- cross-posted to:
- nyt_gift_articles@sopuli.xyz
- cross-posted to:
- nyt_gift_articles@sopuli.xyz
Biden, as part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, largely resolved these problems, reducing maximum premium payments (net of subsidies) and eliminating the cliff at 400 percent. The result is to make health insurance coverage substantially more affordable, especially for middle-income Americans who previously earned too much to be eligible for subsidies. Hence the surge in marketplace enrollments.
I mean, I’m very concerned that a second Trump term may result in a successful coup and… All that you said. But they’re not going to get a filibuster-proof majority, so even in the worst case, they won’t do all that. And no, they won’t end the filibuster to do it - for that, they would need a simple majority of MAGA Republicans in the Senate, and that’s not on the table either. The filibuster is antidemocratic and toxic, but it is a minor comfort at the moment. Of course, it would have never gotten this bad to begin with, without it.
EDIT to add: I think my above message was confusing, as it sounds like I said I’m concerned they would do all those things, and in the next breath contradict that. What I meant to say is that, barring a coup, even if the Republicans capture the House of Reps, Senate, and Whitehouse, it’s unrealistic for them to be able to do all of that legislatively. A coup, though, is a very realistic possibility, and as PugJesus pointed out in a reply, the Supreme Court can and may do all of that as well - but that remains true even if the Democrats control the other branches. It’s a terrifying time. Vote, please.
They don’t need a filibuster proof majority. All they need is the Supreme Court.
Well, yeah, although that path is really risky. But they also don’t need a second Trump term to do that. In fact, the court has clearly gone rogue even from the Republican party, and appears ready to keep throwing out the rule of law as long as they can get away with it, whether the party wants them to or not. Republican leadership absolutely didn’t expect their radicalized court would actually, for real, reverse Roe, and the party is paying for it. Now is certainly the time to hit them hard and take full advantage of that, until the Democrats have a filibuster-proof majority and can’t make any excuses.