Sleep And Your Health: What Huffpost Says

'Don't Sleep On It' is a daily news podcast by HuffPost that covers a wide range of topics, from politics and current affairs to science and lifestyle. Each episode aims to provide listeners with a brief but informative recap of the day's most important news stories and topics that are worth paying attention to. The podcast features interviews with experts, journalists, and newsmakers, offering insights and analysis on a variety of issues. With a focus on delivering bite-sized and easily digestible news briefs, Don't Sleep On It strives to keep its audience informed and engaged without overwhelming them.

The Mueller Report

On March 29, 2019, HuffPost released an episode of its daily news podcast, 'Don't Sleep On It', focused on The Mueller Report. The episode featured an interview with HuffPost Senior Justice Reporter Ryan J. Reilly, who provided an in-depth breakdown of the report.

In the podcast episode, Reilly likely delved into the key findings of the report, including any evidence of Russian interference and potential collusion with the Trump campaign. He may have also discussed the impact of the report on the political landscape, as well as any subsequent developments that arose from its release.

The episode promised to provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of The Mueller Report and highlight the most important aspects that people shouldn't "sleep on", or in other words, stay informed about.

By tuning in to this podcast episode, listeners could gain insights into the complex matter of The Mueller Report, which had far-reaching implications for US politics and the global perception of the country. It served as a timely reminder of the importance of staying informed and engaged with current affairs, especially on matters of such significance.

Stacey Abrams and Joe Biden

Stacey Abrams, an American politician, lawyer, voting rights activist, and author, has been a vocal supporter of President Joe Biden, especially in his 2024 reelection bid. In July 2024, at the Bloomberg Green Festival in Seattle, Abrams affirmed her support for Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee. She highlighted the Biden administration's efforts to promote climate-friendly options through the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides financial support for cleaner vehicles and home energy.

Abrams played a crucial role in Biden's 2020 victory, helping to turn her home state of Georgia from a Republican stronghold into a swing state. She built a network of over 800,000 new voter registrations in Georgia, which was instrumental in delivering the state's electoral vote to Biden. This achievement earned her widespread recognition, and both The New York Times and The Washington Post credited her with boosting Democratic votes in Georgia.

Despite her support for Biden, Abrams has also signalled her own political ambitions. In March 2019, she indicated that she was not interested in being Biden's running mate. Instead, she focused on her gubernatorial campaigns in Georgia. In 2018, Abrams became the first African-American female major-party gubernatorial nominee in the United States but lost to Republican candidate Brian Kemp by a narrow margin. She ran again in 2022, losing to Kemp for a second time.

Abrams has had a notable career in politics and law. She served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017 and was the Democratic nominee in the 2018 and 2022 Georgia gubernatorial elections. Abrams is also the founder of Fair Fight Action, a voting rights organisation that works to address voter suppression. Her efforts have been widely credited with increasing voter turnout in Georgia, including in the 2020 presidential election and the 2020-21 U.S. Senate elections, which gave Democrats control of the Senate.

In addition to her political career, Abrams is an accomplished author of both fiction and nonfiction. She has written several New York Times best-selling books, including "Our Time Is Now" and "Lead from the Outside." She has also published fiction under the pen name Selena Montgomery. Abrams's legal thriller, "While Justice Sleeps," published in 2021, was released under her real name.

Trump Administration and Affordable Care Act

On 27 March 2019, HuffPost's 'Don't Sleep On It' podcast discussed the Trump Administration's desire to have judges throw out the Affordable Care Act (ACA) entirely.

On his first day in office, President Trump issued an executive order intended to turn back the ACA's implementation. Throughout his presidency, Trump has consistently attacked the ACA, claiming that it has already been destroyed or crippled. However, despite his words and the administration's actions, the ACA remains largely in place.

The Trump administration has taken several steps to undermine the ACA. They have scaled back outreach and education programs, reduced funding for navigators who help consumers find coverage, and terminated reimbursement payments to insurers for reducing costs for low-income enrollees. The administration has also created an alternative individual health coverage market independent of the ACA, allowing the marketing of plans free from ACA insurance reforms. Additionally, they have reduced the federal government's role in administering the ACA, transferring some responsibilities to the states.

These actions have had a significant impact on the cost of coverage in the individual market, particularly for those without subsidies. The instability created by the administration's actions and attempts to repeal the ACA have resulted in higher costs for coverage.

Despite these efforts, the ACA remains in place, and the availability of premium tax credits has helped stabilise the market and offset some of the shocks. The number of uninsured individuals has remained stable and well below 2013 levels, and most of the gains achieved by the ACA have been maintained.

However, there are concerns that these gains may soon erode if Congress fails to act and the administration continues to undermine insurance markets. The fate of the ACA under Trump's second administration remains uncertain, but it is expected to disrupt healthcare access, costs, and employee benefits.

Attorney General William Barr's memo

The day after the existence of the memo became public knowledge, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein stated that their decisions were "informed by our knowledge of the actual facts of the case, which Mr Barr didn't have". Democrats later characterised the memo as Barr's "job application" for the role of Attorney General.

Barr was confirmed as Attorney General on February 14, 2019, by a 54-45 vote. He had previously served as Attorney General under President George H. W. Bush from 1991 to 1993.

Barr's memo was not the only controversy during his tenure as Attorney General. He was also criticised for his handling of the Mueller report, interventions in the convictions and sentences of former Trump advisors Roger Stone and Michael Flynn, his order to resume federal executions after a 17-year hiatus, and allegations of political interference in the removal of Geoffrey Berman from his position as a US Attorney.

Government shutdown and US military services

On the 25th of March 2019, HuffPost's daily news podcast 'Don't Sleep On It' discussed how the government shutdown was still affecting US military services.

A government shutdown occurs when the national debt surpasses the debt ceiling, and Congress fails to raise the ceiling or pass a budget. This results in a funding freeze for government agencies. Since 2000, there have been three federal shutdowns in the US, the most recent spanning from December 2018 through January 2019.

During a government shutdown, active-duty military personnel are still required to work, as they are deemed essential. However, their paychecks are delayed until a new funding deal is reached. In the case of the 2018-2019 shutdown, this resulted in members of the military going five weeks without pay. While Congress can pass legislation to protect troop pay during a shutdown, this is not always guaranteed.

In addition to delayed paychecks, a government shutdown can cause disruptions to other services for military personnel and their families. This can include temporary duty travel, on-base childcare, and elective medical procedures. Some non-essential activities and programs may also be halted or cancelled. However, critical medical and dental care, as well as private sector healthcare, are typically exempted from shutdown orders.

The impact of a government shutdown can also extend to civilian defense workers and contractors. While some civilian defense staffers are considered "essential" and will continue to work without pay, others may be furloughed or sent home without pay. This can result in offices being half-staffed and key programs being halted until funding disputes are resolved.

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