Tending to Medicare's financial health

+ how water got to Earth US Edition - Today's top story: Why it's hard for the US to cut or even control Medicare spending [View in browser]( US Edition | 16 March 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Spring has sprung in Washington, D.C. The annual riot of cherry blossoms is nearing an early peak, and patches of yellow daffodils are making their too-brief appearance all over the place. Meanwhile, lawmakers and the White House are cultivating a more perennial display: bickering over the federal budget. Nearly 1 in 6 federal budget dollars fund Medicare, the health insurance program that mainly covers Americans over 65. Medicare’s costs are rising in part due to the growing number of people who are old enough to enroll in it, and President Joe Biden is trying to increase some taxes to pay for the program. His proposal’s chances so far look slim. But, as Texas A&M economists Dennis W. Jansen and Andrew Rettenmaier suggest, a [reckoning on Medicare funding will eventually arrive](. “Our elected representatives cannot avoid making hard decisions that involve increasing taxes, reducing benefits or both,” they observe. Also today: - [Counterclaims over downed U.S. drone dissected]( - [Drama over drag rehashes old culture conflicts]( - [Luck of the Irish? Not so for the cursed Kennedys]( Emily Schwartz Greco Philanthropy + Nonprofits Editor The number of Americans covered by Medicare is growing. OR Images/DigitalVision via Getty Images [Why it’s hard for the US to cut or even control Medicare spending]( Dennis W. Jansen, Texas A&M University; Andrew Rettenmaier, Texas A&M University The program’s expenses are rising rapidly as baby boomers retire and health care costs grow. Science + Technology - [Water in space – a ‘Goldilocks’ star reveals previously hidden step in how water gets to planets like Earth]( John Tobin, National Radio Astronomy Observatory Astronomers have long known where water is first formed in the universe and how it ends up on planets, asteroids and comets. A recent discovery has finally answered what happens in between. Economy + Business - [US regulators avoided a banking crisis by swift action following SVB’s collapse – but the cracks it exposed continue to weaken the global financial system’s foundation]( D. Brian Blank, Mississippi State University; Brandy Hadley, Appalachian State University The Fed, Treasury and FDIC acted swiftly to protect depositors and stem any panic, but anxiety continues to grow about the state of the global financial system. Politics + Society - [Downing of US drone in Russian jet encounter prompts counter claims of violations in the sky – an international law expert explores the arguments]( Ashley S. Deeks, University of Virginia International law states that states have to operate ‘due regard’ for the right of nations to fly drones above international waters. Washington claims Russia violated this standard in incident. - [Neighbors Ohio and Michigan are moving further apart in politics – differences in ballot access may explain why]( David Jackson, Bowling Green State University; Dominic D. Wells, Bowling Green State University Voters in Michigan and Ohio once voted similarly in statewide and federal elections. Now, Michigan swings blue and Ohio is red. - [54% of firearm deaths in the US are from suicide – and easy access to a gun is a key risk factor]( Heidi Zinzow, Clemson University Keeping weapons locked away and unloaded reduces the risk of death by suicide for gun owners and their children. - [The luck of the Irish might surface on St. Patrick’s Day, but it evades the Kennedy family, America’s best-known Irish dynasty]( Mary Burke, University of Connecticut Gothic storytelling, with its sinister atmosphere of conspiracy and other hallmarks, offers a way to reframe the Kennedy family lore. Environment + Energy - [As bird flu continues to spread in the US and worldwide, what’s the risk that it could start a human pandemic? 4 questions answered]( Sara Sawyer, University of Colorado Boulder; Emma Worden-Sapper, University of Colorado Boulder; Sharon Wu, University of Colorado Boulder Avian influenza viruses have evolved to infect birds, but the current H5N1 outbreak is also infecting a wide range of mammals. This suggests that it could mutate into forms that threaten humans. Education - [Every teacher grades differently, which isn’t fair]( Laura Link, University of North Dakota A scholar of grading explains how teachers can do a better job of reporting what grades represent, and what they are for. Arts + Culture - [Tennessee’s drag ban rehashes old culture war narratives]( Heather Hensman Kettrey, Clemson University ; Alyssa J. Davis, Vanderbilt University Emphasizing threats to children is a well-worn refrain among those worried about the decline of American culture and values. Trending on site - [The lies we tell on dating apps to find love]( - [‘Pantry porn’ on TikTok and Instagram makes obsessively organized kitchens a new status symbol]( - [Why rain on snow in the California mountains worries scientists]( Today's graphic [A map of the United States, with each state color-coded according to the price of environmental fines for the Clean Water Act.]( From the story, [Fines for breaking US pollution laws can vary widely among states – that may violate the Constitution]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? 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