General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPick your battles (WH blinking!)
...looks like Dems picked exactly the right issue to defend in the shutdown fight.
The Wall Street Journal @WSJ 1h
Inside the White House, concerns are growing that the issue at the center of the government-shutdown debatehealthcare subsidieswill cost the Republicans in the 2026 midterms
WSJ: White House Senses Political Risk on Healthcare Despite Shutdown Bravado
Advisers are worried that the GOP will take the blame for allowing healthcare subsidies to expire, raising costs for millions of Americans ahead of next years midterm elections, according to administration officials.
Inside the White House, aides are discussing proposals to extend the enhanced subsidies for Affordable Care Act health-insurance plans, the officials said. Trump hasnt yet decided whether he will endorse such a proposal, according to the officials. Republicans say they will only hold negotiations with Democrats on the matter after the government is reopened.
The closed-door hand-wringing stands in contrast to the public bravado conveyed by the president and his top advisers. Trump has posted artificial-intelligence videos of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) wearing a sombrero. And he has said the shutdown gives his administration an unprecedented opportunity to make far-reaching cuts and target programs favored by Democrats. The administration is preparing to oust thousands of federal workers.
Trumps advisers have privately acknowledged this week that although their boss has long called for repealing Obamacare, allowing the subsidies to expire could cause political headaches for a president who was elected in large part because of voter frustrations with inflation and the rising cost of living. Voters have expressed deepening frustration with Trumps handling of the economy in recent polls amid a weak jobs market and stubborn inflation.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/white-house-senses-political-risk-on-healthcare-despite-shutdown-bravado/ar-AA1NLoA0
Devastating leaks from the WH.
Trump is blinking.

rubbersole
(10,646 posts)..is to cancel the 2026 midterms. Maybe we should check in with Stephen Miller and Russell Vought and ask for guidance.
bigtree
(92,830 posts)...for their AI clownery.
The Bulwark @BulwarkOnline
Mike Johnson on the government shutdown: Is he trolling the Democrats? Yes. I mean, yes, because thats what President Trump does, and people are having fun with this.
Link to tweet
Demobrat
(10,216 posts)bigtree
(92,830 posts)...
mountain grammy
(28,257 posts)And I so want it to happen, I hope Fetterman and the other two Dem senators who voted with republicans learn from this. Healthcare is a big fucking deal to a majority of Americans.
Stick together on this.
bigtree
(92,830 posts)
orleans
(36,450 posts)a crazy demented and disturbingly brain shriveled & dangerous old tangerine fucking up this country
democratsruletheday
(1,608 posts)not this time guys. They are spot ON thus far and most all of them have been front and center about it: HEALTH CARE....all about the Repukes wanting to take it away. Rinse and repeat...over and over again.
bigtree
(92,830 posts)(summary)
Dems Are Forcing Trump To Take Responsibility For The Harm He's Doing To The Country
My first takeaway continues to be that we are in the fight now with Trump we all wanted to have. Leaders Schumer and Jeffries have forced a discussion about the harms Trump and the Republicans are doing to the country. So far the focus has been on their savage attack on our health care system and the rising prices which their reckless tariffs have brought. I think Dems would be wise to add a third pillar to strengthen our indictment of Trump and the Rs - threats to democracy, their rising and dangerous authoritarianism and traitorous abandonment of the American creed - particularly as we head into the many No Kings Day events across the country on October 18. Hopium community members should note that we are getting closer to Dems having that rallying cry, that broader narrative and agenda that weve been advocating for. Closer to fighting "fire with fire."
My second key takeaway is that the Republicans enter this fight over the budget in a weakened position. Trump and his agenda are very unpopular. He is in clear physical and cognitive decline, and despite their information superiority, his powers to persuade are ebbing. The country is legitimately worse off - prices are rising, the economy is slowing, health care premiums are soaring and the health care system teetering, the farm economy is suffering, small businesses across the country are losing workers, the deficit is exploding, the whole world is angry at America for Trumps ridiculous tariffs and our rights and liberties are being trampled, dangerously, every day - and voters are really unhappy. Meanwhile we continue to win and overperform in local and special elections across the country, and the November elections are likely to go our way if we keep working hard. Their desperate attempt to find more Congressional seats is a sign they know their politics isnt working and will be a hard sell next year.