Call Your Senator: Sen. Andy Kim on MediKids, Iran and More

**Brian Lehrer** (0:10)
It's The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC. Good morning, everyone. You know, Dolly Parton was so iconic that I'm sure it did not surprise you when the news of her death yesterday wasn't just a big story like in the entertainment media or celebrity sites, right? It was a big story on the news channels. On the front page of the New York Times, it was the lead story on All Things Considered yesterday. Did you hear that beautiful 12-minute remembrance right at the top of the show? Very few people get that on ATC. But I suspect none of that probably surprises you.
But I was listening to a sportscast on the radio yesterday afternoon where the announcer was giving the headlines and said, This happened in baseball, that happened in football, and Dolly Parton died today. And then last night, I opened a climate newsletter that I read, Heatmap, climate newsletter by Robinson Meyer, who's been on the show. And he wrote, I was planning on writing about a different topic today. And then Dolly Parton died. He wrote, so voluminous and impressive was her legacy that I don't even have to stretch much to find an energy or climate angle in it. For example, he spotlights the lead single off her final album, where the studiously apolitical musician confronted the prospect of a burning world. And he cites the lyrics, now I ain't one for speaking out much, but that don't mean I don't stay in touch. Liar, liar, the world's on fire. What we going to do when it all burns down?
And the Heatmap site added this. Have you seen this yet? It says that in a fluke, the next tropical cyclone to form in the Atlantic Ocean will be named Dolly. So thank you Robinson Meyer and Heatmap. And isn't that crazy? The names were chosen a long time ago, but the next Atlantic storm, as the liars lie and the world is on fire, the next Atlantic storm, if it becomes a hurricane, will be Hurricane Dolly.
At the end of the show today, we will open up the phones on What Dolly Parton Meant to You. But we start here. It's our monthly Call Your Senator segment. My question is in yours for New Jersey Senator Andy Kim, New Jersey's first priority. But anyone may call or text with a question for Senator Kim at 212-433-WNYC, 212-433-9692.
Among my topics for him, remember how yesterday was supposed to be economic D-day against Iran and any country allowing trade with Iran? We did do a big thing about it on the show. Does anybody think any place feels like Normandy in 1944 today? Also, the Senator's new bills to cover all kids with health insurance and more seniors with home care, long-term care for Medicare. In the interest of funding things like that, what is his Democratic Party prepared to do, if anything, about the $40 trillion national debt? We hit that unfortunate milestone, scary milestone last week. Senator Kim, we always appreciate that you do this. Welcome back to WNYC.

**Andy Kim** (3:37)
Hi. Thanks so much for having me back on, Brian.

**Brian Lehrer** (3:40)
Last time you were here, you were just introducing MediKids, universal health insurance for all children in the United States up to age 26 Remind us of the basics, and is there anything new about whether you might get enough Republican votes to pass it?

**Andy Kim** (3:56)
Well, thanks for raising this again. As we talked about before, I introduced a piece of legislation called MediKids, which would guarantee health care for every child in this country. There are 4.4 million American kids that don't have health insurance, and that's just absolutely abysmal in the richest, most powerful country in the world. So yes, we've been making some good progress. I've been talking to a number of my colleagues right now. We're not in session, so unable to have as many of those as I'd like now. But we've gotten several more senators on board.
We are continuing to spread the word. And just largely, what it's doing is exactly what we wanted, which is sparking a national discussion about guaranteed care, especially for our kids. At a time when we're seeing more and more challenges for children when it comes to health and mental health, this would provide mental health coverage. It would provide dental coverage, vision coverage. As kids are going back to school, I'm hearing from teachers and parents that are talking about all the strains that come with health care for our kids.
So I've been really blown away by the support and the interest in MediKids over the last couple of weeks.

**Brian Lehrer** (5:08)
Yeah. But you know, since you introduced it last month, I have been looking to see if this really blows up as an issue. Like as Democrats try to win the congressional majorities in the midterms, I wondered, is this going to become a defining campaign talking point? It's not Medicare for all with all its controversial aspects. We're just for universal health care for American kids. I thought Democrats might start saying, while the other party is not, but I don't see it catching on in that way for candidates. Why do you think not? Or am I missing it?