GOP Gets Going On Health Overhaul, Plus Dancing Raindrops

Was Hitler Blitzed On Opioids And Cocaine? A falling raindrop bounces microbes into the air. Joung et al. Nature Communications Those mesmerizing plumes are [microbes being catapulted aloft]( by a falling raindrop, captured by researchers at MIT. It’s hypnotic, And it's just what we needed to get through a very busy week. Now on to the news. GOP Debuts The Long-Promised Obamacare Replacement For years the Republicans said they had a plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, and Monday evening they finally unveiled it. We [covered the action]( on the Hill, which included all-nighters in two committees, and noted [key points to watch]( the bill makes its way through Congress. They include age-based tax credits to help people pay for insurance and big changes in funding for Medicaid, which pays for health care for people in nursing homes, children and the disabled. NPR’s Sarah McCammon [reports]( that the bill’s provision to defund Planned Parenthood could end up overwhelming already busy community health clinics. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Image description] Win McNamee/Getty Images This week, the Congressional Budget Office is expected to release its much-anticipated “scoring” on just how much the overhaul would affect federal spending. We’ll be reporting on that and more committee action on the Hill. Meanwhile, member station reporters are digging into how the Republican plan would affect individuals around the country, like this [33-year-old man with Parkinson’s](. And NPR's Politics team is [tracking the votes of every member of Congress]( on the health care overhaul. Check back in to see how your delegation votes as the debate continues. German dictator Adolph Hitler gives a speech in October 1944. Keystone/Getty Images. High Hitler? And talk about a blast from the past! Fresh Air’s Terry Gross talks with author Norman Ohler, who says that [Hitler was blitzed on opioids and cocaine]( for much of World War II. So, evidently, were many of his soldiers. We’ll be back next week with the latest on health care overhaul, medical research and personal health. Happy return to daylight saving time! -- Nancy Shute You received this message because you're subscribed to our Health emails. | [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002 [NPR]