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Little-Noted Provision of GOP Health Bill Could Alter Employer Plans — Many people who obtain health insurance through their employers could be at risk of losing protections that limit out-of-pocket costs due to a provision proposed in the House Republican health-care bill.
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GOP's Obamacare replacement bill would protect just 5 percent of people with pre-existing conditions: Analysis — The Republican bill to repeal and replace Obamacare does not allocate nearly enough money to protect people with pre-existing health conditions from potentially higher insurance premiums, an analysis finds.
Discussion:
Axios and Political Wire


Under the GOP's health plan, sexual assault could be considered a pre-existing condition — After failing to bring their Affordable Care Act replacement to a vote in March, GOP legislators have come armed with a new health care plan that may be even more heartless than their last.
Discussion:
Daily Kos, Consequence of Sound, Vox and Raw Story


In Trump's America, Rape Is a Preexisting Condition — An amendment in the GOP health-care-reform bill will allow states to deny coverage for preexisting conditions, including sexual assault. — Pre-Obamacare rape survivors who sought treatment for their injuries could be denied health care later on.
Discussion:
CNBC, The Hill, Politicus USA and Media Matters for America


A Little-Noticed Target in the House Health Bill: Special Education — WASHINGTON — While House Republicans lined up votes Wednesday for a Thursday showdown over their bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Vickie Glenn sat in her Murphysboro, Ill., office and prayed for it to fail.
Discussion:
Washington Post, HuffPost, Business Insider, No More Mister Nice Blog, Daily Kos, NBC News, The Week and The Hill


The GOP Health-Care Bill Is an Abdication of Responsibility and a Moral Disgrace — In John Boehner's angry, rousing 2010 floor speech denouncing the Affordable Care Act - the one in which he famously shouted “hell no!” repeatedly - the Republican House leader ended on a magnanimous note.
Discussion:
Common Dreams, Daily Kos and NBC News


In Senate, pessimism over ObamaCare repeal
Discussion:
Hit & Run, Hot Air and Politicus USA

Republicans don't really like the health care bill they're about to pass
Discussion:
Vox


The GOP's Obamacare replacement rush reeks of hypocrisy and recklessness

Congressional exemption from GOP healthcare plan to be addressed separately
Discussion:
Slate, Washington Post, Daily Kos and The Week

The Daily 202: 10 storylines to follow as the House votes on health care
Discussion:
Bearing Drift, Outside the Beltway, STAT and Political Wire

The New Study That Shows Trumpcare's Damage
Discussion:
Vox and Refinery29

GOP rushing to vote on healthcare without analysis of changes
Discussion:
RedState, The Week and Betsy's Page

Pre-Existing Conditions: Evaluating Competing Claims
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, CNNMoney, Washington Post, Daily Kos, ACASignups.net, Speaker.gov, The Moderate Voice and CNN


Exclusive: Joe and Mika Are Getting Hitched — After years of rumors, gossip, and intrigue, Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski reveal their engagement, how it all went down, and the unlikely guy (Donald Trump) who asked to oversee their vows.
Discussion:
New York Times, Business Insider, Mediaite, Raw Story, Washington Free Beacon, The Week and Axios
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Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski are engaged — MORE FROM: … The first couple of cable news Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski are engaged to be married, sources have exclusively confirmed to Page Six. — The MSNBC “Morning Joe” co-hosts got engaged this past weekend during …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Raw Story, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Refinery29, BizPac Review, IJR, The Gateway Pundit, AOL, RedState, New York Magazine, The Week, TVNewser and CBS Philly


Trump has a dangerous disability — It is urgent for Americans to think and speak clearly about President Trump's inability to do either. This seems to be not a mere disinclination but a disability. It is not merely the result of intellectual sloth but of an untrained mind bereft …


Stephen Colbert Defends Trump Jokes That Sparked #FireColbert Backlash — YOUTUBE — The ‘Late Show’ host addressed the controversy, but didn't apologize: “I have jokes, he has the launch codes. So, it's a fair fight.” — The Late Show's Stephen Colbert responded to the #FireColbert backlash …
Discussion:
Breitbart
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No Regrets: Stephen Colbert Responds to Firestorm over Use of Homophobic Slur
Discussion:
John Hawkins' Right Wing News and The Last Tradition

Stephen Colbert reacts to online backlash over Trump jokes
Discussion:
USA Today, The Gateway Pundit and Instapundit


Op-Ed Amanda Knox: Donald Trump supported me when I was wrongly accused of murder. What do I owe him? — Amanda Knox cries following the verdict that overturns her conviction and acquits her of murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher, at the Perugia court, Italy, on Oct. 3, 2011.
Discussion:
Business Insider, New York Magazine and The Week


French election: Macron hailed as winner of bruising Le Pen TV debate — Majority of French people polled feel that centrist candidate outperformed far right leader in ill-tempered clash … Emmanuel Macron appeared to have kept his frontrunner status against Marine Le Pen …
Discussion:
Power Line, New York Times, Joe.My.God. and Mashable
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Macron's ‘Deplorables’ Moment? Establishment Candidate Brands 8m Le Pen Voters ‘Hateful Cowards’
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit


Alex Jones Will Never Stop Being Alex Jones … AUSTIN — It was the winter of 1997 and Alex Jones couldn't stop getting punched in the face. — Out on the cracked asphalt of Austin Public Access Television's parking lot, under the sprawling Texas live oaks, Jones was very much losing …
Discussion:
New York Magazine and Media Matters for America


Trump signs executive order to ease restrictions on religious participation in politics — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order Thursday with the intention of easing restrictions imposed by the Johnson Amendment, the rule limiting political participation by tax-exempt religious groups.
Discussion:
Breaking News USA, Washington Post and The Hill
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Queen calls her entire household to ‘highly unusual’ emergency meeting at Buckingham Palace today but mystery surrounds the reason why — By , REBECCA ENGLISH ROYAL CORRESPONDENT and RICHARD KAY FOR THE DAILY MAIL — Speculation amongst Buckingham Palace staff is rampant this morning …
Discussion:
Business Insider and Mashable
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Prince Philip to step down from carrying out royal engagements
Discussion:
The Atlantic, IJR and The Week

Pentagon Pulls Security Clearance of Trump White House Aide — The Pentagon this week suspended the security clearance of a White House National Security Council analyst that U.S. officials say was the target of political retribution by government bureaucrats opposed to President Trump's appointees.


Obama's $400,000 speech could prompt Congress to go after his pension — WASHINGTON — Last year, then-president Barack Obama vetoed a bill that would have curbed the pensions of former presidents if they took outside income of $400,000 or more. — So now that former president Barack Obama …


Yale's Quiet Majority — A new survey finds that most undergrads favor free speech, even if the loudest students—and Yale administrators—don't.
Discussion:
Instapundit

Pollsters: We didn't blow the election — Serious polling failures in the 2016 election were mostly confined to a few states and were primarily the result of late-deciding voters and a historic voting gap according to educational attainment, according to a new report Thursday.
Discussion:
Washington Post

Trump to visit the Vatican on first foreign trip as president — President Donald Trump will travel to Saudi Arabia, followed by Israel and the Vatican, in his first foreign trip later this month. The Vatican visit will include a meeting with the Pope, according to a senior administration official.
Discussion:
New York Times, Axios, Washington Free Beacon, The Daily Caller, The Week and IJR