- Fourteen states vote in Democratic primaries
- Explainer: your guide to Super Tuesday
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My colleague on the west coast, Maanvi Singh, will take on the blog now as Super Tuesday voting - and related drama - continues. Later, Joan Greve in Washington, DC, will helm the blog as the polls begin to close and the results trickle in tonight.
Here’s what’s happened so far today:
The Trump administration is considering using a national disaster program to pay hospitals and doctors for their care of uninsured people infected with the coronavirus.
As concerns rise over costs of treating some of the 27 million Americans without health coverage, the government is looking for news ways to step in, a person familiar with the conversations told the Wall Street Journal. This would certainly be unexpected.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has been in discussions about using that program to pay providers who treat uninsured patients with coronavirus, the person said.
Dr. Robert Kadlec, who is the assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health and Human Services, also said Tuesday at a congressional hearing that discussions are being held about using the National Disaster Medical System reimbursement program.
Related: Coronavirus: health experts concerned US hospitals are not prepared
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Pete Buttigieg drops out as crucial Super Tuesday looms – live updates
- Democrat departs race after poor showing in South Carolina
- Full report: Pete Buttigieg drops out of 2020 race
- What is Super Tuesday? Your guide to the night
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The news of the Supreme Court taking up an Obamacare case is another reminder of how far apart the presidential candidates remain on the issue of healthcare.
Bernie Sanders has said he wants to create a government-run, single-payer healthcare system, which would eliminate the need for Obamacare.
The Supreme Court has announced it will hear a case on whether a part of Obamacare is unconstiutional.
The justices said they would take up the case in their next term, which begins in October, so a decision is not expected until after the 2020 election.
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Joe Biden wins South Carolina primary: ‘This campaign is taking off’ – live
- Former vice-president scores much-needed primary victory
- Biden tells cheering supporters: ‘We just won and we won big’
- Follow the latest results in our live South Carolina tracker
4.02am GMT
That’s it from me in Columbia, South Carolina. Here’s how tonight’s primary shook out:
3.52am GMT
There will be considerable debate over the next few days about what Joe Bi...
Millions of uninsured Americans like me are a coronavirus timebomb | Carl Gibson
I haven’t gone to the doctor since 2013. When you multiply my situation by 27.5 million, that’s a scary prospect
Like 27.5 million other Americans, I don’t have health insurance. It’s not for a lack of trying – I make too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to buy a private health insurance plan on the Affordable Care Act exchanges. Since I can’t afford to see a doctor, my healthcare strategy as a 32-year-old uninsured American has been simply to sleep eight hours, eat veget...
Bernie Sanders’ plans may be expensive but inaction would cost much more | Robert Reich
Facing existential challenges, we must spend heavily on a Green New Deal, Medicare for All and similar plans
In Wednesday night’s Democratic debate, the former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg charged that the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders’ policy proposals would cost $50tn. Holy Indiana.
Larry Summers, formerly chief White House economic adviser for Barack Obama, puts the price tag at $60tn. “We are in a kind of new era of radical proposal,” he told CNN.
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Trump and Bloomberg trade insults ahead of Democratic debate – live
- President had accused candidate violating campaign finance laws
- ‘Gloves will be off’: Nevada debate could be pivotal for Democrats
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5.32pm GMT
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo condemned China for expelling three Wall Street Journal reporters over a critical op-ed published by the newspaper.
The United St...
Controversy rages over Trump interference in Roger Stone case – live updates
- Attorney general to testify before congress
- Chuck Schumer warns of ‘crisis in the rule of law in America’
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This morning, Trump had some insults to throw at Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, who is using his vast personal fortune to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on campaign ads.
Mini Mike Bloomberg is a LOSER who has money but can’t debate and has zero presence, you will see. He reminds me of a tiny version of Jeb “Low Energy” Bush, but Jeb has more political skill and has treated the Black community much better than Mini! https://t.co/qIef5VhjDr
.@realDonaldTrump - we know many of the same people in NY. Behind your back they laugh at you & call you a carnival barking clown. They know you inherited a fortune & squandered it with stupid deals and incompetence.
I have the record & the resources to defeat you. And I will. https://t.co/fO4azmZaUg
The Democratic establishment is worried about Bernie Sanders becoming the party’s nominee, as the New York Times, the Hill, Politico and others report today.
We are spending twice as much per capita on healthcare as do the people of any other country. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the healthcare industry last year made $100 billion in profit. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we are wasting $500 billion a year trying to administer thousands and thousands of different plans. What Medicare for All will do is save the average American substantial sums of money.
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Iowa caucus: Democratic race in shambles as results are delayed – live coverage
- Full story: Democratic race off to disastrous start
- Iowa caucuses results – live updates
- What is the smartphone app at centre of Iowa debacle?
- Analysis: Trump campaign jubilant as Dems’ big night implodes
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11.57am GMT
Donald Trump has given his verdict on the Iowa controversy, which he calls an “unmitigated disaster”.
Democratic debate: Warren challenges Sanders over electability – live
- ‘The only people on this stage who have won every single election that they’ve been in are the women,’ Warren says in final debate before Iowa caucuses
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After the first commercial break of the debate, Bernie Sanders had spoken more than any other candidate, taking up about twice as much time as Tom Steyer.
DEBATE AIR TIME: Who’s spoken the most? Here’s the @CBSNews tally through the first commercial break of the #DemDebate: pic.twitter.com/AoDQhVpZjb
The Democratic debate has returned from a commercial break, and the conversation has turned to healthcare.
Bernie Sanders defended his Medicare for All proposal, which he has centered his presidential campaign around.
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Pete Buttigieg: race is between me and Warren – as new poll puts him fourth
- Buttigieg: Senator’s Medicare for All plan is ‘polarising’
- Opinion: Goodbye, Beto. A sad end to a pointless campaign
Pete Buttigieg is fourth in a four-strong pack clear of the Democratic presidential field, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. But he thinks the final choice of who will challenge Donald Trump will be between him and Elizabeth Warren.
Related: Liberty and Justice for Democrats in Des Moines – but no clear Iowa star
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