William Brangham

In 2023, we introduced you to a transgender girl named Leah. She was living in Texas with her parents, John and Mary. We concealed their identities because families like theirs faced growing threats. Since then, lawmakers have taken steps to further restrict the rights of transgender people. William Brangham recently caught up with Leah and her family as they wrestled with their next steps.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he will not call for a vote on extending enhanced subsidies for people buying insurance through the Affordable Care Act. That effectively guarantees the subsidies will expire at the end of the month and premiums will spike substantially for some 20 million Americans who get their coverage this way. William Brangham reports on the subsidies and alternative ideas.

We are in the middle of that fraught period when high school students are finding out what colleges they’ve been accepted to, with about 60 percent of them going through this process right now. But not all of them will find the right fit. Jeff Selingo, who writes about higher education and has a new book “Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You,” joins William Brangham for more.

President Trump announced a $12 billion relief plan for American farmers on Monday. It’s aimed at supporting an industry hit by lower sales, higher expenses and the president’s tariff policy. Patrick Thomas of The Wall Street Journal, joins William Brangham to discuss.

The federal vaccine advisory panel, all appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., voted to drop the universal recommendation that children should get vaccinated for hepatitis B at birth. William Brangham discussed this and other changes under consideration for vaccines with pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Communities across the globe commemorated World AIDS Day, reaffirming a commitment to end an epidemic that has killed more than 44 million. But this year, for the first time in decades, the U.S. government decided not to mark the occasion, and the Trump administration has reportedly barred agencies from commemorating or participating. William Brangham discussed more with Dr. Demetre Daskalakis.

As the holiday season begins, food banks across the nation are still struggling to keep up with the need. That's partly fueled by the disruption in SNAP benefits during the government shutdown, but there will also be more restrictions and cutbacks coming. William Brangham reports.

Since President Trump reentered the White House, his administration has moved to restrict rights for transgender people. Those restrictions range from transition-related medical care for youth to sports participation to identity markers on passports. William Brangham has an update on these actions, the legal challenges to them and what may come next.

This week, the CDC changed its website to suggest that vaccines may cause autism, even though there's no scientific evidence to prove such a link. It’s the latest change to vaccine guidance under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In response, some Democratic-led states have taken steps aimed at protecting access to vaccines and pushing back on misinformation. William Brangham reports.

We’re weeks away from 20 million Americans seeing a massive spike in their healthcare premiums. That’s if no deal can be struck to extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. We heard from some of those being affected.