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Tariffs and meds: What health journalists should watch for now
The story of tariffs on prescription medications has shifted quickly in recent weeks, with new trade agreements, industry reactions, and policy twists reshaping what patients may experience at the pharmacy counter. One notable shift came with a new U.S.–EU trade agreement: branded drugs from Europe will now face a modest 15% tariff cap, while generics and…
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Guidance for tracking local impacts of the federal Justice40 cuts
Just hours after assuming office for his second term on Jan. 20, President Donald Trump ended via executive order one of the most ambitious efforts to embed energy and environmental justice in federal policy, covering hundreds of federal programs across multiple agencies: the Justice40 Initiative. This action rescinded President Joseph Biden’s Executive Order 14008, which…
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Reporting on ‘sweeps’ and the criminalization of homelessness: How to handle the story
The Trump administration is making clear its intention to banish, arrest or imprison people who are homeless in the nation’s capital, as well as threatening forced treatment for those struggling with substance use disorders. But front-line workers, activists and experts are expressing skepticism about this old and failed approach to homelessness. So what is the…
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Telling the story of the pivot on homelessness policy
A new federal policy that reframes homelessness as a law-and-order issue rather than a public health concern could change the way journalists cover mental illness, addiction, housing and social policy in the months ahead. President Trump signed an executive order in July that pushes local governments to remove unhoused people from public spaces, expand the…
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How Trump’s budget impacts older adults
Aging services advocates say the FY 2026 budget bill, which includes massive cuts to Medicaid and nutrition services, will mean the upheaval of vital programs keeping older adults healthy and aging in their communities. Journalists can use any of the following tips as a starting point to ask local, state, and federal policymakers how these…
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Under harsh new work rules, millions will get kicked off Medicaid
A new work requirement for about 20 million Medicaid members is one of the most important stories to cover about the federal megabill that President Trump signed on July 4. The law requires adults aged 19 to 64 to work at least 80 hours each month to qualify for Medicaid coverage unless they are exempt…
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Trump’s budget bill could cost lives, put 5 million in debt: How to cover the story
As many as 17 million Americans will lose their health insurance and many others will incur more medical debt under the budget bill President Trump signed into law last Friday. The tax bill, or the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” would cut more than $1 trillion in federal spending over 10 years for Medicaid, food…
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