VA Secretary Nominee Faces Grilling Over Abortion, Project 2025 Stances
January 22, 2025
Morning Briefing
On reproductive rights for veterans, Doug Collins said, “We will look at this rule.” On proposed Veterans Affairs cost-cutting measures, he said “We’re not going to balance budgets on the back of veterans’ benefits.” Outside the Beltway, lawmakers in Virginia, Nebraska, Kentucky, and North Carolina consider abortion-related measures.
At Least 9 Dead As Frigid Temps, Snow Thrash South; Power Outages Possible
January 22, 2025
Morning Briefing
Several people were thought to have died from hypothermia or exposure to the cold in Texas and Georgia, authorities said. Meanwhile, the Louisiana governor is warning residents not to use gas or electric stoves or ovens to heat homes because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or fire.
First Edition: Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025
January 22, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
The Growing Inequality in Life Expectancy Among Americans
By Amy Maxmen
January 22, 2025
KFF Health News Original
To deliver on pledges from the new Trump administration to make America healthy again, policymakers will need to close gaps in longevity among racial and ethnic groups.
Long-Covid Patients Are Frustrated That Federal Research Hasn’t Found New Treatments
By Sarah Boden
January 22, 2025
KFF Health News Original
The federal government has allocated $1.15 billion to long-covid research without any new treatments yet brought to market. Patients and scientists say it’s time to push harder for breakthroughs.
La creciente desigualdad en la expectativa de vida entre los estadounidenses
By Amy Maxmen
January 22, 2025
KFF Health News Original
La salud de los estadounidenses ha sido desigual durante mucho tiempo, pero un nuevo estudio muestra que la disparidad entre las expectativas de vida de diferentes grupos poblacionales casi se ha duplicado desde el año 2000.
Trump Pulls US Out Of Paris Climate Agreement — Again
January 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
President Donald Trump has argued that the accord, first negotiated in 2015, is unfair to American businesses and the U.S. economy. In other news, Trump also took action on lethal injections and police chokeholds.
US Health Care Systems Post Another Bad Year For Cyberattacks
January 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
A record 184 million people had their health care data compromised in 2024. Despite the troubling numbers, one AHA adviser commends companies’ cooperation with authorities, saying quick action helped ward off further attacks. Also in the news: MedPAC, independent surgeons, and more.
Fauci Dismisses ‘Baseless Threats’ Over Handling Of Pandemic, Takes Pardon
January 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
The pardon stretches from Jan. 1, 2014, to Jan. 19, 2025, which includes his time as a member of the White House’s covid-19 task force. Meanwhile, HHS has debarred EcoHealth Alliance Inc. and its former president, Peter Daszak, for five years over its virus studies.
California Wildfires Caused Dangerous Levels Of Chlorine And Lead In The Air
January 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
Also in California, mental health workers address the struggles of fire refugees. In other news: North Carolina welcomes a new DHHS secretary; Colorado hospitals show uneven growth; St. Petersburg, Florida, wants a hurricane wall to protect its hospital; and more.
US Will No Longer Allow Transgender, Nonbinary Identities, Per Trump Order
January 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
Gender identity — and protections such as health care afforded to people in that community — will be stripped from the federal government. A legal challenge is already planned. Separately, an effort is underway to remove transgender people from the military.
Trump Signs Order Designating Drug Cartels As Terrorist Organizations
January 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
President Donald Trump signed the executive order Monday, and AP reports that it could pave the way for “a militarized agenda for the border and Latin America.” Other fentanyl-related news is on tariffs, Walgreens, West Virginia, and more.
Trump Signals Intent To Withdraw US From World Health Organization
January 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
Leaving the WHO means the CDC would no longer have access to the global data that the agency provides, making it harder to fight the next pandemic. “This is going to be a grave strategic error that will make America less healthy and less safe,” said global public health expert Lawrence Gostin.
Hours Into Presidency, Trump Rescinds Attempts To Lower Prescription Costs, Rolls Back Some ACA Rules
January 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
President Donald Trump overwrote Joe Biden’s executive order that led to longer enrollment periods for Affordable Care Act plans in most states and extra funding to help people enroll, Stat reports. Trump also halted some prescription cost-saving efforts for people on Medicare and Medicaid, which might stall momentum for Medicare drug pricing negotiations. On Friday, another 15 drugs — including blockbusters Ozempic and Wegovy — were added to the negotiation list.
Dorothy Fink Selected As Interim HHS Secretary
January 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
The endocrinologist and leader of the health agency’s Office on Women’s Health will lead the agency while Robert Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s pick for the role and the focus of bipartisan scrutiny, undergoes confirmation by the Senate. The push back on Kennedy’s selection as health secretary could leave the agency without a Senate-confirmed leader for an extended period of time.
Government Website On Reproductive Rights Is No Longer Online
January 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
The website, reproductiverights.gov, provided information on health care issues including birth control, breast and cervical exams, prenatal care, and more. Meanwhile, Maryland secures abortion rights, Texas works to clarify exemptions, and Missouri wants to roll back reproductive rights.
Morning Briefing for Tuesday, January 21, 2025
January 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
Stay tuned for our new weekly edition, The Week in Brief, coming this Friday. Each week, we’ll give you a fresh take on one of our top stories. Plus, we’ll recap our social media coverage and our award-winning KFF Health News journalism. Don’t miss out — sign up here !
First Edition: Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025
January 21, 2025
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Dogs Paired With Providers at Hospitals Help Ease Staff and Patient Stress
By John Daley, Colorado Public Radio
January 21, 2025
KFF Health News Original
Some hospitals are bringing in dogs to spend entire shifts with doctors and nurses. The trained canines help staffers cope with the stress of their work amid high levels of burnout.
