Ari Shapiro

Do you fear that this – mission to eliminate waste and fraud could be a pretext for making broader sweeping changes to Medicare and Medicaid that are not actually motivated by waste and fraud and don't actually address waste and fraud?

So just so I understand, in other parts of the government, from the Treasury Department to the Justice Department, we have seen career officials and nonpartisan civil servants either fired and replaced or encouraged to leave. You're saying the opposite appears to be true at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services?

So just so I understand, in other parts of the government, from the Treasury Department to the Justice Department, we have seen career officials and nonpartisan civil servants either fired and replaced or encouraged to leave. You're saying the opposite appears to be true at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services?

So just so I understand, in other parts of the government, from the Treasury Department to the Justice Department, we have seen career officials and nonpartisan civil servants either fired and replaced or encouraged to leave. You're saying the opposite appears to be true at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services?

Do you give them the benefit of the doubt? Do you trust them to take a nuanced, data-driven approach?

Do you give them the benefit of the doubt? Do you trust them to take a nuanced, data-driven approach?

Do you give them the benefit of the doubt? Do you trust them to take a nuanced, data-driven approach?

So bottom line, if people who depend on these programs want to know, is my coverage safe? Can I continue to count on the services that I have counted on in the past? We don't know where this is going to go. What should people be watching?

So bottom line, if people who depend on these programs want to know, is my coverage safe? Can I continue to count on the services that I have counted on in the past? We don't know where this is going to go. What should people be watching?

So bottom line, if people who depend on these programs want to know, is my coverage safe? Can I continue to count on the services that I have counted on in the past? We don't know where this is going to go. What should people be watching?

That is former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, and former Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mark McClellan, a Republican. Thank you both for joining us today.

That is former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, and former Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mark McClellan, a Republican. Thank you both for joining us today.

That is former Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, and former Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mark McClellan, a Republican. Thank you both for joining us today.

Thanks, Ari. This episode was produced by Mia Venkat and Elena Burnett. It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Nadia Lancey. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigan. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Ari Shapiro.

Thanks, Ari. This episode was produced by Mia Venkat and Elena Burnett. It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Nadia Lancey. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigan. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Ari Shapiro.

Thanks, Ari. This episode was produced by Mia Venkat and Elena Burnett. It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Nadia Lancey. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigan. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Ari Shapiro.

When President Donald Trump started talking about taking back the Panama Canal right around Christmas, there was a lot of reaction from people in Panama. Diplomatic but firm statements from the president, chants, an American flag burning in the streets, and also memes. We get angry.

When President Donald Trump started talking about taking back the Panama Canal right around Christmas, there was a lot of reaction from people in Panama. Diplomatic but firm statements from the president, chants, an American flag burning in the streets, and also memes. We get angry.

When President Donald Trump started talking about taking back the Panama Canal right around Christmas, there was a lot of reaction from people in Panama. Diplomatic but firm statements from the president, chants, an American flag burning in the streets, and also memes. We get angry.

That is Joel Diaz and Jessica Salado. They're members of the super popular Panamanian satire group called El Gainazo. That name refers to the black vultures that are all over Panama City. Now, the vulture is definitely not the national bird, but unlike the majestic harpy eagle that is on Panama's crest, the vultures are actually part of people's everyday lives. Here's Jessica.