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'Vanity projects': Dems say RFK Jr. focused on his shows, not measles

'Vanity projects': Dems say RFK Jr. focused on his shows, not measles

A group of Senate Democrats allege that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is using taxpayer dollars to focus on his cooking show and podcast.

Dompé U.S. to Pay $32 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

Dompé U.S. to Pay $32 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

Dompé U.S. to Pay $32 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

Senator Mike Lee Introduces Government Surveillance Reform Act to Close Data Broker Loophole

Senator Mike Lee Introduces Government Surveillance Reform Act to Close Data Broker Loophole

Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) has introduced the Government Surveillance Reform Act, a bill designed to close the data broker loophole that currently allows government agencies to purchase sensitive personal data without a warrant. This legislative effort follows a recent US Supreme Court ruling in Chatrie v. United States, which determined that cell-phone users' location data is protected by the Fourth Amendment, even if users initially agreed to data collection. Privacy practitioners suggest this ruling casts doubt on the legality of government data purchases from brokers. Agencies such as the FBI, IRS, Department of Homeland Security, ICE, DEA, Secret Service, and Department of Defense reportedly rely on data brokers for information, including names, photographs, social media activity, financial details, and criminal history. The proposed bill aims to address concerns that these purchases constitute an end-run around Fourth Amendment protections, as highlighted by legal experts like Matthew Tokson from the ...

Trump Administration Alleges Discrimination in Admissions at UC Berkeley Law and Duke Medical School

Trump Administration Alleges Discrimination in Admissions at UC Berkeley Law and Duke Medical School

The Trump administration, through the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Health and Human Services (HHS), has announced findings that the University of California, Berkeley’s law school and Duke University’s medical school intentionally discriminated against white and Asian applicants in their admissions processes. This marks the sixth and seventh such findings by the administration, which has launched at least 29 investigations into university admissions practices, with 27 focusing on medical schools. The investigations cited disparities in average MCAT and LSAT scores, where admitted Black and Hispanic students had lower average scores than admitted white and Asian students, yet were admitted at higher rates. Department officials pointed to internal communications and public statements from university administrators, including Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky’s support for affirmative action, as evidence of intent to discriminate. The HHS Office for Civil Rights noted that Duke failed to respond to inqu...

Get your $500 Obamacare refund: who’s eligible

Get your $500 Obamacare refund: who’s eligible

The White House says the Biden administration overcharged Affordable Care Act Exchange plan enrollees.

Western States Expand Medicaid Reimbursement for Doula Care to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes

Western States Expand Medicaid Reimbursement for Doula Care to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes

A growing number of western U.S. states are now allowing Medicaid to reimburse for doula care, a significant shift from a decade ago when only two states offered such coverage. Currently, 28 states, including Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, provide Medicaid reimbursement for doula services, according to the National Health Law Program. Montana is expected to join this group later this year, with Wyoming lawmakers and advocates also considering the measure. Doulas are trained professionals who offer emotional support and information to individuals before, during, and after childbirth. Colorado began reimbursing up to $1,500 for doula care in 2024. This expansion aims to make doula services accessible to a wider population, moving beyond being a service primarily affordable only to wealthier individuals.

Trump Administration Promotes Education Department Initiative While Pursuing Agency Downsizing

Trump Administration Promotes Education Department Initiative While Pursuing Agency Downsizing

The Trump administration is actively working to reduce the federal role in education by relocating U.S. Department of Education staffers, reallocating agency funding, and advocating for the department's closure. Despite these efforts, the administration is simultaneously highlighting a new initiative: the Learning Agenda Playbook. This playbook, developed with the assistance of the Education Department's technical assistance centers, aims to help state education agencies more effectively measure policy outcomes over time. Kirsten Baesler, the agency’s assistant secretary overseeing K-12 education, stated that the department's role is to serve the needs of states rather than dictate their educational priorities. The playbook was created in collaboration with education agencies from eight states: Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin. This dual approach sees the administration promoting a federal resource while continuing its broader strategy to diminish the departme...

Senator Grassley Calls for Congressional Reform of Nondisclosure Orders Following Arctic Frost Investigation Revelations

Senator Grassley Calls for Congressional Reform of Nondisclosure Orders Following Arctic Frost Investigation Revelations

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) is advocating for Congress to consider reforms to prevent the 'weaponization' of nondisclosure orders (NDOs). This call follows revelations from former special counsel Jack Smith’s Arctic Frost investigation. Grassley, who has led the Senate's inquiry into Arctic Frost, stated that while NDOs are a vital law enforcement tool, their improper use can jeopardize Americans' privacy. He cited the Arctic Frost investigation as a prime example, noting that conservative organizations, private citizens, and dozens of members of Congress had their personal records collected, with the government using NDOs to conceal these actions. Specifically, Grassley's investigation found that Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile received at least 84 subpoenas related to Arctic Frost, with at least 10 seeking tolling records for 20 current or former Republican members of Congress. Furthermore, Grassley and Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) disclosed that Smith’s team reviewed text me...

U.S. Bioterrorism Preparedness Strengthened Post-9/11 with Legislative Reforms and All-Hazards Approach

U.S. Bioterrorism Preparedness Strengthened Post-9/11 with Legislative Reforms and All-Hazards Approach

Bioterrorism preparedness in the United States has undergone significant transformation since the September 11, 2001, attacks and subsequent anthrax incidents. These events highlighted critical gaps in the nation's public health and emergency response infrastructure, leading to a series of legislative actions. Key among these were the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, which legally established the Strategic National Stockpile and expanded its mission, and the Project BioShield Act of 2004, which enhanced the government's capacity to develop and acquire medical countermeasures. Further unifying these efforts, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) brought federal public health and medical preparedness under a more coordinated framework. This shift moved the focus from solely bioterrorism to a broader 'all-hazards' approach, improving coordination, surveillance, laboratory capabilities, workforce development, and medical countermeasure readiness. Th...

Democrats Eye Leadership of House Energy and Commerce Health Panel Amid Departures

Democrats Eye Leadership of House Energy and Commerce Health Panel Amid Departures

Two senior Democratic members of Congress, one a doctor and the other a children's health advocate, have expressed interest in leading the Health subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This potential shift in leadership comes as several long-serving members of the committee's health leadership are departing. Notably, Representative Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), who previously held a significant role, will not be returning next year after losing her primary election in June. Her departure, alongside other retirements and primary losses, has created an opening for new leadership within the committee's health panel, particularly if Democrats secure a majority in the upcoming legislative session. The Energy and Commerce Committee plays a crucial role in shaping health policy, making the leadership of its Health subcommittee a highly sought-after position.

U.S. Representative August Pfluger Introduces House Bill for Mandatory DNA Synthesis Screening to Address Biorisks

U.S. Representative August Pfluger Introduces House Bill for Mandatory DNA Synthesis Screening to Address Biorisks

U.S. Representative August Pfluger (R) has introduced a narrower House bill focused on mandatory nucleic acid synthesis screening. This legislation aims to mitigate biosecurity risks by requiring providers of DNA synthesis services to screen orders and customers. The bill is a response to growing concerns that advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) could make it easier to design dangerous pathogens, and that nucleic acid synthesis providers represent a critical choke point between digital biological designs and physical biological capabilities. The proposed screening would involve comparing ordered sequences against databases of dangerous pathogens and toxins, as well as verifying customer identities to prevent misuse. This House bill complements a broader bipartisan Senate proposal, the Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act (S. 3741), which also addresses synthesis screening among other biosecurity measures.

Florida Rep. Cory Mills Dismisses Alleged DOJ Investigation as Politically Motivated

Florida Rep. Cory Mills Dismisses Alleged DOJ Investigation as Politically Motivated

Florida Rep. Cory Mills (R) has publicly addressed and dismissed unconfirmed reports suggesting he is under investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ). In an exclusive interview with The Floridian on July 23, 2026, Rep. Mills asserted that any such alleged investigation is politically motivated and based on 'lies.' This statement comes amidst broader discussions about the scrutiny faced by members of Congress. While the specific nature of the alleged investigation was not detailed in the report, Rep. Mills's strong denial frames the situation as an attack driven by political opposition rather than legitimate inquiry. The Floridian's report highlights the Congressman's direct response to these unconfirmed claims, emphasizing his stance that the allegations lack factual basis and are intended to undermine his political standing.