--- title: "While you were sleeping: 14 March 2017" description: "14 million uninsured under Trump healthcare, aide admits no evidence of Trump surveillance, and Brexit procedures begin in all seriousness." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "South Africa" author: "John Stupart" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/johnstupart/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-03-14-while-you-were-sleeping-14-march-2017/" published: "2017-03-14T05:48:21" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 734 --- # While you were sleeping: 14 March 2017 > 14 million uninsured under Trump healthcare, aide admits no evidence of Trump surveillance, and Brexit procedures begin in all seriousness. By John Stupart · Published 14 March 2017, 07:48 SAST ## Content **Tuesday, 14 March 2017** *"Every time I read Pride and Prejudice I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone"* **Mark Twain, on Jane Austen** ![Image](https://i2.createsend1.com/ei/d/C6/5A6/E5A/csimport/849x493q70Marianne-SASSANOSHOW1.052545.jpg) STORY OF THE DAY [Social Grants Crisis: Sassa fails to respond to ConCourt questions, CPS contract now deemed ‘interim’](http://subscriptions.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hdthkyd-l-u/) By MARIANNE THAMM With 17 days before the current CPS contract dies a natural death, Sassa’s legal teams have worked overtime in an attempt to mop up the colossal mess caused through months of lies, deceit and obfuscation by the agency and Minister Bathabile Dlamini. On Monday, Sassa missed its deadline to answer ConCourt's detailed questions. This renders the agency technically in contempt of the highest court of the land. [Conway admits no evidence of Trump tapping](http://subscriptions.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hdthkyd-l-o/) Top White House aide Kellyanne Conway has admitted that there is zero evidence of any surveillance measures made against Donald Trump. Channelling her best possible village idiot impersonation, Conway went on to suggest that President Barack Obama may have used microwaves that, ahem, "turn into cameras" to spy on Trump. Any denials of said microwave-cameras will undoubtedly be branded fake news. [Turkey suspends ties with Netherlands](http://subscriptions.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hdthkyd-l-b/) Turkish officials announced late on Monday that it is suspending top-level ties with the Netherlands. This comes in the wake of the Netherlands preventing pro-Erdogan rallies ahead of a referendum set to give the Turkish leader even greater powers. Dramatic footage of a Turkish minister's bodyguards being disarmed in the street hit social media almost as quickly as officials were severing ties. [Millions without Trump health care](http://subscriptions.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hdthkyd-l-n/) A new study by health care analysts has estimated that 14-million Americans will be uninsured following the repeal of Obamacare. A study by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office made the announcement late on Monday, also warning that this figure could increase to 24-million by 2026. If not broadened, many Americans under Trump's health care system will be testing out "premature death" as an insurance alternative. [UK gets Brexit green light while Scotland brakes](http://subscriptions.touchbasepro.com/t/d-l-hdthkyd-l-p/) The United Kingdom's parliament gave final approval for Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger Article 50 and begin departure from the European Union. Almost immediately following this, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a resounding nay to such shenanigans, announcing her intention to hold a Scottish independence referendum, again, late next year. — IN NUMBERS 13 The number of employees at Instagram at the time it was acquired by Facebook. FACTS OF THE DAY Today is **White Day** in Japan. This is seen as the accompaniment to Valentine's day, where Japanese men are expected to hand out white chocolate and flowers to their chosen Valentines. Japan had a **monster-collecting card game** as far back as the Edo period (1603-1868). 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