health policy researcher, University of Victoria
Health policy researcher at the University of Victoria; author of The ABC's of Disease-mongering: An Epidemic in 26 Letters and co-author of Selling Sickness: How the World's Biggest Pharmaceutical Companies Are Turning Us All Into Patients
Obama Crosses the Border, Canada's Single-payer Health Plan Barack Obama crossed into Canada today on his first foreign trip as President. But he spent just a few hours and made no public appearances. Canada’s single-payer system is a model for many US healthcare reformers, but some of the major players in Washington have declared that it’s “off the table.”
Canada's Single-payer Health System The major players in Washington’s healthcare debate -- businesses, hospitals, doctors, labor unions, insurance companies and the members of Congress – have agreed that a “single-payer” system is “off the table.” That’s infuriated many Americans. Presidential candidate Barack Obama campaigned for “ universal healthcare ,” calling for unprecedented government intervention while preserving the employer-based insurance system. Obama’s visit to Canada provides the occasion for a debate that’s not happening in Washington on a so-called “single payer” system like those in Europe and Canada.
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.