“With open enrollment on most of the nation’s Affordable Care Act state marketplaces and the federal exchange starting Saturday, many consumers will suffer sticker shock,” Politico reports.
“But the impact will not be felt evenly. It will depend on how heavily your premiums have been subsidized, the state you live in and your household income.”
“In Wisconsin, Democrats are launching nearly 400 canvassing events this weekend focused on health care. A major liberal advocacy group, Protect Our Care, will push a six-figure digital campaign. Top Democratic governors, including Kentucky’s Andy Beshear and Laura Kelly of Kansas, are holding press calls to ‘to slam D.C. Republicans for causing Americans’ health care premiums to skyrocket,’” Politico reports.
“It adds up to a campaign of doomsday messaging aimed at voters’ concerns about health care as premium spikes are due to arrive.”
“Democrats’ already fraying alliance with organized labor is coming under new strain as a growing list of union leaders calls on the party to accept a Republican bill that would reopen the government,” Axios reports.
“Once it would have been virtually unthinkable for so many unions to break so decisively with their long-time Democratic compatriots in such a highly charged national fight. Not anymore.”
“Now five unions have called on Senate Democrats to change their position and vote to reopen the government.”
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“President Trump wrapped up his six-day swing through Asia by touting trade deals and new investments in the U.S. But as he arrives back in Washington, the gold-plated receptions abroad are giving way to a shuttered government and deepening voter anxiety about the economy,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The split screen sheds light on why Trump has turned much of his second-term attention to foreign policy.”
“On the world stage, meetings shift from dreary Washington offices to opulent palaces, deals get announced on a near-daily basis, and Trump engages with smiling foreign ministers, not scowling lawmakers. At home, Trump is grappling with slipping poll numbers, as well as a fight with Democrats that has kept the government closed for a month over surging health-insurance costs for millions of Americans.”
“Gov. Wes Moore (D) hinted that he may move ahead with plans to redraw the state’s eight congressional districts, and to call a possible special session, despite opposition from a key lawmaker,” Maryland Matters reports.
“Senate President Bill Ferguson (D), in a letter to Senate Democrats Tuesday, said he opposed mid-cycle redistricting, which he called “too risky” for Democrats who could end up losing a seat in their efforts to redraw congressional districts to gain one.”
“Employees of nonprofit organizations that work with undocumented immigrants, provide gender transition care for minors or engage in public protests will have a hard time getting their federal student loans forgiven under regulations advanced Thursday by the Education Department,” the Washington Post reports.
“The 185-page rule revises eligibility requirements for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which cancels the education debt of government and nonprofit employees after 10 years of service and 120 monthly loan payments. It will allow the education secretary to disqualify employers — not individuals — who engage in activities the department deems to have a ‘substantial illegal purpose’ on or after July 1 — when the rule takes effect.”
A new Fox News poll finds Zohran Mamdani with a 16-point lead over Andrew Cuomo for New York City mayor, 47% to 31%, with Curtis Sliwa trailing at 15%.
A new Fox News poll finds Mikie Sherrill leading Jack Ciattarelli by 52% to 45% heading into the last few days of the New Jersey governor’s race.
Jessica Yellin and I discussed what’s behind the likely longest government shutdown in U.S. history. And we talked about how it might end.
Jessica’s newsletter, News Not Noise, is a must read.
Vice President JD Vance and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that Americans could face a travel “disaster” as Thanksgiving approaches next month without an end in sight to the government shutdown, CNN reports.
“The Justice Department is investigating whether leaders in the Black Lives Matter movement defrauded donors who contributed tens of millions of dollars during racial justice protests in 2020,” the AP reports.
Punchbowl News: “The Senate is gone for the weekend, all but guaranteeing that the government shutdown will become the longest in U.S. history.”
“SNAP funding runs out on Saturday. There have been ground delays all afternoon at Reagan National Airport due to air traffic control tower staffing shortages — ironically, as senators were dashing to catch flights.”
“Yet there were key meetings on Thursday, and some senators from both parties are talking up the chances of a bipartisan deal to end the shutdown. But to be clear, we’re a long way away from that happening at this point.”
“The Trump administration plans to roll out an initial payment of up to $12 billion for farmers hurt by the president’s tariff policies once the government shutdown ends,” Politico reports.
“The finalized amount will come on top of President Donald Trump’s recently announced truce with China, which could also give some relief to U.S. producers of soybeans, sorghum and meat.”
“Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles III, will be stripped of his title as prince, an extraordinary punishment — unheard-of in the annals of the modern British royal family — that caps his fall from grace over his ties to the convicted sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein,” the New York Times reports.
“The palace also said Andrew, 65, would be evicted from his sprawling residence, Royal Lodge, and move to a private residence.”
Rep. Elise Stefanik has built out an extensive political team as she prepares to launch a 2026 campaign for New York governor in November, Axios reports.
Stefanik has more than $13 million in cash on hand — more than any other New York House Republican in recent history — and is hiring a slate of veteran political operatives as she seeks to be New York’s first GOP governor since George Pataki.
More Americans blame President Trump and Republicans in Congress than Democrats for the nearly month-long government shutdown, 44% to 33%, according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll.
A new Marist Poll in New York City finds Zohran Mamdani leading the mayor’s race with 48%, followed by Andrew Cuomo at 32% and Curtis Sliwa at 16%.
Even if Sliwa were to drop out of the contest, Mamdani would lead 51% to 44%.
A new Quinnipiac poll in New Jersey finds Mikie Sherrill (D) leading Jack Ciattarelli (R) in the governor’s race, 51% to 43%.
Given a list of 11 issues and asked which is the most important one in deciding who to vote for in the election for governor, 25% of likely voters say taxes, 16% say ethics in government, and 14% say health care, with no other issue reaching double digits.
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.
Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.
Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.
Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.
Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.
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