Politico's Pulse Check

In a bonus episode, POLITICO's Adam Cancryn and Paul Demko join Dan Diamond to preview this week's high-stakes hearings. Tuesday: The Senate Judiciary Committee begins grilling Judge Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's latest nominee to the Supreme Court. Wednesday: Texas v. Azar gets underway, with the Affordable Care Act's protections at stake.

It’s no secret that President Donald Trump and his administration oppose the Affordable Care Act. But what's gone under the radar: a lawsuit that’s trying to use Trump’s own words to prove that his "sabotage" violates his constitutional responsibilities. On the podcast, Zach Klein — the attorney for Columbus, Ohio — explains to POLITICO's Dan Diamond why he decided to join the multi-city lawsuit against the Trump administration and how efforts to weaken the ACA could harm his constituents. After the break, Yale law professor Abbe Gluck explains the legal theory behind the case and whether she thinks it has a shot at success. We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email ddiamond@politico.com. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Columbus joined Baltimore, Chicago and other cities in suing the Trump administration. Abbe Gluck in October 2017 laid out the argument that Trump's moves to undermine the Affordable Care Act were i

"I think rural health care is on life support...[and] we need to redesign all of that." Sen. Heidi Heitkamp says that states like hers are facing multiple health care challenges: Too few hospitals and doctors, and too many mothers dying early. The North Dakota senator joined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss rural health care, tribal health and other issues often overlooked in Washington, D.C. Heitkamp — who narrowly won election in 2012 and is arguably Republicans' top target this fall — also explains why she supports some Medicaid work requirements and is against Medicare-for-all. We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email ddiamond@politico.com. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW The Trump administration won't exempt Native Americans from Medicaid work requirements. Heitkamp's campaign is airing ads on pre-existing conditions. Brett Kavanaugh previously signaled that presidents could ignore laws that they think are

"I've been physically harassed. I've been sued as a way of getting me to shut up. I've had three death threats the FBI deemed credible... But doing the right thing isn't an easy thing." Paul Offit, a pediatrician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, has stepped forward as one of the nation's leading defenders of vaccines — a role that's won him national praise and interviews with Stephen Colbert, but also led him to battle with a vocal community of anti-vaxxers. Paul joined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss vaccines and why the current political climate is so troubling — and why he wants to send some reporters to "journalism jail" for enabling lies about science. We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email ddiamond@politico.com. REFERENCED ON THE PODCAST Paul’s new book, "Bad Advice: Or Why Celebrities, Politicians, and Activists Aren't Your Best Source of Health Information" Paul’s 2015 book, “Bad F

"The real, ultimate issue is not interoperability — it's unaffordability of American healthcare and lack of consistent health care product... You go to see somebody, and you don't know what it's going to cost." Don Rucker, the national coordinator for health information technology, explains how the Trump administration is building on — and departing from — the Obama administration's policies. POLITICO's Darius Tahir also joins to evaluate efforts to improve data access.

When conservative analyst Lanhee Chen joined POLITICO's "Pulse Check" podcast two years ago, he wasn't sure what to expect from then-candidate Donald Trump. Today, Lanhee's happy with the moves that the Trump administration has made, and he joins Dan Diamond to discuss what won him over. (Starts at the 15:00-minute mark.) But first, POLITICO's Adam Cancryn sits down to talk about the latest news on the insurance market and HHS at the six-month mark under Secretary Alex Azar. We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email ddiamond@politico.com. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW The Trump administration on Wednesday finalized a rule intended to encourage Americans to buy short-term health plans. Adam’s story on association health plans and NFIB’s decision. Dan’s story on political interference at ASPE, the internal policy shop at HHS. Lanhee’s July 2016 appearance on POLITICO’s Pulse Check podcast.

"It's not about how I feel — that's not really what this is about. What this is about is affordability, access, and quality of health care for millions of American people and families across the country." Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the former HHS secretary and current American University president, sits down with POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss her career, how she views the Trump administration's efforts to tear down the Affordable Care Act and how she's adjusting to new challenges in higher ed. We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email ddiamond@politico.com. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW: A photo from the 1993 documentary, "The War Room." The Atlantic's 2014 story on Burwell taking "the worst job" in Washington. The Washington Post's 2018 story on Burwell guest-coaching the American University women's basketball team.

POLITICO's Jennifer Haberkorn joins PULSE CHECK to trace the battle over abortion in America, from the courts to Congress and beyond. Some of Jen's recent reporting on abortion: How anti-abortion forces learned to love Trump: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/22/anti-abortion-forces-trump-561191 The next Supreme Court justice could weigh in on abortion quickly: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/03/trump-supreme-court-pick-abortion-667924 The truth behind Sen. Bob Casey's 'pro-life' stand: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/02/casey-abortion-pennsylvania-midterms-689505 States prepare for a post-Roe world: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/15/abortion-states-roe-wade-687468

Washington has been consumed with fights over the Affordable Care Act, HHS' care of migrant kids and Donald Trump's promise to cut drug prices — and we'll get back to all of those issues on PULSE CHECK soon. But today's episode goes outside the Beltway for a look at a persistent public health problem: Brain cancer. POLITICO's Dan Diamond sat down with Ron DePinho, a famed researcher who led MD Anderson Cancer Center, to discuss the moonshot cancer initiative, whether "curing" cancer is realistic and why he stepped down as hospital president. REFERENCED ON THE PODCAST MD Anderson's "Moon Shots" Program, which inspired the Obama administration's own cancer initiative. Ron's 2017 resignation speech as MD Anderson Cancer Center president.

It's official: Judge Brett Kavanaugh is President Donald Trump's choice to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court. And his probable confirmation, and the Court's resulting shift to the right, raises serious questions for health care. What happens to the Affordable Care Act? Is Roe v. Wade doomed? And how does this change lawmakers' strategy ahead of the midterms? In a bonus conversation, POLITICO's Jennifer Haberkorn and Adam Cancryn joined Dan Diamond to discuss Kavanaugh's background and why he was picked, how the selection is playing across key advocacy groups that could sway the nomination and what's next for the Court and Congress. REFERENCED ON THE PODCAST Kavanaugh's track record as an appeals court judge: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/09/brett-kavanaugh-track-record-675294 Adam's story on the reaction to Kavanaugh's selection: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/09/brett-kavanaugh-conservative-policies-675460 POLITICO's reporting on how Kavanaugh quickly emerge

A federal judge on June 26 ordered the Trump administration to reunite migrant families that it separated at the border. But days later, there's been little progress, and POLITICO's Paul Demko and Renuka Rayasam join Dan Diamond to discuss what has — and still hasn't — happened at HHS (starts at the 1:30 mark). Paul also discussed the latest enrollment numbers from the Affordable Care Act marketplaces and the state of Obamacare heading into the midterm elections (starts at the 12:45 mark). Then after the break, Dan sits down with Atul Gawande in a previously unaired segment to discuss Atul's thoughts on long-term care and how he sees health reform (starts at the 26:45 mark). We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email ddiamond@politico.com. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW Renu's story on medical workers' concerns about migrant families' health risks: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/20/some-of-the-kids-i-spoke-to

"What has been done to these children, to forcibly separate small children from a parent... it's what totalitarian regimes do as a form of torture... We all should be outraged." Bob Carey, who ran the Office of Refugee Resettlement between 2015 and 2017, talks with Dan Diamond about how the office works, why it belongs inside HHS and the looming challenges of trying to put families back together again (starts at the 23:30 mark). But first, POLITICO's Jennifer Haberkorn and Adam Cancryn join Dan to discuss what the Supreme Court's latest rulings mean for health care, review how the migrant crisis is playing out on Capitol Hill and dive into Congress' efforts to put together opioid bills (starts at the 1:30 mark). We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email ddiamond@politico.com. MENTIONED ON THE SHOW The Supreme Court's ruling on crisis pregnancy centers: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/26/supreme-cour

Live from the Aspen Ideas Festival’s “Spotlight Health,” ex-Obama official Andy Slavitt and Arkansas health chief Cindy Gillespie address how HHS should quickly reunify separated families, look for common ground on Medicaid work requirements and debate the future of the ACA.

In 2015, the Wall Street Journal's John Carreyrou revealed that the blood tests developed by Theranos — the $9 billion company led by Elizabeth Holmes — didn't work. Now John's out with "Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup," a book that offers new details about Holmes, her fraud and her efforts to kill his investigation. John joined POLITICO's Dan Diamond to discuss how he got the story and walk through the Theranos timeline (starts at the 1:35 mark), how Holmes was able to attract staff, investors and media attention (12:00), why government regulators didn't spot the fraud (21:30), why staff were scared to blow the whistle (28:15), what Carreyrou thinks of reporters who missed the story and more on his journalistic process (33:30). At the end, there's a lighting round of listener-submitted questions at 43:30. We'd appreciate your help: Please share PULSE CHECK and rate us on your favorite podcast app! Have questions, suggestions or feedback? Email ddiamond@politico.com. MENTIONED ON

Tevi Troy helped lead the nation's health department under President George W. Bush. Now he's helping steer JUUL — the nation's most popular e-cigarette company — through the Washington policymaking process and public health scrutiny. "Using a JUUL is worse than doing nothing," Troy acknowledged on the podcast. But"if we can get people to switch away from [traditional] cigarettes… there's a potentially huge public health benefit." In conversation with POLITICO’s Dan Diamond, Tevi explains why he joined JUUL and how he sees the company’s mission (starts at the 2:00 mark), why JUUL has a special responsibility given its market-leading position (6:00), the public health risks of e-cigarettes and resulting FDA scrutiny (8:30), the politics of vaping (15:30), the New Yorker’s article on JUUL (18:30), why opening a JUUL feels like unboxing an Apple iPod (20:00), and Tevi's views on the current HHS, having served as deputy HHS secretary during the George W. Bush administration (24:00). Then in the recurring “Stea

For the past year, Sen. Bill Cassidy has played a pivotal role in Republicans’ health care strategy. The doctor-turned-lawmaker helped craft the Graham-Cassidy proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act, sparking outrage from public health groups (and a certain talk show host) who warned that the legislation would lead to millions more people being uninsured. Now Cassidy’s out with a new package of ideas that the Louisiana Republican argues will “make health care affordable again.” The wide-ranging blueprint includes pushing price transparency, studying racial disparities and resurrecting the stalled bill to prop up the Affordable Care Act’s individual insurance market. Cassidy joined POLITICO’s Dan Diamond to discuss the reception to his new proposals (starts at the 1:40 mark), why he wants more Americans to use health savings accounts (3:30), why Cassidy is betting big on price transparency (5:30), the fight over the ACA’s high premiums and Democrats’ concerns about short-term health plans (10:30), his cr

Two years ago, anti-abortion leaders attacked then-candidate Donald Trump as a “pro-choice” liberal who couldn’t be trusted. This week, the movement's most prominent leader praised Trump as “the most pro-life president in history” as he spoke at the Susan B. Anthony List’s gala. How did Trump became an unlikely anti-abortion hero, and what has Trump actually accomplished? First, POLITICO’s Jennifer Haberkorn joins Dan Diamond to discuss Trump’s recent moves, including this week’s changes to the Title X program (starts at the 1:55 mark), and why public health experts say Trump’s proposed limits on abortion amount to a “gag rule” on physicians (6:35). Then Marjorie Dannenfelser, who leads SBA List and chaired Trump’s “Pro-Life Coalition” during his campaign, discusses why anti-abortion groups are surging under Trump (starts at the 12:50 mark), the passionate politics around abortion issues (13:45), how she went from Trump critic to top Trump supporter (20:30), her relationship with the White House (25:10), th

One week ago, HHS Secretary Alex Azar joined President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden to announce his signature initiative: A long-awaited plan to lower drug prices. The secretary’s been on a tour to explain the plan — which has faced resistance from pharma and was panned by some Wall Street analysts — and POLITICO’s Dan Diamond joined Azar at HHS headquarters to review the latest developments. On this episode, Azar discusses where drug prices rank as an administration priority and how he wants taxpayers to judge success (starts at the 1:40 mark), why the plan doesn’t include importing drugs from Canada, an idea that Trump supported as a presidential candidate (5:15), why Azar wants to put drug prices in TV ads (9:00), whether he was prepared for the backlash to the plan (10:15), why he suggested that the media doesn’t want the drug plan to be perceived as successful (12:10), how Azar wants to combine Medicare Part B and Part D negotiations (13:10), and what Azar sees as a former pharma executive (16:45).

President Donald Trump finally unveiled his plan to lower drug prices last week, and on this week’s episode, POLITICO looks closer at what’s in the strategy and how it builds (or doesn’t) on the Obama administration’s own efforts. First, POLITICO’s Sarah Karlin-Smith discusses her reporting on the Trump administration’s drug plan (starts at the 2:05 mark), what’s in the bill and how it’s being received. Then after the break, Tim Gronniger — who served as CMS Chief of Staff and led the agency’s work on drug spending under the Obama administration — discusses his impression of the Trump plan (starts at the 14:05 mark), and what he learned from Obama-era efforts to try and lower drug prices, which met with significant resistance and were largely stalled. Stick around for a new segment — “Steal My Job” (starts at the 37:00 mark) — where Tim discusses how he got his jobs in the Obama administration and tips for people interested in a similar career path. GLOSSARY OF TERMS ON THIS EPISODE Average sales price (

The health care safety net is rarely glamorous, but for tens of millions of Americans, it's often necessary. These low-income patients depend on Medicaid, public hospitals and other services for care — although safety-net resources have been increasingly strained in recent years, partly because of decisions made in Washington. On this episode of PULSE CHECK, we meet one person trying to make the safety net stronger: Veenu Aulakh, the executive director of the Center for Care Innovations (www.careinnovations.org), which tests safety-net ideas and works to implement solutions across California and beyond. In this conversation (recorded in Oakland in January), Veenu talks about her center’s mission (starts at the 1:10 mark), the state of the health care safety net (4:00), the focus on “innovation” buzzwords in health care (7:30), how consolidation is affecting safety-net patients (9:30), how policymaking in Washington is playing out on the front lines in Oakland and beyond (13:30), and why Veenu walked away fr