Ozempic, Wegovy, other drugs are among 15 selected for Medicare’s price negotiations

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration says popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been added to Medicare’s list of medications that will be negotiated directly between the government and drug manufacturers. The price negotiations for the additional 15 drugs selected Friday will be handled by the incoming Trump administration and almost assure billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra says “this is a big deal.” Drug companies oppose the program and say it “fails to address the true challenges facing seniors and Medicare.” Ozempic and Wegovy are made by Novo Nordisk, which is based in Denmark and has U.S. headquarters Plainsboro, New Jersey.

Biden says the Equal Rights Amendment should be considered ratified

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says the Equal Rights Amendment should be considered a ratified addition to the U.S. Constitution. It’s unclear if Biden’s statement will have any impact. The archivist has said the amendment cannot be certified because three-quarters of state legislatures did not ratify it before a deadline set by Congress. It wasn’t until 2020, when Virginia lawmakers passed the amendment, that 38 states had ratified it. The National Archives says nothing has changed to allow for certification. Activists later gathered outside the National Archives to celebrate Biden’s statement and call on the archivist to take action.

CBO projects U.S. debt to grow $23.9 trillion in 10 years

WASHINGTON (AP) — The national debt is slated to rise by $23.9 trillion over the next decade, a sum that does not include trillions of dollars in additional tax cuts being championed by President-elect Donald Trump. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released its 10-year budget outlook on Friday that showed a slightly brighter picture as higher taxable incomes will relieve some pressure on the rising national debt. Still, annual budget deficits are expected to be equal to 6.1% of U.S. gross domestic product in 2035, which the CBO noted is “significantly more than the 3.8 percent that deficits have averaged over the past 50 years.”

The Senate advances a migrant detention bill that could be Trump’s first law to sign

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is set for an Inauguration Day vote on legislation that would require federal authorities to detain migrants accused of theft and violent crimes. The bill would also give states new power to legally challenge federal immigration policies. It sets a new tone on immigration in the Republican-controlled Congress as Donald Trump enters the White House on Monday. Senate Republicans made the so-called Laken Riley Act a priority. It’s named after a Georgia student who was killed last year by a Venezuelan man and may become the first bill Trump signs as president in his second term. The House will still need to take up changes made to the bill.