Inside Ukraine’s Underground Maternity Wards Four years after Russia invaded, Ukrainian health workers are shoring up maternity care to protect the most vulnerable—and preserve Ukrainian identity.

Late last year, I traveled to Kharkiv and Sumy with @unfpa.org to visit the maternity wards there, where mothers give birth amid shelling.

“Birth, it’s the most scary thing. People get used to the war," 24yo Nastia told me between contractions.

For @thenation.com
www.thenation.com/article/worl...

She was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 11. Trump’s Medicaid cuts could end her life-saving treatment Half of all US children are covered through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (Chip), making kids particularly vulnerable under the new Republican budget

New: Trump’s tax-and-spending bill will cut federal spending on Medicaid and CHIP by $1.02tn, and remove 10.5 million+ people from the programs. A significant number are likely to be children: half of all children in the US are covered through Medicaid or CHIP.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

‘Bipartisan, common sense, science-based’: California leads the way in banning ultra-processed school meals Experts hope that a ‘California effect’ will push other states to ban UPFs, similar to its law against six synthetic food dyes

Also for @us.theguardian.com: On Friday, California lawmakers passed a bill that will define, and then ban, ultra-processed foods from school meals. The legislation is believed to include the first statutory definition of ultra-processed foods in the world.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The US town that pays every pregnant woman $1,500: ‘We’re not OK with our babies being born into poverty’ Infants in Rx Kids in Flint, Michigan, saw lower rates of prematurity and other issues, saving millions in NICU visits

New for @us.theguardian.com: Today, Michigan researchers published 2 studies showing that unconditional cash transfers to new moms lowered rates of postpartum depression, stabilized families’ housing & improved infant outcomes – saving millions in NICU spending.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Albuquerque to Kharkiv, Part 2: Underground schools • Source New Mexico A reporter visits Albuquerque's sister city in the Ukraine, Kharkiv, where officials have opened underground schools

sourcenm.com/2025/06/04/a...

Albuquerque to Kharkiv, Part 1: The Ambulance • Source New Mexico A reporter visits Kharkiv, Ukraine, Albuquerque's sister city, and reports on how Albuquerque's ambulance donation is helping people there.

Breaking my social media hiatus to share this series I was thrilled to report from Kharkiv for @sourcenm.com exploring how US cities can continue supporting the war in Ukraine. Big thanks to the International Women’s Media Foundation for the support and safety training!
sourcenm.com/2025/06/03/a...

AHCJ is thrilled to announce the 2025 recipients of two prestigious fellowships, each designed to empower journalists to improve the public's understanding of health care in the U.S. and globally.

‘I’m not afraid. Let’s do it’: the Arizona abortion clinic testing the limits of the state’s ban The owner of the Camelback Family Planning is willing to take risks for patients that other doctors won’t, while staying within the bounds of the state’s abortion ban

Arizona healthcare providers lawsuit challenging the state's 15 week abortion ban has given me a reason to make my first post on this platform - reupping this story I reported in September for @us.theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024...