Trump scraps Obamacare subsidies in surprise late-night announcement

Federal payments underpinning healthcare scheme unlawful, says White House, in move that takes a further swipe at Democrats’ signature reform

Donald Trump has planted a timebomb under Obamacare, issuing a notice late on Thursday night that scraps vital federal subsidies underpinning the current healthcare system.

Related: Trump accused of sabotage after signing executive order to weaken Obamacare

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Trump chief of staff John Kelly: ‘I’m not quitting, I’m not getting fired’

  • Chief of staff makes surprise appearance to deny he’s about to leave
  • ‘Although I read it all the time pretty consistently, I’m not quitting today’

Donald Trump’s chief of staff has made an extraordinary public appearance to deny that he is about to resign or be fired.

Related: Trump accused of sabotage after signing executive order to weaken Obamacare

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Jeff Sessions issues directive undercutting LGBT protections

The Sessions directive effectively lifts a burden from religious objectors to prove their beliefs about marriage or other topics are sincerely held

The attorney general, Jeff Sessions, on Friday issued a sweeping directive that undercuts federal protections for LGBT people, telling agencies to do as much as possible to accommodate those who claim their religious freedoms are violated.

Related: Trump substantially weakens Obamacare contraception mandate

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Trump substantially weakens Obamacare contraception mandate

Many more employers allowed to opt out of requirement to cover birth control without copay in move that could cause thousands of women to lose coverage

The Trump administration has dramatically expanded the number of employers allowed to flout the Affordable Care Act (ACA) policy that requires company healthcare plans to cover contraception at no additional cost.

Related: White House drafts rule to roll back 'contraception mandate' for health coverage

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Trump claims tax plan is not for the rich | The minute

• Trump takes on tax cuts and you’ll never guess who benefits most... Tom Price says he’ll write a check for those plane rides … Trump repeats false tale of infirmed Senator...

• Get the day’s politics news in 60 seconds every weekday. By Jamiles Lartey

10.44pm BST

Donald Trump is charging hard to sell his overhaul of the US tax he says are aimed at “everyday hardworking Americans”. Unsurprisingly, analysis shows those most likely to g...

Zombie health bill: why the Republican plan will rise from the dead

The bill to replace Obamacare is deeply unpopular with the American public and the medical establishment – but here’s why we haven’t seen the last of it

The Republicans’ health bill seems to keep coming back from the dead. Many thought we’d seen the last of it when it failed the first time around this spring. It has been revived multiple times since – just to die again this Tuesday.

The bill is deeply unpopular with the American public, reviled by the medical establishment and ...

‘Height of hypocrisy’: Clinton calls out Trump team over private email reports

Donald Trump’s daughter and son-in-law among six administration figures who reportedly used private email accounts for White House business

At least six senior Trump administration figures have used private email accounts for official White House business, according to various media reports.

Related: Republican plan to defeat Obamacare looks doomed as Susan Collins says no to bill

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Hearing, interrupted: wall of protest over healthcare bill | The minute

  • Latest Obamacare repeal effort hit by protest … Trump tells athletes where to stand … Jared and Ivanka’s private emails ... and more
  • Get the day’s politics news in 60 seconds every weekday. By Tom McCarthy

10.26pm BST

A Republican attempt to speed a healthcare bill through committee was confronted by hundreds of demonstrators who lined Senate halls and interrupted the proceedings with chants for justice. Many were detained....

Ted Cruz joins Republicans ranged against Graham-Cassidy healthcare bill

Effort to replace ACA appears doomed as Cruz indicates Lee will follow him and Collins says it is ‘very difficult’ for her to envision voting for the bill

The Trump administration’s latest efforts to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) appeared to be disintegrating over the weekend, as a growing number of Republican senators indicated they would vote against the so-called Graham-Cassidy bill.

Related: Trump attacks McCain and other Republicans over healthcare failure

Co...

The Resistance Now: campaigners warn fight for healthcare is not over

John McCain dealt a blow to Republican hopes of passing the Graham-Cassidy bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act but activists warn against complacency

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Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act were teetering on the brink of failure on Friday, after John McCain said he would vote no on the Graham-Cassidy healthcare bill.

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