Letters from an American November 10, 2025
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Nov 11, 2025 Heather Cox Richardson dives into the recent government shutdown and Senate developments, highlighting a short-term funding deal and protections for furloughed workers. She discusses Republicans gaining legal protections related to phone-log seizures from the January 6 investigation and the risks of unresolved ACA premium tax credits. Political motivations behind senators' votes emerge, particularly criticism of Trump’s handling of the shutdown. The podcast also notes the backlash from organizers and voters demanding stronger Democratic resistance to MAGA authoritarianism.
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Short-Term Deal Restores Pay But Leaves Health Risk
- The Senate advanced a short-term funding measure to end the 41-day shutdown and restore pay and key programs temporarily.
- The bill funds SNAP, VA construction, FDA, and legislative operations but omits ACA premium tax credits, risking millions losing coverage.
Democrats Concede But Plan To Draft ACA Fix
- Democrats largely opposed leaving ACA premium tax credits out, but seven senators joined Republicans to advance the measure anyway.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune promised Democrats would draft a subsidy extension to reach the floor in December.
Restoring Services Averts Broader Economic Harm
- Ending the shutdown would return pay to 2 million federal workers and restore SNAP to 42 million beneficiaries, easing immediate economic harm.
- Richardson emphasizes the shutdown's broader damage to government functioning and the economy ahead of the holidays.