General Discussion

That they will pass legislation in the Senate and in the House to restore ACA subsidies -- likely in defiance of Trump -- and that Trump will then sign the legislation, or a veto-proof majority can be mustered in the Senate.

Everything you said about the devastating consequences of losing ACA subsidies is true. It would be a tragedy for millions of people.

But I remember that Republicans have been trying to kill the ACA since it was created during the Obama administration, and now they finally have that goal in sight.

Can this looming tragedy get them to change their minds for humanitarian reasons that never seemed to bother them before? Could prolonging the government shutdown apply enough political pressure to force them to give up that long term goal?

For decades they've wanted to "shrink government to a size that can be drowned in a bathtub" -- and Project 2025 is making headway in accomplishing that.

Perhaps the Epstein files will be a wildcard in all this, discrediting Trump enough with a large chunk of his base so that he no longer holds sway over Republicans in Congress -- and they, in turn, will realize the healthcare crisis would cause many of them to lose their seats in the general election.

I'm grasping at straws here, but I suppose it's possible.