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NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Geoff Bennett to discuss the latest political news, including President Trump garnering rare backlash from members of his party for a social media post about the death of director Rob Reiner and Congress running out of time to reach a deal on the Affordable Care Act.
The discussion opens with Geoff Bennett highlighting President Trump's deeply "callous and cruel" social media post regarding the recent deaths of director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele. Instead of offering pure condolences, Trump's TRUTH Social message primarily focused on attacking Reiner for his anti-Trump political views, going as far as to suggest Reiner's demise was linked to "Trump derangement syndrome." Amy Walter points out that this particular incident garnered a rare and significant backlash from within the Republican party. Notably, this opposition came not just from traditional Trump critics, but also from Republicans in key battleground districts, members of Congress like New York Congressman Mike Lawler and Oklahoma Congresswoman Stephanie Bice, and several conservative commentators who labeled Trump's comments as "depraved." Walter suggests this unified pushback stems from a sentiment that Trump undermined a "moral high ground" conservatives had hoped to establish concerning respectful discourse around tragic events, particularly after the murder of Charlie Kirk. Tamara Keith further emphasizes the unusual nature of this criticism, noting that even within the "self-selecting group" of TRUTH Social commenters, many expressed doubts about the appropriateness of Trump's post, advising him against it. Despite this widespread disapproval, Trump reportedly "doubled down" on his remarks when questioned in the Oval Office, continuing to criticize Reiner's politics, seemingly making the tragic event about himself.
Shifting focus to legislative matters, Geoff Bennett addresses the impending week on Capitol Hill, marked by planned votes on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A significant point of contention remains the lack of agreement on extending enhanced tax subsidies, with time rapidly running out for Congress to reach a deal. Amy Walter, drawing on her conversations with political insiders, indicates that there's still a persistent belief that a resolution on these crucial health care subsidies is possible, either by the end of the current year or very early next year. She outlines two potential legislative avenues. The first involves the "regular order of things," where a vote might include an amendment specifically for subsidy extensions, a measure supported by many moderate Republicans. The second, more unconventional path, involves a "discharge petition." This procedure would require a coalition of moderate Republicans to join forces with over 200 Democrats to push for a three-year extension of the subsidies, bypassing the typical legislative process. Walter stresses the political implications of the second path, suggesting that if such bipartisan cooperation were to materialize, it would serve as a powerful "sign that the president's grip is absolutely loosened" on his own party, as members would be openly defying his stance to work with the opposition.
Geoff Bennett then probes the extent of President Trump's involvement in the ongoing Affordable Care Act negotiations. Tamara Keith characterizes Trump's engagement as "pretty unengaged," noting that his rhetoric often diverges significantly from the practical discussions occurring on Capitol Hill. Trump's focus remains on abstract concepts like "health savings accounts" and direct payments to individuals, ideas that lack concrete legislative proposals or any real "momentum" or "muscle" to push them through Congress. Keith highlights that Trump isn't actively pressuring Republican members to adopt his vision; rather, he's merely "musing" about ideas without translating them into specific plans. This detachment is evident in the House's schedule, which includes a vote on a measure from the speaker that deliberately omits Trump's requested provisions. Similarly, a Senate vote on a measure loosely aligned with Trump's musings failed to garner sufficient bipartisan support, underscoring the need for compromise—a element currently absent from the process. Keith concludes this segment by noting the immediate real-world impact of this legislative inertia: the deadline for Obamacare sign-ups, particularly for insurance coverage beginning January 1, is already upon them.
The conversation shifts to President Trump's broader economic policy and his outlook on its political impact. Geoff Bennett references a Wall Street Journal interview where Trump surprisingly "openly acknowledges" that his economic policies might not translate into immediate "political wins for Republicans in the midterms." Amy Walter elaborates that both health care and economic policies are "critical to his party's ability to hold onto the House." Despite this understanding, Trump appears to be taking a "back seat" regarding their political payoff. In the interview, he specifically suggests that the positive effects of his economic policies might not "kick in" until "maybe 2026." Furthermore, Trump cites historical patterns, stating it's "very difficult for the party who's in the White House to keep the House" during midterms. Walter interprets this stance as particularly "tenuous" for Republican members, especially as they head home for the holidays to deliberate on their re-election bids, facing low presidential approval ratings, unresolved policy battles, and significant intraparty tensions. Trump's lack of confidence in his agenda delivering midterm victories is perceived as a "not a great sort of send-off" for those considering fighting for their seats. Tamara Keith reinforces this by quoting Trump: "I have created the greatest economy in history, but it may take people a while to figure these things out," effectively shifting responsibility to the public rather than taking ownership of the political consequences.