For millions of Americans, a visit to the doctor has become a luxury they simply can't afford. A new survey reveals the staggering cost of healthcare that is forcing many Americans to delay treatment, skip appointments and even ration medicines.A survey of over 1,500 US adults by financial services firm JG Wentworth found that 92 per cent of those surveyed have delayed or avoided medical care because of the cost, with young adults being the worst affected. According to the study, more than 94 per cent of those aged 18 to 28 said they had put off treatment for financial reasons, followed by Americans between 29 and 44 years of age. The report says the findings highlight a growing disconnect between having health insurance and feeling financially protected. Rising medical bills are allegedly pushing many American families to postpone treatment, cut back on essential spending and fall into debt.<h2>Gender also plays a role</h2>According to the study, women are more likely than men to delay medical care, while age and insurance status further influence those decisions. According to a February 2026 analysis by healthcare marketplace Zocdoc, an uninsured visit to a doctor's office costs an average of 171 U.S. dollars across major U.S. cities.And the financial strain is widespread. Around 85 per cent of Americans say they carry medical debt. A February poll by American non-profit organisation KFF estimates total medical debt at 220 billion U.S. dollars, or nearly 960 U.S. dollars for every adult with medical debt.And the cost of delaying care is proving severe. A 2025 survey by the same American non-profit organisation found that nearly one in five adults said their health deteriorated after skipping a doctor's visit.Among people aged 64 and younger, that number jumps to 42 per cent. Prescription medicines are also becoming less affordable. Another study by the American non-profit organisation found 31 per cent of adults switched to over-the-counter medicines because prescription drugs were too expensive, while 19 percent admitted skipping doses or splitting pills to make their medication last longer. The Trump administration has proposed measures to bring down healthcare costs, including lowering prescription drug prices. Healthcare costs across the U.S. are also rising amid higher inflation. After easing to 2.4 per cent in February, inflation climbed to 4.2 per cent in May amid the Iran-U.S. war. Healthcare costs are further projected to continue rising across the U.S. through 2027, suggesting affordability will continue to remain a major concern for millions of Americans.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/92-of-us-adults-don-t-go-to-a-doctor-as-healthcare-is-too-expensive-1785865551445/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/92-of-us-adults-don-t-go-to-a-doctor-as-healthcare-is-too-expensive-1785865551445/embed</a>&nbsp;

A new survey found that 92% of Americans have delayed or avoided medical care because of rising healthcare costs, with young adults the hardest hit.

For millions of Americans, a visit to the doctor has become a luxury they simply can't afford. A new survey reveals the staggering cost of healthcare that is forcing many Americans to delay treatment, skip appointments and even ration medicines. A survey of over 1,500 US adults by financial services firm JG Wentworth found that 92 per cent of those surveyed have delayed or avoided medical care because of the cost, with young adults being the worst affected. According to the study, more than 94 per cent of those aged 18 to 28 said they had put off treatment for financial reasons, followed by Americans between 29 and 44 years of age. The report says the findings highlight a growing disconnect between having health insurance and feeling financially protected. Rising medical bills are allegedly pushing many American families to postpone treatment, cut back on essential spending and fall into debt. Gender also plays a role According to the study, women are more likely than men to delay medical care, while age and insurance status further influence those decisions. According to a February 2026 analysis by healthcare marketplace Zocdoc, an uninsured visit to a doctor's office costs an average of 171 U.S. dollars across major U.S. cities. And the financial strain is widespread. Around 85 per cent of Americans say they carry medical debt. A February poll by American non-profit organisation KFF estimates total medical debt at 220 billion U.S. dollars, or nearly 960 U.S. dollars for every adult with medical debt. And the cost of delaying care is proving severe. A 2025 survey by the same American non-profit organisation found that nearly one in five adults said their health deteriorated after skipping a doctor's visit. Among people aged 64 and younger, that number jumps to 42 per cent. Prescription medicines are also becoming less affordable. Another study by the American non-profit organisation found 31 per cent of adults switched to over-the-counter medicines because prescription drugs were too expensive, while 19 percent admitted skipping doses or splitting pills to make their medication last longer. The Trump administration has proposed measures to bring down healthcare costs, including lowering prescription drug prices. Healthcare costs across the U.S. are also rising amid higher inflation. After easing to 2.4 per cent in February, inflation climbed to 4.2 per cent in May amid the Iran-U.S. war. Healthcare costs are further projected to continue rising across the U.S. through 2027, suggesting affordability will continue to remain a major concern for millions of Americans. https://www.wionews.com/videos/92-of-us-adults-don-t-go-to-a-doctor-as-healthcare-is-too-expensive-1785865551445/embed

A new survey found that 92% of Americans have delayed or avoided medical care because of rising healthcare costs, with young adults the hardest hit.

Gravitas | 92% of US adults don't go to a doctor because healthcare is too expensive

American states are fighting each other on medical care issues depending on their political leanings, in a new kind of ideological war shaping up across the nation. With the alleged politicisation and weaponisation of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., red states and blue states are taking widely differing views and paths on public health policy, most evident in vaccine mandates. While Florida is aggressively rolling back childhood vaccine requirements, California is leading the formation of a science-based health alliance with other like-minded states. Here is how the US is entering into a full-blown ‘medical war’ where each state draws its own line between freedom and public safety.<h2>Florida to eliminate vaccine mandates</h2>In a stunning move, Florida announced plans this week to end all state-level vaccine mandates including for diseases like measles, polio, hepatitis B, and chickenpox. Framed by Governor Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr Joseph Ladapo, the move is being described as “medical freedom,” but has sent shockwaves through the public health community.Ladapo even likened vaccine mandates – most prominently in place during the COVID pandemic under the Biden presidency – to “slavery”. Florida is facing fierce criticism from the medical community, which warned that the child vaccine move could result in the resurgence of deadly, vaccine-preventable diseases."This is reckless," said Dr Michael Osterholm, a leading infectious disease expert, adding, "Florida is putting ideology ahead of basic public health science."<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-scraps-covid-vaccine-mandate-that-led-to-the-disscharge-of-more-than-8000-army-personnel-551371">Also read: Pentagon scraps Covid vaccine mandate that led to the discharge of more than 8,000 army personnel</a><h2>Texas: Caught in the crossfire of consequences amid measles outbreak</h2>Texas, another Republican-held state, cancelled its annual immunisation conference due to uncertainties involving CDC participation, reflecting the confusion at the federal level under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.This happened even as Texas battled the aftermath of a severe measles outbreak that sickened hundreds—mostly in areas with low vaccination rates.This week, Texas also opened another battlefront over abortions, with a new law mandating that citizens can sue anyone prescribing and providing abortion pills.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cdc-officials-resign-over-vaccine-policy-director-removed-within-a-month-1756483124265/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/cdc-officials-resign-over-vaccine-policy-director-removed-within-a-month-1756483124265/embed</a><h2>How California and the West Coast are leading an anti-CDC rebellion</h2>Meanwhile, Democrat-ruled states on the West Coast – California, Oregon, and Washington – are taking a strong stance against the CDC. These states formed the West Coast Health Alliance that vowed to uphold evidence-based vaccine recommendations and counter what they view as a politicised and weakened CDC.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-vinay-prasad-indian-origin-fda-official-who-resigned-after-campaign-by-right-wing-influencer-laura-loomer-1753867702069">Also read: Who is Vinay Prasad, Indian-origin FDA official who resigned after campaign by right-wing influencer Laura Loomer?</a>"We will not allow public health to be undermined by misinformation or political agendas," California Governor Gavin Newsom stated when announcing the alliance this week.The states hope that their united approach will send a strong message that, in the absence of CDC's leadership, science will lead the way, even if it means going it alone against federal authorities.<h2>New York is reinforcing vaccine access, going against federal moves</h2>Local lawmakers in New York are seeking to firewall the state from national turbulence on vaccines. A set of legislation was introduced in the past few days, including for insurance coverage for vaccines, even if the federal government weakens or removes existing CDC guidance on vaccines.The CDC has cut funding and staff for New York City, whose Department of Health is trying to maintain immunisation efforts despite the instability caused by these federal moves. “We have a duty to protect New Yorkers, no matter what happens in Washington,” said a senior city health official.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-faces-rising-claims-for-covid-19-vaccine-damages-over-14000-seek-compensation-751001">Also read: UK faces rising claims for COVID-19 vaccine damages; over 14,000 seek compensation</a><h2>Red versus blue states on healthcare</h2>The whole situation is pointing to a political divide: Texas and Florida are rejecting traditional public health structures, preferring freedom and autonomy over science. Blue states like California and New York are reinforcing science-based governance and resisting federal erosion led by the CDC.Caught in the crossfire are men, women and children, with their ZIP code determining if they will get science-backed healthcare.The CDC used to be the leading authority for nationwide immunisation campaigns. But now, it has become a battleground of ideology with several top officials leaving. As parents, educators, and health workers navigate conflicting policies, inconsistent messaging, and growing distrust, the eventual result could be an America that's less healthy in a chaotic medical care environment.

US states are divided over vaccination and CDC policies. Florida and Texas reject vaccine mandates and federal health rules, while California, Oregon and Washington have formed an anti-CDC alliance. US medical care is in ICU

American states are fighting each other on medical care issues depending on their political leanings, in a new kind of ideological war shaping up across the nation. With the alleged politicisation and weaponisation of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., red states and blue states are taking widely differing views and paths on public health policy, most evident in vaccine mandates. While Florida is aggressively rolling back childhood vaccine requirements, California is leading the formation of a science-based health alliance with other like-minded states. Here is how the US is entering into a full-blown ‘medical war’ where each state draws its own line between freedom and public safety. Florida to eliminate vaccine mandates In a stunning move, Florida announced plans this week to end all state-level vaccine mandates including for diseases like measles, polio, hepatitis B, and chickenpox. Framed by Governor Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr Joseph Ladapo, the move is being described as “medical freedom,” but has sent shockwaves through the public health community. Ladapo even likened vaccine mandates – most prominently in place during the COVID pandemic under the Biden presidency – to “slavery”. Florida is facing fierce criticism from the medical community, which warned that the child vaccine move could result in the resurgence of deadly, vaccine-preventable diseases. "This is reckless," said Dr Michael Osterholm, a leading infectious disease expert, adding, "Florida is putting ideology ahead of basic public health science." Also read: Pentagon scraps Covid vaccine mandate that led to the discharge of more than 8,000 army personnel Texas: Caught in the crossfire of consequences amid measles outbreak Texas, another Republican-held state, cancelled its annual immunisation conference due to uncertainties involving CDC participation, reflecting the confusion at the federal level under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This happened even as Texas battled the aftermath of a severe measles outbreak that sickened hundreds—mostly in areas with low vaccination rates. This week, Texas also opened another battlefront over abortions, with a new law mandating that citizens can sue anyone prescribing and providing abortion pills. https://www.wionews.com/videos/cdc-officials-resign-over-vaccine-policy-director-removed-within-a-month-1756483124265/embed How California and the West Coast are leading an anti-CDC rebellion Meanwhile, Democrat-ruled states on the West Coast – California, Oregon, and Washington – are taking a strong stance against the CDC. These states formed the West Coast Health Alliance that vowed to uphold evidence-based vaccine recommendations and counter what they view as a politicised and weakened CDC. Also read: Who is Vinay Prasad, Indian-origin FDA official who resigned after campaign by right-wing influencer Laura Loomer? "We will not allow public health to be undermined by misinformation or political agendas," California Governor Gavin Newsom stated when announcing the alliance this week. The states hope that their united approach will send a strong message that, in the absence of CDC's leadership, science will lead the way, even if it means going it alone against federal authorities. New York is reinforcing vaccine access, going against federal moves Local lawmakers in New York are seeking to firewall the state from national turbulence on vaccines. A set of legislation was introduced in the past few days, including for insurance coverage for vaccines, even if the federal government weakens or removes existing CDC guidance on vaccines. The CDC has cut funding and staff for New York City, whose Department of Health is trying to maintain immunisation efforts despite the instability caused by these federal moves. “We have a duty to protect New Yorkers, no matter what happens in Washington,” said a senior city health official. Also read: UK faces rising claims for COVID-19 vaccine damages; over 14,000 seek compensation Red versus blue states on healthcare The whole situation is pointing to a political divide: Texas and Florida are rejecting traditional public health structures, preferring freedom and autonomy over science. Blue states like California and New York are reinforcing science-based governance and resisting federal erosion led by the CDC. Caught in the crossfire are men, women and children, with their ZIP code determining if they will get science-backed healthcare. The CDC used to be the leading authority for nationwide immunisation campaigns. But now, it has become a battleground of ideology with several top officials leaving. As parents, educators, and health workers navigate conflicting policies, inconsistent messaging, and growing distrust, the eventual result could be an America that's less healthy in a chaotic medical care environment.

US states are divided over vaccination and CDC policies. Florida and Texas reject vaccine mandates and federal health rules, while California, Oregon and Washington have formed an anti-CDC alliance. US medical care is in ICU

Medical Wars in US: It’s State vs State over vaccination and top disease control body CDC

US President-elect Donald Trump has started his transition ahead of taking the oath of office in January 2025. From the names he suggested for cabinet and other key positions in the White House, it is clear that his second non-consecutive term will try to settle political scores while ensuring protection from court cases.&nbsp;

Based on the profiles of Team Trump, here is an analysis of how different aspects of government will be impacted, from global wars to domestic security.

Note: This time, most of Trump's nominees will eventually get the jobs, as the Senate and House of Represenatives are also Republican-controlled after the November 5 general election. Only the most controversial nominations might get stuck at committee level in House and Senate. But this article assumes all the names would be final.

WATCH- Trump's Cabinet: Congressman Matt Gaetz Named As Attorney General

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<h2>ENDING WARS IN UKRAINE AND WEST ASIA</h2>

Trump had often claimed during the re-election campaign that he is the only one who can end the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and prevent World War 3. The time has come for him to deliver.&nbsp;

He has picked Marco Rubio to lead the State Department. As secretary of state, the Florida Senator will lead efforts to de-escalate the situation.&nbsp;

Trump also chose Mike Huckabee, a staunch defender of Israel, as the US ambassador to the Jewish nation, which is engaged in a multi-front war with terror groups Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel is also fighting Iran and its proxies like Houthi rebels in Yemen, and other militants in Iraq and Syria. The choice of Huckabee is a clear indication that ultimately, the US will favour Israel's views on ending the conflict.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tulsi-gabbard-newly-elected-trumps-spy-chief-served-in-us-military-for-over-two-decades-776235">Also read: Tulsi Gabbard, newly-appointed Trump's spy chief, served in US military for over two decades</a>

But can he really end the war? Trump is averse to the US being dragged into foreign wars, and particularly opposed to paying for them. Also remember that he was the architect of the Abram Accords, the agreements of peace and cooperation between Israel and several of its enemy Arab states. It is quite possible that Trump and his team would be able to start negotiations that could end the war in the Middle East.

The US efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war are going to be skewed in favour of Russia, with Trump having a direct line with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a long time. Trump had been dismissive and critical about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him the 'greatest salesman'. Don't forget that Trump's first impeachment in 2019 came as a result of his blocking of aid to Ukraine (to force it to investigate the current President Joe Biden).&nbsp;

The efforts at the United Nations to end the Ukraine war will be led by Trump nominee for US envoy, Elise Stefanik.

Any move by Trump to end the war in a way that could favour Russia would again put him at odds with NATO, which has been helping Ukraine with funds and arms to fight Russia, along with the Biden administration. Trump, in his first term, had wanted the US to cut its contributions to NATO, and pressured its other members from Europe to pay up and level the field on financial contributions to the western military alliance.&nbsp;

<h2>TRUMP'S LEGAL CASES: SHAKING UP THE JUDICIARY AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE&nbsp;</h2>

Trump wants to protect himself from conviction and sentencing in the ongoing legal battles, and will try to wind up all of them.&nbsp;

The cases deal with the 2020 election interference and the 2021 Capitol Hill riot, tax evasion, handling of classified documents, and the Stormy Daniels hush money payment.&nbsp;

Trump will ensure that presidential immunity is intact, and take more efforts to protect himself from future prosecution once he leaves office.

Trump's picks for key posts in the Justice Department are a clear indication of his intentions. He named Matt Gaetz as the attorney general, thus giving the country's top prosecutor role to a staunch ally. One of the things Trump said Gaetz would do is 'end weaponised government', code for what his surrogates call 'lawfare' against political opponents.&nbsp;

More interesting is his pick of Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general. Blanche was a defence lawyer for several of Trump's court cases.

Many of Trump's cases are being heard in New York courts. Keeping that in mind, he has appointed Jay Clayton, a loyalist, as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, a very powerful post within the justice department.

<h2>THE BORDER, IMMIGRATION AND HOMELAND SECURITY</h2>

Trump made no secret of his hatred for immigrants trying to enter the US from the southern border. He started building a wall in his first term and will continue to strengthen efforts to prevent individuals and caravans from entering or getting asylum in the US. His homeland security secretary pick, Kristi Noem, is going to play a key role in implementing this.

Trump has once said that he would be a dictator 'may be on the first day', and ordering the deportation of illegal migrants could be one of the things he would do on day one or first week in office.&nbsp;

For this, he has appointed Tom Homan as the border czar who once promised to carry out the largest mass deportation ever by the US. 
Homan comes with significant experience, having led the immigration and customs enforcement in the first Trump administration.

<h2>SHAKING UP THE INTELLIGENCE ESTABLISHMENT</h2>

Trump has been a target of several investigations led by the intelligence establishment, or what he calls the deep state, particularly the classified documents investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There is even talk that he will clip the wings of FBI with funding cuts. In broader terms, Trump has promised to dismantle the deep state, a reference mainly to the government-intelligence cooperation that led to what he calls a 'witchhunt' during and after his first term in office.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-20-tulsi-gabbard-nominated-to-head-us-intelligence-matt-gaetz-to-lead-justice-department-775994">Also read: Trump 2.0: Tulsi Gabbard nominated to head US Intelligence, Matt Gaetz to lead Justice Department</a> 
&nbsp;

Leading the charge would be Tulsi Gabbard, who Trump named as director of national intelligence. Trump also brought back his former DNI John Ratcliffe as the director of Central Intelligence Agency.&nbsp;

There is speculation that Trump would shake up FBI, with a leadership change and reorganisation of its structure. In his view, the agency was used by Biden administration as a tool to prosecute him.

<h2>FUTURE OF AMERICA AT WAR: DEFENCE AND SOLDIERS</h2>

Trump has exhibited strong support for American soldiers and veterans, who in turn backed him in large numbers. His opposition to foreign wars is part economic rationale and part isolationalist approach to global security affairs.&nbsp;

Trump does not want to send American boots to the ground, and had started the process of US troop withrdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan when he left office.&nbsp;

He might find an ally in his new defence secretary nominee Peter Hegseth, who has seen wars first hand. Hegseth was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011. Having had no strategic or decision making role in military or national securty affairs, his approach is likely to be more grassroots, with an ear for the concerns of the American soldier than the larger goal of global policing.

This might erode the traditional role of America as the pre-eminent global power the international community looks up to intervene in and resolve conflicts.&nbsp;

Will the US want to give strategic space to Russia and rising China in this regard? That's an open question for now. Remember, however, that Trump had cooperated with Russia in helping eliminate the Islamic State terror group in the Middle East.

Trump has nominated the controversial Flordia Congressman Mike Waltz as the national security advisor. The former Army Green Beret is a war veteran of Afghanistan and worked as policy advisor to Republican administrations.

Waltz' appointment is also significant in the context of China, a country Trump might want to keep in check. Waltz has been critical of China on various issues like the mistreatment of the Uighur Muslims. He was also an advocate of the theory that the Covid pandemic originated in a Chinese lab.

<h2>GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND WASTE: WILL ELON MUSK CHANGE THINGS?</h2>

The appointment of the world's richest man Elon Musk, and Trump challenger-turned ally Vivek Ramaswamy to run a new agency of government efficiency is signficant. Trump wants to protect the upper middle class and the rich from taxes, while reducing government spending, and soverign debt. Musk has promised a trillion-dollar cut in government waste. Trump's Repubican base advocates least amount of goverment invervention in their lives. It would be interesting to see how much waste he is able to cut.

<h2>ENVIRONMENT: BACK TO FOSSIL FUELS AND POLLUTING VEHICLES?</h2>

Trump has been an ally of the fossil fuel lobby, having taken the US out of the Paris Accord to tackle climate change during his first term. Trump said he would 'drill baby, drill' to bring back America's very old dominance as the top oil producer. This will practically end the commitments to environmental causes.&nbsp;

For this he has roped in Lee Zeldin, who has no practical experience in the field, to run the environmental protection agency. Zeldin promised to 'restore US energy dominance', meaning back to drilling untapped reserves of petroleum in US and its territorial waters. He also promised, as did Trump, to 'revitalise the auto industry'.

Both these policies appeal to the rust belt America, which is looking forward to a windfall of jobs in the auto and oil sectors.&nbsp;

<h2>HEALTHCARE: WILL BIG PHARMA FACE THE MUSIC?</h2>

At the fag end of his first term, Trump and his allies amplified Covid conspiracy theories as the pandemic hit the US. It might even be argued that Covid was a cause of Trump's defeat in the 2020 election. Now, he has appointed as health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, the former Democrat who had openly opposed the Covid vaccination mandate. Will he reopen the Covid files and investigate America's response to it is one question. The other is whether he will take on Big Pharma, which made billions of dollars of profit during the Covid pandemic, particularly through their Covid vaccines.

<h2>BUT WHO CAN BLOCK TRUMP?</h2>

Roughly half of Senate and the full House of Representatives went into election along with the presidential election on November 5. Senate term is for six years and the House of Representatives' term is two years. This means there will be mid-term elections, and the Congress composition could change in next couple of years in favour of Democrats who can then block Trump's legislative agenda.

This acts as a check and balance system offering legislature's oversight on presidential actions, as much of it (except perhaps presidential orders) will need Congressional approval.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Democrat-chaired committees in the Senate and House could also put a spanner in the works on Trump policies. The other major check mechanism is the Supreme Court, whose nine judges these days have clear political leanings. Currently, the bench has a Conservative tilt, and Trump will get the opportunity to name more judges. Remember that Supreme Court judges can serve till death, and their rulings can impact a generation.

Then there is the media, the fourth pillar of democracy. Besides the Democrats, much of US media is likely to serve as the Opposition. We can expect dirt to be digged up on all his nominees before, during or after they assume office.

US President-elect Donald Trump has started his transition ahead of taking the oath of office in January 2025. From the names he suggested for cabinet and other key positions in the White House, it is clear that his second non-consecutive term will try to settle political scores while ensuring protection from court cases.

US President-elect Donald Trump has started his transition ahead of taking the oath of office in January 2025. From the names he suggested for cabinet and other key positions in the White House, it is clear that his second non-consecutive term will try to settle political scores while ensuring protection from court cases. Based on the profiles of Team Trump, here is an analysis of how different aspects of government will be impacted, from global wars to domestic security. Note: This time, most of Trump's nominees will eventually get the jobs, as the Senate and House of Represenatives are also Republican-controlled after the November 5 general election. Only the most controversial nominations might get stuck at committee level in House and Senate. But this article assumes all the names would be final. WATCH- Trump's Cabinet: Congressman Matt Gaetz Named As Attorney General × ENDING WARS IN UKRAINE AND WEST ASIA Trump had often claimed during the re-election campaign that he is the only one who can end the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and prevent World War 3. The time has come for him to deliver. He has picked Marco Rubio to lead the State Department. As secretary of state, the Florida Senator will lead efforts to de-escalate the situation. Trump also chose Mike Huckabee, a staunch defender of Israel, as the US ambassador to the Jewish nation, which is engaged in a multi-front war with terror groups Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel is also fighting Iran and its proxies like Houthi rebels in Yemen, and other militants in Iraq and Syria. The choice of Huckabee is a clear indication that ultimately, the US will favour Israel's views on ending the conflict. Also read: Tulsi Gabbard, newly-appointed Trump's spy chief, served in US military for over two decades But can he really end the war? Trump is averse to the US being dragged into foreign wars, and particularly opposed to paying for them. Also remember that he was the architect of the Abram Accords, the agreements of peace and cooperation between Israel and several of its enemy Arab states. It is quite possible that Trump and his team would be able to start negotiations that could end the war in the Middle East. The US efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war are going to be skewed in favour of Russia, with Trump having a direct line with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a long time. Trump had been dismissive and critical about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him the 'greatest salesman'. Don't forget that Trump's first impeachment in 2019 came as a result of his blocking of aid to Ukraine (to force it to investigate the current President Joe Biden). The efforts at the United Nations to end the Ukraine war will be led by Trump nominee for US envoy, Elise Stefanik. Any move by Trump to end the war in a way that could favour Russia would again put him at odds with NATO, which has been helping Ukraine with funds and arms to fight Russia, along with the Biden administration. Trump, in his first term, had wanted the US to cut its contributions to NATO, and pressured its other members from Europe to pay up and level the field on financial contributions to the western military alliance. TRUMP'S LEGAL CASES: SHAKING UP THE JUDICIARY AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Trump wants to protect himself from conviction and sentencing in the ongoing legal battles, and will try to wind up all of them. The cases deal with the 2020 election interference and the 2021 Capitol Hill riot, tax evasion, handling of classified documents, and the Stormy Daniels hush money payment. Trump will ensure that presidential immunity is intact, and take more efforts to protect himself from future prosecution once he leaves office. Trump's picks for key posts in the Justice Department are a clear indication of his intentions. He named Matt Gaetz as the attorney general, thus giving the country's top prosecutor role to a staunch ally. One of the things Trump said Gaetz would do is 'end weaponised government', code for what his surrogates call 'lawfare' against political opponents. More interesting is his pick of Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general. Blanche was a defence lawyer for several of Trump's court cases. Many of Trump's cases are being heard in New York courts. Keeping that in mind, he has appointed Jay Clayton, a loyalist, as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, a very powerful post within the justice department. THE BORDER, IMMIGRATION AND HOMELAND SECURITY Trump made no secret of his hatred for immigrants trying to enter the US from the southern border. He started building a wall in his first term and will continue to strengthen efforts to prevent individuals and caravans from entering or getting asylum in the US. His homeland security secretary pick, Kristi Noem, is going to play a key role in implementing this. Trump has once said that he would be a dictator 'may be on the first day', and ordering the deportation of illegal migrants could be one of the things he would do on day one or first week in office. For this, he has appointed Tom Homan as the border czar who once promised to carry out the largest mass deportation ever by the US. Homan comes with significant experience, having led the immigration and customs enforcement in the first Trump administration. SHAKING UP THE INTELLIGENCE ESTABLISHMENT Trump has been a target of several investigations led by the intelligence establishment, or what he calls the deep state, particularly the classified documents investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There is even talk that he will clip the wings of FBI with funding cuts. In broader terms, Trump has promised to dismantle the deep state, a reference mainly to the government-intelligence cooperation that led to what he calls a 'witchhunt' during and after his first term in office. Also read: Trump 2.0: Tulsi Gabbard nominated to head US Intelligence, Matt Gaetz to lead Justice Department Leading the charge would be Tulsi Gabbard, who Trump named as director of national intelligence. Trump also brought back his former DNI John Ratcliffe as the director of Central Intelligence Agency. There is speculation that Trump would shake up FBI, with a leadership change and reorganisation of its structure. In his view, the agency was used by Biden administration as a tool to prosecute him. FUTURE OF AMERICA AT WAR: DEFENCE AND SOLDIERS Trump has exhibited strong support for American soldiers and veterans, who in turn backed him in large numbers. His opposition to foreign wars is part economic rationale and part isolationalist approach to global security affairs. Trump does not want to send American boots to the ground, and had started the process of US troop withrdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan when he left office. He might find an ally in his new defence secretary nominee Peter Hegseth, who has seen wars first hand. Hegseth was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011. Having had no strategic or decision making role in military or national securty affairs, his approach is likely to be more grassroots, with an ear for the concerns of the American soldier than the larger goal of global policing. This might erode the traditional role of America as the pre-eminent global power the international community looks up to intervene in and resolve conflicts. Will the US want to give strategic space to Russia and rising China in this regard? That's an open question for now. Remember, however, that Trump had cooperated with Russia in helping eliminate the Islamic State terror group in the Middle East. Trump has nominated the controversial Flordia Congressman Mike Waltz as the national security advisor. The former Army Green Beret is a war veteran of Afghanistan and worked as policy advisor to Republican administrations. Waltz' appointment is also significant in the context of China, a country Trump might want to keep in check. Waltz has been critical of China on various issues like the mistreatment of the Uighur Muslims. He was also an advocate of the theory that the Covid pandemic originated in a Chinese lab. GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND WASTE: WILL ELON MUSK CHANGE THINGS? The appointment of the world's richest man Elon Musk, and Trump challenger-turned ally Vivek Ramaswamy to run a new agency of government efficiency is signficant. Trump wants to protect the upper middle class and the rich from taxes, while reducing government spending, and soverign debt. Musk has promised a trillion-dollar cut in government waste. Trump's Repubican base advocates least amount of goverment invervention in their lives. It would be interesting to see how much waste he is able to cut. ENVIRONMENT: BACK TO FOSSIL FUELS AND POLLUTING VEHICLES? Trump has been an ally of the fossil fuel lobby, having taken the US out of the Paris Accord to tackle climate change during his first term. Trump said he would 'drill baby, drill' to bring back America's very old dominance as the top oil producer. This will practically end the commitments to environmental causes. For this he has roped in Lee Zeldin, who has no practical experience in the field, to run the environmental protection agency. Zeldin promised to 'restore US energy dominance', meaning back to drilling untapped reserves of petroleum in US and its territorial waters. He also promised, as did Trump, to 'revitalise the auto industry'. Both these policies appeal to the rust belt America, which is looking forward to a windfall of jobs in the auto and oil sectors. HEALTHCARE: WILL BIG PHARMA FACE THE MUSIC? At the fag end of his first term, Trump and his allies amplified Covid conspiracy theories as the pandemic hit the US. It might even be argued that Covid was a cause of Trump's defeat in the 2020 election. Now, he has appointed as health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, the former Democrat who had openly opposed the Covid vaccination mandate. Will he reopen the Covid files and investigate America's response to it is one question. The other is whether he will take on Big Pharma, which made billions of dollars of profit during the Covid pandemic, particularly through their Covid vaccines. BUT WHO CAN BLOCK TRUMP? Roughly half of Senate and the full House of Representatives went into election along with the presidential election on November 5. Senate term is for six years and the House of Representatives' term is two years. This means there will be mid-term elections, and the Congress composition could change in next couple of years in favour of Democrats who can then block Trump's legislative agenda. This acts as a check and balance system offering legislature's oversight on presidential actions, as much of it (except perhaps presidential orders) will need Congressional approval. Democrat-chaired committees in the Senate and House could also put a spanner in the works on Trump policies. The other major check mechanism is the Supreme Court, whose nine judges these days have clear political leanings. Currently, the bench has a Conservative tilt, and Trump will get the opportunity to name more judges. Remember that Supreme Court judges can serve till death, and their rulings can impact a generation. Then there is the media, the fourth pillar of democracy. Besides the Democrats, much of US media is likely to serve as the Opposition. We can expect dirt to be digged up on all his nominees before, during or after they assume office.

Trump 2.0: What will his 'revenge cabinet' do to the US and world? Who can stop him?

More than 75,000 workers at hundreds of Kaiser Permanente hospitals and medical facilities launched a strike Wednesday (Oct 4), which turned out to be one of the largest healthcare workers' strikes in recent US history. Kaiser Permanente is an umbrella group representing local unions based in Oakland.&nbsp;

This came after on Wednesday after failing to resolve a dispute over staffing levels. A coalition of unions alleged that the health care system is practising unfair labour practices.&nbsp;

The unions said that employees in Virginia and Washington DC walked off the job at 6am ET. Those in California, Colorado, Washington and Oregon started the strike at 9am ET.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-urges-climate-action-decries-irresponsible-western-lifestyle-642611">Pope urges climate action in COP28, decries 'irresponsible' Western lifestyle</a>&nbsp;

The walkout at Kaiser Permanente, which is America's largest non-profit healthcare organisation, comes at a time when rising inflation has prompted strike action across the country, including Hollywood and Detroit.&nbsp;

In a statement posted on its website, Kaiser said that it has put in place contingency plans to limit the impact of the strike, but warned customers to expect "longer than usual" wait times.&nbsp;

The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions said last month that the three-day walkout will be "the largest healthcare worker strike in US history".&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-christ-the-redeemer-statue-in-rio-lights-up-in-pink-for-breast-cancer-awareness-642599">Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio lights up in pink for Breast Cancer Awareness</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Apple enforces new checks on apps in China

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According to previous coalition announcements, the union is pressing for salary increases across the board, as well as protections against subcontracting and labour outsourcing.&nbsp;

It has threatened to engage in further strike action in November "if Kaiser continues to commit unfair labor practices."

In a statement, Kaiser Permanente said it was "disappointed" by the strike, adding it plans to keep its medical centres running throughout the three-day walkout.

"Our medical centers will remain open during the strike and will be staffed by our physicians and trained and experienced managers and staff," it added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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More than 75,000 workers at hundreds of Kaiser Permanente hospitals and medical facilities launched a strike Wednesday (Oct 4), which turned out to be one of the largest healthcare workers' strikes in recent US history.

More than 75,000 workers at hundreds of Kaiser Permanente hospitals and medical facilities launched a strike Wednesday (Oct 4), which turned out to be one of the largest healthcare workers' strikes in recent US history. Kaiser Permanente is an umbrella group representing local unions based in Oakland. This came after on Wednesday after failing to resolve a dispute over staffing levels. A coalition of unions alleged that the health care system is practising unfair labour practices. The unions said that employees in Virginia and Washington DC walked off the job at 6am ET. Those in California, Colorado, Washington and Oregon started the strike at 9am ET. Also read: Pope urges climate action in COP28, decries 'irresponsible' Western lifestyle The walkout at Kaiser Permanente, which is America's largest non-profit healthcare organisation, comes at a time when rising inflation has prompted strike action across the country, including Hollywood and Detroit. In a statement posted on its website, Kaiser said that it has put in place contingency plans to limit the impact of the strike, but warned customers to expect "longer than usual" wait times. The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions said last month that the three-day walkout will be "the largest healthcare worker strike in US history". Also read: Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio lights up in pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Watch: Apple enforces new checks on apps in China × According to previous coalition announcements, the union is pressing for salary increases across the board, as well as protections against subcontracting and labour outsourcing. It has threatened to engage in further strike action in November "if Kaiser continues to commit unfair labor practices." In a statement, Kaiser Permanente said it was "disappointed" by the strike, adding it plans to keep its medical centres running throughout the three-day walkout. "Our medical centers will remain open during the strike and will be staffed by our physicians and trained and experienced managers and staff," it added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US healthcare crisis: More than 75,000 workers at Kaiser Permanente launch strike in largest such action

Fortune magazine released its annual Fortune 500 list of largest corporations in the United States, on Monday (June 5) and for the first time in its nearly seven-decade history over 10 per cent of companies on the list have female CEOs. Additionally, the magazine also reported that there are more Black CEOs than ever before.&nbsp;

In 2023, the revenue threshold for making the Fortune 500 list was $7.2 billion, also up by 13 per cent when compared to last year. Notably, these companies on this list represent two-thirds of the US GDP with $18 trillion in revenue.&nbsp;

While these record-breaking numbers of female and Black CEOs objectively sound good they are not necessarily when compared to the bigger&nbsp;picture.&nbsp;

<h2>Why are these numbers bad?</h2>

This year’s Fortune 500 reported 52 women who run the companies on the list which is up from 44, in 2022 this time around. This amounts to more than 10 per cent of the biggest businesses in the US being run by the “opposite sex”.&nbsp;

US company CVS Health, which ranks number six on the list with $323 billion in revenue, is led by CEO Karen Lynch. CVS is also reported to be one of the largest companies in history which is led by a woman, but it is worth noting that the cost of healthcare in the US is higher than most countries.&nbsp;

“There are signs of progress—slow, but real—in this year’s Fortune 500,” writes Fortune, Editor-in-Chief Alyson Shontell. Furthermore, she also questions why healthcare companies like CVS are “so big” to begin with, as she compares the list from 1995 when no healthcare companies made it to the top 25 as opposed to this year when there are eight.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-fortune-500-list-records-maximum-women-ceos-601016">Gravitas: Fortune 500 list records maximum women CEOs</a>

“The reality is that no other country monetizes its sick and elderly the way the US does. And the high cost of care contributes to health and wealth inequities here, too—not to mention burdensome costs for other businesses,” Shontell writes in the foreword to the June/July 2023 issue of the magazine.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the magazine also reported that there are more Black CEOs running companies ranked in the Fortune 500 than ever before but there are just eight of them. Therefore, as Shontells said while there are signs of real change&nbsp;in terms of diversity in&nbsp;corporate America,&nbsp;progress remains slow.&nbsp;

<h2>Top 10 companies on the 2023 Fortune 500 list:&nbsp;</h2>

1. Walmart 
2. Amazon.com 
3. Exxon Mobil 
4. Apple 
5. UnitedHealth Group 
6. CVS Health 
7. Berkshire Hathaway 
8. Alphabet 
9. McKesson 
10. Chevron

This year’s list of Fortune 500 is based on over 200 diﬀerent cities spread across 38 US states. Notably, Walmart managed to retain its position at the top of the list for the 11th year in a row with a total revenue of $5.7 trillion. 
 
The magazine also noted that UnitedHealth Group is the highest-ranked healthcare company on the list followed by CVS. Furthermore, Texas was home to most Fortune 500s with the headquarters of more than 50 companies in the US state.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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Fortune magazine released its annual Fortune 500 list of largest corporations in the United States, on Monday (June 5) and for the first time in its nearly seven-decade history over 10 per cent of companies on the list have female CEOs.

Fortune magazine released its annual Fortune 500 list of largest corporations in the United States, on Monday (June 5) and for the first time in its nearly seven-decade history over 10 per cent of companies on the list have female CEOs. Additionally, the magazine also reported that there are more Black CEOs than ever before. In 2023, the revenue threshold for making the Fortune 500 list was $7.2 billion, also up by 13 per cent when compared to last year. Notably, these companies on this list represent two-thirds of the US GDP with $18 trillion in revenue. While these record-breaking numbers of female and Black CEOs objectively sound good they are not necessarily when compared to the bigger picture. Why are these numbers bad? This year’s Fortune 500 reported 52 women who run the companies on the list which is up from 44, in 2022 this time around. This amounts to more than 10 per cent of the biggest businesses in the US being run by the “opposite sex”. US company CVS Health, which ranks number six on the list with $323 billion in revenue, is led by CEO Karen Lynch. CVS is also reported to be one of the largest companies in history which is led by a woman, but it is worth noting that the cost of healthcare in the US is higher than most countries. “There are signs of progress—slow, but real—in this year’s Fortune 500,” writes Fortune, Editor-in-Chief Alyson Shontell. Furthermore, she also questions why healthcare companies like CVS are “so big” to begin with, as she compares the list from 1995 when no healthcare companies made it to the top 25 as opposed to this year when there are eight. ALSO WATCH | Gravitas: Fortune 500 list records maximum women CEOs “The reality is that no other country monetizes its sick and elderly the way the US does. And the high cost of care contributes to health and wealth inequities here, too—not to mention burdensome costs for other businesses,” Shontell writes in the foreword to the June/July 2023 issue of the magazine. Meanwhile, the magazine also reported that there are more Black CEOs running companies ranked in the Fortune 500 than ever before but there are just eight of them. Therefore, as Shontells said while there are signs of real change in terms of diversity in corporate America, progress remains slow. Top 10 companies on the 2023 Fortune 500 list: 1. Walmart 2. Amazon.com 3. Exxon Mobil 4. Apple 5. UnitedHealth Group 6. CVS Health 7. Berkshire Hathaway 8. Alphabet 9. McKesson 10. Chevron This year’s list of Fortune 500 is based on over 200 diﬀerent cities spread across 38 US states. Notably, Walmart managed to retain its position at the top of the list for the 11th year in a row with a total revenue of $5.7 trillion. The magazine also noted that UnitedHealth Group is the highest-ranked healthcare company on the list followed by CVS. Furthermore, Texas was home to most Fortune 500s with the headquarters of more than 50 companies in the US state. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Fortune 500 reports a record number of female, Black CEOs. But the numbers are not good: Here’s why

Johnson &amp; Johnson&nbsp;said on Friday it is recalling around 33,000 bottles of baby powder in the United States after US health regulators found trace amounts of asbestos in samples taken from a bottle purchased online.

J&amp;J shares fell more than 6% to close at $127.70 (98.7 pounds).

The move marks the first time the company has recalled its iconic baby powder for possible asbestos contamination, and the first time US regulators have announced a finding of asbestos in the product. Asbestos is a known carcinogen that has been linked to deadly mesothelioma.

The recall is the latest blow to the more than 130-year-old US healthcare conglomerate that is facing thousands of lawsuits over a variety of products, including baby powder, opioids, medical devices and the antipsychotic Risperdal.

A jury last week ordered the company to pay $8 billion to a plaintiff in a case claiming J&amp;J downplayed the risks of Risperdal. That award is not expected to stand, the company and legal experts have said.

J&amp;J faces more than 15,000 lawsuits from consumers claiming its talc products, including Johnson's Baby Powder, caused their cancer.

On a conference call with reporters on Friday, Dr. Susan Nicholson, head of Women’s Health in the company's medical safety organization, called the asbestos finding "extremely unusual," adding that it was "inconsistent with our testing to date."

The voluntary recall announced on Friday is limited to one lot of Johnson's Baby Powder produced and shipped in the United States in 2018, the company said. J&amp;J in a news release said that testing by the US Food and Drug Administration as recently as a month ago found no asbestos in their talc.

The FDA said in a statement that the latest sampling took place during its testing for asbestos in talc-containing cosmetics that it began reporting this year. A second Johnson’s Baby Powder sample from a different lot tested negative for asbestos, the agency said.

The FDA said it stands by the quality of its testing and results and recommended consumers stop using the product if it comes from the affected lot.

J&amp;J said on the conference call that it received a report from the FDA on October 17 alerting the company about the asbestos finding. It said it has started an investigation and is reviewing manufacturing records and collecting data on the distribution of the lot to determine where the product was shipped.

J&amp;J added that it is working with the FDA to determine the integrity of the tested sample as well as the validity of test results.

Thorough investigation needed

The type of asbestos discovered by FDA testing has not been found in the mine where the company sources its talc, J&amp;J's Nicholson said. She described it as an environmental contaminant most commonly found in building materials and industrial applications.

J&amp;J said it was too early to confirm whether cross-contamination of the sample had caused a false positive, whether the sample was taken from a bottle with an intact seal or whether the it was prepared in a controlled environment. It added that it could not confirm whether the tested product was authentic or counterfeit.

"It is so critical that we perform a thorough investigation of the sample to determine the source of contamination," Nicholson said.

Since 2003, talc in Johnson's Baby Powder sold in the United States has come from China through supplier Imerys Talc America, a unit of Paris-based Imerys SA&nbsp;and a co-defendant in much of the talc litigation. Imerys and J&amp;J said the Chinese talc is safe.

J&amp;J has known for decades that asbestos lurked in its talc, Reuters reported last year. Internal company records, trial testimony and other evidence show that from at least 1971 to the early 2000s, the company’s raw talc and finished powders sometimes tested positive for small amounts of asbestos. Company executives, mine managers, scientists, doctors and lawyers fretted over the problem and how to address it, while failing to disclose it to regulators or the public, Reuters found.

J&amp;J has repeatedly said that its talc products are safe, and that decades of studies have shown them to be asbestos-free and that they do not cause cancer.

The FDA test indicated the presence of no greater than 0.00002% of chrysotile asbestos in the tested sample, J&amp;J said.

The World Health Organization and other authorities recognize no safe level of exposure to asbestos. While most people exposed never develop cancer, for some, even small amounts of asbestos are enough to trigger the disease years later.

Thousands of the lawsuits against J&amp;J have been consolidated before a New Jersey federal judge, who is currently weighing company motions to disqualify plaintiffs’ expert witnesses, including the head of an asbestos testing lab who has testified in earlier trials that he found the contaminant in J&amp;J powders.

Leigh O’Dell, one of the lead plaintiff attorneys, on Friday said the recall "vindicates the position we’ve been taking for months.”

Wells Fargo analyst Larry Biegelsen said in a research note that the recall could encourage additional lawsuits and prompt the company to pursue a broader settlement.

Jefferies healthcare strategist Jared Holz said J&amp;J has already lost close to $10 billion in market value due to the talc issue over the past year.

He said further downside to J&amp;J stock is likely to be limited because legal concerns over talc are well known and have already taken a toll on the share price. "This is one single bottle within one lot with barely a trace here," he said.

J&amp;J said in February that it had received subpoenas from the U.S. Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission for documents related to the asbestos contamination allegations. A Bloomberg report, which Reuters has confirmed, said those inquiries include a criminal grand jury investigation into how forthright J&amp;J has been in its statements about the safety of its powders.

While talc products make up less than 1% of J&amp;J sales expected by analysts to reach $82 billion in 2019, the New Jersey-based healthcare-products maker considers its Baby Powder to be an essential facet of a carefully tended image as a caring company.

Johnson & Johnson said on Friday it is recalling around 33,000 bottles of baby powder in the United States after US health regulators found trace amounts of asbestos in samples taken from a bottle purchased online.

Johnson & Johnson said on Friday it is recalling around 33,000 bottles of baby powder in the United States after US health regulators found trace amounts of asbestos in samples taken from a bottle purchased online. J&J shares fell more than 6% to close at $127.70 (98.7 pounds). The move marks the first time the company has recalled its iconic baby powder for possible asbestos contamination, and the first time US regulators have announced a finding of asbestos in the product. Asbestos is a known carcinogen that has been linked to deadly mesothelioma. The recall is the latest blow to the more than 130-year-old US healthcare conglomerate that is facing thousands of lawsuits over a variety of products, including baby powder, opioids, medical devices and the antipsychotic Risperdal. A jury last week ordered the company to pay $8 billion to a plaintiff in a case claiming J&J downplayed the risks of Risperdal. That award is not expected to stand, the company and legal experts have said. J&J faces more than 15,000 lawsuits from consumers claiming its talc products, including Johnson's Baby Powder, caused their cancer. On a conference call with reporters on Friday, Dr. Susan Nicholson, head of Women’s Health in the company's medical safety organization, called the asbestos finding "extremely unusual," adding that it was "inconsistent with our testing to date." The voluntary recall announced on Friday is limited to one lot of Johnson's Baby Powder produced and shipped in the United States in 2018, the company said. J&J in a news release said that testing by the US Food and Drug Administration as recently as a month ago found no asbestos in their talc. The FDA said in a statement that the latest sampling took place during its testing for asbestos in talc-containing cosmetics that it began reporting this year. A second Johnson’s Baby Powder sample from a different lot tested negative for asbestos, the agency said. The FDA said it stands by the quality of its testing and results and recommended consumers stop using the product if it comes from the affected lot. J&J said on the conference call that it received a report from the FDA on October 17 alerting the company about the asbestos finding. It said it has started an investigation and is reviewing manufacturing records and collecting data on the distribution of the lot to determine where the product was shipped. J&J added that it is working with the FDA to determine the integrity of the tested sample as well as the validity of test results. Thorough investigation needed The type of asbestos discovered by FDA testing has not been found in the mine where the company sources its talc, J&J's Nicholson said. She described it as an environmental contaminant most commonly found in building materials and industrial applications. J&J said it was too early to confirm whether cross-contamination of the sample had caused a false positive, whether the sample was taken from a bottle with an intact seal or whether the it was prepared in a controlled environment. It added that it could not confirm whether the tested product was authentic or counterfeit. "It is so critical that we perform a thorough investigation of the sample to determine the source of contamination," Nicholson said. Since 2003, talc in Johnson's Baby Powder sold in the United States has come from China through supplier Imerys Talc America, a unit of Paris-based Imerys SA and a co-defendant in much of the talc litigation. Imerys and J&J said the Chinese talc is safe. J&J has known for decades that asbestos lurked in its talc, Reuters reported last year. Internal company records, trial testimony and other evidence show that from at least 1971 to the early 2000s, the company’s raw talc and finished powders sometimes tested positive for small amounts of asbestos. Company executives, mine managers, scientists, doctors and lawyers fretted over the problem and how to address it, while failing to disclose it to regulators or the public, Reuters found. J&J has repeatedly said that its talc products are safe, and that decades of studies have shown them to be asbestos-free and that they do not cause cancer. The FDA test indicated the presence of no greater than 0.00002% of chrysotile asbestos in the tested sample, J&J said. The World Health Organization and other authorities recognize no safe level of exposure to asbestos. While most people exposed never develop cancer, for some, even small amounts of asbestos are enough to trigger the disease years later. Thousands of the lawsuits against J&J have been consolidated before a New Jersey federal judge, who is currently weighing company motions to disqualify plaintiffs’ expert witnesses, including the head of an asbestos testing lab who has testified in earlier trials that he found the contaminant in J&J powders. Leigh O’Dell, one of the lead plaintiff attorneys, on Friday said the recall "vindicates the position we’ve been taking for months.” Wells Fargo analyst Larry Biegelsen said in a research note that the recall could encourage additional lawsuits and prompt the company to pursue a broader settlement. Jefferies healthcare strategist Jared Holz said J&J has already lost close to $10 billion in market value due to the talc issue over the past year. He said further downside to J&J stock is likely to be limited because legal concerns over talc are well known and have already taken a toll on the share price. "This is one single bottle within one lot with barely a trace here," he said. J&J said in February that it had received subpoenas from the U.S. Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission for documents related to the asbestos contamination allegations. A Bloomberg report, which Reuters has confirmed, said those inquiries include a criminal grand jury investigation into how forthright J&J has been in its statements about the safety of its powders. While talc products make up less than 1% of J&J sales expected by analysts to reach $82 billion in 2019, the New Jersey-based healthcare-products maker considers its Baby Powder to be an essential facet of a carefully tended image as a caring company.

J&J recalls 33,000 bottles of baby powder as FDA finds asbestos in sample

Republicans in the US Senate fell short again on Wednesday in their effort to end Obamacare, rejecting a measure to repeal large portions of President Barack Obama&#39;s signature law that has provided health insurance to millions of Americans.

But Republican Senate leaders, struggling to keep a seven-year-old promise to unravel the law, already were trying to gain support for a slimmed-down &quot;skinny&quot; bill that would throw the issue to a Senate-House of Representatives negotiating committee.

Republican senators said they were still determining what would be in the skinny repeal, which could simply eliminate mandates requiring individuals and employers to obtain or provide health insurance, and abolish a tax on medical device manufacturers.

Senator John Thune, the No. 3 Senate Republican, said the party was trying to &quot;figure out what the traffic will bear, in terms of getting 50 of our members to vote for things that will repeal as much of Obamacare as possible.&quot;

Republicans hold a 52-48 majority in the Senate.

Any Senate legislation would be enough to kick the issue to a special negotiating committee with the House, which passed its own version in May. If that panel can agree on a new bill, the full House and Senate would again have to approve the legislation - a process that could last for months.

&quot;I think people would look at it not necessarily based on its content, but as a forcing mechanism to cause the two sides of the building to try to solve it together,&quot; Republican Senator Bob Corker said. &quot;That&rsquo;s going to be the last chance.&quot;

The discussions came as the Senate rejected 45-55 a straight repeal of Obamacare with a two-year delay in implementation to allow Congress to work out a replacement. Seven Republicans opposed the measure.

It was the Senate&#39;s second failure in 24 hours to repeal the 2010 law popularly known as Obamacare, which expanded health insurance to about 20 million people, many of them low-income.

The Senate on Tuesday rejected the repeal-and-replace plan Republicans had been working on since May, with nine of the 52 Republicans voting against it.

That failed vote, and a narrow 51-50 decision to open debate on the issue, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote, underscored the party&#39;s deep divisions on the role of government in helping provide access to healthcare.

The Senate plans more votes on other approaches in coming days in a freewheeling debate that could stretch through the week. It is also a test of how Republicans govern, now that they control both Congress and the White House.

President Donald Trump, who has been in office for six months, has come down hard on his fellow Republicans for failing to act on Obamacare, something that he had promised repeatedly in his election campaign last year. Some Senate Republicans were growing uncomfortable with the chaotic debate.

&quot;We&#39;ve got to have a more organized process,&quot; Republican Senator Ron Johnson said, noting the skinny repeal would simply kick the issue down the road. &quot;We just don&#39;t have the courage and really the intestinal fortitude to suck it up and ... do this right.&quot;

Republican senators said they were still determining what would be in the skinny repeal, which could simply eliminate mandates requiring individuals and employers to obtain or provide health insurance, and abolish a tax on medical device manufacturers

Republicans in the US Senate fell short again on Wednesday in their effort to end Obamacare, rejecting a measure to repeal large portions of President Barack Obama's signature law that has provided health insurance to millions of Americans. But Republican Senate leaders, struggling to keep a seven-year-old promise to unravel the law, already were trying to gain support for a slimmed-down "skinny" bill that would throw the issue to a Senate-House of Representatives negotiating committee. Republican senators said they were still determining what would be in the skinny repeal, which could simply eliminate mandates requiring individuals and employers to obtain or provide health insurance, and abolish a tax on medical device manufacturers. Senator John Thune, the No. 3 Senate Republican, said the party was trying to "figure out what the traffic will bear, in terms of getting 50 of our members to vote for things that will repeal as much of Obamacare as possible." Republicans hold a 52-48 majority in the Senate. Any Senate legislation would be enough to kick the issue to a special negotiating committee with the House, which passed its own version in May. If that panel can agree on a new bill, the full House and Senate would again have to approve the legislation - a process that could last for months. "I think people would look at it not necessarily based on its content, but as a forcing mechanism to cause the two sides of the building to try to solve it together," Republican Senator Bob Corker said. "That’s going to be the last chance." The discussions came as the Senate rejected 45-55 a straight repeal of Obamacare with a two-year delay in implementation to allow Congress to work out a replacement. Seven Republicans opposed the measure. It was the Senate's second failure in 24 hours to repeal the 2010 law popularly known as Obamacare, which expanded health insurance to about 20 million people, many of them low-income. The Senate on Tuesday rejected the repeal-and-replace plan Republicans had been working on since May, with nine of the 52 Republicans voting against it. That failed vote, and a narrow 51-50 decision to open debate on the issue, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote, underscored the party's deep divisions on the role of government in helping provide access to healthcare. The Senate plans more votes on other approaches in coming days in a freewheeling debate that could stretch through the week. It is also a test of how Republicans govern, now that they control both Congress and the White House. President Donald Trump, who has been in office for six months, has come down hard on his fellow Republicans for failing to act on Obamacare, something that he had promised repeatedly in his election campaign last year. Some Senate Republicans were growing uncomfortable with the chaotic debate. "We've got to have a more organized process," Republican Senator Ron Johnson said, noting the skinny repeal would simply kick the issue down the road. "We just don't have the courage and really the intestinal fortitude to suck it up and ... do this right."

US Senate rejects Obamacare repeal again, eyes a 'skinny' bill

Repealing Obamacare will be the first order of business in the US&nbsp;Senate in January, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, said on Tuesday.

Republicans will replace President Barack Obama&#39;s signature health insurance program that provides coverage to millions of Americans &quot;step by step&quot;, said senator John Thune, another member of the Republican leadership.

McConnell did not say when the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, as it is officially known, would go into effect. Senator John Barrasso said it might be effective in two or three years, and that the timeframe was still being debated.

&nbsp;

The Affordable Healthcare Act was a landmark policy implementation for Obama&#39;s presidency, and a milestone for the United Stated, which has a weak system of&nbsp;publicly-funded&nbsp;hospitals, and a weak&nbsp;safety net for people who cannot&nbsp;afford private care.

The Affordable Care Act has provided 25 million previously uninsured Americans with health coverage by expanding Medicaid and through online exchanges where consumers can receive income-based subsidies. Republicans have launched repeated legal and legislative efforts to dismantle the law, which they call a government overreach.

&nbsp;

Democrats scoffed at the Republican plans, saying they do not even know what they want to replace Obamacare with.

&quot;Bring it on,&quot; said senator Chuck Schumer, who will be the Democrats&#39; leader in the Senate next year.

Donald Trump&#39;s election as US&nbsp;president last month means Republicans will control the White House, Senate and House of Representatives in 2017. The new Congress opens on January 3; Trump will be sworn in on January 20.

The average Obamacare premium is set to rise 25 per cent in 2017.

Large national insurers including Aetna Inc, UnitedHealth Group Inc and Anthem Inc have said they are losing money on the exchanges because patient costs are higher than anticipated and enrollment is lower than forecast. Both UnitedHealth and Aetna have pulled out of the exchanges for 2017.

In order to repeal Obamacare, congressional Republicans are expected to resort to a special procedure known as budget reconciliation to get around Democrats in the Senate, where rules protect the rights of the minority party.

Thune said Republicans hoped Democrats would work with them to replace Obamacare in a way that will give states, rather than the federal government, more control over healthcare issues and create more flexibility for small businesses in the way they offer healthcare benefits.

But senator Harry Reid, the outgoing Senate Democratic leader, dismissed the idea that Democrats would join in.

&quot;I think that any hope that we&#39;re going to buy into ruining healthcare in America, there&#39;s not a chance of it,&quot; he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Democrats scoffed at the Republican plans, saying they do not even know what they want to replace Obamacare with

Repealing Obamacare will be the first order of business in the US Senate in January, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, said on Tuesday. Republicans will replace President Barack Obama's signature health insurance program that provides coverage to millions of Americans "step by step", said senator John Thune, another member of the Republican leadership. McConnell did not say when the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, as it is officially known, would go into effect. Senator John Barrasso said it might be effective in two or three years, and that the timeframe was still being debated. The Affordable Healthcare Act was a landmark policy implementation for Obama's presidency, and a milestone for the United Stated, which has a weak system of publicly-funded hospitals, and a weak safety net for people who cannot afford private care. The Affordable Care Act has provided 25 million previously uninsured Americans with health coverage by expanding Medicaid and through online exchanges where consumers can receive income-based subsidies. Republicans have launched repeated legal and legislative efforts to dismantle the law, which they call a government overreach. Democrats scoffed at the Republican plans, saying they do not even know what they want to replace Obamacare with. "Bring it on," said senator Chuck Schumer, who will be the Democrats' leader in the Senate next year. Donald Trump's election as US president last month means Republicans will control the White House, Senate and House of Representatives in 2017. The new Congress opens on January 3; Trump will be sworn in on January 20. The average Obamacare premium is set to rise 25 per cent in 2017. Large national insurers including Aetna Inc, UnitedHealth Group Inc and Anthem Inc have said they are losing money on the exchanges because patient costs are higher than anticipated and enrollment is lower than forecast. Both UnitedHealth and Aetna have pulled out of the exchanges for 2017. In order to repeal Obamacare, congressional Republicans are expected to resort to a special procedure known as budget reconciliation to get around Democrats in the Senate, where rules protect the rights of the minority party. Thune said Republicans hoped Democrats would work with them to replace Obamacare in a way that will give states, rather than the federal government, more control over healthcare issues and create more flexibility for small businesses in the way they offer healthcare benefits. But senator Harry Reid, the outgoing Senate Democratic leader, dismissed the idea that Democrats would join in. "I think that any hope that we're going to buy into ruining healthcare in America, there's not a chance of it," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Repealing Obamacare first on Senate agenda in 2017

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