News Items - June 27, 2026
Editor's Note: The disability community is increasingly preferring to use identity-first language (disabled person) in place of person-first language (person with a disability). This is because many in the community view disability as being a core component of identity, much like race and gender. Some members of the community, such as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, still prefer person-first language. Both should be considered valid. Articles shared in this newsletter may contain one or the other (or both) depending on the author's preference, and if they themselves have a disability.
Our Health Care System Is Broken Beyond Repair. We Need Medicare for All By Ilhan Omar & Lisa Gilbert on June 25, 2026 at Truthout
"The U.S. spends almost twice per person on health care compared to other wealthy nations and our outcomes are often worse. Millions of Americans remain uninsured or underinsured. This is utterly outrageous, especially in the wealthiest country in the world. The reality is that every other comparably wealthy nation has a health care system that provides universal coverage at a fraction of the cost and has better health outcomes."
Senate Democrats Rally Against Pro-Institutionalization DOJ Memo by Julia Métraux on June 25, 2026 at Mother Jones
"Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) will introduce a resolution that calls for the Department of Justice to rescind a memo issued last week that contests the longstanding interpretation of the Supreme Court’s 1999 Olmstead v. L.C. decision, a landmark case that limits states’ power to compel people to live in psychiatric and other institutions, such as nursing homes."
The military traded its flu vaccine mandate for ‘medical freedom’ – an outbreak quickly followed by Katrine L. Wallace on June 24, 2026 at The Conversation
"Amid a worsening flu outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, the U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy are once again requiring new recruits to get vaccinated against the influenza virus, according to ABC News. The move comes two months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rescinded the U.S. military’s mandate that they do so."
Pramila Jayapal warns Democrats: Don't throw trans people under the bus by Christopher Wiggins on June 25, 2026 at The Advocate
"As the country moves toward the midterms, with President Donald Trump again using the federal government to narrow the rights of LGBTQ+ people, Jayapal is urging Democrats to hold their ground. Running from transgender people abandons those who need protection while doing little to shield Democrats from Republican attacks, she said."
Supreme Court Gives Trump Green Light to End Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians by Isabela Dias on June 25, 2026 at Mother Jones
"The Supreme Court dealt a blow to a humanitarian program that protects immigrants who can’t safely return to crisis-stricken countries. The decision effectively allows the Trump administration to move forward with terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 350,000 nationals of Syria and Haiti who are living and working in the United States."
ICE Says 51 People Died in Custody Under Trump. Experts Say That’s an Undercount. by Mike Ludwig on June 23, 2026 at Truthout
"For months, protesters, federal inspectors, and Democrats in Congress have sounded the alarm about the dangerous conditions of confinement faced by more than 68,000 adults and children swept up in Trump’s crackdown. While ICE claims to provide proper care for detainees, oversight data shows a clear pattern of abuse, medical neglect, and preventable deaths inside its jails and camps. "
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