Newsletter Archive

July 2019

Kamala Harris Unveils Her Twist on Medicare for All

Sen. Kamala Harris of California released a plan Monday to provide universal health care in the U.S. by expanding Medicare while maintaining a major role for private health insurers.

Plus: Plus, the 2020 budget fight isn't over yet

Conservatives Revolt Against Trump's Budget Deal

The House on Thursday afternoon passed a two-year budget deal that would raise spending, suspend the debt ceiling through July 2021 and add an estimated $1.7 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.

Plus: Plus, Trump's new plan to slash drug prices

Deficit Hawks on the Endangered Species List

Democratic and Republican leaders have expressed confidence that the bipartisan deal to suspend the debt ceiling and increase federal spending over the next two years will pass the House on Thursday before lawmakers leave town for their…

Plus: Plus, drug industry sets a lobbying record

Does Trump Care at All About the Deficit?

The Trump administration and congressional leaders set out Tuesday to ensure they’ll have the votes needed to pass the two-year agreement they reached Monday to raise the debt ceiling and federal spending levels.

Plus: Plus, new Trump rule could kick 3 million off food stamps

Trump and Pelosi Strike a Big Budget Deal

President Trump announced Monday afternoon that he had reached a deal with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional leaders to raise spending on both defense and non-defense programs over the next two years and suspend the nation…

Plus: Plus, why Democratic voters are worried

The Scandalous US Defense Budget

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have put a positive spin on negotiations over the two-year budget deal that would raise the debt ceiling, with the speaker earlier this week sketching a timeline in…

Plus: Plus, budget deal or no budget deal?

Will Trump Blow Up a Hard-Fought Budget Deal?

They’re getting closer. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC Thursday morning that the two sides working on a deal to raise spending caps and the debt ceiling have reached agreement on top-line budget numbers for 2020 and 2021 and a…

Plus: Plus, the new fight over the 9/11 victims fund

Democrats Set to Strike a Blow to Obamacare

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said Wednesday that she hopes to seal a deal by Friday evening to raise the debt ceiling and fix spending levels for the next two years. The goal is to send a bill to the Senate by next Thursday, just…

Plus: Plus, drugmakers are 'winning' in Washington

Joe Biden Throws Down the Gauntlet on Health Care

Joe Biden on Monday unveiled a health care plan intended to shore up and expand the Affordable Care Act, sharpening the contrast with other 2020 Democratic presidential candidates who are backing a more sweeping transition to a Medicare…

Plus: Plus, Pelosi's debt ceiling demands

US Could 'Run Out of Cash' in September, Treasury Warns

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Friday that the federal government could run out of cash sooner than expected and urged Congress to raise the debt ceiling before leaving town for its August recess.

Plus: Plus, faith in Trump’s phantom health care plan

Trump Scraps Plan to Lower Drug Prices

The Trump administration has abandoned a key part of its plan to lower prescription drug prices, withdrawing its proposal to eliminate the rebates drugmakers give to pharmacy middlemen.

Plus: Plus - The race is on to avoid a debt ceiling crisis

Trump Could Win on Obamacare — and Still Lose

A federal appeals court in New Orleans heard oral arguments on Tuesday in the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act now that Congress has zeroed out the law’s penalty for individuals who fail to buy insurance.

Plus: Plus, a brewing fiscal fiasco?

Drug Giants Score a Win Against the Trump Administration

A federal judge on Monday blocked a Trump administration rule requiring pharmaceutical companies to disclose the wholesale prices of their drugs in television ads. The new policy, which would have applied to drugs with a list price of more…

Plus: Plus, Trump plans health care overhaul that could save billions

Trump Teases an Executive Order on Drug Prices

President Trump said Friday that he is preparing to issue an executive order to reduce prescription drug prices by requiring that the United States government does not pay more than the lowest price paid by another country.

Plus: Plus, the high-stakes budget fight coming this summer

Trump’s ‘Salute to America’ Sparks Fireworks on the 4th

President Trump famously admired the nationalistic display of military might he witnessed in Paris on Bastille Day two years ago. “It was one of the greatest parades I’ve ever seen,” Trump said at a meeting with French President Emanuel…

Plus: Plus, Bernie Sanders' Wall Street tax

Americans Don't Love Their Private Insurance After All

Prescription drug prices are surging in 2019, despite pressure from the Trump administration and lawmakers on pharmaceutical companies and public anger about the cost of medications.

Plus: Plus, how Trump's new tax law is working

Pelosi vs Schumer? Bitter Divide Could Spell Trouble Ahead

The recovery from the Great Recession turned 10 years old on Monday, making it the longest period of economic expansion in modern U.S. history. Unemployment has fallen from 10% in October 2009 to 3.6% as of last month. Gross domestic…

Plus: Plus, another tax cut for the rich?

June 2019

Kamala Harris Smacks Down Question on Paying for Progressive Agenda

Sen. Kamala Harris shook up the Democratic presidential primaries with her debate performance Thursday night. She’s widely seen as the clear winner from the second night of the debates, having created a standout moment by directly…

Plus: Plus, Biden's $600 Billion boast

Pelosi Caves on Border Bill

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had little choice. In a standoff with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the White House over a bill to provide billions in emergency funding to address the humanitarian crisis at the southern border,…

Plus: Plus, Elizabeth Warren’s daring bet on Medicare for All