New from Code WACK!; Independence? Unless we get health care, it’s a sham.

What does freedom really mean when, in 2025, health care costs more than $31,000 a year for the average American family? This Independence Day, we’re revisiting a powerful conversation about how single-payer healthcare could slash costs, unleash innovation, and expand access for all. Could it also help revive the American Dream of owning your own business? Ian Lewis, now with Unite Here Local 2 but at the time of this interview, with National Union of Healthcare Workers, breaks down how our current system burdens small businesses, stifles entrepreneurship—and what a bold reform could change. Could Medicare for All be the key to greater financial security, opportunity, and true independence for millions of Americans? While Ian ends the interview on an optimistic note, the political context for healthcare reform has changed dramatically since this episode. Funding for public health insurance programs like Medicaid and Medicare are on the chopping block and the threat of privatization is greater than ever. Keep up with the latest news on health policy reform by subscribing for updates at heal-ca.org/take-action. And keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-free donation: https://heal-ca.org/donate/