NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
Vice President JD Vance announced that the federal government would withhold $259 million in Medicaid funding for Minnesota due to concerns about fraud. The state and its welfare fraud scandals have become a target for the Trump administration, and Gov. Tim Walz says the funding move is politically motivated. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Matt Sepic, a reporter for Minnesota Public Radio.
View the transcript of the story.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
KEY TERMS
Medicaid — A federal health insurance program for children, the elderly, pregnant women, people who are disabled of any age and people with low incomes based on strict guidelines. Medicaid currently enrolls almost 77 million people in the U.S., or 1 in 5 Americans.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- What did Vice President JD Vance say is the reason Medicaid funds are being withheld from Minnesota?
- Why do Democrats and state officials say that the act is politically motivated?
- Who is Matt Sepic, and what is his background?
- How will the lost funds affect Minnesotans, according to Sepic?
- When did the fraud take place that is the subject of current investigations?
ESSENTIAL QUESTION
- If Medicaid and other fraud has also occurred in other states, why do you think the Trump administration is singling out Minnesota for withheld funds?
- Do you think the federal government should be able to hold back funds from states that are available to other states? If so, under what conditions?
Media literacy: Why do you the producers of PBS News Hour chose to interview a local journalist for this story? Who else could they have chosen to interview to better understand the story?
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
While the Trump administration is specially targeting Minnesota for Medicaid cuts related to fraud, it has also moved to reduce Medicaid payments across the board. Watch the following segment and then discuss as a class —
- Why do you think the Trump administration is seeking cuts to Medicaid?
- What impact do you think these cuts will have on communities? Who will be affected?
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