Bulwark Takes Why Some Republicans Secretly Want to Help Obamacare (w/ Sen. Tammy Baldwin)
Sep 17, 2025
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democratic Senator from Wisconsin known for her advocacy for affordable healthcare, discusses pressing health issues with Jonathan Cohn. They delve into RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine rhetoric and Trump's divisive calls against bipartisanship. Baldwin emphasizes the importance of extending Obamacare subsidies to prevent premium hikes for millions. The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of healthcare politics, especially the challenges posed by recent Republican proposals and the urgent need for bipartisan dialogue.
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Childhood Health Care Denial Shaped Her Path
- Tammy Baldwin recounts being hospitalized as a child and denied coverage because grandchildren weren't covered and she wasn't a legal dependent.
- That experience motivated her to pursue policy changes like banning pre-existing condition discrimination and allowing young adults on parents' plans.
Premium Credits Stabilized Insurance Markets
- Baldwin highlights the ACA provisions that expanded coverage and added premium tax credits to make insurance affordable.
- She warns those credits' expiration would destabilize markets and reduce coverage gains made since the ACA.
Expiry Would Destabilize Coverage Nationwide
- If the enhanced premiums tax credits expire, premiums will spike and millions could lose coverage, destabilizing markets.
- Baldwin argues extending credits benefits everyone because stable markets lower costs and improve preventive care access.