By J. Patrick Coolican | Editor-in-chief
Good morning, Reformers,
Back from a week on the Delaware shore, where I mostly unplugged.
Thanks to Max Nesterak for keeping the trains running while I was out.
What I took from the bits of news I read: The plain text and meaning of the U.S. Constitution was (barely) upheld in the birthright citizenship case. The court has now also ruled the president can fire everyone at congressionally created independent agencies, unless it’s the Fed. Because …. money? Justice Sam Alito pretended President Donald Trump isn’t a racist, upending lives of hundreds of thousands of Haitians. No issue is too small for Trump — who is $2 billion richer since taking office — to get his grubby little fingers into, from the mall reflecting pool slime to World Cup red cards.
The iconic image of this era is a photo of a Black woman on the DC metro, commuting to work, surrounded by white nationalist thugs on their way to their march. (Reuters)
What’d I miss? Reply to this email with your thoughts.
The Aug. 11 primary is a little more than a month out. Democratic primary results around the country would seem to bode well for Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan against U.S. Rep. Angie Craig in the U.S. Senate primary, but Minnesotans will decide.
To the Reformer:
The number of Minnesotans enrolled in a health insurance plan through MNsure dropped in 2026. (Getty Images)
By Alyssa Chen
Over 17,000 fewer Minnesotans enrolled in a health insurance plan through MNsure, the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, in May 2026 compared to May 2025.
The dip in MNsure coverage mirrors a nationwide drop in Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage in 2026. The drop in health insurance coverage was expected after most Republican senators blocked Democratic efforts to extend extra federal subsidies that offset the cost of health care premiums — what people pay upfront to be insured — for millions of Americans since 2021.
By Kevin Hardy and Jonathan Shorman
Democrats are seizing the mantle of states’ rights to oppose the agenda of President Donald Trump, who has sought to reset Washington’s relationship with the states.
While the party out of federal power has always pushed its agenda in statehouses, Democrats across the country have recently demanded more autonomy for governors and state lawmakers. Liberals, longtime proponents of a stronger central government, are now championing an ideology that evokes odious memories of slavery and segregation.
Many state leaders hope that a renewed focus on federalism could help lower the national political temperature. By shifting more political decisions to the states, they envision a nation less subject to blue-red swings that change the entire course of federal law enforcement, environmental policy and business regulation.
By Aaron Wittnebel
Red Lake Nation member and Becker County resident writes that the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act has changed Medicaid administration by adding shorter reporting cycles, new verification requirements and potential financial penalties. In practice, those changes fall on local offices already managing workforce shortages, aging systems and high caseloads.
Minnesota health care leaders estimate the new requirements could drive roughly $165 million a year in added administrative costs across state, county and tribal governments. Because the Legislature adjourned without a dedicated funding mechanism, that burden becomes an unfunded mandate for local systems.
“Minnesota should use automated renewals wherever legally available, expand secure releases of information, simplify forms and invest in county and Tribal staffing and properly implement the technology upgrade. These steps would help eligible people stay covered, reduce avoidable workload and improve accuracy.”
IN OTHER NEWS
Five words that changed America | Jamelle Bouie in New York Times, gift link
OH BY THE WAY
I finished “Lonesome Dove,” Larry McMurtry’s epic story of a cattle drive from south Texas to Montana.
Augustus McCrae is one of the great fictional characters I’ve encountered in some time, as is his long lost love Clara Allen. I’m looking forward to Robert Duvall’s depiction when I watch the miniseries later this summer.
“The earth is mostly just a boneyard. But pretty in the sunlight.”
Have a great day all! JPC
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