Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
If Dems Win Back Congress, They'll Immediately Work To Reverse Medicaid Cuts, Reinstate ACA Tax Breaks
AP: House Democrats Plan 100-Days Agenda If They Win Majority In Midterms
House Democrats are preparing an ambitious 100-days agenda focused on delivering their campaign promises — making life more affordable and conducting vast oversight of the Trump administration — if the party seizes majority control in next month’s elections. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is in line to become House speaker if the party wins power, said the Democrats will be united “right out of the gate” on reinstating Affordable Care Act tax breaks, reversing Republican Medicaid cuts, holding votes against the Iran war and undoing President Donald Trump’s tariff regime. (Mascaro, 10/14)
Central Florida Public Media: Is Healthcare On The Ballot? Voters Say It's A Priority
Corin Denmon has a lot of concerns for Florida and her country, but there is one topic that she puts above the rest. "Healthcare. I'm voting for anybody that has healthcare on their ballot as a priority," Denmon said. Healthcare affordability is the cause of a lot of anxiety for voters across the country ahead of an election where the general concept of affordability dominates the conversation. (Pedersen, 10/14)
The 19th: Republican Candidates Walking Back Abortion Stances Pre-Midterms
Republicans running for governor across the country are backing away from abortion bans they once endorsed. U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, the Republican candidate for governor in Wisconsin, calls his state’s 20-week abortion limit “settled law.” Just three years ago, he co-sponsored a bill that would have banned abortion six weeks into pregnancy. (Luthra, 10/14)
NBC News: Suspicious White Powder Sent To Election Offices In 3 States
Secretaries of state’s offices in Ohio, Louisiana and Oklahoma were sent packages this week with mysterious powders, just weeks before the offices are set to oversee the midterm elections. Oklahoma and Louisiana reported receiving the envelopes, while Ohio said U.S. Postal Service investigators intercepted a package destined for it. (Coronell Uribe, 10/15)
Also —
Uncloseted Media: Meta Is Paying Anti-LGBTQ Influencers To Spread Political Misinformation
On September 14, far-right influencer Chaya Raichik, known online as Libs of Tiktok, attacked a Washington state high school on Facebook for displaying a Pride flag. “Hey Mercer Island High School, why does your profile photo display a mutilation flag??” she wrote, tagging the school’s account in the post and attaching a photo of the entrance. (Pisoni, 10/14)
The Texas Tribune: Texas Trans Rights Group Says It Didn’t Send Disputed Texts
The Transgender Education Network of Texas on Wednesday sent a cease and desist notice that demanded two digital messaging companies stop a client from impersonating the LGBTQ+ advocacy group in a series of texts sent this week to Texans. (Runnels, 10/14)
