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Speaker Johnson unveils health care plan as divided Republicans scramble for alternative


Associated Press

Gop On The verge of doing something right?

KEVIN FREKING and LISA MASCARO

Updated Fri, December 12, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate failed to get anywhere on the health care issue this week. Now it’s the House’s turn to show what it can do.

Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled a Republican alternative late Friday, a last-minute sprint as his party refuses to extend the enhanced tax subsidies for those who buy policies through the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare, which are expiring at the end of the year. Those subsidies help lower the cost of coverage.

Johnson, R-La., huddled behind closed doors in the morning — as he did days earlier this week — working to assemble the package for consideration as the House focuses the final days of its 2025 work on health care.

“House Republicans are tackling the real drivers of health care costs to provide affordable care,” Johnson said in a statement announcing the package. He said it would be voted on next week.

Time is running out for Congress to act. Democrats engineered the longest federal government shutdown ever this fall in a failed effort to force Republicans to the negotiating table on health care. But after promising votes, the Senate failed this week to advance both a Republican health care plan and the Democratic-offered bill to extend the tax credits for three years.

Now, with just days to go, Congress is about to wrap up its work with no consensus solution in sight.

What Republicans are proposing

The House Republicans offered a 100-plus page package that focuses on long-sought GOP proposals to enhance access to employer-sponsored health insurance plans and clamp down on so-called pharmacy benefit managers.

Republicans propose expanding access to what’s referred to as association health plans, which would allow more small businesses and self-employed individuals to band together and purchase health coverage.

Proponents say such plans increase the leverage businesses have to negotiate a lower rate. But critics say the plans provide skimpier coverage than what is required under the Affordable Care Act.

The Republicans’ proposal would also require more data from pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, as a way to help control drug costs. Critics say PBMs have padded their bottom line and made it more difficult for independent pharmacists to survive.

Comment from provider: After 10 years the GOP is finally thinking about their constituents, this is a sad state when the leadership is too afraid of a “child” to take care of their constituents who should always take precedent! MA

Explanation of Trumpelstilskin’s Work


The Exotics.


The Exotics: Nero, Caligula and Trumpelstilskin

Time produces folks of the same mental space regularly, but we usually do not hear about them until their actions become egregious and murderous. Abetted (sometimes) by a governing bloc these “exotics lose all sense of reality since they live pretty much in their own heads. The insides of their heads would lay out like a bag of cats (sorry cat lovers), a lot of meowing and scratching! When the contents erupt no one understands or believes the utterances and statements that issue forth. Fact is those outputs are as dangerous as a 5-year-old with cherry bombs and a box of matches.

“If “ifs” and “buts” were candy and nuts, wouldn’t it be a Merry Christmas?”


It occurred to me that the citizens of the United States have been victims of a ploy known as” rope a dope “which was used so successfully by the “Great Muhamed Ali”. Knowing this and paying attention to news sources (such as they are) should be a loud wake up call to all of us. Every known statement about past tyrants seems apply to our current Resident. It is easy to complain and carp about our politics and governance but seemingly difficult to gear up for the next election opportunity. Every political shift in this country is an opportunity to change for the better, yet we elected a proven liar and thief! This person has surrounded himself with sycophants whose sole job is carry his water and pour it over all of us. The depth of the dishonesty in our government is quite deep and not showing any sign of lessening in this administration. I believe every citizen wants good and fair governance but we still fall under the blanket of Politi speak which sounds good but is sometimes just another “Rope a Dope”!

“Trumpel” Purposely Selected Flawed Cabinet Members?


We are aware that “Trumpel’s” choices for Government service are sycophants and generally flawed individuals who have been selected for fealty rather than ability, yet we (some of us) still miss the point that he needs to go except the second in command is no better and possibly worse. The real “power” behind the throne is: (I suspect) is Stephen Miller aka “Himmler/Goebbels” clone. With history being diluted at best and erased at worst, we need to pay particular attention this regimes actions as it does not differ between red and blue!

Surprise? Trumpel’s Congressional Allies Taken Aback?


An Indiana Republican state senator announced Nov. 28 that he will vote against the state’s redistricting following President Donald Trump’s use of a slur in a Thanksgiving social media post.

Trump’s Nov. 27 Truth Social post ‒ one in a series of anti-immigrant comments posted Thursday ‒ referred to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as the “r-word.” Though the word was formerly used in medical contexts, it’s now widely regarded as offensive, and disability advocates seek to end its use.

“Those of you that don’t know me or my family might not know that my daughter has Down Syndrome,” state Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, wrote on Facebook. “This is not the first time our president has used these insulting and derogatory references and his choices of words have consequences.”

Trump has pushed for several states, including Indiana, to redraw congressional maps to create more safe Republican districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

“I’m Getting Too Old For This Sh*t”: Adults Are Revealing The Everyday Things They’re Liking Less And Less As They Get Older, And All I Can Say Is “Heard”


Conshea Brown

Sat, November 29, 2025 at 6:16 AM CST

5 min read

As I grow older, I’ve definitely realized that there are plenty of things that never really bothered me when I was younger that now absolutely affect me.

Person with glasses concentrating at a desk, holding their temples, possibly in deep thought or experiencing stress
Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty Images

So when Reddit user u/istrx13 asked the question, “What are you starting to like less and less as you get older?” in r/AskReddit, I knew the responses would definitely hit home:

1. “Driving. I used to be eager to go drive somewhere when I first got my license, but now, it’s like, ‘Meh.’ I’m not scared of driving, but it’s just not enjoyable like it was. It’s just a means of transportation.”

A woman in a car holds a water bottle to her forehead, appearing tired or overheated, while looking out the window
Drazen Zigic / Getty Images

—u/not_a_expert69

Related: 38 Photos That Went From Totally Normal To Borderline Disturbing Given What We Know Now

2. “Subscriptions. For. Every. Damn. Thing.”

—u/ClimateSad6559

3. “Sweet things. Don’t get me wrong, there are some things that will never get old for me; I love desserts, for example, but I’m not a fan of gummies and other sweets that are just pure flavored sugar — they just don’t do it for me anymore. I have one bite, and I’m done for the day.”

Various gummy candies in dispensers and trays, including gummies, licorice, and sour belts, displayed in a candy store
Adam Bartosik / Getty Images

—u/Potential-Feline

4. “Drama. Peace is starting to feel way more exciting.”

—u/Djentri

5. “Is it weird that as I get older, I really hate the wind? More so than any other weather condition. Maybe it’s the fear of being a homeowner, and it being the most likely to cause damage.”

Person struggles with an inside-out umbrella on a windy day, wearing a puffy jacket and glasses, with trees in the background
Chalabala / Getty Images

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—u/dbarila

6. “Don’t change shit up on me no more. No, I don’t want to do more with Outlook. No, I don’t want a new iOS. I’ll take my chances with one-factor authentication. I don’t want a bigger infotainment system in my truck. I’m good right here with how things are for the rest of my life.”

—u/ForgeIsDown

Related: Everyone Is Acting Like An A-Hole Lately, So Here Are 50 Photos Of Absolutely Infuriating People

7. “Loud music. I used to think that having a subwoofer and sound system was the single most important upgrade to the car.”

Two people sitting on a couch, playfully covering their ears, smiling. Modern kitchen with fruit and flowers in the background
Dobrila Vignjevic / Getty Images

—u/XOM_CVX

8. “Getting older. It was awesome for a while there. These days, though, dear lord, make it stop.”

—u/EnchantedTaquito8252

9. “Movies and TV shows. I’m definitely not a prude, but I really prefer films and series that are more tasteful and leave more to the imagination in bedroom scenes. Most sex scenes are so ridiculous and gratuitous that they’re distracting and totally unnecessary in the story.”

Person sitting on a couch, holding a remote, looking thoughtful. They are wearing a casual sweater and jeans
Littlebee80 / Getty Images

—u/Ecstatic_Drink1485

Related: “We All Watched In Horror”: Former Students Are Sharing How The “Cool Person” In School Made A Decision That Altered Their Life For The Worse

10. “Deciding what to eat every day and having to fucking cook it. I don’t know; it’s just such a big task for me at the end of the day after work.”

—u/Chamshrew

11. “Holidays and the expectation of spending money on meaningless bullshit just to further capitalism.”

Person wearing a Santa hat and fuzzy coat, holding a stack of gift boxes with an overwhelmed expression, standing among clothing racks
Nicoletaionescu / Getty Images

—u/Not2NotFamiliar

12. “Outings on a WEEKNIGHT. I don’t even want to go to the mailbox after work on a weeknight.”

—u/TileFloor

13. “Wearing fancy shoes! I was a fashion editor in my 20s, and at the time, there seemed to be a considerable overlap between the chicest of shoes and the least comfortable shoes. Somehow, someway, I just dealt with the pain.”

Two people walking with shopping bags. One wears a blazer and heels, the other a coat and flats. Image for an article on Internet Finds
Ivan Pantic / Getty Images

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“Now, I am 41 and wore some three-inch heels to last year’s company Christmas party and am still traumatized by the days of pain that followed. I felt like Danny Glover circa Lethal Weapon: ‘I’m getting too old for this shit.'”

—u/theWildBore

14. “Screaming little children that their parents think are adorable. Guess what? They aren’t.”

—u/indianasall

Related: People Are Sharing The Creepiest Shit That’s Ever Happened In Their Own Homes, And WTF???????

15. “Alcohol. I had a lot of fun drinking in my 20s, and hangovers were manageable, but once I hit my mid-30s, the severity of hangovers started to outweigh the fun. Now, at 40, it’s not even close. I would be totally content with never getting drunk again.”

Person in a white shirt pouring a drink at a bar, with another hand gently stopping the pour to signal "no more."
Domepitipat / Getty Images

—u/definitelysuperchill

16. “Men. I know it’s not fair, but I’ve had it with the lot of them, and I do everything I can to avoid them when possible. My doctor is a woman, my lawyer is a woman, my accountant is a woman, my trainer is a woman, my dentist is a woman, and my eye doctor is a woman.”

“If I’m at the grocery store, and I have the choice between two different cashiers and the woman’s line is longer, I will still take her line. I’m not mean or rude to them. I just avoid them as much as I possibly can.”

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—u/thegreatdoover

And finally, here’s one that I’m sure many people can agree they’ve also started to like less and less as they’ve aged:

17. “The Government. Growing up, everyone told me I’d become more conservative as I got older. Yeah, no, if anything, I’ve become more liberal as I’ve gotten older and understood more how greatly our government is failing us. Yes, I’m in the USA.”

Person holding a sign that reads, "Enough is Enough," at a protest
Jeanne Sager Photography / Getty Images

—u/GoldDustWitchQueen

Do you want to chime in on things you’ve started to like less as you’ve aged? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments, or if you want to remain anonymous, you can use the form below!

Also in Internet Finds: “And That’s How A Christmas Party Dies”: People Are Sharing The Most Unhinged Things That Happened At A Family Dinner, And I Have Severe Secondhand Embarrassment

Also in Internet Finds: “We See You Finishing”: 46 Hilarious Images That Scream “This Was No Accident”

Also in Internet Finds: 16 People Who Were So Accidentally Hilarious I Literally Had To Stop What I Was Doing And Share Their Posts With Everyone

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The Multiverse of Trumplestilskin


The past 11 months of the current administration has been a whirlwind ride of Presidential orders, the BBB and an assortment of “deals “connected to Tariffs (tariffs are taxes paid eventually by the consumers). The wider world of business uses discussions about trade to benefit all parties as much as possible, this arrangement has benefitted everyone for many years until now. With the advent of “Trumplestilskin” we have seen “flim flam”, sleight of hand, subterfuge and outright lies become norms in many areas including our national discourse. The current GOP Congress has besmirched and debased the once honest brokers in right side politics. They have joined the long line of “puckerers”who have deserted their electoral base (who they were elected to protect and serve). There appears to be no guardrail too sacred to supplant or alter to aid the “Boss”! The long list of “acting, appointed (with no Congressional input) members” of this administration have brought lawsuit after lawsuit with little to no stronger evidence than the “nightly utterings of a child”. This iteration of Governing appears to be no more than stooges waiting for the next Rant in order to function.

Might I suggest that all of us put on our grown-up pants, forget party lines and determine what type of Americans we want to be and be diligent in our information consumption. We can be the ally and leader the rest of the world has seen us to be and want us to continue to be or join the “kiddy” table! Billy Shakespeare stated that “all the world’s a stage and we are merely players ( loosely stated by me), we the United States have forgotten who the real leaders are and they are us!

The Proof??


Scott Bessent may (?) be smart in business but he is just more wasted space in the administration that already has more holes than Swiss cheese. As I listen to the various members of this administration all I hear is “word Salad” promoting Trumpelstilskin’s messages which appear at night like the elves in the fairy tale. Consider they are taking order from an adult “child” whose wrath they do not want to incur but love the high paying job in which they don’t have to do anything but follow his orders no matter how irresponsible they happen to be. This reminds me of the horror movie where the abnormal brain was put into a cadaver brough to life with electricity. As the world looks on, our allies do what they absolutely have to in order to continue with dealing with the United States while our adversaries laugh at his incompetence and continue their attacks, cyber and physical on us and our allies. Each of our adversaries continually commit acts that get Trumpel’s attention and rile him up so he can commit other actions to their benefit while studying our weaknesses. All of the so named red and Blue states are just another divisive tool to keep the people separate while he commits treason and theft while pointing fingers at everyone else. We must bear in mind that all who are in need of government services are affected no matter their party or personal preferences. If you feel the effects of these poorly planned and executed “executive orders” the remeber who stuck it to you when the next voting cycle comes around.

The cheap health insurance promoted by Trump officials has this catch


Washington Post

Peter Whoriskey

Sat, November 15, 2025 at 11:09 AM CST

The cheap health insurance promoted by Trump officials has this catch

Robert Hays, an industrial electronics salesman in Arkansas, thought he’d purchased conventional medical insurance. So did Essie Nath, 67, a retired cafeteria worker in Wyoming. So did Martin Liz, 47, a Key West chef.

Each enrolled in the kind of private health insurance that Trump administration officials have promoted as an alternative to plans sold under Obamacare.

The difference between the two options became all too clear after Hays, Nath and Liz required surgery: Their cheaper policies left them facing bills of tens of thousands of dollars. Hays is facing bills of $116,000 for neck surgery required after tweaking his neck while lifting weights; Nath had heart failure and got bills of $82,000; Liz is stuck with bills of more than $100,000 for a knee replacement.

(The Trumpelstilskin scams continues, wine, steaks, college and now healthcare. There is no Red and Blue states in these scams)

“These policies are a horrible idea,” said Ken Swindle, an Arkansas-based attorney for Hays. “People think they’re getting comprehensive medical coverage, but they’re not, and they often don’t realize that until it’s too late.”

With enhanced government subsidies for Obamacare plans expiring this year and millions of Americans facing soaring insurance costs, many are expected to consider enrolling in the kind of “short-term” plans bought by Hays, Nath and Liz.

Unlike most insurance, these plans are not required to cover preexisting conditions or even basic needs such as maternity care and mental health. Their coverage is so full of holes that five states have banned their sale, according to KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research group. Even some major insurers have questioned whether relying on the short-term plans is a good idea, warning that many consumers could mistake them for comprehensive coverage. The Biden administration referred to them as “junk” plans.

The policies tend to be cheaper, though, costing as little as half as much as a plan sold on HealthCare.gov or state-run marketplaces created by the landmark Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. For example, for a 40-year-old nonsmoker in Florida, the cheapest ACA plan may cost about $500 a month, while a short-term plan would be $320. Millions of people have signed up for them.

Millions looking for cheaper options

Now, as millions of consumers see huge spikes in Obamacare costs, many seeking a cheaper alternative will entertain the short-term plans as a viable option, insurance agents said. “Costs continue to go up, leaving individuals, families, and businesses scrambling to find and keep the coverage they need,” said Kelly Loussedes, vice president of NABIP, a trade group representing more than 100,000 licensed health insurance agents, brokers and consultants. “It’s essential that consumers understand these plans are not comprehensive coverage.”