> At a Glance
> – President Trump ordered weekend strikes in Venezuela and says the U.S. will “run” the country after capturing Nicolás Maduro
> – 22 million Americans face higher health premiums after Obamacare subsidies expired Jan. 1
> – Government funding expires Jan. 30; nine of 12 spending bills still unfinished
> – Why it matters: Premium hikes, war powers and a potential shutdown collide with midterm election season
Lawmakers return to the Capitol this week juggling a U.S. military takeover of Venezuela, expiring health-care subsidies and a fast-approaching funding deadline that could shut down the federal government.
Health-Care Subsidy Showdown
Enhanced ACA tax credits lapsed Dec. 31, pushing premiums up for 22 million people. A bipartisan House group forced Speaker Mike Johnson to schedule a vote this week on a three-year extension, but Senate Republicans call the bill “dead on arrival.”
- House measure likely passes with swing-district GOP support plus Democrats
- Senate GOP want eligibility caps and anti-fraud rules; Democrats reject added abortion limits
- No deal means pricier insurance-or none-for millions, a liability Republicans fear in November
Government Funding Deadline
The longest shutdown in U.S. history ended last fall, yet only three appropriations bills are finished. Nine remain, and the Jan. 30 deadline is days away.
- Democrats, burned by the last shutdown, signal they won’t hold funding hostage over ACA funds this round
- If House Republicans can unify on a short-term bill, Senate pressure to acquiesce will be intense
- Appropriators may punt with another stop-gap continuing resolution for unfunded agencies
Venezuela Briefings & War Powers
Trump’s weekend operation to bomb Venezuela and detain Maduro has triggered demands for classified briefings and a Senate vote to reclaim Congress’s constitutional war authority.
Sen. Tim Kaine stated:
> “I intend to force a vote to reassert that the power to declare war belongs to Congress, not the president.”
Several Democrats accuse Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of misleading them before the strikes.
Stock-Trading Ban Momentum
Reps. Chip Roy and Seth Magaziner are pushing the Restore Trust in Congress Act, which would bar members and their spouses from trading individual stocks. A discharge petition has 74 of the 218 signatures needed to force a floor vote.
AI & Kids Online
More than three dozen states have passed AI rules, prompting tech firms to seek a single federal standard. Trump signed an executive order urging a “minimally burdensome national framework.”
Meanwhile, House panels are revisiting narrower online child-safety bills after broader Senate-passed measures died last year.
Key Takeaways
- ACA subsidy lapse raises premiums for 22 million; House vote this week, Senate outlook grim
- Funding cliff on Jan. 30; another stop-gap likely
- Venezuela military action fuels bipartisan push to rein in war powers
- Stock-trading ban petition needs 144 more signatures to guarantee a House vote
- States outpace Congress on AI regulation; kids-online bills face uncertain path
