Bulwark Takes Trump Pulls Classic “Donnie Bait-and-Switch” on Drug Prices
May 12, 2025
Jonathan Cohn, author of the Breakdown newsletter, joins to dissect Trump's new executive order on drug prices. They explore its ambitious claims versus on-the-ground realities, highlighting troubling ambiguities and potential legal challenges. Cohn discusses unexpected political alliances in drug pricing, particularly between Trump and Bernie Sanders, suggesting a shift in the political landscape. The conversation also addresses Biden's strategies for negotiating drug prices amid intense pharmaceutical lobbying, contrasting real progress with Trump's more superficial initiatives.
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Trump's Drug Price Strategy
- Trump claims to cut drug prices by matching other countries' lower rates but actually only initiates negotiations without guarantees.
- His approach might increase foreign countries' prices while pressuring drug companies to lower U.S. costs.
Executive Order Ambiguity
- The executive order only mandates drug price negotiations but lacks specific drug lists or clear enforcement mechanisms.
- Effective price drops depend on drug companies willing to negotiate and possible vague future rulemaking threats.
Legal Limits on Price Controls
- It's unclear which drugs or populations the executive order targets, complicating its legal authority.
- Presidential power mostly applies to Medicare, while broader drug price controls likely require congressional approval.