The Host Julie Rovner KFF Health News @jrovner Read Julie's stories. Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News weekly health policy news podcast, What the Health? A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z, now in its third edition.
The second Trump presidency launched with a bang at the Department of Health and Human Services, where a traditional pause on public communications was expanded to an effective stoppage of scientific work, as health agencies were ordered to cancel meetings, travel, and efforts on outside publications. It is unclear how long the order will stay in effect; President Donald Trumps nominee to run the department, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., wont go before Senate committees for his confirmation hearings until the end of the month.
Meanwhile, starting on his first day in office, the new president issued a raft of executive orders aimed at reversing Biden administration policy but, notably, none directly addressing abortion, which has been a traditional focus every time the White House changes parties.
This weeks panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Rachel Roubein of The Washington Post, and Rachel Cohrs Zhang of Stat. Panelists Alice Miranda Ollstein Politico @AliceOllstein Read Alice's stories. Rachel Roubein The Washington Post @rachel_roubein Read Rachel's stories. Rachel Cohrs Zhang Stat News @rachelcohrs Read Rachel's stories.
Among the takeaways from this weeks episode: The Trump administration took a very firm grip on federal agencies this week, sowing uncertainty with blanket cancellations of upcoming meetings and travel as well as by implementing a broad pause on external communications. The cancellations reached deep into agencies core functions, affecting, for instance, meetings to review grant applications for federally funded research. Kennedys confirmation hearings to be Health and Human Services secretary are scheduled for Jan. 29 and 30. Yet questions remain about his nomination, including more recent revelations about conflicts of interest such as his financial stake in ongoing litigation with Merck & Co. related to the HPV vaccine. Trump issued a slew of executive orders this week. (It is worth noting that executive orders largely instruct federal agencies to start making a change, rather than constituting the change themselves.) Of note on health, Trumps orders instructed the removal of the U.S. from the World Health Organization; revoked a Biden administration order to reduce drug prices; and laid the groundwork to undermine health care for transgender people. Notably, though, none of the orders directly addressed abortion.
Also this week, Rovner interviews Rodney Whitlock, a consultant with McDermott+ and an adjunct faculty member at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. Whitlock is a former House and Senate staffer and provides a primer on how Congress convoluted budget reconciliation process is supposed to work.
Email Sign-Up
Subscribe to KFF Health News' free Morning Briefing. Your Email Address Sign Up
Plus, for extra credit, the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too:
Julie Rovner: CNNs With Bird Flu Cases Rising, Certain Kinds of Pet Food May Be Risky for Animals And People, by Brenda Goodman.
Rachel Roubein: The Washington Posts Antiabortion Advocates Look for Men To Report Their Partners Abortion, by Caroline Kitchener.
Rachel Cohrs Zhang: The Washington Posts In Florida, a Rebellion Against Fluoride Is Winning, by Fenit Nirappil.
Alice Ollstein: The Los Angeles Times Now That You Can Return Home After the Fires, How Do You Clean Up Safely? by Karen Garcia and Tony Briscoe.
Also mentioned in this weeks podcast:
The Texas Tribunes Longtime Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards Dies After Battle With Brain Cancer, by Eleanor Klibanoff. Credits Francis Ying Audio producer Emmarie Huetteman Editor
To hear all our podcasts, click here.
And subscribe to KFF Health News’ “What the Health?” on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. X Facebook LinkedIn Email Print Related Topics Courts Health Industry Medicaid Multimedia Public Health Biden Administration CDC FDA HHS KFF Health News' 'What The Health?' LGBTQ+ Health Obamacare Plans Podcasts Reproductive Health Transgender Health Trump Administration Contact Us Submit a Story Tip