Upshot: A Medicaid loophole that lives on

May 8, 2025

Ruth Fremson/The New York Times

G.O.P. Targets a Medicaid Loophole Used by 49 States to Grab Federal Money

States have long used taxes on hospitals and nursing homes to increase federal matching funds. If Republicans end the tactic, red states could feel the most pain.

By Margot Sanger-Katz and Sarah Kliff

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WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS FROM UPSHOT AND FRIENDS

Mark Abramson for The New York Times

Companies Are Serving Notice: We’re Raising Prices Because of Tariffs

President Trump’s trade policies are already starting to frustrate American consumers who have noticed higher prices in their shopping carts.

By Madeleine Ngo

The New York Times

Chinese Imports Hit 2-Decade Low as Trump Tariffs Begin to Bite

While imports can swing with seasonal shifts, President Trump’s ratcheting up of U.S. tariffs on China has begun to cascade through supply chains, government data shows.

By Karl Russell and Ana Swanson

A college campus filled with leafy trees.

Cameron Pollack for The New York Times

Colleges Know How Much You’re Willing to Pay. Here’s How.

Schools turn to little-known consultants, owned by private equity firms, to find applicants and calculate scholarships. Here’s how that affects the price you pay.

By Ron Lieber

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

The New York Times

The Church Is More Global Than Ever. What Does That Mean for the Next Pope?

Francis appointed most of the cardinals. But they may not choose another pope like him.

By Samuel Granados, Jason Horowitz and Josh Holder

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York looking serious and holding a folder as he stands and speaks to reporters at the Capitol in April.

Tierney L. Cross for The New York Times

How Democrats Hope to Overcome a Daunting 2026 Senate Map

Facing long odds to retake a majority, Senator Chuck Schumer and his allies are trying to think outside the box and recruit candidates who might be able to pull off upsets in red states.

By Shane Goldmacher

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