Osteopath Joseph Mercola has donated more than $2.9 million over a nearly 10-year stretch to the National Vaccine Information Center — accounting for nearly 40% of the organization's funding, the Washington Post reports, citing recent tax records.
Why it matters: Mercola has made millions of dollars selling natural health products, such as supplements, according to court records. He has made claims on his website that some of his remedies are effective alternatives to vaccines, the Post notes.
President Trump on Friday evening signed a $1.37 trillion spending measure to avoid a government shutdown, according to CNBC.
Why it matters:Unlike last year, when the U.S. government shut down for 35 days from December through January, Trump was willing to accept less funding than he originally requested for the U.S.-Mexico border. He wanted $8 billion for the wall, but Congress only fulfilled $1.375 billion for fence construction, according to NPR.
Thirty-one patients with lung injuries associated with vaping were re-hospitalized and seven died in the days after their hospital discharges, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said as of Dec. 10 in one of four new studies released Friday.
Why it matters: Officials are recommending health care providers follow up with patients in the days after discharge to prevent further complications.
Swing states and red states stand to lose the most if the courts ultimately throw out the Affordable Care Act, according to a new analysis by the Urban Institute.
Why it matters: President Trump and Republican attorneys general could pay a steep political price if they succeed in their quest to kill the law.
