Latest news with #AlexLee
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Crazy hill to die on': Newsom jolts California with bid to throw out House maps
Gavin Newsom suddenly can't stop talking about Texas gerrymandering — and a provocative idea to counter it in California. On podcasts and social media, the California governor has threatened that if Texas follows President Donald Trump's advice and redraws its congressional districts to shore up the GOP's slender House majority, California should throw out its own maps to boost Democrats, circumventing or overhauling the state's voter-approved redistricting commission. It's a proposal capturing the imagination of a Democratic Party spoiling for another fight with Republicans and desperate to regain a foothold in Washington. This week, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries privately huddled with members of the California delegation to discuss redistricting at the bloc's weekly lunch. And in California, text threads are ablaze with discussions of what a redraw would look like, who would benefit, and how it would affect active efforts to recruit candidates and raise money. But it's also a longshot. And to many Democrats in Newsom's home state, it's a new obsession bordering on bizarre — or even anti-democratic. 'Trying to save democracy by destroying democracy is dangerous and foolish,' said Assemblymember Alex Lee, the head of the state Legislature's Pprogressive Ccaucus. 'By legitimizing the race to the bottom of gerrymandering, Democrats will ultimately lose.' Or as one Democratic political consultant granted anonymity to speak freely put it, 'The idea of taking away the power from the citizens and giving it back to the politicians — the optics of that is horrendous and indefensible.' The consultant said, 'That's insane. That's a crazy hill to die on.' Newsom has defended the proposal as a break-the-emergency-glass maneuver to preserve what he has cast as America's besieged democracy, arguing Democrats have to become more aggressive and creative to have a shot at blocking Trump's agenda. 'I'm not going to be the guy who said I could-shoulda-woulda. I'm not going to be passive in this moment,' Newsom told reporters on Wednesday, saying he felt compelled to act because of 'the existential threat of what Donald Trump and some of these Republican states are trying to do.' And Newsom is not without support in the party after Democrats' throttling in November. 'A lot of people are looking for a fight from the Democratic Party, and Governor Newsom's response to Texas is the kind of thing I think they are looking for,' said Neera Tanden, a former Biden administration official and president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, the influential Democratic think tank. 'People who argue we shouldn't look at measures like this — I think fundamentally they're responsible for Democrats' backsliding because what we see time and time again is the Republican Party is ruthless to achieve their goals.' Newsom has laid out two options for a retaliatory redistricting, both of which present legal and political challenges. He could test a novel legal theory by asking the Legislature to create new maps now, rather than wait for decennial redistricting. Or he could ask voters, who in 2010 resoundingly approved the creation of a non-partisan process, to support a Democratic gerrymander in a state where Republicans hold just nine of 52 seats despite comprising a quarter of the electorate. The idea startled Sacramento, where lawmakers and staffers were scrambling to decipher Newsom's intentions. And it's generated intense skepticism among good government advocates who see it as Newsom, a likely 2028 presidential contender, simply posturing. 'Pretty much everything the governor says lately we have to look through the lens of his eventual run for president,' said Mindy Romero, founder and director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the University of Southern California. 'It just looks like blustering. It just looks like an attempt to get attention and headlines and show himself sparring directly with the president or with Republican leadership.' Newsom is not alone in his frustration with Texas. Democrats around the country are decrying Texas' move to redraw its seats — particularly as Trump has floated having four additional red states manipulate maps to boost the GOP. The effort has some national Democrats feeling heartburn for the power that some blue states handed independent redistricting commissions to draw district lines while red states like Texas weaponized theirs. Following his meeting with members of the California delegation on Wednesday, Jeffries said in a brief interview, 'It was a thoughtful and robust discussion. An important one, given what's happening in Texas, but beyond that, I'll defer to Zoe Lofgren and Pete Aguilar.' He said, 'The governor and the California delegation are going to play an important role in whatever happens moving forward, but I'm thankful that the conversation is taking place, and it's a very active one.' Lofgren, the dean of the delegation, played roles in California Democrats' previous redistricting pushes, too, and was the former chair of the congressional committee overseeing federal elections. California Democrats were largely tight-lipped about their meeting Wednesday afternoon with Jeffries, but attendees told POLITICO the delegation was largely supportive of Newsom's threats to push for new maps if Texas went ahead with its mid-cycle redistricting. 'If Texas moves forward with an egregious mid-decade redistricting, this cannot go unanswered,' Lofgren and Aguilar, the Democratic Caucus chair, said in a statement. 'If their record of throwing 17 million people off their health insurance to hand out billionaire tax breaks was popular, they wouldn't have to redraw their maps to try to hold on to power." Other members of the California delegation, even those from purple districts, signaled they could support such a push. 'Democrats need to stop bringing a butter knife to a gun fight,' said Rep. Dave Min, who last cycle defended a battleground Orange County seat. 'I think all of us want to see a fair process, but if Republicans are going to try to cheat and redistrict, I think Democratic states are going to consider all options.' Rep. Derek Tran said, 'I'm looking at it and keeping an open mind.' Political consultants in California certainly are. 'Every Democratic strategist involved in competitive races in California is not only talking about this but has clear vision on what they'd like to see,' said one Democratic strategist who was granted anonymity to describe private conversations. That could complicate life for vulnerable incumbents. Redistricting is a zero-sum game: Moving Democratic voters into one district necessarily means excising them from another — a perilous proposition in an area, like purple Orange County, where multiple competitive districts abut one another. It may never get there. For now, Democrats are trying to differentiate plans from posturing as Newsom escalates another tit-for-tat political standoff. 'It's like a game,' said Democratic political consultant Andrew Acosta, 'to see who can out-politicize each other.' Newsom, said Paul Mitchell, an expert on California redistricting, may simply be making a bluff intended to deter Texas — 'playing poker with a state that thinks it invented poker.' Melanie Mason contributed to this report.
The Independent
14-07-2025
- The Independent
Ninja Crispi is still at its lowest-ever price at Amazon – it's ‘the future of air frying'
Air fryer innovations are hard to find. In the end, even the best air fryers are really glorified convection ovens; there's not that much you can do to a hot filament and a fan. However, Ninja did just that with the crispi air fryer. This unique product shrinks the usual body of an air fryer to a small handheld that sits on top of a heatproof bowl. The idea is that you can meal prep straight into a glass bowl, perfect for slipping into your bag and taking it to work. It's so compact that you could even take the whole air fryer to the office, though your colleagues may not appreciate you air frying salmon next to them. Best of all, we loved it when we put it to the test. This air fryer isn't just good in theory, but a rare appliance that can actually improve your life. It was £55 off for Amazon Prime Day, the lowest price it's been since its launch earlier this year. However, it's still on sale. You just need to be fast – this deal may not be around for long. Here's everything you need to know. The Ninja crispi got a rare seal of approval from our discerning senior tech critic, Alex Lee. In his full review of the Ninja crispi, Alex found that this air fryer makes great food. He could make 'golden and crispy chips without needing to shake them' and 'a seasoned chicken breast dish came out tender and juicy'. The other functions are mostly excellent, too. While the roast function is fine, the re-crisp mode revitalised leftover pizza, and the keep warm function is perfect for keeping roast vegetables warm while you cook. One of the reasons this air fryer cooks so well is that it uses glass bowls. It's a simple feature, but the glass means 'you can actually watch your food as it cooks and know exactly when your chips are crisped.' It's totally safe, too. Alex noted that 'the glass containers also have heat-resistant feet, so there's no risk of scorching your lovely countertops'. There's another benefit to glass, too. Many air fryers use Teflon and other non-stick materials that contain PFOAs and so-called 'forever chemicals,' which have been linked to cancer and other illnesses. A glass bowl like this has no PFOAs and is totally food-safe. But the best feature is this air fryer's convenience. Alex says: 'Once your food is cooked, you simply pull off the PowerPod lid, then pop on a storage lid when you're ready to store your food in the fridge,' which saves you from faffing around with tinfoil or air fryer liners. It's easy to store, and unlike other air fryers, it won't dominate your countertops. Now £55 cheaper than its list price, this is perhaps the best air fryer deal we've seen for Amazon Prime Day, and it's still available days after the sale has finished. But you need to be quick. This deal could end at any time.
Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
What's in store for policyholders after GE removes pre-authorisation letters for two private hospitals
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox GE temporarily stopped issuing pre-authorisation certificates for admissions to Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital from June 17. SINGAPORE - Some policyholders of Great Eastern (GE) found themselves in a pickle after the insurer temporarily stopped issuing pre-authorisation certificates for admissions to Mount Elizabeth hospitals from June 17. Policyholders will now have to re-evaluate whether they want to go to Mount Elizabeth Hospital or Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital for treatment; switch to another private hospital; or change insurance provider altogether. The incident has also highlighted the need for a separate pool of funds for unexpected medical expenses, even though the verdict on such a fund is mixed. Integrated Shield Plan (IP) holders of GE policies have to make some choices now that pre-authorisation for planned medical procedures has been suspended at the two Mount Elizabeth hospitals. Pre-authorisation is not required for emergency situations, where immediate medical attention is needed. Mr Alex Lee, president of the Singapore Actuarial Society (SAS), said those who still decide to go to the two hospitals for treatment will have to foot the bill out of their own pockets first and claim it back later. Mr Lee added that GE may reimburse the claim if it is deemed as reasonable. This will be no different from the scenario in which the policyholder has received pre-authorisation for the medical procedure. However, the insurer could also reject the claim if the treatment is excluded under the policy conditions, he said. Mr Kyith Ng, senior solutions specialist at insurance advisory firm Havend, said these GE policyholders will have to face the uncertainty over whether their insurance will cover their hospital expenses and how much of the bill it will cover. SAS' Mr Lee said other policyholders, who want peace of mind before their medical treatment starts, could choose to move to another private hospital where GE continues to offer pre-authorisation for admissions. There are eight private hospitals in Singapore, including the two Mount Elizabeth ones: Gleneagles, Parkway East, Farrer Park, Raffles, Thomson Medical Centre and Crawfurd Hospital. There is also one private not-for-profit hospital, Mount Alvernia. The process of pre-authorisation allows an insurer to assess whether a medical procedure recommended by the doctor is necessary and at a reasonable cost, said Associate Professor Chen Renbao from the department of finance at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School. Upon approval, policyholders have a gauge of the estimated treatment costs and know how much their insurance policy will cover prior to hospitalisation. There are some GE policyholders who are contemplating whether to switch to another insurance provider. They can do so if they do not have pre-existing illnesses, which will exclude these medical conditions from any new insurance coverage. One policyholder who wishes to remain anonymous told The Straits Times that his entire family uses Mount Elizabeth hospitals. He is thinking of switching to another IP insurer but is concerned about any exclusions that will not be covered. He told ST that GE should not impose such restrictions on existing policyholders and that these restrictions should only apply to new ones. Of the seven private insurers that offer IPs, Income and Singlife do not offer pre-authorisation for medical procedures. The other four, AIA, Prudential, HSBC Life and Raffles Health, do but Havend's Mr Ng said there is no certainty they will continue to do so. 'What GE does may make the other insurers wonder if they can do the same,' he added. If policyholders switch insurers and that insurer later makes changes to its claims policy, they could be caught in a bind, Mr Ng noted. Health insurance provides a safety net against unexpected health issues and offers individuals and their families protection in case major medical treatment becomes necessary. Mr Ng said an individual could build up savings specific for medical needs as another safety net. The fund can be used to pay any pre-hospitalisation procedures such as scans, blood tests or post-hospitalisation expenses like physiotherapy or speech therapy. Policyholders have to pay pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses in cash and then submit the claims for approval, Mr Ng added. Furthermore, some claims might take longer than usual to process. Mr Ng has seen cases drag out for as long as six months. Claimants will face a cash-flow crunch if they do not set aside enough cash on hand, he added. There are situations where individuals will need to pay medical costs upfront, though this is not always so, Mr Ng noted, adding that they just need to ensure they have an adequate amount to supplement those needs. Otherwise, they may be compelled to use the money set aside for other purposes, like their children's education or their own retirement. 'The money has to come from somewhere.' So, by setting aside say $20,000, individuals know how much money they have for such exigencies and will not have to take the money from their other financial funds, Mr Ng said. However, Associate Professor Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences, said it is not efficient for most people to maintain 'substantial funds in cash for medical needs', given that these are infrequent and large. He said the point of having more comprehensive insurance is to reduce the need to maintain funds just for medical purposes. If insurance does not give individuals such assurance, 'it is not of much value as an insurance product'. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has said it is engaging with GE to better understand the impact of its decision to suspend pre-authorisation certificates for Mount Elizabeth hospitals. In its reply to queries from the media on June 19, MOH said IP insurers 'would have to ensure that policyholders continue to be able to access the full benefits of their policies in accordance with the terms and conditions for claims, as stated in their policy contracts'. SAS' Mr Lee said GE is not in breach of contractual obligations. This is because 'issuance of Certificate of Pre-authorisation is at Great Eastern's discretion', according to the policy contract that SAS has sighted. According to GE's website, the insurer states that it has 'observed that, over the past few years, certain private hospitals have been charging significantly more for similar treatment or the same clinical outcomes'. Mr Lee noted that by withdrawing pre-authorisation for the two hospitals, GE hopes that it will help address 'the issue of rising charges from the two hospitals'. Prof Chen from the NUS Business School said that GE is prioritising healthcare providers that offer high-quality care and better cost management, specifically those that are more cost-effective and transparent about pricing. Having looked through the financials of all the IP insurers which filed their latest 2024 results with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Havend's Mr Ng said he can see that GE is 'trying to control the cost levers' within its control. The insurer posted an underwriting profit in 2024 of $4.8 million, after making an underwriting loss of $44.9 million in 2023. This makes GE one of the three IP insurers which turned in a profit in 2024. The other two are Prudential and AIA. Three other IP insurers, Singlife, Income and HSBC Life, widened their underwriting losses while the last one, Raffles Health, narrowed its underwriting losses. Mr Lee said that insurance, especially in cases requiring little or no out-of-pocket expense, strengthens policyholders' sense of affordability. Demand induced by this stronger sense of affordability can drive up medical costs, he noted, adding that this never-ending cycle of medical cost inflation can be broken if the sense of affordability gets meaningfully dampened. However, Mr Lee pointed out that there are other factors such as shortage of medical professionals, supply chain disruptions and medical innovations that will drive up medical inflation. He added that if medical costs continue to rise, insurers will have no choice but to raise premiums because there is hardly any pricing buffer left in the rates being charged. Mr Lee said: 'At its core, this pre-authorisation withdrawal aims to address rising medical costs that, if poorly controlled, lead to premium rates spiralling upwards in future.' Prof Theseira added: 'This certainly could be perceived as a shot across the bow for private hospitals and doctors who have higher than average charges. 'If the decision changes patient behaviour, it would pressure private healthcare providers to moderate charges or risk similar actions being levied against them by other insurers.'
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
I'm a fitness writer and here's why you can't miss this Oura Ring Amazon Prime Day deal
Smart rings have seemingly transformed the wellness world. They offer all the insights of a wrist-worn fitness tracker while sitting unobtrusively around your finger. Oura was the first brand to nail the smart ring formula, and though the brand now has many rivals, it continues to be the best option on the market. That's why a decent Amazon Prime Day discount – down from £349 to £295, – on the latest Oura ring 4 should turn a few heads. However, that's not the only discount. If, like me, you're after something more affordable, the still impressive previous generation is now available for almost half this price (Was £199, now £165, Both options offer very similar features, including detailed data on your sleep, activity levels and health factors such as stress. But with the Oura ring 4, you get a more premium package, with an entirely titanium build, an expanded range of sizes on offer, increased comfort and extra sensors for increased accuracy. The Oura ring 4 tops our round-up of the best smart rings, with senior tech critic, Alex Lee, finding it to be the most stylish, comfortable and feature-packed option money can buy. 'It has the best sleep tracking of any wearable, with a lot of science to back it up. There are new features rolling out all the time, and it's the best activity tracker I've found in a smart ring so far,' he writes. It is more comfortable and durable than previous iterations of the Oura ring, and most importantly, it's the most accurate, with more sensors than any previous generation. This diminutive wearable is now at its lowest-ever price on Amazon, with a 15 per cent discount taking the silver and black colourways from £349 to £295. However, if you want to save even more money, the significantly cheaper Oura ring 3 offers almost the same rich suite of features for less. It's isn't as comfortable as the Oura ring 4, but our tester, Kat Barber, found that 'if you're keen to enter the world of biohacking and take steps to optimise your sleep and energy', then the Oura ring 3 'presents one of the easiest ways to do all this'.
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Apple's newest iPad drops to its lowest-ever price for Prime Day
Apple discounts don't come around very often, particularly on new releases, so I was excited to see the latest iPad included in the Amazon Prime Day sale. Released back in March, the new 11th-generation model has fallen to an all-time low at the online retailer. The updates to the 11th-gen include even more storage, starting with 128GB as standard, a faster A16 chip and improved battery life. This is the first time the price has dropped below £290 on Amazon, making this the perfect time to save on Apple's latest tech. Senior tech critic Alex Lee has been busy rounding up the other best Apple deals for Prime Day, including discounts on the all-new iPhone 16e, AirPods pro 2, which puts them at their lowest-ever price, and more. But for the iPad offer, keep reading. A major improvement on the new iPad is that the smallest internal storage size you can get is 128GB. On the 10th-gen, this was 64GB, so you're now getting double the storage as standard. This is good news for those who download lots of apps or stream videos offline. We're yet to test this model, but if it's anything like the 10th-gen, we're expecting to be impressed. The deal includes 14 per cent off the 128GB model, but if you need more storage, you don't have to miss out on the savings. The 256GB model has 12 per cent off (was £429, now £379.50, while the 512GB model sees an 11 per cent discount (£629, now £560, These may seem like modest price cuts, but you're unlikely to get these kinds of savings on the new iPad until Black Friday rolls around in the autumn. This is the best offer on the 11-generation iPad right now, and you won't find it any cheaper anywhere else. Remember, you'll need to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of the discount. If you haven't signed up before, or haven't done so in the past 12 months, you can get a 30-day free trial. This will allow you to shop all the Prime Day deals until the sale ends at midnight this Friday.
