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Congress flees town as health care premiums set to explode for millions of Americans in January
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Lawmakers left town.
Last Thursday was the final day Congress met until early January. And despite health care dominating the conversation on Capitol Hill since late summer and through the autumn, Congress failed to execute a legislative fix for soaring health care premiums set to spike in January.
It was a Congressional jailbreak around 3 pm et Thursday as the House called its last vote and lawmakers sprinted for the exits, piling into cars on the Capitol plaza.
«Don’t send us home without a vote,» implored House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., on the House steps earlier in the day.
«Our message to (House Speaker) Mike Johnson, R-La., is clear,» said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. «You can run. But you cannot hide.»
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Lawmakers packed up for December, practically channeling partisans of the (once) hapless Chicago Cubs, declaring «Wait til next year.»
«I’m optimistic that we still have a chance to do better in 2026,» forecast Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio.
«I think before the end of January, we really do want to do something,» said Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D.
There’s a reason why 2026 is fundamentally different from 2025.
«It’s an election year,» observed Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo. «I think that Members of Congress are going to start hearing from their constituents.»
The U.S .Capitol Christmas Tree seen on the building’s West Lawn in Washington D.C., Dec. 3, 2025. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Freshman Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa., beat former Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., by one point in 2024, flipping the district from blue to red. Last week, Mackenzie became one of four House Republicans who rebelled against top Republican leaders – and aligning with Democrats – to renew Obamacare subsidies.
The «Fed Up 4» signed what’s called a «discharge petition.» This is a maneuver to go around the Speaker and put a bill on the floor – if the Speaker won’t. Democrats pushed a discharge petition to re-up the expiring subsidies for three years. But they needed four Republicans to join them in their parliamentary guerilla tactic to take this out of the hands of the Speaker.
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«There is no silver bullet. If there was, either party would have done it,» said Mackenze.
When asked about the politics of this in his battleground district, Mackenzie replied that «we have a long way to go before the midterms.»
Discharge petitions don’t ripen for a vote immediately. The House must wait seven legislative days before consideration. The House is out until January 6, 2027. After two days to trigger the discharge petition, the House may consider this maneuver around January 8 or 9.
But even one top House Republican believes this coalition of Democrats and few Republicans will succeed in January.
«My gut tells me that the COVID era subsidies, because we had the four members of the House sign onto that discharge petition, that it probably will pass,» predicted House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI) on Fox Business.
But the Senate blocked a similar plan earlier this month. That’s why Democrats are skeptical that Congress can fix the problem once premiums explode in the new year.
«Huge damage has already been done. And nothing we do after January 1st can undo so much of that damage,» said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Some Republicans advocate a complete legislative overhaul of health care next year.
«What is different, though, about 2026 on health care compared to 2025 about health care? Why does this suddenly change?» yours truly asked Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
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«There won’t be anything different if you keep doing the same old thing. So that’s the point,» said Graham.
But he added that there was a «deal to be had» on health care.
Only a bipartisan health care bill can overcome a Senate filibuster. That’s why the Senate nuked separate Democratic and Republican plans a few weeks ago. Some Republicans are now advocating going it alone on health care next year. They can do that – if they use a special budget process called «reconciliation.» Via reconciliation, senators can pass a bill with just a simple majority. But the measure must be budget neutral over a decade and just pertain to fiscal policy.
Some Republicans prefer this path. They believe President Trump would sign a partisan bill.
«The only way for us to be able to lower the cost of health care is to do another reconciliation bill,» said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), referring to the mechanism the GOP used to pass the Big Beautiful Bill. Democrats also deployed reconciliation to pass Obamacare.
«For the life of me, I cannot figure out why my friend (Senate Majority Leader John) Thune, R-S.D., will not agree to do another reconciliation bill,» continued Kennedy. «Why would you give up the chance to put together a sound social and economic policy when you only need 51 votes to do it.? Why would you give that up?»
Representative Lisa McClain (R-MI) discusses rising health insurance premiums at a press conference in the U.S. Capitol Building on December 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Republican leaders discussed healthcare plans with a vote regarding an extension of the ACA subsidies looming. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) agrees with Kennedy. He believes Democrats prefer to have health care as an issue in 2026 – and not actually address the problems.
«They’re an obstruction party. They despise President Trump,» said Schmitt of the Democrats. «We have majorities. We should use them.»
But that’s the problem. Congressional Republicans have never coalesced around a health care plan which can pass both bodies. Even with their majorities. It didn’t happen in 2017. It’s doubtful that can happen now.
So lawmakers aren’t passing out presents at the holidays. They’re dishing out blame.
«Because of Republicans, it is now impossible, sadly, to prevent people from having to pay hundreds, if not thousands more on their premiums next year,» said Schumer.
«The Democrats do not want a solution,» said Johnson. «They want a campaign talking point.»
So Democrats and Republicans alike abandoned the Capitol for the holidays without voting on a subsidy extension.
«House Republicans have chosen to get out of town before sundown. And that’s a shame,» said Jeffries.
But a few Republicans unloaded on Jeffries.
A runner jogs past the U.S. Capitol shortly after sunrise, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, in Washington. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
«What we have seen is Leader Jeffries withholding his votes from the bipartisan efforts. He actually held his Members back,» accused Mackenzie.
Democrats wouldn’t fund the government this fall in their quest to renew the Obamacare credits. Another funding deadline awaits on January 30. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., doubted Democrats would revert to their health care demand ahead of this funding cycle.
«It’s a different time frame,» said Welch.
We’ll know soon enough. Spending bills still aren’t ready. The Senate tried to advance a batch of them last week – but ran into opposition.
Remember that several Senate Democrats helped end the government shutdown by securing an agreement with Thune to hold a vote on health care. Well, they got their vote. But that didn’t fix anything.
So there will be a vote on health care via the health care discharge petition in January. But a House vote does not mean passage. And it doesn’t mean adoption in the Senate.
It’s just a vote.
As McClain forecasts, this may pass. But what about the Senate?
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Wait til next year.
We’ll know in early 2026.
politics,health,health care healthy living,congress,us,mike johnson,senate,house of representatives politics,republicans,democrats
INTERNACIONAL
Rusia y Ucrania concluyeron su primera jornada de diálogo en Ginebra sin avances tras horas de “negociaciones muy tensas”
Negociadores ucranianos y rusos concluyeron este martes el primero de dos días de conversaciones de paz mediadas por Estados Unidos en Ginebra, aunque ninguna de las partes dio señales de estar más cerca de poner fin al conflicto más mortífero en Europa desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Las negociaciones se reanudarán el miércoles.
Estados Unidos ha estado presionando para que se ponga fin a la guerra de casi cuatro años, pero no ha logrado mediar un compromiso entre Moscú y Kiev sobre el tema clave del territorio.
Dos rondas previas de negociación entre ambas partes en Abu Dabi no lograron producir un avance significativo.
Las últimas conversaciones “fueron muy tensas”, dijo una fuente cercana a la delegación rusa.
REUTERS/Nina Liashonok
“Duraron seis horas. Ya han concluido”, añadió la fuente, hablando bajo condición de anonimato.
El presidente ucraniano, Volodimir Zelensky, dijo en su discurso vespertino que estaba listo “para avanzar rápidamente hacia un acuerdo digno que ponga fin a la guerra”, pero cuestionó si Rusia hablaba en serio sobre la paz.
“¿Qué es lo que quieren?”, añadió, acusándolos de priorizar los ataques con misiles sobre la “diplomacia real”.
Rusia lanzó su invasión a gran escala de Ucrania en febrero de 2022.
El conflicto resultante ha provocado una ola de destrucción que ha dejado ciudades enteras en ruinas, decenas de miles de soldados y civiles muertos y ha obligado a millones de personas a huir de sus hogares.
Consejo de Seguridad y Defensa de Ucrania / REUTERS
Zelensky ha dicho repetidamente que a su país se le está pidiendo que haga concesiones desproporcionadas en comparación con Rusia.
El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, presionó el lunes a Ucrania para que llegue a un acuerdo, diciendo que “más vale que vengan a la mesa, rápido”.
Rusia ocupa alrededor de una quinta parte de Ucrania —incluida la península de Crimea que se anexionó en 2014— y áreas que los separatistas respaldados por Moscú habían tomado antes de la invasión de 2022.
Está presionando por el control total de la región de Donetsk, al este de Ucrania, como parte de cualquier acuerdo, y ha amenazado con tomarla por la fuerza si las conversaciones fracasan.
Pero Kiev ha rechazado esta demanda profundamente impopular, que sería política y militarmente arriesgada, y ha señalado que no firmará un acuerdo sin garantías de seguridad que disuadan a Rusia de invadir de nuevo.
Ministerio de Defensa ruso/Folleto vía REUTERS
Rusia ha estado capturando territorio lentamente a lo largo de la extensa línea de frente durante meses.
Sin embargo, sus preocupaciones económicas en tiempos de guerra están aumentando, con un crecimiento estancado y un déficit presupuestario cada vez mayor a medida que los ingresos petroleros —asfixiados por las sanciones— caen a un mínimo de cinco años.
Las fuerzas ucranianas lograron recientemente sus avances más rápidos en dos años y medio, recuperando 201 kilómetros cuadrados la semana pasada, según un análisis de la AFP de los datos del Instituto para el Estudio de la Guerra (ISW).
Ese total incluye áreas que Kiev y los analistas militares dicen que están controladas por Rusia (72 kilómetros cuadrados), así como aquellas reclamadas por el ejército de Moscú (129 kilómetros cuadrados).
Los contraataques probablemente aprovecharon la interrupción del acceso de las fuerzas rusas a Starlink, dijo el ISW, después de que el jefe de la firma de internet satelital, Elon Musk, anunciara “medidas” para poner fin al uso de la tecnología por parte de Rusia.
REUTERS/Nina Liashonok
Para las conversaciones en Ginebra, el Kremlin reinstaló al halcón nacionalista y ex ministro de Cultura, Vladimir Medinsky, como su negociador principal.
El secretario de seguridad nacional ucraniano, Rustem Umerov, lideraba el bando de Kyiv.
Las esperanzas de un avance son bajas.
Incluso antes de que las conversaciones estuvieran en marcha, Ucrania acusó a Rusia de socavar los esfuerzos de paz al lanzar 29 misiles y 396 drones en una serie de ataques nocturnos que, según las autoridades, mataron al menos a cuatro personas, hirieron a otras y cortaron la electricidad a decenas de miles en el sur de Ucrania.
“La medida en que Rusia ignora los esfuerzos de paz: un ataque masivo con misiles y drones contra Ucrania justo antes de la próxima ronda de conversaciones en Ginebra”, escribió el ministro de Relaciones Exteriores ucraniano, Andriy Sybiga, en las redes sociales.
Un ataque de drones rusos mató a tres empleados de una planta de energía en la ciudad de Sloviansk, en el frente de batalla en el este de Ucrania, según el ministro de Energía, Denys Shmygal.
Otra persona murió en la región de Sumy, en el noreste, dijeron funcionarios locales.
Mientras tanto, Rusia acusó a Ucrania de lanzar más de 150 drones durante la noche, principalmente sobre las regiones del sur y la península de Crimea —ocupada por el Kremlin en 2014.
Un depósito de petróleo en el sur de Rusia se incendió, según los funcionarios.
El portavoz del Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, dijo a los periodistas que no esperaran grandes noticias del primer día de conversaciones.
Middle East
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Judge orders migrant deported in ‘error’ free from ICE custody with criminal case looming
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A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from re-arresting Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia into federal immigration custody — an update that comes just days before he is slated to appear in Nashville for a key court date in a separate criminal case.
U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis agreed to convert her previous emergency order blocking ICE from immediately re-detaining Abrego Garcia into a longer-term form of injunctive relief sought by his lawyers.
She said Tuesday that the Trump administration failed to provide the court with any «good reason to believe» that they plan to remove him to a third country in the «reasonably foreseeable future.» Instead, she said, they «made one empty threat after another to remove him to countries in Africa with no real chance of success.»
The order clears the way for Abrego Garcia to participate in a key hearing in Nashville next week on whether a separate federal judge should dismiss his criminal case on the grounds of «vindictive» and selective prosecution.
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President Donald Trump and a protester holding a sign urging the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. (Getty Images )
Xinis also said the government has «done nothing» to show the court that Abrego Garcia’s continued detention in ICE custody is «consistent with due process.»
«Respondents have done nothing to show that Abrego Garcia’s continued detention in ICE custody is consistent with due process,» Xinis said Tuesday.
She ticked through a list of the Trump administration’s efforts to remove Abrego Garcia to a list of four African nations it had identified as so-called «third countries» of removal in the months between August, when Abrego was re-detained by ICE, and December, when Xinis ultimately ordered his release.
The Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Xinis said Tuesday that the administration «refused to procure Abrego Garcia’s immediate removal to Costa Rica,» the location he had identified as his preferred third country of removal, in favor of what she said was attempted «phantom removals» by the government to send Abrego to «three (maybe four) African countries.»
«Indeed, since Abrego Garcia secured his release from criminal custody in August 2025, respondents have made one empty threat after another to remove him to countries in Africa with no real chance of success,» Xinis said.
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Kilmar Abrego Garcia, right, and his brother Cesar Abrego Garcia, center, arrive at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Baltimore, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
The Trump administration previously tried and failed to remove Abrego Garcia to the African countries of Liberia, Eswatini, Uganda and briefly, Ghana.
Xinis noted in late November that the government could not take any of those steps without the final notice of removal order, which she reiterated Tuesday in the memo order that the government had not obtained.
«Thus, he must remain on the stringent release conditions already imposed by ICE and in the Tennessee Criminal Matter,» Xinis said.
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Abrego Garcia’s status has been at the center of a legal and political maelstrom since March, when he was deported to his home country of El Salvador, in violation of a 2019 court order and in what Trump officials acknowledge was an «administrative error.» Xinis ordered then that Abrego Garcia be «immediately» returned to the U.S.
He was eventually returned to the U.S. in June, where he was taken into federal custody in Nashville and detained on human smuggling charges stemming from a 2022 traffic stop.
The Justice Department later told Xinis it had opened the criminal investigation and presented it to a grand jury at the same time that Abrego Garcia was detained in a Salvadoran prison, and at the same time as government lawyers were telling the court that the U.S. was powerless to order his return.
A woman holds a photo of Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia in front of the U.S. District Court in Nashville. A judge ordered Trump officials to testify in court in January to weigh Abrego’s motion to dismiss on the grounds of «vindictive» prosecution. (Getty Images )
Next week’s hearing in Nashville will be centered on a motion to dismiss Abrego Garcia’s criminal case for «vindictive» and selective prosecution.
The judge overseeing that case, U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw, had ruled in October that Abrego Garcia had established a «reasonable likelihood» that the criminal case against him was the result of vindictive prosecution by the Justice Department.
Crenshaw had ordered the Trump administration to produce for the court internal documents and government witnesses to testify about its decision to bring the case.
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Senior DHS and Justice Department officials previously suggested they would appeal Xinis’ orders. Trump officials have been sharply critical of Xinis and other federal judges presiding over deportation cages, whom they have repeatedly accused of overstepping their authority as a district judge.
«This order lacks any valid legal basis, and we will continue to fight this tooth and nail in the courts,» DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in response to the court’s earlier emergency order.
donald trump,politics,immigration,supreme court,federal courts,crime world,foreign policy,national security
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Russia sentences American to 4 years for allegedly trying to take Kalashnikov rifle stocks: report
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An American was sentenced Tuesday to four years in jail in Russia for allegedly trying to fly out of an airport in Moscow with the stocks of Kalashnikov assault rifles in his suitcase, a report said.
The unnamed U.S. citizen, who collects Kalashnikov weapons, did not make a customs declaration after purchasing two stocks and checking a suitcase containing the items at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport, Reuters reported, citing the RIA Novosti state news agency.
He later was found guilty under an article of Russian criminal code relating to the smuggling of weapons, it added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the State Department for comment.
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AK-47 rifles are seen during a training session at a shooting range outside of Kyiv, Ukraine, on the left, in July 2023. On the right are passenger jets at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport. An American reportedly was jailed after trying to transport Kalashnikov rifle stocks in a suitcase at the airport. (STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images; Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Russian state media is also claiming the American partially admitted guilt, according to Reuters.
The State Department warns Americans not to travel to Russia «for any reason due to terrorism, unrest, wrongful detention and other risks.»
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A Kalashnikov of a Ukrainian soldier participating in shooting training is seen in Donetsk region of Ukraine on July 31, 2024. (Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
«The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has limited ability to assist in the case of a detention of a U.S. citizen. There is no guarantee that the Russian government will grant the U.S. Embassy consular access to detained U.S. citizens,» the State Department said. «U.S. citizens may serve their entire prison sentence without release. The risk of wrongful detention of U.S. citizens remains high. Even if a case is determined wrongful, there is no guarantee of release.»
A terminal at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, Russia, in August 2023. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)
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«Russian officials often question and threaten U.S. citizens without reason. Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens on false charges,» it added. They have denied them fair treatment and convicted them without credible evidence. Russian authorities have opened questionable investigations against U.S. citizens for their religious activities.»
russia,crime,state department,world
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