Pfizer to sell drugs at lower prices to US Medicaid under Trump’s ‘most favored nations’ plan, the Washington Post reports https://t.co/lWk28a2x8C ...

pigmentation. >> This is going to radically improve your skin. >> This has been a lifesaver.>> Joining us now to talk more about the government shutdown. All the major players we're interviewing today, Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota. Mr.. leader, thanks for joining us. Good. Good to have you on this morning.>> Hey, Joe. >> Did you when did you get to that spot there. Did you did you hear did you hear Leader Jeffries.We just had an interview with him that went back and forth on a lot of th ...

Government Shutdown & Spending Bill - A potential government shutdown is looming due to disagreements on a continuing resolution [1] - The Republican spending bill is viewed as an attack on veterans, child care, housing affordability, and healthcare [4] - Democrats are seeking a bipartisan spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people in terms of health, safety, and economic well-being [5] Healthcare Debate - Republicans claim Democrats want healthcare for illegal immigrants and to cut $50 billion for rural hospitals [7] - Democrats deny wanting to provide healthcare to undocumented individuals, citing federal law [12][20] - Democrats accuse Republicans of launching an assault on medical research [14] - A $536 billion cut to Medicare is projected if Congress doesn't act [13] Affordable Care Act (ACA) - Tax benefits for the ACA are set to expire on December 31st [7] - Millions of Americans could see their premiums, co-pays, and deductibles skyrocket [10][11] - Republicans have repeatedly refused to extend the ACA tax credits [13] Medicaid & Healthcare Crisis - Democrats claim the Republican bill represents the largest attack on Medicaid in American history [8] - Hospitals, nursing homes, and community-based health clinics are closing across America [8][13]

Government Shutdown & Healthcare Crisis - Democrats argue Republicans' proposed spending bill attacks veterans, childcare, housing affordability, and healthcare [4] - Democrats believe Republicans' bill guts healthcare for Americans, especially when the cost of living is already too high [6] - Republicans' "one big ugly bill" is accused of cutting Medicaid, harming hospitals and clinics, and taking food from children, seniors, and veterans to fund tax breaks for billionaires, increasing the deficit by over 3 trillion dollars [8][9] - Democrats claim Republicans refuse to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, jeopardizing healthcare for tens of millions of Americans [13] - Democrats state that Medicare will face a 536 billion dollar cut at the end of the year if Congress doesn't act due to Republican actions [13] Affordable Care Act (ACA) & Healthcare Access - Democrats deny wanting to provide healthcare to undocumented individuals, stating federal law prohibits using taxpayer dollars for this purpose [12] - Democrats emphasize the urgency of addressing ACA tax credits, as millions of Americans will soon see their premiums, co-pays, and deductibles skyrocket [10][11] - Democrats are fighting to protect healthcare in rural, suburban, urban, and other communities across America [16] Bipartisan Agreement & Negotiation - Democrats are willing to find bipartisan common ground but oppose a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to cut healthcare [5][23] - Democrats insist that healthcare is a central issue and oppose shutting down the government [17] - Democrats propose a short-term continuing resolution similar to what was previously introduced and secured more votes in the Senate than the Republican proposal [26]

Let's bring into the conversation Democratic Congressman Jim Hines of Connecticut. He's the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee. Congressman, good to see you.A lot to talk to you about, including the shutdown looming, but just want to get you in on the conversation we've been having about the discussion of political violence, the divisive rhetoric we hear from the very top of the Trump administration. Um, what has been your approach as we've seen this just spate in the last couple of weeks of ...

With just two days left to fund the government, President Trump is playing the blame game. In a new memo this week, Trump slammed Democrats for blocking the GOP's short-term funding bill and threatened to fire thousands of federal workers if the government shuts down on October 1st. Before the clock runs out, Trump will meet with the top four congressional leaders, Senate Majority Leader John Thun, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Minority Leader Hakee Jeff tomorro ...

Government Shutdown & Budget Concerns - The US government faces a potential shutdown due to disagreements on the spending bill [1] - The White House is considering mass firings across government agencies if a deal isn't reached [1] - Democrats and Republicans are in disagreement on budget priorities, particularly regarding healthcare [1] Healthcare Debate - Democrats accuse Republicans of cutting healthcare to fund tax breaks for the wealthy [1] - Republicans are allegedly undermining the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and rural healthcare funding [1] - Proposed cuts could severely impact rural hospitals, with potential closures already occurring [1] - Medicaid is crucial for many families, especially those with disabled members, and cuts would cause significant hardship [8] Political Standoff - Democrats claim Republicans are unwilling to negotiate or even meet to discuss the budget [2][3][7] - The administration's actions are perceived as punishing the American people [4][5] - There is internal frustration within the Democratic party regarding Senate leadership [9] - House Democrats claim to be unified in their fight against healthcare cuts [10]

Healthcare & Economic Concerns - Republican legislation is deeply unpopular, especially regarding tax breaks for the wealthy [1] - Healthcare costs, tariffs, and inflation are causing economic pain for voters [2] - Voters are moving away from Republicans due to overreach, constitutional violations, and failure to lower costs [3] - Proposed healthcare cuts amount to over 1 trillion USD, potentially affecting 17 million Americans [4] - These cuts are perceived as "robbing the poor to give to the rich," with tax breaks for the top 1% [5][6] - The cuts are happening now, with 20,000 people in three counties potentially losing their New York State Essential Plan (Medicaid) coverage [11] - Half of births in the United States are paid for by Medicaid [9] - Rural healthcare will be most affected by the cuts [14] Political Strategy & Public Sentiment - Democrats see an opportunity to repeal the 1 trillion USD in tax breaks for the rich and lower healthcare costs [8] - Immigration policies are increasingly unpopular, with concerns about masked federal agents [18] - There is a need to rally people across party lines to push back against perceived constitutional overreach [20]

Healthcare Access & Affordability - Healthcare premiums in New Mexico are projected to increase by 36% [2] - Federal healthcare cuts, potentially totaling nearly $1 trillion, are viewed as detrimental to funding for children, disabled adults, and individuals with chronic diseases [6] - These cuts could lead to clinic and hospital closures, particularly impacting rural and poor states with weakened healthcare systems [3][4] - Prevention measures are being eliminated, and prescription drug costs are rising, exemplified by challenges in accessing vaccines [9][10] State-Level Responses & Initiatives - New Mexico is planning a special session to allocate funds to Medicaid in response to federal cuts, aiming to maintain access to healthcare [5] - New Mexico has the highest per capita enrollment in Medicaid in the country [5] - New Mexico has established a trust fund for universal child care, initially funded with $300 million, now valued at $9 billion, utilizing revenue from the oil and gas sector [14] - New Mexico has expanded child care access to families at 200% and then 400% of the poverty level, with no co-pays [16] - Eleven states are reportedly working on or have implemented changes to their child care systems [12][13] Economic Impact of Child Care - Providing universal child care is seen as a wealth-building strategy for families, improving well-being and outcomes [6] - Lack of access to child care disproportionately affects women, leading to reduced earnings (40% less for those taking a year or two off), retirement savings, and social security benefits [16] - Investing in child care can stimulate rural economic development by creating new child care centers and supporting working mothers [17] - New Mexico is investing in quality child care and paying child care workers $18 to $21 per hour [17]

Healthcare Funding & Policy - White House directs federal agencies to prepare for potential mass firings if Congress fails to pass a funding measure by the end of Tuesday [1] - Healthcare has become a major point of contention, with Democrats fighting against the dismantling of Obamacare [2][3] - Proposed budget cuts could cause 70% of those who gained health insurance under Obamacare to lose it [4] - Changes in the "big beautiful bill" account for 10 million out of 14 million potential insurance losses [4] - Republican proposals could lead to an additional 42 million people losing health insurance [5] - Work requirements for Medicaid could cause a quarter of 14 million people to lose coverage due to difficulty navigating exemption forms [6] Tax Credits & Premiums - Enhanced tax credits, implemented during the Biden administration under the American Rescue Plan, are set to expire at the end of the year [8] - Expiration of these tax credits would significantly increase the percentage of income people pay for healthcare, reverting to pre-existing ACA levels [10] - The number of people taking advantage of enhanced tax credits increased from 10 million to 20 million [11] - Fewer insured individuals lead to higher premiums for those buying insurance through Obamacare marketplaces [13] - Insurers are already filing rates for next year assuming the expiration of these tax credits, with an average proposed rate change of 18% [13][14] - A representative family (55-year-old couple making $85000 per year) could see their insurance bill increase from $7225 to $24535 if subsidies expire and premiums rise [14][15]