Michael McAuliff
@mcauliff.bsky.social
Covering politics and policy in Washington for Modern Healthcare. Priors include HuffPost, New York Daily News, ABC News.
Bernie just crashed Schumer’s post-election presser to offer his own views
November 5, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Bernie just crashed Schumer’s post-election presser to offer his own views
Sen. Blackburn is not happy with Google’s AI
Gemma “manufactured serious criminal allegations against her, generating fake links to fabricated news articles in response to the question, “Has Marsha Blackburn been accused of rape?””
Gemma “manufactured serious criminal allegations against her, generating fake links to fabricated news articles in response to the question, “Has Marsha Blackburn been accused of rape?””
October 31, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Sen. Blackburn is not happy with Google’s AI
Gemma “manufactured serious criminal allegations against her, generating fake links to fabricated news articles in response to the question, “Has Marsha Blackburn been accused of rape?””
Gemma “manufactured serious criminal allegations against her, generating fake links to fabricated news articles in response to the question, “Has Marsha Blackburn been accused of rape?””
Dems like their poster boards
October 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Dems like their poster boards
Cassidy, hangin' with Trump in the Oval Office
October 22, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Cassidy, hangin' with Trump in the Oval Office
Not a friendly letter to Mike Johnson from Jeffries on Grijalva.
"I write to demand that you swear in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva.. The decision to seat right-wing Republicans with record speed, while denying a newly elected Democrat the opportunity to serve is an unacceptable disgrace."
"I write to demand that you swear in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva.. The decision to seat right-wing Republicans with record speed, while denying a newly elected Democrat the opportunity to serve is an unacceptable disgrace."
October 16, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Not a friendly letter to Mike Johnson from Jeffries on Grijalva.
"I write to demand that you swear in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva.. The decision to seat right-wing Republicans with record speed, while denying a newly elected Democrat the opportunity to serve is an unacceptable disgrace."
"I write to demand that you swear in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva.. The decision to seat right-wing Republicans with record speed, while denying a newly elected Democrat the opportunity to serve is an unacceptable disgrace."
I was curious about the "Biden bloated the government" talking point, and looked up the raw numbers this morning. Federal employment has been a bit under or over 3 million since 1970, when the population was 200M. Now we're at 342M.
October 13, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I was curious about the "Biden bloated the government" talking point, and looked up the raw numbers this morning. Federal employment has been a bit under or over 3 million since 1970, when the population was 200M. Now we're at 342M.
Sen. Susan Collins "strongly" opposes Vought’s layoffs.
"Arbitrary layoffs result in a lack of sufficient personnel needed to conduct the mission of the agency and to deliver essential programs, and cause harm to families in Maine and throughout our country.”
"Arbitrary layoffs result in a lack of sufficient personnel needed to conduct the mission of the agency and to deliver essential programs, and cause harm to families in Maine and throughout our country.”
October 10, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Sen. Susan Collins "strongly" opposes Vought’s layoffs.
"Arbitrary layoffs result in a lack of sufficient personnel needed to conduct the mission of the agency and to deliver essential programs, and cause harm to families in Maine and throughout our country.”
"Arbitrary layoffs result in a lack of sufficient personnel needed to conduct the mission of the agency and to deliver essential programs, and cause harm to families in Maine and throughout our country.”
KFF’s latest makes an appearance at the Srnate Dem leader stakeout
September 30, 2025 at 6:51 PM
KFF’s latest makes an appearance at the Srnate Dem leader stakeout
After that jaw-dropping hearing with Susan Monarez and Debra Houry, HELP Chair Dr. Bill Cassidy is inviting RFK Jr. to testify.
"Because President Trump has called for radical transparency, I am inviting Secretary Kennedy to speak with the Committee to share his side of the story."
"Because President Trump has called for radical transparency, I am inviting Secretary Kennedy to speak with the Committee to share his side of the story."
September 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
After that jaw-dropping hearing with Susan Monarez and Debra Houry, HELP Chair Dr. Bill Cassidy is inviting RFK Jr. to testify.
"Because President Trump has called for radical transparency, I am inviting Secretary Kennedy to speak with the Committee to share his side of the story."
"Because President Trump has called for radical transparency, I am inviting Secretary Kennedy to speak with the Committee to share his side of the story."
Wanna support DMV arts groups and see me and a bunch of other DC-based reporter types and scientists playing music, sometimes loud? Go to this benefit Saturday at Dupont Underground!
with SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE, RUNNING LATE, and Durty Neil!
www.eventbrite.com/e/suspicious...
with SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE, RUNNING LATE, and Durty Neil!
www.eventbrite.com/e/suspicious...
September 17, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Wanna support DMV arts groups and see me and a bunch of other DC-based reporter types and scientists playing music, sometimes loud? Go to this benefit Saturday at Dupont Underground!
with SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE, RUNNING LATE, and Durty Neil!
www.eventbrite.com/e/suspicious...
with SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE, RUNNING LATE, and Durty Neil!
www.eventbrite.com/e/suspicious...
Schumer and Jeffries ripped the bill, singling out the ACA.
"The House Republican-only spending bill fails to meet the needs of the American people.. Republicans refuse to stop Americans from facing double-digit hikes in their health insurance premiums."
"The House Republican-only spending bill fails to meet the needs of the American people.. Republicans refuse to stop Americans from facing double-digit hikes in their health insurance premiums."
September 16, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Schumer and Jeffries ripped the bill, singling out the ACA.
"The House Republican-only spending bill fails to meet the needs of the American people.. Republicans refuse to stop Americans from facing double-digit hikes in their health insurance premiums."
"The House Republican-only spending bill fails to meet the needs of the American people.. Republicans refuse to stop Americans from facing double-digit hikes in their health insurance premiums."
Getting ugly fast in the SC governor primary.
September 9, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Getting ugly fast in the SC governor primary.
Cmon neighbors. You gotta be shitting me. Tempting fate!
#hellholeBsltimore
#hellholeBsltimore
September 8, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Cmon neighbors. You gotta be shitting me. Tempting fate!
#hellholeBsltimore
#hellholeBsltimore
Meanwhile, Cassidy asks HHS to indefinitely postpone the Sept. 18 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting.
“Serious allegations have been made about the meeting agenda, membership, and lack of scientific process being followed."
“Serious allegations have been made about the meeting agenda, membership, and lack of scientific process being followed."
August 28, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Meanwhile, Cassidy asks HHS to indefinitely postpone the Sept. 18 Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting.
“Serious allegations have been made about the meeting agenda, membership, and lack of scientific process being followed."
“Serious allegations have been made about the meeting agenda, membership, and lack of scientific process being followed."
RFK jr's turmoil at CDC has the American Medical Association very concerned.
AMA President Dr. Bobby Mukkamala called the firing of Monarez and the resignations "highly alarming."
"This destabilization comes at a time when CDC’s credibility and leadership are more essential than ever."
AMA President Dr. Bobby Mukkamala called the firing of Monarez and the resignations "highly alarming."
"This destabilization comes at a time when CDC’s credibility and leadership are more essential than ever."
August 28, 2025 at 5:27 PM
RFK jr's turmoil at CDC has the American Medical Association very concerned.
AMA President Dr. Bobby Mukkamala called the firing of Monarez and the resignations "highly alarming."
"This destabilization comes at a time when CDC’s credibility and leadership are more essential than ever."
AMA President Dr. Bobby Mukkamala called the firing of Monarez and the resignations "highly alarming."
"This destabilization comes at a time when CDC’s credibility and leadership are more essential than ever."
Virginia senators on news state ACA insurance premiums will rise an average 20.5%:
"While President Trump and congressional Republicans bent over backward to extend tax cuts for the uber-wealthy as part of their tax and budget bill, they chose not to renew these critical healthcare credits."
"While President Trump and congressional Republicans bent over backward to extend tax cuts for the uber-wealthy as part of their tax and budget bill, they chose not to renew these critical healthcare credits."
August 8, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Virginia senators on news state ACA insurance premiums will rise an average 20.5%:
"While President Trump and congressional Republicans bent over backward to extend tax cuts for the uber-wealthy as part of their tax and budget bill, they chose not to renew these critical healthcare credits."
"While President Trump and congressional Republicans bent over backward to extend tax cuts for the uber-wealthy as part of their tax and budget bill, they chose not to renew these critical healthcare credits."
UnitedHealth not gaining fans in Congress. Cassidy, Hassan ask why the company that allowed the catastrophic Change hack let another one happen. "The hack on Episource, which UHG acquired in 2023, raises questions about the company’s commitment to securing PHI, given the repeated security failures"
![Questions for UnitedHealth by Bill Cassidy and Maggie Hassan:
1. When did UHG first become aware of a cyberattack on Episource’s systems?
2. When did UHG notify federal agencies of a cyberattack, and which agencies did UHG notify?
3. UHG has stated that “the data that may have been seen and taken… may have included… health insurance data, [and] health data.”5
a. What steps is UHG taking to identify what information may have been
compromised?
b. When does UHG expect to finalize steps to identify this information?
c. How is UHG proactively communicating with potentially impacted individuals and entities?
4. Last year, UHG suffered the largest health care cyberattack in history through its Change Healthcare subsidiary. This attack occurred due to deficiencies in UHG’s security protocols.
a. What remedial steps has UHG identified thus far to improve its security
protocols?
b. Has UHG implemented those actions? If not, when does it intend to complete those steps?
c. Has UHG made any changes to how it conducts due diligence for companies it acquires to consider security risks?](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:o4ahrynok26dtjjv5labzqbd/bafkreibkzb6iomijtx4wbkpafq36kf7tei27zkombs2hpzantkjm66pd44@jpeg)
August 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
UnitedHealth not gaining fans in Congress. Cassidy, Hassan ask why the company that allowed the catastrophic Change hack let another one happen. "The hack on Episource, which UHG acquired in 2023, raises questions about the company’s commitment to securing PHI, given the repeated security failures"
Wyden rolls out the latest Dem rallying cry heading into the summer. Along with introducing measures to rollback health cuts. “Let’s scrap Trumpcare.”
July 30, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Wyden rolls out the latest Dem rallying cry heading into the summer. Along with introducing measures to rollback health cuts. “Let’s scrap Trumpcare.”
Frank Pallone and House Dems taking a similar tack just now: "Your careless and opaque process of firing all 17 previous ACIP members and appointing new ones who have clear biases against vaccines make clear your true intentions: to undermine the science-based process we have long relied on."
July 29, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Frank Pallone and House Dems taking a similar tack just now: "Your careless and opaque process of firing all 17 previous ACIP members and appointing new ones who have clear biases against vaccines make clear your true intentions: to undermine the science-based process we have long relied on."
Maryland lawmakers: "Even though the cost of the damage in these two rural Maryland counties exceeds the threshold for federal assistance, the Administration is refusing to come to their aid."
July 23, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Maryland lawmakers: "Even though the cost of the damage in these two rural Maryland counties exceeds the threshold for federal assistance, the Administration is refusing to come to their aid."
Mike Johnson spoke to reporters before getting out of town to avoid an Epstein files vote, saying the process to release them is underway. "We've gotta jealously guard that and protect it and make sure it's happening and if it doesn't, then we'll take appropriate action when everybody returns."
July 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Mike Johnson spoke to reporters before getting out of town to avoid an Epstein files vote, saying the process to release them is underway. "We've gotta jealously guard that and protect it and make sure it's happening and if it doesn't, then we'll take appropriate action when everybody returns."
Schumer is highlighting hospital closure announcements already linked to Trump’s big beautiful bill
July 9, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Schumer is highlighting hospital closure announcements already linked to Trump’s big beautiful bill
Boy. Cassidy really didn't like Sanders focusing on the reconciliation cuts at this health cybersecurity hearing. Bernie had just gotten a witness to say how devastating cuts were to Medicaid dependent nursing homes, and Cassidy snapped at him it wasn't true.
July 9, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Boy. Cassidy really didn't like Sanders focusing on the reconciliation cuts at this health cybersecurity hearing. Bernie had just gotten a witness to say how devastating cuts were to Medicaid dependent nursing homes, and Cassidy snapped at him it wasn't true.
Plaintiffs say the decision "has dealt a serious blow to our democracy and puts services that the American people rely on in grave jeopardy.. Reorganizing government functions and laying off federal workers en masse haphazardly without any congressional approval is not allowed by our Constitution."
July 8, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Plaintiffs say the decision "has dealt a serious blow to our democracy and puts services that the American people rely on in grave jeopardy.. Reorganizing government functions and laying off federal workers en masse haphazardly without any congressional approval is not allowed by our Constitution."
American Lung Association CEO Harold Wimmer: “The ripple effects of this legislation will be felt across the nation: clinics and rural hospitals may close...healthcare will cost more for everyone."
July 3, 2025 at 7:49 PM
American Lung Association CEO Harold Wimmer: “The ripple effects of this legislation will be felt across the nation: clinics and rural hospitals may close...healthcare will cost more for everyone."