Kellyanne Conway Has Zero Experience In Drug Policy But Is Running the White House Opioid Response
Kellyanne Conway is spearheading the Trump Administration’s efforts to combat the opioid epidemic, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said at a press conference Wednesday. Conway will “coordinate and lead the effort from the White House,” according to Sessions. “I think her appointment represents a very significant commitment from the president and his White House team.” Conway has “zero background” on drug…
The Opioid Epidemic Is Devastating. It’s Also Really Expensive.
The opioid epidemic, which each year claims more lives than the entirety of American deaths in the Vietnam War, is also a growing financial burden. According to a new report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers, the epidemic cost the nation $504 billion in 2015—about 2.8 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product.…
No One Knows How Many American Women Die From Causes Related to Pregnancy or Childbirth
byryo/Getty This story originally appeared on ProPublica. The questions are straightforward, with public health implications that would seem impossible to shrug off. How many American women die each year from causes related to pregnancy or childbirth? How many of these deaths are preventable? How does the nation’s current rate of maternal mortality compare to the…
Trump Is “Not Failing” on Helping Veterans, Groups Say
President Donald Trump, surrounded by Vietnam veterans, holds up a proclamation he signed commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.Andrew Harnik/AP Long before Donald Trump became commander-in-chief of the United States military, he was promising to quickly “fix” the Department of Veterans Affairs. One of the reasons I am no fan of John McCain…
10 Great Things That Trump Has Given America in the Last Year
fotojog/Getty One year ago today, Donald Trump—once just a New York billionaire famous for his orange complexion and “firing” wannabe celebrities on reality television—was elected to be the 45th president of this great land. In his first year, a lot has happened, to put it mildly. Here at Mother Jones we’ve spent a lot of time covering all…
Trump Failed to Repeal Obamacare. Now Maine Voters Are Deciding Whether to Expand It.
Michael Parent, left, gets instructions on submitting his ballots while voting November 7, 2017, in Portland, Maine.Robert F. Bukaty/AP When all the votes are counted from Tuesday’s elections, a little-known ballot initiative in Maine could prove to be one of the most consequential contests—impacting the health care received by tens of thousands of people and showing how voters…