Politics and views in the United States

New York’s governor warns Medicare drug costs will rise after federal subsidies end, a Senate panel considers a hot-food SNAP expansion and the progressive wins the Michigan Senate primary.

Transcript

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

There's now a new assault on seniors that is now taking away a subsidy for prescription drugs.

So your monthly premiums will now go up.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul says in spite of promises to protect Medicare, the Trump administration's decision to end a subsidy for Part D plans will raise drug costs for seniors starting next year.

The administration is not renewing the $10 billion Biden-era program that capped out-of-pocket costs and premiums and kept insulin under $35 a month.

The White House argues most beneficiaries will only see modest increases.

Millions of Americans already lost Medicaid when Congress ended pandemic-era protections.

And a new Center for Improving Value in Healthcare Analysis says rural hospitals are paying the price.

CEO Kristen Paulson says the typically smaller, financially vulnerable facilities are being forced to treat the newly uninsured patients.

And especially in our rural areas, this can have a devastating effect on hospitals.

And in fact, we've seen a number of hospital closures over the past several years because they just aren't able to make ends meet.

The Trump administration says the lower Medicaid enrollment reflects reduced fraud and abuse.

Lawmakers are debating how to shore up Social Security and AARP is warning against a push for an outside commission to draft changes behind closed doors.

Rhode Island Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse says recent tax cuts have undermined the Social Security Trust Fund.

Trust Fund's going to be exhausted a year earlier than predicted.

A lot of that's thanks to the billionaire's bill that the Republicans jammed through.

It hits in 2032, just six years from now.

The AARP says any solution should move through the normal legislative process and avoid cutting earned benefits.

The Senate Agriculture Committee votes today on a bipartisan proposal to let SNAP recipients buy hot rotisserie chicken with their benefits.

The House has already approved a measure easing a longstanding ban on most hot foods.

Michigan progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated more moderate Congresswoman Haley Stevens in a close and closely watched Senate primary.

The race wasn't called until early Wednesday, with El-Sayed winning by less than 1%.

He now faces former Congressman Mike Rogers in a battleground contest that could help decide control of the U.S. Senate.

Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen is under fire from some MAGA supporters for saying more migrant visas could help address worker shortages.

The White House says Mullen and the president remain aligned on immigration despite the backlash.

The Democratic Women's Caucus is calling on Ohio Republican Congressman Max Miller to resign.

Miller stands accused of serious domestic violence, but denies the charges.

I'm Joe Ulori for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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