Friday, November 6, 2026 - KFF Health News

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KFF Health News Original Stories

Midterm Wave Sets a Course for ‘Medicare for All’ Fight

Voter frustration with healthcare costs helped fuel the Democrats’ midterm takeover of Congress. But Democratic control doesn’t mean “Medicare for All” will follow, as some hoped. ( Kate Wells , 11/6 )

Healthcare Cuts Fuel Democrats' Election Blowout

Climbing healthcare costs drove a blue wave this election season. Julie Rovner, KFF Health News' chief Washington correspondent, breaks down the midterms and how the results could shape future healthcare debates. ( Julie Rovner , 11/6 )

What the Health? From KFF Health News: A Blue Wave Hits Healthcare

The predicted blue wave in the 2026 midterms not only appeared — it overperformed, with Democrats sweeping into majorities in the House and Senate. That sets up a new focus on health policy, with Democrats seeking to undo cuts imposed by President Donald Trump and the GOP-led Congress and advance their own agenda to increase coverage and lower costs. In this special episode, host Julie Rovner is joined by Mollyann Brodie, executive vice president and chief operating officer at KFF; Larry Levitt, KFF’s executive vice president for health policy; and Amanda Seitz, Washington health policy reporter for KFF Health News. ( 11/5 )

Here's today's health policy haiku:

MARKETPLACE MIGRAINE

Ouch! The sticker shock!
Open enrollment is here.
I need to lie down.

— Julie Miller

If you have a health policy haiku to share, please Contact Us and let us know if we can include your name. Haikus follow the format of 5-7-5 syllables. We give extra brownie points if you link back to an original story.

Opinions expressed in haikus are solely the author's and do not reflect the opinions of KFF Health News or KFF.

Note To Readers

The Morning Briefing will not be published Monday, Nov. 9. Look for it again in your inbox on Tuesday.

Summaries Of The News:

Administration News

4 Of 8 RFK Jr. Appointees To Health Task Force Received Conflict-Of-Interest Waivers

The waivers gave the members permission to serve on the United States Preventive Services Task Force even though they hold stocks in various drug companies, The New York Times reported. The task force's recommendations inform doctors’ decisions, determine what insurers must pay for, and affect the popularity — and therefore the profitability — of numerous drugs and medical devices.

The New York Times: RFK Jr.’s Appointees To Health Task Force Included Four Allowed To Keep Drug Stocks

Four of the eight people appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to an influential health panel in September own stock in companies that make drugs and other products affected by the group’s decisions, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times. The investments were described in conflict-of-interest waivers that gave the members permission to serve on the panel, the United States Preventive Services Task Force. The Times obtained the waivers through a public records request. (Astor, 11/5)

More about RFK Jr. and MAHA —

Politico: RFK Jr.’s Alliance With Trump Is On Tenterhooks

The MAHA and MAGA marriage is going through its roughest patch yet. Tuesday’s sweep by the Democrats, along with waning support from some of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s biggest followers, suggests there’s plenty of reason for divorce. Kennedy now faces a gauntlet of hostile Democrats on Capitol Hill, while others are openly courting his supporters. (Chu and Paun, 11/5)

The Hill: The MAHA Movement Seeks Bipartisan Partners After Midterm Losses

A top leader in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement said he is willing to work with Democrats if they share his vision, after Republicans were trounced out of power in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Tony Lyons, a key ally of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who runs several MAHA political committees, said Wednesday that the movement must work with anyone who shares its goals. (Weixel, 11/5)

Politico: RFK Jr. Ally Russell Brand Found Guilty Of Rape And Sexual Assault

Actor Russell Brand, a leading figure in Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement, was found guilty Thursday in the United Kingdom of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others between 2004 and 2009. Brand was arrested after the verdict was announced and is facing years in prison, according to the British Press Association, a national news agency. He will be sentenced on Monday, U.K. prosecutors said in a statement. (Paun, 11/5)

In related news about MAHA's push to eat more red meat —

The Baltimore Sun: Steak Vs. Soy: Research Flips The Script On ‘Manly’ Proteins

Red meat may not give the “High-T” dietary fix some people assume, as new research suggests that “soy boy” vegans may top their meat-eating peers in terms of testosterone. (Hille, 11/5)

Outbreaks and Health Threats

Wisconsin Infant Dies Of Measles As US Cases Notch 35-Year High

The baby was the first measles death in several decades in Wisconsin and the third measles-related death in the U.S. this week. Health officials have reported more than 400 measles infections and nine hospitalizations as the virus spreads in the Badger State. Across the country, nearly 5,000 people have been infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Plus, as parents have spurned vitamin K shots for newborns, cases of infant bleeding have surged.

Bloomberg: Measles Kills Infant In Wisconsin, Marking State’s First Measles Fatality In 36 Years

Wisconsin reported its first measles death in more than three decades on Thursday, the latest state to suffer a fatality from a virus that was long eradicated in the US but recently surged back amid a wave of anti-vaccine sentiment. The death occurred in an infant, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said in a statement. It is the third US measles death within the last week — matching the number of deaths in all of 2025. In the preceding 25 years, the US typically had no deaths. (Nix, 11/5)

CIDRAP: Canada's 2025 Measles Outbreak Offers A Cautionary Tale For The US

A measles outbreak at an October 2024 wedding in New Brunswick contributed to the virus reestablishing itself in Canada, according to a recent analysis in The BMJ, a London-based medical journal. The outbreak began after several wedding guests from Ontario were exposed to measles by another guest from Thailand. The Ontario residents brought the virus home, where it continued to spread, ultimately resulting in a multijurisdictional outbreak that lasted almost a full year, with 2,064 confirmed infections and 313 probable cases. (Boden, 11/5)

More about infant health —

The Washington Post: Infant Bleeding Surged Last Year As Parents Refuse Vitamin K Shot For Newborns

Cases of infant bleeding surged last year as more parents refused critical vitamin K injections for their newborns, according to new research released Thursday in JAMA Pediatrics. While the research does not point to a cause, scientists note some of the change comes during a time of growing skepticism around public health fueled partly in recent years by President Donald Trump’s administration. (Wu, 11/4)

On bird flu, screwworm, Ebola, and covid —

The New York Times: Bird Flu Death In Washington State Renews Concern Over The Virus

The death, in Yakima County, Wash., is the first related to bird flu in the country this year, and the third since 2024. But it was only on Thursday, one day after an inquiry from The New York Times, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its website. It still has not made any statements to the public about the death. Documents obtained by the Animal Welfare Institute, an advocacy group, showed that federal and state officials also have done little to stem the outbreak at the mink farm, where the virus, called H5N1, had been circulating for weeks before it was detected. (Mandavilli and Anthes, 11/5)

CIDRAP: New World Screwworm Cases In US Animals Jump To 113

The number of confirmed New World screwworm (NWS) cases in the United States jumped to 113 yesterday, as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported an additional 42 cases since last week. The latest cases—in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona—involve horses, cattle, sheep, dogs, and a chicken, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. While Texas and New Mexico reported their first animal infestations with the parasitic fly in early June, Arizona confirmed its first case October 28, with an infested dog in Cochise County. (Szabo, 11/5)

AP: British Doctor With Ebola Evacuated To London From Congo

A British doctor who was working on the Ebola epidemic in Congo was evacuated Thursday to a London hospital for treatment for the virus, the U.K. government said. The man is the first British patient evacuated from the current outbreak of the deadly virus, and the third person to have tested positive to return to Europe. The doctor was flown to the U.K. on a medical evacuation arranged by the governments of Britain and Congo, and their international health partners. (11/5)

CIDRAP: As Ebola Cases Near 10,700, WHO Recommends Adding 2 Bundibugyo Vaccines To Clinical Trial

As the Ebola case and death total in the African outbreak continue to rise, expert groups convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) have recommended adding two candidate Bundibugyo Ebola virus vaccines to the ongoing Tumaini clinical trial. The outbreak case total now stands at 10,699, including 5,202 deaths, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today. (Van Beusekom, 11/5)

CIDRAP: New Evidence Affirms COVID Vaccine Is Safe During Pregnancy

Expecting moms have another reason to be reassured about the COVID-19 vaccine's safety for their unborn kids. An analysis published this week in JAMA Pediatrics found that in utero exposure to the immunization had no effect on a child's neurodevelopmental outcomes. The study matched women who received the COVID vaccine during or within 30 days before pregnancy with those who did not, resulting in 217 pairs of participants. Factors considered were delivery site, delivery date, insurance status, race, and ethnicity. (Boden, 11/5)

Elections

Voters Bar Trans Athletes From Female Sports In Washington, Colorado

With the passage of those two initiatives — in Democratic-leaning states — more than half of the states now have a transgender athlete ban in place. Other election news explores what the future holds for the Supreme Court, California's billionaire tax, and more.

AP: Left-Leaning Washington And Colorado Ban Transgender Athletes

Voters in left-leaning Washington state and Colorado have approved measures designed to ban transgender athletes from participating in school-sanctioned sports. Measure 638 in Washington, which had more than 56% of the vote, will prevent students who were assigned male at birth from participating in sports designated for female athletes. The measure also requires athletes wanting to play in female sports to produce a statement from a health care provider verifying their gender. Proposition 134 in Colorado will require educational institutions and athletic associations to assign sports as male, female or coed. The proposal, which was supported by 52% of voters, will also limit athletes to playing in sports in the gender they were assigned at birth. (Graves, 11/6)

The Colorado Sun: Democrats Plan Tweaks To Conservative Measures On Trans Youth

Gov.-elect Phil Weiser and leading Democrats in the Colorado legislature are already discussing how to tweak four conservative ballot measures that appear to have been approved by voters this year, including ones banning transgender youth from gendered school and college sports and preventing kids from getting surgery altering their biological sex characteristics. (Paul and Brown, 11/5)

On the Supreme Court —

AP: Democrats Vow To Stop Any 'Crappy Nominees' Trump Taps For Federal Judiciary

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is likely to return as majority leader next year, promised in an interview with The Associated Press that Democrats will prevent Trump from installing a “right-winger” on the Supreme Court and that they are “not going to allow any crappy nominees” elsewhere in the federal judiciary or in Trump’s Cabinet. (Kim, Jalonick and Whitehurst, 11/6)

The Washington Post: GOP’s Losses Will Raise Pressure On Conservative Supreme Court Justices To Retire

The GOP’s sweeping losses in the midterm elections Tuesday set up an unsettling possibility for the party: If it doesn’t act now to confirm a new Supreme Court justice, it may not have another chance for years to come. That prospect is likely to ramp up pressure on the court’s two oldest conservatives — Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr., 76, and Clarence Thomas, 78 — to retire during the lame-duck period, while Republicans still have the votes to get a nominee confirmed by the Senate. The new Senate, in which Democrats will hold a majority, is seated on Jan. 3. ... The Supreme Court’s conservative 6-3 supermajority has delivered historic opinions on abortion, affirmative action, religious rights and much more that have thrilled Republicans. A younger replacement for Alito or Thomas could lock that advantage in for years to come. (Jouvenal, 11/5)

The New York Times: Justice Dept. Steps Up Criminal Inquiry of Supreme Court Abortion Decision Leak

The Justice Department is pursuing a criminal investigation into who leaked the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning the right to abortion, examining the inner workings of an institution that has long operated in secrecy and resisted oversight from the other branches of government. At issue is who provided the draft decision to Politico two months before it was formally released by the court, a seismic breach of confidentiality that led to intense partisan accusations about the motivations of the leaker. (Kantor and Schmidt, 11/5)

In other election developments —

Politico: ‘What A Waste’: How California’s Billionaire Tax Campaign Fell Apart

As Democrats notch their biggest gains in decades, a landmark tax on California billionaires appears headed for defeat. It is a notable outlier as progressives elsewhere rode populist fervor to victory — and the campaign may have been undone as much by its backers’ own missteps as by opponents spending more than $300 million. Long before the billionaire opposition formed, labor union leaders were deeply divided over the ballot proposal. The measure directed nearly all its revenue to health care, and its sponsor pushed ahead without broad consensus. Those rifts cost the campaign key endorsements, left it without enough moneyto mount a serious response and allowed billionaire opponents to magnify and exploit disagreements among groups that generally support taxing the rich. (White, 11/6)

Scientific And Medical Experts Aim To Restore Their Prominence In Federal Government

When the new Congress is seated, Democrats are preparing to reclaim the power of the purse when it comes to scientific study. They acknowledge they can't undo the brain drain that has happened under President Donald Trump's watch, but they hope to show scientists there's a place in the U.S. for research and innovation. Democrats also are contemplating their investigative powers.

The New York Times: What A Democratic Congress Could Mean For Science

The Trump administration has sought to reshape the nation’s research infrastructure. Democratic lawmakers, newly empowered, are preparing to push back. (Mueller, Johnson, Metz and Chang, 11/6)

The New York Times: These Newly Elected Lawmakers Know Something Trump Doesn’t: Science

Among those elected to Congress on Tuesday are a mathematician, a microbiologist and a chemical engineer. They plan to take on a White House that has threatened funding cuts to research. (Nazaryan, 11/6)

Democrats weigh their priorities and 'Medicare for All' —

The Washington Post: Texas’s New Democratic Governor Hinojosa Vows To Undo Policies She Calls Divisive

At a Thursday briefing where — unlike her predecessor, GOP Gov. Greg Abbott — she answered questions in English and Spanish, Gina Hinojosa said she had spoken with Abbott, who was “gracious” and assured her he would “fully cooperate” with the transition. “People are tired of the divisions, of the fighting, of the culture wars. This is the time to come together in a way that is about just delivering for the people of Texas,” Hinojosa said at the University of Texas, just miles from the Capitol where for the next two months Republicans retain control of every state office. (Hennessy-Fiske, 11/5)

Los Angeles Times: California’s Contemplative Governor-Elect Still Mulling Over How To Lower Prices, Provide Healthcare

In his first news conference since being elected governor, Xavier Becerra remained noncommittal on taxes, energy and healthcare policy — even refusing to commit to reversing cuts to Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented immigrants, a campaign pledge. But he asserted that he was already working with legislative counterparts on how to provide critical services and lower the cost of living. “I can’t make a commitment without knowing what exactly I’m facing,” Becerra said of reversing cuts to Medi-Cal. “I don’t think any voter, any taxpayer, any Californian wants to have a governor who’s still acting like a politician” on the campaign trail. (Nixon, 11/5)

The New York Times: Katherine Clark Could Be The House Majority Leader. Who Is She?

Representative Katherine M. Clark of Massachusetts, the No. 2 House Democrat, is set to become the majority leader in January, after her party won control of the chamber. Ms. Clark, 63, a quiet, progressive power player in Congress, would make history as the first woman to hold that role, though Representative Nancy Pelosi broke a higher glass ceiling in 2007 when she became the first woman to be speaker. (Karni, 11/5)

The Hill: Bernie Sanders Urges Democrats To Prioritize Medicare For All

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Thursday called for Democrats to pass “Medicare for All” when they take control of the Senate in January. “Healthcare must be considered as a human right, not a privilege. That means passing Medicare for All legislation now supported by 66 percent of the American people,” Sanders said in a video. Sanders will likely be the next chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, where he will have a major platform to push for a Medicare for All agenda in the next Congress. (Weixel, 11/5)

KFF Health News: Midterm Wave Sets A Course For ‘Medicare For All’ Fight

Fifteen years working as an emergency room nurse has convinced Kim Bogan that the only way to fix the American healthcare system is to tear it down and start over. Her patients arriving for triage are sicker than ever. They can’t afford many of the prescriptions they get in the ER. And sometimes when patients die, she wonders if she could have saved them had she not been caring for five or six other people at once. (Wells, 11/6)

KFF Health News: Healthcare Cuts Fuel Democrats' Election Blowout

Healthcare affordability. Abortion access. “Medicare for All.” Healthcare was a major force behind the big wins for Democrats in this week’s midterm elections. But the debate over what the Democratic Party will do next is just getting started. KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner appeared on WAMU’s Health Hub on Nov. 4 to explore what Democrats might do with their newfound power. However, with President Donald Trump still in office, this blue wave is likely to crash into legislative limits. (Rovner, 11/6)

KFF Health News: KFF Health News’ ‘What The Health?’: A Blue Wave Hits Healthcare

Democrats are poised to take control of the House and Senate — as well as a majority of governorships — come January after voters delivered a stunning election rebuke of President Donald Trump and the GOP majorities in Congress. The changeover puts the spotlight back on health policy, an issue Democrats pressed hard in their election campaigns. (Rovner, 11/5)

Healthcare Costs

CMS Ban On New ACA Exchange Brokers Blocked After Industry Cried Foul

In a lawsuit against the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, two trade groups argued that the government did not follow proper procedures for rulemaking when it blocked new agent and broker sales registrations for Obamacare insurance exchanges. The judge's ruling means open training for new agents and brokers can begin today, Modern Healthcare reported.

Modern Healthcare: CMS Freeze On ACA Exchange Brokers Lifted By Court

Health insurance marketers have gotten a reprieve from a federal freeze on enrolling new agents and brokers to serve the Affordable Care Act of 2010 marketplaces. The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued a stay Thursday against the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ block on new agent and broker sales registrations for the federal health insurance exchanges, according to two trade groups that filed lawsuits against the agency. (Tepper, 11/5)

On surprise medical bills —

Stat: Two No Surprises Act Arbitrators Lose Federal Contracts

The Trump administration is cutting off two groups tasked with arbitrating disputes over surprise medical bills, citing a failure “to meet minimum performance standards.” (Payne, 11/5)

Becker's Hospital Review: CMS To Make Drug Price Negotiation Framework Permanent

CMS has finalized a rule that sets ongoing policies for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, starting with negotiated prices that take effect in 2029. The agency said the rule is designed to give drugmakers in the program a clearer, more predictable process going forward, according to a Nov. 5 news release. (Kuchno, 11/5)

Modern Healthcare: CMS Proposes Rollback Of Medicare, Medicaid Provider Rules

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is carrying on its deregulatory press in a draft regulation that would update the conditions of participation for federal health programs. For example, the proposed rule published Thursday would eliminate numerous emergency preparedness and training protocol measures from the Conditions of Participation, Conditions for Coverage and Requirements for Participation providers and suppliers must meet to participate in Medicare and Medicaid. (Early, 11/5)

MedPage Today: Physician Groups Give Mixed Reviews On Medicare Fee Schedule Final Rule

Physician groups had mixed opinions on the final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule for 2027, which included slightly increased pay cuts for doctors who treat Medicare beneficiaries, compared to a proposed rule released in July. (Frieden, 11/5)

Fortune: Southeast Asia Shouldn’t Copy The U.S. Healthcare Model, Says Walgreens Boots Alliance’s APAC Head

The U.S. is the world’s largest healthcare spender, pouring roughly 17% of its GDP—or $5.6 trillion—into treatments and care. Yet, according to Li Zhong, the APAC president of the Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), while Americans generally have a long lifespan, they have a shorter healthspan than their counterparts in Vietnam, despite the latter devoting just 4.6% of its GDP to health spending. (Ang, 11/6)

State Watch

Gov. Newsom Plans To Commute California's 548 Death Sentences To Life In Prison Without Parole

The announcement comes as Gavin Newsom enters his final months as governor and considers running for president, the Los Angeles Times reported. The California Supreme Court's approval will be needed on nearly 60% of the sentences, as Newsom can commute only about 40% of the death sentences without its approval.

Los Angeles Times: Newsom Moves To Commute All California Death Sentences To Life In Prison Without Parole

Gov. Gavin Newsom told the California Supreme Court on Thursday that he will commute the death sentences of all 548 state prisoners awaiting execution, reducing their punishments to life in prison without parole. “I take this action because I firmly believe that state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values, undermines the foundation of our legal system, and diminishes each of us,” Newsom wrote in a letter to Californians explaining his decision. “I know we cannot execute people in our imperfect legal system and remain true to our core values, first among them justice and human decency.” (Luna and Sharp, 11/5)

A Democratic champion of healthcare has died —

The Washington Post: Jay Rockefeller, Senate Voice On Health Care And Security, Dies At 89

John D. “Jay” Rockefeller IV, an heir to a vast oil fortune and a liberal Democrat who entered politics in his adopted home state of West Virginia, serving as governor and a five-term U.S. senator and becoming a leading voice on health care, tax reform, social welfare and national security, died Friday at his home in Washington, D.C. He was 89. His family did not provide a cause. ... His signature accomplishments included expanding eligibility of the earned income tax credit and establishing the child tax credit and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a federal-state initiative that provides health coverage to children in low-income families. He also worked to protect Medicare, the federal health insurance program for the elderly and disabled, from proposed budget cuts. (Estrada, 11/6)

More health news from across the U.S. —

Chicago Tribune: State Board Approves Lurie Children's Hospital In Downers Grove

Lurie Children’s Hospital can move forward with building a new, highly anticipated children’s hospital in Downers Grove, after a state board voted to approve Lurie’s plan for the facility Thursday. The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board voted unanimously Thursday to allow Lurie to proceed with building the facility — the last approval needed for the project. (Schencker, 11/5)

Cardinal News: Grant Program Aims To Expand Southwest Virginia’s Behavioral Health Workforce By Making Training More Affordable

Laura Pritchard-Compton was 34 and had already been working in nonprofit management and consulting for just over a decade when she enrolled in graduate school to become a therapist. It was a second career, and pursuing it meant balancing her education with the financial responsibilities of supporting her family. (Schabacker, 11/6)

MPR News: Report Calls For More Funding, Support To Address 'Collective Trauma' Across The State

Minnesotans know that the state has been through a lot over the past six years. The COVID-19 pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, fraud scandals, the Annunciation Catholic School shooting, the killings of Melissa and Mark Hortman and Operation Metro Surge. (Moini and Finn, 11/5)

Honolulu Civil Beat: Hawaiʻi Doctors May Soon Start Prescribing Fresh Food

More than 100,000 Hawaiʻi residents who qualify for Medicaid may soon find their doctors prescribing them fresh food as medicine. The script could be for fresh fruit and vegetables, even ahi, beef, chicken and eggs. The federally funded initiative will start as soon as January as part of a special state Medicaid program aimed at addressing chronic diet-related health issues in low-income communities. (Heaton, 11/5)

The Washington Post: SafeSport Says It Will Expand Efforts To Stop Banned Coaches From Working With Kids

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is taking steps to stop coaches banned over allegations of sexual abuse from working with children, part of an initiative that the organization said it is launching because of reporting by ProPublica and The Washington Post about gaps in the child protection system in youth sports. (Hensley-Clancy, 11/5)

InvestigateWest: A State Law Targeted Fentanyl Dealers. Prosecutors Are Using It To Charge Users Too

When two Idaho lawmakers pitched harsher penalties for people caught with fentanyl, they said the new law would target drug dealers -- not those struggling with addiction. But 2 years after the law was implemented, prosecutors have charged at least 30 people with fentanyl trafficking without presenting evidence that they were dealing or distributing the drug. (Bryen, 11/5)

The New York Times: Lucien Smith, Art-World Star, Died From Accidental Drug Overdose

Lucien Smith, the celebrated artist who found success at an early stage in his career and became known for his “Rain Paintings,” died from an overdose of fentanyl and oxycodone, the New York City medical examiner’s office said on Thursday. His death was ruled an accident. (Taylor and Sheridan, 11/5)

Public Health

Social Media Companies Sue California Over Child Addiction Prevention Law

The new law will restrict companies from targeting children younger than 16 with “addictive” social media features like autoplay and recommended content, the Los Angeles Times reported. Google, Meta, and TikTok have cited their First Amendment right to free speech and the Communications Decency Act, which protects online platforms from being sued over content posted by third parties.

Los Angeles Times: Meta And Social Media Companies Sue California Over New Restrictions

Technology companies Google, Meta and Tik Tok sued the state of California on Wednesday to block a new law that restricts companies from targeting children younger than 16 with “addictive” social media content that can keep them scrolling for hours. Assembly Bill 1709, introduced by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), bars social media sites from providing features such as autoplay and recommended content displays to teenagers and young children. (Smith, 11/5)

The Hill: Google Sued Over Claims Of Gemini's Suicide Talk With Teen

Parents are suing technology giant Google, alleging the AI Gemini chatbot offered on school Chromebooks helped a young teen prepare plans for a suicide attempt and her funeral. The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in California Superior Court and claims a 13-year-old girl —dubbed “Emma” — chatted with Gemini over the course of several months, prompting a “severe psychological crisis.” The complaint alleges Google’s top executives knew Gemini was dangerous but released the chatbot anyway. (Nazzaro, 11/5)

In other health and wellness news —

Stat: Novartis Cites Previously Unknown Tumor Cases Possibly Tied To Gene Therapy

Novartis has acknowledged seven previously unknown instances in which tumors were found in children who were treated with its spinal muscular atrophy therapy, a surprising development that has raised concerns among families, physicians, and patient advocacy groups. (Silverman and Mast, 11/5)

MedPage Today: 'Forever Chemicals' Linked To Aggressive Breast Cancers

Two common "forever chemicals" were associated with a higher risk of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer, a prospective case-cohort study suggested. (Bassett, 11/5)

The New York Times: As Hormone Use Increases, Some Doctors Warn Slight Cancer Risk Is Being Overlooked

As more women turn to hormones to relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats, some physicians and scientists say not enough attention is being paid to the small increase in breast cancer risk associated with certain systemic therapies. (Rabin, 11/6)

WUSF: A New Test Could Speed Diagnosis Of A Tough-To-Treat Lung Disease, Called NTM

Florida is a hot spot for a pulmonary disease caused by non-tuberculous mycobacterium, or NTM for short. This chronic lung infection can cause symptoms similar to tuberculosis, including persistent cough, shortness of breath, fever, night sweats and weight loss. (Sheridan, 11/6)

Newsweek: Scientists Just Studied People Who Can’t Stop Thinking About Food

Do you often reach for a snack after a meal even though you feel full? Or find yourself craving food throughout the day despite not being hungry? You may be experiencing "food noise," a phenomenon that affects nearly one in five people in the U.S. but doesn't yet have a universally accepted scientific definition. A new study from Penn State, published in Obesity Science and Practice, has found that 18 percent of people in the United States report frequent or constant food noise, and some demographics are more affected than others. (Azzurra Volpe, 11/6)

NPR: Why Teens Aren't Getting Enough Daily Exercise

The World Health Organization recommends adolescents spend at least one hour a day exercising enough to basically break a sweat — a brisk walk or a more intense pick-up soccer game. Lot's of research suggests this level of activity is crucial for supporting growing bodies and minds. But new global data suggests only a small minority of kids and teens get that much. In fact, one in four report not hitting 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise any day of the week, according to a new study in The Lancet Global Health. Girls, as well as adolescents from middle- and lower-income countries reported even lower levels of exercise. (Lambert, 11/5)

Weekend Reading

Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed

Each week, KFF Health News finds longer stories for you to enjoy. Today's selections are on postpartum healthcare, aging, kratom, grief, and more.

The New York Times: An 80-Cent Plastic Pouch Is Saving Thousands Of Women From Dying In Childbirth

The maternal drape, as it is called, is helping to solve one of the world’s most intractable health problems: postpartum hemorrhage. (Nolen, 11/3)

NBC News: Woman, 101, Who Won Gold At World Senior Games, Shares 6 Tips For A Long Life

Alta Pierson competed in the Huntsman World Senior Games and won hearts on social media when a video of her running went viral. The centenarian’s tips for a long life. (Siclait, 11/5)

The New York Times: The Brain Injury That Made A Middle-School Teacher A Musical Genius

When Ed Freytag suffered a brain injury in a motorcycle accident, it unlocked a rare musical talent. (Dingfelder, 11/2)

The New York Times: They Tried Kratom For Its Health Benefits, Then They Became Addicted

Some say they were introduced to the drug through wellness podcasts, free samples at gyms or fitness influencers. (Tauber, 11/2)

The New York Times: Doctors In Ukraine Try Treating Infections Like Biological Warfare Attacks

As many as 40 percent of injured soldiers face severe infections that can lead to amputations and death. One initiative is trying to fix that. (Kolata and Santora, 10/31)

The New York Times: Do Animals Grieve?

The feeling of existential loss was long thought to be uniquely human. But studies of coyotes, cockatoos and other creatures are prompting some scientists to reconsider. (Anthes, 11/2)

Editorials And Opinions

Viewpoints: MAHA Candidates Lost, But The MAHA Agenda Did Not; $10,000 Per Person For Health Insurance Is Unsustainable

Opinion writers delve into these public health issues.

Stat: MAHA 1.0 Is Dead. MAHA 2.0 Is Born

Since Tuesday night, the obituaries for the MAHA movement have been piling up fast: “RFK Jr and MAHA Suffer Brutal Election Night Wipeout,” wrote the Daily Beast. Midterms could be the “‘death knell’ of the MAHA-Trump alliance,” according to USA Today. Even STAT reported “MAHA mowed down.” (Brinda Adhikari and Tom W. Johnson, 11/5)

The New York Times: When Health Insurance Costs $10,000 Per Person, It's Time For Reform

Reforms that save 1 percent or 2 percent of health care costs quickly add up. (Zack Cooper, 11/3)

Stat: AI Could Reinforce Medical Records’ Lies About Women

In September, the Gallup-Pivotal Women’s Health Survey reported that 34% of U.S. women strongly or somewhat agreed that a health care provider minimized or dismissed their symptoms in the past five years. Thirty-three percent reported being misdiagnosed or unable to get a diagnosis, compared with 21% of men reporting these experiences. (Annemarie G. Hirsch and Jennifer Silva, 11/6)

Chicago Tribune: Roseland Community Isn't Alone. Many More Safety-Net Hospitals Are At Grave Risk.

Chicago's safety-net hospitals are at a moment of existential crisis. (11/6)

Stat: ‘Pre-Clinical’ Alzheimer’s Is A New, Sometimes Frightening Way Of Living

What is it like to have asymptomatic Alzheimer’s disease? The answer’s obvious, isn’t it? It is like nothing. It’s a silly question, really. How could living without symptoms — the vexing troubles with concentration, word finding, recalling new facts, the loss of a mental map — be an experience of something? Like most short and simple answers, particularly when the subject is Alzheimer’s, the obvious answer’s wrong. (Jason Karlawish, 11/6)