National Security & Law Enforcement - Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were critically injured in a targeted shooting near the White House [1][2][3] - The suspect, Ramanula Lakenwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, is in custody and in grave condition after being shot multiple times [1][44] - The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force is leading the investigation, considering a potential terrorist motive [7][8][45] - The suspect entered the United States in September 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program for Afghan refugees [9][45] - US Citizenship and Immigration Services has indefinitely stopped processing immigration requests related to Afghan nationals [45] Political & Economic Landscape - 64% of Americans disapprove of Donald Trump's handling of the economy, with 65% saying his policies are increasing grocery prices [19][20] - US consumer confidence slid in November by the most in 7 months due to growing anxiety about the labor market and the economy [20] - The index of consumer sentiment is at its lowest in 40 years, lower than during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2008 financial crisis, and the 1987 stock market crash [20][21] Healthcare & Social Welfare - 51% of Americans disapprove of Donald Trump's handling of healthcare, and 69% believe healthcare affordability should be a top priority [22] - House Republicans are divided over extending Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) subsidies, with some opposing it [24][25] - Without the extension of Obamacare tax credits, 4 million people could lose their health insurance [30] - The Trump administration abruptly cut $500 million in deliveries from a program that sends US-produced food to food banks [38] - In fiscal year 2023, about 1% (434,000) of SNAP recipients were refugees, and 3% (1.3 million) were other non-citizens, including lawful permanent residents [38]

The average American household would need an extra $70,000 per year to feel financially stable. Health care costs, in particular, are a source of anxiety for workers. https://t.co/JgEMz5Yxw2 ...

President Trump and Republican lawmakers are grasping for ideas on a new party-line package aimed at blunting criticism of rising health care and other costs of living, as affordability becomes the defining issue of next year’s pivotal midterm elections https://t.co/2bArQjwPc7 ...

Healthcare Cost Concerns - Nearly half (47%) of US adults are anxious about rising healthcare costs heading into the new year, the highest level since 2021 [1][2] - Concerns about prescription drug costs are climbing, rising from 30% in 2021 to 37% this year [3] - The share of adults who say healthcare costs cause a lot of stress in their daily lives has nearly doubled since 2022, rising from 8% to 15% [3] Impact of Legislation - The Congressional Budget Office projects that nearly 5 million people will lose their healthcare coverage when the legislation takes effect [2] - A bill will impose Medicaid work requirements nationwide beginning in 2027, and millions are expected to lose coverage, potentially due to red tape and paperwork [6] - Millions of people are expected to lose coverage due to the expiration of Obamacare subsidies at the end of the year [6] Geographic Disparities - Iowa and Massachusetts ranked among the highest in healthcare access, while Texas, New Mexico, and Nevada were among the bottom [4] - States that ranked the lowest often had a high number of people who had to skip or delay care [4] - States that were in the top often had an easier time getting healthcare when and where they needed it, including prescription drugs and access to medical providers [4][5]

Why have health care costs been at the epicenter of the government shutdown negotiations. >> I mean, essentially, we're having a kind of proxy debate over the high and rising costs of health care and health insurance in the United States. So, the specific issue at the center of the government shutdown has been the enhanced subsidies which were passed by Congress as part of the CO 19 relief package back in 2021.So the way I think about this is that the United States during the pandemic kind of temporarily en ...

If you look at the leads of the New York Times and the Washington Post, uh what it shows is something that I actually found was was one of my favorite sayings. Uh it's proving one of my favorite sayings uh that that that came out of my time in Washington DC. Paul Simon, who not the singer, but the senator from Illinois when he was leaving Washington, someone asked, "Well, what have you learned in Washington? What's the one big takeaway?" And Senator Simon said, "Well, in politics, sometimes when you win, yo ...

So joining me now we have Democratic Congresswoman from Florida Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She is a member of the House Appropriations Committee and a good friend to us. So I welcome you back to the show here.I mean you saw that the travelers, they're the latest to feel the pain from this shutdown. Four of 40 air paths airports rather impacted by the FAA's flight reductions. They're in Florida.But I do want to note um Palm Beach International Airport where Trump routinely flies into that's not affected. Just ...

Democrats would like to see an end to this shutdown and we want to respect Leader Thun's desire not to negotiate on ACA until after the government reopens. Therefore, we'd like to offer a simple proposal that would reopen the government and extend the ACA premium tax credits simultaneously and then have the opportunity to start negotiating longerterm solutions to health care costs. Let's do all three.I've spoken with my caucus and Democrats are offering a very simple compromise. Democrats are ready to clear ...

Government Shutdown & Healthcare Affordability - The document addresses the need to reopen the government and simultaneously extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits [2] - Democrats propose a compromise to pass a government funding bill that includes healthcare affordability measures [3] - The proposal involves a one-year extension of the ACA tax credits [3][6] - A bipartisan committee could be created to negotiate reforms to the ACA tax credits after the government reopens [4] Negotiation & Compromise - Republicans are requested to agree to extend current law for one year [6] - Republicans want to avoid ACA negotiations until after the government reopens [2] - The proposed extension of current law could be implemented quickly [6] - The document frames the proposal as a reasonable offer to reopen the government and address healthcare affordability [7]

Joining us now, senior editor and elections analyst for the Cook Political Report, Dave Wasserman. First, I ask you humbly to tell me if I got those questions right. >> You did.Good to be with you. >> So, what will you be watching for and where. >> So, I'm going to be watching the margins in Virginia and New Jersey.And they're different states because Democrats are defending the governor's office in New Jersey after eight years. Voters are frustrated with high electricity rates. So Mikey Cheryl's got a toug ...