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Science Behind the Forecast: When are Louisville’s hottest days?
Every week WAVE 3 meteorologist Tawana Andrew breaks down what we know and what we don't about the climate and weather here in Louisville.
Scientists mimicking the Big Bang accidentally turn lead into gold
The physicists made an unexpected breakthrough
Detroit Lions Preseason Takeaways: Breaking Down the Offense
The Lions may have lost to the Bengals, but several backups made strong cases for roster spots. Here’s a closer look at Detroit’s offensive stats and PFF grades from the preseason opener.
Exhausted health workers in Congo struggle to keep up as Ebola outpaces contact tracing
Gédéon Banga Ngbape and his team of community health workers are laboring tirelessly in eastern Congo to track the country’s fastest-growing Ebola outbreak.
Bear tears through screen, breaks into Colorado business to eat pie
Steelers news: Keeanu Benton lands record-breaking $72 million extension
Steelers DT Keeanu Benton signs a four-year $72 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid DT in franchise history
New restaurants, boutiques, gyms, and a whiskey distillery: Bryan-College Station’s business boom breakdown
A wave of new openings this month is highlighting a business boom in Bryan-College Station.
Starland District business owners on edge after string of recent burglaries
Over the past few months, multiple local favorites have been hit by the break-ins, including Starland Strange and Bazaar, Starlandia Art Supply, One for the Road, Over Yonder, The Sexton Pub, and Slow Fire BBQ.
Homeless man suing for $10 million after breaking into business and being shot by owner
A homeless man who was shot multiple times after breaking into a Portland granite and marble shop is now suing.
Homeless man suing for $10 million after breaking into business and being shot by owner
A homeless man who was shot multiple times after breaking into a Portland granite and marble shop is now suing.
Homeless man suing for $10 million after breaking into business and being shot by owner
A homeless man who was shot multiple times after breaking into a Portland granite and marble shop is now suing.
Sen. Warren demands answers from RFK Jr. over 'calamitous' response to cyclosporiasis outbreak
Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seeking more information about the administration's "calamitous" response to cyclosporiasis.
Broward business owner seeks help identifying man caught on video breaking into mailbox
Food science experts warn of rising Cyclospora and Salmonella
Outbreaks of Cyclospora and Salmonella continue to spread across the United States. Maine and Massachusetts are among the newest states reporting Cyclospora infections.
Health department confirms case of measles in Seneca County
The patient was unvaccinated and had recently traveled to Pennsylvania, where there have been 296 total cases of measles so far this year.
Fantasy Football 2026: One weird trick for finding breakouts
Player production often hinges on play volume. Here are four offenses that will likely see offensive snap regression in 2026.
Homeless man wants $10M after breaking into Portland business and being shot 3 times by owner
Kenneth Voyles is seeking $10 million from Touchstone Granite & Marble and its owner over a March 2023 shooting following an after-hours shop break-in.
More Starland District break-ins leave business owners concerned
After a string of break-ins at Starland District’s small businesses, community members are speaking out about their concerns.
NYC Health Department announces two more deaths in Upper East Side Legionnaires' outbreak
The NYC Health Department has announced two more deaths in the Upper East Side Legionnaires' disease cluster.
Will Deshaun Watson Play vs Bears? Browns QB Update
Will Deshaun Watson play vs. the Bears? We're breaking down the Cleveland Browns' QB situation ahead of their first preseason game.
Trump says USS Lincoln’s deployment was ‘not nearly long enough’
President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed claims that families of service members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln have concerns about conditions aboard the aircraft carrier, which has been deployed for nearly nine months supporting operations in the Middle East.
FDA in Mexico a month after linking Taylor Farms to cyclospora outbreak
Senior FDA official confirms that inspectors were on-site at the Taylor Farms processing facility and plan to be in the fields next.
Why Mike McCarthy breaks Pittsburgh's 50-year coaching rule
By hiring Mike McCarthy, the Pittsburgh Steelers abandoned a 50-year rule of hiring young defensive coordinators to replace Mike Tomlin.
D23 Entertainment Showcase start time (by time zone), runtime, and what to expect
San Diego Comic-Con 2026 may have come and gone in a heartbeat, but the era of breaking announcements is just getting started. Disney has many franchises and pr
Homeless man sues for $10M after he breaks into business and owner shoots him 3 times
The trial has begun of a homeless man who burglarized a Northeast Portland business, then discovered the owner was inside.
Measles case confirmed in western Kentucky, health officials suspect outbreak
Officials confirmed at least one unvaccinated person in western Kentucky's Christian County contracted measles, a highly contagious respiratory disease. Officials warn of several unconfirmed cases in the area too.
Scientists detect a nuclear reactor’s ghostly afterglow for the first time
Nuclear reactors may go dark, but their fuel continues producing a faint antineutrino “glow” long after shutdown. Researchers have now detected that residual signal for the first time, finding it closely matched predictions of radioactive decay inside the reactor and nearby spent-fuel pools. The breakthrough suggests antineutrino detectors could eventually monitor reactors even when they are offline.
Whole Hog Politics: Hyperventilation over Hong
[Watch Whole Hog Politics live: Hill Insider members can join us live today at 9 a.m. ET as Chris Stirewalt and host Bill Sammon break down this week’s political news …
Big Ten Football Team Win Totals and Predictions for 2026
As the 2026 college football season draws near, Athlon Sports’ writers break down the betting landscape and share their picks for the Big Ten.
The consequences of gutting American science [letter]
American science is under attack, especially the National Science Foundation, the agency responsible for funding the enormous advances that have placed our nation at the forefront of scientific breakthroughs and
‘You Never Know What Happens’ – Joe Burrow Breaks Silence on Noise Around Jayden Daniels-LSU Controversy
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels’ feud with the LSU Tigers has continued to escalate after he sent a letter to the SEC giants expressing his disappointment about a player using his No. 5 jersey.
Warriors 2026-27 schedule: Breaking down the biggest dates
The Stephen Curry show has its tour dates.
$5 billion science research bond clears California Assembly committee
The California Assembly Appropriations Committee voted Thursday to advance a UC-sponsored bond measure that would fund scientific research across the state. The California Science and Health Research Bond Act – or Senate Bill 895 – would create the California Foundation for Science and Health Research to award $5 billion in grants and loans to public and private research institutions, including UC campuses.
Kentucky health officials report confirmed measles case, suspect outbreak after additional unconfirmed case reports
The Kentucky Department of Public Health announced Thursday that a case of measles with a high number of community exposers was confirmed in Christian County.
Wisconsin health officials investigating measles outbreak in southwest counties
State health officials have confirmed 15 new cases of measles among residents in southwestern Wisconsin, and it’s likely there will be at least a half dozen more.
Michigan football 2026 position group breakdown: Linebackers
Michigan Football enters 2026 with a largely unproven linebacking corps, but the talent is undeniable. Here’s our position breakdown of the linebackers:
Jon Batiste cancels Connecticut gig for 'personal circumstances'
Jon Batiste announces he will take a brief break from live performances as he deals with undisclosed "personal circumstances," he said in a statement shared by Connecticut's Westville Music Bowl.
Record-breaking heat takes mounting toll on the U.S. economy
Police respond to break-in at local business in Tucson
The Tucson Police Department responded to a break-in on Aug. 11.
Entertainment headlines for Thursday, Aug. 13 with 95.7 The Jet
Mireya and Bender give the breakdown on Thursday's episode of Studio 13 Live.
BREAKING: Netflix to shut down two more game studios
Netflix is sticking with video games but once again reducing the number of studios it owns making games. The streaming giant is closing Los Angeles-based Night School studio, which it acquired in 2021 and plans to close Helsinki-based Moonloot, which was founded in 2022. Just six weeks ago, Night School had released Unhinged, a novel 30-minute first-person horror game, streamable on TVs to Netflix users. The game was hailed by Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters in a call with investors. Six weeks later, Night School is closing. Prior to its Netflix tenure, Night School had developed the award-winning supernatural thriller Oxenfree. A second Oxenfree game followed after the purchase, as well as a mobile game designed to tie in to an episode of the Netflix show Black Mirror. Netflix attributed the studio closures to a prioritization around kids gaming, party games, story-driven fare and games with mainstream hooks, such as a recently released FIFA game. “We see an opportunity to be more focused in our execution, so we are making organizational changes to the business to match those priorities,” a Netflix spokesperson told Game File. Netflix is also cutting jobs from its internal games team. A rep declined to say how many jobs were being lost by these cutbacks. “We are incredibly grateful to the talented colleagues we’re saying goodbye to today. We thank them for all their contributions to Netflix, and wish them the best,” the rep said. Netflix started releasing video games, initially on mobile as a free bonus to subscribers, in 2021. By 2023, Mike Verdu, then the head of Netflix’s game operations, was telling me that the company was committed to growing carefully, as it offered more games and built up internal game studios. At the time, it hadn’t made any gaming job cuts. Since then, Netflix has altered its approach. In 2024, it shut down Team Blue, a start-up studio led by ex-Call of Duty and Halo developers that was exploring making a high-end first-person game for the service. Last October, Netflix shut down another studio, Boss Fight, shortly after Peters praised the team’s Squid Game game to investors. (One of Boss Fight’s main developers now works on the Netflix FIFA game for outside studio Delphi.) And in December, Netflix sold cozy game studio Spry Fox back to its founders. Amid all of this, Netflix has shifted from emphasizing mobile games to offering games through TVs and PCs, via streamed connections, with phones used as controllers. That’s how Night School’s Unhinged worked, along with games such as Boggle and Party Crashers that have collectively helped the Netflix game controller app chart well on mobile app stores. The studio cuts leave Netflix with a central gaming team that works with external developers, and a dedicated first party studio in, Helsinki-based Next Games, which produced many of the company’s couch-centric party games. The move away from having a roster of internal game studios aligns with Netflix’s own approach to shows and movies, which are largely produced externally. The company owns few TV/film production studios of its own. The gaming industry overall is seeing large holders of multiple studios cut back, with Sony, Ubisoft, Embracer, Microsoft and other giants closing or selling off studios. Cuts in California-based studios, where costs often run relatively high, have been particularly acute. Netflix has faced skepticism about its gaming plans for years. The moves today are likely to fuel them, and the company has few upcoming projects to counter the narrative. Among the few hinted, acclaimed independent studio Don’t Nod said last year it was working on a game tied to a major Netflix franchise.
Michigan cyclosporiasis outbreak tops 13,900 cases; 35 additional hospitalizations in past week
An additional 35 Michigan residents have required hospital care for cyclosporiasis as an outbreak continues to be tracked, state health officials said on Thursday.
'Chemical process' at Hudson MA business hospitalizes 16 people
Hudson firefighters responded to what they are calling a "mass casualty incident" on Parmenter Road.
A Jersey Blues Testimonial: Ryan Bailey’s Journey From Record Breaker To Business Owner
A Jersey Blues Testimonial: Ryan Bailey’s Journey From Record Breaker To Business Owner by Trish Taylor Ryan Bailey made the most of his lone season on the field for Brookdale Community College men's soccer in
Lunchbreak: Myles Price Tabbed by FOX Sports as Vikings ‘Year 2 Breakout Candidate’
Minnesota Vikings Latest News
Drop test claims Pixel 11 Pro, specifically the smaller one, could break more easily
Google is touting better scratch resistance on its new Pixel 11 Pro phones but, apparently, smaller one doesn’t handle drops...
Jennifer Aniston’s Surprising Response to Brad Pitt Breaking His Sobriety Finally Revealed: ‘What Happened to Jen Was Painful’
Are they on good terms?
Senate Democrat demands answers to reports of Navy warship's mental health breakdown
Senator Richard Blumenthal asked the Trump administration in a Wednesday letter to provide information about conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
A City Mobilizes Against a Stubborn Health Threat: Mosquitoes
The city of Belém in northern Brazil was overwhelmed by an outbreak of dengue two years ago. An all-out municipal effort has reduced cases and may offer lessons to American cities.
Michigan Football 2026 Opponent Preview: Oregon
Next up in our Michigan Football 2026 opponent preview series is Oregon. We breakdown the championship-or-bust expectations in Eugene this season:
A top marathoner needs science to win big. He comes to Wake Forest for testing.
The fifth-fastest marathoner in the world wants to break a record this year, so her turned to Wake Forest researchers for help.
College football championship contenders: Favorites, long shots, and playoff candidates
College football preview season rolls on today at SB Nation. While we previously released our own Top 25 ahead of the campaign, we are diving into those rankings a bit more today, breaking them down by what teams can truly be considered title contenders. Some are longshots, others need a break or two to make […]
As Abdul El-Sayed breaks a barrier, anti-Muslim vitriol surges on multiple fronts
Abdul El-Sayed made history this month in Michigan by becoming the first Muslim nominated by the Democratic Party to run for the U.S. Senate
Beyoncé and the 'Parkwood Influence' on Chloe, Halle Bailey
Beyoncé has helped shape the careers of her Parkwood-signed artists Chloe and Halle Bailey. An ethnomusicologist breaks down her unique approach.
Beyoncé and the 'Parkwood Influence' on Chloe, Halle Bailey
Beyoncé has helped shape the careers of her Parkwood-signed artists Chloe and Halle Bailey. An ethnomusicologist breaks down her unique approach.
It’s not just a gut feeling: Foodborne illness outbreaks are especially bad this summer
Federal data suggests that this is a particularly bad summer for foodborne illness outbreaks in the US.
3 mainland Chinese scholars honoured as Future Science Prize returns to Hong Kong
Winners recognised for breakthroughs in autophagy, mesoporous materials and arithmetic geometry as the city hosts the event for a fourth consecutive year.
Scientists invent 'world's greenest balloon'
Imperial College London experts say standard party balloons can take years to break down.
Hospitals chipping away at maternal mortality one birth at a time
If you could help break the silence around the nation’s maternal mortality crisis for something like 1 cent per message, wouldn’t you make the spend? If so, know that a growing number of hospitals has already laid the groundwork.
Loma Linda University Health and Lifepoint Rehabilitation Break Ground on new Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital in Loma Linda
Loma Linda University Health and Lifepoint Rehabilitation, an operating division of Lifepoint Health, celebrated a major milestone today as they officially broke ground on the new Loma Linda University Rehabilitation Hospital, a free-standing hospital that will include 80 dedicated rehabilitation beds. “For three decades, our East Campus Hospital has provided comprehensive rehabilitation services to those […]
NFL Tiers: Which Teams Are Title Contenders Entering 2026?
Here’s how Nick Wright breaks down the league tiers entering Week 1 of the preseason.
Ebola outbreak on track to be deadliest ever, WHO chief says
The outbreak, declared on 15 May, has caused more than 2,000 deaths, with thousands more reported cases.
BREAKING: Oregon State Hospital superintendent ousted after resignation of health authority leader
This is a developing story and may be updated The superintendent of the Oregon State Hospital who was appointed less than a month ago by a since-departed director of the Oregon Health Authority is out as head of the troubled state-run mental hospital, the health authority said Wednesday. Oregon Health Authority Interim Director Fariborz Pakseresht […]
Ja'Marr Chase names two Bengals breakout candidates
If Ja'Marr Chase says these guys are on the rise for the Bengals...everyone needs to pay attention.
VHC Health gets record-breaking $17.5M donation, supporting new cancer center
A $17.5 million donation to VHC Health, the largest philanthropic gift in the organization's history, is supporting a new cancer center expected to open in 2028. VHC Health is renaming its outpatient pavilion the "Arlene Evans and Barry Dewberry Outpatient Pavilion" in honor of the donors, who previously contributed $3 million to the hospital that
DR Congo Ebola outbreak set to become deadliest on record, WHO warns
Outbreak to eclipse West Africa's Ebola outbreak of 2014 to 2016 if it continues at current pace, WHO chief says.
WHO says Congo’s Ebola outbreak is on track to surpass the deadliest one in history
GENEVA (AP) — The ongoing Ebola outbreak in Congo is on track to surpass the deadliest one in history that killed over 11,000 people out of more than 28,000 cases, the head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday.
Lakers being sold to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for record-breaking $12 billion
The Lakers will reportedly once again change hands.
Expert breaks down new health studies on avocado oil and dairy
Board-certified family physician Dr. Gabrielle Lyon joins 'Fox & Friends' to discuss new studies on avocado oil purity and low-fat dairy advice.
Sources: Josh Kushner, Bob Iger to buy Lakers for $12B
The Lakers are being sold to American businessman Josh Kushner and Bob Iger for over $12 billion, a record-breaking price, multiple sources told ESPN.
Out of nowhere, Sony confirms that 2024 breakout hit Helldivers 2 joins PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium today
New enemies, new ranks, new missions - same ol' alien scum.
Blue Jays beat Boston 5-3, hand Red Sox 4th straight loss
Ernie Clement drove in the tiebreaking run in the sixth inning, Brett Bateman had two RBIs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 5-3.
Graham, Norman advance to special primary runoff, political analyst breaks down results
News 4's political analyst Gibbs Knotts joined Good Morning Charleston Wednesday to break down the resulst and
Weird Science: Flush with data, North Carolina sewage is exposing community nutrition and food insecurity
A newly published study has successfully demonstrated that analyzing residual plant and animal DNA in municipal wastewater can deliver accurate, real-time population nutrition data. Researchers say this breakthrough could fundamentally change how public health officials monitor dietary habits, food insecurity, and economic health.
Fauci, RFK Jr., and the latest in American health
Epidemiologist Jessica Malaty Rivera breaks down the public health breakdowns
David Crowley defeats Francesca Hong in Wisconsin governor primary
Centrist David Crowley is projected to have beaten democratic socialist Francesca Hong, breaking a recent nationwide trend.
Local business leaders rally around Mississippi Mutts following break-in
A business in Cape Girardeau is recovering following a break-in overnight.
Trump-endorsed Sen. Darline Graham will face Rep. Ralph Norman in South Carolina GOP Senate runoff
John King breaks down key primary results from Wisconsin and South Carolina at CNN’s Magic Wall
10 NFL Players Positioning Themselves For A Breakthrough 2026 Season
Danny Parkins of First Things First shares his list of the top 10 most exciting NFL players entering the 2026 season.
Democrat Amy Acton breaks with party to support Issue 3
Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton is breaking with her party to support Issue 3, an amendment enshrining the state's voter photo identification requirement in the state constitution.
The science behind European heat domes
Parts of Europe see intense heat domes, which can break daily, monthly and even all-time record temperatures.
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.
Broadband Breakfast on September 9, 2026: Small Business and Broadband
How can better broadband help small businesses?
Star cluster discovery could change how scientists measure the universe
University of Missouri researchers have uncovered evidence that challenges one of astronomy's most trusted assumptions, a breakthrough that could reshape how scientists measure galaxies and reconstruct ...
2026 NASCAR Odds: Denny Hamlin Favored For Richmond; Christopher Bell Second
Will Christopher Bell break his second-place streak at Richmond? Here are the early odds for the Cook Out 400.
Fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history has claimed 2,000 lives. Here's why it is hard to contain
Congo’s health authorities report 4,381 confirmed cases, including 2,011 deaths. This outbreak is spreading almost three times faster than the 2014-16 outbreak in West Africa, the deadliest in history.
Joby to buy Resonant Sciences, establish defense business in $500 million deal
The acquisition will be funded by roughly $450 million in cash and $50 million in Joby common stock and is expected to close "in the first half of 2027," according to a press release.
Could Charles be one of Premier League's breakout stars?
It was in 2021 that the Northern Ireland youth coach Gerard Lyttle said he had never seen a youngster as comfortable on the ball as Shea Charles. Five years later, midfielder Charles has become the most expensive Northern Ireland player in history after he completed a £30m transfer from Southampton to Premier League side Fulham. From when he joined Manchester City's academy as a seven-year-old, Charles' potential was clear and he quickly progressed through the ranks.
Today’s clicks can reveal tomorrow’s breakthroughs
The trail of likes, shares and downloads we leave across the internet could help predict successful innovations years in advance.
A RAPID proposal for breakthrough coverage, and nurses push back on AI
In this edition of STAT Health Tech: Details from CMS and FDA on the RAPID pathway for breakthrough devices, and nurses push back on AI.
College sports bill doesn’t get vote, but does get spot on the Senate’s September calendar
The Protect College Sports Act failed to reach a vote during an all-night, pre-recess session in the Senate that ended early Saturday, though the bill did gain a spot on next month’s calendar after the chamber comes back from its summer break.
Red Sox bring 3-game losing streak into matchup against the Blue Jays
The Boston Red Sox look to break their three-game slide with a victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
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
Congo says 2,000 people have died in its Ebola outbreak, the fastest growing on record
The grim toll comes nearly three months since the outbreak was declared on May 15.
Congo says 2,000 people have died in its Ebola outbreak, the fastest growing on record
Congo's Ebola outbreak has recorded at least 2,000 deaths among confirmed cases, the fastest growing on record.
Congo says 2,000 people have died in its Ebola outbreak, the fastest growing on record
Congo's Ebola outbreak has recorded at least 2,000 deaths among confirmed cases, the fastest growing on record.