{"id":2181013,"date":"2026-04-09T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/?p=2181013&post_type=podcast&preview_id=2181013"},"modified":"2026-04-10T09:11:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T13:11:12","slug":"what-the-health-441-mifepristone-trump-budget-request-hhs-april-9-2026","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/kffhealthnews.org\/news\/podcast\/what-the-health-441-mifepristone-trump-budget-request-hhs-april-9-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"What the Health? From KFF Health News: Abortion Pills, the Budget, and RFK Jr."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Julie Rovner<\/div>\n\t
KFF Health News<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\tJulie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News\u2019 weekly health policy news podcast, "What the Health?" A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book "Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z," now in its third edition.\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

At the Trump administration\u2019s request, a federal judge in Louisiana this week agreed to delay a ruling affecting the continued availability of the abortion drug mifepristone. That angered anti-abortion groups that want the drug, if not banned, at least more strictly controlled. But the administration clearly wants to avoid big abortion fights in the run-up to November\u2019s midterm elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the administration\u2019s proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 calls for more than $15 billion in cuts to programs at the Department of Health and Human Services. It\u2019s a significant number, but less drastic than cuts it proposed for fiscal 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week\u2019s panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Maya Goldman of Axios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Maya Goldman<\/div>\n\t
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Alice Miranda Ollstein<\/div>\n\t
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Lauren Weber<\/div>\n\t
The Washington Post<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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Among the takeaways from this week\u2019s episode:<\/p>\n\n\n\n