Natasha Murphy

6 Ways States Can Protect Vaccine Access While the Trump Administration Dismantles the Federal System As the federal government dismantles the country’s vaccine infrastructure, the burden of ensuring access to vaccines for flu, measles, and more is shifting to states.

As the federal government dismantles the national vaccine infrastructure, the burden to protect and preserve access to lifesaving vaccines increasingly falls on states. Read 6 ways states can, and already are, taking action to fill the void. www.americanprogress.org/article/6-wa...

Save the date!

This Thursday, 11/20 at 6 PM EDT, join @rweingarten.bsky.social, Emily Gee (@americanprogress.bsky.social) & Leslie Dach (@protectourcare.org) for a webinar on Washington’s budget battles & how they drive up healthcare costs.

Please register below. aft.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Shutdown Deal Kills Food Safety Rules After lobbyists spent big on the Trump administration and Democratic defectors, the government funding bill cut food-contamination rules and limited ultraprocessed-food research.

Did you know the bill to end the shutdown eliminates rules to prevent food contamination and foodborne illnesses, even though they are increasing? And it slows efforts to regulate ultra-processed foods, even while RFK Jr touts his MAHA agenda to reduce them? www.levernews.com/shutdown-dea...

ACA Premium Spikes Will Derail Disabled People’s Careers The expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits threatens the economic stability and health coverage of self-employed Americans with disabilities.

Nearly 1.2 million disabled Americans are self-employed. For many, expiring enhanced premium tax credits threaten health care access and affordability. New from me, @seemiaroll.bsky.social, & @nzmurphy.bsky.social for @americanprogress.bsky.social www.americanprogress.org/article/aca-...

The Trump administration has made it clear: it wants to take food away from hungry families—it'll even go to court over it.

Wow, huge credit to Katie and the rest of the nutrition team at @centeronbudget.bsky.social. USDA has now issued revised numbers because CBPP caught them either accidentally or intentionally making huge errors that would severely underfund SNAP, in direct violation of court orders.

It's not too late for Congress to take action and lower healthcare costs in 2026. @emily-gee.bsky.social makes the case: t.co/z8M89pPPlE

SNAP Cuts Are Likely To Harm More Than 27,000 Retailers Nationwide A new analysis shows that 27,000 retailers in areas with the highest shares of SNAP participants would be the most likely to bear the brunt of proposed drastic cuts to food assistance.

The Trump administration's failure to fund SNAP benefits will have devastating impacts on families' budgets and local economies. SNAP supports households getting food on tables, generates 100,000s of jobs, and every dollar returns $1.50 to the local economy.
www.americanprogress.org/article/snap...

It is illegal to not follow a court order and it is just wrong to delay food assistance to children, seniors, veterans, working parents, and people with disabilities.

Under #Medicaid’s new work requirement, many eligible people could lose coverage. Our guide explains how states can reduce losses by minimizing burden, streamlining verification processes, and using accessible communication methods. www.cbpp.org/research/hea...

How Private Equity and the Financialization of Health Services Can Undermine Access to Sexual and Reproductive Care As firms increasingly invest in OB-GYN practices, fertility clinics, maternity care services, and other health care facilities, policymakers must regulate private equity activity and strengthen oversi...

Although the private equity model may be lucrative for investors, it raises serious concerns for patient care—especially in reproductive health, which is already fragmented and under political and economic pressure. https://ampr.gs/4ntmWVW

5 Consequences of Private Equity’s Expansion in Health Care Services The rapid rise of private equity’s influence over health care providers such as hospitals, nursing homes, and physicians’ practices threatens competition, affordability, patient safety, and worker wel...

Over the past 20 years, private equity firms have aggressively acquired health systems, hospitals, physician practices, nursing homes, and other health care facilities—reshaping the health care industry with concerning consequences: https://ampr.gs/48QbAYH

5 Ways the Trump Administration is Forcing Families to Go Hungry After taking food away from hungry Americans all year, the Trump administration is using the government shutdown to illegally withhold SNAP benefits, letting 42 million Americans go hungry in November...

After taking food away from hungry Americans all year, the Trump administration is using the government shutdown to illegally withhold SNAP benefits, letting 42 million Americans go hungry in November. https://ampr.gs/3WRuMy9

5 Consequences of Private Equity’s Expansion in Health Care Services The rapid rise of private equity’s influence over health care providers such as hospitals, nursing homes, and physicians’ practices threatens competition, affordability, patient safety, and worker wel...

🔊🔊🔊 New report from @fellowwhopoints.bsky.social reveals how private-equity’s short-term focus on profit is reshaping U.S. health care, contributing to less competition, higher costs, and compromised care.

I'm excited to share 2 new reports from @americanprogress.bsky.social examining how private equity’s profit-driven model is reshaping U.S. health care—at the expense of patients and communities. Read more ⬇️

Lots of reporting on SNAP getting the details wrong.

SNAP is not set to run out of money on November 1. There’s money in the contingency fund to pay benefits.

The Trump admin is illegally refusing to deliver benefits on November 1, despite having funding to pay benefits.

Congress’ Failure To Extend Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Will Greatly Increase Health Insurance Costs for Small-Business People 4.4 million small-business people face an average $1,500 increase in premium costs for 2026 if enhanced tax credits expire.

If Congress fails to extend the enhanced premium tax credits, marketplace enrollment will fall, putting upward pressure on future premium rates, and about 4 million more people will be uninsured by 2034. https://ampr.gs/4o5F9tW

Threat to US vaccines as CDC staff supporting key advisory panel laid off Critics say scientists ‘held hostage’ by RFK Jr as changes mean vaccine development and guidance in peril

The Trump administration and RFK Jr continue to dismantle vaccine infrastructure, putting us all at risk. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

A tweet from John Fugelsang reads in all caps: "NO FOOD FOR YOU UNTIL THE DEMOCRATS LET US TAKE AWAY YOUR HEALTHCARE" – US House Speaker Mike Johnson.

This perfectly encapsulates what the GOP position is on the shutdown.

Congress’ Failure To Extend Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Will Greatly Increase Health Insurance Costs for Small-Business People 4.4 million small-business people face an average $1,500 increase in premium costs for 2026 if enhanced tax credits expire.

If Congress allows the enhanced premium tax credits to expire this year, more than 4.4 million small-business people will face an average $1,500 increase in premium costs for 2026. https://ampr.gs/4o5F9tW

New @americanprogress.bsky.social I find that 4.4 million small business owners and self-employed people face a $1,500 mean tax hike this year.

When enhanced marketplace tax credits expire, businesspeople making <$150k, face a larger tax hike than eliminating the passthru deduction

Open Enrollment, Closed Doors As Affordable Care Act marketplace open enrollment for 2026 begins on November 1, Republican health policies are reducing access to affordable and comprehensive coverage for low-income Americans,…

This will end up being nothing short of a #publichealth disaster.

"These changes will push affordable coverage further out of reach for millions of Americans."

Open Enrollment, Closed Doors www.americanprogress.org/article/open... by @nzmurphy.bsky.social via @americanprogress.bsky.social

Open Enrollment, Closed Doors As Affordable Care Act marketplace open enrollment for 2026 begins on November 1, Republican health policies are reducing access to affordable and comprehensive coverage for low-income Americans, youn...

Unless Congress acts, millions of people—especially low-income Americans, young adults, and the self-employed—will be confronted next week with a harsh new reality of higher premiums and fewer affordable options. https://ampr.gs/4o54d4h

The Trump Administration Has the Power and Legal Obligation To Pay SNAP Benefits During the Shutdown Making use of emergency funds and transfers would allow SNAP households to receive food assistance in November.

The Trump administration has the power to end the government shutdown—and the power to make sure the nearly 42 million SNAP recipients receive November benefits during the shutdown. https://ampr.gs/43BTFkS

A photo collage featuring Donald Trump, with Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump behind him on the left, and Melania Trump on the right. The title text reads: "Cash and gifts received by Trump and his family over the past 352 days." The total amount, $1,801,939,107, is displayed in large red text. Text at the bottom states: "As American families struggle with rising costs, President Trump and his family have raked in over a billion dollars—and the number is only growing." The current date of 10/23/2025 is noted.

A graphic detailing specific financial profits related to Donald Trump. The title reads: "From multimillion-dollar cryptocurrency ventures to foreign gifts, Trump is prioritizing personal profits over Americans’ well-being." Three examples are listed with accompanying images and amounts: $400M for a "PALACE IN THE SKY": QATARI GIFT PLANE TO TRUMP $208M for TRUMP MEME COIN $1.058B for CASHING IN ON WORTHLESS UNTRADABLE CRYPTO TOKENS

A graphic with a dark background listing how costs are rising for American families. The main title reads: "As Trump profits off the presidency, costs are rising for American families—largely thanks to his actions." The list includes three categories with specific impacts: HEALTH CARE: Increased health insurance and uncompensated care costs; Cuts to Medicaid and loss of health insurance coverage. FOOD: Cuts to food assistance and higher grocery costs; Increased economic risk for SNAP retailers; Job losses and state and local revenue declines; Increased state expenditures. ENERGY/UTILITIES: Higher household electricity and gasoline costs; Increased costs for energy-efficient home improvements.

A portrait photo of Donald Trump wearing a suit and a red tie, with a baseball cap that reads "USA." The title text reads: "Our elected officials should be serving their constituents, not themselves." The dollar amount of $1,801,939,107 is shown over his head, noting that the number reflects the latest data as of 10/23/2025. A link to the Center for American Progress report is included at the bottom.

As American families struggle with rising costs, President Trump and members of his family are raking in millions of dollars—and the number is only growing. Check out our new tracker to see how Trump is using the office of the presidency to his financial benefit: https://ampr.gs/47nd5eE

Open Enrollment, Closed Doors As Affordable Care Act marketplace open enrollment for 2026 begins on November 1, Republican health policies are reducing access to affordable and comprehensive coverage for low-income Americans, youn...

Open enrollment for 2026 is around the corner but rising premiums & fewer options are threatening coverage for millions. Without swift Congressional action, 2026 might be the year open enrollment starts closing the door for affordable health care. www.americanprogress.org/article/open...

Republicans in Congress had multiple chances this year to keep your premiums low—and they said NO every single time.

Republicans are holding Americans' health care hostage — and lying about it By refusing to extend premium tax credits, GOP leaders are using the shutdown fight to gamble the coverage of millions of Americans.

"Health care is at the heart of this shutdown fight, and families deserve real relief, not excuses or falsehoods." @nzmurphy.bsky.social

Republicans are holding Americans' health care hostage — and lying about it www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb... via @msnbc.com

Shoppers of Affordable Care Act Coverage Are Already Being Hit With Sticker Shock Marketplace window shopping reveals steep 2026 premium hikes as Congress stalls on extending enhanced ACA subsidies.

Even before open enrollment begins, Americans are feeling the cost of congressional inaction. Window shopping in 6 states show steep 2026 premium increases. Learn more: www.americanprogress.org/article/shop...

Millions of Americans will experience "premium shock" when their insurance premiums double or even quadruple in the coming year. @neeratanden.bsky.social explains the health care battle at the center of this shutdown.