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Morning Briefing

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Friday, Sep 22 2017

Full Issue

Neither Side In Kimmel, Cassidy Dust-Up Conveys Complexities Of Health Care, But TV Host Gets The Edge

Jimmy Kimmel himself admits that he "should not be the guy you go to for information on health care," but fact checkers say he's presenting a more realistic picture of the effects of the Graham-Cassidy bill.

Jimmy Kimmel, the talk show host who has become the unlikely face of opposition to Senate Republicans鈥 latest health care push, insisted he had done his homework. Mr. Kimmel spent a second straight night arguing against the proposal on Wednesday. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a co-sponsor of the bill, responded by telling news outlets that 鈥淛immy doesn鈥檛 understand.鈥 (Qiu and Victor, 9/21)

Who鈥檚 right 鈥 President Donald Trump and Sen. Bill Cassidy, or late-night host Jimmy Kimmel? None has really captured the complexity of the debate over who might lose insurance protections in the latest Republican health care bill. But of the three, the TV guy is the hardest to refute. Trump insists in a tweet that the bill covers pre-existing conditions, a point also made by Cassidy, a sponsor of the legislation. But there鈥檚 a catch. It allows states to get a waiver from 鈥淥bamacare鈥 requirements that insurers charge the same to people with health problems as they do to healthy people. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 9/22)

If the latest Republican attempt to repeal Obamacare doesn't work, it may become known as the Jimmy Kimmel Non-Law. The comic's withering attacks this week have transformed the debate over the bill (sponsored by Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy) and, in the process, illustrated how thoroughly late-night talk shows have changed and become homes for potent points of view. (Bauder, 9/21)

Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday said it鈥檚 not his job to talk about health care 鈥 but he鈥檚 doing it anyway, until Senate Republicans鈥 last-ditch bill to repeal Obamacare is stopped. 鈥淚 should not be the guy you go to for information on health care,鈥 the late-night TV host said on Thursday鈥檚 show. 鈥淎nd if these guys 鈥 would tell the truth for a change, I wouldn鈥檛 have to.鈥 (Diamond, 9/21)

Republicans racing against the clock to repeal ObamaCare are fighting against Democrats, angry patient advocates and a who鈥檚-who of health industry groups. Yet one of the most formidable opponents they face is an unlikely wild card: the comedian Jimmy Kimmel. (Lillis, 9/21)

This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
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