In New Jersey, critical-care physician Dr. Tina Shah said the combination of Kennedy’s appointment and rising medical costs pushed her to run for Congress and try to flip a competitive seat currently held by GOP Rep. Tom Kean. She says she is seeing more patients skip procedures or drain savings to pay medical bills.

This year was marked by the resurgence of the Kennedys, one of America’s dynasties, but in unexpected ways from MAHA to cancer to renaming a building.