The NPR Politics Podcast Roundup: Congress Skips Town Without ACA Vote, Trump Reclassifies Cannabis
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Dec 19, 2025 In a whirlwind week in Washington, President Trump reclassifies cannabis to a Schedule III drug, igniting discussions about its potential legalization impacts. Congress shortcuts healthcare, leaving subsidies in limbo, while Speaker Mike Johnson faces mounting pressures and party fractures. Intriguingly, a rare on-the-record critique from within the White House reveals tensions. Amid this chaos, entertaining anecdotes surface, including a quirky lawsuit regarding dogs as tax dependents and a remarkable find of dinosaur footprints in Italy.
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Health Subsidies Left In Limbo
- Congress left Washington without extending pandemic-era ACA subsidies, risking higher premiums for millions.
- The CBO estimates ~2.5 million people could lose coverage without an extension, and some deadlines already passed for Jan 1 coverage.
Discharge Petitions Gaining Real Power
- A discharge petition lets 218 House members bypass the Speaker to force a floor vote and has become a more potent tool this year.
- Bipartisan uses, like on Epstein files and subsidies, show the House minority can exert rare leverage via this mechanism.
White House Quiet On Subsidy Fight
- The White House has notably stayed silent on the subsidy fight, avoiding direct pressure on House Republicans.
- That lack of direction highlights how involvement from President Trump could further inflame intra-party divisions.