Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” is at the center of a major Medicaid shake-up that's already impacted millions of children.

The bill’s new federal policies are expected to push many families off Medicaid coverage, according to the Congressional Budget Office. This is bad news because a recent study found that most kids in the U.S. rely on Medicaid or CHIP at some point before the age of 18.

The important bits
The decline in enrollment started when pandemic protections ended in March 2023. Child enrollment decreased by 30 percent in the last two years in states like Utah (29 percent reduction), Texas (27 percent reduction) and Alaska (26 percent reduction). You can see a full map here.

And while fewer kids on Medicaid could be a positive sign if it reflected families earning more and affording private insurance, that’s not the reality. Instead, many children are simply being left without any coverage at all and families are already being impacted.

Hospitals are also being impacted in states like Idaho where government officials cut reimbursement rates for providers treating Medicaid patients by 4%, which could lead to a handful of small hospitals shutting down.

What's it all mean? 
Times are tough, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be getting easier any time soon.

🚫 15 most banned books in schools
NBC just released a report on 15 books that have been banned the most in schools across the U.S. Many of these titles include themes related to LGBTQ+ identity, race, or gender. Some of the top books on the banned list? A Clockwork Orange, Breathless, Sold, and Wicked. You can see the full list here to see just how dangerous your favorites are.

P.S. Did you see that Reading Rainbow is back?

🤰 The most popular pregnancy myths
A survey of 2,000 expectant or planning parents shows many still believe popular, but unproven, pregnancy myths. 21% think spicy food can trigger labor, and 29% believe heartburn signals a baby will have lots of hair. Others still trust myths about moon phases, how low someone carries, or skin glow predicting sex. Check out all the myths here.

🫘 Let's talk about beans for a minute
According to a new report, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy plans to reject recommendations to add beans as a source of protein to the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The DGA’s advisory committee wants beans to be included in the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Why? Because they're a truly powerful food packed with protein, fiber and several essential micronutrients. Read all about beans here. They're for more than just tootin'!

💸 An $80 stroller? Prime Day deals you should care about
Amazon is having another Prime Day extravaganza today and tomorrow. Some of the best deals for parents? This Ingenuity 3Dlite stroller for $80. A 40-piece Magna-Tiles Dino World set for just $55, and the Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet. It's 50% off! More deals here.

🧑‍🧑‍🧒 11 things therapists wish kids knew
Included on the list? Not everyone has to like you.

If you’ve ever begged your kid to “try just one bite,” this one’s for you. Research shows that hands-on experiences — like cooking, gardening, and even small kitchen tasks — help kids eat better and feel more confident around food. I’ve put together a month of easy activities to help you get started!

Last week, we asked you how much you'd pay someone to help name your baby, and nearly 100% of you said, "A bag of chips."

This week’s mini (solo) episode is a follow-up to last week’s conversation on helping kids eat a wider variety of foods.

In this episode: Kiyah shares four practical strategies you can use to gently encourage your kids to taste something new without pressure, battles, or bribes.

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