Morning Briefing for Thursday, March 26, 2026
March 26, 2026
Morning Briefing
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Jury Finds Meta, YouTube Liable In Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial
March 26, 2026
Morning Briefing
Jurors ruled that Meta and YouTube were negligent and awarded the plaintiff $6 million in damages. Meanwhile, The New York Times reports on an Irish village making a “phone-free childhood” happen.
CDC In Leadership Limbo As Trump Misses Deadline To Nominate Director
March 26, 2026
Morning Briefing
Jay Bhattacharya will continue to lead the agency while the administration searches for a permanent director. About six contenders are still under consideration, The Washington Post reports. Also, a month after Casey Means’ confirmation hearings, she still has not secured the surgeon general post.
First Edition: Thursday, March 26, 2026
March 26, 2026
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Taking a GLP-1? Doctors Say Not To Forget About Movement and Mental Health
By Emily Siner, Nashville Public Radio Cara Anthony Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio
March 26, 2026
KFF Health News Original
So you’ve decided to go on a GLP-1 to lose weight. These medicines might seem like an easy way to drop unwanted pounds, but you’ll likely need to do a few other things to be successful long-term.
CDC’s Acting Chief Promises a Return to Stability in a Tumultuous Moment
By Céline Gounder
Photos by Eric Harkleroad
March 25, 2026
KFF Health News Original
Jay Bhattacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health and interim leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the CDC staff, “I know that it has been such a difficult year.”
Isolation Linked To Lower Uptake Of Preventive Care, Higher Death Rates
March 25, 2026
Morning Briefing
A lack of social connections has been linked to higher all-cause death rates. Physical and social isolation were also tied to financial difficulty, including food insecurity and problems paying bills.
Iowa Abortions Drop 22% In 2025, New Data Shows
March 25, 2026
Morning Briefing
During the first year of an Iowa law severely restricting abortion, a 22% drop was observed, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Also: Dietary changes may holistically help manage endometriosis.
Children’s Mental Health Suffered On Meta’s Platforms, N.M. Jury Determines
March 25, 2026
Morning Briefing
Jurors in New Mexico concluded that Meta violated parts of the state’s Unfair Practices Act and engaged in “unconscionable” trade practices that compromised children’s safety, the AP reported.
ACIP Vice Chair Resigns After Judge Questions Advisers’ Qualifications
March 25, 2026
Morning Briefing
A federal judge said last week that Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices panelists do not have the expertise needed to make vaccine recommendations. Dr. Robert Malone cited “uncompensated labor, incredible hate from many quarters” as some of the reasons for why he quit the panel.
Experts Worry ‘Hib,’ A Deadly Pediatric Illness, Could Make A Comeback
March 25, 2026
Morning Briefing
Pediatricians are expressing alarm that Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib, could be making a return as vaccine hesitancy rises. According to MedPage Today, serious cases are being reported in California, New York, Florida, and elsewhere. Also in the news: measles, alpha-gal syndrome, RSV, and more.
Belgian Drugmaker UCB To Build Factory Outside Atlanta, Add 330 Jobs
March 25, 2026
Morning Briefing
The rapidly growing company will spend $2 billion on the suburban Atlanta plant, marking a major expansion into the U.S. Other industry news is on insulin pricing, doctors’ drug kickbacks, and more.
First Edition: Wednesday, March 25, 2026
March 25, 2026
Morning Briefing
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
An Arm and a Leg: Steep Health Care Costs Steer Americans to Tough Decisions
By Dan Weissmann
March 25, 2026
Podcast
Two Americans explain how the skyrocketing cost of health insurance influenced their decision to buy — or skip — health insurance in 2026.
Demoralized CDC Workforce Reels From Year of Firings, Funding Cuts, and a Shooting
By Jess Mador, WABE
March 25, 2026
KFF Health News Original
Thousands of employees are gone and last summer’s shooting resonates still at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters and among the large public health community in Atlanta.
Listen to the Latest ‘KFF Health News Minute’
March 24, 2026
KFF Health News Original
The “KFF Health News Minute” brings original health care and health policy reporting from our newsroom to the airwaves each week.
