Too often, there's too much media focus on Obamacare. But with a surprise Senate upset throwing a wrench into Republican repeal plans, and with HealthCare.gov sign-ups poised to end on Friday, this was a week to go a little deeper on the ACA.

First, POLITICO’s Paul Demko discusses his reporting on the ACA enrollment period and insurers’ profitability (starts at the 2:25 mark), as well as the health care ramifications of the shifts in the Senate (16:00), with Alabama's Doug Jones and Minnesota's Tina Smith poised to join the Democratic caucus.

Then after the break, Sarah Gollust — a University of Minnesota professor who studies health care and the media and has closely tracked advertising around the Affordable Care Act — joins PULSE CHECK to discuss her latest findings (starts at the 24:20 mark).

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Stories referenced on the podcast: Paul's story on insurers finally turning a profit on the ACA: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/07/obamacare-profits-health-care-285258

Paul's story on ACA enrollment lagging behind last year: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/12/obamacare-sign-ups-enrollment-numbers-218764

Dan's story on Mayo Clinic's rural consolidation, a regional controversy that drew in Tina Smith: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/11/16/mayo-clinic-rural-health-care-244955

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