Michael McAuliff
@mcauliff.bsky.social
Covering politics and policy in Washington for Modern Healthcare. Priors include HuffPost, New York Daily News, ABC News.
Wow. CBO’s estimate for the 10-year cost of the big beautiful bill is $4.7 trillion. And the cost of aggressive immigration enforcement is $500 billion.
February 11, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Wow. CBO’s estimate for the 10-year cost of the big beautiful bill is $4.7 trillion. And the cost of aggressive immigration enforcement is $500 billion.
If you watched hearings lately, more Republicans are sounding fed up with health insurers. So here's Finance ranking member Wyden arguing Trump's new ACA rule helps those same insurers: “The latest Trump-Republican broadside on American health care is all about empowering the greed of Big Insurance"
February 10, 2026 at 9:32 PM
If you watched hearings lately, more Republicans are sounding fed up with health insurers. So here's Finance ranking member Wyden arguing Trump's new ACA rule helps those same insurers: “The latest Trump-Republican broadside on American health care is all about empowering the greed of Big Insurance"
Interesting old guard/new guard moment yesterday
February 4, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Interesting old guard/new guard moment yesterday
Pretty much what we're all looking at for the next 10 days. Or more.
February 3, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Pretty much what we're all looking at for the next 10 days. Or more.
Rose is citing the lack of a voter ID bill as a reason for objecting
It’s one thing to say you support the SAVE Act, it’s another to attach it to must-pass legislation..And frankly, I don’t trust Mitch McConnell and John Thune
It’s one thing to say you support the SAVE Act, it’s another to attach it to must-pass legislation..And frankly, I don’t trust Mitch McConnell and John Thune
February 3, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Rose is citing the lack of a voter ID bill as a reason for objecting
It’s one thing to say you support the SAVE Act, it’s another to attach it to must-pass legislation..And frankly, I don’t trust Mitch McConnell and John Thune
It’s one thing to say you support the SAVE Act, it’s another to attach it to must-pass legislation..And frankly, I don’t trust Mitch McConnell and John Thune
One of these two Republicans need to switch to yes if this spending bill is going to advance
February 3, 2026 at 4:54 PM
One of these two Republicans need to switch to yes if this spending bill is going to advance
Looking at the Senate, we seem to be in the part of the night where leaders are figuring out what they need to give holdouts to agree to unanimous consent. Past results are no guarantee... but usually leaders get it. And Rand Paul gets some vote.
It's the Senate. It's always harder than it looks.
It's the Senate. It's always harder than it looks.
January 30, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Looking at the Senate, we seem to be in the part of the night where leaders are figuring out what they need to give holdouts to agree to unanimous consent. Past results are no guarantee... but usually leaders get it. And Rand Paul gets some vote.
It's the Senate. It's always harder than it looks.
It's the Senate. It's always harder than it looks.
Susan Collins: "I can report that Secretary Noem has informed me that ICE has ended its enhanced activities in the State of Maine.”
January 29, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Susan Collins: "I can report that Secretary Noem has informed me that ICE has ended its enhanced activities in the State of Maine.”
Here's the chart of states where hospitals face the greatest risk from letter the subsidies expire.
Ga, Miss, SC, Kan, Tenn, Ala, Wyo., La., WV, Mont., SD, ND
Thune represents SD
Johnson, Scalise and Cassidy represent La.
Ga, Miss, SC, Kan, Tenn, Ala, Wyo., La., WV, Mont., SD, ND
Thune represents SD
Johnson, Scalise and Cassidy represent La.
January 27, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Here's the chart of states where hospitals face the greatest risk from letter the subsidies expire.
Ga, Miss, SC, Kan, Tenn, Ala, Wyo., La., WV, Mont., SD, ND
Thune represents SD
Johnson, Scalise and Cassidy represent La.
Ga, Miss, SC, Kan, Tenn, Ala, Wyo., La., WV, Mont., SD, ND
Thune represents SD
Johnson, Scalise and Cassidy represent La.
Ending ACA enhanced subsidies has credit impacts on hospitals, particularly in the South and states that didn't expand Medicaid, per Fitch.
January 27, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Ending ACA enhanced subsidies has credit impacts on hospitals, particularly in the South and states that didn't expand Medicaid, per Fitch.
Statement of Rep. Mary Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) on the president visiting her state, due south of Minnesota.
Miller-Meeks Statement on President Trump’s Visit to Iowa
“I’m glad to welcome President Trump back to Iowa...I appreciate the President taking the time to hear directly from Iowans."
Miller-Meeks Statement on President Trump’s Visit to Iowa
“I’m glad to welcome President Trump back to Iowa...I appreciate the President taking the time to hear directly from Iowans."
January 26, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Statement of Rep. Mary Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) on the president visiting her state, due south of Minnesota.
Miller-Meeks Statement on President Trump’s Visit to Iowa
“I’m glad to welcome President Trump back to Iowa...I appreciate the President taking the time to hear directly from Iowans."
Miller-Meeks Statement on President Trump’s Visit to Iowa
“I’m glad to welcome President Trump back to Iowa...I appreciate the President taking the time to hear directly from Iowans."
Schumer draws a redline on DHS.
In the balance is health center funding, telehealth, HHS, PBM reforms, etc.
"We are ready to quickly advance the five appropriations bills separately from the DHS funding.. If Leader Thune puts those five bills on the floor this week, we can pass them right away....
In the balance is health center funding, telehealth, HHS, PBM reforms, etc.
"We are ready to quickly advance the five appropriations bills separately from the DHS funding.. If Leader Thune puts those five bills on the floor this week, we can pass them right away....
January 26, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Schumer draws a redline on DHS.
In the balance is health center funding, telehealth, HHS, PBM reforms, etc.
"We are ready to quickly advance the five appropriations bills separately from the DHS funding.. If Leader Thune puts those five bills on the floor this week, we can pass them right away....
In the balance is health center funding, telehealth, HHS, PBM reforms, etc.
"We are ready to quickly advance the five appropriations bills separately from the DHS funding.. If Leader Thune puts those five bills on the floor this week, we can pass them right away....
Michelle and Barack Obama:
This has to stop. I would hope that after this most recent tragedy, administration officials will reconsider their approach, and start finding ways to work constructively with Governor Walz and Mayor Frey as well as state and local police...
*how likely is that?
This has to stop. I would hope that after this most recent tragedy, administration officials will reconsider their approach, and start finding ways to work constructively with Governor Walz and Mayor Frey as well as state and local police...
*how likely is that?
January 25, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Michelle and Barack Obama:
This has to stop. I would hope that after this most recent tragedy, administration officials will reconsider their approach, and start finding ways to work constructively with Governor Walz and Mayor Frey as well as state and local police...
*how likely is that?
This has to stop. I would hope that after this most recent tragedy, administration officials will reconsider their approach, and start finding ways to work constructively with Governor Walz and Mayor Frey as well as state and local police...
*how likely is that?
Reuters:
Video footage then appears to show one of the agents removing a gun from Pretti and stepping away from the group with it.
Moments later, an officer with a handgun pointed at Pretti's back fires four shots at him
apple.news/AuC_IuUbTSEi...
Video footage then appears to show one of the agents removing a gun from Pretti and stepping away from the group with it.
Moments later, an officer with a handgun pointed at Pretti's back fires four shots at him
apple.news/AuC_IuUbTSEi...
January 25, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Reuters:
Video footage then appears to show one of the agents removing a gun from Pretti and stepping away from the group with it.
Moments later, an officer with a handgun pointed at Pretti's back fires four shots at him
apple.news/AuC_IuUbTSEi...
Video footage then appears to show one of the agents removing a gun from Pretti and stepping away from the group with it.
Moments later, an officer with a handgun pointed at Pretti's back fires four shots at him
apple.news/AuC_IuUbTSEi...
The AMA's statements on the administration's vaccine retreat are getting even sharper.
“This is not a theoretical debate – it is a dangerous step backward.
“There is no cure for polio. When vaccination rates fall, paralysis, lifelong disability, and death return. The science on this is settled.
“This is not a theoretical debate – it is a dangerous step backward.
“There is no cure for polio. When vaccination rates fall, paralysis, lifelong disability, and death return. The science on this is settled.
January 23, 2026 at 9:28 PM
The AMA's statements on the administration's vaccine retreat are getting even sharper.
“This is not a theoretical debate – it is a dangerous step backward.
“There is no cure for polio. When vaccination rates fall, paralysis, lifelong disability, and death return. The science on this is settled.
“This is not a theoretical debate – it is a dangerous step backward.
“There is no cure for polio. When vaccination rates fall, paralysis, lifelong disability, and death return. The science on this is settled.
Wow. Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), who had brain surgery 5 weeks ago, told health insurers he would turn them all to dust, and at this point, he wants a non-profit system. This is a very conservative lawmaker, and a doctor.
January 22, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Wow. Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), who had brain surgery 5 weeks ago, told health insurers he would turn them all to dust, and at this point, he wants a non-profit system. This is a very conservative lawmaker, and a doctor.
Yikes! say so many reporters....
January 21, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Yikes! say so many reporters....
Wyden, top Finance Dem, on Trump's health plan:
"The Republican healthcare agenda is all about making your healthcare cost more and letting giant corporations decide if and when you get healthcare.. Every American should be asking.. are you paying more for your health care than you were a year ago?
"The Republican healthcare agenda is all about making your healthcare cost more and letting giant corporations decide if and when you get healthcare.. Every American should be asking.. are you paying more for your health care than you were a year ago?
January 15, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Wyden, top Finance Dem, on Trump's health plan:
"The Republican healthcare agenda is all about making your healthcare cost more and letting giant corporations decide if and when you get healthcare.. Every American should be asking.. are you paying more for your health care than you were a year ago?
"The Republican healthcare agenda is all about making your healthcare cost more and letting giant corporations decide if and when you get healthcare.. Every American should be asking.. are you paying more for your health care than you were a year ago?
When police shoot drivers of moving vehicles, they tend to crash, like Christmas Eve in Maryland, when ICE shot a Portuguese immigrant. Pic via @thebaltimorebanner.com
January 9, 2026 at 3:34 PM
When police shoot drivers of moving vehicles, they tend to crash, like Christmas Eve in Maryland, when ICE shot a Portuguese immigrant. Pic via @thebaltimorebanner.com
Susan Collins in favor of curbing Trump's war powers:
"While I support the operation to seize Nicolas Maduro, .. I do not support committing additional U.S. forces or entering into any long-term military involvement in Venezuela or Greenland without specific congressional authorization."
"While I support the operation to seize Nicolas Maduro, .. I do not support committing additional U.S. forces or entering into any long-term military involvement in Venezuela or Greenland without specific congressional authorization."
January 8, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Susan Collins in favor of curbing Trump's war powers:
"While I support the operation to seize Nicolas Maduro, .. I do not support committing additional U.S. forces or entering into any long-term military involvement in Venezuela or Greenland without specific congressional authorization."
"While I support the operation to seize Nicolas Maduro, .. I do not support committing additional U.S. forces or entering into any long-term military involvement in Venezuela or Greenland without specific congressional authorization."
Jeffries on the ICE killing in Minnesota: "Secretary Kristi Noem is a stone-cold liar and has zero credibility. The masked ICE agent who pulled the trigger should be criminally investigated to the full extent of the law for acting with depraved indifference to human life."
January 7, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Jeffries on the ICE killing in Minnesota: "Secretary Kristi Noem is a stone-cold liar and has zero credibility. The masked ICE agent who pulled the trigger should be criminally investigated to the full extent of the law for acting with depraved indifference to human life."
Democrats are trying to make this vote as hard as possible on Republicans, detailing how many constituents of each speaker will see premium hikes. Then there is also mockery of the chaos we have seen. This from Rep. Nanette Barragan.
December 17, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Democrats are trying to make this vote as hard as possible on Republicans, detailing how many constituents of each speaker will see premium hikes. Then there is also mockery of the chaos we have seen. This from Rep. Nanette Barragan.
Dem Conference chair Pete Aguilar: “Time is still marching on while Republicans sit on their hands. The American people will pay the price for the inaction the Republicans will, no doubt pay a price at the ballot box next year.”
December 16, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Dem Conference chair Pete Aguilar: “Time is still marching on while Republicans sit on their hands. The American people will pay the price for the inaction the Republicans will, no doubt pay a price at the ballot box next year.”
Rick Pollack, of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, announces his retirement as head of the American Hospital Association. "It has been an honor and privilege to have had the opportunity to represent the women and men of America’s hospitals.."
December 10, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Rick Pollack, of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, announces his retirement as head of the American Hospital Association. "It has been an honor and privilege to have had the opportunity to represent the women and men of America’s hospitals.."