KFF Health News 3d ago

For the second year in a row, Trump administration officials are delaying the distribution of hundreds of millions of dollars in health-related grant funding as political appointees seek to ensure the funding adheres to the administration’s priorities — despite promises to Congress that the money would be spent as directed. Meanwhile, four years after the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion, nearly half the states have banned or substantially restricted the procedure. But while most voters say they support abortion rights — and majorities in several states have approved ballot measures to enshrine them — that sentiment has not translated into major gains for Democrats running for office. This week’s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Maya Goldman of Axios, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Rachana Pradhan of KFF Health News. 00:55 – HHS Grant Freeze Federal health grants delayed, OMB political review, and Congress vs. Trump administration over spending power. 06:50 – DEI Research Ban OMB’s proposed rules, AI flagging of “woke” terms, and the impact on diversity, equity, and inclusion research funding. 09:37 – Post-Roe Abortion Dobbs fallout, mail‑order abortion pills, misoprostol-only protocols, and why abortion politics aren’t matching election outcomes. 15:17 – Vaccine Trust Crisis CDC study suppression, peer-reviewed COVID vaccine data, “medical freedom,” and collapsing public trust in health agencies and mandates. 22:02 – Hospital Price Controls Indiana’s Medicare-linked hospital price caps, state-level drug import plans, and drug and obesity-treatment controversies. 31:52 - Extra Credit