January 10, 2023

Readers, it's been a few weeks! I'm sure you're sick of hearing it, but I'm still going to wish you all a Happy New Year because it's still early-January. I hope your holidays treated you well! The shine hasn't quite worn off of 2023 yet, which is great because we need as much happiness as we can get while it's cold and dark outside. Brighter, warmer days are still a few months away, but we're going to make it, one small moment of joy at a time.

One programming note before we dive into this week's Reckon Report: I'm going to be handing over the reins of this newsletter to our editor-in-chief, R.L. Nave, next week and our family policy and working parents reporter, Anna Claire Vollers, the week after that. They've got some great stuff in store, and I hope you enjoy it.

Now, a roundup of the Reckon stories you might've missed.

--Aria

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Women with 9/11-linked cancer are still awaiting federal benefits

Gender bias is plaguing the World Trade Center Health Program, the federal program that monitors and treats 9/11-linked illnesses. A lack of research and responsiveness on the part of federal health authorities has left some women survivors without access to treatment for diseases like uterine cancer. As the government drags its feet, survivors with these forms of cancer are left waiting in fear of their disease recurring and the medical bills associated with treatment.

"If they didn’t approve prostate cancer right away, I’d think it’s just the government moving slowly. But it only moves slowly for women it seems,” one survivor said.

(This story was published in partnership with The Fuller Project.)

How America can fix its childcare crisis in 2023

Last October, more than 100,000 people reported missing work within the last four weeks due to childcare issues, according to a survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Childcare was already facing multiple crises in the form of extremely high prices for families, low pay for teachers and limited availability, all of which were worsened by the pandemic.

Right now, there is no panacea. But there are some ways states and the federal government can ease the pain for everyone.

It's been 2 years since January 6 and angry white insurrectionists aren't going anywhere

Trump-endorsed candidates may not have swept the midterms in November, but that doesn't mean the spirit of insurrection isn't still haunting America two years later.

Reckon spoke with Dan Miller, author and co-host of the Straight White American Jesus podcast, to find out what you need to know about the possibility of future January 6th-type events.

After a year of environmental catastrophe, here’s what 2023 might bring

Extreme weather has tested Americans over the past 12 months and climate change is mostly to blame. After a year of nationwide droughts, record low water levels on the Mississippi River and brutal hurricanes, there are still glimmers of hope on the horizon.

Here's a quick look at what happened last year and what to keep an eye out for in 2023.

Your January without booze doesn't have to be a snooze

Mocktails have come a long way from the cloying, syrupy creations you might think of when you hear the word. Bartenders are stepping up their game to meet the challenges of Dry January and sober or sober-curious customers with interesting and delicious results.

Reckon spoke to three bartenders, and they all agree: the key is openness and creativity.

I believe I mentioned my Real Housewives fandom in a previous newsletter, but allow me to talk about it again. Specifically, Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. For those of you who aren't indulging in that delightful hot mess, feel free to join me.

The central conflict of this season is The Jentencing, that is: the sentencing of cast member Jen Shah that loomed over the filming of seasons 2 and 3. Last Friday, she was sentenced to 6.5 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

I don't have time to dive into the twists and turns of the Bravo Extended Television Universe, so instead I will leave you with these links:

• Jen Shah of 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' Sentenced to 6.5 Years (Buzzfeed News)
  
• All of Vulture's recaps and coverage of the drama that led up to Friday's courtroom scenes (Vulture)

Thanks for reckoning with me,

Aria

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