On today’s show, Jamila Michener (@povertyscholar), Professor in the department of Government at Cornell University, joins us to discuss her new book, Fragmented Democracy: Medicaid, Federalism, and Unequal Politics. Medicaid is one of the most fundamental aspects of the US federal safety net, however it is fractured and constantly under attack by state governments, especially in GOP-controlled states. Michener explains that states have very expansive control over what they will and will not cover for its Medicaid recipients. The way that Americans provide care is fragmented and inconsistent. Michener says American social policy towards people living in poverty is one where we give people as little help as possible. States should have an much discretion as possible when dealing with its poor people. This is most illustrative in the difference between Medicare and Medicaid. In the former we have a nationalized program where the funding and policy is set by the federal program; and in the latter a program that is different from state to state, leaving a vulnerable class at the whims of its state’s balance sheet. Michener and Sam also consider lower class involvement in the political process and how their action or absence influences election outcomes. Finally, Michener  describes the ground game for Medicare-For-All and how it can be enacted through a

And in the Fun Half: John from San Antonio is excited for a Bernie run, and has his own YouTube channel, Kamala Harris explains her dark truancy policy, Bernie’s 1988 Soviet Union trip has been unearthed, Howard Schultz tilting at windmills 2020, Mike Bloomberg tells Schultz “this ain’t it, chief,” Elliot Abrams the point man in Reagan’s Contras efforts is back to help Trump’s efforts in Venezuela, Hugh Hewitt thinks overthrowing Maduro’s government will bring Americans together, exploring Clinton’s roll in the 2020 Democratic primary, plus a Sam Harris defender calls,

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The Michael Brooks Show live! @ The Bell House, February 1st 2019. Pre-order tickets here.

Check out The Michael Brooks Show at patreon.com/tmbs, and the new TMBS YouTube channel for all short TMBS clips

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