Trump’s vacation message to McConnell: ‘Get back to work’

August 10, 2017 Donald Trump, News, Republicans, US Congress, US news, US politics, US Senate

Trump suggests Senate majority leader should step down if he continues to fail to advance president’s agenda, including healthcare and tax reform
Donald Trump has suggested that Mitch McConnell should step down if the Republican leader in the Senate does not successfully get the president’s agenda passed on Capitol Hill.
Speaking to reporters at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he is spending a working vacation, Trump was asked if McConnell should stand down. “I’l...

Study: Trump’s actions are directly responsible for rising health care premiums

August 10, 2017 Donald Trump, health care, News, politics

Despite the repeated failure of Republicans in Congress to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Trump has succeeded in raising health care premiums.

A number of insurers who provide coverage through the Obamacare marketplaces have requested double digit rate increases for the coming year, and the majority cite uncertainty about the actions of the Trump administrations as the reason for the requested increases, according to a new study released Thursday.

The study, from...

Abandoning Latino Obamacare outreach is poor policy planning

August 10, 2017 Donald Trump, health, health care, News, obamacare

Key members of the Latino Affordable Care Act (ACA) outreach coalition told Talking Points Memo the Trump administration has not reached out to begin preparing for open enrollment that begins November 1st.

By this point last year, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and other major Latino organizations, like the National Hispanic Medical Association and National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health and Concilio, would be in the midst of enrollment frenzy. But th...

Fox & Friends features minister who thinks the Bible gives Trump ‘moral authority’ over North Korea

August 10, 2017 Donald Trump, News, politics

On Thursday, President Donald Trump’s favorite TV show featured a Christian preacher who made a case on the air that Trump has a biblical justification for attacking North Korea.

During a Fox & Friends interview, Southern Baptist minister and outspoken Trump backer Rev. Robert Jeffress claimed that “the Bible, especially Romans 13, does give President Trump moral authority to use whatever force necessary, including assassination or even war, to topple an evi...

Democrats are still at war with each other—but Kamala Harris could heal the rift

August 9, 2017 Democrats, Donald Trump, Government, Ideas, media, News, politics, ST, United States, US politics

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Trump trots out tired ‘Just Say No’ strategy as his plan for the opioid crisis

August 9, 2017 Donald Trump, drugs, News, politics

On Tuesday, President Trump unveiled an opioid abuse prevention plan that basically consists of the “Just Say No” slogan championed by First Lady Nancy Reagan in the 1980s.

During brief remarks to reporters from his private golf club in New Jersey, Trump said he thinks the way to prevent opioid abuse is simply to tell kids that drugs are bad.

“If they don’t start, they won’t have a problem. If they do start, it’s awfully tough to get off,” Trump said. ...

Following Trump’s threat, Nevada Republican now faces primary challenge from pro-Trump candidate

August 8, 2017 Donald Trump, News, politics

Less than a month ago, President Trump threatened to end Sen. Dean Heller’s (R-NV) career unless he voted for a health care bill that would’ve stripped coverage from hundreds of thousands of his constituents. Heller did end up voting to repeal Obamacare — but he’s being primaried by a pro-Trump Republican anyway.

During a Tuesday morning interview on Trump’s favorite TV show, Danny Tarkanian (R) announced that he’s “going to run for the Unit...

Military figures are taking over Trump’s administration

August 3, 2017 Donald Trump, News, politics, World

As players within President Donald Trump’s administration have come and gone, one institution has benefited perhaps more than any other — the military.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions named Gen. Mark S. Inch as the director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), days after Gen. John Kelly moved from his position as secretary of Homeland Security to be White House Chief of Staff. Trump’s Cabinet at one point contained three generals —Kelly, Secretary of Defense Jame...

Tweet first, read later: Trump shares article blaming his policies for health care price increases

August 3, 2017 Donald Trump, health care, News, politics

On Thursday morning, President Trump retweeted a tweet from his favorite morning show about how “Insurers [are] seeking huge premium hikes on ObamaCare plans.” Had Trump read the article, however, he would’ve seen that the story Fox & Friends highlighted on its program actually blamed him for those rate hikes.

ThinkProgress

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Maine asks Trump for permission to start charging Medicaid recipients premiums

August 3, 2017 Donald Trump, health, health care, medicaid, News, tom-price

Maine could be among the first states to fundamentally change its Medicaid program by requiring low-income adults to meet work requirements and pay monthly premiums, if the state’s requests are approved by the Trump administration.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services filed an application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Wednesday evening, requesting core changes to its Medicaid program, dubbed MaineCare.<...