A federal appeals court on Friday temporarily froze federal rules allowing the teleprescribing and mailing of abortion drugs, which now account for more than 60% of all abortions in the health system.
Why it matters: The 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruling marks a major win for the anti-abortion movement, which had been pressing the Trump administration to reinstate in-person dispensing requirements.
The "Make America Healthy Again" movement notched a big win on pesticide regulation during Thursday's debate on a House farm bill, only to see the White House pull the nomination of a favored influencer for surgeon general hours later.
Why it matters: The events showed how the movement continues to have clout on matters related to the food supply, but can be a political liability when it comes to vaccines and other public health matters.
President Trump announced a new nominee for surgeon general Thursday, picking Nicole Saphier of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, a former Fox News medical contributor, for the top health job.
Why it matters: Trump said he's dropping his previous nominee, Casey Means, a nutrition influencer and ally of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who struggled to win enough Republican support to be confirmed by the Senate.
A new fight over health price transparency is playing out in an unusual copyright lawsuit over a hospital billing manual.
Why it matters: Hospitals have been required since 2021 to post prices for items and services in a consumer-friendly way, but patient advocates say the system is still opaque.
Here is the most baffling paradox of 2026: Most Americans agree on most things most of the time — and yet, our feeds and screens scream civil war.
Our eyes and our front porches tell a different story.
Why it matters: Three events this week captured beautifully my core belief: The vast majority of Americans are decent, hardworking, neighbor-helping, kid-raising people who don't pop off online.
