Parsing the Rhetoric on ACA Subsidies

In a social media post, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson criticized Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, for wrongly saying that Affordable Care Act premiums would at least double for “over 20 million Americans” if enhanced subsidies expire. They would more than double on average, not for all of those 20 million people. Johnson glossed over the higher out-of-pocket premiums, saying that the “subsidies will likely increase, not decrease.”

The Wisconsin senator essentially invited us to weigh in on this, writing, “Calling all fact checkers!” in his Nov. 11 post on X. We’ll explain what Sanders got wrong and what Johnson left out about the enhanced tax credits, which are due to expire at the end of the year.

Democrats wanted an extension of the subsidies to be part of legislation to continue funding the federal government, but Republicans rejected that. As part of a Senate deal that ended the government shutdown this month, the Senate will hold a vote in December on those boosted subsidies.

As we’ve explained before, the ACA provided subsidies for people buying their own insurance on the ACA marketplaces if they earn between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (the starting point is 138% in states that adopted the Medicaid expansion). The poverty level for this year is $15,650 for an individual or $32,150 for a family of four. In 2021, the subsidies were expanded as part of pandemic relief legislation and later extended through the end of 2025.

The enhancement increased financial help by changing the percentage of income people have to pay toward premiums before the subsidies kick in, and it eliminated the 400% income cap. Those earning above that can get subsidies if premiums cost more than 8.5% of their income. The vast majority, 92%, of the 24.3 million ACA enrollees receive subsidies, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

How Could Larry Summers Be So Stupid? The Astonishing Collapse of a Man Who Thought He Was Untouchable

From prodigy to power broker to pariah, Larry Summers’ downfall exposes the fatal arrogance of a public figure who believed he was too brilliant to be held accountable.

For a man who built his public reputation on intellectual superiority, Larry Summers’ collapse seems almost Shakespearean in its inevitability—and in its hubris.

Just months ago, Summers lectured the Trump administration about economic policy, quipping in the New York Times that “the first rule of holes is to stop digging.” The irony now rings deafeningly: Summers stopped digging only when he sent his final email to Jeffrey Epstein on July 5, 2019—one day before Epstein’s final arrest.

The story of how one of America’s most decorated economists destroyed his own credibility is not merely a scandal. It is a portrait of ego, entitlement, and astonishingly poor judgment from a man accustomed to operating above accountability.

A Career Built on Brilliance—and Bruising Others

From childhood, Summers was marked for greatness. He could recite JFK’s Cabinet at age seven. He dazzled quiz shows. His father, mother, and two uncles—Paul Samuelson and Ken Arrow—were academic royalty. Summers seemed destined to join them.

He did not disappoint. A Harvard Ph.D., tenured at 28, a John Bates Clark Medal winner, a Treasury secretary, Harvard’s president, and ultimately one of the most influential economic voices of the last quarter-century. His ascent appeared unstoppable.

But even early admirers noted an unsettling pattern: Summers was breathtakingly smart, but also breathtakingly dismissive. He bulldozed colleagues, belittled opponents, and radiated arrogance even by Washington standards.

That arrogance would later prove fatal.

‘Democrats Will Regret This’: Trump White House Plots Aggressive Counteroffensive After Epstein Files Vote

Backed into a corner by the bipartisan push to release Epstein documents, the Trump administration prepares a political assault targeting Democrats—testing the president’s waning grip on the GOP.

WASHINGTON | Still reeling from painful election setbacks and a failed attempt to block the House vote on releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files, the Trump administration is gearing up for a full-blown political counteroffensive. Senior White House officials say they intend to punish Democrats for pushing forward the legislation—and believe they now have ammunition of their own.

“The Democrats are going to come to regret this,” one White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “You think we’re not going to make a scene of this? Let’s start with Stacey Plaskett.”

White House Signals Retaliation as Senate Forces Disclosure

The Senate’s unanimous approval Tuesday of the bill requiring the Department of Justice to release any remaining Epstein-related documents came just hours after the House passed it by a staggering 427–1 margin—a bipartisan rebuke of the administration’s efforts to quash transparency.

The vote sent the measure directly to President Donald Trump’s desk, despite months of behind-the-scenes pressure from the White House to kill the bill.

Inside the West Wing, the mood has darkened. Officials complain that Republicans “worked with Democrats to create a distraction” and fear that releasing the files will never satisfy a segment of the conservative base that distrusts the Justice Department.

Senate Passes Explosive Epstein Files Bill in Unanimous Vote, Sending Measure to Trump Amid GOP Turmoil

After months of fierce Republican infighting and White House resistance, Congress forces sweeping disclosure of government-held Epstein records—opening a new chapter in a scandal that has fractured the GOP base.

WASHINGTON | In a dramatic and politically charged climax to months of partisan tension, the U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved a landmark bill compelling the Department of Justice to release long-withheld documents related to the federal case against Jeffrey Epstein. The move came just hours after the House overwhelmingly passed the legislation on a 427–1 vote, sending the bill to President Donald Trump’s desk for final approval.

The Senate cleared the legislation by unanimous consent, meaning every senator agreed to advance it without a formal roll call vote—an unmistakable sign of bipartisan urgency and public pressure.

Federal Probe Blames Loose Wire, Missing Risk Assessment for Deadly Key Bridge Collapse

NTSB says the Baltimore disaster — which left six dead and crippled the port — was “entirely preventable,” faulting ship failures, Maryland oversight gaps, and outdated protections on critical infrastructure.

WASHINGTON | A loose signal wire aboard a massive cargo ship and Maryland’s failure to conduct a critical vulnerability study were the primary factors behind the Francis Scott Key Bridge catastrophe that killed six people and shut down one of America’s busiest ports, according to federal investigators.

In a highly anticipated briefing Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued its most direct condemnation yet of the 2024 tragedy, describing a cascade of preventable failures that culminated in the collapse of the iconic Baltimore bridge.

“This tragedy should have never occurred. Lives should have never been lost,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said. “As with all accidents we investigate, this was preventable.”

‘Why Don’t You Know?’ Xavier Becerra Rocked by Scandal as California Governor’s Race Tightens

The former U.S. Health Secretary isn’t accused of wrongdoing — but federal indictments against his closest aides have ignited questions about oversight, judgment, and his readiness to lead the nation’s largest state.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. | Xavier Becerra entered the California governor’s race hoping to revive a stalled campaign. Instead, he’s now fighting to contain a political firestorm — one that threatens to derail his bid before it ever gains traction.

Becerra, the former Health and Human Services secretary under President Joe Biden and California’s longtime attorney general, is not accused of criminal wrongdoing in a sweeping federal indictment unsealed last week. But the revelations — centered on a years-long scheme by two of his most trusted aides to siphon more than $225,000 from a dormant campaign account — have plunged Sacramento into chaos and deeply shaken confidence in Becerra’s leadership.

Political strategists say the scandal raises a simple but devastating question: How could Becerra not have known?

“If I was a voter looking at this, I’d ask, ‘Why don’t you know?’” said Los Angeles-based Democratic consultant Doug Herman. “People expect leaders to know what’s happening around them — especially when it involves their own top advisers.”

Larry Summers Withdraws From Public Roles, Says He Is “Deeply Ashamed” After Epstein Email Revelations

The former Treasury secretary faces mounting pressure as newly released messages show he sought Epstein’s advice on romantic pursuits and made controversial remarks about women’s intelligence. Harvard, OpenAI, and other institutions are now weighing next steps.

WASHINGTON | Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers announced Monday that he will be stepping back from high-profile public commitments after newly released emails revealed an unexpectedly close — and deeply troubling — advisory relationship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In a statement to 'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' News, Summers expressed “deep shame” and accepted responsibility for communications in which he sought Epstein’s advice on personal matters, including how to pursue a romantic relationship with a woman he called his mentee. In one exchange, Epstein described himself as Summers’ “wing man,” while Summers, in another email, suggested women on average have a lower IQ than men.

“I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused,” Summers said. “I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein. While continuing to fulfill my teaching obligations, I will be stepping back from public commitments as one part of my broader effort to rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me.”

Experts Raise Doubts About Trump’s Dividend Payment Proposal

A bogus online post falsely claims that this month the federal government will issue “a $2,000 direct deposit payment for eligible U.S. citizens” in three phases from Nov. 10 through Nov. 30. 

There are no scheduled direct deposits, and no checks are in the mail.

President Donald Trump has only talked about using revenue collected from tariffs, or customs duties, on imported foreign goods to reduce the federal debt and make “rebate” or “dividend” payments to Americans. He reiterated his wishes on Nov. 9.

“People who are against Tariffs are FOOLS!,” Trump wrote on Truth Social that day. “We are taking in Trillions of Dollars and will soon begin paying down our ENORMOUS DEBT, $37 trillion. Record Investment in the USA, plants and factories going up all over the place. A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high-income people!) will be paid to everyone.”

He made his pitch again the next day while taking press questions in the Oval Office.

“Without tariffs, we would be — this country would be in such trouble, as they were for many years,” he said. “That’s why we owe $38 trillion. And one of the things we’re going to do is issue a dividend of about $2,000 to our middle- and lower-income people. And we’re going to use the remaining tariffs to lower our debt.