Politics: Issues

United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer (left) speaks Tuesday at the end of the latest round of negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement in Washington, as Mexico's economy minister, Ildefonso Guajardo, looks on.

Efforts To Rewrite NAFTA Not Going Well; Next Round of Talks Delayed

5:55pm October 17, 2017

by Marilyn Geewax

For months, the United States, Canada and Mexico have been trying to rewrite terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement. But White House demands have led to frustrations that may threaten NAFTA.

Immigration Judges Warn Against Trump Administration Benchmarks

7:17pm October 16, 2017

by Carrie Johnson

The Trump administration is preparing to impose new benchmarks on immigration judges to speed through a backlog of more than 600,000 cases in U.S. immigration courts. But judges warn the change could hurt public confidence and violate the right to due process.

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Washington Post, 60 Minutes Investigation Finds Bill Helped Fuel Opioid Crisis

4:44pm October 16, 2017

NPR's Kelly McEvers talks to Scott Higham of The Washington Post about the paper's investigation of drug industry efforts to lobby the Drug Enforcement Administration and Congress to weaken enforcement on opioid abuse.

Politics & Government

For Every President Since Reagan, Immigration Has Been One More Minefield

8:04am October 15, 2017

by Ron Elving

After nine months in office, President Trump has found the many issues of immigration more vexing than he may have imagined — something Trump has in common with a long line of predecessors.

What Does Trump's Executive Order Mean For Health Care?

8:02pm October 12, 2017

by Alison Kodjak

President Trump issued an executive order on health care today. The order would remove requirements for basic benefits that are part of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. He is telling federal agencies to permit wider use of so-called "association health plans" which currently do not meet the requirements for basic benefits like maternity care.

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Is This How The Trump Administration Might Save Coal?

5:38pm October 12, 2017

Energy Secretary Rick Perry says subsidizing coal and nuclear power plants would make the grid more reliable. An unlikely array of critics say the move is expensive and unnecessary.

National

A Look At The Confederate Monuments Debate From Gettysburg Memorial

5:09pm October 12, 2017

by Quil Lawrence

Gettysburg, Pa., where Union forces turned the tide of the Civil War in a horrific battle, has the largest number of Confederate monuments in the country. The national park there has been the scene of reconciliation between north and south, but current events suggest that reconciliation is still an ongoing process.

How Trump's Executive Order Could Affect The Health Insurance System

5:09pm October 12, 2017

NPR'S Robert Siegel talks with Sabrina Corlette, a professor at Georgetown University and expert on the health insurance market, about President Trump's executive order on health associations and the impact they will have on the health care system.

National

Chicago-Area Residents No Longer Have To Pay More For Pop

4:44pm October 11, 2017

by Allison Aubrey

Lawmakers in Cook County, Ill., have repealed a tax on sweetened drinks. The controversial move is considered a win for soda companies, and a loss for public health advocates.

The new law will require pharmaceutical companies to notify the state and health insurers if they plan to raise the price of a medication by 16 percent or more over two years.

California Governor Signs Law To Make Drug Pricing More Transparent

3:25pm October 10, 2017

by April Dembosky

This is the first step in a long game to develop clearer prescription drug pricing laws around the country, health policy experts say.