Left, Right & Center Is President Trump losing his grip on the Republican Party?
51 snips
Dec 19, 2025 
Mo Elleithee, Executive Director at Georgetown’s Institute of Politics, and Mike Dupke, a seasoned GOP strategist, dive into the shifting dynamics within the Republican Party. They discuss the failed healthcare legislation and the delicate balance of moderates and leadership amid growing voter identity changes. With polling showing a decline in MAGA dominance, they ponder Trump's waning influence and his ability to rally voters for the midterms. The panel also tackles why comprehensive reforms often stall and the fading urgency around the national debt.
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Moderates Forced A Health Care Vote
- Four House Republicans joined Democrats on a discharge petition to force a vote extending ACA premium tax credits.
- That move signaled vulnerability among moderates and undercut Republican leadership's negotiating control.
House Play Moves The Fight To The Senate
- Mo Elleithee says the Senate will decide any final fix and the House action mainly shifts pressure there.
- Hakeem Jeffries prioritized pressuring Republicans and making health care a midterm issue over a narrower bipartisan deal.
Subsidies Signal Need For Broader Reform
- Mike Dupke argues subsidies exist because the ACA needs them and reform requires a broad compromise.
- He proposes a moratorium on future subsidies to force long-term negotiation rather than perpetual short-term fixes.