Samira Brooks
Samira Brooks reports on education, health care, and science policy at the state and national levels, translating technical agency releases and peer-reviewed data into plain-language reporting on how expert decisions affect everyday life.
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Articles
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HealthNIH-Funded Transgender Youth Study Sought More Minority and Male Participants
A federally funded study on puberty blockers and transgender hormones for youth aimed to increase enrollment of minority and male participants after initial cohorts.
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HealthSen. Cassidy Report Alleges Major Oversight Failures in Abortion Pill Industry
Sen. Bill Cassidy's new Senate report alleges abortion pill companies and the FDA lack oversight, raising safety concerns as the FDA reviews its regulations.
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HealthHHS Rebukes Senate Candidate’s Comparison of Transgender Procedures to Circumcision
The Department of Health and Human Services rejected Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s comparison of transgender medical procedures to circumcision, citing risks.
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EducationTrump to Spotlight School Choice Expansion at Rose Garden Event
President Trump will highlight the administration's school choice initiatives and a new federal tax credit for education scholarships at a Rose Garden event.
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EducationEducation Department Moves to Strip ABA Law School Accreditation Power
The Department of Education has begun proceedings to revoke the American Bar Association’s law school accrediting authority, citing regulatory violations and DEI.
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EducationTrump Administration Moves to End ABA’s Exclusive Law School Accreditor Role
The Trump administration is seeking to end the American Bar Association’s exclusive authority to accredit U.S. law schools, citing concerns over political influence.
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EducationAustin ISD Faces Possible State Intervention After Two Schools Receive Fifth Consecutive F Rating
Austin ISD risks state intervention after Burnet and Webb Middle Schools received their fifth straight F rating, raising concerns over academic performance.
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EducationAbbott Unveils Plan to Bar Foreign Influence, H-1B Workers in Texas Schools
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced an initiative to block foreign funding and ban H-1B visa workers in public schools, citing concerns over outside influence.
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HealthCDC Adds Detransitioning to Official Diagnosis Codes, Enabling Expanded Care
The CDC will recognize detransitioning in new ICD-10 codes for insurance and data collection, expanding access to care for those reversing gender transitions.
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EducationEducation Department Ends Race-Based Discipline Mandates, Launches Investigations
The Department of Education reversed prior guidance on race-based school discipline, urging neutrality and opening new civil rights investigations into district.
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HealthFDA Official Urged Fauci to Study COVID Vaccine Side Effects, Email Shows No Action Taken
A 2021 email reveals FDA head Janet Woodcock urged Fauci and Collins to study COVID vaccine side effects, but no such research was conducted.
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HealthCMS Ends Medicaid, CHIP Funding for Pediatric Gender Procedures
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has finalized a rule ending federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for gender-related medical interventions in minors.
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HealthReport Alleges Colorado State Programs Promote Youth Gender Transitions Without Parental Consent
A new report claims Colorado state-funded programs direct children toward gender transition resources, raising concerns over parental consent and taxpayer spending.
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HealthASRM Faces Scrutiny Over Funding and Ethics in Embryo Research
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine's funding of embryo research and lobbying on IVF and embryo status draws criticism and legislative pushback.
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EducationVirginia Schools Expand Book Access With Vending Machines, Imagination Library
Virginia schools and local groups are launching new programs to boost reading, including book vending machines and a statewide Imagination Library rollout.
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EducationCambridge Professor Faces Scrutiny Over Plagiarism Allegations and Biographical Claims
Jason Arday, Cambridge's youngest black professor, faces plagiarism accusations and questions about his biography, raising debate over DEI in academia.
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HealthTrump Administration Ends Medicare Part D Premium Stabilization Program
The Trump administration will end a temporary Medicare Part D subsidy in 2027, citing high taxpayer costs, as CMS says insurers can now price plans reliably.
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EducationCambridge Professor Faces Plagiarism Allegations Amid DEI Debate
Cambridge professor Jason Arday is accused of plagiarism and fabricating parts of his biography, fueling debate over university DEI policies and institutional.
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HealthCalifornia’s IMR Process Drives Insurance Coverage for Transgender Procedures
California’s Independent Medical Review process has led insurers to cover more transgender procedures, sparking debate over medical necessity and regulatory.
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HealthCongressional Bill Would Require Insurers to Cover Detransition Care Nationwide
A new bill would mandate private insurers cover restorative treatments for people detransitioning after gender procedures, expanding a Texas law nationwide.
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HealthComplex Drug Pricing Under Scrutiny as Patients Face Higher Costs
A patient’s struggle to obtain a maintenance prescription highlights how pharmacy benefit managers and insurance rules can drive up drug costs for consumers.
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EducationEducation Department Presses States on Parental Notification in Transgender Policies
The U.S. Department of Education is demanding California and Washington revise school policies on parental notification of students’ gender identity, escalating.
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EducationConservative Group Urges Senate to Reject College Transparency Act Over Privacy Concerns
Concerned Women for America is pressing the Senate to oppose the College Transparency Act, warning it would enable federal tracking of college students’ personal.
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EducationTexas Public Universities to Accept Classic Learning Test for Admissions
Texas public universities will accept the Classic Learning Test as an alternative to the SAT and ACT, reflecting a shift in college admissions standards.
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EducationSenate Moderates Move to Block Full Shutdown of Education Department
Moderate GOP senators introduced bills to prevent the transfer of key education programs, challenging efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.
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HealthFauci’s Diary Reveals Contradictions on Covid Fatality, Lab Leak, and School Closures
Sen. Rand Paul released Anthony Fauci’s diary, showing discrepancies between Fauci’s private assessments and public statements on Covid risks and policies.
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HealthTrump Administration Launches Operation Trialblazer to Speed Drug Approvals
The Trump administration's Operation Trialblazer aims to accelerate FDA drug approvals by reducing regulatory barriers, seeking to boost U.S.
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EducationArkansas Expands Education Freedom Accounts as National Confidence in Schools Remains Low
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders' Education Freedom Accounts program reports rising parent support and student performance amid national dissatisfaction.
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HealthFederal Government Pauses $860 Million in Medi-Cal Funding Amid Fraud Concerns
Federal officials have halted over $860 million in Medi-Cal payments to California after a report detailed widespread fraud and waste in the $220 billion program.
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EducationAFT Endorses Gender-Affirming Care, Citing Health Equity at Annual Convention
The American Federation of Teachers has endorsed gender-affirming care in a new resolution, intensifying debate over transgender medicine and political funding.
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The PrimerThe Evolving Landscape of American Health Care Legislation
Exploring key legislative changes shaping the American health care system and the ongoing debate over subsidies and access.
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EducationPolls Show Declining Support for Capitalism, Civic Knowledge Among Young Americans
Recent surveys reveal a sharp decline in support for capitalism and civic knowledge among young Americans, raising concerns about the future of constitutional.
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EducationAudit Finds DEI Practices Persist in Indiana Schools Despite State Ban
An audit by Indiana Family Institute found diversity, equity, and inclusion practices remain in public schools despite state bans, raising questions.
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HealthMedicaid Work Requirements Implemented by Trump Administration
The Trump administration's new Medicaid work requirements aim to encourage employment while raising concerns about coverage loss and wage inflation.
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EducationTexas Board of Education Includes Bible in Curriculum Amid Controversy
The Texas Board of Education's decision to include the Bible in the K-12 curriculum has sparked debate over educational content and religious influence.
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EducationEducation Department Transfers Responsibilities, Moves Toward Potential Shutdown
The Education Department has begun transferring responsibilities to other agencies, signaling a potential shutdown as part of a broader policy shift.
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EducationU.S. Department of Education to Review ABA's Accreditation Power Amid Criticism
The U.S. Department of Education is set to review the American Bar Association's accreditation authority, facing criticism over its political influence in law.
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EducationDemocrats Propose Repeal of Trump-Era Student Loan Protections
A group of congressional Democrats seeks to repeal Trump administration rules limiting student loan amounts, igniting debate over college affordability.
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HealthExperts Critique Medicalization of Mental Health at Summit
At a recent summit, experts argued that the American medical establishment has exacerbated the mental health crisis through overdiagnosis and overmedication.
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HealthReport Claims Doctors Misuse Medical Codes to Bypass Bans on Transgender Procedures
A report alleges that some doctors are using misleading medical codes to circumvent bans on transgender procedures for minors, raising ethical concerns.
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EducationU.S. Education Department Proposes Rule to Limit Federal Funding for Low-Return College Programs
The U.S. Department of Education plans to cut federal funding for college programs that fail to provide graduates with high salaries, aiming to reduce student debt.
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EducationCalifornia Legislature Discusses $26 Million Funding for Pediatric Transgender Care
California lawmakers are considering $26 million to fund pediatric transgender interventions amid declining services and growing concerns about access.
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EducationConnecticut Education Committee Considers Bill to Regulate Homeschooling
Connecticut lawmakers are debating House Bill 5468, which would impose new oversight on homeschooling families, raising concerns among parents and educators.
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HealthHawley Introduces Bill to Ban Mifepristone, Citing Health Risks
Sen. Josh Hawley has introduced legislation to ban mifepristone, citing health risks to women and unborn children, amid calls for stricter regulations.
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EducationParents and Staff Express Concerns Over Lipscomb Academy's Shift in Educational Focus
Parents and staff at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville voice concerns over perceived ideological shifts in the school's curriculum and leadership.
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HealthFrance Targets Women with Egg Freezing Initiative Amid Declining Birth Rates
France's new initiative to encourage egg freezing aims to address its declining fertility rate, but critics question its effectiveness and implications.
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EducationWisconsin School District Faces Backlash Over Transgender Bathroom Policy
The New Richmond School District's secret transgender bathroom policy has sparked significant parental outrage and calls for policy review.
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EducationU.S. Education Department Finds California Violated Family Rights Law
The U.S. Department of Education found California violated federal law by concealing students' gender transitions from parents, risking federal funding.
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EducationVirginia Democrats Propose Inclusive Curriculum for Public Schools
Virginia Democrats propose a bill to mandate LGBTQ+ history in schools, raising concerns about educational content and parental rights.
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HealthNIH Ends Funding for Research Using Aborted Fetal Tissue
The National Institutes of Health will no longer fund research involving aborted fetal tissue, marking a significant shift in federal policy.