Gideon Resnick

And if you're already listening to the news app right now, we have a narrated article coming up next.

Esquire reports on how the sins of a televangelist power couple threatened to tear their empire and family apart.

If you're listening in the podcast app, you can follow Apple News Plus Narrated to find that story.

And I'll be back with the news tomorrow.

Good morning.

It's Wednesday, December 17th.

I'm Gideon Resnick, in for Shamita Basu.

This is Apple News Today.

Coming up on today's show, frustrations mount over the Brown University investigation, what authorities are probing after the Bondi beach shooting, and President Trump calls for a blockade near Venezuela.

But first, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced yesterday that he would not call a vote to extend enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.

That means that in all likelihood, millions of Americans who get their coverage under the ACA are going to see premiums go up next year.

Now, he explained that many members in his conference, particularly some who might face difficult elections in next year's midterms, had wanted to extend the funding.

One of those lawmakers, Republican Mike Lawler of New York, said that it was, quote, idiotic that Johnson wouldn't pursue the extension.

Instead, House Republicans today will focus their attention on their own bill that seeks to expand insurance coverage options for small businesses and the self-employed, among other things.

And this comes after two plans to address health care costs failed in the Senate last week.

Politico reports that the internal Republican blame game and disagreements about where and how to proceed are indicative of longer-term challenges the party has had.

Congressional reporter Jordan Carney explained their dilemma.

Carney also told us the disagreements extend to both chambers.

Part of the challenge for Republicans in supporting anything that extends even parts of the Affordable Care Act is that the party has spent years saying that the ACA is a disaster and that Americans need better options.

And so far, President Trump has not helped clarify exactly where he thinks Republicans should go.