As we continue to consider the Medicaid provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, today we’ll tackle one that’s really ruffling some feathers on the far left: the provision that prohibits Medicaid and CHIP from covering gender-affirming treatments for individuals of all ages. This sweeping ban, tucked into what’s now being affectionately dubbed the…
Medicaid Integrity or Bureaucratic Overreach? Looking at the Six-Month Eligibility Check Provision
Yesterday we looked at the work requirements provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Today, we turn to another element of the legislation: the requirement that states conduct income and residency checks every six months to ensure that individuals enrolled in Medicaid are still eligible. This provision may sound technical—just another line item in…
Work and Welfare: What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Means for Medicaid
Over the past week or so, we’ve delved into the tax provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, President Trump's flagship legislation aimed at revitalizing America’s economy, restoring common sense to federal policy, and, let’s be honest, making bureaucrats sweat a little. Now, let’s look at the changes it would make to Medicaid. Today,…
Pills, Politics, and Price Tags
If you’ve ever tried reading one of those congressional megabills, bless your heart. Most of us can’t even get through Leviticus without needing a break, and at least Leviticus came with divine authority. These megabills? They're more like legislative casseroles: a thousand ingredients, half of which are mystery meat, and no one’s really sure what…
Tragedy in New Orleans: A Call for Compassion, Community, and Action
On New Year's Day 2025, a tragic event unfolded in New Orleans' French Quarter when a truck, driven by 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar, plowed into a crowd of revelers, resulting in 15 fatalities and injuring dozens more. Jabbar, who had served 13 years in the Army with a deployment to Afghanistan, was killed…
H5N1 Bird Flu: A Test of Leadership, Stewardship, and Common Sense
I can’t help but think that issues like the H5N1 bird flu outbreak are where rubber meets road—where real leadership is tested, and values like stewardship, foresight, and care for human life are supposed to shine. So, let’s talk turkey (or, rather, chicken) about what needs to happen here. Stewardship: Dominion with Responsibility The Bible…
Healing the Mind, Not Harming the Body: Keith Caputo’s De-Transition and the Truth About Gender Dysphoria
Keith Caputo, the lead singer of Life of Agony, recently made waves by announcing his decision to de-transition, declaring, "I am a man. I always was a man." This admission sheds light on the reality of gender dysphoria as a mental illness—one that deserves compassionate treatment and real solutions, not superficial fixes that cause more…
The Debate Over the ACA: A Conservative Perspective on Health Care and Preexisting Conditions
In recent discussions surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its implications for individuals with preexisting conditions, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has argued that repealing the ACA would significantly undermine protections for millions of Americans. Specifically, he contends that without the ACA, individuals suffering from conditions such as asthma or injuries from sports activities would…
The Affordable Care Act: A Conservative Perspective on Trump’s Claims
In recent discussions surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), particularly during the vice-presidential debate, J.D. Vance echoed Donald Trump’s assertions about the ACA's trajectory before and during his presidency. Vance claimed that the ACA was “doing disastrously” until Trump took office and characterized the former president’s actions as bipartisan efforts to ensure Americans had access…
The Independent Christian Conservative 