insurance ecosystem to grow organically and [to] keep reviewing the law and regulations as this growth takes root.”17 One study found that more than three-quarters of Ugandans were willing to join a health insurance program.18 However, coverage of community-based health insurance is minimal, as is coverage of any kind of insurance—including private plans.19 A national health insurance scheme bill has been stalled for several years and presently sits with President Yoweri Museveni.20 Community-based health insurance scheme that do exist are expanding in number, but losing enrollees. Between 2022 and 2026, the number of community-based health financing schemes across the country increased by 42 percent, while the number of people enrolled decreased by nearly 11 percent.21 None of this means that community-based health insurance should not happen in Uganda—or that people do not want insurance. It doesn’t even mean that user fees and waivers won’t ever work. But there is highly relevant evidence from Uganda and the surrounding region that it is quite optimistic to describe community health insurance and user fees as central supports for sustainable financing in any sector of the health system. And now for the best-case scenario In the best-case scenario22, the Ugandan approach does exactly what it sets out to do, and so does the Liberian fee structure and revolving pharmacy fund—though I’ve not confirmed that these are in the MoU. In one best-case scenario, Uganda is an outlier, and user fees and community health insurance are not recurrent pillars of self-sustaining financing in other countries’ implementation plans. In another best-case scenario, all countries that include these strategies enjoy success beyond anyone’s evidence-informed wildest dreams: reliable funding generated by health care users fees, great health care outcomes for everyone, no exacerbation of inequities, no crippling household debt. No sold land, repurposed school tuition or high-interest loans. In the best-case scenario, not one of the hundreds of thousands of Ugandans living with HIV receiving antiretrovirals from 491 PNFP facilities misses a refill or leaves care because of user fees or community health insurance premiums. This is the best-case scenario for these people for their own health, and for their families. It is also the best-case scenario if Uganda wants to stay on the path to eliminating HIV as a public health threat. According to the country’s most recent data, 96.5 percent of people living with HIV on antiretrovirals are virologically suppressed. Epidemic control depends ensuring that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95 percent of those individuals are on ART, and 95% of those individuals are virologically suppressed. Uganda is still struggling with the first “95"—a frankly abysmal 85.3 percent. If HIV epidemic control and the attendant prevention of new infections, avoidable suffering and premature death matter, the country cannot afford to lose any clients who are currently in care.23 As I write this a couple hours before the polls close for the US elections in the city I live in, I say with soul-deep sincerity: I am rooting for the best-case scenario. I think it’s safe to say that we all are.24 I think it’s also safe to say that if the US and co-signatory governments have inked plans that lead to successful expansion of community health insurance and strategic use of user fees, we all would like to know, now, so that we don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate when success happens. The implementation plan narratives have to enter the public domain. They are the fullest expression of a strategy co-created by two governments. There are assumptions and details that people living in the US and co-signatory countries need to understand that are not available in the MoUs or, to date, in the Congressional Notifications. Some of these details can help other countries that are, as I write this, still working on implementation plans. Others, like a solid count of how many other countries have plans for expanding user fees or health insurance, are important for regional and global health architecture reform initiatives. No matter how this election night turns out, there will be a slew of new Congressional member orientations, briefings and talking points papers in the next few months. Release of implementation narratives should be a bullet point in every context that AFGHS is discussed. These documents can be redacted so that procurement sensitive information isn’t disclosed. There is much more historical precedent for sharing such documents than there is for relying on user fees to fill health financing gaps. Let’s look at the information together so we can hope for the best and prepare for, you know, the other thing. Alt text: A substack first: a bicep selfie! It’s my arm - peachy-white skin, black shirt (flannel, notch neck, too hot for this appallingly balmy November weather, if you’re wondering) and a sticker that says I VOTED 2026. Beige letters on red for I voted. Beige on blue for 2026. You bet I did.25 In your wildest dreams. Subscribe 1 This is a really, really rich 95 page document. There are fascinating ideas and detailed plans in it. It is all worth reading AND I have, in this post, highlighted an instance of content that could pose challenges and certainly posits success of strategies that haven’t worked before. I would love to hear what readers’ see that’s interesting and should be lifted up as something to check for in other implementation plans. I will also shortly be adding a static page to the substack site where implementation plan documents will live. I will put the url into this footnote and it will also be there on emilybass.substack.com by the end of the week. Uganda Implementation Narrative Section 4 April 22 2026 Draft 1.51MB ∙ PDF file Download Download 2 User fees are costs charged for visits, labs, medicines or other health services, usually at the time they are provided. Community health insurance, or community-based health insurance, is what the World Health Organization calls “micro insurance,” which is health insurance targeted at low-income people. 3 As usual (by which I mean always), please prove me wrong. 4 https://smartnewsliberia.com/liberias-ministry-of-health-announces-2025-hospital-service-fees-for-public-facilities/?utm 5 https://moh.gov.lr/news/2025/grand-cape-mount-leaders-residents-embrace-new-community-pharmacy-program/?utm 6 https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/09/hiv-usaid-pepfar-africa-foreign-aid-cuts-mission-hospitals/?utm 7 https://gh.bmj.com/content/10/11/e021270 8 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/community-based-health-insurance-CBHI 9 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2827475/ 10 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10861328/#b3-jpmph-23-110 11 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC527704/ 12 Same citation as the footnote 2 - the article is called “Learning from failed health care reform in Uganda.” To which I say: If only. If. Only. 13 There is a whole taxonomy of user fees to be aware of, if not commit to memory. Out of pocket costs are everything that someone pays for themselves. In this Stack, user fees are planned and policy-supported out of pocket costs. There are also out of pocket costs that people pay to buy drugs or receive tests or health care assessments that would be free if the drugs were on the shelves, or the machines or kits were available, or the staff were on site. A user fee is usually designed to be modest, pegged to willingness to pay, and may be waiveable at the point of care for anyone who is unable to do so. The costs for things that would otherwise be free are whatever the market will bear and people either have to pay them or go without. Out of pocket costs for services and stuff that aren’t available in public facilities are different again from bribes or unofficial fees that some health workers may impose, even though most are indefatigable, tireless and tired, and devoted to their clients. 14 For the record—which really is these footnotes—I would give a whole stack of fridge magnets for a systematic analysis of the economic and social impact of the Mass Unemployment Event in AFGHS countries among the very people who used to be able to afford and cover user fees, both for themselves and vast family networks. Locally employed USAID technical staff, house cleaners, caregivers, drivers and technicians were financial anchors for cousins, friends, friends’ children, friends’ childrens’ cousins, teachers, pastors, neighbors and so many other kinds of kin. Aid recipients lost direct funding; many other people who had not been aid recipients, but parts of the elaborate care webs that function as safety nets for so many people, lost crucial support too. And that’s even before we get to the people who worked at the hotels and restaurants and bars where people employed by the US and its implementing partners used to spend disposable income. Those businesses have lost revenue; those folks have lost jobs. It will be some time coming—and someone will have to fund this work—but I do hope it happens. And I hope, as usual, to be proven wrong. 15 https://eprcug.org/blog/how-out-of-pocket-healthcare-costs-keep-driving-ugandans-into-poverty/ 16 Another straight-to-the-point journal article title. Households experiencing catastrophic costs due to tuberculosis in Uganda: magnitude and cost drivers. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32938411 17 https://www.cehurd.org/download/technical-policy-brief-on-community-health-insurance-scheme/?wpdmdl=13661&refresh=6ae9122f5d4ed1793659439 18 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10125197/ 19 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10861328/#b3-jpmph-23-110 20 https://ugandapost.news/uganda-to-make-health-insurance-mandatory-by-2026/ 21 https://shu.org.ug/download/235 22 With a nod, tip of the stack hat, and wag of the Mercoon tail to a deeply valued reader who told me that I have a tendency to speculate about the worst-case scenarios a little too much of the time. 23 https://news.mak.ac.ug/2026/10/uphia-2025-shows-ugandas-hiv-status-awareness-gap-despite-strong-treatment-outcomes/ As you’ll see in the next footnote, I’ve already written a subSubstack on another topic, so I will be brief with regard to the study referenced in this article. The Uganda Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment, or UPHIA, will never happen in this way again. For more than a decade, PHIAs have been supported by the US government as a way to generate accurate estimates of country progress on key HIV indicators. They are a holdover from the PEPFAR program that was laser focused on ensuring US taxpayer dollars subsidized progress in pandemic control. There may be other population-level surveys and the data may even be publicly released, as the entire set of FY2026 MER data have not. But PHIAs will never happen again. If you’re wondering whether the estimates of HIV progress at country level might get less reliable….you’re not alone. 24 Ooh baby, I hate “we” in almost all forms. But sometimes I go there, when I am looking for company, which I am. Because this Stack moves into the somewhat-uncharted territory of assessing what the implementation plan narratives may suggest about co-signatory countries’ roles and responsibilities to the people living within their borders. The MoUs, specimen and data sharing agreements were templates. Countries’ answers fit into pre-specified questions that did not include, “how are you going to fill financing gaps and stabilize your health system as this plan unfolds?” In contrast, the implementation narratives are open form—the product of co-creation between the two governments. Co-creation can mean lots of things, but nothing leads me to believe that implementation plans are ghost-written by the US government, or that contents were imposed by the US counterparts. Instead, I think the parts of the plans that read like country government initiatives are endorsed, if not initiated by, those governments. For instance, the Ugandan implementation plan narrative describes plans for revenue-generation through fees charged for equipment calibration, repair and maintenance provided through Uganda’s National Equipment Calibration Laboratory, and laboratory accreditation through the Uganda National Accreditation Service (UGANAS), targeting private sector, PNFP, research and academic clients. That’s super specific and also quite ambitious. It doesn’t read like an American idea. There’s also a provision for solar panels, and other stuff that feels country owned and driven. This is where it gets interesting. If co-creation is the case, then both the US and co-signatory governments are accountable for the contents and the outcomes. Most discourse about AFGHS to date has focused on the decisions that America has made, or demanded that other countries make. The AFGHS architects have monopolized the hot seat. As they should, in so many ways. America absolutely created the conditions under which countries needed to come up with health financing strategies to fill unanticipated, catastrophic funding gaps. And with not-too-long a lens, we can look back and see that America is also on the hook for its role in the Bretton Woods institutions that made user fees and health system fiscal austerity conditions of loans during the era of structural adjustment. But in the here and now, it is not at all clear to me that the US is requiring Uganda or any other country to implement specific approaches to sustainable financing. Instead, it is as the authors of that paper up in footnote 6 suggest: African governments have agency. As implementation plans roll out—whether or not the narratives are shared—it will be important to understand what this agency looks like and what it means for people, including the poorest of the poor. And it will be important to figure out how to talk about it safely, respectfully and critically in places other than the literal and metaphorical footnotes. 25 This week’s song is “Once upon a time” by the Moody Blues. (I know, this is gonna be a weird, largely banger-free end of 2026 playlist. HMU with requests.) AND please do watch the video and appreciate the truly amazing opening sequence—a drum kit wasteland, a coupla plastic bags, a bit of sand. Sort of like the hill where fiscal austerity policies that put costs on health care users might go to perish. But then there’s a lady with amazing hair. It’s worth it.
Biz leaders react as a 'blunami' sweeps America on Election Night
Business leaders and tech executives are now weighing in on what the new political landscape could mean for their industries.
Tulsans approve hotel tax hike backed by business groups
Tulsa voters approved a measure to raise the city’s lodging tax from 5% to 9.9%. The new revenue will pay for upgrades at BOK Center and Arvest Convention Center.
Democrats take control of the Senate after winning key midterm races
Democrats have won the U.S. Senate, ending Republican dominance in Washington by harnessing voters' frustration with President Donald Trump.
National City Businesses Propose Sharply Lower Tax Increase
Business leaders tasked with crafting an alternative to a failed city business tax increase proposed a smaller increase that would raise $2.75 million annually in new revenue instead of $7.5 million.
Democrat Jon Rosenthal appears on track to win Texas Railroad Commissioner race
The three-member Railroad Commission of Texas regulates the state’s massive oil and gas industry, overseeing everything from pipeline safety to natural gas rates.
Why Everyone Is Watching Hinge Health (HNGE) Now
Hinge Health (HNGE) just posted third quarter 2026 results that flipped the business from loss to profit, with sales of US$234.97 million and net income of US$57.4 million catching investor attention. That earnings surprise has landed on a strong run in the Hinge Health share price, with a 30 day share price return of 19.63% and a 90 day gain of 44.62%, building on a year to date share price return of 156.45% and a 1 year total shareholder return of 118.64% at a latest share price of...
Caddo Parish voters reject $60 million bond for proposed sports complex
Approved: Caddo Parish voters have approved a $60M bond measure to help fund a proposed $70M sports complex in Shreveport. Full election results here. Rejected: Caddo Parish voters have rejected a $60M bond measure proposed to fund a $70M regional sports complex in Shreveport. Full election results here.
Democrats capture full control of Congress, NBC News projects, fueled by victories in deeply Republican states
Democrats capitalized on voter anger over Trump and affordability, flipping seats in deep-red and major battleground states alike.
Political analyst digs into Election Night in Wisconsin as results come in
Political analyst digs into Election Night in Wisconsin as results come in
Early results show AZ voters backing Prop. 318, restricting transgender student sports, bathrooms
Early returns show a ballot measure to ban transgender students from using preferred bathrooms and locker rooms is leading in the polls.
Butler County mental health levy passes
The Butler County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Services Board levy has passed based on unofficial election results.
What Becerra's historic win says about Latino political power in California
Many voters were already shrugging about the significance of Xavier Becerra’s likely victory — especially Latinos. Only 45% of Latino voters felt “proud” about the prospect of a Latino governor, according to a recent poll.
Midterms show Democratic gains, internet joking DEI is back
Early election results show huge gains for Democrats. Delighted internet denizens say it means DEI is so back.
Schmaltz scores game-winner in Mammoth 3-2 win
TORONTO (ABC4 Sports) – Nick Schmaltz scored the winner on a power play with 6:48 left in regulation and the Utah Mammoth beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Tuesday night. Dylan Guenther and Andrew Peeke also scored for Utah. Sebastian Cossa made 27 saves. Clayton Keller added three assists and Mikail Sergachev had a […]
WATCH: Sen. Cory Booker speaks after winning reelection in New Jersey
Booker won a third full term over Justin Murphy, a little-known attorney who emerged from a crowded field in his party's June primary.
‘One Tree Hill’ star Bethany Joy Lenz recalls ‘worst audition of my life’ for Broadway role
‘One Tree Hill’ star Bethany Joy Lenz was so close to landing the starring role of Satine in Broadway’s ‘Moulin Rouge,’ until the ‘worst audition’ of her life dashed those dreams.
JB Pritzker and Juliana Stratton declared winners
Juliana Stratton becomes only the second Black woman to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile, Pritzker returns for a third term.
Democrat Bob Brooks wins election to U.S. House in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District
2026 ELECTION COVERAGE: Watch Live | Poll Closing Times | All Live Results | Live Updates | Live Fact Check Democrat Bob Brooks won election Tuesday to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, defeating Republican incumbent Ryan Mackenzie. Brooks, who worked as a firefighter and union leader, concentrated on his blue-collar background, saying he understood the affordability issues facing voters in the Lehigh Valley battleground district. Mackenzie's ties to President Donald
Canada Regulates Health-Product Claims. But What Does ‘Science-Backed’ Actually Mean?
Phrases like “science-backed” can sound reassuring, but consumers deserve to see what kind of evidence actually stands behind health-product claims.
Blue wave fizzles in Florida races: Inside Florida Politics podcast
Florida's GOP firmly keeps power including the state's first black governor Byron Donalds, and multiple Congressional and State legislative races.
Entertainment that Resonates with Filipino Culture
As a Filipina American, I’ve seen how many other Filipino Americans take pride in their cultural identity and aren’t afraid
Maryland voters pass Democratic-backed redistricting amendment
A constitutional amendment passed Tuesday could pave the way for Democratic lawmakers to redraw Maryland’s congressional districts ahead of the 2028 election.
Proposal 2 for 'money out of politics' passes in Michigan
Voters approved Proposal 2 in Michigan in the 2026 midterm election. Proposal 2 would regulate political spending by utilities and large government contractors.
‘Money Out of Politics’ ballot measure passes, constitutional convention fails
Proposal 2 on Michigan ballots, the “Michiganders for Money Out of Politics” initiative, has passed. The initiative will alter state campaign finance law to ban campaign spending from “regulated electric and gas utilities, contractors with over $250,000 annually in government contracts, and people and organizations with substantial connections to those utilities or contractors.”
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' prison release date moved up following transfer
Weeks after Sean "Diddy" Combs was hospitalized for a head injury suffered while serving time in federal prison, his release date has moved up. The disgraced music and alcohol mogul
Hochul beats Blakeman to win another term as NY governor
NEW YORK — Gov. Kathy Hochul beat Republican Bruce Blakeman Tuesday to win reelection for a second full term as governor as New York Democrats turned out in droves in
Abortion rights amendment passes in Virginia
2026 ELECTION COVERAGE: Watch Live | Poll Closing Times | All Live Results | Live Updates | Live Fact Check Voters have approved a ballot measure that creates a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom” in the Virginia Constitution. The amendment passed Tuesday ensures abortions can occur during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. It allows government regulations during the third trimester while still ensuring that abortions can be carried out to protect the life and
False accusations and unverified claims quickly spread about Election Day voting
Election Day was barely underway before misinformation about voting irregularities surfaced online. Election officials reported voting problems in parts of the United States but there were no verified examples of malfeasance in the hours before polls closed across the country.
Yankees’ perfect trade offer for Brewers’ Trevor Megill
The New York Yankees should pursue Trevor Megill with an offer that supports the Milwaukee Brewers’ championship defense. New York needs late-inning pitching , but Milwaukee needs a reason to surrender its proven closer. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Monday that the Brewers would at least listen to offers for Megill. This package is a proposal, with […] The post Yankees’ perfect trade offer for Brewers’ Trevor Megill appeared first on ClutchPoints.
US stock futures dip as midterm election results loom
Early results showed Democrats making gains in the Senate, although control of both chambers of Congress remained uncertain.
Sports media world reacts to polarizing first College Football Playoff ranking
It’s Election Day, but it’s also College Football Playoff ranking reveal day, and strong reactions to the ranking would have you believe those are the results determining the future of democracy. On Tuesday night, Rece Davis hosted ESPN’s College Football Playoff rankings show alongside Booger McFarland, Greg McElroy, and Joey Galloway. As the show wore…
Economist Warns Health Insurance Costs Are Quietly Eating Into Wage Growth — Workers Could Be Getting Bigger Raises If Premiums Weren’t Soaring
Economist Guy Berger, director of economic research at the Burning Glass Institute, said employer health insurance contributions jumped 6.4% in the third quarter, matching the fastest pace in two decades, adding that "employees are paying a bigger share of premiums."...
Hochul elected to second full term as New York governor
Hochul became New York’s first female governor in August 2021.
‘This is not about politics. This is about people’: UN warns of impact of deadly drone strikes in Sudan
Intensifying drone attacks on civilian infrastructure across Sudan are disrupting electricity, water and fuel supplies, putting lives at risk and hampering the delivery of humanitarian aid, the UN’s top official in the country has warned.
University of Toledo to launch online master’s degree in data science and AI in spring 2027
Bill Kulies, director of UToledo’s School of Interdisciplinary Data Science, said the program is fully online and can be taken full time or part time.
Diamondbacks key free agents receive contract projections
The Diamondbacks' rotation and bullpen could look a lot different next season with several key players hitting the open market.
Chinese scientists discover thickening ground ice in parts of warming Tibet
Research counters expectations but the region remains extremely vulnerable to climate change, study warns.
Jülich Hosts EVE Language Model for Earth Observation and Earth Science
Nov. 3, 2026 — The Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) has started a new collaboration with Pi School, an international centre of excellence for AI headquartered in Rome that brings together innovators, thinkers and entrepreneurs. As a result, JSC’s Helmholtz Blablador infrastructure now hosts the EVE-Instruct model, a large language model (LLM) for Earth observation (EO) and […]
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ prison release date moved up following transfer
The disgraced music mogul is now projected to be released in early 2028 following a transfer to a low-security facility in Pennsylvania.
Political science professor sees signs of increased competition in Indiana races
By Sydney Byerly The Indiana Citizen November 3, 2026 As election results began to come in Tuesday night, Laura Merrifield Wilson, a professor of political science at Indiana University Indianapolis, said some of Indiana's traditionally Republican districts were showing signs of increased competition, potentially reflecting a broader shift in Democratic momentum. One of the biggest
Political science professor sees signs of increased competition in Indiana races
By Sydney Byerly The Indiana Citizen November 3, 2026 As election results began to come in Tuesday night, Laura Merrifield Wilson, a professor of political science at Indiana University Indianapolis, said some of Indiana's traditionally Republican districts were showing signs of increased competition, potentially reflecting a broader shift in Democratic momentum. One of the biggest
OPINION
Like all forms of art, film has a special power to bring societal and political change to a society. Filmmaking is a craft that has always been rich in politics and societal influence, so it is impossible to fully understand the craft without understanding its inherently political nature.
Juliana Stratton makes history with Black women in the Senate
Democrat Juliana Stratton won election Tuesday to the U.S. Senate representing Illinois, defeating Republican Don Tracy. Currently lieutenant governor, Stratton will succeed Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat who is retiring after five terms. Stand with free and independent journalism. Join Press Pass from PBS News Stratton will be the second Black woman to serve Illinois in the Senate. She was twice elected lieutenant governor as Gov. JB Pritzker’s running mate and had Pritzker’s endorsement in
Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz wins reelection to U.S. House in Florida’s 20th District
Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz won election to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Florida’s 20th Congressional District, defeating Republican Brent Andersen.
Agri science key climate change tool, say experts
Agricultural science and technology is expected to play a greater role in international cooperation as countries face mounting pressures from climate change, resource constraints and disruptions to food supply chains, experts said on Monday at a global forum in Hainan province.
Black voter turnout appears high on Election Day, according to voter coalition
LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the voting rights group Black Voters Matter, said turnout in some states seemed to rival that of 2008, when Democrat Barack Obama was running for president for the first time. Stand with free and independent journalism. Join Press Pass from PBS News She and others said turnout appeared particularly high in Michigan and Mississippi. Brown, speaking during a media briefing organized by the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, said her
CVS Health to split into two publicly traded companies by 2028, FT reports
Investing.com-- CVS Health Corp (NYSE:CVS) is planning to split its retail pharmacy business from its insurance operations, potentially unwinding one of the U.S. healthcare industry's largest vertical integration deals, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Michigan US Senate election results: Abdul El-Sayed vs Mike Rogers
See live election results in Michigan's US Senate race between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.
Adam Schefter Reveals Strong Bengals Trade Pivot
The Cincinnati Bengals are reportedly one of the six teams that have made an aggressive offer to the Indianapolis Colts for running back Jonathan Taylor. However, Adam Schefter mentioned that if the Colts do trade Taylor, there will be five teams that are looking to pivot, and the Bengals would be one of those teams. […] The post Adam Schefter Reveals Strong Bengals Trade Pivot appeared first on HEAVY.
Race results for the 11th Congressional District race
Democrat Nancy Mannion, a registered nurse and political newcomer from Manheim Township, is challenging Smucker’s bid for a sixth term.
Michigan elections: Voters decide on Proposal 2 Money Out of Politics question
Voters on Tuesday were asked to consider a ballot proposal that would prohibit regulated utilities and large state contractors from contributing to Michigan politicians.
2026 Minnesota Election Results
Minnesota Election results for the November 3, 2026, midterm elections.
Billy Evans discusses full frontal nudity in 'You Can See Everything'
Billy Evans, the partner of former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes and 'You Can See Everything' antagonist, addresses hot topics from Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s new documentary in a candid AMA.