The Daily Punch Congress's crazy December
Dec 1, 2025
Congress faces a whirlwind December with critical decisions looming. Government funding deadlines and the fate of Obamacare subsidies hang in the balance. The showdown over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's handling of drug-smuggling strikes is heating up. Plus, a special election in Tennessee could shake up GOP control. Amidst redistricting battles in key states, lawmakers are bracing for a fight. Get ready for a month of intense political maneuvering!
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December Deadline Forces Health Care Tension
- Obamacare premium subsidies looming Dec 31 create intense pressure on both parties.
- The White House floated a two-year extension but backpedaled amid conservative backlash and internal division.
Republican Fractures Create A Health-Policy Doom Loop
- House GOP faces internal conflict over any bipartisan health deal and Speaker Mike Johnson is constrained.
- That conflict traps Republicans in a recurring 'doom loop' on health care heading into 2026.
Appropriations Timeline Looks Unlikely To Be Met
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune wants to advance 2026 appropriations quickly via a minibus.
- House Republicans do not plan to put appropriations bills on the floor in December, making the January 30 deadline tight.