Guests include investigative journalists, military experts, and policy analysts. Topics discussed include drug pricing negotiations, the parallels between Medicare negotiation and Costco, history of communism, white supremacist violence, war in Ukraine, rise of hate-motivated attacks, challenges in addressing domestic terrorism, Biden's prescription drug pricing win, resumption of student loan interest, and Texas politics and education inequality.
The Biden administration's policy to negotiate prescription drug prices is often mislabeled as communism, despite it being a market-based approach that promotes competition and lowers prices for consumers.
The provision to negotiate drug prices aims to reduce out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries and lower overall government spending on prescription drugs, benefiting millions of Americans.
Labeling policies as communist or socialist without engaging in rational debates undermines the need for informed discussions on important issues like prescription drug pricing.
Deep dives
Biden announces new provision to negotiate prescription drug prices
President Biden has announced a new provision that allows for the negotiation of prescription drug prices. The provision, included in the Inflation Reduction Act, targets some of the most commonly used drugs for conditions like diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. This change in federal policy has the potential to significantly lower drug prices, benefiting millions of Americans. However, some Republicans have labeled the policy as a socialist price-setting program or a communist manifesto, despite it being a market-based approach that allows for negotiation and competition.
The difference between communism and the Biden administration's policy
The Biden administration's policy to negotiate prescription drug prices is often referred to as communism by some Republicans. However, this comparison is inaccurate. Under communism, the government controls all property and wealth, whereas the Biden administration's policy is focused on creating a more competitive market for prescription drugs. The government will negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies, similar to how Costco negotiates prices for its products. The policy allows for more choices and lower prices for consumers, which is a fundamental aspect of capitalism.
The impact of prescription drug pricing on Americans
For the past 20 years, the pharmaceutical industry has had near complete control over prescription drug pricing for millions of Medicare patients. The Biden administration's provision to negotiate drug prices aims to change this. The list of drugs targeted for negotiation includes commonly used medications for diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and more. By lowering drug prices, this policy will reduce out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries and lower the overall government spending on these drugs. It is a significant policy win that could benefit millions of Americans.
The need for rational policy debates instead of inflammatory rhetoric
The labeling of the Biden administration's policy as communist or socialist by some Republicans is an example of inflammatory rhetoric that undermines the need for rational policy debates. Instead of engaging in name-calling, it is important to focus on the merits and potential impact of policies. Rational debates will drive meaningful discussions on issues like prescription drug pricing, allowing for a more informed and productive political discourse.
White House Takes Action on Student Loans
The Biden administration implemented measures to address student loan debt by resuming the payment of student loans after a three-year freeze due to the pandemic. As part of this action, the administration wiped away $39 billion in student debt for over 800,000 borrowers. The Department of Education also made adjustments to loan forgiveness programs, providing relief for borrowers who made late or partial payments or whose loans were paused. The administration also introduced the SAVE program, which cuts minimum payments and reforms interest rates to reduce financial burden.
Houston Schools Eliminate Libraries
In Houston, the Texas Education Agency took over the Houston Independent School District, leading to the closure of libraries in 28 schools. The libraries were repurposed as team centers and disciplinary spaces. Many librarians were laid off or reassigned. This decision disproportionately affected black and Latino neighborhoods. Parents and students expressed frustration and concern, highlighting the importance of libraries for learning and reading. Critics argue that the move undermines local control and diminishes educational opportunities for marginalized communities.
Ali Velshi is joined by Staff Writer with The New Yorker Sheelah Kolhatkar, Staff Writer with The Atlantic Anne Applebaum, former Supreme Allied Commander at NATO Adm. James Stavridis, Professor of Philosophy at Yale University Jason Stanley, former Senior Analyst for Domestic Terrorism at the U.S. Deptartment of Homeland Security Daryl Johnson, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute James Pethokoukis, Fmr. President of Estonia Toomas Ilves, Founding Legal Director of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School Burt Neuborne, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX)
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