What's Happening

Politics

Biden Admin Proposes New Plan for Free Over-the-Counter Birth Control

What's going on: Yesterday, the Biden administration announced a new proposed rule to expand free access to contraceptives. Under the proposal, private health insurance would be required to cover all forms of over-the-counter birth control — including certain contraceptive pills, condoms, and Plan B — without needing a prescription. Currently, the Affordable Care Act mandates full coverage for contraception, but typically only if it’s prescribed, and most plans only cover one type within each category (like one specific IUD brand). If finalized, this rule would expand access for 52 million people of reproductive age with private insurance, marking the biggest expansion of birth control coverage since 2012, according to the White House.

What it means: Advocates say the plan is crucial for expanding reproductive health access in a post-Roe America. However, some say the timing of the rule is a strategic move by Democrats to focus the presidential race on reproductive health, an issue VP Kamala Harris champions. Former President Donald Trump has sent mixed signals on the topic, once hinting at potential contraception restrictions before he walked back his comments. The timing could also be tied to the recent FDA approval of Opill, the OTC birth control pill, and pressure from advocates who have called out insurers for improperly charging for contraception. The rule must go through a 60-day comment period and may not be finalized for months or even years.

Related: A New Lawsuit Is Aiming To Curb Access to the Abortion Pill (NYT gift link)

US News

"Diddy" Faces New Lawsuits, With Unnamed Celebrities Allegedly Involved

Disclaimer: The following story mentions sexual assault, which could be triggering to some readers.  

What's going on: Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing seven new federal civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and rape, including one involving a then-13-year-old girl. In the lawsuit, “Jane Doe” claims that Combs drugged and raped her at his MTV VMAs afterparty in 2000. She alleges that another male celebrity, referred to in the lawsuit as “Celebrity A,” also raped her at the party while a female celebrity, dubbed in the suit as “Celebrity B,” watched. The other six lawsuits, filed by four men and two women, make similar allegations of sexual assault against Combs regarding incidents at parties between 2000 and 2022. Combs’ lawyers dismissed the new lawsuits — all filed by the same law firm — as “clear attempts to garner publicity.”

What it means: Combs faces more than 120 potential lawsuits alleging sexual and physical abuse. As celebrities distance themselves from him, this latest wave of legal challenges puts the spotlight on the alleged involvement of Hollywood stars and the role of Combs’ famous parties. Meanwhile, the 54-year-old already pleaded not guilty to federal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, and will go on trial in May. He’s being held without bail in a Brooklyn jail. 

Related: The Famous Names That Appear in the Lawsuits Against “Diddy” (Business Insider)

US News

Why Are America's Workers So Lonely? — A New Study Provides Some Clues

What's going on: Sure, working from home can make people feel isolated, but new research from the Harvard Business Review, says mandating everyone back to the office full-time isn’t exactly a cure-all. The study surveyed 1,000 full-time office workers (ages 22-50) from industries like finance, healthcare, software engineering, and consulting. The results? The loneliest workers are those who clocked in a lot of face-to-face time, with 47% of these folks saying they spent nearly half of their last month at the office. Meanwhile, employees of color were more likely to experience loneliness, while those who are caregivers reported feeling less lonely. Curious where you rank? Find out your loneliness score with this assessment.

What it means: The study suggests that full-time in-person or hybrid work has minimal impact on loneliness levels. Instead, factors like the number of social opportunities available and a person's level of extroversion play a bigger role (surprise: introverts feel more alone). The US Surgeon General has even identified loneliness as a major societal issue with serious health and cultural consequences. In the workplace, lonely employees tend to be less productive, more likely to quit, and could rack up higher healthcare costs. So what’s the fix? One of the study’s authors told Axios that employers need to assess how their teams are feeling, give employees a real shot at work-life balance, and — yes — throw in some team bonding. Even something as simple as a lunch or happy hour could make a difference (but maybe we can skip the icebreakers).

Related: Small Steps You Can Take to Feel Less Alone (CNN)