xpostfactoid
@xpostfactoid.bsky.social
Blogging mostly healthcare policy at http://xpostfactoid.substack.com. ACA implementation watcher. CSR czar. AKA Andrew Sprung.
Cool -- I don't suppose she'll go on an I Lied tour?
Breaking Politico:
Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's spokesperson and a known spreader of disinformation, is expected to inform colleagues Tuesday that she's leaving DHS.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's spokesperson and a known spreader of disinformation, is expected to inform colleagues Tuesday that she's leaving DHS.
www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin to leave Trump administration
The move comes as public opinion has turned on the administration’s hardline immigration policies.
www.politico.com
February 17, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Cool -- I don't suppose she'll go on an I Lied tour?
"as the father of a daughter, I want you to know that I fully detest what you are doing to so many other people’s children right now."
open.substack.com/pub/johnpavl...
open.substack.com/pub/johnpavl...
Dear Pam Bondi, (A Letter From A Father)
Dear Ms Bondi,
open.substack.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:49 PM
"as the father of a daughter, I want you to know that I fully detest what you are doing to so many other people’s children right now."
open.substack.com/pub/johnpavl...
open.substack.com/pub/johnpavl...
Reposted by xpostfactoid
Watch this bsky.app/profile/katm...
February 16, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Watch this bsky.app/profile/katm...
The day is coming when countries will compete for immigrants
Scream this from the ramparts. Everything people claim to care about - power, hegemony, prosperity, science, universities, art, food, culture, tech, soft power, countering rising China, etc. etc. etc. The answer is always "more immigration why are we being so obtuse?"
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
February 16, 2026 at 10:54 PM
The day is coming when countries will compete for immigrants
Palantir alum:
“Platforms used by the DHS bring war-grade technologies we see in Gaza to American neighborhoods”
“Platforms used by the DHS bring war-grade technologies we see in Gaza to American neighborhoods”
ICE operations increasingly resemble Israeli occupation. That’s no coincidence
U.S. immigration enforcement has long cultivated ties with Israel. Now it adapts algorithmic surveillance tactics from Gaza for use on American streets.
www.972mag.com
February 16, 2026 at 8:33 PM
Palantir alum:
“Platforms used by the DHS bring war-grade technologies we see in Gaza to American neighborhoods”
“Platforms used by the DHS bring war-grade technologies we see in Gaza to American neighborhoods”
..the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department has been functionally dissolved until further notice. Right-wing populism is a joke, swarmed over by a sea of Monopoly money.
Real Talk About Lobbyists Buying the Justice Department - The American Prospect
There’s a simple narrative about the ouster of Antitrust Division chief Gail Slater. Big money wanted her out, and she’s out.
prospect.org
February 16, 2026 at 8:20 PM
..the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department has been functionally dissolved until further notice. Right-wing populism is a joke, swarmed over by a sea of Monopoly money.
Zero emissions, wow! Oh wait...
“The U.S. no longer has emission standards of any meaning,” said Margo T. Oge, who served as the E.P.A.’s top vehicle emissions regulator under three presidents and has since advised both automakers and environmental groups…
“Nothing. Zero,” she added. “Not many countries have zero.”
“Nothing. Zero,” she added. “Not many countries have zero.”
With Latest Rollback, the U.S. Essentially Has No Clean-Car Rules
www.nytimes.com
February 16, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Zero emissions, wow! Oh wait...
Trump is more effect than cause?
wealth concentration is already 200% as bad at is was in 2020. think about that
The pace at which US wealth concentration is rising is simply staggering
The concentration of AI wealth into the hands of a few tech barons + plutocratic capture ==> unchartered territory
The concentration of AI wealth into the hands of a few tech barons + plutocratic capture ==> unchartered territory
February 16, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Trump is more effect than cause?
It's kind of amazing that Republicans aren't ashamed to do this kind of thing. No-excuse voter suppression.
North Carolina lawmakers have voted to remove all college campus voting sites. Specifically at the largest HBCU in the US NC A&T. They now have to walk 30 minutes to their nearest polling place. Students are protesting this - pls share and support.
www.tiktok.com/t/ZThx29BJ9/
www.tiktok.com/t/ZThx29BJ9/
Even without an on-campus voting site, NCAT students still marched to the polls. 💙💛 Students at North Carolina A&T showed that barriers won’t stop their voices. When access isn’t easy, they organize. ...
TikTok video by HBCU Student Action Alliance
www.tiktok.com
February 16, 2026 at 1:58 PM
It's kind of amazing that Republicans aren't ashamed to do this kind of thing. No-excuse voter suppression.
This is a powerful case, @ryanlcooper.com, but I have two (overlapping) questions/caveats:
1. When Republicans chipped away at IRS funding, they controlled the House.
2. If Dems flat-out refuse any ICE funding at all, won't Trump make Rs end the fillibuster?
If Dems take the Senate, that works...
1. When Republicans chipped away at IRS funding, they controlled the House.
2. If Dems flat-out refuse any ICE funding at all, won't Trump make Rs end the fillibuster?
If Dems take the Senate, that works...
The Case for Keeping ICE and CBP Defunded - The American Prospect
Democrats should not provide one thin dime to MAGA storm troopers.
prospect.org
February 16, 2026 at 1:55 PM
This is a powerful case, @ryanlcooper.com, but I have two (overlapping) questions/caveats:
1. When Republicans chipped away at IRS funding, they controlled the House.
2. If Dems flat-out refuse any ICE funding at all, won't Trump make Rs end the fillibuster?
If Dems take the Senate, that works...
1. When Republicans chipped away at IRS funding, they controlled the House.
2. If Dems flat-out refuse any ICE funding at all, won't Trump make Rs end the fillibuster?
If Dems take the Senate, that works...
When Musk and Hegseth argue that a racially diverse nation is inherently weak, they're not returning us to some long-established American tradition from which we've recently strayed. They are, instead, parroting the exact same propaganda that Nazi Germany promoted against America during World War II
All right, I got mad enough to write a full post about all this:
Diversity Is Our Strength
This morning, Elon Musk – the world's richest man and a key ally to the president of the United States – posted the content below to the white nationalist chat room and CSAM emporium he owns
There's ...
campaign-trails.ghost.io
February 16, 2026 at 12:36 AM
When Musk and Hegseth argue that a racially diverse nation is inherently weak, they're not returning us to some long-established American tradition from which we've recently strayed. They are, instead, parroting the exact same propaganda that Nazi Germany promoted against America during World War II
n.b. @pkrugman.bsky.social -- the forecast that ACA marketplace insurance will drop by ~ 4 million this year will probably prove to be on target when we have average monthly enrollment totals for 2026.
xpostfactoid.substack.com/p/how-much-w...
xpostfactoid.substack.com/p/how-much-w...
How much will average monthly enrollment drop in the 2026 ACA marketplace?
While there are lots of reasons to expect millions to drop coverage, mitigating factors are also at play
xpostfactoid.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 3:10 PM
n.b. @pkrugman.bsky.social -- the forecast that ACA marketplace insurance will drop by ~ 4 million this year will probably prove to be on target when we have average monthly enrollment totals for 2026.
xpostfactoid.substack.com/p/how-much-w...
xpostfactoid.substack.com/p/how-much-w...
DOGE is doxing Medicaid healthcare providers who provide treatments the administration demonizes, such as gender-affirming care and Mifepristone prescriptions.
Must-read from @matthewcort.land
Must-read from @matthewcort.land
HHS DOGE Released Medicaid Billing Data That Can Be Used to Target Abortion and Gender-Affirming Care Providers by Name | Shouldn't Need to Be a Lawyer by Matthew Cortland
Get more from Shouldn't Need to Be a Lawyer by Matthew Cortland on Patreon
www.patreon.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:25 PM
DOGE is doxing Medicaid healthcare providers who provide treatments the administration demonizes, such as gender-affirming care and Mifepristone prescriptions.
Must-read from @matthewcort.land
Must-read from @matthewcort.land
Let him posture. Minnesota resisters drove ICE out.
Tom Homan on Gov. Walz and Mayor Frey: "They ought to be saying 'thank you.'"
February 15, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Let him posture. Minnesota resisters drove ICE out.
Reposted by xpostfactoid
Today as always, @citizencohn.bsky.social is a must read. Here he is on the massive danger to public health of the latest anti-vax actions by Trump’s and RFK’s FDA.
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
This Is What Destroying the Vaccine Market Looks Like
A shocking move by RFK Jr.’s team has the industry spooked—for good reason.
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Today as always, @citizencohn.bsky.social is a must read. Here he is on the massive danger to public health of the latest anti-vax actions by Trump’s and RFK’s FDA.
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Reposted by xpostfactoid
Oh is that how it works
Kristi Noem: "When it gets to Election Day, we've been proactive to make sure we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders to lead this country."
February 14, 2026 at 11:58 PM
Oh is that how it works
Reposted by xpostfactoid
Measles is a bellwether. Because it’s the most contagious vaccine-preventable disease, when vaccination rates drop, it’s the first to start spreading.
Now we’ve got mumps rolling up.
Expect more.
This is just the beginning of RFK Jr.’s successful infectious disease reintroduction plan.
Now we’ve got mumps rolling up.
Expect more.
This is just the beginning of RFK Jr.’s successful infectious disease reintroduction plan.
Maryland health officials warn providers about an upsurge in mumps cases
Maryland health officials are warning about an uptick in cases of mumps.
www.thebanner.com
February 14, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Measles is a bellwether. Because it’s the most contagious vaccine-preventable disease, when vaccination rates drop, it’s the first to start spreading.
Now we’ve got mumps rolling up.
Expect more.
This is just the beginning of RFK Jr.’s successful infectious disease reintroduction plan.
Now we’ve got mumps rolling up.
Expect more.
This is just the beginning of RFK Jr.’s successful infectious disease reintroduction plan.
Under Trump, CMS becomes very creative in finding ways to undermine the ACA marketplace.
See: federal subsidies for non-network health plans
xpostfactoid.substack.com/p/new-cms-sc...
See: federal subsidies for non-network health plans
xpostfactoid.substack.com/p/new-cms-sc...
February 14, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Under Trump, CMS becomes very creative in finding ways to undermine the ACA marketplace.
See: federal subsidies for non-network health plans
xpostfactoid.substack.com/p/new-cms-sc...
See: federal subsidies for non-network health plans
xpostfactoid.substack.com/p/new-cms-sc...
As the country soaks up thousands of videos of ICE rampaging, I'm reminded of a precursor: Iranians filming Basij abuses in 2009
xpostfactoid.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-re...
xpostfactoid.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-re...
I record, therefore we are
A blog focused on the Affordable Care Act and health care policy
xpostfactoid.blogspot.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:23 PM
As the country soaks up thousands of videos of ICE rampaging, I'm reminded of a precursor: Iranians filming Basij abuses in 2009
xpostfactoid.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-re...
xpostfactoid.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-re...
Reposted by xpostfactoid
So smart. The opportunity is there, we need to take it and run with it.
The extraordinary public backlash to Trump's ICE raids and mass deportations suggests it's time to rethink how information warfare and political persuasion work in the Trump era. Dems have an opening to reset the immigration debate if they act now.
New piece from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
How the Democrats Can Play Offense on Immigration
Typically, Democrats run for the hills when immigration comes up. But as two blue-state governors are showing, the winning play is actually to confront ICE and MAGA xenophobia head on.
newrepublic.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM
So smart. The opportunity is there, we need to take it and run with it.
or clueless sycophants
Good God. Trump's Council of Economic Advisors are either clueless or sycophants.
acasignups.net/26/02/13/goo...
acasignups.net/26/02/13/goo...
Good God. Trump's Council of Economic Advisors are either clueless or sycophants.
From a post of mine last September: Via the HHS Dept. website this morning: WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today it is implementing important measures to...
acasignups.net
February 13, 2026 at 2:11 PM
or clueless sycophants
Go WSJ
February 13, 2026 at 3:06 AM
Go WSJ
just forget this ever happened
FORTUITOUS TIMING: In bid to block Minnesota from obtaining records about immigration enforcement in state, Trump admin lawyers cite Homan announcement this morning that Operation Metro Surge is ending. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/26... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2026/02...
MNvUSDiscOpp021226
www.documentcloud.org
February 12, 2026 at 11:07 PM
just forget this ever happened
and now I'm flushing U.S. public health down the toilet
RFK Jr: I'm not scared of a germ. I used to snort cocaine off of toilet seats.
February 12, 2026 at 9:19 PM
and now I'm flushing U.S. public health down the toilet