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bigtree

(92,830 posts)
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 12:20 AM 15 hrs ago

Pick 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 debate—healthcare subsidies—will 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 year’s 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 hasn’t 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.

Trump’s 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 Trump’s 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.

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Pick your battles (WH blinking!) (Original Post) bigtree 15 hrs ago OP
The repubs only hope in the 2026 midterms... rubbersole 13 hrs ago #1
too busy working on a bigger Mexican hat bigtree 2 hrs ago #8
TACO does it again. Demobrat 13 hrs ago #2
at every corner bigtree 6 hrs ago #5
If in fact this happens mountain grammy 13 hrs ago #3
a bfd bigtree 2 hrs ago #9
i would think that also "inside the white house concerns are growing" over the fact that there is orleans 12 hrs ago #4
I know sometimes Dems do have trouble with messaging historically....but democratsruletheday 5 hrs ago #6
Simon Rosenberg: Dems Are Forcing Trump To Take Responsibility For The Harm He's Doing To The Country bigtree 4 hrs ago #7
kick bigtree 1 hr ago #10

rubbersole

(10,646 posts)
1. The repubs only hope in the 2026 midterms...
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 01:56 AM
13 hrs ago

..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)
8. too busy working on a bigger Mexican hat
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 01:17 PM
2 hrs ago

...for their AI clownery.

The Bulwark @BulwarkOnline
Mike Johnson on the government shutdown: “Is he trolling the Democrats? Yes. I mean, yes, because that’s what President Trump does, and people are having fun with this.”



mountain grammy

(28,257 posts)
3. If in fact this happens
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 02:23 AM
13 hrs ago

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.

orleans

(36,450 posts)
4. i would think that also "inside the white house concerns are growing" over the fact that there is
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 03:08 AM
12 hrs ago

a crazy demented and disturbingly brain shriveled & dangerous old tangerine fucking up this country

democratsruletheday

(1,608 posts)
6. I know sometimes Dems do have trouble with messaging historically....but
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 10:42 AM
5 hrs ago

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)
7. Simon Rosenberg: Dems Are Forcing Trump To Take Responsibility For The Harm He's Doing To The Country
Fri Oct 3, 2025, 11:09 AM
4 hrs ago
watch:



(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 we’ve 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 Trump’s 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 isn’t working and will be a hard sell next year.
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