- Trump vows ‘insurance for everybody’ in Obamacare replacement plan (WaPo) "Trump declined to reveal specifics in the telephone interview late Saturday with The Washington Post, but any proposals from the incoming president would almost certainly dominate the Republican effort to overhaul federal health policy as he prepares to work with his party’s congressional majorities. In addition to his replacement plan for the ACA, also known as Obamacare, Trump said he will target pharmaceutical companies over drug prices." and Trump spokesman says Obamacare replacement will harness marketplace competition (WaPo) "Trump’s goal is 'to get insurance for everybody through marketplace solutions, through bringing costs down, through negotiating with pharmaceutical companies, allowing competition over state lines,' Sean Spicer, the incoming White House press secretary, said during an interview on NBC’s 'Today' show."
- Donald Trump may have just destroyed the Republican effort to repeal Obamacare (WaPo) "What matters is this: Donald Trump just emphatically promised universal health coverage. That’s an absolutely gigantic promise, and it’s one that Republicans have no intention of keeping."
- The Biggest Changes Obamacare Made, and Those That May Disappear (NYT) "1) Obamacare insured millions through new insurance markets. What might replace it? Separate legislation may include some new form of subsidy to help people afford insurance. 2) Obamacare insured millions more by expanding Medicaid. What might replace it? Republican leaders have discussed reforming the remaining Medicaid program to give states more autonomy and to reduce future federal investment. 3) Obamacare established consumer protections for health insurance. What might replace it? Mr. Trump has said that he’d like to keep the law’s policies on pre-existing conditions and family coverage for young adults, but Senate Republicans recently voted against nonbinding resolutions to preserve those measures, suggesting they may be less committed. 4) Obamacare required individuals to have health insurance and companies to offer it to their workers. What might replace it? Some Republican plans would allow insurers to charge much higher rates to customers who allow their coverage to lapse than to those who renew their policies every year. 5) Obamacare raised taxes related to high incomes, prescription drugs, medical devices and health insurance. What might replace it? Republicans have not discussed raising new taxes to replace those in the Affordable Care Act. 6) Obamacare made major reforms to Medicare payments. What might replace it? Republicans in Congress have long talked about even more ambitious changes to Medicare, intended to move more beneficiaries into private insurance coverage. 7) Obamacare made many smaller changes that will probably last. What would happen? When Republicans talk about repealing Obamacare, they tend to focus on the parts of the law that expanded insurance coverage and regulated health insurance products, not these ancillary parts."
BUSINESS/ECONOMY:
- The World's 8 Richest Men Are as Wealthy as Half of the World's Entire Population (Fortune) "The eight individuals named in the report are Gates, Inditex founder Amancio Ortega, veteran investor Warren Buffett, Mexico's Carlos Slim, Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle's Larry Ellison and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg."
- British Firms Await Brexit Plans, Poised to Relocate (NYT) "There are signs that British-based companies might be taking action already, ahead of the actual Brexit. In a survey of 233 financial services companies published in The Sunday Times of London last week, 39 said they would reduce staffing because of the Brexit vote, and half of that number had already started to do so. And the longer Brexit uncertainty prevails, the less attractive Britain is likely to be for many manufacturers, including those from the auto industry."
HEALTH:
- Science Shows: Aging Is in Your Head (Ozy) "What can we do to lengthen our telomeres today? Have fun, get exercise of any kind, say something warm to somebody every day and enjoy healthy food."
LIFE:
- To Encourage Creativity in Kids, Ask Them: ‘What if’? (NYT) "Scholars who study creativity say that stoking it involves helping children strike a balance between two dichotomous tools: the whimsy and freedom of a wandering mind, with the rigidity of a prepared one."
NEWS:
BUSINESS/ECONOMY:
- The World's 8 Richest Men Are as Wealthy as Half of the World's Entire Population (Fortune) "The eight individuals named in the report are Gates, Inditex founder Amancio Ortega, veteran investor Warren Buffett, Mexico's Carlos Slim, Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle's Larry Ellison and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg."
- British Firms Await Brexit Plans, Poised to Relocate (NYT) "There are signs that British-based companies might be taking action already, ahead of the actual Brexit. In a survey of 233 financial services companies published in The Sunday Times of London last week, 39 said they would reduce staffing because of the Brexit vote, and half of that number had already started to do so. And the longer Brexit uncertainty prevails, the less attractive Britain is likely to be for many manufacturers, including those from the auto industry."
HEALTH:
- Science Shows: Aging Is in Your Head (Ozy) "What can we do to lengthen our telomeres today? Have fun, get exercise of any kind, say something warm to somebody every day and enjoy healthy food."
LIFE:
- To Encourage Creativity in Kids, Ask Them: ‘What if’? (NYT) "Scholars who study creativity say that stoking it involves helping children strike a balance between two dichotomous tools: the whimsy and freedom of a wandering mind, with the rigidity of a prepared one."
NEWS:
- President Obama, who hoped to sow peace, instead led the nation in war (LA Times) "U.S. military forces have been at war for all eight years of Obama’s tenure, the first two-term president with that distinction. He launched airstrikes or military raids in at least seven countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia and Pakistan. Obama considers his diplomatic achievements — particularly the nuclear deal with Iran, the Paris agreement to fight climate change and a restoration of diplomatic relations with Cuba — to be his primary foreign policy legacy. Obama’s aides are frustrated that the president doesn’t get credit for keeping U.S. troops out of another major ground war. 'It’s hard for people to remember, but when we came into office we were losing 100 people a month, spending $10 billion a month — an unsustainable allocation of resources and an incredible burden on our military,' Rhodes said."
- Poland Welcomes Biggest Deployment of U.S. Troops in Decades (Breitbart) "The deployment includes about 4,000 troops and also 2,400 pieces of military equipment, including tanks and Humvees. The deployment is a reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula. Other countries in eastern Europe are concerned that they will be the next victim of a Russian invasion, and it’s hoped that the presence of U.S. troops will deter Russia." and Anti-Aircraft Missiles Deployed Around Moscow as U.S. Troops Arrive in Poland (Breitbart)
- A warning to the American media from a Russian journalist who covers Putin (Quartz) "Given that Putin is probably a role model for Trump, it’s no surprise that he’s apparently taking a page from Putin’s playbook. I have some observations to share with my American colleagues. You’re in this for at least another four years, and you’ll be dealing with things Russian journalists have endured for almost two decades now. I’m talking about Putin here, but see if you can apply any of the below to your own leader. Facts don’t matter."
- Donald Trump Breaks Political Norms -- Why He Gets Away with It (National Review) "The first step in reestablishing norms is not to demand that Trump follow the hypocritical and self-serving norms of 2015. The first step is for the rest of our political elites — the ones so scandalized by Trump — to produce a better, more open set of norms and then live by them. Those who want to heal our political culture could start by healing themselves."
- A warning to the American media from a Russian journalist who covers Putin (Quartz) "Given that Putin is probably a role model for Trump, it’s no surprise that he’s apparently taking a page from Putin’s playbook. I have some observations to share with my American colleagues. You’re in this for at least another four years, and you’ll be dealing with things Russian journalists have endured for almost two decades now. I’m talking about Putin here, but see if you can apply any of the below to your own leader. Facts don’t matter."
- Donald Trump Breaks Political Norms -- Why He Gets Away with It (National Review) "The first step in reestablishing norms is not to demand that Trump follow the hypocritical and self-serving norms of 2015. The first step is for the rest of our political elites — the ones so scandalized by Trump — to produce a better, more open set of norms and then live by them. Those who want to heal our political culture could start by healing themselves."
- What happened to the honeymoon? (WaPo) "In the latest Quinnipiac poll, the numbers have essentially returned to Trump’s (historically dismal) pre-election levels. For several reasons. First, the refusal of an unbending left to accept the legitimacy of Trump’s victory. It’s not just the demonstrators chanting 'not my president.' Second, Trump’s own instincts and inclinations, a thirst for attention that leads to hyperactivity. Finally, it’s his chronic indiscipline, his jumping randomly from one subject to another without rhyme, reason or larger strategy."
- Trump has stacked the deck against himself (WaPo) "Members of Congress looking for leadership from the new administration have (at least) two problems. First, the congealing organizational chart of the Trump administration is flat and (so far) dysfunctional. Second, Trump himself is unfocused and erratic. He is dismissively impatient with policy meetings. He wants others to sweat the details, allowing him to focus on bigger things. Such as Meryl Streep’s Golden Globe remarks. To some extent, every presidential transition is chaotic. But not every incoming administration fires its initial transition team after winning and essentially starts over."
- Donald Trump & John Lewis -- Civil-Rights Hero Outwits President-Elect (National Review) "The truth is Donald Trump was elected to president according to the forms established by our Constitution. He will deserve the respect accorded to anyone who holds that office. That said, there’s no denying Lewis outwitted Trump by deploying Trumpian means. He knew Trump’s response to his outrageous comment would be so predictable."
- Stop obsessing over ‘secrets’ about Trump and Russia. What we already know is bad enough. (WaPo) "Here, for the record, once again, are things we already know about Trump and Russia, and they aren’t remotely secret: Trump’s real estate empire relies, though we don’t know how much, on Russian money. Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign manager, spent many years working on behalf of the thuggish Russian-backed Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych, who eventually fled his own country. Manafort maintains links to pro-Russian groups in Ukraine. Last summer, Trump operatives at the convention changed the Republican Party platform to soften the language on Ukraine. Throughout the campaign, Trump repeated slogans and conspiracy theories — 'Obama invented ISIS,' 'Hillary will start World War III' — lifted from Sputnik, the Russian propaganda website. Trump is willing to risk serious conflict with China, to destroy U.S. relations with Mexico, to dismiss America’s closest allies in Europe and to downgrade NATO, our most important military alliance. But he has repeated many times his admiration for Russia and its president."
- Why We Need Intelligence Officers More Than Ever (Ozy) "I have to assume he [Trump] came away realizing that 'high confidence' judgments by the intelligence community, as on Russian culpability for the election hacking, are exceedingly rare. It’s a term the community hardly ever uses without being pretty close to certain."
- Trump has stacked the deck against himself (WaPo) "Members of Congress looking for leadership from the new administration have (at least) two problems. First, the congealing organizational chart of the Trump administration is flat and (so far) dysfunctional. Second, Trump himself is unfocused and erratic. He is dismissively impatient with policy meetings. He wants others to sweat the details, allowing him to focus on bigger things. Such as Meryl Streep’s Golden Globe remarks. To some extent, every presidential transition is chaotic. But not every incoming administration fires its initial transition team after winning and essentially starts over."
- Donald Trump & John Lewis -- Civil-Rights Hero Outwits President-Elect (National Review) "The truth is Donald Trump was elected to president according to the forms established by our Constitution. He will deserve the respect accorded to anyone who holds that office. That said, there’s no denying Lewis outwitted Trump by deploying Trumpian means. He knew Trump’s response to his outrageous comment would be so predictable."
- Stop obsessing over ‘secrets’ about Trump and Russia. What we already know is bad enough. (WaPo) "Here, for the record, once again, are things we already know about Trump and Russia, and they aren’t remotely secret: Trump’s real estate empire relies, though we don’t know how much, on Russian money. Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign manager, spent many years working on behalf of the thuggish Russian-backed Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych, who eventually fled his own country. Manafort maintains links to pro-Russian groups in Ukraine. Last summer, Trump operatives at the convention changed the Republican Party platform to soften the language on Ukraine. Throughout the campaign, Trump repeated slogans and conspiracy theories — 'Obama invented ISIS,' 'Hillary will start World War III' — lifted from Sputnik, the Russian propaganda website. Trump is willing to risk serious conflict with China, to destroy U.S. relations with Mexico, to dismiss America’s closest allies in Europe and to downgrade NATO, our most important military alliance. But he has repeated many times his admiration for Russia and its president."
- Why We Need Intelligence Officers More Than Ever (Ozy) "I have to assume he [Trump] came away realizing that 'high confidence' judgments by the intelligence community, as on Russian culpability for the election hacking, are exceedingly rare. It’s a term the community hardly ever uses without being pretty close to certain."
- Trump is right to want changes to the intelligence community (WaPo) "If we follow Clapper’s advice and the president-elect’s stated approach, we may be able to get what we needed in the first place: a slim, trim DNI. An admiral to lead a fleet."
- Who is James Mattis? (Politico) and No one asked Trump defense secretary pick James Mattis about his Theranos ties (TechCrunch) "Mattis did note that he has been living in Silicon Valley (Theranos is based in Palo Alto) and expressed interest in the tech sector there. Mattis quietly served on the Theranos board from July of 2013 to December 2016. In the position, he collected$150,000 in director fees and he retains 416,667 shares of Theranos stock. After serving for three years, Mattis stepped down from his position on the board within the last month."
SPORTS:
- For Tom Brady, age is just one more remarkable number (WaPo) "No other 39-year-old quarterback, in the history of the game, has produced a season comparable to what Brady just did."
- New Path to the N.H.L.: Crunching Numbers, Not Opponents (NYT)
TECHNOLOGY:
- Peter Thiel, Trump’s Tech Pal, Explains Himself (NYT) "One could have predicted Mr. Thiel’s affinity for Mr. Trump by reading his 2014 book, 'Zero to One,' in which he offers three prongs of his philosophy: 1) It is better to risk boldness than triviality. 2) A bad plan is better than no plan. 3) Sales matter just as much as product."
- Tesla Is Snatching Apple’s Stars to Make Itself the New Apple (Wired) "Tesla is not just building a car, it’s building an entirely new kind of computer. Today, computers are designed to send data into the world. Autonomous vehicles require computers that can draw data from the world and use it to understand what’s happening around it. That is a very different kind of computer, and it hasn’t yet been built—not to the degree that anyone can be sure it will work with unerring accuracy and safety."
BOTTOM OF THE NEWS:
- Why Do Our Recorded Voices Sound Weird to Us? (NYT) "There are two pathways through which we perceive our own voice when we speak. Waves travel from the air through the chain of our hearing systems, traversing the outer, middle and inner ear. A second pathway is introduced internally, in which those vibrations are conducted through our bones and excite our inner ears directly."
- You’ve probably never heard of this creepy genealogy site. But it knows a lot about you. (WaPo) "Profiles on FamilyTreeNow include the age, birth month, family members, addresses and phone numbers for individuals in their system, if they have them. It also guesses at their 'possible associates,' all on a publicly accessible, permalink-able page."
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SPORTS:
- For Tom Brady, age is just one more remarkable number (WaPo) "No other 39-year-old quarterback, in the history of the game, has produced a season comparable to what Brady just did."
- New Path to the N.H.L.: Crunching Numbers, Not Opponents (NYT)
TECHNOLOGY:
- Peter Thiel, Trump’s Tech Pal, Explains Himself (NYT) "One could have predicted Mr. Thiel’s affinity for Mr. Trump by reading his 2014 book, 'Zero to One,' in which he offers three prongs of his philosophy: 1) It is better to risk boldness than triviality. 2) A bad plan is better than no plan. 3) Sales matter just as much as product."
- Tesla Is Snatching Apple’s Stars to Make Itself the New Apple (Wired) "Tesla is not just building a car, it’s building an entirely new kind of computer. Today, computers are designed to send data into the world. Autonomous vehicles require computers that can draw data from the world and use it to understand what’s happening around it. That is a very different kind of computer, and it hasn’t yet been built—not to the degree that anyone can be sure it will work with unerring accuracy and safety."
BOTTOM OF THE NEWS:
- Why Do Our Recorded Voices Sound Weird to Us? (NYT) "There are two pathways through which we perceive our own voice when we speak. Waves travel from the air through the chain of our hearing systems, traversing the outer, middle and inner ear. A second pathway is introduced internally, in which those vibrations are conducted through our bones and excite our inner ears directly."
- You’ve probably never heard of this creepy genealogy site. But it knows a lot about you. (WaPo) "Profiles on FamilyTreeNow include the age, birth month, family members, addresses and phone numbers for individuals in their system, if they have them. It also guesses at their 'possible associates,' all on a publicly accessible, permalink-able page."
Sign up for email distribution of the Day's Most Compelling News below or by visiting Top of the News
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