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Yankees news: Aaron Judge continues to get closer to return
Judge keeps getting closer to the Bronx; Yanks’ value goes up; Volpe’s Bambino impression; Grisham update
Gabe Vincent says Bam Adebayo has to rent out the …
Gabe Vincent says Bam Adebayo has to rent out the …
Arkansas beats North Alabama for first win of Silverfield era
The Arkansas Razorbacks secured their first victory under coach Ryan Silverfield by defeating North Alabama on Saturday.
IN THE HOUSE: Notable prospects attending North Alabama game
Arkansas is hosting approximately 60 recruits on unofficial visits Saturday afternoon for the North Alabama game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Alabama health officials urge ATV safety as crash deaths mount
The Alabama Department of Public Health is urging riders to wear helmets, complete safety training and follow ATV laws as officials highlight the risks of serious injury and death.
How to Watch Alabama Football Without Cable in 2026
If you don’t have cable, you don’t have to miss out on watching Alabama football.Your options will vary depending on what exactly you’re looking for, but we have a complete rundown of every single way you can stream any Alabama game this season:Note: Heavy may receive a commission if you subscribe to a service on […] The post How to Watch Alabama Football Without Cable in 2026 appeared first on HEAVY.
Apollo’s €3bn Bayer deal shows ‘non-control’ financing is spreading to operators
Apollo’s €3bn Bayer LARC investment and a $35bn Broadcom financing highlight how private credit is funding AI and industrial capex without operators giving up c
College football viewing picks for September 5, 2026: How to watch Week 1
All Times Eastern 11 a.m. Webber International at Stetson — YouTube noon East Carolina at Alabama — ABC/ESPN Unlimited New Hampshire at Syracuse — ACC Network/ESPN Unlimited Bryant at Army — CBS Sports Network Oregon State at Houston — ESPN/ESPN Unlimited Liberty at James Madison — ESPNU/ESPN Unlimited North Texas at Indiana — Fox/Fox One…
Arkansas vs North Alabama live updates: Score, highlights, predictions, analysis
Arkansas plays North Alabama in Week 1 of the regular season. Follow live score updates, highlights, injury news, key plays and instant analysis.
Cosm’s 700-seat domes make NFL rights run like venue operations
Cosm’s NFL deal brings Thursday, Sunday, and Monday games into 700-seat 12K domes, changing staffing, AV ops, and ticketing playbooks.
College football on TV today: Sept. 4
Enjoy all the appetizers before the main course Sunday night. North Texas at No. 6 Indiana | 12 p.m. | FOXEast Carolina at No. 13 Alabama | 12 p.m. | ABCOregon State at No. 23 Houston | 12 p.m. | ESPNCoastal Carolina at West Virginia | 12 p.m. | TNT/HBO MaxNew Hampshire at Syracuse | […]
Alabama’s 42 Friday Night: High School Football Week 3
Who pays if PEEHIP’s rising health care costs outpace state funding?
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WBMA) — Alabama’s public education health insurance plan says it needs another $222 million in funding next year just to maintain current bene
Alabama STEM Council Launches Improved Math and Science Proficiency Data Dashboard
The Alabama STEM Council of the Alabama Department of Workforce has launched a new and improved Alabama Math and Science Proficiency Data Dashboard, providing parents, educators and workforce partners with a clearer view of how Alabama students are performing in key STEM subject areas. The dashboard presents the most recent Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) […]
Fastbreak AI is quietly becoming the scheduling engine for 50-plus pro leagues
Fastbreak AI says it schedules 50+ pro leagues. The ops implication: scheduling is now a multi-constraint optimization problem tied to travel, venues, and media
In South Carolina, Newsom makes an early play for 2028 voters
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s trip to Alabama and the Carolinas offers an early look at his approach on the campaign trail as he moves toward a likely presidential bid in 2028.
Alabama State football vs Lane College predictions, what to watch
Here's our breakdown of Alabama State football's matchup against Lane College in the Labor Day Classic, including a scouting report and a score prediction.
Katin Houser Shines as Illinois Defeats UAB in Season Opener, 42-23
The Fighting Illini are 1-0 after taking down the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers at home.
Hydrate early, limit alcohol: ASU health director shares game day safety tips
While kickoff signals the long-awaited start of fall for many Alabamians, dangerously high temperatures still pose a serious threat to football fans and athletes alike.
Alabama Politics This Week with Dale Jackson & Mecca Musick | Special Guest State Rep. D-5 Candidate Jessie Barcala (D)
South Grad Partners with Full-Time Facility Dog on Her First Job
At USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital, recreational therapy looks a little different for recent graduate Emma Bryson, thanks to a full-time canine colleague named Rainier.
Dr. Reidy talks The Lotus Fund and women’s health
The owner and founder of Women4Women will continue to raise the bar for women’s health in North Alabama.
Nate Oats' wife rejoins Alabama men's basketball team
Alex Accetta spent 2015-22 with Alabama, and returns as director of program relations after marrying coach Nate Oats in July.
10 new paperbacks to pick up this month
From a nonfiction book by Emily Wilson to titles praised by Barack Obama and Conan O'Brien, there's much to read this September.
PARCA to host Cook Political Report’s Amy Walter for speaker series
The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama is hosting Cook Political Report's Amy Walter as part of its 2026 speaker series
Letter to the Editor
The University of Alabama continues to invite political interference into the work of UA. After the passage of House Bill 580 in April, University administration has rolled out voluntary compliance to this bill. It is voluntary because UA was explicitly exempt from this bill. The new policies require redundant and more time-intensive post-tenure reviews. New...
'Several' cats found dead, animals abandoned in Alabama animal grooming business: police
An Alabama woman was arrested after "several" cats were found dead & other animals were abandoned inside an animal grooming business, according to authorities.
'Several' cats found dead, animals abandoned in Alabama animal grooming business: police
An Alabama woman was arrested after "several" cats were found dead & other animals were abandoned inside an animal grooming business, according to authorities.
'Several' cats found dead, animals abandoned in Alabama animal grooming business: police
An Alabama woman was arrested after "several" cats were found dead & other animals were abandoned inside an animal grooming business, according to authorities.
'Several' cats found dead, animals abandoned in Alabama animal grooming business: police
An Alabama woman was arrested after "several" cats were found dead & other animals were abandoned inside an animal grooming business, according to authorities.
State employees may see health insurance premium rise amid 'challenging' budget forecast
The two boards overseeing health insurance for state and public education employees Tuesday approved plans to ask the Legislature for more funding amid growing healthcare costs and expected difficulties with the state budget.
Alabama Rural Health Transformation Advisory Group digs into $144 million in grants
The administrators behind the Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program provided grant updates to lawmakers who oversee the initiative.
I helped build Obama's 2008 campaign. Democrats aren't ready for 2026.
The most dangerous political misinformation of the 2026 midterm election may not go viral. You may never see it at all.
Obama-era mandate slashed after being blamed for 'skyrocketing' housing costs
A new Trump admin housing directive aims to tackle the U.S.'s housing affordability crunch by ending Obama-era rule allowing indefinite liability for property owners over past building design errors.
Police saturate entertainment district in downtown Selma
From the West Alabama Newsroom– The Selma Police Department and the Dallas Co. Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint saturation detail in downtown Selma over the weekend. The detail was conducted in the city’s entertainment district — in response to a shooting incident that happened the previous weekend. “When you have 300 and something shots that were fired, one person injured,...
Students connect over niche interests at Marine Science Club
The University of Alabama offers over 200 majors for undergraduate degrees, but one of the rarest is marine science. Since Tuscaloosa is not a coastal city, it can make some of the coursework unconventional. The Marine Science Club, however, makes it streamlined. While the Marine Science Club is open to all majors, it provides valuable...
Florida, hard-hit by Obamacare drop-off, feels the squeeze of rising healthcare costs
Florida has emerged as a national epicenter of the fallout from expired Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Akron brings Black Wall Street Experience to the community
The Black Chamber of Commerce Summit County celebrates Black Business Awareness Month with the Black Wall Street Experience. Inviting entrepreneurs to promote their business and network with likeminded individuals.
Akron brings Black Wall Street Experience to the community
The Black Chamber of Commerce Summit County celebrates Black Business Awareness Month with the Black Wall Street Experience. Inviting entrepreneurs to promote their business and network with likeminded individuals.
Inside Alabama Politics
Welcome to a new edition of Inside Alabama Politics! And a special welcome to new subscribers who have found your way here. For those who are new here, longtime Alabama politico David Azbell authored a great post on his Art of Alabama Politics about the history of IAP going back to its founder, Bessie Ford. […]
How Obamacare changed healthcare
Affordable Care Act enrollment is plummeting. What happened?
PaperCut Zero-Day Exploited in Attacks, Affecting All NG and MF Versions
PaperCut says a zero-day affecting all NG and MF versions is actively exploited; emergency patches are available for v25 and v26.
UAH Director of CSPAR, Dr. Gary Zank, Receives International COSPAR Space Science Award; Minor Planet Named in His Honor
A lifetime of probing the invisible forces that shape our solar system has earned a University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) researcher one of the highest honors in international space science, as well as an enduring place among the stars. Dr. Gary Zank, director of the Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR) and a faculty member and former chair of the Department of Space at UAH, a part of The University of Alabama System, has received the 2026 Committee on Space Research (COSPA
Florence Harding Photographed Taught Me About Women Partaking in Politics
What would Florence Kling Harding think now? A week or so ago when I cast my ballot at my designated polling place this thought crossed my mind. I imagine the former first lady would be pleased about how routine voting has become for women in the United States. But perhaps she would not be satisfied. Today, a published essay I wrote for In Pursuit spotlights a lesson in leadership demonstrated by First Lady Florence Harding. In my research, I discovered there’s a lot to be said about this strong female historic figure. But it was the blurry photograph capturing Mrs. Harding voting for her husband Warren G. Harding, one of two presidential candidates from Ohio, on Nov. 2, 1920—Election Day—that drew my attention. It was the first presidential election held in the United States after the ratification and certification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Its 106th anniversary was marked on Wednesday. I remember thinking what a shame it was that her presence in the image was imperfect while the mostly men surrounding her were in sharp focus. Perhaps cynically I thought, “No surprise!” On further examination, though, the clear reaction of the people surrounding Mrs. Harding was equally important. In that snapshot of time, many of their expressions were serious. One man stood elevated above the rest with a slight smile as he caught a glimpse of history. Mr. Harding hovered over his wife’s shoulder closely observing the last seconds of her vote being cast. Their gazes were locked in on who would hours later become first lady. Subscribe The attention she drew is worth noting, mostly because, as I learned, Mrs. Harding understood the power her image could have on women across the country. She and I share in common a career in newspapers—hers the business side and mine on the editorial side. Nevertheless, it became clear to me as I write in the essay that she understood if she was seen voting, other women would follow suit. That wouldn’t necessarily be the case in that 1920 election, though, Karen Kedrowski, the director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University, explained to me. Florence Harding was a suffrage advocate. But, suffrage was a contentious issue and women were far from united at the time of the election. In fact, a substantial number of women and active anti-suffrage organizations thought women participating in elections was a “bad idea and antithetical to their roles in the private sphere as mothers and homemakers,” Kedrowski said, adding that women were also viewed as the moral compass for their husbands and sons. If women got involved in politics they would become contaminated by it. Suffragists, on the other hand, wanted to bring that moral presence into politics to help clean things up. Only about 30% of women voted in that 1920 presidential election. That was a start. More than 100 years later in the 2024 presidential election, 66.9% of eligible women voted (91.3 million), compared to 63.7% of men who voted (82.6 million), according to the League of Women Voters. Yes, Florence Harding would be pleased. Subscribe That imperfect Election Day image was important symbolism about women’s potential during what was known as the “Modern Woman” era and the growing public role women were taking in the 1920s. I imagine Florence Harding might agree with other succeeding first ladies when it comes to gender equality and the importance of the vote. Like Michelle Obama when she said in her memoir Becoming, “We all play a role in this democracy. We need to remember the power of every vote.” Or Hillary Clinton during her unsuccessful run for president in 2016 when she remarked on International Women’s Day: “We celebrate the progress we’ve made to advance the full participation of women in economies and societies. And most importantly, we recommit to finishing the unfinished work that remains …” I hope if you are reading this, you will also read my essay on Florence Harding’s leadership lesson for In Pursuit. And perhaps that will move you to dig deeper and read more about Florence Harding’s life circumstances in biographies like First Lady Florence Harding: Behind the Tragedy and Controversy by Katherine A. S. Sibley. No, I do not think Florence Harding would be satisfied despite how far women have come from that day she first entered her polling place. She once wrote to the Camp Fire Girls, “The part that women play in the world has been greatly changed … It has been broadened and enlarged …” It has. And as women continue to engage in civics it continues to be. I imagine Florence Harding would want women to keep meeting the moment. Read the In Pursuit essay Watch on C-SPAN Share East Wing Magazine is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
The Politics Hour: Maryland redistricting in limbo and reactions to accusations of ICE agent brutality
WAMU's Jenny Abamu on what's next in the Maryland redistricting fight, Arlington County's Maureen Coffey on increased federal immigration enforcement, and Prince George's County's Krystal Oriadha discusses the latest with the FBI Headquarters' move to Greenbelt.
Kane Wommack's Alabama football defense depth chart falls into place
Alabama football defensive coordinator Kane Wommack seemingly cemented Alabama's defensive depth chart heading into the 2026 season.
Scam alert: Fake online listing uses Tanner business address to steal thousands
The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be on high alert for a vehicle sales scam operating online and falsely claiming to be located in North Alabama.
AFT raises mold, health concerns at Abrams Elementary in Bessemer
ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama offers news, sports, and weather reporting for the surrounding communities including Tuscaloosa, Anniston, Cullman, Gadsden, Talladega, Sylacauga, Carbon Hill, Jasper, Hoover, Bessemer, Vestavia Hills, Alabaster, Trussville and Homewood.
Alabama defensive lineman to reportedly miss 2026 season with injury
The defensive lineman was entering his third season at Alabama, and will reportedly miss the 2026 season due to an injury.
Rural health grants aimed at offsetting Medicaid cuts go to 80 unique institutions
According to a brief from KFF, the fund could offset 37% of the estimated federal Medicaid spending cuts in rural areas.
Faulkner University Awarded More Than $3 Million to Transform Rural Health Care Access and Workforce Development in Alabama
Faulkner has been awarded more than $3 million through Alabama's Rural Health Transformation Program (ARHTP) to expand health care access.
Cowboys 330-Pound Punisher Looks Poised for Breakout 2026 Season
The 2025 NFL Draft class for the Dallas Cowboys is still developing, but it’s starting to look like a solid group.Dallas’ top pick, and the one everyone is focused on, is starting offensive guard Tyler Booker. Not many people had expectations for the Alabama Crimson Tide product, but Booker is turning into a solid player.Booker […] The post Cowboys 330-Pound Punisher Looks Poised for Breakout 2026 Season appeared first on HEAVY.
Florida, hard-hit by Obamacare drop-off, feels the squeeze of rising healthcare costs
ST. CLOUD, Fla. (AP) — Florida chef Elijah Button was chopping onions in June when his knife slipped and sliced his middle finger to the bone.
Florida, hard-hit by Obamacare drop-off, feels the squeeze of rising healthcare costs
Florida chef Elijah Button faces a tough situation after losing his Affordable Care Act health insurance due to a premium hike
Enough with the podcasts. We elected politicians, not influencers.
Nancy Mace posed in a bikini. Gavin Newsom launched a podcast. AOC and Bernie Sanders are TikTok stars. Can they start doing the jobs we pay them for?
Dead cats, abandoned animals found inside grooming business; owner wanted by police
An Alabama woman is wanted by police on felony animal cruelty charges after authorities discovered several dead cats and abandoned live animals inside her grooming business.
Dead cats, abandoned animals found inside grooming business; owner wanted by police
An Alabama woman is wanted by police on felony animal cruelty charges after authorities discovered several dead cats and abandoned live animals inside her grooming business.
Dead cats, abandoned animals found inside grooming business; owner wanted by police
An Alabama woman is wanted by police on felony animal cruelty charges after authorities discovered several dead cats and abandoned live animals inside her grooming business.
Colbert County HS students ‘experiencing distressing symptoms’ not linked to public health outbreak
The Alabama Department of Public Health said there is no public health outbreak or exposure following students “experiencing distressing symptoms,” the Colbert County Schools Superinten…
Governor Ivey Announces First Grants in $144 Million Rural Healthcare Program
Gov. Kay Ivey announced Monday the awarding of 138 grants totaling more than $144 million to healthcare providers and institutions across Alabama as part of the
NEA Women in Business: Tamara Roberson
Residence: Jonesboro Education: Bachelor’s degree in fashion retail management and marketing, University of Alabama Professional background: I worked for Dillard’s as a children’s products buyer, AT&T in Jonesboro for 22...
Why politicians are punchlines at the Edinburgh Fringe
There was a time when satire had an easier gig. Politicians said something ridiculous, comedians made fun of them, audiences laughed, and everyone went home. Subscribe Now the joke is often the headline. In a world where the unbelievable regularly makes the news, where politics can veer into parody before the comedians have had time to write the punchline, you might reasonably wonder: is satire running out of material? Not in Edinburgh. At the Fringe, I can confirm satire has a pulse, even in a relentless and rapid news cycle. Politicians as punchlines Take NewsRevue, the world’s longest-running live sketch show, where politicians are turned into punchlines at industrial speed. Its latest target? Andy Burnham - or, more accurately, his doppelganger, pictured below in the middle. The joke, he tells us, is that there have been so many politicians coming and going that even satire risks suffering from political fatigue. But perhaps that revolving door is precisely why comedy matters. When the news cycle moves faster than our ability to process it, comedians can hold up a mirror - and make us think twice. Small talk Take Ayoade Bamgboye, the Saturday Night Live UK star who won the Best Newcomer prize at last year’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Her Fringe debut was critically acclaimed; this year she is turning her attention to one of Britain’s most baffling social rituals: small talk. Share It’s a reminder that satire doesn’t always need a politician in its sights. Sometimes the target is simply us civilians - the strange little rules and rituals we have collectively agreed to pretend are normal. Politics and Palestinian identity For British-Palestinian comedian Sami Abu Wardeh, pictured below, comedy has a more urgent job. His new show, Sami Abu Wardeh Hates You, asks who gets to hate, and whether anger belongs to everyone, not just the far right. His comedy confronts politics and Palestinian identity while refusing to surrender the simple business of making people laugh. Shakespeare meets climate crisis And then there is HAM: an “eco-hijacking” of Hamlet, which its creators describe as “a sordid wrestle between a vegan and a sausage-lover”. Shakespeare meets the climate crisis. Meat meets moral panic. The end result? You’ll leave promising to become vegan and swiftly bulk buying Linda McCartney sausages. HAM was created by theatre company Hotter Project, aka Ell Potter and Mary Higgins, pictured below. They say comedy helped them avoid the preachiness sometimes associated with climate activism - using Shakespeare as a vessel for uncomfortable questions about the planet, politics and the way we live. Perhaps that is satire’s secret weapon. It doesn’t necessarily make the world less absurd. It makes the absurdity crystal clear. And at a moment when reality increasingly feels like it has been written by a sketch writer, the Fringe is proving there is still plenty to laugh and cry at. Satire isn’t dead. It’s alive, subletting and having the time of its life at the Fringe. Subscribe Share Channel 4 News Leave a comment
Governor Ivey Announces First Grants in Major New Rural Healthcare Program Totaling More than $144 Million -
MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Monday announced the awarding of 138 grants worth a total of more than $144 million to healthcare providers and institutions throughout the state as part of the Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program (ARHTP). The … Continued
Alabama high school flag football scores
See the latest Alabama flag football scores as the season kicks off across the state.
Monday ‘Dawg Bites: The Neighbors Are Acting Weird Again
It’s college football’s week 0, and while we’ve still got some time before the Bulldogs kick off, the news from elsewhere is flowing free and fast. Let’s take a quick spin around and see what’s up. Alabama has named sophomore Keelon Russell its starting quarterback over senior Austin Mack. It isn’t a surprising outcome, as […]
Powers sells HVAC divisions to Albireo Energy
North Little Rock-based Powers announced the sale of its territorial divisions in Mississippi, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Alabama to New Jersey-based Albireo Energy, an independent building controls and energy services provider...
Powers sells HVAC divisions to Albireo Energy
North Little Rock-based Powers announced the sale of its territorial divisions in Mississippi, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Alabama to New Jersey-based Albireo Energy, an independent building controls and energy services provider...
Where ESPN ranks Alabama in preseason college football power rankings
Alabama is considered a Top 25 team entering the 2026 season. Where does ESPN rank the Tide in the preseason?
Democrats incredulous over Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner meeting
Critics include Senator Chris van Hollen, ex-aide to Obama Tommy Vietor and ex-Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger
Rosie O’Donnell slams Donald Trump with scathing song on last Jimmy Kimmel show: ‘You’ll never be Obama’
Rosie O’Donnell’s final night hosting ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ ended with a scathing song, in which the comedian slammed Donald Trump: ‘You’ll never be Obama,’ O’Donnell sang.
Obama strategist turns on rising Dem star over viral Trump attack: 'Gratuitous and unnecessary'
Obama White House strategist David Axelrod called Jon Ossoff's mention of Natalie Harp "gratuitous and unnecessary," despite the clip's 6 million views.
College Football Fans Obsessed With Alabama, Tennessee's Uniform Matchup
When the Alabama-Tennessee football rivalry continues on October 17 this year, both teams will get to wear special uniforms for it.
Alabama duo named to 2026 USA TODAY Sports preseason All-America team
The Alabama defensive backs have been named to USA TODAY Sports' 2026 preseason All-America college football team.
Report: Children in the Black Belt see worse health, education outcomes
The infant mortality rate in the Black Belt is worse, childcare is less utilized and more families are led by a single parent.
Business owners optimistic after meetings with Savannah police on Starland break-ins
Business owners in the Starland district say meetings with Savannah police have left them feeling more confident about the neighborhood’s security following a summer of repeated burglaries.
Florida holds primaries for governor and Congress, testing Trump's grip on adopted state
Florida voters cast ballots Tuesday for Republican and Democratic nominees for governor, U.S. Senate and several congressional races. The primaries will define a midterm ballot set to test President Donald Trump’s grip on his adopted state.
RFK Jr says community health centers should be the model for American healthcare
During a visit to Castle Family Health Services in Atwater, California, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praised community health centers as a “template” for the nation’s health system, saying, “Forget about Obamacare.”
Lancaster County restaurant awarded national small business grant
LITITZ, Pa. (WHTM) — A local restaurant in Lancaster County was just awarded a $30,000 Enhancement Grant through the Backing Small Business program. According to the nonprofit organization Ve…
Politics and the Limits of Language
Ben Rhodes's new book makes an earnest case for the political power of words. But the degradation of our public life can’t be reversed by rhetoric alone.
Westrope earns first agri-business BBA from UWA
Lane Westrope’s search for a career that would build on his agricultural background led him to the University of West Alabama, where he became the first student to earn a degree in business administration with a concentration in agribusiness during the Aug. 14 summer commencement exercises.
Health Insurer Centene’s Chief Financial Officer To Step Down
Centene, one of the nation’s largest providers of Obamacare, said chief financial officer Drew Asher plans to step down as chief financial officer in December.
Patriots’ Alabama Product Steps Up After Sudden RB Shakeup
Hours before the New England Patriots opened their preseason against the Indianapolis Colts, their running back depth chart changed in a hurry.Terrell Jennings landed on injured reserve, ending his season, while New England brought back JaMycal Hasty. The moves came one day after the Patriots signed Hassan Haskins, leaving a crowded but unsettled battle behind […] The post Patriots’ Alabama Product Steps Up After Sudden RB Shakeup appeared first on HEAVY.
Alabama senators in limbo over college sports bill
Alabama U.S. Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville have yet to pledge full support of the Senate's Protect College Sports Act.
Aesto Health Data Security Incident Affects Multiple Healthcare Provider Clients
A data breach at Aesto Health, a Birmingham, Alabama-based healthcare technology company, has affected several of its healthcare provider clients. Aesto A security incident at the Alabama healthcare technology company Aesto Health has affected at least 27 of its healthcare provider clients and exposed the protected health information of hundreds of thousands of patients.
Former SPLC official charged in Justice Department's broader criminal case against group
A former Southern Poverty Law Center official has been charged in the Department of Justice’s broader criminal case against the Alabama-based civil rights group, a frequent target of conservative critics who claim the nonprofit is politically biased.
Two business-focused grants available in York County
HANOVER, Pa. (WHTM) — Main Street Hanover announced two grant opportunities that are currently open for application. According to Main Street Hanover, there are currently two grant funding op…
What to watch in primaries in Wisconsin and Minnesota and beyond
The left vs. center theme is on display in Democratic primaries in multiple states voting Tuesday, with other significant races in places like Alabama and South Carolina.
Alabama Republicans to pick nominee to challenge Democratic Rep. Figures in redrawn district
Six Republicans are competing in a special primary election Tuesday to challenge Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures in November. the district's Black voting age population dropped from 48% to 40%, making it more favorable for Republicans.
Bamboo toilet paper intrigued me. Reality turned out to be messy
What makes a greener wipe? Researchers have more to say about bamboo's ecological risks, given limited carbon footprint data.
Live Results: Alabama midterm U.S. House primaries after redistricting
Voters in four of Alabama’s seven congressional districts will select U.S. House nominees Tuesday under a new map that eliminates one of the state’s two majority-Black districts currently represented by Democrats.
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
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