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Sonos Put Speaker Controls On Your iPhone's Lock Screen (Again)
Sonos released an app update that takes advantage of Apple's Live Activities system.
Sonos finally added Live Activities controls for your iPhone lock screen
Sonos finally put controls on your lock screen.
Sonos just launched Live Activities on iPhone
The Sonos app on iPhone just added a big new feature: Live Activities. Here are the details on how they work.
Starmie Stars in Pokémon GO Ultra Unlock: Starmie Super Mega Raid Day
Take down this leggy legend during Ultra Unlock: Starmie Super Mega Raid Day.
Starmie Stars in Pokémon GO Ultra Unlock: Starmie Super Mega Raid Day
Take down this leggy legend during Ultra Unlock: Starmie Super Mega Raid Day.
The hidden politics of time: How clocks, calendars — and now-contentious time zones
NEW YORK (AP) — It flies. It heals all wounds. It can be of the essence, and it can be money. We thrill in the best of it, lament the worst. We’re warned not to waste it, since we can’t turn it back — even as we try to make up for when it’s lost. […]
Yale Health Center building reopens after fire
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — A Yale Health Center building has reopened after a fire Monday morning, according to Yale University’s alert system. The fire happened at 55 Lock St., the buil…
Reporter's Notebook: Daylight saving time fight puts Senate up against a ticking clock
Trump urged Republican senators to release holds on the Sunshine Protection Act, but lawmakers from northern states raise concerns about dark mornings.
Sports Jawn brings Philly sports treasures to the National Liberty Museum
Sports fans can now check out the new pop-up exhibit inside the National Liberty Museum in Old City called Sports Jawn. The collection features about 100 pieces of memorabilia, including Mike Schmidt's locker, jerseys worn by Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarb.
Unlocking KRAS: Turning Science into Survival
Thanks to the dedication of generations of scientists and researchers, we’ve reached a tipping point where KRAS has been unlocked. PanCAN has been and will continue to be the backbone of this effort.
The hidden politics of time: How clocks, calendars — and now-contentious time zones
Experts explore how the social and political construction of time has evolved from ancient natural rhythms to modern standardized systems like time zones and daylight saving time.
Hayden Panettiere's most memorable roles from TV and film
Revisit Hayden Panettiere's unforgettable roles spanning TV hits and blockbuster films, following her death at age 36.
Caltech breakthrough brings fiber-optic performance to silicon chips
Caltech scientists have created ultra-low-loss optical pathways on silicon chips that approach the efficiency of fiber optics and dramatically outperform existing technology at visible wavelengths. The breakthrough could unlock more powerful lasers, miniature atomic sensors and clocks, quantum systems, and more energy-efficient data centers.
Seahawks Signing: Champs Reveal Terrion Arnold Gamble Thoughts
Coach Mike Macdonald cites deep due diligence and locker room strength as Seattle bets on the talented cornerback despite serious legal hurdles and a looming suspension.
Indie developer of popular stock market game says Sony is blocking a PS5 release and delisting its previous games
STONKS-9800 is no longer coming to PS5 and all of Ternox’s previous games are being pulled…
Lone Star Politics: Aug. 16, 2026
The growing debate over data centers continues in cities across North Texas. Plus, pushback over the use of flock cameras.
Google quietly resurrects a Pixel gesture we first spotted over a year ago
Google appears to be expanding its long-awaited Pixel double-tap-to-lock feature to work on both the home and lock screens.
Sony Unilaterally Blocks Release of Popular Indie Game
Stonks-9800 developer Ternox Games claims they broke no rules and have been unfairly banned by Sony.
Tay Martin Emerging as Lions Roster Sleeper at Training Camp
The Detroit Lions' wide receiver room is one of the most competitive position groups in training camp. Detroit already has four roster locks at receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, and Greg Dortch.
Sunday Briefing: Special interests in politics; Flock cameras
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – On this week’s Sunday Briefing: With millions of dollars being spent on Ohio’s U.S. Senate race, it will be one of the most watched this November. “There are billionaires wh…
Trump says White House needs ‘military complex’ as courts block his ballroom
When Trump first unveiled his plans for the new East Wing addition, he said it was needed to host VIP guests. More recently, he is calling it a 'desperately needed National Security structure.'
Google Adds Sweet New Security App Lock Feature in Surprise Pixel...
Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3 added several new features, one of which is App Lock that allows you to securely lock an app.
It’s time for iOS to have its own Material You
Over the years, Apple has only added more and more customization to iOS. First, we got all of the lock...
9 simple, science-backed changes that can reverse your biological age
Science says it’s time to rethink – and take control – of ageing. Here’s how to slow, halt and potentially turn back your biological clock
Jets activate 366-pound defensive monster ahead of 2026 season
The Jets received a major defensive boost Saturday, activating 366-pound tackle T’Vondre Sweat as the centerpiece of their blockbuster Jermaine Johnson trade finally gets on the field.
Face Unlock on Pixel 11 series works better in low light
The Pixel 11 series now offers Face Unlock that “recognizes you more easily in low light.” Since the Pixel 8...
A little-known protein may be fueling Alzheimer’s — and scientists found a way to block it
An experimental Alzheimer’s compound prevented damaging protein clumps from forming in the brains of mice, helping nerve cells survive longer and reducing amyloid buildup. The treatment also appeared to improve heart health and slow some signs of aging, raising hopes for an entirely new way to combat dementia.
As Trump blocks Medicaid funds, one trans teen's mom asks: What's next?
A longtime Republican living in California says the Trump administration's continuing actions to target transgender youth take a personal toll.
Seahawks’ Jalen Milroe Gets Blunt Message After Loss to Cowboys
The Seattle Seahawks fell in their preseason opener 17-7 to the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 15 at Lumen Field. With Sam Darnold not seeing action in the contest, it allowed for backups Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe to see the field.Regarding Milroe, the 23-year-old went 5-for-8 on his pass attempts, resulting in 36 passing yards. […] The post Seahawks’ Jalen Milroe Gets Blunt Message After Loss to Cowboys appeared first on HEAVY.
Which building blocks of life have been found in space, and which haven't?
So far, researchers have found many signs of the building blocks of life in space, but what exactly have they discovered, and what remains to be found?
Post-game live reaction: Seahawks vs Cowboys Preseason Game 1
The Seattle Seahawks marched down the field with Drew Lock at the helm, aided by two big penalties on the Dallas Cowboys, before punching it in for a 7-0 to kick off the game. After taking more than seven minutes off the clock, wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. scored the first touchdown of the preseason […]
Business Notes: Newport News shipyard recruits through schools; Sentara expands food lockers
View which businesses are celebrating milestones and which professionals are getting accolades.
Armenian Genocide survivors' grandson says 'political motives' block recognition
In 1915, the Ottoman Empire began the systematic deportation and massacre of its Armenian population. As many as 1.5 million Armenians were killed – widely regarded by historians as the twentieth century's…
Vikings S/LB Jamal Adams carted off
Jamal Adams's first game with the Vikings ended with an early trip to the locker room.
Iran business leader admits U.S. blockade will inflict more economic damage than war, and the ‘worst thing that could happen’ is trying to evade it
The head of the Iran-China Joint Chamber of Commerce said "the consequences of the blockade far outweigh those of a direct war."
How to tell if your AI platforms’ accounts have been hacked
A guide on how to check if hackers have broken into your accounts on the most popular AI platforms.
Convention Center hotel hits a roadblock: 'I'll vote against it,' Senate president says
"I'm adamantly opposed to putting anything related to Omni on next week's agenda," Senate President Cameron Henry said. "I will be there, and if it's on the agenda, I will vote against it. The financing isn't in place, and we don't have a deal that's good for the state. I've been talking to the Omni folks, but we need to keep talking to find something that works."
Scientists solve the mystery of a brain “switch” that can trigger weight loss in opposite ways
Scientists have uncovered why two seemingly opposite ways of targeting the same brain receptor can both promote weight loss. In mice, activating the GIP receptor in the brainstem reduced appetite, while blocking it in the hypothalamus removed a kind of “brake” on fullness signals. The discovery helps explain why very different obesity drugs can achieve similar results and suggests that carefully combining GIP-targeting treatments with GLP-1 drugs like those related to Wegovy and Ozempic could produce stronger effects.
Android 17 QPR2 adds App lock to Pixel
Besides visual changes, Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3 also introduces a native App lock feature to Pixel devices.
Android 17 QPR2 brings system blur to the Pixel lockscreen
The interface changes in Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3 continue with more blur for the Pixel lockscreen. Notifications...
UMW Expands Mental Health Resources for Students With 24/7 Crisis Support Line
byThe University of Mary Washington is expanding access to mental health support for students through TimelyCare’s CrisisNow service, providing immediate, around-the-clock access to trained mental health professionals during moments of crisis. This additional service adds a direct phone line through UMW’s Talley Center for Counseling Services, available anytime, including outside of traditional business hours. “We want […]
Is the NFL standing down on early media rights negotiations?
This originally appeared in Friday’s edition of The A Block, Awful Announcing’s daily newsletter with the latest sports media news, commentary, and analysis. Sign up here and be the first to know everything going on in the sports media world. It was another active week on the NFL media rights front as the industry digested…
2. Bundesliga preview: Hertha BSC vs. 1. FC Heidenheim
After both sides began their respective campaigns with victories, albeit with seemingly different ambitions for the season ahead, Hertha BSC and Heidenheim will lock horns at the Olympiastadion on Sat...
The hidden politics of time: How clocks, calendars — and now-contentious time zones
It flies. It heals all wounds. It can be of the essence, and it can be money. We thrill in the best of it, lament the worst. We’re warned not to waste it, since we can’t turn it back — even as we try to make up for when it’s lost.
More, more, more: Lakers deal is the latest in sports gold rush
The blockbuster sale of the Los Angeles Lakers this week keeps alive a sports gold rush among North America's billionaire elite, with pricey media rights, skyrocketing attendance and insatiable fans helping drive prices sky-high.
World’s first superconducting quantum heat engine could help unlock massive quantum computers
A tiny superconducting engine has successfully converted heat near absolute zero into useful work, demonstrating the first cyclic quantum heat engine of its kind. Future versions could operate autonomously inside quantum computers, potentially eliminating huge numbers of costly, noise-producing microwave cables.
Op-ed | When mental health crises happen, New Yorkers deserve more than one option
On a recent summer morning in Queens, Jordyn encountered a neighbor she knew to be living with a serious mental health condition. He had been pacing the block
Beat the clock: The politics of daylight saving time in New Hampshire
The perennial debate over daylight saving time in the U.S. is coming around again, but for one New Hampshire state representative, it's never gone away.
A New Study Shows 4 Weeks on This Diet Can Start Turning Back Your Biological Clock
Think eating healthier just isn’t worth the effort? This study showing improving your diet slows aging in just a month may change your mind.
The hidden politics of time: How clocks, calendars — and now-contentious time zones
Time is a concept that varies across cultures and history
The hidden politics of time: How clocks, calendars — and now-contentious time zones
NEW YORK (AP) — It flies. It heals all wounds. It can be of the essence, and it can be money. We thrill in the best of it, lament the worst. We're warned not to waste it, since we can't turn it back — even as we try to make up for when it's lost.
How do we decide what time it is? On the politics of clocks, calendars
Time is a concept that varies across cultures and history. While we often think of it as universal, timekeeping has been shaped by politics, religion, and economics.
The hidden politics of time: How clocks, calendars — and now-contentious time zones
NEW YORK (AP) — It flies. It heals all wounds. It can be of the essence, and it can be money. We thrill in the best of it, lament the
The hidden politics of time: How clocks, calendars — and now-contentious time zones
NEW YORK (AP) — It flies. It heals all wounds. It can be of the essence, and it can be money. We thrill in the best of it, lament the worst. We’re warned not to waste it, since we can’t turn it back — even as we try to make up for when it’s lost. […]
Dan Campbell Provides Clarity on Ennis Rakestraw’s Injury
One of the biggest concerns coming from the Detroit Lions preseason opener was the injury to third-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw. Rakestraw has a track record of injuries, and it did not look good in the initial review.Rakestraw immediately went to the locker room, and his night was done from there. However, Campbell noted that the […] The post Dan Campbell Provides Clarity on Ennis Rakestraw’s Injury appeared first on HEAVY.
One UI 9.5 will finally bring app lock feature to your Galaxy phone or tablet
While Samsung phones offer an excellent way to secure your apps and media using Secure Folder, they lack a simple option to lock an app or game that you want to
If Apple sends you a push notification alerting you to a spyware attack, take it seriously
Apple now sends out push notifications to iPhone lock screens when the company identifies government spyware targeting someone's devices.
Raiders’ Latest Maxx Crosby Update Hints at Blockbuster Trade
The Las Vegas Raiders have gone through a rollercoaster offseason with superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby. Even now, the final conclusion to the situation doesn’t seem to be in place.Crosby entered the NFL offseason as a clear-cut trade candidate. It didn’t take long for the Raiders to agree to a deal that sent him to […] The post Raiders’ Latest Maxx Crosby Update Hints at Blockbuster Trade appeared first on HEAVY.
CRISPR roadblocks: Scientists identify genes blocking gene therapy success
Like a delivery driver navigating crowded city streets, a gene-therapy-toting lipid nanoparticle faces a gauntlet of potential detours on its journey toward a cell's nucleus. First, there's entering the ...
Hegseth criticized for locking Democrats out of closed-door defense budget talks
Republican lawmakers express concern after US defense secretary repeatedly excluded Democrats from briefings
Flock tightens safeguards on surveillance cameras after backlash
On Thursday, CEO Garrett Langley outlined new safety and privacy changes for the surveillance camera network "that came from listening."
Cityblock Health Expands in North Carolina to Support Nearly 20,000 Dual-Eligible and Medicare Advantage Members
/PRNewswire/ -- Today, Cityblock Health announced a program to bring comprehensive, accessible care to almost 20,000 Medicare Advantage and dual-eligible...
Google Pixel 11 Can Cost Less Than Pixel 10 With Amazon's Pre-Order Perks
If you've been waiting for the best time to get a new smartphone, lock in this deal now.
Trump administration finalizes rule to end federal support for gender-affirming care
Move blocking funds through Medicaid and Chip to make it harder for vulnerable children to get healthcare, experts say
David Ellison is best argument to block Paramount-Warner Bros. deal
Paramount Skydance Chief Executive David Ellison faces an antitrust lawsuit over his proposed purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery. He recently threatened to move Paramount out of California if the suit is not settled.
Car crashes into business in Huntington Beach
Injuries were reported after a car crashed into a business Wednesday in Huntington Beach. The crash was reported in the 6000 block of Edinger Avenue. Details about what led to the crash were not immediately available. At least part of the car appeared to end up inside the store, one of several in the strip mall. Patients were transported to…
Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Issues Strong Statement on $106 Million Move
The Dallas Cowboys have Quinnen Williams locked up on a $106 million extension. Dak Prescott had something to say about it. The post Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Issues Strong Statement on $106 Million Move appeared first on HEAVY.
Rick Jackson unveils plan to revitalize historic Georgia business districts
Rick Jackson has unveiled a proposal aimed at restoring historic commercial districts in the state, including Augusta’s Golden Blocks.
UT Health San Antonio study reveals how the liver’s internal clock may influence metabolism
Contact: Eileen Teves, 210-450-7239, tevese@uthscsa.edu Content provided by Claire Kowalick SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 12, 2026 — What if one of the keys to a healthier metabolism is understanding how and when the liver communicates with the rest of the body? Researchers at UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at […]
The Science of “Ramping Up”: Why Aaron Glenn Playing Starters is a Calculated Risk Worth Taking
For years, the conventional wisdom in NFL training camps was simple: wrap the starters in bubble wrap, hold them out of preseason games, save them for Week 1. And every September, like clockwork, the league watches soft-tissue injuries pile up anyway – hamstrings, calves, Achilles, all the non contact stuff that has nothing to do […]
Facebook ads are so hard to block that uBlock Origin stopped filtering them
Facebook ads and ad-blocking tools have been in a constant clash for years. But it looks like uBlock Origin is stepping away from that fight.
SpaceX’s High-Margin Software Business Could Soon Hit $33 Billion. Investors Are Underestimating It.
Wall Street is fixated on SpaceX's lockup expiration while analysts quietly model a software business inside the company that could dwarf Google Cloud by 2030. Here is why the market may be pricing the wrong asset entirely.
Health department offering cannabis lock bags
Directors with the health department in Kalamazoo County are offering free cannabis lock bags again. (Aug. 12, 2026)
The debate over puberty blockers needs more science and less politics
There is a data vacuum in this country, even as several European countries adopt more cautious practices to treating youth gender dysphoria
The Hollywood Merger Won’t Kill Entertainment Jobs. Blocking It Might
Something besides industry consolidation is clearly to blame for Hollywood’s current contraction.
Telescope Spots Two Black Holes on the Cusp of Merging
New images from the James Webb telescope show a galaxy with a trio of supermassive black holes. Two of them appear to be locked in a tight tango.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Predicted To Get Traded Before Final Cuts
The Philadelphia Eagles have a quarterback controversy, but it’s not on a major scale. Jalen Hurts is the guaranteed starter. His backup? That’s between Andy Dalton and Tanner McKee. Before the final week of the 2025 NFL regular season, nobody could’ve predicted that McKee would be seen as somebody on the chopping block, yet here […] The post Philadelphia Eagles QB Predicted To Get Traded Before Final Cuts appeared first on HEAVY.
Man stabbed in face after argument inside business
Officers said the incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of South Saratoga Street.
Lakers Projected Trade Package for Klay Thompson Revealed
The Los Angeles Lakers have been somewhat unpredictable so far this offseason. Other than the Walker Kessler deal, they ditched the blockbuster trade and instead opted to prioritize complementary additions. The front office doesn’t appear to be done yet, and there is an opportunity to further increase guard depth and veteran shooting. Dallas Mavericks star […] The post Lakers Projected Trade Package for Klay Thompson Revealed appeared first on HEAVY.
US bars federal funding of gender-affirming care for low-income minors
WASHINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - The Trump administration finalized a rule on Tuesday barring two major federal health programs from funding puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries to treat gend...
Nicholas Hoult cast in HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ season 2 as Gilderoy Lockhart
Nicholas Hoult is joining the second season of HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ show as Gilderoy Lockhart, the wizard previously played by Kenneth Branagh on the big screen.
Trump administration finalizes rule restricting trans healthcare for minors on Medicaid
The Trump administration on Tuesday released a final rule blocking the use of federal Medicaid dollars for transgender healthcare for minors, as well as barring Children’s Health Insurance Program …
Vulnerable Dem's campaign pitch clashes with 'radical' voting record on top culture war issue
Sarah Trone Garriott's Iowa legislature votes on bathroom policy and girls' sports clash with her new campaign video opposing men in women's locker rooms.
Man Covers Car in Special Wrap That Breaks Flock Cameras' Electronic Brains
A researcher has come up with a special, computer-generated pattern wrap that can allow a car to evade detection from Flock's cameras.
How The Global Business Community Is Responding To Tariffs & The Strait Of Hormuz Impasse: Expert
When the Supreme Court blocked a large swath of his tariffs, Trump said his administration had "very powerful alternatives." Now we know what those alternatives are.
‘We are professionals’: Coalition of Public Service and Health Care Unions Sue to Block New Department of Education Student Loan Rule That Will Hurt Patient Care and Worsen Staffing Crises
WASHINGTON – A coalition of unions representing hundreds of thousands of public service and health care workers filed a lawsuit this week challenging the Department of Education’s new RISE rule.
Luxury second-home tax survives temporary court block, for now
The tax applies to second homes worth more than $5 million.
'Blue Bloods' star Jennifer Esposito says she was locked in psych ward as health battle spiraled
Jennifer Esposito reveals how celiac disease caused liver failure, a psychiatric ward stay and thoughts of suicide before doctors finally diagnosed her.
iOS 27 beta 5 adds option to upgrade iCloud+ subscription for more AI
iOS 27 beta 5 includes confirmation of something Apple has hinted before: paying for higher iCloud+ tiers unlocks more access to AI features.
Under 500 Employees, Over $500 billion: Small Business Payroll Taxes
Small businesses, those with fewer than 500 employees, are a pillar in the U.S. economy and account for a large share of federal payroll tax revenues. These taxes are paid by both the employer and employee and are primarily used to fund the Social Se
America Already Built the World's Largest Science-Vetting Machine | The Foundation for American Innovation
Every year, federal agencies assess over a hundred thousand proposals that they never fund. Treating those peer review as public infrastructure could help unlock much more philanthropic capital for American research.
AI-Native, Not AI-Sprinkle: Why AI Is A Business Change, Not A Technology Change
Companies unlock AI’s biggest productivity gains not by adding AI tools to existing workflows, but by redesigning teams, roles and daily work around AI. The broader lesson, argues Bob Morse, co-founder and managing partner of Strattam Capital, is that achieving transformational gains like 3x productivity requires CEO- and board-backed organizational change — not merely technology adoption.
The U.S. Healthcare System is Already Mostly Socialized
Now that Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s open Senate seat, the outcome of this crucial race will depend mainly on two things: Whether Republicans succeed in demonizing El-Sayed because he’s brown and a Muslim, and whether they succeed in demonizing him as a left-wing radical. I will defer for the now the question of whether bigotry will be effective this year, although I will address it another day. What I want to address instead is El-Sayed’s signature issue — healthcare. Yes, El-Sayed advocates Medicare for All, a position the usual suspects denounce as “socialism.” I will get to the politics of his stance soon. Today, however, I want to talk about the substance. We should be clear that El-Sayed doesn’t even call himself a socialist. On the contrary, he explicitly disavows the label, saying “I’m a capitalist who just knows about capitalism”. In fact, as I explained in a previous post, the policies that El-Sayed advocates qualify him as a social democrat, not a socialist. Still, El-Sayed advocates a system under which the government would pay almost all medical expenses. Isn’t that socialism? Well, if that is the criterion then much of U.S. healthcare is already socialist. In fact, the government’s role is so large that U.S. healthcare is better described as partially privatized socialism than as anything resembling a free market. Let’s start with the raw numbers on health insurance, which pays the bulk of Americans’ medical expenses. Americans receive health insurance either from private companies or from public programs, overwhelmingly Medicare and Medicaid. Here’s what the breakdown of coverage and spending between private and public looked like in 2024: While a majority of Americans with health insurance get it from private companies, well over 100 million of us are covered by government programs instead. And these government programs pay more total dollars for medical bills than the private insurers do. Why do government programs that cover a minority of the population account for a majority of health insurers’ outlays? Mainly because Medicare covers seniors, and we’re expensive. Also, while Medicaid covers many younger Americans, disabled and elderly beneficiaries account for most of its spending. Even by the raw numbers, then, U.S. health insurance looks as much public as private. But that understates the government’s role: Private health insurance in the U.S. is both highly regulated and heavily subsidized. This is obviously true for the insurance coverage purchased by tens of millions of Americans through the exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act. But employment-based health insurance, which covers 161 million Americans, is far more of a government creation than most people realize. For employment-based insurance exists largely because of huge implicit government subsidies that come with major strings attached. Here’s how that works. If your employer pays you $10,000, that’s taxable income. But if your employer pays $10,000 toward a company health insurance plan that meets certain criteria, it isn’t taxable. That’s a huge effective subsidy, running at more than $300 billion a year. Take that subsidy into account, along with the more than $100 billion per year spent subsidizing policies purchased under the ACA, as well as the outlays on Medicare and Medicaid, and net effect is that the government pays for more than two-thirds of Americans’ health insurance. Granted, there are strings attached. Roughly speaking, employment-based health plans can’t discriminate based on medical history — that is, they can’t deny coverage to employees with pre-existing conditions — and they also can’t offer the plans only to highly compensated employees — a health plan that is only for the C-suite is considered taxable income. So given the restrictions of the federal tax code, employer-based health insurance is a lot like Obamacare, which also prohibits discrimination based on medical history and provides subsidies to make insurance affordable to lower-paid workers. The fact is that virtually all of private healthcare insurance is already well under some form of government control through regulation and tax subsidies. How should we think about this system? First of all, is Medicare socialist? Don’t tell anyone, but the way Medicare operates — it covers every senior’s medical expenses, whatever they turn out to be, while being funded by taxes that depend on one’s income — could be summarized by the old Marxist slogan “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” And back in 1961, when Ronald Reagan was the face of a last-ditch effort by the American Medical Association to block the creation of Medicare, he denounced Medicare as “socialized medicine” and warned that it would destroy our freedom. In reality, American freedom survived until Jan. 20, 2025, while Medicare is immensely popular, with an 82 percent favorable rating in the most recent KFF survey. Medicaid, government health insurance for lower-income Americans, comes in at 73 percent. This is in sharp contrast to public views about private insurers, who are widely disliked if not hated and accused of denying essential care. Furthermore, if Medicare is socialism, then the whole U.S. health insurance system, with the government paying most of the bills and placing conditions on private insurers, is almost equally socialist. If you insist on calling any program the government pays for and regulates socialist, then U.S. healthcare would best be described as a partially privatized form of socialism. And one must ask, what is the point of the part that is privatized? Do private insurers add anything positive? Or are they simply parasites, skimming off money that could have been paying for care? The case for viewing insurers as parasites is strong. Many Medicare benefits are now delivered via Medicare Advantage, that is, plans paid for by the government but run through insurance companies. MedPAC, an independent advisory commission, estimates that last year Medicare Advantage plans were overpaid by $84 billion, thanks to practices such as “upcoding,” in which patients’ health problems are overstated to get larger sums from Medicare. Assessing the waste from employer-based insurance is harder, but most evidence suggests that private insurers have substantially higher administrative costs than Medicare does. Furthermore, the complexity of private insurance, with multiple payers all trying to deny care when they can, is a huge burden both on providers — doctors, nurses, and hospitals — and on patients. What do private insurers offer to compensate for these costs? One must go through intellectual contortions to avoid the conclusion that they are, in fact, parasites. Which brings me back to El-Sayed. In supporting Medicare for All, he’s basically calling for an end to the partial, parasitic privatization of a healthcare system that is already hugely dependent on public funding. When one looks at it that way, it’s not at all a radical proposal. Admittedly, the political lift requires overcoming the opposition to higher taxes to pay for Medicare for All. Political realism rather than economics was the reason I and many other progressives supported Obamacare, with all its complexities, rather than demanding an immediate move to Medicare for All. But the political calculus may very well have shifted since the 2000s, as Americans are fed up with a system of unaffordable premiums, rampant claim denials, and byzantine claim administration. Moreover, funding healthcare insurance through taxation would allow for a much more progressive distribution of the cost. That is, compared to the present system, middle-income households would pay less as high-income households would pay more. And the U.S. would stop wasting large sums on pointless administrative costs. So let’s be clear: El-Sayed’s healthcare platform is perfectly reasonable on the merits of cost, fairness and health efficacy. And with private insurers never more hated, while millions of Americans are losing their health insurance, 2026 may be its time. MUSICAL CODA
Updown Getdown live music series returns to Marion
The Uptown Getdown music series returns to Marion this month, with live music scheduled every Thursday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. in City Square Park. Also, 3rd Street Block
GOP senators rally behind 9/11 families in push to ban Mamdani from anniversary ceremony: 'He's a disgrace'
Republican senators back 9/11 families' petition to block Zohran Mamdani from attending the 25th anniversary remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero.
Blocked storm drains blamed for Ringgold flooding, but some businesses remain uncertain
Downtown Ringgold business owners were able to get some answers Monday night as they continue to recover from two flooding incidents last week.Questions remain
Mountain View fire causes $5K in damage to business
(BCN) — Mountain View firefighters stopped a fire from spreading into businesses at a Grant Road shopping center Monday morning. Crews responded to the 1300 block of Grant Road after a 911 ca…
What Does Fenway Sports Group's Latest Business Moves Say About Upcoming Lockout?
What Does Fenway Sports Group's Latest Business Moves Say About Upcoming Lockout?
Celtics Newcomer Named X-Factor After Blockbuster Jaylen Brown Trade
The Celtics’ return for Jaylen Brown enters next season carrying an X-factor label and the pressure to keep Boston among the East’s elite. The post Celtics Newcomer Named X-Factor After Blockbuster Jaylen Brown Trade appeared first on HEAVY.