#5SmartReads - October 28, 2022

Marisa is a corporate account executive by day, a freelance writer and #5SmartReads contributor by night, and a mom 24/7. Currently reading: Friends and Strangers by J. Courtney Sullivan. Current interests: parenting her four year old daughter while reparenting her inner child; seeing Trudy Busch Valentine elected to the U.S. Senate and keeping Gov. Laura Kelly in the governor's seat in KS; stalking the internet for Birkenstock Boston clogs in a specific colorway and size and footbed - they've been more elusive than they sound!

What To Know About Oxempic, TikTok’s Favorite Weight Loss Drug (National Geographic)

Ozempic, Wegovy, and similar drugs have been enjoying a moment in the sun as of late, and apparently TikTok is to blame?

In all seriousness, this is one of those seemingly niche stories that has a ton of overlap with my professional life (employee benefits consulting - I can't tell you how many inquiries we've had from groups about off-label coverage for these drugs since this summer) and my personal life (both of my parents are Type 2 diabetics), and likely has a ton of overlap with your personal life as well - I'd be willing to bet that someone in your circle is taking or has at least tried one of these drugs for weight loss.

This is an interesting examination of how a micro-trend on social media can have unforeseen reverberations on things like supply chain and medical ethics and, though not explicitly mentioned in the article, is a good jumping off point for thinking about what types of things should be covered by insurance and why.

My Pregnancy Vs. The State Of Texas (The Meteor)

Just putting this here because more people need to see it.

Read it and share it on your personal channels.

With just two weeks to go before the midterms, we need to make sure that reproductive rights stay top of mind for voters across the political spectrum.

What Pregnancy Actually Looks Like Before 10 Weeks- In Pictures (The Guardian)

And then, after you share the last story and your Aunt Judy comes at you with her pro-life spiel about how life begins at conception, feel free to share these photos.

Are we looking at LIFE in the abstract... sure. But is it the same as a fully fledged human life? Not so much.

Biden’s Student Debt Cancellation Program Is In Grave Danger From A Republican Judiciary (Vox)

I've shared about this before and I'm sure I will share about it again because it absolutely infuriates me, both as a human being and a U.S. citizen but also as a citizen of Missouri who is definitely NOT represented by the positions espoused by our AG.

Posting this as a reminder that LOCAL POLITICS MATTER.

JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS AND RETENTION ELECTIONS MATTER.

THE PEOPLE IN YOUR STATEHOUSE HAVE AS MUCH OR MORE TO DO WITH YOUR FATE THAN THE POTUS.

So vote accordingly.

In Kansas, A Democratic Govoner Tests If Any Politics Are Still Local (New York Times)

And for a palate cleanser, I am going to head to the other side of the state line from me in KCMO, to Topeka and Gov. Laura Kelly.

Governor Kelly has been a true breath of fresh air for Kansas after the Brownback years, and I have loved seeing Kansas returning to its more "purple", independent political roots. I wish that the same could be said for Missouri, but honestly I wish the same could be said for pretty much every state in the Midwest.

I am keeping a close eye on Kansas as a potential case study in how moderate, practical Democrats can appeal to both the common good AND common sense in places where extreme social conservatives have tried to box out both.