Here are 6 ways the government shutdown could get worse for Americans

The government shutdown has left many federal workers furloughed, caused nationwide flight delays, left small businesses unable to access loans and put nonprofit services in jeopardy. It’s only expected to get worse.

As Congress remains deadlocked over passing a stopgap measure to reopen the government, thousands of Americans are at risk of losing benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant...

Thune blasts Democrats on Senate floor over SNAP, shutdown: ‘This isn’t a political game’

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) delivered a fiery floor speech Wednesday, chastising his Democratic colleagues for introducing legislation to fund SNAP benefits after consistently voting against a GOP proposal to reopen the government.

In remarks on the Senate floor, the Republican leader blasted the last-ditch effort to cover the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), whose funds are set to dry up this week, accusing Democrats of only now realizing “t...

‘Window shopping’ opens for 2026 Affordable Care Act plans

The rates, pricing and other data for 2026 Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance plans were publicly posted on the federal Healthcare.gov marketplace on Wednesday, just three days ahead of the start of open enrollment.

The health research nonprofit KFF said the average increase in premiums for ACA plans will be 26 percent next year, based on data for “benchmark” silver plans, which are the midtier plans in each region that most people purchase and are used to set the subsidy ...

Shutdown will cost up to $14B in economic losses: CBO analysis 

The nearly monthlong government shutdown will cost the United States between $7 billion and $14 billion, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

Depending on the length of the shutdown, the CBO estimates that the shutdown will reduce real gross domestic product growth between 1 to 2 percentage points. While the shutdown will also delay federal spending, any negative ramifications should reverse once the shutdown is over.

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World braces for Trump-Xi meeting; US sends emergency crews to Caribbean

12:30 Report is The Hill's midday newsletter. Subscribe here.

It’s Wednesday. Well, the kids won. “6-7” has been declared the word of 2025. If you don’t know what this means, neither does anyone who is old enough to vote.

In today's issue:

  • World braces for today’s Trump-Xi meeting
  • Hurricane Melissa batters Cuba
  • US sends emergency crews to Jamaica
  • Interest rate cut p...

Cruz says Greene becoming ‘very liberal,’ should be ignored

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called on people Wednesday to stop listening to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and suggested her politics are moving leftward.

Greene's criticism of her fellow Republicans has escalated in recent days amid the government shutdown. Speaking on CNBC's "Squawk Box," Cruz urged people to not "spend much time worrying about what Marjorie is saying."

"What I've found is that whenever an elected official decides that they are going to turn on...

Top Senate Democrat blames ‘heartless’ Trump for food aid being cut off – US politics live

Chuck Schumer condemns president for stopping Snap benefits for millions as overall cost of shutdown to US economy could reach $14bn

On X, Adam Schiff, one of California’s Democratic senators, criticized acting US attorney Bill Essayli, after a judge found that he was in the Los Angeles-based position illegally.

Schiff wrote:

“Unlawfully serving” in his role. Acting illegally. But left in place? While this Administration continues to replace career professionals with illegitimate political allies eager to do Trump’s bidding, Californians need better relief than this.

I do the American People’s bidding at the direction of their duly elected President. That’s how our Constitution works. Try reading and abiding by it sometime.

Continue reading...

Obamacare insurance prices will jump up 26% next year, report predicts

Enhanced subsidies keeping premiums affordable for millions will expire, threatening to more than double what households pay out of pocket

People in the US shopping for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces will face a steep 26% average price increase next year, according to new analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation released just days before enrollment begins on 1 November.

The jump represents one of the sharpest rises since the healthcare program l...

Watch live: Schumer, Senate Democrats speak amid shutdown showdown

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) will speak with reporters Wednesday morning as the government shutdown stretches to nearly a month.

The lapse in funding, the second-longest in history, was extended Tuesday after Democrats blocked the GOP-backed continuing resolution for the 13th time. Democrats have argued that health care subsidies, which expire under the Affordable Care Act at the end of the year, must be included in the stopgap funding bill.

Senat...

Wall Street Journal urges GOP to kill ObamaCare subsidies

The editorial board of The Wall Street Journal is urging Republicans in Congress to end health care subsidies introduced as part of ObamaCare as the party tries to negotiate an end to the government shutdown, which has stretched into its fourth week.

"Despite longtime Democratic political dominance on healthcare, more voters may be noticing for the first time in years that the Affordable Care Act is a debacle that has made care worse and more expensive," the Journal wrote a...