Trump's New Government, Future Of Obamacare, Fired Israeli Minister Slams Netanyahu

Summary

Up First from NPR: Detailed Summary

Episode Title: Trump's New Government, Future Of Obamacare, Fired Israeli Minister Slams Netanyahu
Hosts: Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep, Michel Martin, A Martinez, Ayesha Rascoe, Scott Simon

---

1. Transition to Trump's New Administration

Overview:
As the 2024 election wraps up, President-elect Donald Trump begins assembling his new administration. The emphasis is on loyalty, with notable figures like Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo, who previously criticized Trump, being excluded from his cabinet.

Key Points:

• Administration Choices: Trump is prioritizing loyalists, distancing himself from former cabinet members who were not fully aligned with his agenda.
• Congressional Control: The Republican Party holds 53 seats in the Senate and is nearing a majority in the House, pending the final count of 19 contested districts.

Notable Quotes:

• Leila Fadel [00:40]: "President elect Trump has begun choosing the people who will make up his new administration."
• Steve Inskeep [02:58]: "Republicans are close to winning the House, but with a slim majority, there's not a lot of wiggle room for passing those Trump priorities."

Danielle Kurtzleben’s Insights:
Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR’s political correspondent, discusses Trump's significant wins in seven battleground states, marking him as the first Republican in two decades to secure the popular vote. Despite this broad victory, Kurtzleben warns of a deeply divided nation where Trump's actions could face substantial opposition.

• Danielle Kurtzleben [03:37]: "Trump has claimed his win is a historic and unprecedented mandate... it appears possible or even likely that voters will have empowered him to pass big parts of his agenda. However, his actions on January 6 and promises for political retribution have inspired deep anger and fear among nearly half who didn't vote for him."

2. The Future of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)

Overview:
The upcoming administration's stance on healthcare, particularly the Affordable Care Act (ACA), remains uncertain. While previous Republican efforts to repeal the ACA were unsuccessful, potential cuts to Medicaid and the ACA could surface as part of broader budget reductions.

Key Points:

• Previous Attempts: During his first term, Trump’s administration made several unsuccessful attempts to repeal the ACA without presenting a viable replacement.
• Current Proposals: With Republicans holding significant power in Congress, there is speculation about possible cuts to Medicaid and the ACA to offset tax cuts, despite assurances that Medicare, Social Security, and defense budgets remain untouched.

Notable Quotes:

• Ron Rudsen [07:12]: "The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare... Republicans tried many, many times to repeal and replace Obamacare, but they failed in part because they had no clear plan on what to replace it with."
• Kat Landsdorf [09:19]: "They want to lift some of the regulations that govern insurance companies, including some of the protections for people with pre-existing conditions."

Expert Opinions:

• Ron Rudsen: Highlights the challenges in repealing the ACA without a solid replacement plan and notes the potential for cuts in federal health programs.
• Kat Landsdorf: Emphasizes public concern over possible changes, citing personal stories of individuals worried about losing their health coverage.

Impact: Millions of Americans currently benefit from the ACA, with enrollment reaching over 21 million. Any significant changes could face resistance from both the public and healthcare providers, potentially leading to mobilized opposition similar to past healthcare reforms.

• Danielle Kurtzleben [09:41]: "People do get nervous about changing health care laws... millions are affected by these changes."

3. Ousted Israeli Defense Minister Criticizes Netanyahu Amid Gaza Conflict

Overview:
Yoav Gallant, the recently dismissed Israeli Defense Minister, has publicly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for stalling ceasefire negotiations during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Gallant asserts that the Israeli military has exhausted its capabilities in Gaza, raising concerns about the continuation of the war.

Key Points:

• Gallant’s Accusations: Blames Netanyahu for delaying a ceasefire deal in July, which could have potentially ended the war and secured the release of hostages.
• Public Reaction: Gallant’s firing has sparked protests in Israel, with many viewing it as Netanyahu undermining democratic dissent.
• International Mediation: Qatar has suspended its role as a mediator for a ceasefire, citing the lack of seriousness from both parties to reach an agreement.

Notable Quotes:

• Yoav Gallant [10:48]: "There's nothing left for the Israeli military to do in Gaza."
• Kat Landsdorf [12:56]: "Thousands took to the streets to protest his firing, demanding a ceasefire... They see this as Netanyahu trying to get rid of anyone who disagrees with him."

Personal Testimonies: Family members of hostages, such as Gil Dickman, have expressed frustration over Gallant’s criticism, feeling that a ceasefire could have saved lives and eased the hostage crisis.

• Gil Dickman [11:49]: "It was heartbreaking to hear that the ceasefire deal could have saved lives and facilitated the release of hostages."

Current Situation: Despite attempts at mediation, the conflict in Gaza continues with thousands of casualties reported. The suspension of Qatar’s mediation efforts indicates a deepening impasse, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

• Kat Landsdorf [13:34]: "Talks seem to have stalled pretty significantly right now, and dozens of Palestinians are being killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza every day."

Conclusion

This episode of Up First delves into the significant transitions and ongoing conflicts shaping the current geopolitical landscape. From Trump's assembly of a new administration and the uncertain future of the Affordable Care Act to the volatile situation in Israel and Gaza following the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the episode provides comprehensive analysis and firsthand accounts to inform listeners about the critical issues of the day.

Additional Resources:

• For deeper insights into the topics discussed, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to Up First+ and explore further reporting on NPR’s platforms.

---

Notable Contributors:

• Leila Fadel: Host
• Steve Inskeep: Host
• Danielle Kurtzleben: NPR Political Correspondent
• Ron Rudsen: Health Policy Expert
• Kat Landsdorf: Correspondent in Tel Aviv

Production Credits: Edited by Dana Farrington, Diane Weber, Rylan Barton, Mohammed Elbardisi, and Al Alice Wolfley. Produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Julie Deppenbrock. Engineering support by Arthur Laurent. Technical direction by Zach Coleman.

---

This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key discussions and insights from the episode, ensuring that readers gain a clear understanding of the major topics without needing to listen to the original podcast.

Transcript

[Leila Fauldel]

The 2024 election is over. And as a new administration prepares for the White House, it's our job across the entire NPR network to report on that transition and to report on what this administration does with its power.

[Steve Inskeep]

That's why we're here, because information is power for you.

[Leila Fauldel]

Your support makes it possible for us to break down big stories, to fact check and to make sure you understand what's going on.

[Steve Inskeep]

When you donate, you make a difference in our ability to do that work.

[Leila Fauldel]

If you're already a supporter, we're taking this moment to say thank you. And if you're not, go to donate.NPR.org.

[Steve Inskeep]

To give donate.NPR.org.

[Leila Fauldel]

President elect Trump has begun choosing the people who will make up his new administration.

[Steve Inskeep]

Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo, who sometimes criticized him, are out. Who else is heading in to work for a president who prizes loyalty?

[Leila Fauldel]

I'm Leila Fauldel. That's Steve Inskeep. And this is up first from NPR News.

[Steve Inskeep]

Will the new president take aim at the Affordable Care act again? Health care professionals think some cuts may be coming. The math is inescapable that Medicaid and ACA cuts will then be on the table.

[Leila Fauldel]

And in Israel, the now fired defense minister told hostage families that he blames the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for holding up ceasefire talks this summer. Yoav Gallant also said there's nothing left for the Israeli military to do in Gaza. What what does his exit mean for that ongoing and deadly war? Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

[Steve Inskeep]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Saatva Founder and CEO Ron Rudsen shares the experience they hope to create in their viewing rooms.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

We want our customers to feel like.

[Steve Inskeep]

They'Ve walked into a luxury hotel. That's what Saatva has been inspired by. From the day that we started, we.

[Kat Landsdorf]

Take sleep very seriously.

[Steve Inskeep]

We believe it unlocks a superpower. If you get the right sleep on the right mattress, we believe we can provide that. To learn more, go to.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

This message comes from BetterHelp. It's important to take time to show gratitude towards others, but it's equally important to thank yourself. Life throws a lot of curveballs, and being grateful isn't always easy. Therapy can help remind you of all that you're worthy of and all that you do have. Let the gratitude flow with BetterHelp. [e-mail] NPR today to get 10% off your first month. This message comes from HubSpot. Growing a business means a lot of audience attracting lead scoring and long days. But with HubSpot, it's easier than ever for marketers to remix content, boost leads, and score customers fast. Learn [e-mail] marketers we're in a transition.

[Leila Fauldel]

Period when the next president of the United States draws overwhelming attention. But a lot depends on the people who surround him.

[Steve Inskeep]

Yeah. President Elect Trump has begun choosing members of his staff and also saying who will not be on board. Aside from that, he doesn't know yet how much power his party will have in Congress. Republicans will take the Senate and choose their leader this week. They are close to a narrow majority in the House, but that depends on ballots still being counted.

[Leila Fauldel]

NPR political correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben is here with the latest. Good morning, Danielle.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Good morning.

[Leila Fauldel]

So some new official election results over the weekend. We now know that Trump won all seven battleground states. He's on track to be the first Republican to win the popular vote in two decades. What do you make of the depths of his win?

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Well, depths is an interesting way to ask the question because it's certainly a broad win. I mean, that's for sure. Six of those seven battlegrounds you mentioned, he flipped from Biden in 2020. And like you also noted, it's the first time that Trump won the popular vote. Now, Trump, for his part, has claimed his win is a historic and unprecedented mandate. Now, it is not unprecedented. Many presidents have won the presidency by far. More right now, Trump is ahead in the popular vote by just shy of two and a half points. But as far as a mandate, yeah, I mean, it appears possible or even likely that voters will have empowered him to pass big parts of his agenda. Republicans have won 53 seats in the Senate. They're close to winning the House. But to that mandate point, we do have an evenly divided and a deeply divided country. Trump's words and actions on January 6, his promises for political retribution, those have inspired deep anger and fear among the nearly half who didn't vote for him. So whatever he does try to do, it is going to be met with fierce opposition.

[Leila Fauldel]

So you mentioned Republicans are close to winning the House. How close? How many districts are we waiting on?

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Well, at latest count, The Republicans have 213 seats. And you need 218 to win the House. Democrats have 200. So Republicans are closer. There are still 19 seats left to be called. Now, it could be days until many of those are counted. Half of those House districts, for example, around half are in California. And counting votes just takes a long time there because, first of all, there's just a lot of voters and meaning there are also a lot of same day in mail in ballots in that huge state. But as my colleagues Domenico Montanaro and Hilary Fung have recently reported, if the GOP wins the House, it would be with a slim majority. So not a lot of wiggle room for passing those Trump priorities. By the way, we are waiting on one Senate seat as well. In Arizona, as of right now, Democrat Ruben Gallego is leading. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, that race has been called for the Republican Dave McCormick, but incumbent Democrat Bob Casey has not conceded.

[Leila Fauldel]

Now, we haven't heard that much from Trump since his speech on election night. What do you know about what's coming next for him?

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

While we do know a few people who he will or won't be working with in his White House. Now, overnight, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that he will appoint Tom Homan as his, as he calls it, border czar. And he specified that Homan will be in charge of mass deportations. And Homan has spoken enthusiastically about those deportations. He has said he will be doing workplace raids. He has also said Susie Wiles will be his chief of staff. She's a longtime veteran of Republican politics. And he will not be having Mike Pompeo or Nikki Haley in his Cabinet. He also announced that on Truth Social, those two both served in his last cabinet.

[Leila Fauldel]

NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben. Thank you, Danielle.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Thank you.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay, so for all the words he spoke while campaigning, it is not entirely clear what the president elect will do in a second term.

[Leila Fauldel]

To give one example, it's not clear how far he will go to make good on a promise to use federal power to seek retribution from his personal and political enemies. And here's another the new president's approach to health care is vague. During his first term, Republicans tried and failed to repeal the Affordable Care act, but never came up with a replacement. So what now?

[Steve Inskeep]

NPR's Selena Simmons Duffin is here to talk about that. Good morning.

[Ron Rudsen]

Morning, Steve.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay, what is the law that Trump tried to repeal the first time?

[Ron Rudsen]

That would be the Affordable Care act, also known as Obamacare. It was passed in 2010 and it transformed lots of aspects of the healthcare system. And for years, Republic Republicans wanted it gone. In Trump's first year as president, Republicans tried many, many times to repeal and replace Obamacare, but they failed to do that, in part because they had no clear plan on what to replace it with. This campaign, Trump spoke very differently about the law. Here he is during the presidential debate on ABC in September.

[Steve Inskeep]

I had a choice to make do I save it and make it as.

[Ron Rudsen]

Good as it can be or do.

[Steve Inskeep]

I let it rotate and I saved it.

[Ron Rudsen]

Then moderator Lindsey Davis followed up.

[Leila Fauldel]

So just a yes or no. You still do not have a plan.

[Steve Inskeep]

I have concepts of a plan. Interesting line. And interesting that he said that he saved Obamacare when he explicitly called for its repeal. Just failed in the Senate by a vote. What about policy once Trump is back in power again?

[Ron Rudsen]

Well, that's really hard to pin down because the signals from Trump and Republican lawmakers have been kind of unclear. It's going to depend a lot on whether Republicans retain control of the House since they've won the presidency and the Senate. It's also going to depend on who Trump chooses to run his health policy team. But all that said, it seems like the political appetite to go all in again on repeal and replace just isn't there. There still could be changes, though. Larry Levitt of the health research organization KFF said in a press briefing he thinks cuts will be coming to some federal health programs. Trump has said Medicare, Social Security and defense cuts are off the table. With Republicans looking for spending reductions to help pay for tax cuts. The math is inescapable that Medicaid and.

[Steve Inskeep]

ACA cut will then be on the table. What are some of the conservative think tanks and Republican lawmakers, people who think in depth about this saying about what they want to cut?

[Ron Rudsen]

I reached out to the Heritage foundation, but they said they're declining interview requests right now. They did put together the somewhat famous Project 2025 document and there are also budget priorities from a House GOP committee. Sabrina Corlett, who runs the Georgetown center on Health Insurance Reforms, says it's clear from these documents what Republicans would like to do in this space.

[Kat Landsdorf]

They want to lift some of the regulations that govern insurance companies, including some of the protections for people with pre existing conditions. There is also interest in reducing the amount of federal spending.

[Ron Rudsen]

Corlette told me even as an academic health insurance expert, she's been getting emails from regular people recently who are worried about these changes.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

They're petrified.

[Kat Landsdorf]

Like I got a email just earlier today from a guy who's, you know, wife has got a serious chronic illness and he's like, she going to lose her coverage.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

What should I do?

[Steve Inskeep]

Well, you can hear there why it is that people do get nervous about changing health care laws, which is what President Obama found out the first time. So how many people would be affected by changing them now?

[Ron Rudsen]

Millions. I mean, more Americans have health insurance at the moment than ever before. Enrollment in health care.gov those Obamacare health plans is really high right now at more than 21 million people. That's almost doubled since President Biden took office. And the insurance in industry, hospitals and doctors groups, they all like that. They're going to be very resistant to major changes and regular people could mobilize again to resist changes to the aca. So there's a lot to watch in this space.

[Steve Inskeep]

Npr, Selena Simmons, Duffin, thanks so much.

[Ron Rudsen]

Thank you.

[Leila Fauldel]

Israel's ousted Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says there's nothing more for the Israeli military to achieve in Gaza.

[Steve Inskeep]

Gallant also says that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is responsible for holding up a ceasefire deal back in July. That's what Gallant said, a deal that could have ended the war and gotten the remaining hostages home. He told all of that to family members of hostages in a closed door meeting on his last day in office.

[Leila Fauldel]

NPR's Cat Launsdorf spoke with one of the family members in that meeting and she joins us now. Good morning, Kat.

[Kat Landsdorf]

Hey, good morning, Leela.

[Leila Fauldel]

So what did you hear about that meeting?

[Kat Landsdorf]

Well, so Gallant was fired by Netanyahu on Tuesday of last week and basically given 48 hours to leave the position. So on his last day in office last Thursday, he invited some of the family members of Israelis who were taken hostage last October by Hamas to meet with him. Gallant has been the defense minister during this whole war in Gaza. I spoke with Gil Dickman. He was in that meeting with Gallant. Gil's cousin Carmel Ghat was taken hostage and later killed by Hamas in Gaza in August. Gil has been to many meetings like this that Galant has held, but he told me that this one felt different, that it seemed like Gallant was finally able to speak freely.

[Leila Fauldel]

So he says it felt different. What did Gallant actually speak freely about?

[Kat Landsdorf]

Well, basically, Gallant told them that the Israeli military had accomplished all it can in Gaza. Here's Gil. What he said is that there's so much that you can do with force and they've done it. He says Gallant also told them that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is responsible for holding up a ceasefire deal in July. And this was specifically really heartbreaking for Gil to hear because his cousin Carmel have still been alive. If that ceasefire deal had gone through. We reached out to both Gallant and the prime minister's office for comment on this. Neither responded. But NPR did later obtain a recording of this meeting and it matched what Gail Dickman told us. You know, I should also point out that since July, thousands of Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, bringing the death toll up to more than 43,000 according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. And several more Israeli hostages have been confirmed dead, too.

[Leila Fauldel]

Yeah, I mean, the repercussions of continuing this war have been huge. If Gallant wanted to end it, what does it mean now that he's no longer in the government?

[Kat Landsdorf]

Many Israelis are worried about just that. They see Gallant as a big leader in this war. You know, thousands took to the streets to protest his firing, demanding a ceasefire. They see this as Netanyahu trying to get rid of anyone who disagrees with him. Many we've talked to feel as if their democracy is at stake. And I want to mention here, too, even though they differ, both Gallant and Netanyahu are wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crime crimes in Gaza. Israel has challenged that.

[Leila Fauldel]

Now over the weekend, Qatar suspended its role as mediator for a cease fire between Israel and Hamas, which it's been playing for months. Now, that mediator role, does this relate, if at all to Golan's firing?

[Kat Landsdorf]

Well, Qatar says it made this decision about two weeks ago. So these aren't necessarily related. But Qatar said it's done mediating these talks until both sides are willing to come to the table with, quote, the necessary seriousness needed to actually come to an agreement, which kind of goes along with what Gallant said, that Netanyand is using the war for his political gain and isn't serious about stopping it. You know, Qatar and Egypt have openly blamed Netanyahu and his far right government before for refusing to commit to talks and changing the terms of agreements that have been reached. Israel has been blaming Hamas. So talks seem to have stalled pretty significantly right now. And meanwhile, dozens of Palestinians are being killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza every day. And the remaining 101 Israeli hostages, about a third of whom are confirmed to be dead, continue to languish there as well.

[Leila Fauldel]

That's NPR's Kat Landsdorff in Tel Aviv. Thank you, Kat.

[Kat Landsdorf]

Thanks, Leila.

[Leila Fauldel]

And that's up first for Monday, November 11th. I'm Leila Fulden.

[Steve Inskeep]

And I'm Steve Inskeep. Your next listen is Consider THIS from NPR News. We learn about the legendary librarian of the financier J.P. morgan. Listen to consider this from NPR.

[Leila Fauldel]

Today's episode of Up FIRST was edited by Dana Farrington, Diane Weber, Rylan Barton, Mohammed Elbardisi and Al Alice Wolfley. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas and Julie Deppenbrock. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent. And our technical director is Zach Coleman. Join us again tomorrow.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Want to hear this podcast without sponsor breaks. Amazon prime members can listen to Upfirst sponsor free through Amazon Music. Or you can also support NPR's vital journalism and get up first [e-mail] that's.

[Steve Inskeep]

Plus.Npr.Org this message comes from NPR sponsor 1Password creating a password that's too strong to guess it and impossible to forget can sound impossible unless you have one password. Don't let security slow your business down. For a free two week trial, go.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

To1Password.Com NPR this message comes from Warby Parker. What makes a great pair of glasses at Warby Parker? It's all the invisible extras without the extra cost, like free adjustments for life. Find your [e-mail] or visit one of their hundreds of stores around the country.