PBC News & Comment: Obamacare Flaws, Rate Hikes Deal GOP and Opportunity

Obamacare flaws, highlighted by big rate increases and fleeing insurers, deal political opening for Republicans, but Trump promotes his hotels…--most Americans get their health insurance from their employers, and that market has been pretty stable in last 5 years
--Public Citizen shows that, overall, health insurance giants are very profitable
--in The Guardian, Celine Gounder says it’s “time to be bold” in fixing health care system
--Podesta email leaks show damage control effort after Obama talked about Clinton’s email system, “we need to clean this up”
--Clinton’s plan for no-fly zone in Syria leaves top spook James Clapper concerned that Russia would shoot down American planes
--in historic step, US abstains from Security Council vote condemning US embargo of Cuba
--Pentagon halts efforts to collect bonuses from Iraq war vets, as we learn that Congress refused to fix the problem
--secret electronic surveillance in Beltway region has increased 500%, reports Washington Post
--at Standing Rock, details emerge of excessive force used on protesters in weekend confrontation and arrests
--US telegraphs its plans to use rebels in Syria for new assault on IS in Raqqa
--Shadowproof offers excellent roundup on the war in Syria
--Vatican opens its archives on Argentina’s “dirty war”
--Vatican issues new orders on cremation, just in time for Halloween