Chapter 1: What are the current issues with Obamacare and health costs?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Chiavone. Obamacare-related health costs are topic A in the U.S. Senate today as the deadline approaches for a decision on what's next. Democrats want to extend so-called enhanced premium subsidies, and Republicans are divided. NPR's Selina Simmons-Duffin has more.
24 million people enrolled in Obamacare this year, mostly small business owners and workers, farmers, ranchers. Nearly all of them got enhanced subsidies to help with monthly premium costs. Now those enhanced subsidies are expiring and costs are going up dramatically.
Chapter 2: How is Ukraine's President Zelensky engaging with global leaders?
Ellen Allen's premium costs are quadrupling. She's 64, lives in West Virginia, and has pre-existing conditions. The Bronze Plan without Vision and Dental
with a monthly premium of $1,967.50.
Senate Democrats' bill would put those enhanced subsidies back for three years. The Republican bill would put money in health savings accounts, but would not bring down the higher premium costs. Selina Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.
Chapter 3: What recent trends are observed in the U.S. trade deficit?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky holds urgent talks today with leaders from about 30 countries. It's the latest gathering of a so-called Coalition of the Willing led by Britain, France and Germany. NPR's Lauren Freyer reports today's meeting is being held by videoconference.
Zelensky has been traveling around Europe meeting allies this week. as revisions to a U.S.-backed peace plan are sent back and forth across the Atlantic to the White House. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz says the main issue to be resolved is what territories and concessions Ukraine is prepared to make.
He said he and his French and British counterparts suggested finalizing proposals with President Trump in Europe this weekend. Trump told reporters he's waiting to hear answers before progressing.
There are a lot of things happening right now. A lot of people say it's closer than it's ever been.
A critical moment is how European leaders describe it. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London.
The nation's trade deficit narrowed in September. NPR's Scott Horsley reports on the latest figures from the Commerce Department.
The U.S.
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Chapter 4: Why are lawmakers concerned about fees charged to disabled veterans?
trade gap narrowed by almost 11 percent during September. Exports and imports both increased during the month, but exports jumped more. New applications for unemployment benefits rose sharply last week after a Thanksgiving lull the week before. 236,000 people applied for jobless aid. The number of applications can be useful in assessing the pace of layoffs.
Stock in Oracle tumbled after the cloud computing giant reported disappointing earnings. Oracle's been investing heavily in artificial intelligence.
Chapter 5: What actions are being proposed to protect veterans from predatory fees?
Despite the dip, co-founder Larry Ellison is still a very wealthy man. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
On Wall Street, a day after the Fed lowered interest rates by a quarter percentage point, the Dow was up $5.59, the Nasdaq off 227 points, the S&P 500 down 18. This is NPR. More than 40 lawmakers are asking federal regulators to crack down on companies illegally charging millions in fees to disabled U.S. military veterans. NPR's Chris Arnold has more.
Chapter 6: What is the latest development regarding Kilmar Abrego-Garcia's case?
Under federal law, it's illegal to charge veterans money for help filing initial disability claims. They can get that service for free. But NPR found that companies have been charging vets as much as $10,000 or $20,000 for it. And some vets said that that was after a company didn't even do much to help them.
Congressman Chris Pappas, a Democrat from New Hampshire, says some of the tactics NPR reported on are disturbing. This is predatory in nature that veterans are forking over a huge amount of money for this. It's shameful. It's outrageous. And we've got to do something about it. Pappas wants the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other agencies to take action to protect disabled vets.
Chris Arnold, NPR News.
Federal Judge Paula Zinnes has granted Kilmar Abrego-Garcia's request to be released from ICE custody. The native of El Salvador and resident of Maryland has become a symbol of the Trump administration's deportations policy after he was mistakenly sent to a prison in El Salvador in the spring, contrary to a judge's order.
The government later returned him to the U.S., but immediately charged him with human smuggling in Tennessee. Zinnes said the government had no final removal order to deport Abrego Garcia and also tried to deport him to various countries in Africa without reasoning, even as Abrego Garcia was willing to leave the U.S. and go to Costa Rica. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.
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