LetMyPeopleVote
LetMyPeopleVote's JournalMaddowBlog-As Republicans reject bill to protect ACA subsidies, what happens now?
In a normal environment, a president would show some leadership and back a practical solution. In 2025, that’s not happening.
Where do things stand on the health care fight in Congress?
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-12-11T21:11:39.506Z
- Dems have a good plan that Republicans oppose
- Republicans can’t agree among themselves on a plan of their own
- Trump wants to stay on the sidelines
- consumers are quickly running out of calendar www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/as-republicans-reject-bill-to-protect-aca-subsidies-what-happens-now
On Thursday afternoon, GOP leaders kept their promise and brought the Democratic bill to the floor for a procedural vote. It needed 60 votes to advance, but it received 51. A rival Republican bill, which included some conservative reforms but which wouldn’t have protected ACA subsidies at all, also needed 60 votes. It received 51.
So where does that leave us? An MS NOW report summarized:
The failed votes leave lawmakers with just over two weeks to address the rising premiums. Many enrollees are expected to see their premiums more than double if lawmakers don’t act, and both chambers are scheduled to recess for the holidays at the end of next week.
Some lawmakers are still clinging to the hope that Thursday’s collapse might jolt bipartisan talks back to life.
....In a normal political environment, this would ordinarily be about the time when the president would intervene, show some leadership and set a path for his or her party. The trouble is, in 2025, as his party looks to him for guidance and direction, Donald Trump is responding with shrugged shoulders.
Part of this is the result of his own illiteracy on health care policy, and part of it is the result of learned experience: The White House recently intended to unveil a plan to address the problem, but officials pulled the plug when congressional Republicans balked at the proposed solution.
With lawmakers — or, more to the point, their constituents — running out of calendar, it’s tough to be optimistic.
MaddowBlog-Trump pretends his power-grab flop in Indiana wasn't humiliating (but it was)
It was one of the most brutal failures of the president’s second term. To hear Trump tell it, this fiasco wasn’t a big deal.
The White House and congressional Republicans invested months of effort into this radical scheme ... and they failed in spectacular fashion.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-12-11T21:41:23.691Z
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-pretends-his-power-grab-flop-in-indiana-wasnt-humiliating-but-it-was
And yet, despite all of this, Trump’s power grab flopped. After months of White House arm-twisting, the gerrymandering plan mustered just 19 votes — with a majority of the Republicans in the state Senate voting with the Democratic minority against it.
It was one of the most brutal and humiliating failures of the president’s second term.
Except, to hear Trump tell it, this fiasco wasn’t that big of a deal.
Reporter: The senate in Indiana voted against the redistricting effort.
— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) 2025-12-11T23:22:46.212Z
Trump: I wasn't working on it very hard. I wasn't very much involved
...But this unprecedented initiative has racked up some big losses, too. The scheme obviously fell far short in Indiana, and related efforts were rejected by Republicans in Kansas, New Hampshire and Nebraska, at least for now.
What’s more, Democrats are pushing back in ways the White House apparently didn’t anticipate, with California poised to add five additional Democratic seats next year and officials in other blue states eyeing related plans of their own.
Meanwhile, a state court ruling in Utah has created a near-certain win for Democrats, and progressive activists have collected more than enough signatures to force a fight over the future of Missouri’s map.
To put it mildly, this isn’t what Trump had in mind when he picked this fight several months ago.
Maddowblog-Raising the economic bar far too high, Trump and his team set themselves up for failure
It’s widely understood that officials should under-promise and over-deliver. On economic growth, the White House has got it backward.
Trump’s Commerce secretary said to expect 6% economic growth. Trump himself floated 20% to 25% growth.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-12-11T19:32:03.276Z
As an economic matter, this is bonkers. As a political matter, it’s worse. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/raising-the-economic-bar-far-too-high-trump-and-his-team-set-themselves-up-for-failure
Having failed to meet these unrealistic goals previously, Trump and his team have learned their lesson.
No, I’m just kidding. They’ve learned nothing and are making the exact same mistakes.
Lutnick: "I think under President Trump you're gonna see the economy grow 6%"
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-12-11T13:22:44.764Z
...A day earlier, at a White House event, his boss went considerably further.
Trump says he doesn't know why America can't achieve 25 percent annual economic growth
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-12-10T20:32:26.617Z
Annual GDP growth, Trump said, “should be able to be 20% or 25%,” adding, “I don’t know why it can’t be.”
I realize that economic policy has never been this president’s strong suit, but never in recorded history has the United States ever seen 25% annual growth. In 1942, when domestic production roared at the start of World War II, GDP growth reached nearly 19% — and we haven’t reached double digits since, even during economic booms.....
Just as importantly, as a political matter, he has a reason not to raise expectations like this. If, for example, the U.S. had 3% GDP growth every year during his second term, that would be evidence of a healthy economy. But according to Trump and his team, it would also deserve to be seen as a disappointment, since Lutnick is pointing to 6% growth, while the president himself pitches 20% to 25% growth.
There is such a thing as expectation management. These guys are flunking it in embarrassing fashion.
The White House posted a video earlier today showing Santa with a "naughty list" of journalists.
A new White House webpage presents a “Hall of Shame” for news reports the president disagrees with, coming after the president has voiced personal attacks on female reporters at ABC, CBS, the New York Times and Bloomberg.
Right out of the fascist playbook:
— Frank Amari (@frankamari.bsky.social) 2025-11-29T17:09:06.643Z
Trump ramps up reporter attacks with White House media bias tracker
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/11/28/trump-media-criticism/
“Misleading. Biased. Exposed,” the site reads, naming the Boston Globe, CBS News and the Independent as “media offenders of the week” for allegedly misrepresenting President Donald Trump’s call for six Democratic members of Congress to be hanged for a video saying that military personnel should not follow illegal orders.
“The Democrats and Fake News Media subversively implied that President Trump had issued illegal orders to service members,” the site reads. “Every order President Trump has issued has been lawful. It is dangerous for sitting Members of Congress to incite insubordination in the United States’ military, and President Trump called for them to be held accountable.”
It also lists an “Offender Hall of Shame” that features The Washington Post, CBS News, CNN and MSNBC — the former name of the cable network MS NOW. The page shows a database of news articles from these publications and others, the names of the reporters who wrote them and categories of offenses, including “bias,” “lie” and “left wing lunacy.” A leaderboard lists The Post as the top offender. The page also includes a sign-up prompt for a newsletter promising weekly updates on the “truth.”
Here is the first naughty list
https://x.com/broadwaybabyto/status/1999321855505629224
LOL, the White House press shop—because they're jackasses with less creativity than a lump of coal—posted a "Naughty" list of journalists they dislike. I'm delighted to report that my Bulwark colleague @adriancarrasquillo.bsky.social made the cut.
— Adam Keiper (@adamkeiper.com) 2025-12-11T22:57:53.324Z
Keep up the great work, Adrian! So proud of you.
Calibri font banished as U.S. diplomacy returns to Times New Roman
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the Biden administration’s shift to a sans serif font, to assist people with vision issues, a “wasteful” diversity move.
https://x.com/washingtonpost/status/1999184967192944980
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/12/10/calibri-font-rubio-state-department
Rubio on Tuesday ordered the agency to immediately cease using the Calibri font and go back to Times New Roman in official communications, reversing another Biden administration policy intended to help employees who are visually impaired or have low-vision issues.
In a secure memo to staff with the subject line “Return to Tradition: Times New Roman 14-Point Font Required for All Department Paper,” he described the decision of predecessor Antony Blinken — directing the department to use a larger sans serif font in high-level internal documents — as a “wasteful” diversity move. Rubio labeled Times New Roman “more formal and professional.”....
The typeface shake-up is the Trump administration’s latest unraveling of Biden administration actions. Rubio — who’s currently serving as secretary of state, acting national security adviser and acting archivist of the United States — is terminating offices and initiatives created to promote and foster diversity, equity and inclusion, both in Washington and at overseas embassies and consulates. He also has ended foreign assistance funding for DEI projects abroad.....
But accessibility and vision impairment advocacy groups widely recommended and advocated for sans serif fonts, noting that those without decorative “wings” and “feet” (the small lines or strokes at the end of characters, common in serif fonts like Times New Roman) are more legible and easier to read for people with visual impairment.
The Borowitz Report-Hegseth Seizes Scottish Tanker Carrying Whiskey
@petehegseth_DoD Seizes Scottish Tanker Carrying Whiskey
— (@oceancalm.bsky.social) 2025-12-12T13:25:44.770Z
HEY @POTUS--You best keep an eye on little Pete!
www.borowitzreport.com/p/hegseth-se...
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/hegseth-seizes-scottish-tanker-carrying
“Despite my repeated demands, the tanker refused to deliver its cargo to me,” Hegseth said. “You can ask anyone who knows me: Pete Hegseth will not be cut off.”
Hegseth, who ordered the seizure via a late-night Signal text riddled with typos, said he hoped his action would deter other shippers who dare to threaten his alcohol supply.
“The seizure of this tanker sends a clear message,” he said. “If anything is going to be loaded with whiskey, it’s me.”
MaddowBlog-As Cabinet secretaries prioritize distractions and trivialities, Rubio focuses on fonts
As the nation’s chief diplomat turns his attention to typefaces, it’s hard not to wonder: Doesn’t he have better things to do?
Rubio focuses on fonts, Duffy focuses on airport pull-ups, Hegseth focuses on paintings, Noem focuses on photo-ops, and Trump focuses on ballrooms and bathrooms ...
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-12-11T18:04:51.602Z
Shouldn’t they have other things to do? www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/as-cabinet-secretaries-prioritize-distractions-and-trivialities-rubio-focuses-on-fonts
This week, the department undid that move. Reuters reported:
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday ordered diplomats to return to using Times New Roman font in official communications, calling his predecessor Antony Blinken’s decision to adopt Calibri a ‘wasteful’ diversity move, according to an internal department cable seen by Reuters.
The Times report on this added that for the nation’s chief diplomat, who issued an “Action Request” memo to U.S. posts around the world, reversing course on font selection was part of “a push to stamp out diversity efforts and … return to tradition.”.....
And this is the moment that the top diplomat for the world’s preeminent superpower decided to issue an international declaration to U.S. embassies, missions and outposts about … a typeface?
As ridiculous as this might seem, it’s part of a pattern in which White House Cabinet officials can’t seem to shake their interest in distractions and trivialities. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has devoted time to helping air travelers who want to do pull-ups at airports. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has invested a bizarre amount of interest in paintings, library books and grooming standards. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has embraced camera-ready tactics and performative politics to an almost cartoonish degree.
And then, of course, there’s Donald Trump himself, who appears far more interested in ballrooms and bathrooms than governance.
As Rubio joins the club and turns his attention to fonts, it’s hard not to wonder: Don’t these guys have more important things to do?
Maddowblog-'You can give up certain products': Trump tells Americans to settle for less
The president expects Americans to make sacrifices but doesn’t appear willing to make any sacrifices of his own.
Trump: “You can give up certain products,†such as pencils and toys for children.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-12-10T16:37:40.508Z
Also Trump: Let’s talk about my new marble bathroom, my ever-growing White House ballroom, and the Gatsby-themed party at the glorified country club I own and profit from. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/you-can-give-up-certain-products-trump-tells-americans-to-settle-for-less
The Republican did, however, make an unexpected argument to Americans concerned about affordability and the cost of living.
Trump at his speech on the economy: "You can give up certain products. You can give up pencils…They only need one or two. They don't need that many…You don't need 37 dolls for your daughter. Two or three is nice, but you don't need 37 dolls."
— The Bulwark (@thebulwark.com) 2025-12-10T01:48:57.831Z
....Complicating matters is the fact that while the Republican expects Americans to make sacrifices in response to his failing agenda, Trump doesn’t appear personally willing to make comparable sacrifices of his own.
On the contrary, the incumbent president remains focused on his new marble bathroom, his ever-expanding plans for a wildly unnecessary White House ballroom and his frequent trips to Florida, where he hangs out at the glorified country club he owns and profits from, palling around with his extremely wealthy customers at “Great Gatsby”–themed soirees.
It’s something to keep in mind as Trump tells Americans to buy fewer toys for their kids two weeks before Christmas.
Deadline Legal Blog-Chicago grand jurors continue stunning streak of rejecting Trump DOJ indictments
Yet another grand jury declined to approve felony charges in a case alleging an assault on law enforcement.
https://x.com/cvrife1/status/1999215664297640243
https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/chicago-grand-jurors-continue-stunning-streak-of-rejecting-trump-doj-indictments
A new example comes from Chicago, where a federal magistrate judge on Wednesday granted the DOJ’s motion to dismiss charges against comedy club manager Nathan Griffin. The government had accused him of assaulting an agent in October. According to the now-dismissed complaint, Griffin had tried to close a car door on an agent and later said, “I didn’t assault anybody. … Shutting a door isn’t a f—ing crime.”
The grand jury seemed to agree. The judge’s order noted that the government’s dismissal motion was prompted by the grand jury’s refusal to indict Griffin.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that now “at least three people who have faced federal charges tied to Operation Midway Blitz have been cleared by grand jurors,” with charges dropped against 13 people overall and no cases having led to convictions.
The Chicago news follows yet another failed DOJ outing last week in Virginia, where a grand jury rejected the government’s attempt to revive fraud charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James. Her initial charges were dismissed, along with former FBI Director James Comey’s, because the Trump-installed prosecutor in that Virginia district was illegally appointed.
The DOJ has been pushing forward in the face of grand jury rejections. In the case of Sidney Reid, for example, federal prosecutors struck out in the Washington, D.C., grand jury a whopping three times before reducing the case to a misdemeanor — which doesn’t require grand jury approval — and then losing that case at trial.
Chicago grand jurors continue stunning streak of rejecting Trump DOJ indictments
Source: Deadline Legal Blog
One of the most remarkable stories of President Donald Trump’s second term is the series of cases in which grand juries have declined to approve felony indictments presented by the Justice Department. Even one such rejection is rare, but they’ve been piling up this year in cases alleging assaults on federal officers in connection with the administration’s immigration enforcement.
A new example comes from Chicago, where a federal magistrate judge on Wednesday granted the DOJ’s motion to dismiss charges against comedy club manager Nathan Griffin. The government had accused him of assaulting an agent in October. According to the now-dismissed complaint, Griffin had tried to close a car door on an agent and later said, “I didn’t assault anybody. … Shutting a door isn’t a f—ing crime.”
The grand jury seemed to agree. The judge’s order noted that the government’s dismissal motion was prompted by the grand jury’s refusal to indict Griffin.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that now “at least three people who have faced federal charges tied to Operation Midway Blitz have been cleared by grand jurors,” with charges dropped against 13 people overall and no cases having led to convictions.
The Chicago news follows yet another failed DOJ outing last week in Virginia, where a grand jury rejected the government’s attempt to revive fraud charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James. Her initial charges were dismissed, along with former FBI Director James Comey’s, because the Trump-installed prosecutor in that Virginia district was illegally appointed.
The DOJ has been pushing forward in the face of grand jury rejections. In the case of Sidney Reid, for example, federal prosecutors struck out in the Washington, D.C., grand jury a whopping three times before reducing the case to a misdemeanor — which doesn’t require grand jury approval — and then losing that case at trial.
Read more: https://www.ms.now/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/chicago-grand-jurors-continue-stunning-streak-of-rejecting-trump-doj-indictments
https://x.com/cvrife1/status/1999215664297640243?s=20
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