In this episode, host Steven Newmark breaks down four critical public health stories making headlines:

• Senators Angus King and Elizabeth Warren introduce a resolution to defend the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force amid reports that RFK Jr. may fire its members.
• What’s really at stake if the Task Force is dismantled—and how evidence-based guidelines are already saving lives, from colon cancer screenings to heart health.
• A deadly outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Harlem has claimed two lives and sickened dozens. What you need to know if you live in the area.
• The alarming defunding of mRNA vaccine research.

Science, policy, and prevention—all in one sharp, timely episode.

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website (https://ghlf.org/the-health-advocates) or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF, is joined by Clayton Ruley, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Mission Advancement & Impact at the Community Liver Alliance. Clayton shares his decades-long journey from frontline harm reduction work to shaping national health policy. Together, they discuss the need for compassion in healthcare, the importance of patient-centered policymaking, and the urgent challenges facing programs like 340B and Medicaid. Clayton also highlights how community-level work and federal health policies intersect — and why transparency and access matter now more than ever.

Among the highlights in this episode:

01:04: Clayton describes his background and early career, influenced by a family of social workers and his work in harm reduction clinics

04:04: Clayton explains what policymakers often miss: the need for options, compassion, and respect in patient care, especially for people facing stigma or systemic barriers

07:05: Clayton outlines the mission of the Community Liver Alliance and his evolving role in expanding national and global impact

09:56: Clayton discusses the top policy priorities for the Community Liver Alliance, including improving transparency and accountability in the 340B program

14:30: Clayton gives real-life examples of how 340B funding can transform communities through housing, outreach, and treatment access

15:55: Clayton and Steven discuss the harms of non-medical switching and the need to protect patient stability in treatment

16:52: They highlight concerns about potential Medicaid and Medicare cuts and the downstream impact on underserved communities

17:22: Steven reminds listeners of the delayed consequences of the Build Back Better bill, with millions projected to lose Medicaid access by 2027

18:54: Clayton warns that rising premiums could force patients to forgo insurance entirely — a dangerous outcome for people with chronic diseases

To learn more about the Community Liver Alliance or support their advocacy efforts, visit: https://communityliveralliance.org/

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website (https://ghlf.org/the-health-advocates) or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What exactly are reconciliation and rescission—and why do they matter for your health? In this episode, Steven Newmark, Chief Policy Officer at GHLF, demystifies two powerful — and often misunderstood — budget tools: reconciliation and rescission. What do they mean? How do they bypass the normal budget process? And why do they matter for healthcare, public programs, and patients?

Steven breaks down the differences between these mechanisms, explains where they fit into the broader federal budget process, and examines Congress’s recent $9.4 billion rescission vote. If you care about how Congress funds — or defunds — healthcare, this episode will give you the clarity you need.

Tune in to learn:

• What reconciliation really is, and how it’s used to pass major healthcare policy
• Why rescission gives presidents the power to cancel already-approved spending
• How these tools operate outside the regular appropriations process
• What the latest moves in Congress mean for public health funding in 2025

Among the highlights in this episode:

01:15: Steven explains how budget reconciliation works, including its origins in the 1974 Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act

01:57: Steven breaks down why reconciliation is such a powerful tool: it allows bills to pass with a simple majority in the Senate

02:19: Steven introduces rescission, the process for canceling already approved spending, and details President Trump’s recent $9.4 billion rescission request

03:34: Steven discusses the impact of reconciliation and rescission on health care, including potential threats to Medicaid, Medicare, and public health programs

04:32: Steven warns that the use of rescission discourages bipartisan negotiation and risks undermining trust in the budget process

05:23: Steven urges listeners to stay informed, as funding for essential programs could quietly disappear without public scrutiny

05:35: Steven zooms out to explain how reconciliation and rescission fit within the larger federal budget process

06:49: Steven concludes by emphasizing the need for Congress to follow regular order and for advocates to understand budget mechanisms to be effective

Contact Our Host

Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org

A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of The Health Advocates on our website (https://ghlf.org/the-health-advocates) or on your favorite podcast channel.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.