Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
After Years Of Partisan Health Policy Hits, Medical Experts Are Having A Moment
Bloomberg: Public Health Experts Cheer ‘Revenge Of The Nerds’ Midterm Rout
Tuesday night’s blue wave flipped both chambers of Congress for the Democrats, ushering in a new class of medical experts to federal and state offices after vaccine policy and health funding were upended by the Trump administration. It’s a “revenge of the nerds moment,” said Stanford University infectious disease physician Abraar Karan. South Carolina pediatrician Annie Andrews and Michigan physician and epidemiologist Abdul El-Sayed helped Democrats capture the Senate. In the House, physician Richard Pan won California’s 6th district, campaigning as a “public health hero” who would stand up to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In Ohio, the state’s former health director and physician Amy Acton became its first Democratic governor in 20 years. (Nix and Cohrs Zhang, 11/4)
Stat: Health Care As A Top Midterm Issue: Why Doctors, Scientists Did So Well
Democratic physicians, nurses, and scientists won dramatic victories across the U.S. on Tuesday, part of the sweeping blue wave that saw Democrats regain control of Congress in midterm elections that spotlighted health care, public health, and trust in science. (Oza and Todd, 11/4)
NPR: It Was A Big Night For Doctors To Win Seats In Congress, Riding The Blue Wave
The U.S. Senate will soon have a practicing physician who's a Democrat for the first time since 1938, with the election of Dr. Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in South Carolina. Her win — among many other physician candidates Tuesday night — marks a dramatic shift when it comes to doctors with political power across the country. Historically, doctors have been elected to Congress more often as Republicans, not Democrats. But that changed this cycle. (Simmons-Duffin, 11/4)
Stat: The Midterms Could Shape The Future Of Health AI
Tuesday’s midterm elections highlighted the negative sentiment around artificial intelligence across the country, with voters roundly rejecting the data centers required to power the technology on dozens of ballot measures across several states. The results echo polling that shows many Americans believe AI does more harm than good. (Aguilar, 11/5)
