Credit: India Currents/ACom
Measles makes deadly US comeback
The Big Idea: Vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough are making a comeback across 35 US states as vaccine skepticism grows among educated families. Health experts warn that cuts to global health funding and changes to vaccine policies could reverse decades of progress against deadly diseases.
The Stakes: Three Americans have already died from measles this year after the US had eliminated deaths completely. Funding cuts to international health programs could let diseases spread globally and cross borders more easily, potentially triggering new outbreaks that reach American communities.
The Fine Print: The Trump administration paused foreign aid for 90 days, affecting programs that protect millions worldwide. Health Secretary Kennedy wants to create government-run scientific journals, which experts say undermines established medical research. States can now set their own vaccination protocols.
Credit: Sahan Journal / Aaron Wesheim
SNAP benefits gutted nationwide
The Big Idea: Congress just passed a massive budget bill cutting $186 billion from SNAP food assistance over 10 years while giving $4.5 trillion in tax breaks to wealthy households. The cuts could affect 40 million Americans, including 16 million kids, forcing local food banks to pick up the slack.
Meeting the Moment: Minnesota faces losing $220 million in federal food aid just as grocery costs keep rising and food insecurity grows. About 45,000 Minnesotans could lose SNAP benefits entirely, putting enormous pressure on already strained food shelves that saw 9 million visits last year across the state.
The Fine Print: The bill adds stricter work requirements for SNAP eligibility and cuts off legally admitted immigrants from the program. It also shifts more costs to states, forcing Minnesota to either find replacement funding or make tough choices about who gets help during an existing budget deficit.
Credit: AsAm News / Covered California
Insurance premiums set to skyrocket
The Big Idea: The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" passed by Congress also could dismantle many provisions of the Affordable Care Act after 14 years, leaving 11 million more Americans uninsured while cutting $1 trillion from healthcare and $211 billion from food aid. Meanwhile, it adds $4 trillion to the national debt through tax cuts for wealthy Americans.
What to Know: Even some Republicans and Elon Musk called it a "disgusting abomination" and "debt bomb" due to its massive costs and cuts to safety nets.
The Stakes: California's uninsured rate could jump back from 6% to 17% like it was before Obamacare. Over 112,000 Californians would lose coverage immediately, hitting immigrants and communities of color hardest. Healthcare premiums would spike for everyone as young, healthy people get priced out of insurance markets.
Meet the Game Changers
Highlighting the innovators transforminghealth outcomes in our communities
Credit: Native News Online / Dr. Jessica A. Rickert
The Story: Dr. Jessica Rickert, the first female American Indian dentist in the U.S., just received the Michigan Dental Association's Public Relations Award. She's revolutionizing healthcare by bridging Native communities with dental care through culturally relevant education and mentorship programs across Michigan's tribes.
At the Center: Native Americans face some of the worst oral health outcomes in the country, but representation in dentistry remains extremely low. Dr. Rickert's groundbreaking work could transform an entire generation's access to culturally competent dental care and create pathways for more Native professionals in healthcare fields.
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