The U.S. Senate will vote on two different healthcare bills on Thursday — one Democrat-backed bill and one supported by Republicans. The bill from Democrats seeks to extend COVID-era Obamacare subsidies for another three years, which will cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. Notably, the subsidies were set to expire this month, a deadline set by Democrats. The other bill, backed by Republicans, lets the Obamacare subsidies expire. Instead, it directly gives some Americans about $1,000-1,500 into health savings accounts. Notably, neither bill is expected to pass the Senate. Extended Obamacare Tax Credits Democrats say the Obamacare subsidies, which are technically tax credits, need to be extended again. They started back in 2021 and were only supposed to be in place for two years, but Democrats extended them until the end of this year. The extension, called the “Lower Health Care Costs Act,” is expected to cost taxpayers $83 billion, while wait times and healthcare costs continue to skyrocket for most Americans. Democrats, who are reportedly trying to keep healthcare a main issue for the coming midterm elections, say tens of millions of Americans will see their healthcare plans double if the subsidies are not extended once again. Republicans, however, say that’s not true. “Twenty-two million of the 24 million people will still get their subsidies, the original Obamacare subsidies, which subsidize the insurance at 91% of the premiums,” Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) told The Daily Wire last month. “So their premiums won’t double.” “Now, you can argue that people that went from paying a negligible amount to zero premiums, they’re going to have to pay another negligible amount,” Johnson said. “But again, going from zero to a negligible amount is an infinite increase. You can’t put that as ‘doubling premiums.’” “The people we’re talking about, the 1.6 million people whose subsidies completely go away — I’m willing to work with Democrats on that,” the senator added. “But again, it’s simply false to say that most people are gonna see their premiums double and triple. Now, the gross premium has more than doubled and tripled since Obamacare, but that’s because of Obamacare.” To be clear, the Obamacare subsidies will continue. What’s at issue are the temporary, COVID-era enhanced subsidies that Democrats scheduled to expire at the end of this year. Obamacare’s faulty design is driving premiums higher. Instead of fixing the underlying problems,… pic.twitter.com/kwCZPf8RxZ — Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) December 11, 2025 The GOP also argues that Obamacare, and these subsidies specifically, are creating massive fraud — another burden on the American taxpayer. A STUNNING new report shows just how broken Obamacare’s subsidy system is: – 23 of 24 fraudulent applications were approved – 18 ARE STILL receiving coverage – TENS OF THOUSANDS of duplicate SSNs used – $94 million paid for DEAD people And Democrats want to extend this system… pic.twitter.com/vy3wzFdxq4 — Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) December 10, 2025 “Health Care Freedom for Patients Act of 2025” The GOP-backed bill, called the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act of 2025, lets the Obamacare subsidies expire on the timeline Democrats set. It offers Americans direct payments to help cover healthcare costs — an idea floated by President Donald Trump last month. The health savings accounts created by the bill are limited for Americans making up to 700% of the federal poverty limit. Funds will range from $1,000 to $1,500 for 2026 and 2027. While accusing Democrats of papering over the issues of Obamacare and enriching insurance companies, the GOP says its plan will directly help the American people. Obamacare made healthcare unaffordable. The Democrat solution, as usual, is to send billions in subsidies to big insurance companies. Republicans want to help Americans directly instead. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Cuer2bKiPv — Senate Republicans (@SenateGOP) December 10, 2025 Like the Democrats’ plan to extend Obamacare subsidies, the GOP plan is not expected to pass the Senate, despite the GOP majority. Some Republicans are still unsure about how to handle the expiring subsidies, viewing the issue as a political lightning rod, especially ahead of the midterms. Moreover, the GOP doesn’t seem to have any support among Democrats, and the bill would need support from a handful of them to pass. Other Plans In The Works Republicans are still working on other healthcare plans, hoping to craft something that will garner enough votes to land on President Trump’s desk. One plan, led by Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) and Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), is called the More Affordable Care Act (MACA). The plan would create HSA-style Trump Health Freedom Accounts, which would notably restrict use for abortion health plans, abortion services, transgender surgeries, or gender transition procedures — something most conservatives view as vital. MACA would also create a new state waiver program within Obamacare to allow competition and drive down prices. It would allow health insurance plans to be sold across state lines and expand the availability of health insurance plans within existing Obamacare exchanges. Another plan is being proposed by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). Paul says his plan is not a “watered-down version” of Obamacare, like current GOP options. “My plan actually fixes the system. It doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime, and it finally frees Americans to buy insurance across state lines through real co-ops. No bureaucracy, no bloated mandates – just competition, choice, and lower costs,” Paul said this week. “Basically I would legalize the ability to buy insurance across state lines, through a co-op,” the senator said. Democrats want Obamacare on steroids, and Republicans are pushing a watered-down version that barely changes anything. My plan actually fixes the system. It doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime, and it finally frees Americans to buy insurance across state lines through real co-ops. No… pic.twitter.com/AXl552RHQK — Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 10, 2025 Related: Obama Takes Victory Lap Over Obamacare, Which Remains A Total Disaster

The Venezuelan socialist government accused the United States of committing “blatant theft” and “international piracy” after American forces, in coordination with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, took control of an oil tanker near the Venezuelan coast on Wednesday. The Trump administration said that the oil tanker was involved in an “illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations” and would regularly transport oil from Venezuela and Iran. The Venezuelan government, led by dictator Nicolás Maduro, condemned the United States and said on Wednesday that the seizure was part of President Donald Trump’s “long-standing plan to seize [Venezuelan] resources.” “The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela denounces and strongly repudiates what constitutes a blatant theft and an act of international piracy, publicly announced by the President of the United States, who confessed to the assault on an oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea,” the socialist government said. Maduro has remained defiant following pressure from Trump and has attempted to rally his country against the United States. Earlier on Wednesday, Maduro spoke at a rally and told Venezuelans to be prepared to act like “warriors” and “smash the teeth of the North American empire if necessary,” the Guardian reported. Maduro has kept a tight grip on Venezuela after declaring himself the winner of the 2024 presidential election despite evidence showing that he lost. Trump confirmed the oil tanker seizure after he was asked about the news by Daily Wire White House Correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan. “As you probably know, we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large — largest one ever seized, actually,” Trump said during a roundtable event on Wednesday afternoon. The president added that the tanker was seized “for very good reasons” and suggested that the United States would keep the oil on board. The Trump administration released video of the seizure, showing American forces deploying out of a helicopter onto the large ship in the South Caribbean. Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships “If you threaten our nation, or break the law, there is no place on land or sea where we won’t find you,” the Department of Homeland Security posted on social media alongside a video of the operation. KNOCKOUT. If you threaten our nation, or break the law, there is no place on land or sea where we won’t find you. Thank you to the brave service members from @USCG, @ICEGOV, @FBI, @DeptofWar, and @TheJusticeDept. pic.twitter.com/KUCRjES267 — Homeland Security (@DHSgov) December 11, 2025 The oil tanker seized by the United States has often attempted to hide its location while transporting oil from sanctioned countries, The New York Times reported. The vessel, called “Skipper,” hides by broadcasting fake location data. Tracking experts believe that the tanker “has transported nearly 13 million barrels of Iranian and Venezuelan oil since joining the global dark fleet of tankers in 2021,” according to the Times. Venezuela’s oil-rich land is its main source of revenue and is often sold at steep discounts to American nemeses such as Iran and China. Trump has ramped up the pressure on Maduro in recent weeks, deploying U.S. battleships and forces to the Caribbean and taking out suspected drug boats near the Venezuelan coast. The White House accuses Maduro’s regime of funneling deadly drugs to the United States and has placed a $50 million bounty on Maduro for engaging “in a corrupt and violent narco-terrorism conspiracy.”

Does more government involvement in the socioeconomic sphere make the life of an average New Yorker better? Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani thinks so, with big-government policies prioritizing economic redistribution, a fundamental aspect of socialist ideology. Mamdani’s platform includes city-owned grocery stores, free buses, no-cost childcare, rent freezes, a $30 minimum wage, and small business reforms. While the latter proposal is commendable and bipartisan, Mamdani’s solutions are, unfortunately, not. He has promised small businesses, which account for 98% of firms in the city and employ over half of the private sector workforce, a regulatory reform package focused on improving compliance. Mamdani alleges to be a champion for the little guy, claiming he will “cut small business fines in half, speed up permitting and make online applications easier, and increase funding for 1:1 small business support by 500%.” While his message resonates and it correctly identifies that the city’s systems can be punishingly slow, his agenda does not target root concerns for businesses. Rather than removing any of the 6,000 regulations that cost small businesses time, money, and resources, Mamdani proposes that minimally reducing compliance expenses is the best strategy for making business operations faster, easier, and cheaper. Violations such as labor non-compliance, sanitation issues, or building code infractions can cost owners thousands of dollars annually. The right solution is deregulation — to remove needless and onerous regulations and to ensure compliance with essential safeguards. Instead, he has proposed more government bureaucracy, namely the “Mom and Pop Czar” Office. This entity, allegedly designed to promote small business interests, will work to halve fines and eliminate fees. Leaving thousands of bad regulations on the books and simply arbitrarily reducing fees is more likely to lead to confusion, harmful non-compliance, and situations that can be easily gamed — in short, a profit for lawyers and accountants but not for workers and customers. This is more likely to undermine local trust in regulatory fairness. Firms that have invested in compliance in the past may feel penalized, creating an environment of social decohesion. This is a politically motivated and poor substitution for deregulation. Speeding up permitting and making online applications easier should quicken the timeline for which small businesses can begin operations. New York City’s permitting process is complex and slow, taking several months and costing owners time, money, and resources. However, the mayor-elect’s plan lacks any detail on how to achieve a simpler permitting process and is more likely to be a false campaign promise than a serious effort to ease the burdens of New York City’s businesses. Increasing funding for small businesses by 500% is intended to offer personalized support for owners in the form of grants, loans, and technical assistance. Mamdani will finance and expand the Business Express Service Teams (BEST), which offer one-to-one support and assist small businesses with bureaucratic hurdles. Over-reliance on government assistance may harm entrepreneurial independence as it fosters governmental dependence and crowds out numerous private sector entities that provide the same kind of support to businesses. Scaling up BEST requires hiring and training more staff, risking inefficiencies and mismanagement of funds. Instead of eliminating useless or obsolete regulations, he offers crushing tax increases and false promises mired in government bureaucracy. Mamdani’s policies do not address leading concerns for small businesses, those being the over 6,000 regulations that impede operations. He targets operational burdens and small fees, completely ignoring the primary costs for entrepreneurs — regulations. Making compliance requirements less restrictive can best be achieved by eliminating the compliance requirement altogether. Removing the regulatory burdens that plague small business owners best fosters free market competition and economic growth. Mamdani should recognize a simple truth: prudent deregulation is the only viable long-term solution, not government intervention. * * * Nicole Huyer is a Senior Research Associate in The Heritage Foundation’s Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire. Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships This piece is a part of The Heritage Foundation’s Wealth and Innovation project.

Sanctuary authorities set free a twice-deported illegal immigrant with a rap sheet who allegedly caused a six-car pileup involving a school bus in Washington state last week, The Daily Wire has learned. Mexican illegal immigrant Juan Hernandez-Santos, 40, allegedly lost control of his semi-truck and jackknifed into traffic in Lacey, Washington, last Thursday, sending four people to the hospital, according to authorities. The illegal immigrant already had a lengthy rap sheet of DUIs and other concerning offenses before the crash occurred. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer with local authorities in Washington, who ignored their request and set the illegal immigrant free, the Department of Homeland Security told The Daily Wire. Here’s a look at the crash on I-5 NB that has all lanes blocked near Martin Way in @CityofLacey. We expect this to be a lengthy incident. Use alternate routes until we’re able to clear the scene. Real time travel info at https://t.co/HUGa1WTJfY pic.twitter.com/ndasvBq9gz — WSDOT Tacoma (@wsdot_tacoma) December 4, 2025 “This dangerous illegal alien has a criminal history including multiple DUIs, possessing a controlled substance, and two prior removals from the U.S. He was a walking public safety threat and illegally was driving an 18-wheeler when he caused a six car pile-up involving a school bus on the highway in Washington,” Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement shared with The Daily Wire. “Thankfully, no children were in the bus. This story could have had a very different tragic ending. The sanctuary politicians in Washington failed once again to protect American citizens by refusing to honor our ICE arrest detainer,” she said. Hernandez-Santos was first deported in 2005 and again in 2006, DHS said. He later snuck back into the United States undetected. The Mexican national was arrested in 2008 in Los Angeles for driving without a license and then a month later for a DUI and hit-and-run with property damage, according to DHS. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance in 2018 before being arrested in 2020 in Los Angeles for his second DUI, DHS said. The illegal immigrant behind the wheel didn’t have a commercial driver’s license, insurance, or a valid medical card, authorities said. “In this situation, there is a lot of negligence involved,” State Trooper Kameron Watts said in a statement. “We actually dispatched some commercial vehicle enforcement officers to the scene to do a full-blown inspection of the truck itself and the paperwork all semi-truck drivers are supposed to have on them.” Several recent crashes, some fatal, involving illegal immigrants driving trucks, have sparked a national crackdown. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has assisted local authorities in several states to pull over and detain illegal immigrant truckers driving through weigh stations as part of the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign. Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation is threatening to withhold federal funding to Democratic-run states that hand out commercial driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. The agency has also instituted stricter requirements, including mandatory English language training.

'Return with your shield, or on it'

'We brought in millions of illegal immigrants to compete with Americans for scarce homes'

'Plainly discriminatory and unlawful'

'Growing bloc of disaffected activists'

ALL EYES ON INDIANA ... TRUMP WARNS 'MAGA PRIMARY' IS COMING FOR REPUBLICANS WHO DON'T SUPPORT TODAY'S REDISTRICTING VOTE ... DONALD TRUMP: I love the State of Indiana, and have won it, including Primaries, six times, all by MASSIVE Majorities. Importantly, it now has a chance to make a difference in Washington, D.C., in regard to the number of House seats we have that are necessary to hold the Majority against the Radical Left Democrats.