Harold “Hal” Hill
@mftf.bsky.social
Retired civil engineer, mentor for my grandchildren & golfer in Santa Barbara.
Nine days into the new year, Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune have been plunged into a series of uncomfortable — and in some cases, intractable — political problems. If this is the way 2026 is going to go, it could be a very long year for the GOP.
January 9, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Nine days into the new year, Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune have been plunged into a series of uncomfortable — and in some cases, intractable — political problems. If this is the way 2026 is going to go, it could be a very long year for the GOP.
President Trump has proposed the purchase, by the US government, of $200 billion in mortgage bonds. Experts estimate that this bond purchase could lower the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage interest rate by about 0.25 to 0.5 percentage points. Republicans are proposing too little too late. 👎
January 9, 2026 at 1:03 AM
President Trump has proposed the purchase, by the US government, of $200 billion in mortgage bonds. Experts estimate that this bond purchase could lower the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage interest rate by about 0.25 to 0.5 percentage points. Republicans are proposing too little too late. 👎
Now is the time for Senate Republicans to explain to the American people why they think rising health care costs are a good idea. They have had years to develop an alternative, but have nothing to offer. Email your Senators and ask them to extend the Obamacare subsidies.
January 9, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Now is the time for Senate Republicans to explain to the American people why they think rising health care costs are a good idea. They have had years to develop an alternative, but have nothing to offer. Email your Senators and ask them to extend the Obamacare subsidies.
17 Republicans joined Democrats in passing legislation Thursday that would revive enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years.
The 230-196 vote follows a procedural vote Wednesday to advance the bill, where nine Republicans joined Democrats in favor of moving forward.
The 230-196 vote follows a procedural vote Wednesday to advance the bill, where nine Republicans joined Democrats in favor of moving forward.
January 8, 2026 at 11:55 PM
17 Republicans joined Democrats in passing legislation Thursday that would revive enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years.
The 230-196 vote follows a procedural vote Wednesday to advance the bill, where nine Republicans joined Democrats in favor of moving forward.
The 230-196 vote follows a procedural vote Wednesday to advance the bill, where nine Republicans joined Democrats in favor of moving forward.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Overpowering Speaker Mike Johnson, a bipartisan coalition in the House voted Wednesday to push forward a measure that would revive an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowered health insurance costs for roughly 22 million people, but that had expired last month.
January 8, 2026 at 2:02 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Overpowering Speaker Mike Johnson, a bipartisan coalition in the House voted Wednesday to push forward a measure that would revive an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowered health insurance costs for roughly 22 million people, but that had expired last month.
The House GOP leadership expects a procedural vote on Wednesday to extend the Obamacare subsidies for three years. Passage of the legislation — forced onto the floor after a revolt by GOP moderates. This will put pressure on the Senate to find a path to extend the expiring tax credits.
January 6, 2026 at 4:24 PM
The House GOP leadership expects a procedural vote on Wednesday to extend the Obamacare subsidies for three years. Passage of the legislation — forced onto the floor after a revolt by GOP moderates. This will put pressure on the Senate to find a path to extend the expiring tax credits.
Trump spent weeks telling Congress that he wasn’t seeking a regime change in Venezuela as he ordered a U.S. military buildup. Yet that was precisely the goal. Trump also told voters during the 2024 campaign that he wasn’t interested in foreign policy adventures or starting “endless wars.” 👎
January 5, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Trump spent weeks telling Congress that he wasn’t seeking a regime change in Venezuela as he ordered a U.S. military buildup. Yet that was precisely the goal. Trump also told voters during the 2024 campaign that he wasn’t interested in foreign policy adventures or starting “endless wars.” 👎
Today is the last day of Congress’ winter break. So please enjoy it while you still can. A partial government shutdown is just 28 days away if Congress can’t come together on an FY2026 funding deal.
January 2, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Today is the last day of Congress’ winter break. So please enjoy it while you still can. A partial government shutdown is just 28 days away if Congress can’t come together on an FY2026 funding deal.
NEW YORK (AP) — Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City on Thursday, taking over one of the most unrelenting jobs in American politics with a promise to transform government on behalf of the city’s striving, struggling working class. His acceptance speech was awesomely inspirational! 👍
January 2, 2026 at 12:57 AM
NEW YORK (AP) — Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City on Thursday, taking over one of the most unrelenting jobs in American politics with a promise to transform government on behalf of the city’s striving, struggling working class. His acceptance speech was awesomely inspirational! 👍
Trump Administration retreats in the Newsom lawsuit over National Guard deployment. This is a long overdue win for the rule of law as the Trump administration is forced to end its illegal deployment of our service members. Kudos to Governor Gavin Newsom.
January 1, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Trump Administration retreats in the Newsom lawsuit over National Guard deployment. This is a long overdue win for the rule of law as the Trump administration is forced to end its illegal deployment of our service members. Kudos to Governor Gavin Newsom.
Jan. 1 means Congress has officially allowed the enhanced ACA premium subsidies to expire. Millions of Americans will either lose their coverage or face dramatically higher premiums. Even conservative media outlets are hammering Trump and Hill Republicans over this one.
January 1, 2026 at 4:13 PM
Jan. 1 means Congress has officially allowed the enhanced ACA premium subsidies to expire. Millions of Americans will either lose their coverage or face dramatically higher premiums. Even conservative media outlets are hammering Trump and Hill Republicans over this one.
ACA EXPIRATION FIGHT
The fight ended with four Republican signing Jeffries’ petition. When Congress returns in January, the House will vote on Jeffries’ ACA bill, a huge win for Jeffries. 👍
The fight ended with four Republican signing Jeffries’ petition. When Congress returns in January, the House will vote on Jeffries’ ACA bill, a huge win for Jeffries. 👍
December 20, 2025 at 4:25 PM
ACA EXPIRATION FIGHT
The fight ended with four Republican signing Jeffries’ petition. When Congress returns in January, the House will vote on Jeffries’ ACA bill, a huge win for Jeffries. 👍
The fight ended with four Republican signing Jeffries’ petition. When Congress returns in January, the House will vote on Jeffries’ ACA bill, a huge win for Jeffries. 👍
Rachel Maddow, Stephen Colbert, and Joy Reid stepped into a single spotlight and officially announced the launch of their new independent newsroom. In this dramatic reveal, the trio declared they were leaving corporate constraints behind to build in transparency, and unfiltered truth.
December 19, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Rachel Maddow, Stephen Colbert, and Joy Reid stepped into a single spotlight and officially announced the launch of their new independent newsroom. In this dramatic reveal, the trio declared they were leaving corporate constraints behind to build in transparency, and unfiltered truth.
Governor Gavin Newsom today launched a new website detailing the criminal records, corruption cases, and extremist ties of the people Donald Trump elevates, protects, pardons, and surrounds himself with.
December 19, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Governor Gavin Newsom today launched a new website detailing the criminal records, corruption cases, and extremist ties of the people Donald Trump elevates, protects, pardons, and surrounds himself with.
THE HEALTHCARE FIGHT
The House GOP leadership has facilitated an untimely — and particularly nasty — intraparty brawl, pitting moderates against Republican Party leaders and further strengthening Democrats’ political hand as the Obamacare cliff looms.
The House GOP leadership has facilitated an untimely — and particularly nasty — intraparty brawl, pitting moderates against Republican Party leaders and further strengthening Democrats’ political hand as the Obamacare cliff looms.
December 16, 2025 at 4:44 PM
THE HEALTHCARE FIGHT
The House GOP leadership has facilitated an untimely — and particularly nasty — intraparty brawl, pitting moderates against Republican Party leaders and further strengthening Democrats’ political hand as the Obamacare cliff looms.
The House GOP leadership has facilitated an untimely — and particularly nasty — intraparty brawl, pitting moderates against Republican Party leaders and further strengthening Democrats’ political hand as the Obamacare cliff looms.
GOP moderates wanted to hear from Mike Johnson on whether he’d put a bill on the floor to extend enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies, a huge political and policy problem for Republicans. Unsatisfied with his answer, these Republican moderates dropped a discharge petition to go over Johnson’s head.
December 11, 2025 at 3:42 PM
GOP moderates wanted to hear from Mike Johnson on whether he’d put a bill on the floor to extend enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies, a huge political and policy problem for Republicans. Unsatisfied with his answer, these Republican moderates dropped a discharge petition to go over Johnson’s head.
“When the United States and our governing structures are sound and solid, I think that that gives not only the country comfort, but the free world comfort. And it just seems like things are jumbled right now,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a senior defense appropriator.
Punchbowl News
Punchbowl News
December 9, 2025 at 4:59 PM
“When the United States and our governing structures are sound and solid, I think that that gives not only the country comfort, but the free world comfort. And it just seems like things are jumbled right now,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a senior defense appropriator.
Punchbowl News
Punchbowl News
GOP senators who represent dueling ideological factions in the Republican Conference are teaming up on a plan to extend the Obamacare subsidies for two years with income caps and other reforms.
December 8, 2025 at 5:12 PM
GOP senators who represent dueling ideological factions in the Republican Conference are teaming up on a plan to extend the Obamacare subsidies for two years with income caps and other reforms.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has embarked on a spending spree, signing contracts worth up to $25 million for a smorgasbord of spy technology: social media monitoring systems, cellphone location tracking, facial recognition, remote hacking tools, and more.
December 7, 2025 at 12:30 AM
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has embarked on a spending spree, signing contracts worth up to $25 million for a smorgasbord of spy technology: social media monitoring systems, cellphone location tracking, facial recognition, remote hacking tools, and more.
Senate Republicans are flailing around on health care, unable to decide whether to offer their own plan to counter next week’s vote on Democrats’ Obamacare subsidy bill.
Trumpcare is so bad they are scared to bring it to a vote.
Trumpcare is so bad they are scared to bring it to a vote.
December 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Senate Republicans are flailing around on health care, unable to decide whether to offer their own plan to counter next week’s vote on Democrats’ Obamacare subsidy bill.
Trumpcare is so bad they are scared to bring it to a vote.
Trumpcare is so bad they are scared to bring it to a vote.
The deadline to extend Obamacare premium subsidies is just three weeks away. And Congress is nowhere on this issue.
There’s been no real push from party leaders on either side to secure a deal, leaving moderates and vulnerable Republicans scrambling. Let’s hope for action soon.
There’s been no real push from party leaders on either side to secure a deal, leaving moderates and vulnerable Republicans scrambling. Let’s hope for action soon.
December 5, 2025 at 4:41 AM
The deadline to extend Obamacare premium subsidies is just three weeks away. And Congress is nowhere on this issue.
There’s been no real push from party leaders on either side to secure a deal, leaving moderates and vulnerable Republicans scrambling. Let’s hope for action soon.
There’s been no real push from party leaders on either side to secure a deal, leaving moderates and vulnerable Republicans scrambling. Let’s hope for action soon.
Speaker Mike Johnson is staring down an excruciatingly difficult stretch over the next 11 months that will test the Republican Conference’s patience, his own political savvy and President Donald Trump’s power within the GOP. This period may be full of surprises.
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Speaker Mike Johnson is staring down an excruciatingly difficult stretch over the next 11 months that will test the Republican Conference’s patience, his own political savvy and President Donald Trump’s power within the GOP. This period may be full of surprises.
President Trump and House Republicans thought they had a winning strategy for the midterm elections, not realizing that it could backfire. Then a federal judicial panel in Texas overturned the Republicans’ aggressive redraw of the Lone Star State’s congressional map. California Democrats may benefit
December 1, 2025 at 1:36 AM
President Trump and House Republicans thought they had a winning strategy for the midterm elections, not realizing that it could backfire. Then a federal judicial panel in Texas overturned the Republicans’ aggressive redraw of the Lone Star State’s congressional map. California Democrats may benefit
The idea that Republicans could lose their majority this Congress is no longer far-fetched. If Johnson were to lose another House Republican in the middle of this term to retirement, death or illness, there’s a possibility that the GOP could end up in the minority at some point in 2026.
November 24, 2025 at 8:51 PM
The idea that Republicans could lose their majority this Congress is no longer far-fetched. If Johnson were to lose another House Republican in the middle of this term to retirement, death or illness, there’s a possibility that the GOP could end up in the minority at some point in 2026.
THE MAGA DIVIDE EXPANDS
In recent weeks, Margery Taylor Greene has escalated her criticism of Trump’s focus on foreign policy over what she has said should be an agenda that concentrates on Americans, as well as his reluctance to release more documents involving the Jeffrey Epstein case.
In recent weeks, Margery Taylor Greene has escalated her criticism of Trump’s focus on foreign policy over what she has said should be an agenda that concentrates on Americans, as well as his reluctance to release more documents involving the Jeffrey Epstein case.
November 16, 2025 at 12:59 AM
THE MAGA DIVIDE EXPANDS
In recent weeks, Margery Taylor Greene has escalated her criticism of Trump’s focus on foreign policy over what she has said should be an agenda that concentrates on Americans, as well as his reluctance to release more documents involving the Jeffrey Epstein case.
In recent weeks, Margery Taylor Greene has escalated her criticism of Trump’s focus on foreign policy over what she has said should be an agenda that concentrates on Americans, as well as his reluctance to release more documents involving the Jeffrey Epstein case.