TheVoiceOfJoyce The KFF MORNING BRIEFING with health news to report. The Flu and mRNA vaccines are safe and effective. After 200 airmen came down with the Flu, the shots became mandatory. Covid Vaccine for military still not sure? Babies are still dying from contaminated formula. Will anyone in government fine the Lab and make them clean up their plant? If not, why not pursue a class action lawsuit against Abbott Labs, if they’re the culprit? In an effort to speed production of nuclear power plants, they’re loosening safety rules? It didn’t work with the Shoreham plant on LI. It never opened because it leaked radioactivity! There are no short cuts to good manufacturing practices.

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Thursday, July 02, 2026
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Morning Briefing 

NOTE TO READERS

The Morning Briefing will not be published Friday in observance of Independence Day. Look for it again in your inbox Monday. Also, The Week in Brief will be on hiatus this week. Happy Fourth of July!

In This Edition:

From KFF Health News:

KFF HEALTH NEWS ORIGINAL STORIES1. A Mom Said Infant Formula Killed Her Baby. The Manufacturer Closed the File. When makers of infant formula hear that babies got sick or died while using their products, what happens next is left largely to the manufacturers. They decide whether to inform the FDA about possible harm, which could trigger steps to protect the public. (David Hilzenrath and Holly K. Hacker, 7/2)

2. New Disease Threats Follow Trump Administration’s Health Program Cuts From screwworm to flesh-eating bacteria, mounting public health risks are emerging in the wake of deep cuts to federal health agencies and programs. (Stephanie Armour, 7/2)

3. HealthQ Special: Caregiving in the Sandwich Generation Join the conversation as the HealthQ team explores the messiness, humor, and satisfaction that comes with caregiving when you’re sandwiched between aging parents and growing kids. (Cara Anthony and Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio and Katherine Ruppelt, Nashville Public Radio and Emily Siner, Nashville Public Radio, 7/2)

4. Listen to the Latest ‘KFF Health News Minute’ The “KFF Health News Minute” brings original healthcare and health policy reporting from our newsroom to the airwaves each week. (7/2)

5. ‘What the Health? From KFF Health News’: Supreme Court Makes Health Policy The Supreme Court handed down its last decisions of its 2025-26 term this week, including in an immigration case that could result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of workers in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Lizzy Lawrence of Stat, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Amanda Seitz of KFF Health News join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss this story and more. (7/1)

Here’s today’s health policy haiku:

OUCH

A hospital bill
is the only thing climbing
after surgery.

– Travis Park

If you have a health policy haiku to share, please Contact Usand let us know if we can include your name. Haikus follow the format of 5-7-5 syllables. We give extra brownie points if you link back to an original story.

Opinions expressed in haikus and cartoons are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions of KFF Health News or KFF.

Summaries Of The News:

ADMINISTRATION NEWS6. DEA Temporarily Bans Supplements Containing 7-OH, A Synthetic Form Of Kratom 

The Drug Enforcement Administration said it plans to classify the compound as a Schedule 1 substance — the same category as heroin and LSD, The New York Times reported. The ban will last for two years but could be extended. The DEA did not take action against supplements containing the natural form of kratom, which federal officials have cautioned carries similar health risks, The Times wrote.

The New York Times: Trump Administration Delivers Lucrative Win For Its Kratom Allies The Drug Enforcement Administration on Wednesday took steps to temporarily ban supplements containing a synthetic version of kratom, a plan that had been sought by makers of a rival product with strong ties to the Trump administration. The agency said it plans to classify an addictive psychoactive compound called 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, in the same category as heroin and LSD — drugs that are illegal to buy or sell. (Jewett and Vogel, 7/1)

Bloomberg: Trump’s Nuclear Watchdog To Ditch 50-Year-Old Radiation Guidance The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission plans to scrap guidance on radiation exposure for power plant workers that’s been in place since the mid-1970s. The NRC has proposed replacing the “as low as reasonably achievable” standard, abbreviated as Alara, with regulations the agency considers more cost effective and less complex. The new policy would be based on existing federally regulated dose limits. The commission also proposed a range of reforms to licensing practices in an effort to streamline nuclear power plant development. (Mackler and Wade, 7/1)

ABC News: Will The Return Of The Presidential Fitness Test Improve Kids’ Physical Activity Levels? The Trump administration launched the return of the Presidential Physical Fitness Test this week with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. participating in fitness activities with a youth organization. It comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order last year reestablishing the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. “We must address the threat to the vitality and longevity of our country that is posed by America’s declining health and physical fitness,” the executive order reads. (Kekatos, 7/2)

The Washington Post: Fireworks On Mall Likely To Cause Hazardous Air Pollution, Documents Show Internal modeling shows the July 4th fireworks display will cause hazardous pollution around the Mall and “very unhealthy conditions across central D.C.” (Spring, 7/1)

On the immigration crisis —

The Washington Post: An ICE Detainee Sought Treatment For Mental Illness. He Died In A Struggle With Guards.  The family of Geraldo Lunas Campos is suing detention center operators and guards over his death. Records show he repeatedly requested treatment for his mental illness. (MacMillan and Schaffer, 7/2)

The 19th: Could Trump’s Next Push To Limit Birthright Citizenship Include A Ban On Pregnant Tourists? In the wake of a Supreme Court decision this week upholding the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, the Trump administration and fellow Republican immigration hardliners are exploring alternative routes to limit citizenship rights for children born within the United States to foreign tourists. (Becker, 7/1)

In news from Capitol Hill —

Axios: Exclusive: GOP Think Tank Pushes Heavy Health Spending Cuts An influential conservative think tank is issuing a new call for policy changes that would lower the federal government’s health care spending, including several that would be guaranteed to generate political blowback. (Owens, 7/1)

Modern Healthcare: House Committee Advances Tax-Exempt Hospital Transparency Act Tax-exempt hospitals would have to reveal extensive financial data under a bill that cleared a key House committee Wednesday. The Tax-Exempt Hospital Transparency Act of 2026 passed the Ways and Means Committee on a voice vote, with some Democrats indicating opposition. Hospitals have increasingly been in the crosshairs on Capitol Hill, with Republicans going as far as floating an end to their tax exemption last year. Progressives such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are also critical of nonprofit hospitals, contending they do not provide enough charity care to justify not paying federal taxes. (McAuliff, 7/1)

Politico: Tom Kean Jr. Kept His Depression A Secret. Colleagues Are Questioning That Decision When Rep. Tom Kean Jr. revealed Tuesday his extended absence from the House was due to inpatient treatment for depression, he ended months of speculation but also fueled a delicate conversation: Just how much privacy are elected officials entitled to? The New Jersey Republican offered only scant details about his condition during the four months he went missing. And while colleagues of both parties expressed sympathy for his mental health challenges and gratitude that he has now returned, many hedged their comments by saying Kean could and perhaps should have said something earlier. (McCarthy and Levien, 7/1)

OUTBREAKS AND HEALTH THREATS7. Air Force Confirms That Trainee, 25, Died From Flu, Texas Lawmaker Says 

Nearly 300 trainees at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio were sickened with flu just weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that flu vaccines would not be mandatory for troops. That policy has since been reversed. Meanwhile, the CDC is urging Americans to take precautions against West Nile virus during the July Fourth weekend.

CIDRAP: Air Force Trainee In San Antonio, Texas, Died From Flu The cause of death for an Air Force trainee who died last month at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio was influenza, according to Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Texas Democrat. Keon Talik McDaniel, 25, died June 16, according to his obituary. Influenza swept the air force base in June, one month after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the flu shots voluntary, rather than mandatory, for American troops. Nearly 300 troops have been sickened by influenza, Castro said in a press release. (Szabo, 7/1)

In other outbreaks and health threats —

ABC News: Record Number Of West Nile Virus Cases Since 2004, CDC Warns Ahead Of Holiday Weekend A record number of West Nile virus cases have been recorded for this time of year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned on Wednesday ahead of the upcoming holiday weekend. At least 48 cases of West Nile have been reported so far this year compared to an average of 10 typically by the end of June. This is the highest number of infections reported at this point in year since 2004, according to the federal health agency. Additionally, at least 23 states are reporting West Nile activity, which is the highest number recorded over the last 10 years, CDC data shows. (Benadjaoud, 7/1)

The Hill: CDC Investigates Parasitic Illness Spreading Across US The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to find the source of a parasitic illness that’s spreading across the country. At least 145 cases of cyclosporiasis have been reported across 17 states. About 20 people have been hospitalized after suffering severe symptoms. Public health teams are investigating several clusters of cases reported in New York, Illinois and Texas. (Sitz, 7/1)

KFF Health News: New Disease Threats Follow Trump Administration’s Health Program Cuts As beachgoers flock to water during the busy July Fourth weekend, danger could be lurking in some areas. Researchers this spring discovered flesh-eating bacteria in water in several coastal locations across New York’s Long Island, and town officials in the Hamptons vacation destination posted an alert about the findings. Eight people in Florida have been infected this year, and Mississippi health officials in June urged people to take precautions. (Armour, 7/2)

CIDRAP: Ebola Deaths In Africa Top 400 As Uganda Reports Death Of Child From Marburg Casualties of the Ebola Bundibugyo virus outbreak in Africa continue to mount, with a total of at least 1,354 infections and 401 deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, as investigators track potential spread to new DRC provinces and Uganda confirms a Marburg infection in a child who died of the virus. Like Ebola, the closely related Marburg virus causes a hemorrhagic fever. (Van Beusekom, 7/1)

CIDRAP: The WHO Aims To Help Nations Confront Growing Threat Of Fungal Disease, Antifungal Resistance The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new “blueprint” to help countries respond to the growing threat of fungal infections and antifungal resistance. Released yesterday, the document provides a framework to strengthen national and regional responses to fungal diseases, which affect more than 300 million people each year yet remain widely under-recognized, underdiagnosed, and poorly managed. (Dall, 7/1)

CNN: Canadian Boy, 11, Died From Rabies After Waking Up With Bat On His Mouth  An 11-year-old Canadian boy has died from rabies after waking up with a bat on his nose and mouth. The episode occurred during a visit to a cottage in northern Ontario in 2024, according to a report published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on Monday. (Orie, 7/1)

In vaccine news —

CIDRAP: Comprehensive Review Affirms That COVID MRNA Vaccines Are Safe, Effective A comprehensive review of the billions of COVID-19 vaccine doses made with mRNA technology shows that these vaccines are safe and effective. (Boden, 7/1)

CIDRAP: Vaccine Double-Header: Same-Day Flu, COVID Shots Shown To Be Safe Getting the flu vaccine and COVID shot on the same day doesn’t increase the risk of adverse reactions, according to a review of the medication records of 2.5 million adults who receive medical care across the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system. (Boden, 6/30)

CIDRAP: New US Poll Identifies Large ‘Malleable Middle’ On Vaccine Misinformation Vaccine myths are not new. They have circulated for decades, surviving retracted studies and countless public health campaigns. Now, a new poll suggests that, while relatively few Americans fully believe those falsehoods, many remain uncertain about them—a finding that suggests opportunities to counter vaccine misinformation.  (Bergeson, 6/30)

CIDRAP: Artificial Intelligence Could Usher In A New Era Of Vaccine Development If the next coronavirus pandemic were to begin today, the wait for a vaccine could be much shorter because of artificial intelligence (AI), said Lbachir BenMohamed, PhD, an immunologist at the University of California, Irvine, and vice president of research at California-based TechImmune. (Boden, 6/30)

STATE WATCH8. New Iowa Law Eliminates Telehealth Option For Patients Seeking Abortion Pills 

The law, which took effect July 1, requires misoprostol and mifepristone to be prescribed in person and dispensed at a medical center. Other states making news are Illinois, New Jersey, Minnesota, North Carolina, Vermont, and California.

Iowa Public Radio: Iowa Law Adding Restrictions To Medication Abortions Takes Effect  Iowans seeking a medication abortion will now have to see a provider in person, according to a new law that went into effect on July 1. The law requires that the abortion medications misoprostol and mifepristone be prescribed in person and dispensed at a medical center. It marks the latest restriction state lawmakers have placed on abortion. (Krebs, 7/1)

Medicaid news from Illinois and New Jersey —

Chicago Tribune: Illinois Medicaid Patients Wait More Than A Year For Dental Care Erica Champ has a serious toothache. One tooth has erupted through her gum. Another throbs below the surface. Sometimes she suffers severe pain and facial swelling. She has to rinse her mouth frequently with mouthwash or peroxide to keep the gums from getting infected. (McCoppin, 7/1)

AP: New Jersey Is Set To Charge Companies With Workers On Medicaid. Other States May Follow New Jersey is launching a new fee on companies whose workers have Medicaid health coverage instead of being covered by their employers. Other states are considering it, too. Democratic lawmakers and governors see it as a way to help pay for the joint federal and state insurance program that covers low-income residents as federal policy changes are expected to make the program more expensive for states and may lead to a reduction in the number of people with coverage. Proponents also say it’s about fairness because employers benefit from having some lower-income workers with taxpayer-funded health coverage. (Mulvihill, 7/2)

More health news from across the U.S. —

MPR News: Minnesota’s ‘Sprint Medic’ Pilot Program Aims To Get Paramedics To Rural Emergencies Faster  Lourens Nel, a contract farm laborer from South Africa, was working in the grain bins of a Grant County farm about 80 miles southeast of Fargo last August when he was injured in a terrible accident. “Foot slipped and, yeah, got caught in the auger, I suppose,” Nel said. “It cut it clean off.” (Work, 7/1)

North Carolina Health News: NC Lawmakers Consider Changes To Vehicle Child Seat Laws  North Carolina could soon have new child motor vehicle passenger safety rules that put more emphasis on the height of a child than on their weight. Legislation that has been making its way through the state legislature over the past two years could mean that some children have to return to booster seats. (Lopez, 7/2)

AP: Extreme Heat Could Be Turning Air Conditioning In Vermont Into A Necessity For generations, air conditioning in Vermont has been treated less as a necessity and more like a luxury. That might be changing. “They don’t even look at the forecast,” Tony Rowell, owner of Premier Heating and AC in Barre, said of new customers seeking air conditioning. “They just feel it, and then all of a sudden the phone starts ringing.” (Petenko, 7/1)

The New York Times: Nine Arrested In Federal Crackdown On L.A.’s Sex-Trafficking Corridor Federal agents on Wednesday raided a section of Los Angeles that has become one of the country’s most notorious child sex-trafficking corridors, arresting nine people on charges related to selling girls as young as 14 for sex. The operation took place near a 3.5-mile stretch of Figueroa Street known as “the Blade,” where girls go from car to car in stilettos, soliciting customers for sex to reach their traffickers’ nightly quotas. The girls can be seen wearing hair bows and dangling condoms from Hello Kitty lingerie, their faces tattooed with their traffickers’ monikers. (Baumgaertner Nunn, 7/1)

PUBLIC HEALTH9. US Death Rate Fell To Record Low Last Year; Decline In Overdose Deaths Likely Played A Large Role 

CNN noted that death rates have continued to fall since the height of the covid pandemic. Other health news is on dementia, cheerleading injuries, “exercise snacks,” and more.

CNN: US Life Expectancy On Track To Reach Record High As Death Rate Falls To Record Low In 2025  New mortality data from the federal government suggests that life expectancy probably hit another record high in 2025, as death rates have continued to fall since the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. There were about 689 deaths for every 100,000 people in the US in 2025, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — the lowest rate recorded in more than a century of tracking. The age-adjusted rate has fallen 22% since 2021, landing about 4% lower than it was just before the pandemic in 2019. (McPhillips, 7/2)

On Alzheimer’s disease and dementia —

TODAY.com: Danny Glover Reveals Alzheimer’s Diagnosis On TODAY: EXCLUSIVE Legendary actor Danny Glover revealed in a TODAY exclusive interview that he has been living with Alzheimer’s disease for multiple years. Glover, 79, and his family spoke with former NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt in an interview aired July 1. They gave a glimpse into what life is like now for the four-time Emmy winner and why he decided to publicly share his diagnosis now. “I’m sure as it advances, things are going to be different and changing,” Glover said. (Stump, 7/1)

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