In December 2024, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare was fatally shot in New York, sparking mixed reactions across the United States. While opinions on the violence varied, one thing became undeniably clear: the U.S. healthcare system is deeply flawed. In this episode of Michigan Minds, Pamela Herd, a University of Michigan professor of social policy, explores the root causes of Americans’ frustrations with healthcare access and affordability and discusses the challenge of finding common ground in an increasingly polarized electorate.