Start Here Emergency Call for Obamacare Subsidies
18 snips
Dec 11, 2025 Ali Pakorin, a Capitol Hill reporter, breaks down the urgency of the Senate's plans to vote on enhanced ACA subsidies and the risks millions face amid political gridlock. Matt Rivers, a Latin America correspondent, discusses the recent U.S. seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker and its implications for sanctions and Venezuela's economy. Elizabeth Schulze, an economics reporter, analyzes the Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates while weighing the delicate balance between inflation control and employment concerns. Tune in for these compelling insights!
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Subsidy Expiration Creates A January Deadline
- Enhanced Obamacare subsidies created during COVID are expiring on December 31, 2025, risking much higher premiums for millions.
- Congress has very little time and faces major political deadlock to prevent the cliff on January 1.
Democrats' Clean Extension And Its Cost
- Democrats propose a clean three-year extension of the enhanced tax credits to keep current prices and terms.
- The Congressional Budget Office estimates that extension would cost about $83 billion, a key Republican objection.
Republican HSA Alternative Falls Short
- Republicans counter with a plan to replace enhanced tax credits by funding health savings accounts (HSAs) for marketplace buyers.
- Critics say the HSA payments are small compared with potential premium spikes if subsidies lapse.
