Apple News Today

Episode Summary: Why Republicans are Struggling to Unify on Health Care
Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Gideon Reznick (in for Shamita Basu)

Episode Overview

This episode focuses primarily on the mounting frustrations within the Republican Party over health care policy, specifically the internal discord surrounding the extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. The discussion highlights the political and ideological rifts among House and Senate Republicans, their struggle to find a unified approach, and the potential impacts for Americans relying on ACA coverage. Additional stories include updates on the Bondi Beach shooting in Australia, a mass shooting at Brown University, and brief highlights from other major news stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Republican Discord Over ACA Subsidies and Health Care Policy

Speaker: Gideon Reznick, Jordan Carney (Politico congressional reporter), Rep. Mike Lawler

• House Speaker Mike Johnson's Announcement

  • [00:36] Johnson stated he would not call a vote to extend enhanced ACA subsidies, leading to probable premium increases for millions next year.
  • The decision came despite some Republicans—especially those facing tight races—wanting the extension for constituents’ benefit.

• Internal Party Tensions

  • [00:56] Multiple House Republicans had pushed for a vote as a "pressure release valve," but, as an unnamed lawmaker put it:

    "We worked on it all the way through the weekend, in fact. And in the end, there was not an agreement wasn't made."

  • Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) described the decision as:

    "idiotic that Johnson wouldn't pursue the extension." [01:14]

  • Instead, Republicans are pivoting to proposals expanding insurance options for small businesses and the self-employed.

• Senate Action and Broader GOP Frustration

  • [01:29] Two party plans to address health care costs failed in the Senate the previous week.
  • Politico’s Jordan Carney:

    "Republicans have sort of continuously struggled to come up with a unifying plan on health care. They've been debating privately for months among themselves what their message should be right now." [01:45]

• Deep-Seated Divisions: Moderates vs. Conservatives

  • [02:01] Carney highlights:

    "There's not like a unified plan that gets both House and Senate Republicans. You got some centrist or moderate Republicans who want to do an extension of the subsidies with income caps or other new restrictions. You've got more conservative Republicans who want to let them lapse."

• Political Messaging Dilemma

  • Republicans’ longstanding opposition to ACA complicates any effort to extend its provisions, with Carney noting:

    "To extend the subsidies, you would need to get Republicans who have never voted for Obamacare to essentially vote to continue a piece of that law, which they have made a center of their opposition like a center of their political messaging for 15 years." [02:33]

• Lack of Trump Leadership on Health Care

  • [02:57] Carney on Trump’s vagueness:

    "He said that he wants kind of broadly to send money to people, not insurance companies. But on Capitol Hill, you had Republicans for months who have really been hoping he would very explicitly say, here is my framework or here is my plan... That has not happened." [03:01]

  • Absent clear direction from Trump, Republican lawmakers remain divided.

• Bipartisan Talks

  • A bipartisan group of senators continues to discuss a subsidy fix but substantive action is not expected until next year. [03:27]

2. Other Major News Stories

A. Bondi Beach Shooting, Australia [03:45]

• Vigils and funerals were held following a Hanukkah festival shooting.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced:

  "There is evidence that this was inspired by a terrorist organization by isis... including the presence of Islamic State flags in the vehicle that has been seized." [04:03]

• Gunmen believed to be a father and son; father killed, son in custody.
• Australia pursuing stricter gun regulations.

B. Brown University Shooting, Providence, RI [06:39]

• Two students killed, nine injured; suspect at large.
• Authorities released footage and sought the public's help.
• Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez:

  "We believe that he was actually casing out this area to commit the crime. That's a pattern that criminals do, and that's what he was doing." [07:03]

• AP Reporter Jennifer McDermott on security gaps:

  "There are a number of security cameras at the Brown campus, but the building where the shooting took place did not have that many." [07:40]

• Concerns raised over inadequate campus security, emergency alert changes, and growing calls for enhanced protections.

C. Additional Headlines [10:29]

• Nick Reiner charged with murder of parents Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer Reiner.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth withholds release of Caribbean boat strike video.
• President Trump orders blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers.

D. Holiday Music Trends [12:06]

• Christmas songs dominate Spotify's top US tracks.
• Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" named longest running #1 in Billboard history.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Health Care Inaction:

  "Many of them did want to vote on this Obamacare Covid era subsidy... and in the end, there was not an agreement wasn't made." – Unnamed Republican lawmaker [00:56]

• On Party Infighting:

  "Republicans have sort of continuously struggled to come up with a unifying plan on health care." – Jordan Carney [01:45]

• On Extending ACA Subsidies:

  "To extend the subsidies, you would need to get Republicans who have never voted for Obamacare to essentially vote to continue a piece of that law." – Jordan Carney [02:33]

• On Trump’s Leadership:

  "You had Republicans for months... hoping he would very explicitly say here is my framework or here is my plan. That has not happened." – Jordan Carney [03:01]

• On Brown University Security:

  "One of the issues... is the lack of campus security footage." – Jennifer McDermott, AP [07:40] "It's very sad and somber on campus. They're mourning the loss of two of their classmates..." – Jennifer McDermott, AP [09:33]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Republican ACA Subsidy Debate: 00:36 – 03:27
• Bondi Beach Terror Attack: 03:45 – 06:27
• Brown University Shooting: 06:39 – 10:17
• Other Headlines (Nick Reiner case, DoD video, Venezuela blockade): 10:29 – 12:06
• Holiday Music Trends: 12:06 – 13:01

Conclusion

This Apple News Today episode offers a nuanced look at the internal fractures within the Republican Party on health care ahead of critical elections, with expert commentary on the unique challenges of extending ACA-related benefits. Coverage of international terrorism, campus shootings, and lighter holiday cultural trends rounds out a packed episode, providing listeners with a concise but rich briefing on the day’s most pressing (and memorable) stories.