… US Ambassador to China David Perdue said on Fox that in their recent meeting Trump asked President Xi if China wanted to buy weapons systems from the US: “Trump continues say that we sell arms to other people around the world.
Oh really, Peter Thiel? Crazier and more dangerous than you thought? Because a lot of us accurately saw how crazy and dangerous he was. You just thought you could control him and keep him in your pocket.
Thiel, Musk, Bezos and Zuckercuck all thought they could control Trump, as well as make even more $$$$$ as Trump stopped amy efforts to regulate their companies.
They're still controlling Trump. He's refusing to even discuss regulating AI after it's hacked thousands of websites, they've kept quiet about it for months, and still have not released full information on who was hacked, what the consequences were, or their own protocols and failures.
He already knew that, he did a cover story in the Atlantic in 2023 saying he was done with politics because he was disgusted by Trump. I hope they rerun that with no paywall.
Thiel, Musk, Sacks, Zuckerberg have their own agenda google Technate of America, map,, googlle Technocracy Movement, Praxis Cities, Joshua Norman Haldeman (Musks maternal grandfather and a founder of the Technocracy movement.
I think they are counting on AI making them immortal. So, they'll hide out in their bunkers until most of us little people are dead; and they think they'll get to return to living a great life on Earth. But, they've made a terrible mistake in their planning. And that's where it gets almost hilarious. lol
Until the human consciousness, replete with all of it's memories, fears, needs can be transferred to a USB drive or some such, there is no immortality. and even if it cold, they consciousness would go crazy.
Humans need sensory input, feelings, at least one of the five senses.
And per chance put to sleep and awaken years later in a manufactured body, or an 'avatar, again one would go mad. It takes years to develop the ability of the cerebrum to cooridnate with the neural pathways, that is why not everyone can be a gymnast, skate boarder, ski jumper, pipe fitter, pile driver,
Imagine that if somehow, AI could reconstruct the mind of say Thomas Jefferson and put that mind in a machine, that mind machine would immediately go nuts, it couldn't cope with the world of the 21st century
If I had to guess, a whole lot of people also thought they could control Hitler and Mussolini. What these people didn’t realize is one thing about human nature. This is, absolute power, corrupts absolutely.
Wow, I didn't know you had to actually go to the doctor if you had insurance. Is this some kind of law we're unaware of? My brother, who is 65, hadn't been to a doctor in decades until recently. He had insurance through work though so maybe that rule doesn't apply? I'm 67 and recently signed up to Medicare, including the prescription drug plan. Since I have no health issues requiring medication does this make me a fraud since I have insurance I'm not using? Should I get my doctor to prescribe something, anything, to prove I'm not fraudulently getting insurance through the government? It's beyond gobsmacking how absolutely asinine these people are. Asinine but also extremely dangerous. I just hope we can survive the next two years.
I was going to say the same thing. I don’t go to the doctor unless I’m sick, or in pain, and that’s not often. I don’t see any reason to go if I’m not experiencing problems.
That's exactly what Repugs said when they *endorsed* and *promoted* Health Savings Accounts: it will stop people from running to the doctor every time they have a sore throat so they will use health care more wisely. Now this ass thinks it's indicative of fraud. The entire party is nothing but a bunch of liars and grifters.
I think most of us use health care wisely, especially those who are working who lose pay when they go to the doctor. I go for a yearly physical and mammogram. Other than that I need to be near death to go to the doctor. I don't know anyone who goes to the doctor unless they're seriously ill or their doctor recommends a follow up with a specialist. I believe it's a myth that people go to the doctor just so they can use their insurance. republicans would know this if they actually lived in the real world and not in the grifting world they occupy where everyone in their circle is on the make.
“Apparently 35% of people have never even used their Obamacare account for any health services.” This is misleading. It implies that an Obamacare account is the same as having health insurance. You have to create an Obamacare account to shop for insurance. The account does not go away if you choose not to purchase the insurance via Obamacare. I setup an account in 2016 to shop for insurance but did not buy at that time. In 2025 I purchased my first Obamacare insurance policy through the same account that I setup in 2016.
Plus, many probably can't afford to use it or maybe can't even find a primary care doctor to even get an annual physical. Just more excuses to screw "we the people" while they play God, or is it devil, with our lives. I hate them with a passion I never thought possible.
This administration top down has been tricking (or lying) totheir supporters. Make something sound one way and its another. Like saying oil is flowing through the Straits. Yeah, 4 ships carrying millions of barrels of oil gets through but thats only about 3% of the normal flow. Maybe not quite a lie but a misdirection at the least.
I was wondering the same thing. For decades I hardly ever had occasion to use the (mostly) good health insurance I had through my employers. Now that I’m 68 I can only wish that I could say the same about Medicare. Why is our crack press corps not asking these obvious questions?
It's so frustrating and amazing that we non-press people seem more aware of what's going on than the press seemingly does. I think that maybe they're just cowards afraid of losing access, so they tiptoe around these prima donnas at the detriment of the public actually being made aware of truly what's going on.
No. If you sign up for Medicare A and B, you are required to have Part D. That is the law. Your brother should sign up for Medicare A and B, D. It is a better deal, all in, than his employee health insurance. Congrats on your good health.
No, you aren't legally required to have Part D. But it covers drugs, and drugs can be live-saving and expensive. You should get it. And you will need dental and vision, and Medigap is a good idea as well. We need to fix Medicare so it covers everything and then extend it to everyone.
That's what universal health care for everyone should do in this country. BUT I'm sorry, your representatives get too much money from the health insurance industry to change anything.
Part D is not required, but if you don't take it when you sign up for Medicare, you get charged a penalty if you sign up for it later. At least that' what it was 2 years ago. Who knows these days.
Thanks for the congrats on my good health. I'm just lucky I inherited my father's good genes and not my mom's.
Our Medicare advisor told us you don't have to sign up for Part D. My mom never had it and she just passed away in February of this year at 97 plus. It is highly recommended. If you sign up later you are penalized. Our Medicare advisor told me to sign up for it even though I'm on no meds and have never been. It's just a bit over $16/month so not a hardship. It's much better than my husband's insurance was but a tad more expensive since we also have a Medicare Supplement that is $250/month each. We spend about $1000 a month for coverage. Not cheap by any means but also no co-pays for any meds, diagnostic testing or doctor visits. So no surprise bills in the mail.
Sadly though there are many elderly who can't afford Medicare and rely on Medicaid. Now the evil clowns in The republican party will make them work for it unless they're in such poor health they can't work. Is there ever an end to their diabolism and depravity?
My brother isn't old enough for Medicare but will be 65 Nov 23. I'm sure he will sign up when eligible if he hasn't already. Though recently retired he still has medical coverage through work until he reaches Medicare eligibility.
Sad indeed. No one should have to worry about which health plan to choose based on what they can pay. Granted it's something, but all plans don't cover everything without additions costs. No one should have to worry about the costs of medication if needed. How many of us have had to leave something a doctor prescribed at the pharmacy because we couldn't afford even the generic (if available)?
If we had universal health care everyone would be covered... But Americans apparently don't want it. It's kind of stupid, but some people are so selfish they refuse to help those that have little.
Every developed country has universal health care of some type but the USA. Thank both the magas and democrats for this. Neither party wants to help the sick.
Yes, Sharon. If you don’t sign up for Part D when you’re eligible, & decide to sign up later, you will pay a penalty for the rest of your life! I didn’t know I HAD to & signed up later when my meds cost $2300 for 3 mos supply. Waited, unknowingly, 6 years. Now I’m paying the penalty for the rest of my life… not just for the 6 years I didn’t take it, but until I die!
My mom did similar. Fortunately her meds weren't as expensive as yours but she still spent about 500/month. It's such a convoluted system. I envy those in true first world countries who have cradle to grave coverage without worrying about how a change of job will impact insurance. At least with Obama-Care we no longer have to worry about pre-existing conditions. That is until the republicans destroy that too. they truly are diabolical.
If you had credible coverage through work, or spouses work or a state program etc, you would not have to pay the par D penalty.
If you think back and realize that you had creditable coverage, reach out to the from which you had it and get a “letter of credible coverage “, stating when you were covered and when it ended. Good luck. I hope this helps.
I’m so sick of all the corruption and the lies and the things they are doing to make our Country less safe. We have to win big in November. Get everyone to the polls to vote this complicit Congress out! The people who are still supporting these corrupt, incompetent people are welcome to sit this one out.
Someone should ask the idiot if he carries car insurance and home owner's insurance. Has he had a car accident? If not, why does he have car insurance. etc., etc. Stupidity prevails in this administration.
I'm one of those people: I was self-employed and had ACA insurance and never went to the doctor since there was no reason to. You can get flu shots and check your blood pressure at any pharmacy. If you have no insurance and get hit by a car or develop cancer, you'll go bankrupt in the US, and back then, the ACA had pretty good, affordable plans so I paid into one.
I laughed out loud because you beat me to it: "Wow, I didn't know you had to actually go to the doctor if you had insurance. Is this some kind of law we're unaware of?"
I've had insurance all of my life (I'm 74) and I haven't started to use mine until just a couple of years ago. It was always nice knowing it was there if, I needed it. But, just because I had it didn't mean I had to run to the doctor if I stubbed my toe or had a paper cut on my pinky finger. I can't think of one type of insurance that has a "use it or lose it" clause. And that's really what they are saying here. They are saying because you haven't used it, you're policy is hereby terminated for being in violation of the terms, constituting an act of fraudulent / illegal use. Next they will be saying that because you are still alive you're guilty of fraud for having a life insurance policy!!!!!!!!
Regardless, of whether some % of ACA enrollees haven't made claims, are they paying premiums?
As long as they are paying premiums, I suspect they are buying medical insurance for the same reason most of us do...just in case you they get sick. Doesn't seem fraudulent to me!
Read Medicare and You and it will explain why you must carry a prescription drug plan or be charged more if you don’t sign up when you are first eligible.
If you had credible coverage through your health plan at work, you would be exempt from the fines.
No you don’t have to use the insurance if you don’t need it, but you have to have your part B and D from the time of eligibility if you don’t already have credible coverage such as through an employee work plan or state insurance.
That’s completely false. In fact the people who don’t use the insurance are part of the lower risk pool and the insurance companies are happy to have healthier people in the system.
Those who don’t use their insurance are less costly to the insurance companies. Those members who pay their monthly plan premiums and don’t accrue any medical claims are the gold of the company because the company doesn’t have any medical claims to pay out for those people.
The guy in that article who said that 35% of ACA people, who didn’t use their plans are fraudsters was flat out lying.
Read the Medicare And You book, go to Medicare.gov or call 1-800-Medicare. Look up how insurance pools work.
We all know about Trump and his illegal regime, Vought and all the rest. None of this matters unless people go out and vote for Democrats up and down the ballot no matter how hard the Trump regime will make it. Know if you're registered no later than October 15; know the documents you need; prepare to stand in line; don't send your ballot via the mail; use a dropbox; vote in person early if you can where you live. And above all, don't assume because the polls predict a result that other people will vote to deliver it. You must vote.
At this point, reading “Today in Politics” should come with coffee, comfortable shoes, and one of those emergency oxygen masks that drops from the ceiling. 😂
Every morning I think, “Surely today’s political news will be quieter.”
Apparently the universe hears that as a challenge.
I’m a writer, and normally writers have to go LOOKING for material. We observe people. We take notes. We listen to conversations. We stare thoughtfully out windows.
Politics has eliminated that problem entirely.
Now I can open the news and within five minutes have enough material for three stories, two comedy routines, a nervous twitch, and a strong desire to bake something.
Somewhere a novelist is staring at a manuscript thinking, “This plot is too ridiculous. Nobody will believe it.”
Meanwhile, America is outside yelling, “HOLD MY BEER.”
I keep thinking we’re going to reach the point where political satire becomes impossible because reality has already hired all the good writers.
Until then, thank you for these bulletins. They help those of us trying to follow everything without opening seventeen browser tabs and eventually forgetting which one made us yell, “YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.”
And as someone who writes nearly every day, I appreciate having fresh material delivered directly to my door.
Although at this rate, I may have to start claiming Washington as a coauthor. 😂
🇨🇦 Well it's a good thing you're not in Canada Donna!....nothing quite so exciting to write about here! Altho PM Carney has heated things up lately! Like "Mr.Wilson" looking over the fence.....we watch in fascination... and a lot of fear for our American neighbour's.
It never ceases to amaze me when these idiots are now so surprised that they’ve been in bed with a maniac. Just what did they think January 6 2021 was, for gods sakes?
There's a German podcast out now; Carole Cadwalladr referred to it in her latest Substack post. According to Cadwalladr, the interviewer is pals with Thiel. You can find it on YT (it's in English). It is truly astounding how puerile and silly his philosophical leanings and opinions are.
AND Thiel calls the people in the 2nd Trump WH "not very smart." Oh, does that include you, Mr Made ALotta Mistakes? It should, you know, only logical.
"Collins voted to confirm [OMB Director Russ Vought] and is now acting outraged that he’s doing what he said he was going to do." But has her outrage risen to the level of concern?
Thanks Ron for the updates and even as a Canadian, I can hardly wait for the mid-terms to see the Republicans get their asses kicked and the Democrats take over of Congress and hopefully the Senate.
As to the platforms rejecting the "Musk" documentary ads: The platforms have now shown that they can, if they wish, reject ads and content if they deem them to be problematic. So they are not just "public squares" on which anyone can post. Given the recent statistics on online scams, a class action looks increasingly possible.
… WaPo: “Major League Baseball has approached the Trump admin about hosting a game at a national park. The admin has scouted locations in Grand Teton National Park to build a baseball park to host an MLB game. Grand Teton is the country’s 8th-most visited national park and is famous for its breathtaking views of the Teton Range of the Rocky Mountains.”
This. Cannot. Stand. DISGUSTING!!! Can you imagine just the traffic and pollution, not to mention the insult to the Grand Tetons and nature lovers!!! Put your goddam park in a city and leave our public lands alone!!!!!!!!!
I don’t believe for one minute that MLB instigated that idea. It’s disrespectful with it being a national park and its pristine natural beauty should not be disturbed. You want different scenery? Pick a cornfield!
Could this be a cover for a bunker/ drone launch etc...a la the Dumpty Arch? It's just 300 mi (500km) from our Canadian border! And closer to Alberta's rich oil country. Hmmn.🇨🇦
Sure hope not, and I doubt it, but what this regime is doing to our allies and especially Canada and NATO is disgraceful.
I hope you know most Americans are furious at the demented idiot causing all this chaos. The polls show that truly is *most* Americans, including former MAGA voters. When I see some of them interviewed I'm always struck by how ignorant they are; only thing that changed their minds is the price of gas and food.
We live at the Gateway to the 1000 Islands near Kingston....a bustling tourist, boating and cottage area for Americans for over 100 years. Not so many Americans in the last few years though. But I'm happy to say any Americans I've met (who are starting to return) over the summer have been very honest, upfront and express their regrets as we mutually agree we both find overselves ...as the "victims" of the incompetence of Trump snd his minions. What a shame it all is.
The Iranian Foreign Minister on NBC stating that they cannot trust US negotiators is completely understandable. We can’t trust anything this corrupt administration says or does either. Sounds like this will be a doomsday war 🤬. If only this effing asshole jealous Man Baby Tyrant had left the Obama deal alone!!! And We The People should sue for the use of public funds for that disgusting commercial wherein the asshole states that ‘We will expel the warmongers …. and liberate Americans from Evil Villians’. He is the effing Warmonger and EVIL VILLIAN. Thanks Ron for your hard work on a Sunday to do this great bulletin!!! 😎
Oh really, Peter Thiel? Crazier and more dangerous than you thought? Because a lot of us accurately saw how crazy and dangerous he was. You just thought you could control him and keep him in your pocket.
🎯🎯🎯🎯.
Thiel, Musk, Bezos and Zuckercuck all thought they could control Trump, as well as make even more $$$$$ as Trump stopped amy efforts to regulate their companies.
They're still controlling Trump. He's refusing to even discuss regulating AI after it's hacked thousands of websites, they've kept quiet about it for months, and still have not released full information on who was hacked, what the consequences were, or their own protocols and failures.
The tech billionaires have helped Republicans in congress to create this monster.
And they are doing all they can by donating to Republicans running in the midterms.
They all ARE making mountain-ranges of money. Trump gives them all a fabulous ROI, with our money.
I will take a Muslium willing to help the working class than an old white man who is in politics to help himself at our expense!
🎯🎯🎯
In his own way Peter Thiel is a far worse actor than Donald Trump, for all the incalculable harm he is doing, could ever be.
And don’t forget, he’s the one who got JD Vance in the vice presidency.
Funny, that’s what my Republican brother said too. “ I didn’t think he’d do anything that stupid “
He already knew that, he did a cover story in the Atlantic in 2023 saying he was done with politics because he was disgusted by Trump. I hope they rerun that with no paywall.
I'm disgusted with both of them.
Thiel, Musk, Sacks, Zuckerberg have their own agenda google Technate of America, map,, googlle Technocracy Movement, Praxis Cities, Joshua Norman Haldeman (Musks maternal grandfather and a founder of the Technocracy movement.
I think they are counting on AI making them immortal. So, they'll hide out in their bunkers until most of us little people are dead; and they think they'll get to return to living a great life on Earth. But, they've made a terrible mistake in their planning. And that's where it gets almost hilarious. lol
Until the human consciousness, replete with all of it's memories, fears, needs can be transferred to a USB drive or some such, there is no immortality. and even if it cold, they consciousness would go crazy.
Humans need sensory input, feelings, at least one of the five senses.
And per chance put to sleep and awaken years later in a manufactured body, or an 'avatar, again one would go mad. It takes years to develop the ability of the cerebrum to cooridnate with the neural pathways, that is why not everyone can be a gymnast, skate boarder, ski jumper, pipe fitter, pile driver,
Imagine that if somehow, AI could reconstruct the mind of say Thomas Jefferson and put that mind in a machine, that mind machine would immediately go nuts, it couldn't cope with the world of the 21st century
And Thiel said there are only loyal mediocrities in Trump's 2. That includes his assessment of Vance. Who is a braying ass.
If I had to guess, a whole lot of people also thought they could control Hitler and Mussolini. What these people didn’t realize is one thing about human nature. This is, absolute power, corrupts absolutely.
It didn't end well for Hitler and Mussolini either. Wonder what horrible end is in store for tRUMP?
Hopefully as bad as Hitler and Mussolini…
That is EXACTLY what he expected and didn't realize all that money bought him a clown in a circus versus a puppet to control.
Exactly this . Reminiscent of the German industrialists who thought the same about Hitler in the '30s...
He must be nervous about the election as he should be.
👏👏👏👍
Wow, I didn't know you had to actually go to the doctor if you had insurance. Is this some kind of law we're unaware of? My brother, who is 65, hadn't been to a doctor in decades until recently. He had insurance through work though so maybe that rule doesn't apply? I'm 67 and recently signed up to Medicare, including the prescription drug plan. Since I have no health issues requiring medication does this make me a fraud since I have insurance I'm not using? Should I get my doctor to prescribe something, anything, to prove I'm not fraudulently getting insurance through the government? It's beyond gobsmacking how absolutely asinine these people are. Asinine but also extremely dangerous. I just hope we can survive the next two years.
I was going to say the same thing. I don’t go to the doctor unless I’m sick, or in pain, and that’s not often. I don’t see any reason to go if I’m not experiencing problems.
That's exactly what Repugs said when they *endorsed* and *promoted* Health Savings Accounts: it will stop people from running to the doctor every time they have a sore throat so they will use health care more wisely. Now this ass thinks it's indicative of fraud. The entire party is nothing but a bunch of liars and grifters.
I think most of us use health care wisely, especially those who are working who lose pay when they go to the doctor. I go for a yearly physical and mammogram. Other than that I need to be near death to go to the doctor. I don't know anyone who goes to the doctor unless they're seriously ill or their doctor recommends a follow up with a specialist. I believe it's a myth that people go to the doctor just so they can use their insurance. republicans would know this if they actually lived in the real world and not in the grifting world they occupy where everyone in their circle is on the make.
Agree 100%. I avoid doctors and our broken health care system whenever possible.
“Apparently 35% of people have never even used their Obamacare account for any health services.” This is misleading. It implies that an Obamacare account is the same as having health insurance. You have to create an Obamacare account to shop for insurance. The account does not go away if you choose not to purchase the insurance via Obamacare. I setup an account in 2016 to shop for insurance but did not buy at that time. In 2025 I purchased my first Obamacare insurance policy through the same account that I setup in 2016.
Plus, many probably can't afford to use it or maybe can't even find a primary care doctor to even get an annual physical. Just more excuses to screw "we the people" while they play God, or is it devil, with our lives. I hate them with a passion I never thought possible.
This administration top down has been tricking (or lying) totheir supporters. Make something sound one way and its another. Like saying oil is flowing through the Straits. Yeah, 4 ships carrying millions of barrels of oil gets through but thats only about 3% of the normal flow. Maybe not quite a lie but a misdirection at the least.
I was wondering the same thing. For decades I hardly ever had occasion to use the (mostly) good health insurance I had through my employers. Now that I’m 68 I can only wish that I could say the same about Medicare. Why is our crack press corps not asking these obvious questions?
It's so frustrating and amazing that we non-press people seem more aware of what's going on than the press seemingly does. I think that maybe they're just cowards afraid of losing access, so they tiptoe around these prima donnas at the detriment of the public actually being made aware of truly what's going on.
Because they aren't old yet... AND it won't be there for them, if this regime can destroy it. And they destroyed so very much.
And I wish you continued good health, sharon.
Fingers crossed. Thanks for the well wishes.
😘
No. If you sign up for Medicare A and B, you are required to have Part D. That is the law. Your brother should sign up for Medicare A and B, D. It is a better deal, all in, than his employee health insurance. Congrats on your good health.
No, you aren't legally required to have Part D. But it covers drugs, and drugs can be live-saving and expensive. You should get it. And you will need dental and vision, and Medigap is a good idea as well. We need to fix Medicare so it covers everything and then extend it to everyone.
Please don't get Medicare Advantage. My hospital and many doctors will no longer take it in NY.
That's what universal health care for everyone should do in this country. BUT I'm sorry, your representatives get too much money from the health insurance industry to change anything.
Part D is not required, but if you don't take it when you sign up for Medicare, you get charged a penalty if you sign up for it later. At least that' what it was 2 years ago. Who knows these days.
Thanks for the congrats on my good health. I'm just lucky I inherited my father's good genes and not my mom's.
Our Medicare advisor told us you don't have to sign up for Part D. My mom never had it and she just passed away in February of this year at 97 plus. It is highly recommended. If you sign up later you are penalized. Our Medicare advisor told me to sign up for it even though I'm on no meds and have never been. It's just a bit over $16/month so not a hardship. It's much better than my husband's insurance was but a tad more expensive since we also have a Medicare Supplement that is $250/month each. We spend about $1000 a month for coverage. Not cheap by any means but also no co-pays for any meds, diagnostic testing or doctor visits. So no surprise bills in the mail.
Sadly though there are many elderly who can't afford Medicare and rely on Medicaid. Now the evil clowns in The republican party will make them work for it unless they're in such poor health they can't work. Is there ever an end to their diabolism and depravity?
My brother isn't old enough for Medicare but will be 65 Nov 23. I'm sure he will sign up when eligible if he hasn't already. Though recently retired he still has medical coverage through work until he reaches Medicare eligibility.
Sad indeed. No one should have to worry about which health plan to choose based on what they can pay. Granted it's something, but all plans don't cover everything without additions costs. No one should have to worry about the costs of medication if needed. How many of us have had to leave something a doctor prescribed at the pharmacy because we couldn't afford even the generic (if available)?
If we had universal health care everyone would be covered... But Americans apparently don't want it. It's kind of stupid, but some people are so selfish they refuse to help those that have little.
Every developed country has universal health care of some type but the USA. Thank both the magas and democrats for this. Neither party wants to help the sick.
Yes, Sharon. If you don’t sign up for Part D when you’re eligible, & decide to sign up later, you will pay a penalty for the rest of your life! I didn’t know I HAD to & signed up later when my meds cost $2300 for 3 mos supply. Waited, unknowingly, 6 years. Now I’m paying the penalty for the rest of my life… not just for the 6 years I didn’t take it, but until I die!
My mom did similar. Fortunately her meds weren't as expensive as yours but she still spent about 500/month. It's such a convoluted system. I envy those in true first world countries who have cradle to grave coverage without worrying about how a change of job will impact insurance. At least with Obama-Care we no longer have to worry about pre-existing conditions. That is until the republicans destroy that too. they truly are diabolical.
I wish that rule didn't exist, I'm sorry you have to deal with it. My friends and I made sure we signed up early to avoid the penalty.
If you had credible coverage through work, or spouses work or a state program etc, you would not have to pay the par D penalty.
If you think back and realize that you had creditable coverage, reach out to the from which you had it and get a “letter of credible coverage “, stating when you were covered and when it ended. Good luck. I hope this helps.
I’m so sick of all the corruption and the lies and the things they are doing to make our Country less safe. We have to win big in November. Get everyone to the polls to vote this complicit Congress out! The people who are still supporting these corrupt, incompetent people are welcome to sit this one out.
Someone should ask the idiot if he carries car insurance and home owner's insurance. Has he had a car accident? If not, why does he have car insurance. etc., etc. Stupidity prevails in this administration.
I'm one of those people: I was self-employed and had ACA insurance and never went to the doctor since there was no reason to. You can get flu shots and check your blood pressure at any pharmacy. If you have no insurance and get hit by a car or develop cancer, you'll go bankrupt in the US, and back then, the ACA had pretty good, affordable plans so I paid into one.
I laughed out loud because you beat me to it: "Wow, I didn't know you had to actually go to the doctor if you had insurance. Is this some kind of law we're unaware of?"
I've had insurance all of my life (I'm 74) and I haven't started to use mine until just a couple of years ago. It was always nice knowing it was there if, I needed it. But, just because I had it didn't mean I had to run to the doctor if I stubbed my toe or had a paper cut on my pinky finger. I can't think of one type of insurance that has a "use it or lose it" clause. And that's really what they are saying here. They are saying because you haven't used it, you're policy is hereby terminated for being in violation of the terms, constituting an act of fraudulent / illegal use. Next they will be saying that because you are still alive you're guilty of fraud for having a life insurance policy!!!!!!!!
Regardless, of whether some % of ACA enrollees haven't made claims, are they paying premiums?
As long as they are paying premiums, I suspect they are buying medical insurance for the same reason most of us do...just in case you they get sick. Doesn't seem fraudulent to me!
I thought they were mad non-wealthy people had access to affordable healthcare and now they’re mad they are not using it?
Thanks for the chuckle!
Read Medicare and You and it will explain why you must carry a prescription drug plan or be charged more if you don’t sign up when you are first eligible.
If you had credible coverage through your health plan at work, you would be exempt from the fines.
No you don’t have to use the insurance if you don’t need it, but you have to have your part B and D from the time of eligibility if you don’t already have credible coverage such as through an employee work plan or state insurance.
That’s completely false. In fact the people who don’t use the insurance are part of the lower risk pool and the insurance companies are happy to have healthier people in the system.
Those who don’t use their insurance are less costly to the insurance companies. Those members who pay their monthly plan premiums and don’t accrue any medical claims are the gold of the company because the company doesn’t have any medical claims to pay out for those people.
The guy in that article who said that 35% of ACA people, who didn’t use their plans are fraudsters was flat out lying.
Read the Medicare And You book, go to Medicare.gov or call 1-800-Medicare. Look up how insurance pools work.
Don’t believe the garbage that dude was spewing.
We all know about Trump and his illegal regime, Vought and all the rest. None of this matters unless people go out and vote for Democrats up and down the ballot no matter how hard the Trump regime will make it. Know if you're registered no later than October 15; know the documents you need; prepare to stand in line; don't send your ballot via the mail; use a dropbox; vote in person early if you can where you live. And above all, don't assume because the polls predict a result that other people will vote to deliver it. You must vote.
The democratic candidates also need to work for us.
At this point, reading “Today in Politics” should come with coffee, comfortable shoes, and one of those emergency oxygen masks that drops from the ceiling. 😂
Every morning I think, “Surely today’s political news will be quieter.”
Apparently the universe hears that as a challenge.
I’m a writer, and normally writers have to go LOOKING for material. We observe people. We take notes. We listen to conversations. We stare thoughtfully out windows.
Politics has eliminated that problem entirely.
Now I can open the news and within five minutes have enough material for three stories, two comedy routines, a nervous twitch, and a strong desire to bake something.
Somewhere a novelist is staring at a manuscript thinking, “This plot is too ridiculous. Nobody will believe it.”
Meanwhile, America is outside yelling, “HOLD MY BEER.”
I keep thinking we’re going to reach the point where political satire becomes impossible because reality has already hired all the good writers.
Until then, thank you for these bulletins. They help those of us trying to follow everything without opening seventeen browser tabs and eventually forgetting which one made us yell, “YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.”
And as someone who writes nearly every day, I appreciate having fresh material delivered directly to my door.
Although at this rate, I may have to start claiming Washington as a coauthor. 😂
Irish coffee. Lots of it.
🇨🇦 Well it's a good thing you're not in Canada Donna!....nothing quite so exciting to write about here! Altho PM Carney has heated things up lately! Like "Mr.Wilson" looking over the fence.....we watch in fascination... and a lot of fear for our American neighbour's.
Cheers eh! Raise a
Tim's double double! 🤣
My eyes are closed praying for change soon.
“There are a lot of things I got wrong. He was crazier than I thought. More dangerous than I thought.”
When Peter Thiel thinks you're crazy that's off the charts batshit crazy.
It never ceases to amaze me when these idiots are now so surprised that they’ve been in bed with a maniac. Just what did they think January 6 2021 was, for gods sakes?
I actually don't believe Thiel. I think he's trying to rehabilitate his image now that the public has largely caught on to who he is.
I read what he says but never believe him. I no longer believe anyone living within the maga delusion.
I had the same thought Oaktown.
And coming from a guy who is also batshit crazy! And dangerous.
There's a German podcast out now; Carole Cadwalladr referred to it in her latest Substack post. According to Cadwalladr, the interviewer is pals with Thiel. You can find it on YT (it's in English). It is truly astounding how puerile and silly his philosophical leanings and opinions are.
AND Thiel calls the people in the 2nd Trump WH "not very smart." Oh, does that include you, Mr Made ALotta Mistakes? It should, you know, only logical.
Lol. It does.
"Collins voted to confirm [OMB Director Russ Vought] and is now acting outraged that he’s doing what he said he was going to do." But has her outrage risen to the level of concern?
🤣🤣🤣
You do an amazing job extracting the truth from this evil regime and getting it out to the world. Thanks, Ron.
Thanks Ron for the updates and even as a Canadian, I can hardly wait for the mid-terms to see the Republicans get their asses kicked and the Democrats take over of Congress and hopefully the Senate.
Joan, I think everyone in the world who is old enough to pay attention to politics is waiting for the Republicans to get put down!
As to the platforms rejecting the "Musk" documentary ads: The platforms have now shown that they can, if they wish, reject ads and content if they deem them to be problematic. So they are not just "public squares" on which anyone can post. Given the recent statistics on online scams, a class action looks increasingly possible.
I LIKE your way of thinking!!!
is anyone else, besides me, concerned about the muskrat being back in the loop?
What is DOGE doing? I read they were back, but it didn't say what they were doing back in the regime.
Guess we'll find out. Fkers.
… WaPo: “Major League Baseball has approached the Trump admin about hosting a game at a national park. The admin has scouted locations in Grand Teton National Park to build a baseball park to host an MLB game. Grand Teton is the country’s 8th-most visited national park and is famous for its breathtaking views of the Teton Range of the Rocky Mountains.”
This. Cannot. Stand. DISGUSTING!!! Can you imagine just the traffic and pollution, not to mention the insult to the Grand Tetons and nature lovers!!! Put your goddam park in a city and leave our public lands alone!!!!!!!!!
Major League Baseball approached the Trump admin? Are we sure it wasn't the other way 'round? Or has MLB contracted the MAGA brain virus?
Don't know, but wondered that too.
Question for Ron: Can you elaborate on this topic and who approached whom?
I don’t believe for one minute that MLB instigated that idea. It’s disrespectful with it being a national park and its pristine natural beauty should not be disturbed. You want different scenery? Pick a cornfield!
If you build it, they will come.
Yes! Build your Field of Dreams!
Hope you're right.
Could this be a cover for a bunker/ drone launch etc...a la the Dumpty Arch? It's just 300 mi (500km) from our Canadian border! And closer to Alberta's rich oil country. Hmmn.🇨🇦
Sure hope not, and I doubt it, but what this regime is doing to our allies and especially Canada and NATO is disgraceful.
I hope you know most Americans are furious at the demented idiot causing all this chaos. The polls show that truly is *most* Americans, including former MAGA voters. When I see some of them interviewed I'm always struck by how ignorant they are; only thing that changed their minds is the price of gas and food.
We live at the Gateway to the 1000 Islands near Kingston....a bustling tourist, boating and cottage area for Americans for over 100 years. Not so many Americans in the last few years though. But I'm happy to say any Americans I've met (who are starting to return) over the summer have been very honest, upfront and express their regrets as we mutually agree we both find overselves ...as the "victims" of the incompetence of Trump snd his minions. What a shame it all is.
A shame and a waste. If I go to Canada, I'm gonna wear a T-shirt that says "I didn't vote for him! Long Live Canada!"
They don’t need to release trailers for the Musk movie. Just release the movie nationwide. I promise that masses of people will go to watch it.
👍
Thank you, Ron! Idk how you do it, but ty!
The Iranian Foreign Minister on NBC stating that they cannot trust US negotiators is completely understandable. We can’t trust anything this corrupt administration says or does either. Sounds like this will be a doomsday war 🤬. If only this effing asshole jealous Man Baby Tyrant had left the Obama deal alone!!! And We The People should sue for the use of public funds for that disgusting commercial wherein the asshole states that ‘We will expel the warmongers …. and liberate Americans from Evil Villians’. He is the effing Warmonger and EVIL VILLIAN. Thanks Ron for your hard work on a Sunday to do this great bulletin!!! 😎
💙💯🔥❤️💙💯🔥❤️💙💯🔥❤️💙💯🔥❤️💙💯🔥❤️💙💯🔥❤️💙💯🔥❤️💙💯🔥❤️💙💯🔥❤️💙💯🔥❤️
MADNESS!!!
Gotta vote.
Russia, Russia, Russia
Epstein, Epstein, Epstein
Yes!!!!🙌
This regime is just plain evil.
Plain evil, with a lot of gilded gewgaws.