The Political Junkie: ACA Faces Fresh Repeal Effort

WUNC News | By Laura Pellicer,

Published September 22, 2017 at 12:54 PM EDT

President Donald Trump addresses the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters.

After multiple failed attempts by Republican leaders to repeal the Affordable Care Act, GOP lawmakers are back with their newest repeal effort. The Graham-Cassidy bill would cap funding to Medicaid, and many opponents say it would leave millions of people without healthcare coverage.

Political Junkie Ken Rudin joins host Frank Stasio for a look at our nations news. Host Frank Stasio speaks with Political Junkie Ken Rudin about whether or not the latest repeal effort stands a chance. Stasio and Rudin also break down President Trump’s first official speech to the United Nations General Assembly and discuss the ongoing investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian meddling in the U.S. election.

Laura Pellicer

Laura Pellicer is a producer with The State of Things (hyperlink), a show that explores North Carolina through conversation. Laura was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, a city she considers arrestingly beautiful, if not a little dysfunctional. She worked as a researcher for CBC Montreal and also contributed to their programming as an investigative journalist, social media reporter, and special projects planner. Her work has been nominated for two Canadian RTDNA Awards. Laura loves looking into how cities work, pursuing stories about indigenous rights, and finding fresh voices to share with listeners. Laura is enamored with her new home in North Carolina—notably the lush forests, and the waves where she plans on moonlighting as a mediocre surfer.

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Frank Stasio

Longtime NPR correspondent Frank Stasio was named permanent host of The State of Things in June 2006. A native of Buffalo, Frank has been in radio since the age of 19. He began his public radio career at WOI in Ames, Iowa, where he was a magazine show anchor and the station's News Director.

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