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Reporter’s Notebook: GOP targets affordability with reconciliation 2.0 plan ahead of midterms
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It is said that in politics, the best idea is a stolen one.
Republicans are no dummies. They’re looking at what worked for Democrats last year as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani upset the primary field and rode easily to Gracie Mansion. They saw victories by New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
They all ran on affordability. That issue carried them to victory.
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Republican Study Committee Chairman Rep. August Pfluger speaks during a press conference with other members of the Republican Study Committee as well as members of House Republican leadership in Washington, Oct. 28, 2025. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
House conservatives are hungry for a legislative victory in the 2026 midterms. So, they’re focusing on bringing down the costs of housing and healthcare.
The Republican Study Committee (RSC), the largest bloc of conservatives in the House, released its blueprint recently.
«Here is the framework for what we’re calling the Make the American Dream Affordable Again,» boasted RSC Chairman Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas. «The reconciliation 2.0 plan.»
There’s that word again: reconciliation.
It’s a parliamentary term. Specifically, «budget reconciliation.» It doesn’t mean a great deal in the House — although the House must adopt a budgetary package. But budget reconciliation shouts from the mountaintops in the Senate. The Senate is where most legislation needs 60 votes to break a filibuster. But if a bill is budget-neutral and deals with numbers – not policy — it qualifies for the budget reconciliation process.
That’s where the political magic comes in.
Budget reconciliation measures are not subject to a filibuster. You only need a simple majority. Republicans used the budget reconciliation gambit to approve the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year. Otherwise, Senate Republicans were stymied in their efforts. They only have 53 votes in the Senate. So the GOP made the decision to go it alone. And they may do so again this year.
«I think we’d be derelict in our duties if we didn’t try something with reconciliation, considering how difficult it is to get something done in a bipartisan way around here,» said Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. «Maybe there’s something that we can do with reconciliation. I think we ought to try it.»
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A runner jogs past the U.S. Capitol shortly after sunrise in Washington, Dec. 16, 2025. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., suggested that if the GOP didn’t try, they were squandering their majorities on Capitol Hill.
«The American people are not expecting a base hit. They need a home run. In short, this conference needs to go big or go home because the American people are going to send us home,» said Burlison.
The package eliminates the estate tax. That’s costly, dumping $281 billion onto the deficit.
Keep in mind this is coming from fiscal conservatives.
It also abolishes capital gains taxes on homes sold to first-time buyers.
«If you talk to anyone under the age of 40, they will tell you it is virtually impossible due to the inner barrier of entry. It is impossible to buy their first home,» said Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla. «First time homebuyers would be allowed to save for their down payment tax-free.»
So how do Republicans get this done?
«A lot of this we’ve got to do on our own,» said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Fox. «So the reconciliation bill that we’re putting together right now will be just as beautiful. But just not as big as the one last year.»
It’s about the math.
And the math is utterly brutal for the GOP.
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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., talks with reporters after a meeting of the House Republican Conference at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, Sept. 9, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
House Republicans can only lose two votes right now and still pass a bill on their own. That margin slips to a single vote later this month after a runoff between two Democrats in a special election for a House seat in Texas.
The GOP numbers game has dominated the conversation in the House in 2026. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., resigned. The late Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., died. Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind., was in a car accident but returned with facial bruises and wearing a neck brace. Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., has been out because of eye surgery. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., missed time due to a medical issue involving his wife. But he’s back. The attendance of Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, has been sporadic as he tries to win the GOP nomination and unseat longtime Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in the March primary. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., is out because his wife died.
And inevitably, others will be out as we pass through the months.
You try to get 435 people in the same room at the same time.
So this is not going to be easy. And the GOP brain trust is skeptical.
«I’d sure love to do one (a reconciliation bill). But obviously, with a one-seat majority basically, it means we’ve all got to come together and agree on what that framework would look like,» said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. «There is no consensus yet in our conference.»
Following the Democrats’ election success last year — and the narrow vote matrix in the House, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is doubtful Republicans can pass much of anything.
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President Donald Trump speaks on inflation at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pa., Dec. 9, 2025. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
«It’s strange to me after Republicans got crushed electorally all across the country, up and down the ballot in the off-year election last November, that now they’ve decided that perhaps they should actually try to keep their word and address the high cost of living in the United States of America. It’s all talk. There’s no action. These people are not serious,» said Jeffries. «These extremists don’t have the votes to get a reconciliation bill done.»
One key component of the bill is health insurance. It would cut out the middleman (the insurance companies) and send subsidies directly to consumers. That’s a specific request of President Trump.
«[We’re] redirecting Obamacare subsidies directly into the hands of patients. Not into the insurance companies,» said Pfluger.
Healthcare remains one of the most nettlesome issues in the history of the Congress. A bipartisan Senate working group was trying to craft a deal on healthcare. The hope was to create an off-ramp for the Obamacare subsidies, rather than forcing people to go cold turkey.
«The sooner, the better,» said Senate Health Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., when pressed last week by yours truly about timing. «The longer it goes, the worse it gets.»
I asked Cassidy if they were «closer» than a few weeks ago.
«Probably,» replied Cassidy.
But Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, said there’s an impasse.
«We are at a little bit of a pothole,» said Moreno, blaming the holdup on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Republicans hoped to campaign on the economic benefits of the Big Beautiful Bill. But Republicans concede they’ve had trouble selling it. GOPers are still bullish that voters will reap economic benefits this year — and pull the lever for Republicans. But voters are fickle. They want to see what lawmakers have done for them on affordability.
«I do think it’s the most important issue for November,» said House Budget Committee Chairman Joey Arrington, R-Texas. «But the question going into November is, can we accelerate what we’re seeing with gas prices coming down. Rent coming down. Mortgage rates.»
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Republicans hope to catch the wave.
The economy is always important in elections. It was clearly the issue in 2025. It might not be at the top in 2026. Consider potential consequences from Greenland, Iran and even the echoes of Minnesota.
In other words, Republicans may expend a lot of political capital on trying to advance another bill. Especially through «reconciliation.» But that might not score them much political benefit if voters have «reconciled» their reservations about the economy — and moved on to something else.
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El Índice de Confianza de la Actividad Económica de Honduras sube a 63.2 puntos en febrero, según el Banco Central
El índice de Confianza de la Actividad Económica (ICAE) de Honduras experimentó una mejora significativa en febrero de 2026, alcanzando los 63.2 puntos según la más reciente Encuesta de Expectativas de Analistas Macroeconómicos (EEAM), publicada por el Banco Central de Honduras (BCH). Este resultado representa un salto notable respecto al mes anterior, cuando el índice se situó en 53,8 puntos, y evidencia una percepción marcadamente optimista sobre el desempeño presente y futuro de la economía hondureña.
De acuerdo con el informe, “el índice de Confianza de la Actividad Económica alcanzó 63.2 puntos, ubicándose en zona de expansión (mayor a 50.0 puntos) por segundo mes consecutivo, explicado en 47.1% por el resultado de la actividad económica actual y en 52.9% por la actividad económica futura”. Esto implica que la confianza no solo está sustentada por la coyuntura actual, sino también por una expectativa positiva hacia los próximos meses.
La encuesta fue compilada por el BCH entre el 9 y 17 de febrero de 2026 y, aunque reúne opiniones de analistas independientes y no constituye una proyección oficial del banco emisor, es una herramienta clave para medir el pulso macroeconómico del país. Según los analistas consultados, el dinamismo económico de este año se fundamenta en varios factores: “la dinámica del consumo privado -apoyada en parte por la captación de remesas familiares-, mayor inversión pública y privada, inflación baja y estable, reservas internacionales en niveles sólidos y la reducción en la medición del riesgo país son elementos que brindan certidumbre sobre el desempeño esperado de la economía nacional”.
En este sentido, los consultados prevén que el Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) hondureño podría crecer alrededor del 3,7% en 2026, lo que se mantendría dentro del rango de estimación de la Revisión del Programa Monetario 2025-2026. Para 2027, las expectativas también son positivas, con una proyección de crecimiento del 3,8%. Estas cifras se sustentan en la valoración de los analistas respecto a las políticas macroeconómicas implementadas, que han favorecido la captación de inversión y la recuperación de la actividad económica.
Respecto a la estabilidad de precios, la encuesta indica que las expectativas de inflación para cierre de año se ubican en torno al 4,37%, es decir, dentro del rango de tolerancia de 4.0% ± 1.0 pp establecido por el BCH. Los consultados consideran que “la tendencia decreciente de la inflación para los horizontes analizados se explicaría por la aplicación oportuna de medidas de política monetaria y menores presiones inflacionarias externas”. Sin embargo, advierten que factores como “el incremento de precios de los alimentos, de los combustibles y su impacto en las tarifas de la energía eléctrica, y de ciertos bienes importados” aún podrían incidir en la evolución de los precios durante el año.
En cuanto a riesgos y posibles desafíos, los analistas señalan que la reducción en los precios internacionales del café, los efectos adversos del cambio climático y los actuales conflictos internacionales podrían afectar las perspectivas económicas. Sin embargo, se mantiene la expectativa de que las autoridades continúen priorizando la calidad del gasto y la inversión pública, lo cual podría amortiguar parte de estos impactos.
Finalmente, es de destacar que la mayor confianza también está ligada a “los acercamientos con el gobierno de los Estados Unidos de América”, pues los analistas esperan que ello “logre beneficios para Honduras en términos de política arancelaria y migratoria”. Así, el repunte del ICAE en febrero de 2026 representa no solo un reflejo del entorno actual, sino también de las apuestas a futuro en política económica e integración internacional del país.
Cabe recordar que la opinión de los analistas consultados por la EEAM refleja exclusivamente el consenso de expertos del sector privado, financiero y académico del país. Sin embargo, la solidez de la mejora registrada en el índice constituye una señal relevante para inversionistas, empresarios y tomadores de decisiones sobre la ruta hacia la consolidación económica de Honduras para los próximos años.
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The suspect authorities say killed an ROTC instructor at Old Dominion University had previously been convicted of providing material support to ISIS but received a shorter prison sentence than federal prosecutors sought before his release in 2024, according to court records.
Mohamed Jalloh, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Sierra Leone, entered a classroom Thursday at the Norfolk school and opened fire after confirming it was an ROTC class, killing Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, authorities said. The FBI’s Norfolk Field Office said ROTC cadets physically subdued Jalloh and stopped the attack, adding that their actions «rendered [him] no longer alive.»
«The horrific tragedy that occurred today on ODU’s campus never should have happened,» Rep. Jennifer Kiggans, R-Va., said following the attack.
Court records show Jalloh was arrested in 2016 for providing material support to ISIS.
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Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was identified by authorities as the shooter at Old Dominion University on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo)
Federal prosecutors sought a 20-year prison sentence, but Senior U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady ultimately sentenced him to 132 months — roughly 11 years.
According to prosecutors, a now-deceased ISIS member overseas arranged contact between Jalloh and an individual he believed to be a fellow supporter but who was actually an FBI confidential human source. Investigators said Jalloh also traveled to Nigeria in connection with the plot.
The overseas terrorist wanted an attack carried out, while Jalloh told the FBI source he decided not to renew his enlistment with the Virginia Army National Guard after listening to lectures from Al Qaeda terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki — a New Mexico native against whom President Barack Obama ordered a fatal drone strike in 2011.
«The defendant was fully aware of what he was doing, and the consequences of those actions. His only misgivings seemed to be a fear that he would waver at the critical moment,» prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum obtained by the Associated Press.
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O’Grady later handed down an 11-year sentence that included mental health treatment and substance abuse testing, according to the wire service, and Jalloh was ultimately released in 2024.
Jalloh’s release also required no contact with any terrorist organizations and computer monitoring during probation.
«Jalloh was sentenced in 2017 to 132 months in prison for providing material support to ISIS. The [government] had asked for a sentence of 240 months, the statutory maximum,» former federal prosecutor William Shipley wrote on X.
«The Judge who imposed the reduced sentence was Senior Judge Liam O’Grady, in the Eastern District of Virginia, a GWB appointee. Judge O’Grady announced he was taking Senior Status in June 2020 — right in the heart of the start of COVID, meaning there was no chance that Pres[ident] Trump would be able to get his replacement confirmed.»
«Joe Biden ended up nominating his replacement — Judge Patricia Giles.» Giles, he said, controversially ruled in 2024 that Virginia had illegally purged noncitizens from the voter rolls too close to that year’s election and ordered their restoration.
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Asked whether the spate of recent attacks shows a resurgence of ISIS threats to the homeland or if previously lax immigration policies have played a role, a spokesperson for National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent pointed to recent comments he made after the Iran mission began:
«As the Iran conflict continues to unfold, ODNI’s National Counterterrorism Center is engaged and operating at full capacity, 24/7. We are tracking developments in real time, assessing any potential risks to the homeland, identifying emerging threats, and providing timely, actionable intelligence to the White House, law enforcement, and interagency partners to detect and prevent attacks against the American people,» Kent said.
Old Dominion University campus in Norfolk, Virginia, features academic buildings and landscaped grounds as a public research university serving southeastern Virginia and beyond. (John Greim/LightRocket)
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Kent said counterterrorism officials are «acutely aware» and focused on eliminating «persistent» threats posed by thousands of people with terror ties who «poured into our nation unchecked during four years of open borders under Biden.»
«Constant vigilance is a must. Stay aware of your surroundings, and if you see something suspicious, report it immediately to local law enforcement. Every one of us has a role to play in keeping this nation secure,» Kent said.
A DOJ spokesperson told Fox News Digital there are «no known or credible threats to the homeland» at this time and that federal agents are «maintaining a constant state of vigilance to keep Americans safe.»
Fox News Digital reached out to ODNI, the FBI and O’Grady for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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