The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show: The Truth with Lisa Boothe

Episode Title: Sen. Ron Johnson EXPOSES the Truth Behind the Government Shutdown and Obamacare’s Failures
Date: November 11, 2025
Host: Lisa Boothe (for "The Truth with Lisa Boothe")
Guest: Senator Ron Johnson

Episode Overview

In this episode, Lisa Boothe interviews Senator Ron Johnson, dissecting the recent government shutdown, the political fight over enhanced Obamacare subsidies, and the broader failures of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). The conversation also tackles Republican strategy, the future of the Senate filibuster, and prospects for health care reform. Throughout, Senator Johnson argues that Democrats are using government shutdowns and subsidies to mask Obamacare's failures and push the U.S. closer to a single-payer health system.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Government Shutdown & Its Purpose

• Senate Majority Leader Thune’s Offer:
  Boothe opens by questioning why Democrats forced a shutdown when they eventually accepted an offer (a guaranteed vote on enhanced Obamacare subsidies) already on the table in October.

  • “So what the heck was the point of the government shutdown?... What was the point of screwing over all of these working families … withholding their paychecks?”
    — Lisa Boothe [03:00]

• Johnson’s Take:
  Sen. Johnson frames the shutdown as political gamesmanship—Democrats wanted to highlight Obamacare’s “beefed up” subsidies and hide the law’s failures.

  • “I think that was just to gain Democrats consent to … stop their obstruction. But again, from my standpoint…I truthfully think that Democrats have stepped in it by raising the issue of Obamacare. They’ve given us a few months now to just highlight what a miserable failure it is.”
    — Sen. Ron Johnson [04:09]

  • He describes how the shutdown used government workers and the public as “pawns in this sick political gamesmanship.”
    — [06:59]

2. Obamacare’s Systemic Failures

• Damage Assessment:
  Johnson reflects on a recent Senate hearing he chaired, with expert witnesses detailing Obamacare’s impacts:

  • Industry consolidation led to less competition and higher premiums.
  • Medicaid expansion squeezed out traditional Medicaid recipients.
  • Individuals face unaffordable premiums and deductibles.
  • Johnson shares a personal story from the hearing, where a witness (brought by Democrats) lost employer coverage, faced unaffordable premiums, and had to take out a home equity loan for medical bills.
    • “The Democrats’ own witness was a victim of Obamacare, but our problem is … he’s sitting there in the hearing, with his own witness unable to recognize the damage done to her and her family because of Obamacare.”
      — Sen. Ron Johnson [05:42]

• Premium Increases:
  Johnson cites a chart showing premiums for a 40-year-old individual have risen 169% since Obamacare began—over four times the rate of inflation [12:29].

• Subsidies Masking Problems:
  Johnson argues that Democrats pushed for the enhanced subsidies not to help the working class, but to “mask” Obamacare’s deep flaws and attempt to transition the U.S. toward a single-payer (government-run) health system.

  • “They wanted to continue to throw hundreds of billions of dollars at the problem to mask, to hide the failure of Obamacare…they went through this kamikaze shutdown…”
    — Sen. Ron Johnson [06:59]

3. Political Motives and Election Dynamics

• Was It About Firing Up the Base?
  Boothe asks if the shutdown was meant to boost election turnout among Democrats.
  • Johnson argues it wasn’t about turnout, because “Trump derangement syndrome is very strong among the left.”
  • He says Democrats see healthcare as a potent political issue because “nobody thinks they should pay for health care anymore,” and Democrats promise to cover everyone.
    — [07:56]

4. The Dangerous Path to Single-Payer

• Expanding Subsidies = Expanding Government Control:
  Johnson contends that expanding eligibility for subsidies further entrenches government in healthcare, nudging the country toward single-payer.

  • “It’s always been about moving to a single payer system…this enhanced subsidy was just that next step toward that system.”
    — Sen. Ron Johnson [09:32]

  • Boothe asks if “the genie can be put back in the bottle” or if Obamacare’s legacy is too deeply entrenched. Johnson thinks the damage can be repaired by exposing Obamacare’s failures and shifting to a competitive, consumer-driven market.
    — [11:14]

5. Republican Health Care Vision

• Principles for Reform:
  Johnson advocates for free market competition, consumer choice, and high-risk pools to cover pre-existing conditions, instead of mandates and heavy subsidies.
  • “Let’s not tell them what insurance is going to be available to them. Let the marketplace do it. We need to foster greater free market competition but we also need more consumerism.”
    — Sen. Ron Johnson [13:44]
  • Advocates high-risk pools for those with pre-existing conditions, spreading costs more broadly.

6. The Filibuster Debate & Senate Gridlock

• Should Republicans Nuke the Filibuster?
  Boothe raises President Trump’s call to abolish the filibuster so Republicans can pass their agenda if they regain control.

  • Johnson reluctantly agrees:
    • “If the Democrats ever get power…and that’s the first thing we have to try and prevent, they will nuke this…the next time they have the majority, they’ll nuke it. So what President Trump is saying, we better do it before them…They only care about power, about their own political power. That’s all elected Democrats want is power. It’s sick.”
      — Sen. Ron Johnson [19:22]

• Gridlock Benefits Whom?
  Johnson says Democrats used the shutdown and obstruction to harm the economy and blame Republicans.

  • “If the economy is not doing well because we haven’t done permitting reform...it’ll be Trump and Republicans get blamed. That’s exactly what the Democrats are looking for. That’s how sinister they truly are.”
    — [20:53]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lisa Boothe, on the shutdown:
  “What was the point of screwing over all of these working families…of withholding their paychecks? What was the point?” [03:00]

• Ron Johnson, on Democrats and Obamacare:
  “They’ve given us a few months now to just highlight what a miserable failure it is.” [04:16]

• On masking Obamacare’s failures:
  “They wanted to continue to throw hundreds of billions of dollars at the problem to mask, to hide the failure of Obamacare.” [06:59]

• On the ultimate Democratic aim:
  “It’s always been about moving to a single payer system, and this enhanced subsidy was just that next step toward that system.” [09:32]

• On health care expectations:
  “Nobody thinks they should actually have to pay for medical services. Somebody else pays for it.” [08:27]

• On single-payer and the path forward:
  “If we can get the American people’s attention, let them know what a disaster Obamacare has been, give them the wherewithal and the freedom to buy plans that fit their needs…we have to be able to do this because continue down this, this road is just going to completely ruin our health care system.” [12:43]

• On abolishing the filibuster:
  "If the Democrats ever get power…they will nuke this [filibuster]…That's all elected Democrats want is power. It’s sick." [19:22]

Important Timestamps

• 03:00 – Lisa Boothe questions the purpose and impact of the shutdown
• 04:09 – Sen. Johnson: Democrats’ real motive and impact on Obamacare debate
• 05:35 – Johnson recounts Senate hearing and the personal story illustrating Obamacare's failures
• 06:46–06:59 – Discussion of Democrats’ true objective: masking Obamacare’s shortcomings
• 07:56 – Was the shutdown about election turnout? Johnson’s political analysis
• 09:32 – Johnson details how enhanced subsidies move the U.S. toward single-payer
• 11:14 – Can the system be repaired? Johnson’s vision for health care reform
• 13:44 – Johnson on high risk pools, pre-existing conditions, and free market principles
• 19:07–21:53 – The filibuster debate and forecast of future Senate battles

Episode Flow & Tone

• The conversation is direct, combative toward Democratic health care policy, and focused on substantive critique.
• Both Boothe and Johnson blend policy analysis with political commentary, using anecdotes and statistics in a colloquial yet pointed manner.
• Calls to action are implicit: reform Obamacare by highlighting its perceived harms, shift to consumer-driven care, and be ready to end Senate traditions if Democrats threaten to do so first.

Bottom Line

Senator Ron Johnson—backed by Lisa Boothe’s incisive questioning—argues that the recent shutdown was a calculated Democratic effort to distract from Obamacare’s failures and nudge America toward socialized medicine. He urges Republicans to expose Obamacare’s damages, empower consumer choice, and prepare for tough Senate battles, including the possibility of ending the filibuster to enact meaningful reform.

For those who haven’t listened: This episode delivers a detailed critique of Obamacare, analyzes recent Senate drama, and previews upcoming political fights, all from a staunchly conservative, reform-oriented perspective.