Julie Rovner

Better news from today: Aspen earned her Fetch Novice title!

This is an enraging, heartbreaking story.

What About the State of Health? - KFF Health News Health care got barely a mention in President Trump’s State of the Union address. Ahead of the midterms, the Trump administration has presented few concrete plans to address what Americans say is the ...

After urging Republicans to make health care a central issue in midterm campaigns, Pres. Trump gave the issue only passing mention in his record-long State of the Union speech.

“Trump doesn’t really care that much about health care. He finds it complicated," says @sherylnyt.bsky.social🎧⤵️

Amitabh is a coauthor on arguably the best paper on high-deductible health insurance that we have (link to thread from a few months ago to follow)

Editor’s Note: Retraction of article containing fabricated quotations We are reinforcing our editorial standards following this incident.

Ars Technica issues an apology for publishing an article "containing fabricated quotations generated by an AI tool and attributed to a source who did not say them."

If you are wondering what words the all-male Congress found so "blasphemous" that they felt compelled to literally scrape them off the monument, they were: ''Woman, first denied a soul, then called mindless, now arisen, declared herself an entity to be reckoned.''

The way the Olympics works is exactly like this: one of the worst days of one kid’s life is one of the best days of somebody else’s.

Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney X.com BREAKING: ICE director Todd LYONS says the two officers involved in the Jan. 14 chase/ shooting incident appear to have lied under oath and are being investigated by DOJ. This comes after DHS Secretary Kristi Noem defended them as firing in self-defense. politico.com/news/ 2026/02/1... Attributable to Todd Lyons: Today, a joint review by ICE and the Department of Justice (DO) of video evidence has revealed that sworn testimony provided by two separate officers appears to have made untruthful statements. Both officers have been immediately placed on administrative leave pending the completion of a thorough internal investigation. Lying under oath is a serious federal offense. The U.S. Attorney's Office is actively investigating these false statements. Upon conclusion of the investigation, the officers may face termination of employment, as well as potential criminal prosecution. The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and are held to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct. Violations of this sacred sworn oath will not be tolerated. ICE remains fully committed to transparency, accountability, and the fair enforcement of our nation's immigration laws.

WOW. Incredible. This is the case in which DHS claimed that ICE officers had been attacked with a shovel and fired back in self-defense. Evidence since suggests an ICE officer fired through a closed door and struck someone on the other side.

Will DHS retract the prior claims?

Because Congress won't act on it, the administration seems keen to use these catastrophic plans — which offer a fair bit of regulatory flexibility — to shoehorn in various policies that are loosely/symbolically aligned with Trump's "Great Healthcare Plan"

New Flu Vax? FDA Says No Thanks - KFF Health News It’s been a busy week at the FDA, with a political appointee overruling agency scientists to reject an application for a new flu vaccine. Meanwhile, anti-abortion Republicans on Capitol Hill complain ...

on this week's #WTHealth podcast: @alicemiranda.bsky.social, @lizzylawrence.bsky.social, and @jackie-fortier.bsky.social on the controversies at FDA, new bill from Sens. Warren and Hawley (!) and more on immigration and health.
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Sen. Gallego: Trump is suing your agency for $10 billion. Where would that $10 billion come from?

Bessent: The general fund

Sen. Gallego: So, taxpayers.

Bessent: Yes

HHS Gets Funding, But How Will Trump Spend It? - KFF Health News Congress has passed — and President Trump has signed — the annual spending bill for the Department of Health and Human Services. But it’s unclear whether the administration will spend the money as Con...

On this week's #WTHealth podcast: HHS gets funded, but will RFK Jr. follow Congress's priorities or his own? Plus ACA negotiations break down, again. With @annaedney.bsky.social, @sandhyawrites.bsky.social, and @joannekenen.bsky.social. kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

yup: kffhealthnews.org/news/medicar...

Donate to Washington Post 2026 layoff fund, organized by Rachel Siegel On Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, The Washington Post laid off hundreds of journalists. We ar… Rachel Siegel needs your support for Washington Post 2026 layoff fund

Whatever you think of the Washington Post at this moment, here's a chance to support the dedicated, hard-working journalists who were just laid off. If you have the means, your donation is most welcome. If you don't, a kind thought and maybe spreading the word to others is support enough 💙

Lawmakers in Florida (a non-expansion state) are apparently considering a Medicaid work requirements bill.

Except Florida's income eligibility thresholds are so low that forcing people to meet an 80-hour/month requirement would force them off of the program.

floridaphoenix.com/2026/02/03/m...

Awful day for journalism. And ominous day for democracy.

Republicans: We believe in free market capitalism
The Market: Cool. We can make money selling gender affirming shapewear.
Republicans: NO. NOT LIKE THAT!

Super proud of this run even though Aspen knocked a bar and didn’t qualify. Also super happy to get out of the house after a week frozen in.

The Hazards of ICE for Public Health - KFF Health News 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 b...

LISTEN: The actions of federal ICE agents are having ramifications far beyond immigration. In Washington, the backlash from a second fatal shooting by agents in Minnesota has stalled action on an eleventh-hour suite of spending bills.

@julierovner.bsky.social 🎙️ kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

The Hazards of ICE for Public Health - KFF Health News 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 b...

On this week's #WTHealth podcast: How ICE is impacting health care (literally and politically) and why anti-abortion groups are unhappy with the Trump admin. With @rachelroubein.bsky.social, @alicemiranda.bsky.social, and Maya Goldman.
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

It’s so frozen the corgis don’t break through the snow!

Mandatory corgi romping on the snow video:

Why Medication Abortion Is the Top Target for Anti-Abortion Groups in 2026 - KFF Health News With abortions still on the rise nationwide despite widespread bans, curtailing the use of pregnancy-terminating medication is a top priority for abortion opponents — and they’re frustrated that the T...

With abortions still on the rise nationwide, curtailing mifepristone is a top priority for abortion opponents — and they’re frustrated that the Trump administration isn’t doing more to limit its use.

@julierovner.bsky.social reports ⤵️ kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

Health Spending Is Moving in Congress - KFF Health News Lawmakers appear on the brink of passing a spending bill for HHS and a bipartisan health policy bill delayed for over a year. But the outlook is bleaker for the health care outline released by Preside...

New #WTHealth podcast up: HHS spending bill; Trump's health plan; and still more vaccine news from HHS and the states. With @sherylnyt.bsky.social, @paigecunningham.bsky.social, and @sandhyawrites.bsky.social. Also @zekeemanuel.bsky.social on his new wellness book.
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge's warrant, memo says An Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals that the agency allows immigration officers to forcibly enter homes to make arrests without a judicial warrant.

BREAKING: Immigration officers are asserting sweeping power to enter homes without a judge’s warrant, a memo obtained by AP says.

There’s a Key Reason Why Trump Hasn’t Invoked the Insurrection Act Yet The president’s position is an extraordinary threat to free speech and state sovereignty.

Super illuminating conversation with the great @stevevladeck.bsky.social about what's holding Trump back from invoking the Insurrection Act and what happens if he pulls the trigger: slate.com/news-and-pol...

Culture Wars Take Center Stage - KFF Health News With lawmakers still mired over renewing enhanced tax credits for Affordable Care Act plans, much of Washington has turned to culture war issues. Meanwhile, “confusion” remains the watchword at HHS as...

TONS of health news this week. Catch up with this week's #WTHealth podcast, w/ @alicemiranda.bsky.social, @annaedney.bsky.social, and @joannekenen.bsky.social
kffhealthnews.org/news/podcast...

Also spotted: Funding cost-sharing reductions and ending so-called "silver loading," which will reduce overall federal spending but increase many Marketplace enrollees' after-subsidy premiums.

A brief, shining time One of my sons died of a disease that later became vaccine preventable. But now that and other vaccines have been struck from the recommended list for children.

A mother describes the pain of losing her son to a disease that's now preventable by vaccines -- but which the CDC no longer universally recommends. A heartbreaking story by a talented writer and strong woman.
substack.com/inbox/post/1...

You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof. What happens when you do minimal screening before hiring agents, arming them, and sending them into the streets? We're all finding out.

A few months ago, ICE hired me

I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable

And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"

My latest for Slate