Political Stakes and Republican Calculations

Air Date: 1/9/2026

The Republican Party has been angry about every government service and regulation designed to help average people for at least the past 90 years. And, given any opportunity to hobble or destroy any of those services or regulations in the past decades, they've done just that. Now, after 15 years of striving to destroy the Affordable Care Act - itself originally a conservative plan from the Heritage Foundation (not joking) - they're using the cult-like hold that Trump has on the party to move faster and more recklessly than they are usually able. And again, average people are going to pay the price in both dollars and deaths.

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: 20M Americans Set to Lose Healthcare Coverage Jan. 1 After Congress Goes on Recess - Democracy Now! - Air Date 12-30-25

KP 2: Roundup Congress Skips Town Without ACA Vote, Trump Reclassifies Cannabis - The NPR Politics Podcast - Air Date 12-19-25

KP 3: Getting Serious About Medicare For All with Dr. Abdul al-Sayed (Ep 313) Part 1 - The Bitchuation Room - Air Date 12-23-25

KP 4: TrumpRx - Today, Explained - Air Date 10-6-25

KP 5: Agonizing Choices on ACA Deadline Day Part 1 - Brian Lehrer_ A Daily Podcast - Air Date 12-15-25

KP 6: Medicare For All Non-Negotiable #3 Part 1 - UNFTR - Air Date 2-8-25

KP 7: Its Time for Medicare for All Part 1 - Solutions with Henry Blodget - Air Date 11-10-25

(00:56:07) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On how our health system harms everyone except the owners

DEEPER DIVES

(01:05:14) SECTION A: ACA SUBSIDIES

A1: Republicans and Obamacare, Again - Start Making Sense - Air Date 12-10-25

A2: Trump Keeps Claiming He Has a Health Care Plan, Flubs Congo Presidents Name, & Takes Another Nap - Jimmy Kimmel Live - Air Date 12-4-25

A3: Agonizing Choices on ACA Deadline Day Part 2 - Brian Lehrer A Daily Podcast - Air Date 12-15-25

A4: Federal Health Subsidies Are Expiring. Now, States Are Trying to Fill the Gap - Here & Now Anytime - Air Date 12-31-25

A5: Money Is What Matters (to Republicans) Part 1 The Hartmann Report - Air Date 12-30-25

A6: Medicare For All Is Still The Solution! Part 1 - Current Affairs - Air Date 1-15-25

A7: Old Man Shouts At People, and Other End of Year Observations, with Heather Digby Parton and 'Driftglass' - The Bradcast - Air Date 12-19-25

(01:57:02) SECTION B: DRUG PRICING

B1: TrumpRx Part 2 - Today, Explained - Air Date 10-6-25

B2: Its Time for Medicare for All Part 2 - Solutions with Henry Blodget - Air Date 11-10-25

(02:16:13) SECTION C: HEALTHCARE REFORM

C1: Medicare For All Is Still The Solution! Part 2 - Current Affairs - Air Date 1-15-25

C2: Getting Serious About Medicare For All with Dr. Abdul al-Sayed (Ep 313) Part 2 - The Bitchuation Room - Air Date 12-23-25

C3: Medicare For All Non-Negotiable #3 Part 2 - UNFTR - Air Date 2-8-25

C4: Money Is What Matters (to Republicans) Part 2 - The Hartmann Report - Air Date 12-30-25

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Photo of a doctor's stethoscope laying on top of $5 and $20 bills.

Credit: "Stethoscope On Money" by George Hodan | https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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