The crisis haunting 100 million Americans

Plus, Scott Simon's favorite Father's Day movies.

View this email online June 19, 2022 This week, we look at the true scale of medical debt in America. Plus, the latest findings on long COVID-19 and a heartwarming moment in a kindergarten class. Scott’s weekly weigh-in istetiana/Getty Images A good weekend to you, and a fine Father’s Day. Dads are often the comic or villainous foils in films. Here are a few such movies our family has enjoyed that you might just want to queue up tonight.   FINDING NEMO, 2003 Albert Brooks is the voice of a clownfish father — aren’t most of us fathers clownish? — who is on a dauntless search for his lost son. Ellen DeGeneres, as Dory, is also priceless as the friend he makes along the way.   THE GODFATHER, 1972 The father of the Corleone clan, played by Marlon Brando, tends his roses and plays with his grandson. Yes, he whacked quite a few people too. But sibling rivalries, relations and, yes, even love are rendered like a great, vibrant full-color tapestry.   FENCES, 2016 Denzel Washington, riveting in this screen adaptation of August Wilson’s great play, is a father who could not reconcile the flattening of his dreams. Viola Davis is equally astonishing.   FIELD OF DREAMS, 1989 Kevin Costner plays a young Iowa husband who still aches from a distant relationship with his father and is bidden to build the ball field of his dreams.   MRS. DOUBTFIRE, 1993 Robin Williams dons a disguise to exemplify a father’s wish to be near his children, even if they don’t know it’s him. Pierce Brosnan also fulfills the tricky role of the photogenic suitor of an ex-wife — who turns out to be a great stepfather.   THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS, 2006 Yes, it’s hard to recommend a Will Smith movie now. But he’s magnetic as the real-life Chris Gardner, who lifts himself and his son out of homelessness and despair. Jaden Smith is equally compelling as his son.   WE BOUGHT A ZOO, 2011 Matt Damon plays the father who, well, buys a zoo. Yes, it’s silly. So? Scott Simon Scott Simon is one of NPR's most renowned news anchors. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and one of the hosts of the morning news podcast Up First. Be sure to listen to him every Saturday on your local NPR station, and follow him on Twitter. Newsletter continues after sponsor message Support this newsletter   Every week, our team brings you the best stories, investigations and discoveries you may have missed. Today, we have a favor to ask: If you have found value in this newsletter, we need your help. Your donation continues to help make this newsletter possible. NPR and NPR station newsrooms are nonprofit organizations, made possible by your donation. We hope you consider making a gift to your NPR station today to keep this newsletter (and many other great things) possible.  Donate Now Stories you might have missed   Heather Ainsworth for KHN and NPR Medical debt in the U.S. is shockingly pervasive. More than 100 million Americans, including 41% of adults, are plagued by a health care system that is driving people into mass debt, an investigation by Kaiser Health News and NPR finds. The true toll of that burden has been hidden from view because much of the debt load is carried on credit card balances or is brokered through family loans. The implications cast a dark shadow on nearly every facet of life. Read our story on the outlook of the debt crisis, which is driven by a simple reality. Plus, seven Americans shared their medical-debt stories with us — and what they lost. Who are the winners and losers of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike? The central bank’s goal is to tamp down inflation. Raising interest rates makes things more expensive — and the Fed hopes that will dampen our appetite for spending. Here’s what that actually means for everyday Americans.   Pandemic fatigue has spawned a new consumer phenomenon: revenge travel. Demand for air travel is skyrocketing, and analysts say it’s being driven by travel-starved Americans looking to make up for lost time. But if you’re looking to join the herd of jet-setters, there are a few things to keep in mind. Editor's pick   Walker Pickering for NPR The parents of a murdered Democratic aide are finally ready to talk. Joel and Mary Rich’s world was rocked by the murder of their son, Seth Rich, in 2016. Within days, the grieving parents were contending with a tidal wave of far-right conspiracy theories and outright lies around their son, amplified by Fox News. They sued the network in 2018 — and the case was settled. Now, they’re opening up about the emotional toll for the first time. “You’re a pawn in the game,” his mom says. Before you go...   Martin Klimek for The Washington Post via Getty Images A Google engineer claims the company’s AI chatbot is sentient: “It told me it had a soul." Other experts aren’t so sure. A major study finds the omicron variant of the coronavirus is much less likely than the delta variant to cause long COVID — but scientists are split on the finding. Companies are selling Juneteenth-branded products. Here’s why that’s a big problem. Vermont harvested more maple syrup in 2022 than any other year in the state's modern history. These kindergarteners in New Jersey helped raise 18 orphaned turtles for a year and then released them back into the wild. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from Vermont Public Radio (edit station). Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. 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