Julie Rovner
@julierovner.bsky.social
Chief Washington Correspondent KFF Health News, Host "What the Health?" podcast/horseperson/corgimomx2/unapologetic Michigan fan.
On this week's #WTHealth podcast: How health is playing in the elections; the politicization (or not) of NIH grantmaking; and is Trump really lowering Rx prices? kffhealthnews.org/podcast/what...
Healthcare a Vague but Potent Issue for Election 2026 - KFF Health News
Healthcare in general, and health costs in particular, are a top issue for voters in 2026. But it remains unclear exactly how voters want lawmakers to fix the problem. Meanwhile, the Trump administrat...
kffhealthnews.org
Big news: The family of Tierra Walker, who died after she couldn't get an abortion, is suing a slate of Texas actors in state court, including AG Ken Paxton. They say the state ban is unconstitutional. This is the first suit of its kind. 19thnews.org/2026/09/texa...
Tierra Walker died after she couldn’t get an abortion. Her family is suing Ken Paxton
The case, filed Tuesday, argues that Texas’ near-total abortion ban violates the state and U.S. Constitutions, which “prohibit state actors from killing their citizens.”
19thnews.org
New #WTHealth up, we're back from break with all your health news! Join me, @joannekenen.bsky.social, @sandhyawrites.bsky.social and Amanda Seitz for the latest! kffhealthnews.org/podcast/what...
Anger Over Health Costs Clouds Midterms - KFF Health News
Amid a campaign already focusing on affordability, anxious voters are unlikely to be assuaged by headlines about healthcare costs rising even more next year. And a lawsuit that could cut off access na...
kffhealthnews.org
Good morning and I hope you’re having a great day. I am about to ruin it with this long form story I did on how private equity is ruining cookies but also people are building shit cookie companies to get money from private equity on @weareravenous.com. www.weareravenous.com/the-curious-...
The Curious Case of the Soulless Private Equity Cookie
If you’re going to pay more than $5 for a single cookie, it should at least have some soul.
weareravenous.com
Another day, another abortion court hearing! This one is a case I've covered for several years, a challenge brought by Jews in Indiana who say the state's abortion ban infringes on their religious liberty, as Judaism teaches that life begins when a baby takes its first breath, not at conception
The sleeper legal strategy that could topple abortion bans
Jews, Episcopalians, Unitarians, Satanists and other people of faith say the laws infringe on their religious rights
politico.com
🚨 The NIH is moving to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in infectious-disease research projects to the DOD under a secret 10-year pact. Here’s what’s happening inside “Operation Prevailing Edge” 🧵👇 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Revealed: inside the US military's plan to tap huge sums from the NIH
An agreement paves the way for hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of projects to be transferred from the NIH’s institute for infectious diseases to the Department of Defense.
nature.com
On our last #WTHealth podcast of the summer: @shefali.bsky.social, @sangerkatz.bsky.social, and @rachelroubein.bsky.social on measles, Medicaid cuts, and more. Plus a farewell to Sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaum from Dean Rosen. kffhealthnews.org/podcast/what...
Summer’s Health Policy Themes - KFF Health News
As summer wanes, some of the season’s major health policy stories continue to simmer, including declining insurance coverage, increasing measles cases, and cuts to federal health programs. Shefali Lut...
kffhealthnews.org
Hear me out: The John F. Kennedy and Dolly Parton Memorial Center for the Performing Arts
With his online pharmacy, @mcuban.bsky.social changed how generic drugs are sold — and he has thoughts about how to fix the healthcare system. The billionaire businessman talks to KFF Health News’ @julierovner.bsky.social to answer the question: “How Would You Fix It?”
Watch: Mark Cuban Says You Can't Fix Healthcare Until Every Price Is Known - KFF Health News
With his online pharmacy, Mark Cuban changed how generic drugs are sold -- and he has thoughts about how to fix the healthcare system. The billionaire businessman talks to KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to answer the question: “How Would You Fix It?”
kffhealthnews.org
new #WTHealth pod! This week @shefali.bsky.social, @alicemiranda.bsky.social, and @joannekenen.bsky.social on an FDA nominee, fewer kids getting vaccines, and Medicare plans via Costco. Plus @mcuban.bsky.social on how HE would fix the health system. kffhealthnews.org/podcast/what...
Headless FDA Gets a New Nominee - KFF Health News
President Trump is nominating Heidi Overton, a physician and White House policy adviser, to lead the FDA, which has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since May. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins ...
kffhealthnews.org
i'm actually a little shook by the way that mao and trump seem to be the same Type of Guy.
on this week's #WTHealth podcast: @annaedney.bsky.social, @sandhyawrites.bsky.social, and Maya Goldman on Trump's vaccine announcement, food additive rules, and still more on Medicaid. Plus the latest #BilloftheMonth. kffhealthnews.org/podcast/what...
Trump’s Vaccine Agenda - KFF Health News
President Trump is trying to unilaterally change the number and schedule of childhood vaccines in the U.S., though it remains unclear how much of an impact his orders will have. Anna Edney of Bloomber...
kffhealthnews.org
Gambling apps partnering with news organizations are the natural endpoint of horserace journalism. What’s the point of a horserace if you can’t bet on it
I said this on my podcast (checks notes) yesterday.
Chris Hayes@chrislhayes.bsky.social · 2mo agoThe moment Collins announced she was a no on Blanche, you KNEW they had the votes.
on this week's #WTHealth? pod: @alicemiranda.bsky.social, @joannekenen.bsky.social, and Amanda Seitz on primary news from Michigan, Medicaid work rules, and Fauci contempt vote. Plus @andykimnj.bsky.social on health care for all kids. kffhealthnews.org/podcast/what...
The Return of ‘Medicare for All’ - KFF Health News
Michigan voters this week chose former Detroit public health director Abdul El-Sayed as the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. El-Sayed has made “Medicare for All” a major part of his campaign. Joann...
kffhealthnews.org
@julierovner.bsky.social, KFF Health News’ chief Washington correspondent and host of the "What the Health?" podcast, joins "An Arm and a Leg" host @danweissmann.bsky.social to discuss the state of U.S. healthcare.
What’s Worrying Veteran Health Reporter Julie Rovner? - KFF Health News
Host Dan Weissmann talks with Julie Rovner, KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent and host of the “What the Health?” podcast, about how cuts to federal programs are reshaping American healthc...
kffhealthnews.org
On this week's #WTHealth podcast: the politics of grant terminations; Fauci takes the 5th; and still more on peptides and abortion pills. W/@shefali.bsky.social, @lizessleywhyte.bsky.social, and @rachelcohrs.bsky.social kffhealthnews.org/podcast/what...
The Politics of Grant Cuts - KFF Health News
The revelation in court documents that the Trump administration used politics alone to decide which grants to fund and which to cancel has provoked surprisingly little outcry from Capitol Hill. Meanwh...
kffhealthnews.org
Always fun to chat with @janecoaston.bsky.social, this time about what someone I know refers to as the "poo flu." Thanks for having me. audioboom.com/posts/893183...
The Parasite Causing Explosive Diarrhea
By now, you've probably heard more than you ever wanted about cyclospora, a parasite that spreads via infected water and food and causes explosive diarrhea. This has been a very bad year for cyclo...
audioboom.com
Sen. Bill Cassidy, the Louisiana Republican whose recent primary loss ended a bid for reelection, talks about his Money and Value for Patients proposal, Trump’s tariffs, and RFK Jr. @julierovner.bsky.social
Watch: GOP Senator Says Trump’s Tariffs Could Mean Safer Drugs — For a Price - KFF Health News
Bill Cassidy of Louisiana chairs the Senate’s health committee. In an interview with KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner, he discusses the drug supply, his proposal to defray out-of-pocket costs, and his co...
kffhealthnews.org
On this week's #WTHealth podcast: Sen. Bill Cassidy on how HE would fix the health system; plus @joannekenen.bsky.social, @sangerkatz.bsky.social, and @alicemiranda.bsky.social with the news of the week (there's plenty). kffhealthnews.org/podcast/what...
A Shrinking Safety Net - KFF Health News
A new report finds that participation in the federal food stamp program is down far more than was predicted when the Republican-led Congress approved cuts in 2025. That portends a similar fate for Med...
kffhealthnews.org
Why has a 40-year veteran of health news started wearing a “living in unprecedented times” T-shirt? @kffhealthnews.org's @julierovner.bsky.social joins us to talk about cuts to public health programs: https://armandalegshow.com/episode/julie-rovner-veteran-dc-reporter/
see, I was right!
Michael D. Green, PhD@michaeldgreen.phd · 2mo agoIn this episode of “What the Health?” @kffhealthnews.org @joannekenen.bsky.social went back and forth with @julierovner.bsky.social arguing “ how could anyone forget about 2013” when the healthcare.gov launch was a mess? I regret to inform you I was in 8th grade. open.spotify.com/episode/68bB...
hey Italy, trade all our snakeheads for all your blue crabs!
Michael Love@elkmovie.bsky.social · 3mo agoFun-but-also-depressing fact: blue crabs are an invasive species in Italy, so they’re cheap and enormous and they’re trying to get people to eat more of them
Please enjoy Aspen’s qualifying agility run from Sunday…
on this week's #WTHealth podcast: Nonprofit hospitals on the hotseat, Planned Parenthood funding ban expires, and the return of "death panels." With @shefali.bsky.social, @rachelroubein.bsky.social, and Victoria Knight: kffhealthnews.org/podcast/what...
The Politics of Health at Midyear - KFF Health News
Just a few months before the midterm elections, Democrats appear to be doubling down on healthcare as a campaign issue as costs rise and insurance coverage declines. Meanwhile, Congress is taking aim ...
kffhealthnews.org
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is asking for an update from Sen. Mitch McConnell: “As Governor, I request that you fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health.”
!!!
Barb McQuade@barbmcquade.bsky.social · 3mo ago#JusticeInMotion launches this week! Judges are meeting Americans outside courthouses AND in the community to talk about how the #RuleofLaw must ensure equal justice and fairness in everyday American life. Follow their journey in: PA ➡️ OH ➡️ MI. 👉 justiceinmotion.us
A day after SCOTUS rejects Trump’s efforts to sideline birthright citizens, he fights to allow one to suit up for the US. The point? Birthright citizens ARE part of America. Always have been. They’re our veterans. Teachers. Doctors. And—yep—our soccer stars. (Also, it wasn’t a red card).
