Michael Hiltzik says the medically uninsured iin America have become a political football. Opponents and supporters of healthcare reform toss assertions about them back and forth.
The report, which says 46.3 million people lacked coverage as of the end of 2008, makes the case for reform stronger than ever by punching holes in arguments that minimize the plight of the uninsured.
Includes comments by WUSTL social work and public health professor Timothy McBride.

References:

1. Sept. 17, 2009 — U.S. Census Bureau data on the medically uninsured simply can't be denied in the Los Angeles Times

How much is it going to cost to provide health care for all Americans? Until the details are complete, the only honest answer is: no one knows, reports John Schoen. "We know that the underinsured tend to be healthier," said Timothy McBride, associate dean for WUSTL's public health. "So if they were to get insured they would not be as expensive as the rest of us."

References:

1. Sept. 9, 2009 — Elusive price tag for universal health coverage in the MSNBC.com

Nancy Benac reports on Obama's Cairo speech in which he tried to explain the American mindset to Muslims and the world of Islam to Americans. Various experts comment on the speech, including WUSTL presidential rhetoric specialist Wayne Fields.

References:

1. June 6, 2009 — Analysis: Obama tries evenhanded approach in the Associated Press

and 51 others.

Expectations are high that Obama will nominate a woman to the Supreme Court. A recent study by three academics focusing on the votes of federal court of appeals judges bears out the observation that a conservative woman acts more pro-women's rights than a conservative man. The research was conducted by WUSTL law and political science professor Andrew Martin and WUSTL political science doctoral student Christina Boyd, along with Lee Epstein of Northwestern University Law School in Chicago.

References:

1. May 18, 2009 — What another woman would bring to Supreme Court in the The Christian Science Monitor online

When it comes to swine flu, Obama is trying to strike the right balance between protecting public and economic health. That's resulted in some doublespeak and spin, evidence of the inextricable ties between a looming epidemic and a listing economy. Includes comments by WUSTL American culture studies director Wayne Fields, who is an expert on presidential rhetoric.

References:

1. May 2, 2009 — Flu control tests Obama balancing skills in the Associated Press

and 47 others.

President Obama has gotten off to a busy start, fielding more questions in formal press conferences in his first months in office than the American people saw from his predecessor. WUSTL history professor Peter Kastor comments.

References:

1. April 28, 2009 — Obama takes more questions than Bush in the The Washington Times

Greenpeace USA announced the appointment today of its top organizer, Phil Radford, as its new executive director. Radford, 33, is a WUSTL alum (1998). He has been with Greenpeace since 2003 and was behind the launch of the "Frontline" initiative that nearly doubled the organization's annual budget to $30 million.

References:

1. April 14, 2009 — Greenpeace appoints veteran organizer to its top post in the The New York Times

WUSTL political science professor Steve Smith comments on some lessons learned by Obama and his team in the push for the stimulus bill.

References:

1. Feb. 11, 2009 — Stimulus fight gives Obama lessons early in the USA Today

and 1 others.

Obama's election, and this year's 100th anniversary of the NAACP, means there has probably never been more reason to celebrate the annual February observance, black leaders and historians say. Includes comments by WUSTL AFAS professor Gerald Early.

References:

1. Feb. 2, 2009 — Black History Month has added meaning in 2009 in the USA Today

and 3 others.

The "War on Terror" is losing the war of words. The catchphrase burned into the American lexicon hours after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, is fading away, slowly if not deliberately being replaced by a new administration bent on repairing the U.S. image among Muslim nations. Includes comments by WUSTL English and American culture studies professor Wayne Fields, who is an expert on presidential rhetoric.

References:

1. Feb. 1, 2009 — Under Obama, 'war on terror' catchphrase fading in the Associated Press

and 18 others.

WUSTL cultural historian Peter Kastor comments on Obama's place in America's history.

References:

1. Jan. 20, 2009 — A moment in history: The American story renewed in the Associated Press

and 32 others.

Barack Obama used his inaugural address Tuesday to sketch a portrait of the nation as it is, and as it should be. Includes comments by WUSTL presidential rhetoric expert Wayne Fields.

References:

1. Jan. 20, 2009 — Obama's speech a quiet call to arms for Americans in the Associated Press

and 37 others.

In hard times, the man in the Oval Office usually is the cheerleader-in-chief, looking ahead optimistically. Not Barack Obama, who is taking office full of gloom and doom about the nation's economy, warning that things are dire and bound to get worse. WUSTL American culture studies director and political rhetoric expert Wayne Fields comments.

References:

1. Jan. 13, 2009 — SPIN METER: Obama stresses dire economy at start in the Associated Press

and 32 others.

Examining the Bush legacy, which won't be an easy one for future historians to assess. While most unsuccessful presidencies involved presidents who were considered captives of events, unable to muster effective responses, Bush's was one of bold strokes that, for better or worse, will be debated for a long time. WUSTL law professor Rebecca Dresser, who serves on the President's Council on Bioethics, comments on the stem cell research decision.

References:

1. Jan. 12, 2009 — The Bush Legacy in the The Boston Globe

The Center for a New American Security, a small think tank here with generally middle-of-the-road policy views, is rapidly emerging as a top farm team for the incoming Obama administration. Includes comments by WUSTL economics professor Murray Weidenbaum, who wrote a book on Washington think tanks.

References:

1. Nov. 16, 2008 — Obama Dips Into Think Tank for Talent in the The Wall Street Journal online

Kate Snow reports from St. Louis and asks why it is that "As Missouri goes, so goes the nation." WUSTL political rhetoric expert Wayne Fields weighs in with his answer.

References:

1. Nov. 3, 2008 — Segment on Vote 08 and Missouri in the ABC News 'Good Morning America'

In this segment, Kiran Chetry talks with WUSTL law students Erick Harris and Scott Talkov, two politically divided roommates in a politically divided state -- Harris supports McCain and Talkov supports Obama.

References:

1. Oct. 30, 2008 — Story on a state that's politically divided right down the middle in the CNN American Morning

A feature on an odd couple-- Democrat Scott Talkov and Republican Erick "E.D." Harris are WUSTL law school roommates and political junkies.

References:

1. Oct. 29, 2008 — Politics in a purple household in the Los Angeles Times

There's always talk about the impact young voters could have in choosing the next president, but some barriers stand in the way, such as access to college campuses. WUSTL persuaded the county to put a polling place on campus for this election.

References:

1. Oct. 27, 2008 — Young voters could rock the polls this year in the Associated Press

and 19 others.

Statewide polls show Obama and McCain are essentially tied in Missouri. No one ideology or business interest dominates the state and the electorate tends to be practical, says WUSTL American culture studies professor Wayne Fields.

References:

1. Oct. 21, 2008 — McCain camp insists he can overcome funding mismatch in the USA Today

and 1 others.