Good morning. In today’s edition:

• 🏥 How popular is Medicare for All?
• 💉 ‘Invisible’ tattoo ink can turn on/off
• 🙏 Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer

…and much more.

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s news should be a ~3.69-minute read (981 words).

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"Respect and acceptance stem from simple acts such as remembering a person’s name and using it whenever appropriate.”

–Dale Carnegie (1888-1955)

Medicare for All may have a pulse after all. Rising healthcare costs are prompting more Americans to consider a major overhaul of the US health insurance system, according to new polling data.

A plurality of Americans (43%) support establishing a government-run health insurance program that would largely replace private coverage (often called “Medicare for All”), compared to 24% who oppose it and 32% who remain unsure, per a new Axios-Ipsos poll released yesterday.

• The findings come as 69% of Americans express concern about rising healthcare costs, and 66% support increased government spending to make care more affordable.
• But there's still plenty of disagreement over whether Medicare for All would actually bring costs down, and what Americans might have to give up in return.

The arguments

Supporters of Medicare for All argue that the government guaranteeing coverage to all Americans, regardless of their income or employment status, would make healthcare more affordable and accessible on the whole.

• They say a single government-run insurance system—rather than the current patchwork of private and public insurers—would reduce administrative costs associated with billing, claims processing, and negotiating with multiple insurers.
• While Medicare for All would require higher taxes, supporters argue that many Americans would ultimately save money on healthcare overall by no longer paying private insurance premiums, deductibles, and copays.

The idea has considerable support among Democrats (62%) and independents (47%), per Axios-Ipsos polling.

On the flip side: Critics of Medicare for All worry that replacing private insurance would disrupt existing coverage, increase federal spending, and give the government too much control over healthcare.

Among Americans opposed to Medicare for All, Axios-Ipsos found:

• 38% worry government-run insurance would provide worse care than private plans.
• 22% believe the program would be too expensive for taxpayers.
• 21% say the government shouldn't be involved in providing healthcare.

Republicans are especially skeptical, with 52% opposing the proposal and 21% supporting it.

Bottom line: Medicare for All bills were introduced in Congress last year by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Democratic Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Debbie Dingell, but there's currently no timeline for a vote or further action.

And while the upcoming midterms could bring more support for the proposal, it isn’t expected to become law with a Republican in the White House.

📊 Flash poll: Do you support or oppose the idea of Medicare for All in America?

• Support
• Oppose
• Unsure/other

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BUSINESS & MARKETS

• 🚨 Bank of America fined $1.2+ billion by Treasury Department for allegedly violating anti-money laundering and sanctions laws; it marks the third-largest fine in Treasury history. | CVS Pharmacy and subsidiaries agree to pay $315 million to resolve a DOJ lawsuit alleging it illegally filled invalid opioid prescriptions and billed federal healthcare programs.
• 🌐🌡️ French supermarkets face millions in losses after a cyberattack turned the heat up on food refrigerators for 400+ stores across five brands, sparking fires and spoiling food.
• 🎢 Six Flags closes similar rides at multiple parks after a person died and several others were injured aboard one of its roller coasters in Georgia on Monday afternoon; shares fell ~12% on the news.

SPORTS, MEDIA, & ENTERTAINMENT

• 🎬 Hulu and ESPN set February premiere for a new documentary chronicling Michael Jackson’s industry-changing Super Bowl halftime performance.
• 🚨 Actress Selma Blair arrested in New York following alleged assault against flight attendants on a flight to JFK, followed by an alleged attack on a police officer and a nurse; Blair’s attorney claims her actions were unintentional and came from missing several doses of “a powerful medication that controls severe neurological symptoms.”
• ⚖️ Duane "Keffe D" Davis, an ex-gang leader, sentenced by jury to at least 40 years in prison for orchestrating the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur in a 1996 drive-by shooting.

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SCIENCE, SPACE, & EMERGING TECH

• 🪐 NASA's Mars Perseverance rover sets new driving record for any vehicle on the surface of another planet, reaching 28.1 miles traveled on the red planet since 2021.
• 💉 New ‘invisible’ tattoo ink developed by researchers can be ‘turned’ on and off with brief exposure to UV light or LED light, respectively.
• 🫁 Mini organs travel to space for the very first time following yesterday’s launch of re-supply spacecraft traveling to the ISS; organs will be exposed to increased radiation and microgravity faced by astronauts in space as part of research by NASA, Mount Sinai, and Space Tango.

US, WORLD, & POLITICS

• 🏛️ Kimberly Guilfoyle resigns as US ambassador to Greece following a pair of WSJ reports that found she used her political connections to seek financial favors and promote private business interests. | 💰🗳️ Elon Musk has quietly become the biggest known donor in the 2026 midterm elections, giving $276+ million since July to Republican candidates running for Congress, per new NY Times report.
• 🙏 Pope Leo, 71, has been diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, a common type of lung cancer, following a procedure that removed a portion of his right lung, the Holy See announced.
• 🎓 Cornell University suspends all frat parties for the rest of the academic year and giving state police a role in investigating reports of sexual assault; moves come amid backlash over Cornell’s handling of sexual assault allegations, including a 2024 incident involving multiple fraternity members.

☝️A Rhode Island man has likely squashed the world record for the heaviest pumpkin ever grown. Ron Wallace’s massive gourd tipped the scales at 3,156 pounds at a local fair, and he’s now awaiting official confirmation from Guinness World Records. The previous record was set about a week earlier by a gardener in England, weighing in at 2,857 pounds.

🤔 Did you know? Humans have been making music for at least 40,000 years. Archaeologists have uncovered ancient flutes made from bird bones and mammoth ivory in German caves, suggesting our prehistoric ancestors were playing musical instruments long before written history ever began.

📰 Worth a read: What ice cream has to do with this year's Nobel Prize in economics

🖱️ What we’re clicking:

• Gen Z turns to magic to improve their love lives
• See the most popular Halloween candy from the year you were born
• 16 cozy activities to add to your fall bucket list

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The world's current population is closest to which number?

A) 7.6 billion

B) 7.8 billion

C) 8.1 billion

D) 8.3 billion

(keep scrolling for the answer)

🎾 Mattel recently unveiled a new signature Barbie doll honoring tennis legend Serena Williams. It coincides with Williams joining Team Barbie, a group of influential female athletes and role models who aim to inspire and empower the next generation of women.

D) 8.3 billion

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