Episode
Democrats Keep Healthcare at Fore
- Published
- Jun 18, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2959
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Summary
Senate Democrats hope to highlight rising healthcare prices by forcing a vote on the Trump administration’s changes to the Affordable Care Act before the midterm elections. Meanwhile, Alabama is the latest state to try to cut off residents’ access to medication abortion via telehealth. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Sheryl Gay Stolberg of The New York Times, and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Michael Cannon of the Cato Institute and Liz Fowler of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to discuss the idea of ending the employer health insurance tax exclusion. Visit our website for a transcript of this episode. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KFF Health News’ “ Trump Bought Tobacco Stocks and Raked In Industry Donations as FDA Eased Standards ,” by Darius Tahir. Sheryl Gay Stolberg: KFF Health News’ “ Tennessee Pharmacies Sell Potent Ivermectin, Led by Anti-Vaccine Doctor Who’s Taken ‘Bucketloads,’ ” by Brett Kelman and Rachana Pradhan. Anna Edney: Politico Magazine’s “ Inside Trump’s Reversal on HIV ,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein and Megan Messerly. Lauren Weber: The Atlantic’s “ AI Is Taking Over Hospitals ,” by Benjamin Mazer.