Abortion Pill Politics

Abortion Pill Politics

Author: KFF Health News May 7, 2026 Duration: 38:51
A federal court’s decision to override the FDA and restrict availability of the abortion pill mifepristone has launched abortion back into the national spotlight. It’s also raised new questions about the job security of FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.  Sandhya Raman of Bloomberg Law, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF Health News’ Andrew Jones, who wrote the latest “Bill of the Month,” about an emergency room bill for a visit that wasn’t an emergency — but could have been.   Visit our website for a transcript of this episode. Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:  Julie Rovner: KFF Health News’ “HHS’ Healthy Food Agenda Puts Hospitals on Notice About Patients’ Meals,” by Stephanie Armour.   Shefali Luthra: ProPublica’s “Babies Are Bleeding to Death as Parents Reject a Vitamin Shot Given at Birth,” by Duaa Eldeib.   Sandhya Raman: The Cut’s “Pediatricians Didn’t Sign Up for This,” by Juno DeMelo.   Jessie Hellmann: Nature’s “Key US Science Panels Are Being Axed — And Others Are Becoming Less Open,” by Max Kozlov, Alexandra Witze, and Dan Garisto.  

Ever feel like the latest health policy headlines are written in a language you don't quite speak? What the Health? From KFF Health News translates the whirlwind of Washington into something you can actually use. Hosted by Julie Rovner, the chief Washington correspondent for KFF Health News, this isn't a dry lecture. It's a weekly conversation where Rovner is joined by the journalists from The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, and elsewhere who are actually writing the stories. Together, they pull back the curtain on how decisions on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies get made, who they impact, and what they mean for your care and your wallet. You'll hear the inside perspective on everything from drug pricing battles and insurance market shifts to the future of Medicare and the politics of public health. This podcast cuts through the jargon and the spin, offering clarity and context on the forces shaping American healthcare. For anyone trying to understand not just what happened, but why it matters, this is an essential guide to the system. Tune in for smart, accessible analysis that makes sense of the news you need.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

What the Health? From KFF Health News
Podcast Episodes
The Hazards of ICE for Public Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:52
The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is not just roiling politics but also directly affecting the provision of health care, medical groups say. Meanwhile, in Washington, federal spending bills on their way to…
Health Spending Is Moving in Congress [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:38
Lawmakers appear on the brink of passing a spending bill for the Department of Health and Human Services and a bipartisan health policy bill delayed for over a year. But the outlook is considerably bleaker for the health…
Culture Wars Take Center Stage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:03
With lawmakers still mired over renewing enhanced tax credits for Affordable Care Act plans, much of Washington has turned its attention to culture war issues, including abortion and gender-affirming care. Meanwhile, “co…
New Year, Same Health Fight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:39
Congress returned from its holiday break facing a familiar question: whether to extend the expanded subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans that expired at the end of 2025. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Sec…
Rerun: Happy 60th, Medicare and Medicaid! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:40
This past year marked the 60th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, the twin government programs that have shaped the health care system into what it is today. In this special episode, re-aired for the holidays, KFF Hea…
Time’s Up for Expanded ACA Tax Credits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:26
A last-minute push from Democrats and four moderate Republicans will force a House vote on renewing enhanced premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act plans, but not until January. That means millions will have to choo…
Crunch Time for ACA Tax Credits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:44
December 15 is the deadline to sign up for Affordable Care Act plans that begin January 1. Congress remains at odds over letting expanded tax credits for the plans’ premiums expire, dramatically increasing the cost of in…
The GOP Still Can’t Agree on a Health Plan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:43
Senate Democrats were promised a vote by mid-December on extending the enhanced subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, but Republicans still can’t decide whether they want to put forward their own alternative or what tha…
Trump Almost Unveils a Health Plan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:54
Just weeks before some tax credits for Affordable Care Act premiums expire, the Trump administration floated a plan to extend the enhanced aid — but it was met with immediate GOP pushback. Meanwhile, health secretary Rob…
The GOP Circles the Wagons on ACA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:40
Led by President Donald Trump, Republicans in Congress are solidifying their opposition to extending pandemic-era subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans and seem to be coalescing around giving money directly to consumer…