Swamp Notes Congress’ healthcare fight carries big consequences
Dec 19, 2025
Guy Chazan, a U.S. national correspondent for the Financial Times, and Lauren Fedor, Deputy Washington Bureau Chief, dive into the urgent healthcare debate in Congress. They discuss how a few Republican lawmakers defied their party to push for extending vital healthcare subsidies that are set to expire. With potential premium hikes looming, they highlight the dire financial impact on middle-income families and share a poignant case study from West Virginia. The political ramifications for upcoming elections also loom large as both parties navigate this critical issue.
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Pandemic Subsidies Expanded Enrollment
- Enhanced Obamacare subsidies introduced during the pandemic expanded eligibility and enrollment dramatically.
- Those enhanced subsidies are set to expire on Dec 31, pushing many consumers into much higher premiums.
Intra-Party Fractures Force A House Vote
- A small group of House Republicans used a discharge petition to force a vote extending subsidies.
- That move signals fractures within the GOP but may stall in the Republican-led Senate.
Middle Incomes Bear The Brunt
- The people most affected are lower-to-middle income Americans who buy insurance on the exchanges.
- Many will be squeezed between unaffordable premiums and ineligibility for other safety-net programs.