It’s been a chaotic week in health politics. The Senate Homeland Security Committee votes along party lines to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt, a move Rob and Miles call political theater with ugly historical echoes. The passage of the resolution clears the way for a criminal referral to the Justice Department, where Todd Blanche could be waiting for retribution.
We also dig into what healthcare affordability is doing to the Michigan and Wisconsin primaries, and why flipping Wisconsin’s state legislature could finally deliver Medicaid expansion, along with other healthcare victories, after 15 years of gridlock.
Elsewhere: the Senate confirms Erica Schwartz as CDC’s first permanent director in over a year despite her dodging questions on standing up to RFK Jr and Nebraska has fast-tracked their plan of kicking people off Medicaid under new work-reporting requirements.
Finally, in HHS updates, new polling shows independents souring hard on Kennedy’s handling of vaccines; and RFK Jr. has a widely-mocked, shouting meltdown in an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash PLUS we dissect the debut of his new cooking show and float the idea of…. Liver Burgers?
LINKS
Wisconsin Examiner: Legislative primaries to watch in upcoming August elections
NOTUS: Wisconsin Democrats Doubt a Progressive’s Prospects After Michigan Results
PBS Wisconsin: Wisconsin’s 2026 primary for governor hits the home stretch
CIDRAP: Senate committee grills CDC director nominee Erica Schwartz
Inside Medicine: She blew it. CDC Director nominee tanks in Senate hearing.
Clip of Sen. Maggie Hassan questioning Schwartz is HERE
NBC News: New CDC director is confirmed, giving agency its first permanent leader in a year
NPR: In Nebraska, Americans begin to lose Medicaid under Trump’s work rules
Nebraska Examiner: Health advocates raise alarms about Nebraska’s ‘rushed’ implementation of Medicaid work requirements
KFF Health News: Doctors ‘Cringe’ at Possibility of Documenting Which Medicaid Enrollees Too Sick To Work
WP Intelligence: Health Brief: Reaction to Medicaid work reporting requirements
Healthcare Dive: Judge rejects states’ bid to pause Medicaid work requirements
Fierce Healthcare Court rejects states’ bid to delay Medicaid work requirements rollout
RealClear Health: Independents Are Turning on RFK Jr. And His Party Should Worry
Taxpayers Protection Alliance: New Poll: Voters Reject Kennedy’s Vaccine Overhaul as Independents Sour on Public Health Leadership
FactCheck.org: RFK Jr.’s Falsehood-Filled CNN Interview
The Hill: Kennedy to host cooking show with focus on inexpensive meals
Mandatory: RFK Jr. Admits He Has No ‘Gag Reflex’ While Plugging New Show
The Hill: RFK Jr. suggests buying liver or ‘cheap cuts’ instead of steak
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