Dustin Pugel

2025 Scorecard on State Health System Performance The Commonwealth Fund 2025 Scorecard ranks states’ health care systems based on how well they provide high-quality, accessible, and equitable health care.

In 2025, where you live still matters to your health.

Our state scorecard report tracks access, outcomes, and equity in all 50 states.
View the 2025 Scorecard to see how your state ranked.

In pre-birthing classes etc. people are often told that labor can take awhile, you don't need to rush to hospital. My labor first went realllllllllly fast. I arrived at hospital about 10 minute drive away almost too far along to get an epidural. An hour earlier I wasn't even sure I was in labor.

As someone who relies heavily on government data for research (not BLS data per se), I am very worried that I am going to have a black box of omitted years in certain data sets. I have concerns with the quality of the data and it's going to take a lot of effort to validate it.

Dr. Erika McEntarfer has devoted her career to public service. She has conducted herself as BLS Commissioner with great integrity. There is no evidence whatsoever that BLS data are politically biased.

#econsky

What to make of POTUS's attempt to fire the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)?

Let's run down what knowledgable people are saying...

Firing the BLS Commissioner — the wonk in charge of the statisticians who track economic reality — is an authoritarian four alarm fire.

It will also backfire: You can't bend economic reality, but you can break the trust of markets. And biased data yields worse policy.

(The internal logic of the conspiracy allegations is also bizarre.

He claims Biden HELPED himself by publishing initial high numbers & then announcing a downward revision.

Now BLS is HURTING Trump by publishing initial high numbers & then announcing a downward revision?)

To me, today's jobs report is what entering a recession looks like. Could we pull up? Sure. But if we look back and end up dating an official recession that starts 3-6 months from now, this is what it would look like today - rapid softening/deterioration in the labor market.

Cuts to Data Collection May Erode Reliability of Economic Statistics

Powell stressed today that the Fed's decisions will be based on how the economic data performs in coming months.
One problem: That data may be becoming less reliable.
My story on the BLS's latest cuts to CPI data collection:
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/b... #EconSky

KFF bar chart showing the distribution of proposed 2026 rate increases among 105 ACA Marketplace insurers in 19 states and D.C. The chart shows that the median proposed increase is about 15%.

ACA Marketplace insurers are proposing the biggest premium increases since 2018 — a median jump of 15%, per our analysis.

They cite rising health care costs, the expected expiration of enhanced tax credits, and the impact of tariffs as key factors: on.kff.org/3TIMVwq

Stacked bar chart showing shares of U.S. adults by party, MAGA support, and coverage type who say the tax and budget bill will help, hurt, or not make much difference.

Our latest poll about the new tax and spending law shows:

72% of Democrats and 53% of independents say it will hurt their families.

54% of Republicans say it will help their families. Among MAGA supporters, 61% say it will help.

See more findings: on.kff.org/453Ozhc

CFPB Paying Nearly $5 Million for Vought’s Security Detail (1) The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is sending nearly $5 million to the Office of Management and Budget to pay for a security detail for Russell Vought, who currently leads both agencies.

Vought’s splurge on personal bodyguards comes at a time when he’s forcing the rest of CFPB to make new budget cuts. All because Vought refuses to use the funds that are already budgeted & available.

Kentucky Minimum Wage Now Half its Previous Peak, and Below Poverty Line - Kentucky Center for Economic Policy As of this week, it has been 16 years since the minimum wage was increased. Failure to increase this threshold has left working Kentuckians with a wage floor less than half of what it once was and dri...

Congress needs to raise the minimum wage, but Kentucky should too. 28 states and DC (plus many local gov'ts) have risen theirs, and there's no reason we cant either. Its sensible economic policy that would have benefits throughout the economy. More here👇
kypolicy.org/kentucky-min...

But those supports have recently been slashed by congress.

"But wait!" you may say, "didn't congress eliminate tax on tips and overtime?" That is true, but the dollar value of that tax cut is so much lower than a $17 minimum wage that, tied to program cuts, folks are worse off.

The result of this collapsed floor is that the minimum wage is below the poverty threshold for a full-time, year-round worker.

Because nearly half a million Kentuckians earn below a more livable wage ($17 per hour), many workers now use public aid for things like food and medicine.

An effective wage floor would result in a lot of people earning the minimum wage, because it would be high enough to meet basic needs.

But as of last year, there are no minimum-wage-earning Kentucky workers (though many incarcerated and disabled folks earn subminimum wages).

Today marks 16 years since the last minimum wage increase. Because of inflation and inaction, America's (and Kentucky's) wage floor is now less than half its previous peak, and below the poverty line for the first time.

We're now at our lowest, inflation-adjusted minimum wage since December 1949.

1/ Childcare is one of the biggest expenses families face, up there with rent or a mortgage. Paired with low wages for caregivers and endless waitlists, it’s a prime example of a broken market.

Building a Vision for Universal Public Childcare: Principles for a Childcare System That Works for Workers and Families - Roosevelt Institute In a new analysis, Lena Bilik and coauthors argue that the US needs bold, transformative public investments to create a universal early childhood care and education (ECE) system that can meet the need...

11/ 📘 Read the report: rooseveltinstitute.org/publications... (By @lbilik.bsky.social, Mary Beth Salomone Testa, @suzmkahn.bsky.social, Nina Dastur, and Meredith Loomis Quinlan

Food banks see ‘dire’ days from Trump’s cuts in food assistance | Opinion The ‘big, beautiful bill’ will exacerbate growing hunger in the US | Opinion

The ‘big, beautiful bill’ will exacerbate growing hunger in the US | Opinion

Kentucky public media stations to lose millions after Congressional rescission vote Kentucky’s public broadcasting stations are set to lose millions of dollars in potential annual funding after Congress passed a $9 billion rescission package Thursday night.

Kentucky’s public broadcasting stations will lose millions of dollars in funding after Congress passed a $9 billion rescission package Thursday night. From @justinhicks.lpm.org

This is a huge blow to public broadcasting across the country — including the work I and my colleagues are doing every day

LPM is now in emergency drive to make up $376,000. If you benefit from the work we do and are in a position to help, please consider donating

donate.lpm.org/membership?r...

We at Louisville Public Media just lost $376,000 due to Congress passing the rescission bill last night to claw back funds from public media across America. Today we’re asking those who value our work to help make up those funds in an emergency drive so we can maintain the staff/services we provide:

Kentucky center providing legal aid to immigrants, advocacy for the poor is closing “It has just been obstacle after obstacle in this political climate,” the organization’s executive director said.

“It has just been obstacle after obstacle in this political climate,” the organization’s executive director said.

KEJC is an invaluable institution that has been serving Kentuckians for half a century. This is gutting, and I'm so sad for the incredibly talented and driven folks who just lost their jobs there.

Kentucky is worse off without them.

Chaser:
kentuckylantern.com/2025/07/11/n...

Shot:
kypolicy.org/house-bill-f...

In KY, the avg person who is subject to this new coverage-contingent paperwork is a 40yr old woman in a household of 3 with a high school degree or less making $4k per year.

She works part time, cares for loved ones, and will need to fill out monthly forms to keep her insulin.

5 ways Trump's megabill will limit health care access With spending cuts poised to hit medical providers, Medicaid recipients and Affordable Care Act enrollees, here's how the bill will affect health care access for millions in the U.S.

With spending cuts poised to hit medical providers, Medicaid recipients and Affordable Care Act enrollees, here's how the bill will affect health care access for millions in the U.S.

Ky. health departments discuss concerns about Medicaid cuts in federal spending bill WKYT has covered how the potential medicaid cuts could impact rural hospitals.

WKYT spoke to three county health department leaders about their opinions on the ripple effect from potential Medicaid cuts and how it could lead to a reduction of services.