Katie Miller, a former U.S. administration official-turned-podcaster, posted an image late Saturday showing a map of Greenland in the colors of the Stars and Stripes with a one-word caption: "SOON." read more
Letting the unreliable Grok be its own "spokesperson" lets xAI off the hook. read more
The families of teenagers missing after a fire at a bar in a Swiss ski resort are facing an agonising wait for news and appealing for information about their loved ones online. read more
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Friday that survivors jumped into the sea to escape a U.S. attack on suspected drug smuggling boats in the Pacific Ocean. Petro warned regional governments in a post on X after posting a map showing where the strike allegedly occurred, near Mexico and Guatemala. read more
President Donald Trump said Friday that his doctors have proclaimed him to be in "perfect health," adding that he "aced" a cognitive exam. read more
Democrats are united in bashing GOP on Obamacare. Medicare for All could reopen a rift. (December 2025)
www.politico.com
... Progressives are pushing Medicare for All in some of the Democratic Party's most competitive Senate primaries next year, threatening the unity the party has found on attacking Republicans over expiring Obamacare subsidies....
In Maine, Graham Platner said he's making Medicare for All a "core part" of his platform in his race against Gov. Janet Mills, the establishment pick who's called for a universal health care program. In Illinois, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Rep. Robin Kelly are both championing the concept " and calling out rival Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi for not fully embracing it.
In Minnesota, Medicare for All has emerged as a key distinction between progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and moderate Rep. Angie Craig, who supports adding a public option to the Affordable Care Act rather than Medicare for All. Flanagan said she "absolutely" expects the policy to define the primary because "it doesn't matter if I'm in the urban core, the suburbs or greater Minnesota " when I say I'm a supporter of Medicare for All, the room erupts."
And it's become a flashpoint in Michigan, where physician Abdul El-Sayed, who wrote a book called "Medicare for All: A Citizen's Guide," is using his signature issue to draw a contrast with Rep. Haley Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who favor other approaches.
Medicare for All -- government-funded health coverage for every American -- is "where we need to point to," El-Sayed said in an interview. "And I think you can galvanize a winning coalition around this issue."
But some more moderate Democrats worry that progressives' renewed push for Medicare for All would undermine the party's recent united front in fighting for an extension of the Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year, leading to a significant spike in insurance costs for millions of Americans. ...
Delcy Rodríguez strikes defiant tone but must walk tightrope as Venezuela's interim leader
www.theguardian.com
... In her first speech as Venezuela's interim leader, Delcy Rodrguez lambasted the US and pledged fealty to Nicols Maduro. But the Trump administration has made a cold calculation: she will bow to Washington.
Rodrguez is a political veteran who served as Maduro's vice-president and oil minister and defended the regime against accusations of terrorism, drug-running and election-stealing, yet for now she is Donald Trump's favoured option to lead Venezuela. "She's essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great again," Trump said.
The US president has not ruled out deploying ground troops but appears to want to "run" Venezuela through Rodrguez, who finds herself in charge of a regime shocked and demoralised by the abduction of Maduro yet still in power. ...
@#105 ... Let me ask another way. Is the health care/insurance lobby going to sit on their billions in their war chest should congress actually introduce some sort of single payer or Medicare for all type plan? ...
Finally, your current alias got around to asking a good question.
And, yes, I agree that the influence of the health insurance companies will have an effect upon Congress.
We can thank Citizens United for that.
But thanks for noting that the United States seems to be turing into (if it has not already done so) into an oligarchy.