

A Death Panel History of Medicare (Re-Air)
Jul 31, 2025
01:13:49
This week marks the 60th anniversary of Medicare. To mark the occasion, even as the Trump administration continues to assail health programs, today we bring you a DP classic: A Death Panel History of Medicare, originally released for patrons on July 5th, 2021.
This week we also released a big rundown of the healthcare cuts in Trump's budget bill and what it means for the health struggle ahead. Find that episode here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/welfare-for-07-135176028
Original description: In today's episode, we survey the extremely messy history that led to the passage of original Medicare, the role private insurers and other industry groups played in its creation, and some of its unintended consequences we live with to this day.
To support the show and help make episodes like this one possible, become a patron at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpod
Find our book Health Communism here: www.versobooks.com/books/4081-health-communism
Find Jules' new book, A Short History of Trans Misogyny, here: https://www.versobooks.com/products/3054-a-short-history-of-trans-misogyny
Find Tracy's book, Abolish Rent, here: www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2443-abolish-rent
Find Phil's new book, Counting Like a State, here: kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700639687/
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As always, support Death Panel at www.patreon.com/deathpanelpod