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.
* An editorial byline. About our use of AI →
Articles
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HealthDemocrats Face Scrutiny Over Medicare for All Bill Covering Unauthorized Immigrants
Democratic senators are backing Bernie Sanders' Medicare for All bill, which would extend taxpayer-funded health care to all U.S. residents.
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EducationPoll: 22% of Undergraduates Say U.S. Deserved 9/11, 45% Back Violence to Stop Hate Speech
A Buckley Institute poll finds 22% of U.S. undergraduates believe America deserved 9/11, while 45% support violence to stop hate speech, highlighting deep divides.
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HealthReport: Medicaid Cost-Sharing May Discourage States From Pursuing Fraud
A Congressional report finds Medicaid's funding structure may reduce states' incentives to combat fraud, as federal dollars dominate program spending.
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EducationNebraska Governor Probes Firefighter Rejection Over Homeschool Diploma
Nebraska's governor is investigating after Fremont denied a volunteer firefighter a full-time job due to his homeschool diploma, raising questions about local hiring rules.
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HealthPennsylvania Republicans Warn Disease Rule Proposal Could Allow Warrantless Home Entry
Pennsylvania Republicans say a proposed overhaul of state disease regulations could permit warrantless entry into homes, raising concerns over executive power.
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EducationVermont Teachers Union Adopts Gender Identity Sports Policy, Cites 'White Privilege'
Vermont's teachers union has adopted resolutions supporting gender identity in school sports and calling for acknowledgment of 'white supremacy culture.'.
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EducationTrump Administration Targets University DEI Programs With Tax-Exempt Status Threat
The Treasury Department proposed ending tax-exempt status for universities with race-based admissions, escalating federal pressure on higher education diversity policies.
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EducationFrisco ISD Faces Scrutiny Over Muslim Student Prayer Room at Liberty High School
Frisco ISD is under scrutiny after reports that a Liberty High School classroom was used exclusively for Muslim student prayer, raising questions about religious equality.
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HealthNew Study Disputes Link Between Transgender Medicine Restrictions and Teen Suicide Rates
A Do No Harm study finds no increase in teen suicide rates after states restrict transgender medical procedures, challenging widely cited claims.
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EducationMichigan Requires Online Vaccine Education for Waiver Requests, Raising Parental Rights Concerns
Michigan parents seeking nonmedical vaccine waivers for schoolchildren must now complete an online course, sparking debate over state authority and privacy.
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EducationIowa and Indiana Advance Overhauls of College General Education Requirements
Iowa and Indiana have enacted new measures to reshape college general education, aiming to prioritize traditional civics and history over identity-focused courses.
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EducationFairfax Schools and CBC Face Criticism Over 9/11 Curriculum Guidance
Fairfax County Public Schools and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation are under scrutiny for guidance that downplays the role of Islamic terrorists in the 9/11 attacks.
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EducationMicrosoft and Teachers Union Launch AI Privacy Standard, Drawing Criticism Over Parental Exclusion
Microsoft and the American Federation of Teachers unveiled a national AI privacy standard for schools, but critics say parents were excluded from its creation.
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EducationDepartment of Education Staff Recommends Ending ABA’s Law School Accreditation Monopoly
Federal education officials have recommended stripping the American Bar Association of its exclusive power to accredit law schools, citing compliance and governance concerns.
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EducationStudy Finds Graduate Education Programs Emphasize Activism Over Teaching Skills
A new study by the American Enterprise Institute claims top graduate education schools prioritize activism and critical theory over classroom instruction, raising.
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EducationTexas Board Approves Curriculum Linking 'Radical Islam' to 9/11, Sparking Debate
The Texas Board of Education approved curriculum changes stating 'radical Islam' motivated 9/11, drawing criticism from Democrats and Muslim groups.
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EducationHouse Committee Seeks GAO Probe on AI’s Role in College Admissions
The House Education and the Workforce Committee is asking the GAO to investigate how artificial intelligence is used in college admissions and scholarships.
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The PrimerEducation Policy Reform: Accountability, Innovation, and School Choice in America
Explore how recent U.S. education policy reforms emphasize accountability, school choice, and workforce readiness amid ongoing ideological debates.
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The PrimerThe Controversy Over DEI In Education: Legal Battles and Policy Shifts
Explore the ongoing debates surrounding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in U.S. education, including federal actions, state bans, and legal challenges.
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EducationIRS Proposes Revoking Tax-Exempt Status for Private Schools Using DEI Policies
A new IRS rule would strip tax-exempt status from private schools with race-based DEI policies, affecting thousands of institutions nationwide.
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EducationSurvey Finds Most U.S. Parents Comparison-Shop for School Supplies, Not Schools
A Deloitte survey shows American parents spend more time choosing school supplies than evaluating school options, highlighting gaps in education choice.
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HealthNIH-Funded Study Finds No Mental Health Benefit From Puberty Blockers in Youth
A long-delayed NIH-funded study found puberty blockers did not improve mental health in minors, intensifying scrutiny of such treatments and corporate coverage.
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HealthCMS Tightens Medicaid Waiver Oversight Under New Federal Law
CMS will require states to prove Medicaid waivers are budget neutral before approval, a move supporters say curbs overspending while critics warn of reduced benefits.
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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.