Host Samantha Cline, Executive Director Ardis Watkins and Government Relations Director Suzanne Beasley break down recent health care developments: the public Duke–Aetna negotiation and its resolution, the new voluntary Lantern network, and the UNC–Humana dispute.

The episode also covers retiree system updates and transparency concerns around investments and contracts, a federal appellate ruling on gender-affirming care coverage, the potential impacts of the federal shutdown and state budget uncertainty, and lighter segments on the State Fair and Gen Z attitudes toward government.