Natasha Murphy

Republicans are holding Americans' health care hostage — and lying about it By refusing to extend premium tax credits, GOP leaders are using the shutdown fight to gamble the coverage of millions of Americans.

Instead of defending the healthcare hikes they’re pushing, Republicans are spreading lies about immigrants. CAP's @nzmurphy.bsky.social debunks them for @msnbc.com: www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...

Republicans are holding Americans' health care hostage — and lying about it By refusing to extend premium tax credits, GOP leaders are using the shutdown fight to gamble the coverage of millions of Americans.

Republicans claim Democrats want to give “free health care to illegal immigrants.” Let's set the record straight. Check out my latest for @msnbc.com tinyurl.com/5eb9k5du

How the Supreme Court Is Dismantling the Separation of Church and State Chief Justice John Roberts’ court is actively eroding the separation of church and state, breaking with centuries of First Amendment jurisprudence.

SCOTUS has been hacking away at the separation of church and state. This is the legacy of the Roberts Court. More from @thedailyhayley.bsky.social and I on that for @americanprogress.bsky.social, here: www.americanprogress.org/article/how-...

4.8 Million People Will Lose Coverage in 2026 If Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire In this brief, we estimate the impact on coverage of the expiration of enhanced PTCs that would occur in 2026 without action by Congress. Our estimates inclu…

If premium tax credit enhancements expire, uninsurance will increase 21% overall, with the biggest increases in southern states that haven’t enacted ACA Medicaid expansions. (1/3)
tinyurl.com/yhv9jxm3

Your health coverage is at the center of this shutdown fight. @emily-gee.bsky.social explains what's at stake:

What Happens During a Government Shutdown? Learn how a government shutdown affects you.

Here’s my article on how a government shutdown works.

Shutdowns are complicated, and each shutdown is different. Some things stay open. Some stay open for a bit and eventually close. Some close immediately.

I did my best to explain it all here:

The Trump administration is eliminating the data on food insecurity in America instead of putting food in the bellies of hungry kids.

What To Know Before September’s Jobs Day Report: Falling Wages and Stalling Employment Growth In August, women held up the economy while their wages faltered in industries such as health care. Will the September Employment Situation report show more of the same?

We wrote this before the shutdown but the analysis is still just as important. Healthcare workers, who are mostly women, are the backbone of our economy, but Trump's attacks on health care and repubs refusal to extend the ACA tax credits threaten the industry
www.americanprogress.org/article/what...

A graphic with a solid red background and a large illustration of an orange prescription pill bottle. A ripped piece of white paper resembling a prescription label is overlaid on the pill bottle. The text on the label reads: "Rx | Massive tariffs and cuts to Medicaid and SNAP weren’t enough. Republicans now want to end tax credits that keep health care affordable for millions—and will shut the government down over it." White text at the bottom asks, "Why do Republicans keep making everything more expensive?".

Republicans are holding your health care and finances hostage with their threats to shut down the government. They hold power in the House, the Senate, and the White House—why won't they put a stop to this?

A graphic defining two terms with an image of Donald Trump and Mike Johnson. The first definition is highlighted in yellow: "Enhanced Premium Tax Credits [en-hanced pre·mi·um tax cred·its] noun a core part of the Affordable Care Act that makes health care affordable for Americans". The second definition is highlighted in yellow: "Government Shutdown [gov·ern·ment shut·down] noun what Republicans would rather do and have our insurance premiums skyrocket". A white scroll shape at the bottom contains yellow text that reads: "Republicans control all three branches. If the government shuts down, that’s on them."

We can see through Republicans' lies. If the government shuts down tonight, it's because Republicans are refusing to protect millions of Americans from surging health care costs.

A graphic with a deep red background with a faint image of Trump's eyes displays white text. The text reads: "After 9 months of Republican leadership in the House, Senate, and the White House, this is our reality. Prices are soaring on everything from groceries to the fridge they go in. Democrats won’t vote for a bill that further increases the cost of health care for Americans. And Republicans would rather shut down the government." In bold, the question "Is this winning?" is centered below the main text. The source is cited at the bottom: "Source: CAP, '8 Ways Trump's Turbulence Tax Is Costing the Economy' (2025)".

Republicans would rather shut down the government than protect Americans from soaring health care costs.

More than 20 million Americans could see their healthcare costs double—Democrats are making a stand to stop it from happening.

RELEASE: Waiting Until the End of the Year to Extend Enhanced Premium Tax Credits "Is Not an Option," Says Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)

www.americanprogressaction.org/press/releas...

How Much More Would People Pay in Premiums if the ACA's Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire? | KFF The ACA's enhanced premium tax credits arre set to expire at the end of 2025. This calculator estimates how much out-of-pocket premiums would increase for families if Congress does not extend the credits. The projected premium increases are estimated ba...

Enhanced tax credits for enrollees in Affordable Care Act Marketplace plans are set to expire at the end of this year.

Our updated calculator shows how much out-of-pocket premiums would increase in 2026 if Congress doesn’t extend the tax credits: https://on.kff.org/4fX4Fxc

A graphic with a dark gray background and bold white text. The main title reads: "The Republican health care agenda is a sh*tshow." Below the title are three checklist items with checkmarks in boxes: "Your families will pay more for less.", "Huge Medicaid cuts mean millions lose coverage.", and "ACA premiums are about to spike hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on where you live." Additional text at the bottom reads: "Republicans want to shut the government down instead of working with Democrats to fix Trump's broken policies. Is this making America great?"

Republicans are hellbent on making your health care costs go up, even if it shuts down the government.

Growing Market Power Among Catholic Hospitals Restrains Access to Reproductive Health Care Stronger antitrust enforcement is necessary to prevent reduced access to reproductive health care, including abortion, birth control, and fertility treatments, while safeguarding market competition.

When hospitals merge under religious directives, patients can lose options. Our new @americanprogress.bsky.social report calls for stronger antitrust oversight.

The True Cost of the Republican Health Care Agenda Join the Center for American Progress Action Fund for a discussion on how Republican health policies are fueling premium hikes and leaving working families to pay the price.

Every family deserves affordable health care. Instead, Republican policies are driving costs higher. Join @americanprogressaction.org 9/29 at 4pm ET for remarks from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and a panel discussion on what's at stake if Congress fails to act.
www.americanprogressaction.org/events/the-t...

The image shows a political graphic with a black background. White and neon green text reads, "REPUBLICANS ARE SHUTTING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT, AND YOUR HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE ABOUT TO SKYROCKET." To the right, a neon green illustration of the U.S. Capitol building's dome is partially visible. A black-and-white photo of Donald Trump, with a stern expression and pointing forward, is placed in front of the Capitol dome. Below, a text box with a neon green border contains a call to action: "Call Congress and tell them to act to keep our health care from getting even more expensive. (202) 224-3121." The source is cited at the bottom as "Source: NPR, 'Trump cancels meeting with Democrats as prospects for shutdown increase' (2025). Photos: Getty Images."

Take action now!

New: 27% of farmers buy their own health insurance and are among the groups that will get hard hit if enhanced ACA premium tax credits are allowed to expire at the end of of this year.
www.kff.org/affordable-c...

States continue to take the lead in protecting their residents from the financial burdens of medical debt. Learn more about policies in Minnesota and Oregon as well as model legislation: www.americanprogress.org/article/even...

The True Cost of the Republican Health Care Agenda Join the Center for American Progress Action Fund for a discussion on how Republican health policies are fueling premium hikes and leaving working families to pay the price.

Health care costs are climbing, driven by Republican policy choices that slash coverage, raise premiums, and leave families paying more for less. Join @americanprogressaction.org on 9/29 for a virtual discussion of what's at stake. RSVP: www.americanprogressaction.org/events/the-t...

The Trump Administration Cancels Food Insecurity Report, Masking Harms of Historic SNAP Cuts Eliminating the data measuring hungry Americans’ access to food will make it easier for the Trump administration to hide the impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Eliminating the data measuring hungry Americans’ access to food will make it easier for the Trump administration to hide the impacts of the BBB:

Bolstering the Role of HBCUs in Federal Research and Development Equitable R&D funding is key to unleashing HBCUs’ wellspring of innovation to improve America’s health, economic growth, and national security.

Equitable research and development funding is key to unleashing HBCUs’ wellspring of innovation to improve America’s health, economic growth, and national security. Learn more from CAP and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund: www.americanprogress.org/article/bols...

With #OpenEnrollment beginning November 1, uncertainty over premium tax credits means many people may not learn their 2026 costs until bills arrive, while cuts to Navigator funding leave fewer resources to help those facing barriers to enrollment. www.cbpp.org/research/hea...

Think dark money in politics is unstoppable? Think again. CAP's @thmoore.bsky.social explains how states have the power to make Citizens United irrelevant: www.americanprogress.org/article/the-...

Five Key Changes to ACA Marketplaces Amid Uncertainty Over Premium Tax Credit Enhancements | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Recent policy changes, most notably enhancements to premium tax credits to reduce enrollees’ health insurance premiums, have driven record-breaking enrollment gains and delivered reduced costs, simpli...

NEW from @jenniferlsullivan.bsky.social and me for @centeronbudget.bsky.social: With Congress poised to take away premium tax credit enhancements soon, ~4M people will lose coverage and costs will rise for nearly all ACA marketplace enrollees unless Congress acts.🧵

Take Action: Prevent the Cost of Health Coverage From Skyrocketing Contact your members of Congress today and urge them to prioritize the health and well-being of their constituents by supporting legislation to extend these enhanced tax credits.

In the coming weeks, tens of millions of Americans will receive notices that their premiums are skyrocketing. Congress must act now to extend enhanced premium tax credits to ensure all Americans have the access to health care that they need. Tell Congress to act:

New @urbaninstitute.bsky.social analysis finding 4.8M more uninsured in 2026 if the enhanced ACA premium tax credits are allowed to expire at the end of this year, with the coverage losses concentrated among those with low and moderate incomes: www.urban.org/research/pub...

Securing American Democracy: A Conversation With Sen. Adam Schiff Join the Center for American Progress for a conversation with Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) as part of CAP’s “What’s Next: Conversations on the Path Forward” series.

TODAY: Join CAP for a conversation on securing American democracy with @schiff.senate.gov. This discussion is a featured part of CAP's event series, "What's Next: Conversations on the Path Forward."

5 Ways the Trump Administration Is Driving Up Health Care Costs for Families Recent legislation, regulation, tariffs, and other changes by the Trump administration are adding up to make coverage less affordable for millions of Americans.

Families are bracing for the largest health care premium hikes in 15 years. Instead of relief, the Trump administration is driving up costs through Medicaid cuts, expiring tax credits, and tariffs. We deserve better.