Supreme Court Ruling Might Push Planned Parenthood to the Edge

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Supreme Court Ruling Might Push Planned Parenthood to the Edge

What's going on: The Supreme Court just made it harder for more than 1 million people in South Carolina to access care at Planned Parenthood. Gov. Henry McMaster (R) cut off Medicaid funding to the clinics in 2018, saying taxpayer money was being used to “subsidize abortion providers.” But Planned Parenthood and one of its patients took the state to court. They argued South Carolina violated federal law by denying patients the right to choose their medical provider. In a 6-3 decision, the justices ruled that the clinic didn’t have standing to sue on behalf of patients — making it much harder to challenge similar state moves in court.

What it means: Experts say the justices’ decision could motivate other states to remove Planned Parenthood from their Medicaid programs. It also spells a funding problem for the organization. Medicaid doesn’t cover most abortions, but it helps support Planned Parenthood’s other services, like STI testing and cancer screenings. While Republicans praised the ruling, health experts said it’s part of a larger conservative effort to defund the organization. For now, one Planned Parenthood official said that it’ll continue to operate in South Carolina, including for Medicaid patients. But the question is: For how long?

Related: All of the Big Supreme Court Rulings Dropping Today (NBC)

Health

RFK Jr's Vaccine Panel Is Setting the Tone

What's going on: RFK Jr.’s newly stacked vaccine panel (yes, the one he replaced with all of his own people) is raising alarms in the medical community. Just yesterday, members opted to effectively remove a rare flu shot ingredient that anti-vaccine groups have falsely tied to autism. The lone dissenter, a pediatrician, argued the move could limit the availability of flu vaccines and noted there’s no known evidence the ingredient (thimerosal) is harmful. Meanwhile, RFK Jr. also announced the US was defunding Gavi, a global alliance to expand vaccines for children in the world’s poorest countries. It comes after the panel also called for a full review of the federal childhood vaccine schedule.

What it means: Health experts worry these initial recommendations could just be the beginning — with RFK Jr., a well-known vaccine skeptic, at the helm. The panel, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), was founded 60 years ago to guide health officials on who should get which vaccines and when. Its recommendations help shape vaccine availability and determine what insurance plans will cover. While the ACIP chair insists the committee relies on “evidence-based medicine,” health experts warn some of these moves could undo decades of work to keep vaccine-preventable diseases at bay (see: the current measles outbreak).

Related: A New Study Found Millions of Kids Are at Risk From Stalled Vaccine Efforts (WaPo Gift Link)

Politics

The Senate Ref Just Blew the Whistle 

What's going on: Senate Republicans just hit a major snag in their push to pass President Donald Trump’s sweeping domestic policy bill by July 4. Yesterday, Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough said several key provisions don’t meet the rules needed to bypass a filibuster, because they’re not strictly focused on budget-related changes. The flag means proposed GOP measures totaling $500 billion in spending cuts — including major Medicaid reductions and changes to student loan repayments — can’t be included in the bill. With just days before the deadline, Republicans are now scrambling to rewrite or replace sections of the legislation. Trump, meanwhile, tried to keep spirits high at a White House event yesterday, though he touted a provision that isn’t even in the bill.

What it means: Republicans are now in the same boat Democrats were in during 2021, when MacDonough blocked their plans to raise the minimum wage and expand immigration access. Some GOP lawmakers, including Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), want her fired, accusing her of pushing a “woke agenda.” Others, like Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), are quietly working on backup plans. Lawmakers could overrule MacDonough, but they’re the ones who appointed her to follow the rules. It’s a tough pill to swallow when things don’t go your way no matter what side of the aisle you’re on. 

Related: How the GOP Tax Plan Could Shift Wealth Across Generations (CBS)

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Listen

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