Politics
More than 70 Million Americans Are on Medicaid. This Is Where They Live.
In the stretch of rural Kentucky that borders West Virginia, voters reliably send Republicans to Congress. Representative Hal Rogers, who represents the area, did not even face a Democratic challenger in 2024. More than 40 percent of the population there relies on Medicaid, the public health insurance plan for low-income Americans.
In eastern Louisiana, where Representative Julia Letlow, a Republican, was elected in 2024 by a wide margin, about one-third of the population is enrolled in the program.
Share of population enrolled in Medicaid
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming have not adopted the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion.
The New York Times
And in California’s Central Valley, Republicans control a district where two-thirds of the population is on Medicaid, one of the highest rates in the nation, according to an analysis of federal enrollment data by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank.
Some of those places could bear the brunt of steep Medicaid cuts that are expected to be central to Republicans’ budget plans. The budget passed on Tuesday night by House Republicans directs Energy and Commerce, the committee that oversees Medicaid, to cut spending by $880 billion over the next decade, which would amount to an 11 percent reduction in the program’s planned spending.
In its 60 years, Medicaid has swelled from a small program that provided medical care to poor Americans receiving cash assistance to the largest source of public insurance. It covers 72 million Americans, about one-fifth of the population. It pays for about half of all nursing care in the United States, and 40 percent of all births.
The program has grown especially quickly over the last 15 years, as millions joined through the expansion of the Affordable Care Act to cover healthy adults who earn less than 138 percent of the federal poverty line, about $21,597 for an individual and $36,777 for a family of three. The rolls swelled again during the coronavirus pandemic, when Medicaid extended emergency coverage to millions.
Republicans have not yet specified what policy changes they would make to Medicaid. Options discussed include requiring enrollees to be employed, or dialing down funding for the Affordable Care Act’s expansion, which made millions of adults eligible for coverage. A work requirement would be expected to cut Medicaid spending by about $100 billion over the next decade, as those unable to comply — or to file the correct paperwork showing their employment — would lose coverage.
In a statement, Representative Rogers of Kentucky described claims his party would gut the program as “lies promoted by House Democrats.”
“We are on a mission to cut waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars, so that we can protect the future of programs like Medicaid for years to come,” he said.
Medicaid enrollment rates, by congressional district
Large cuts to Medicaid would likely hit dense urban areas that tend to vote for Democrats. The congressional district that covers part of the Bronx in New York, for example, has one of the highest Medicaid enrollment rates in the country, with the program covering 67 percent of the people who live there. A district that covers part of Los Angeles has more than half its residents enrolled in the program.
Of the 10 congressional districts with the highest share of residents enrolled in Medicaid, nine are held by Democratic legislators.
Medicaid enrollment
David Valadao
Ritchie Torres
Jim Costa
Sydney Kamlager-Dove
Raul Ruiz
Adam Gray
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Jimmy Gomez
Luz Rivas
Adriano Espaillat
Note: Margin of victory not shown for representatives who faced another member of the same party on the November ballot.
Districts with the highest Medicaid enrollment rates
District
Representative
Margin
Calif. 22nd
68%
R+7
N.Y. 15th
67%
D+55
Calif. 21st
61%
D+5
Calif. 37th
56%
D+57
Calif. 25th
55%
D+13
Calif. 13th
55%
D+0.09
N.Y. 14th
53%
D+38
Calif. 34th
53%
D
Calif. 29th
52%
D+40
N.Y. 13th
52%
D+67
There are also pockets of the country that rely significantly on the program where voters favor Republicans. Of the 218 seats Republicans control in Congress, 26 are in districts where Medicaid covers more than 30 percent of the population, according to a New York Times analysis of federal enrollment data.
All 26 of those representatives voted in favor of the House budget this week.
Medicaid enrollment
David Valadao
Jay Obernolte
Hal Rogers
R
Uncontested Doug LaMalfa
Cliff Bentz
Dan Newhouse
Nick Begich
Nicole Malliotakis
Julia Letlow
Clay Higgins
Vince Fong
Mike Johnson
Note: Margin of victory not shown for Republican representatives who faced another Republican on the November ballot.
Republican districts with highest Medicaid enrollment rates
District
Representative
Republican Margin
Calif. 22nd
68%
R+7
Calif. 23rd
47%
R+20
Ky. 5th
44%
Calif. 1st
42%
R+31
Ore. 2nd
40%
R+31
Wash. 4th
38%
R
Alaska At-Large
36%
R+2
N.Y. 11th
34%
R+28
La. 5th
34%
R
La. 3rd
34%
R
Calif. 20th
33%
R
La. 4th
33%
R
Their districts are scattered across the country, from Alaska to West Virginia. The list includes the Louisiana district held by Speaker Mike Johnson, where 33 percent of residents are enrolled. All are in states that participate in the Medicaid expansion. Republicans have considered scaling back funding for that program, which would save the federal government about $500 billion over the next decade — but also leave people in many states without coverage.
While President Trump has repeatedly said over the last week he would not cut Medicaid, Republican legislators don’t have many options for looking for those cuts elsewhere. Some have already expressed concern about cuts to the program. Last week, seven Republican members of the Congressional Hispanic Conference sent Speaker Johnson a letter warning that “slashing Medicaid would have serious consequences, particularly in rural and predominantly Hispanic communities.”
As the second Trump administration has gotten underway, health care has not been a top issue for the president’s voters. It ranked as the fifth-most-important issue to them in a January poll from The New York Times and Ipsos, behind immigration, the economy, inflation and taxes.
In January, Michael Perry, a founder of the polling firm PerryUndem, conducted three focus groups with Medicaid enrollees who voted for President Trump, noting that most did not list health care among their top voting issues.
When he brought up the idea that Republicans were exploring cuts to Medicare, some said they did not think the president would ultimately cut their health coverage because he would want to avoid a backlash. But other voters, he said, expressed concern. “They liked Medicaid, said it made a difference in their lives,” Mr. Perry said. “It wasn’t hard for them to put their finger on what Medicaid had done.”
Politics
Video: Trump Claims Deal With Iran Is Close and Retracts Threat to Attack
new video loaded: Trump Claims Deal With Iran Is Close and Retracts Threat to Attack
transcript
transcript
Trump Claims Deal With Iran Is Close and Retracts Threat to Attack
President Trump said he had canceled the next wave of attacks on Iran after two days of U.S. airstrikes, claiming that peace negotiations had progressed.
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Most importantly, we have a deal that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, which was the whole purpose of what we had to go through to get this. So it was a big, very big thing. The strait will officially open as soon as we sign, which could be soon, very soon, maybe over the weekend. In Europe, I won’t be able to be there, but JD will be there — vice president and some of the people.
By Meg Felling, James McManagan and Julie Yoon
June 11, 2026
Politics
Mamdani touts massive taxpayer-funded investment for trans healthcare: ‘First step’
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As part of the Pride Month celebration on Tuesday evening, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani touted the work his administration has done to expand services for LGBTQ+ communities, calling New York City a “haven” for people with alternative gender identities.
In particular, Mamdani doubled down on promises of $15 million in funding for trans communities.
“The threats will continue and so will our relentless protection of trans people across this city,” Mamdani said, referring to challenges he said LGBTQ+ communities face.
“As a first step, my administration has made a $15 million investment in gender affirming care over the next two years, and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to make sure every trans and gender non-conforming New Yorker can live with the dignity, safety and freedom they deserve.”
MAMDAMI MARKS PRIDE MONTH, SAYS HONORING ‘QUEER AND TRANSGENDER’ CONTRIBUTIONS WOULD TAKE MORE THAN 30 DAYS
Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a May Day rally at Washington Square Park in New York City on May 1, 2026. On Monday, Mamdani called for ICE to be abolished following the arrest of an illegal immigrant. (Yuki Iwamura/AP)
Mamdani’s speech builds on similar efforts in other cities and looks to follow through on campaign promises Mamdani made on the road to his mayoral victory.
It’s unclear where, exactly, the $15 million request is being allocated from or how it will be disbursed as New York City Council members continue consideration of the 2027 budget.
Progressive-led subsidized transgender initiatives have also advanced in San Francisco.
Like New York, San Francisco established an Office of Transgender Initiatives and, through its Department of Public Health, has funded guidance for hormone therapy, surgery and mental health case management.
MASSACHUSETTS TOWN VOTES TO BECOME A TRANSGENDER ‘SANCTUARY CITY’ AFTER WILD CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers his 100 Days Address outlining progress on his core campaign promises in Queens, New York City, on April 12, 2026. (David ‘Dee’ Delgado/Reuters)
If implemented, Mamdani’s initiative would go further, directly funding procedures.
Despite pushing the envelope on city-led programs for trans services, the New York funding falls short of the vision Mamdani painted while on the campaign trail.
“The Mamdani administration will budget $65 million in funding to explicitly support and expand access to Gender Affirming Care (GAC) in NYC,” Mamdani’s campaign website read.
That plan detailed that up to $57 million would go to public hospitals, community clinics, health centers and non-profits that could perform procedures.
Although Mamdani’s plan for the $15 million remains hazy, he said his support of the LGBTQ community was proven — and would only grow.
GRAMMY-WINNING MUSICIAN FIGHTS TRUMP’S TRANS EXECUTIVE ORDER BY DONATING TO PEOPLE SEEKING GENDER SURGERIES
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani attends the 2025 New York City Pride March on June 29, 2025 in New York City. (Noam Galai/Getty Images)
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“As your mayor, I was proud to establish New York City’s first-ever office of LGBTQIA+ affairs within the first 100 days of our administration,” Mamdani said.
“This office focuses on the well-being of queer New Yorkers so that you know you have a champion and advocate within city government.”
Politics
House Democrats ask new ICE director to roll back policy limiting oversight visits
WASHINGTON — Dozens of House Democrats are asking the new director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to roll back a policy that they say hinders their ability to speak with detainees during oversight visits.
The new policy requires that lawmakers identify detainees by name at least two business days before a visit and provide a signed consent form from each detainee. It’s the latest point of conflict in an ongoing battle over when and how lawmakers can inspect immigration facilities.
In a letter Thursday to acting ICE Director David Venturella, Rep. Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano) and 77 other members of Congress, including two dozen from California, argued that they need to conduct constant oversight of immigration facilities because of historic levels of reports regarding the mistreatment of detainees, deaths in custody and substandard facility conditions.
“This Administration has enabled a revolving door of arbitrary policies, directives, and guidance on member access to facilities or on communication with detainees designed to hinder any productive oversight,” they wrote.
The letter was written in response to the new policy, which was outlined in a memo last month.
In the letter, Levin and the other members wrote that detainees have a hard time accessing the visitation form because it is at times unavailable at a detention center’s law library. They said it limits their ability to speak broadly with detainees, particularly those from vulnerable populations, such as the elderly.
Detainees previously used a sign-up sheet to meet with members of Congress or just started talking to detainees they encountered during facility tours.
In the memo outlining ICE’s new policy, then-acting director Todd Lyons said the increased visits by members of Congress have become a burden and a time suck. Homeland Security didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment, but previously said that the policy doesn’t prevent lawmakers from speaking with detainees.
Levin said the increase in visits was necessary because the agency slashed staffing of its oversight offices. The letter notes that for next fiscal year, the president requested additional cuts to the Homeland Security Office of Inspector General.
“These actions, coupled with the constant changes to policies surrounding member access to facilities, reveal a clear attack on the levers that ensure government transparency at every level,” the members wrote.
Democratic House members sued the Trump administration last July after they were repeatedly denied access to immigrant detention facilities in California and across the country.
Homeland Security officials previously implemented a policy requiring lawmakers to give seven days’ notice before a visit, but that policy was temporarily blocked in federal court.
This week, lawyers said a Belizean man who helped organize hunger strikes at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center was moved to facilities out of state and scheduled to be deported after he spoke to three members of Congress about conditions at the detention center in San Bernardino County.
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