Balance of Power – Senate Rejects Healthcare Bills

Podcast: Bloomberg — Balance of Power
Episode Date: December 11, 2025
Host(s): Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz
Notable Guests: Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Bloomberg reporters, Rick Davis, Jeannie Shan Zaino

Overview

This episode centers on two major stories: the Senate's rejection of both Democratic and Republican healthcare bills and the geopolitical fallout from the U.S. seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker. The program weaves together in-depth Capitol Hill reporting and vivid panel debate, highlighting the complex intersections of healthcare costs, legislative gridlock, and U.S. foreign policy escalation in the Caribbean.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Senate Healthcare Bill Failures

(See: 05:05, 18:33, 27:50, 31:41)

• Both Parties at a Stalemate:

  • Both Democratic and Republican healthcare bills were voted down in the Senate. The Democratic plan sought to extend ACA (“Obamacare”) subsidies, while the Republican proposal focused on expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
  • The expiration of COVID-era enhanced subsidies is set to trigger significant increases in ACA premiums for millions by early 2026.

• Presidential Non-Engagement:

  • President Trump was noted as being largely absent from the negotiations, which increased the likelihood of both bills failing.

  • The lack of executive leadership is seen as a reason why the votes were perceived as “show votes.”

    “The lack of support from President Trump outrightly for one particular deal is ultimately why these votes were considered to be show votes today on Capitol Hill.” — Tyler Kendall (05:29)

• Consequences:

  • 15 million Americans projected to lose coverage due to Medicaid and ACA cuts, per CBO estimates cited by Rep. Boyle (11:10).

  • Political framing on both sides: Democrats argue the cost-of-living crisis remains unsolved and point out price increases since Trump took office; Republicans frame the ACA as “never truly affordable” and press for fraud prevention and more consumer-directed reforms.

    "He has not lowered prices. In fact, prices are higher today than when he took office." — Rep. Brendan Boyle (08:57)

2. House Maneuverings & The Bipartisan “Discharge Petitions”

(13:09, 18:33, 19:40)

• House Discharge Petitions:

  • Democratic Petition: Pushes for a “clean” three-year extension of ACA subsidies; all Democrats have signed, but no Republicans.
  • Bipartisan Petition: Spearheaded by Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Jared Golden (D-ME), this two-year extension includes eligibility checks and anti-fraud provisions. Ten Republicans have signed; Rep. Nicole Malliotakis is a leading Republican proponent.

• Views from the Lawmakers:

  • Rep. Brendan Boyle (D): Emphasizes the urgent need to extend coverage; rebuffs claims that Democrats are “rooting” for high premiums to gain electoral advantage (11:51).

  • Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R): Champions the Problem Solvers Caucus bill, citing measures to combat fraud and a pragmatic approach.

    "We're not only preventing this spike in premiums ... but it also goes after some of the fraud by putting in specific measures that reign in the insurance companies and the brokers and how they enroll individuals..." — Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (19:52)

• Leadership Resistance:

  • House Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled reluctance to bring any extension forward, favoring HSA expansion and premium reduction measures instead (21:15).

• Outlook:

  • Little optimism for a clean legislative solution; “Christmas miracle” needed to avert higher premiums (31:41).

3. Affordability as Political Theme

(06:41, 07:35, 08:38)

• President Trump’s Messaging:

  • On an “affordability road show,” President Trump focuses public rhetoric on cost-of-living, inflation, and his efforts to negotiate lower drug and gas prices. Critics point out contradictions with rising prices and claim “affordability” is a new partisan “hoax.”

  • Memorable quote (mocking excessive imaginary pencil purchases):

    “The problem is that too many kids have 37 pencils. I can assure you I don't have 37 pencils. Neither does my daughter.” — Rep. Brendan Boyle (08:40)

• Democratic Response:

  • Democrats cite the impact of Trump tariffs as a key driver of persistent inflation.

    “Inflation is higher today than they projected and it is almost entirely due to the Trump tariffs.” — Rep. Brendan Boyle (09:35)

4. Shutdown Risks and Government Funding Uncertainty

(14:22, 15:28, 15:48)

• Echoes from July:

  • Rep. Boyle recalls his summer prediction that budget “rescissions” would lead to a shutdown; he maintains the risk is real if additional rescissions or reconciliation pushes are attempted.

    "I think actually a shutdown is more likely than not." — Rep. Brendan Boyle (15:28)

• Lack of Trust:

  • Tensions between the legislative and executive branches due to perceived bad faith in post-vote rescissions.

5. Panel Perspectives: Stalemate and Midterm Implications

(27:50, 29:01)

• Jeannie Shan Zaino (Democratic Analyst):

  • Expresses frustration that the gridlock was so foreseeable, laments lack of bipartisan progress, and highlights the “cliff” millions face on premiums.

    "...very disheartening to hear members say that anything could happen in terms of a shutdown ... two parties who can’t get it together." — Jeannie Shan Zaino (27:50)

• Rick Davis (Republican Strategist):

  • Argues Republicans missed the window for effective reform in last year’s reconciliation process and now find themselves on the defensive with no clear plan ahead of midterms.

    "Now Republicans are on the defensive. We don't have a plan. It's only going to get worse before it gets better." — Rick Davis (29:23)

6. US Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Tanker: Geopolitical Escalation

(02:07, 03:20, 31:41, 33:17)

• Incident Recap:

  • U.S. Special Forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker (“Seoul”) with a dramatic helicopter raid; Bloomberg footage circulated widely.

    “You see a military helicopter lowering itself to the deck, just hovering above the deck of this tanker … special forces rappel out of the chopper and take control of the ship ... there were no casualties.” — Joe (02:27)

• Analyst & Military Reaction:

  • This is seen as a direct escalation in the U.S. campaign to pressure Maduro, targeting Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy.
  • Former General Wesley Clark describes the operation as a clear message—Maduro’s days "numbered," and the U.S. intent is broader than just anti-narcotics efforts.

• Insurance and Strategic Pressure:

  • Rick Davis suggests the seizure is intended to discourage insurance for tankers—impacting both Venezuelan and Iranian crude exports (34:30).

• International Fallout:

  • Venezuela calls the action “barefaced robbery” and “piracy”; Maduro responds with public bravado.

  • Russia signals support for Venezuela, but panelists doubt Moscow has the means or will to do more than posture (38:48).

    "I don't think Russia can complicate this mission virtually at all. They're not going to send military advisors or significant amount of equipment to Venezuela…" — Rick Davis (38:48)

• Panel on Broader Implications:

  • Jeannie Shan Zaino raises the Monroe Doctrine analogy, noting how U.S. hemispheric interventionism could create dilemmas vis-à-vis China, Russia, and Ukraine.

  • Congress may attempt to constrain Trump’s actions via potential War Powers resolutions, but panelists judge passage unlikely (41:41).

    “Donald Trump is not doing [is] telling the public what his goals and objectives are ... we don't even have a clear strategy for how to get into this conflict." — Rick Davis (42:11)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Tyler Kendall: “The lack of support from President Trump outrightly for one particular deal is ultimately why these votes were considered to be show votes today on Capitol Hill.” (05:29)
• Rep. Brendan Boyle: "He has not lowered prices. In fact, prices are higher today than when he took office." (08:57)
• Rep. Nicole Malliotakis: “We're not only preventing this spike in premiums ... but it also goes after some of the fraud ...” (19:52)
• Jeannie Shan Zaino: "Very disheartening to hear members say that anything could happen in terms of a shutdown ... two parties who can’t get it together." (27:50)
• Rick Davis: "Now Republicans are on the defensive. We don't have a plan. It's only going to get worse before it gets better." (29:23)
• Joe (Host): “Unless there's some sort of Christmas miracle, and those don't happen very often, this will continue to be an issue hanging over the White House.” (31:41)
• Joe/General Wesley Clark: "It's just one more push to get [Maduro] out the door ... the purpose of this is not just counter-narcotics." (33:37)

Structure & Key Segments

• [05:05] Senate rejects extension of healthcare subsidies (Democratic plan fails)
• [08:38, 09:40, 11:20] Rep. Boyle critiques Trump's affordability pitch and the expected healthcare fallout
• [19:40] Rep. Malliotakis discusses the bipartisan discharge petition and fraud investigations
• [27:50] Panel debates prospects for shutdown and health policy gridlock
• [33:17] Analysis of U.S. seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker, White House messaging, foreign policy implications

Final Takeaways

• Healthcare Gridlock: Both major party proposals have collapsed in the Senate, with millions of Americans facing impending premium hikes or loss of coverage. Regular legislative tactics (discharge petitions) offer a faint hope, but the odds of movement before year-end appear slim.
• Political Implications: The health care impasse and the affordability narrative are set to dominate the coming midterms, with both parties poised to blame the other for “going over the cliff.”
• Foreign Policy Escalation: The U.S. continues to escalate its pressure on Venezuela, broadening sanctions with direct military enforcement. Russia is posturing in support of Maduro, but practical support may be limited. War Powers resolutions may arise in Congress but are unlikely to restrict the president’s latitude.
• Underlying Tone: Frustration with legislative deadlock and concern about rising tensions—both domestically on healthcare, and internationally in the Caribbean—shape the panel’s analysis throughout the episode.

This summary provides a comprehensive, timestamped account of the episode’s substantive debate, equipped with speaker attributions and representative quotes.