Alex Trebek once said I "should be a politician." Usual disclaimers apply.
Feb 8, 2023 • 19 tweets • 9 min read
THREAD: @JoeBiden attacked @GOP in #SOTU for wanting to 1) sunset Medicare/SS, 2) “cut” those programs, and hold the debt ceiling hostage to pass those “cuts.”
As we’ll see, those are all things BIDEN PROPOSED HIMSELF.
Follow/RT for additional details… 1/
Let’s start with sunsetting Medicare/SS. This is a topic @JoeBiden should be very familiar with—because he proposed it himself. In 1975, he sponsored a bill (S. 2067, 94th Congress) to sunset all federal programs every four years. 2/
THREAD: Ahead of @realDonaldTrump speech on #healthcare, it's worth looking at how @JoeBiden's plan likely will undermine the existing system of employer health coverage.
Details in my report available here -- or follow/RT this thread... 1/ juniperresearchgroup.com/post/5608/how-…
Regarding employer coverage, @JoeBiden's health plan contains two key features. First, it would allow individuals who have an offer of employer coverage to go to the Exchanges and receive subsidies -- right now, they can't do that in most cases... 2/ joebiden.com/healthcare/#
Aug 23, 2020 • 4 tweets • 4 min read
Absolutely AWFUL decision by @IndyCar to end #Indy500 under caution. Anticlimactic, and deprived the fans of the shootout we deserved. Big 👎👎👎 to @IMS@PenskeMedia@jdouglas4 for a bad call!!!
This action is also totally inconsistent with 2014 #Indy500, where @IndyCar threw a red flag with nine laps to go to guarantee a green flag finish.
I mentioned this episode back in December, and @Jeopardy just reaired the proof for all the people who thought January 1st started a new decade. It didn’t!
Jul 14, 2020 • 16 tweets • 10 min read
THREAD: @standorn@FamiliesUSA released a study about the uninsured and #COVID19 that includes both material inaccuracies and material omissions, inflating the estimated number of uninsured as a result.
RT/follow along for details... 1/
The report takes estimates of job losses from February to May, and multiplies them using an @urbaninstitute formula of coverage changes from 2014-2018, to estimate coverage losses during the current recession. But the report has two flaws... 2/ familiesusa.org/wp-content/upl…
May 2, 2020 • 17 tweets • 11 min read
Finally had a chance to ponder all the old @NASCAR races I'd like to see. And when I say "old," I mean before the @NASCARONFOX TV deal started in 2001.
Have to start with the 1979 Daytona 500 @DISupdates. Talk about a finish! "And THERE'S A FIGHT!!!"
Apr 27, 2020 • 17 tweets • 11 min read
This morning, #SCOTUS issued a ruling in a case regarding #Obamacare's risk corridors, granting insurers a $12 billion bailout. The ruling is here -- but there's an important element of risk corridors' history that the ruling doesn't discuss... supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf…
Insurers claim they faced a "bait and switch" -- they agreed to participate in the #Exchanges, and Congress pulled the rug out from them by cutting risk corridor funding.
Intriguing question for an enterprising reporter(s): How many Members of Congress will get stimulus checks from @IRSnews -- and what will they do with them...? 1/
If you think that scenario is far-fetched, it isn't. Per CRS, Members of Congress receive a salary of $174,000 per year.
THREAD: The under-examined part of reopening the economy is assuaging Americans' #coronavirus fears.
Unless and until people feel safe to go out and about, they won't, regardless of what elected leaders say... 1/ thefederalist.com/2020/04/14/the…
Last week's @FoxNews poll (taken April 4-7) showed Americans' concerns in striking detail.
80% supported a national stay-at-home order -- even though 50% said they or someone they know has lost their job or hours due to shutdowns... 2/ foxnews.com/politics/fox-n…
Mar 29, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
Love watching the 2001 @amsupdates@NASCAR race on @FOXSports. Everything about it takes me back: The paint schemes, the drivers (@Blaney’s dad!), the old-school rules (no free pass during cautions)...
Only thing this @NASCAR rebroadcast is missing: Real-time Twitter commentary and reminisces from @DaleJr (hint, hint...)
On reflection, I think @realDonaldTrump should award Li Wenliang the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work alerting the public about #coronavirus... 1/ thehill.com/policy/healthc…
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is NOT confined to U.S. citizens. And Wenliang's contributions certainly meet the award's criteria: "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the US or world peace" 2/ thehill.com/policy/healthc…
Mar 16, 2020 • 5 tweets • 4 min read
Here's the biggest reason why @BernieSanders should NOT drop out of the presidential race, irrespective of what happens in tomorrow's primaries:
"The bailouts are coming! The bailouts are coming!"
THREAD: As folks are focusing on #CoronavirusOutbreak, let's pause for a moment to contemplate what @BernieSanders' #SinglePayer legislation would (or wouldn't) do to our ability to respond... 1/
thefederalist.com/2020/02/14/how…@BernieSanders First off, it's worth remembering that @NHSuk goes through its traditional "winter crisis" because of -- wait for it! -- the flu. The flu comes every year, of course, but years of underfunding means British hospitals have next-to-no spare capacity to treat patients... 2/
Jan 30, 2020 • 20 tweets • 26 min read
THREAD: Let's examine all the possible ways this @ebruenig tweet represents #FakeNews -- and one of the sillier arguments for #SinglePayer I've heard in a long time... 1/
@ebruenig First of all, @ebruenig said she's uninsured because she switched jobs from @washingtonpost to @nytimes -- but she didn't say exactly why. It's possible that both @washingtonpost and @nytimes don't offer health coverage to their employees, but I doubt it... 2/
Jan 17, 2020 • 16 tweets • 12 min read
THREAD: Since I was there for the episode’s taping in November, I want to share a touching story about #AlexTrebek and one of tonight’s @Jeopardy contestants.
Alert for West Coast audiences—spoilers ahead… 1/15
@Jeopardy In sum, tonight’s @Jeopardy featured two challengers (Shanu George and Priscilla Drobes) who struggled against the returning champion.
Shanu battled—lost big on some Daily Doubles, and bounced in and out of the red—but got out of the hole in time to stay for Final. 2/15
Jan 7, 2020 • 8 tweets • 8 min read
THREAD: Update on new research showing another unintended consequence of #Obamacare, as highlighted in @WSJ last week.
TL/DR version: Hospitals merged. Prices rose. Quality didn't improve, and often fell. Read on for more details! 1/
wsj.com/articles/hospi…@WSJ Report by @_melaevans talks about a new study comparing patient outcomes in hospitals that merged with hospitals that didn't. Hospitals claim mergers improve quality -- the reality proved otherwise. 2/
Jan 1, 2020 • 6 tweets • 7 min read
A #NewYearsDay observation about holiday traditions: @MummersFestival should get as much limelight as @RoseParade on January 1 -- they both have great traditions. But it doesn't, because #mummersparade isn't a made-for-TV event like #RoseParade... 1/@MummersFestival@RoseParade Having been to the #RoseParade, it's scripted down TO THE SECOND. @RoseParade staff go to great lengths to make sure the show goes off without a hitch, and stays within its two-hour timeframe... 2/
