Home for the holidays on the Hill: ‘Fighting’ in the House Republican ‘family’
Many families fight around Christmastime. House Republicans are no exception. You’ve been at the dinner table about to enjoy a slab of pumpkin pie when Uncle Somebody or Cousin Someone enters the dining room on a bender, thanks to Santa dropping a little too much bourbon in their Christmas stockings. You know what happens next. THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO WHERE WE STAND WITH A HEALTHCARE PACKAGE: CHRISTMAS OR GROUNDHOG DAY? “Fighting” inside the House Republican “family” didn’t go like that this year. But some Republicans are frustrated with how things have gone lately. There is particular frustration with the party’s efforts to address healthcare but also about whether House Republicans “wasted” their majority when House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., recessed the body for nearly two months during the government shutdown. Here’s the latest intrafamily fight: The decision by four House Republicans to bolt from their party and align with Democrats in their effort to renew expiring Obamacare subsidies for three years. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.; Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa.; Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa.; and Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., are all centrist GOPers representing battleground districts. The quartet hoped the House Rules Committee would make in order one of four plans they supported to temporarily renew expiring Obamacare credits. But the panel blocked them from offering their legislation on the House floor. “I tried very hard over the last several weeks and even through the weekend and as late as yesterday trying to engineer a way for them to have a vote on the floor so they could show that priority,” said Johnson. “But it was not to be.” The term you’ll hear a lot over the coming weeks is “discharge petition.” Discharge petitions are a parliamentary artifice for lawmakers to go around the speaker and deposit their bill on the floor — if the leadership won’t do it for them. The gambit was rarely successful for two decades. But there have been multiple successful discharge petitions since Johnson became speaker in the fall of 2023. A discharge petition requires 218 signatures before it forces House action. It’s about the math — 218 is the majority of all 435 House members. And 218 is the magic number, regardless of the current House membership. For instance, the House is presently at 434 members with one vacancy — 218 is still the number. Once it has the signatures, the discharge petition only ripens after seven legislative days. Moderate Republicans defected from their party on Wednesday. “We were really left with no choice,” Lawler said after signing on to the Democrats’ discharge petition to greenlight the subsidies for three years. The GOP brass rationalized. “I have not lost control of the House,” said Johnson. “These are not normal times.” THE SPEAKER’S LOBBY: WHAT CONGRESS’ DECEMBER SCRIPT MEANS FOR HEALTHCARE NEXT YEAR Democrats seized on the Republican infighting. “It shows that the demand by the American people for Congress, the House and the Senate to extend the ACA and premium tax credits is undeniable,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. The “Fed-up Foursome” believed they had no alternative. Even if that meant signing the Democratic discharge petition. “We exhausted every effort to find an agreement within our conference,” said Lawler. “If they don’t want that to pass, then they should be working to find an alternative vehicle now.” And that’s where the family feuding began. Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., accused the four of “betraying the party” by sidling up to the Democrats’ plan and bypassing Johnson. Burlison questioned why moderate Republicans got to “drive the agenda.” He added that those centrist policies don’t resonate in his conservative Missouri district. However, Republicans wouldn’t wield the House majority at all were it not for moderate GOPers holding swing districts. In particular, districts in New York and Pennsylvania. Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., crafted a plan to block the premium hikes. Rather than a subsidy, people would receive a tax deduction. The Rules Committee blocked LaLota’s effort. He didn’t sign onto the Democrats’ discharge petition. But the New York Republican appreciated the effort of his four GOP colleagues. “Three years is probably better than nothing. But, again, it always solves the short-term issue of short-term affordability,” said LaLota. FOUR REPUBLICANS BUCK MIKE JOHNSON TO JOIN HAKEEM JEFFRIES’ OBAMACARE PUSH But many conservatives balk at any extension. “We’re not interested in perpetuating a failed Obamacare that’s just made costs skyrocket,” said House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas. However, what most House Republicans were interested in was passing a bill allowing groups of people to pool resources and purchase health insurance as a group. Republicans argued that so-called “association” plans could defray premium costs. The Congressional Budget Office declared that the bill saved $36 billion but noted that 100,000 people would lose insurance via this method over the next decade. The bill didn’t address premium spikes. So, Democrats skewered the Republican bill as a fig leaf before it passed on Wednesday. “Instead of a fix, we get a stupid, pathetic, last-minute bill designed to let Republicans cover their ass before they flee town for the holidays,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the top Democrat on the Rules Committee. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, voted for the Republican association healthcare bill. But Roy believed it was weak tea from a party that promised big things. Roy suggested Republicans only passed the bill to stave off political attacks ahead of the midterms that they weren’t addressing healthcare costs. “Republicans will complain about it, and then they’ll offer milquetoast garbage like we’re offering this week and then go home at Christmas and say, ‘Look at what we’re doing! We’re campaigning on reducing healthcare!’ Well, congratulatufrigginlations,” Roy fumed. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., has expressed displeasure with how Republican leaders handled the government shutdown. Like Roy, Kiley voted for the GOP healthcare legislation Wednesday night. But Kiley has reservations. “The bill does not address the immediate urgent problem in front of us, which is that 22 million people are about to pay a lot more for health
California Democratic candidate uses wrong photo for Rep Jasmine Crockett’s congressional endorsement
A campaign website for a California Democratic congressional candidate mistakenly promoted an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett using a photo of a different Black woman instead of the Texas Democrat. The website for Esther Kim Varet removed the image Thursday afternoon after Fox News Digital inquired about the error. “Racist. Arrogant. Totally out of touch. Good thing @estherkimvaret’s hate-filled, bigoted self isn’t getting anywhere near Congress,” Christian Martinez, national Hispanic press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, wrote on X. JASMINE CROCKETT SAYS THE SENATE NEEDS TO IMPOSE ‘ETHICAL GUIDELINES’ ON SUPREME COURT Varet, owner of Various Small Fires, a chain of art galleries in Los Angeles, Dallas and Seoul, is running to unseat Rep. Young Kim, a Republican representing California’s 40th Congressional District, which includes portions of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Varet, the child of Korean immigrants, called Kim, who was born in South Korea, an “ESL puppet” in a social media post criticizing the Trump administration’s immigration policies. “My story is not unique. It’s the story of so many Korean Americans and immigrants across the country who are proud Americans and are making our communities better every day. I’m proud of my accent and will keep using my voice to protect the American dream for future generations,” Kim previously told Fox News Digital. Fox News Digital has reached out to Varet’s campaign and to Crockett’s office. JASMINE CROCKETT WALKS BACK CLAIM HISPANIC TRUMP VOTERS HAVE ‘SLAVE MENTALITY’ In August, the NRCC called Varet “unhinged” after she criticized Kim’s English-speaking skills. She also allegedly targeted Martinez personally, telling him to “prove that you’re a REAL Latino,” the group said. Kim is also facing a Republican primary challenge from Rep. Ken Calvert, and the two will compete for the reconfigured district. The district lines were changed after voters approved a statewide redistricting measure in November aimed at creating additional Democratic-leaning congressional seats. The move came in response to a new map in Texas designed to establish several more Republican-leaning districts.
Police in Sydney detain men over possible ‘violent act’
NewsFeed Australian police say they intercepted two cars in Liverpool, southwest Sydney, over a possible “violent act”, with videos showing armed officers in fatigues detaining several people. Authorities say investigations are ongoing and there is currently no link to the Bondi Beach shooting. Published On 18 Dec 202518 Dec 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
Egypt says gas deal with Israel is ‘purely commercial’
Natural gas agreement worth approximately $35bn comes amid frayed relations over Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza. By News Agencies Published On 18 Dec 202518 Dec 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Egypt has said that Cairo’s natural gas deal with Israel is a “purely commercial” arrangement and that there are no “political dimensions” to the deal. On Thursday, Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS) said the agreement was struck by private energy companies under market rules and without government involvement. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list “The deal is a purely commercial transaction concluded on the basis of strictly economic and investment considerations, and entails no political dimensions or understandings of any kind,” SIS chief Diaa Rashwan said in a statement. “The agreement serves a clear strategic interest for Egypt, namely strengthening its position as the sole regional hub for gas trading in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Rashwan added. Egypt’s announcement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the approval of the gas agreement with Egypt on Wednesday evening and called it “the largest gas deal in Israel’s history”. “Today, I approved the largest gas deal in Israel’s history. The deal is worth 112 billion shekels [$34.7bn]. Of this total, 58 billion shekels [$18bn] will go to the state coffers,” Netanyahu said during a televised address in Israel, alongside energy minister Eli Cohen. “The agreement is with the American company Chevron, with Israeli partners who will supply gas to Egypt,” Netanyahu added. Israel had signed the export agreement in August with Chevron and its partners to supply up to $35bn of gas to Egypt from the Leviathan natural gas field. But according to a report by the newspaper Israel Hayom, in September, Netanyahu had instructed that the gas agreement with Egypt should not move forward without his approval. His instructions came amid Israel’s allegations that Cairo had “violated the peace treaty” signed between the two countries through military deployments in Sinai – claims that Egypt has denied. Advertisement On March 26, 1979, Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty in Washington, DC following the 1978 Camp David Accords. Its key provisions include ending the state of war, normalising relations, the full withdrawal of Israeli military forces and civilians from the Sinai Peninsula, and keeping the area demilitarised. According to CNN, Netanyahu’s announcement of the gas deal on Wednesday comes amid pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has been trying to organise a meeting between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Netanyahu. Relations between the two leaders have been frayed, and they have not met publicly in years. Tensions also intensified after Israel’s genocide in Gaza began. Egypt has been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza and played a key role in mediating a ceasefire in the enclave. But the truce is fragile and continues to fray amid a deepening humanitarian emergency across the Strip. Adblock test (Why?)
French anaesthetist jailed for life after poisoning and killing patients
The prosecution accused Frederic Pechier of having ‘used medicine to kill’ at least 12 people. Published On 18 Dec 202518 Dec 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share A French anaesthetist has been sentenced to life in prison after a court found him guilty of poisoning 30 patients during operations, killing 12. The Doubs Assize Court delivered its verdict on Thursday, with prosecutors describing the doctor as “one of the greatest criminals in history”. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Frederic Pechier, 53, was convicted of poisoning patients between 2008 and 2017 while working in two private clinics in the eastern city of Besancon. The victims ranged in age from four to 89. The verdict followed 15 weeks of hearings in a trial that lasted three months, marked by technical medical testimony and emotional accounts from victims’ families. The court heard that Pechier targeted patients treated by colleagues with whom he was in conflict, to discredit them professionally. In some cases, prosecutors said, he intervened to resuscitate patients he had poisoned not to save them, but to conceal his actions. The prosecution argued that Pechier acted to harm and “psychologically damage” healthcare workers he saw as rivals to “feed his thirst for power”. Christine de Curraize, the prosecuting lawyer, said Pechier’s goal in each poisoning was to “witness the downfall of his trapped colleague, to revel in his helplessness” before stepping in to resuscitate patients and present himself as the “doctor everyone admired”. Given the floor for a final statement on Monday, the last day of the trial, Pechier again denied the accusations, repeating a claim he maintained throughout the proceedings. Advertisement “I am not a poisoner,” he said. During closing arguments, the prosecution accused Pechier of having “used medicine to kill”. Pechier’s lawyers said they intend to appeal. He has 10 days to do so under French law. Adblock test (Why?)
India to get its first forest university in THIS city, not in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru or Hyderabad, it is in…
Uttar Pradesh is set to establish India’s first forest university in Gorakhpur, focused on forestry, wildlife and environmental sciences. The university will offer specialised programs in forestry, agroforestry, and conservation. The campus will provide both academic and field-based research.
SEBI’s Digital Gold Caution: What the Regulator Is Really Signaling to Investors
Digital gold has emerged as one of the most widely used entry points into commodity investing for Indian retail investors. It offers fractional exposure, transparent pricing, and the convenience of online purchase without immediate concerns around storage and delivery.
DNA Verified: PM Modi spotted wearing earring while meeting with deputy PM Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said on his Oman visit?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Oman, and he arrived in on Wednesday. While shaking hands and hugging the deputy PM Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, PM Modi was spotted wearing a white ‘ear-ring’ like thing on his left ear. Several reports claimed that it is a ear-ring.
G Ram G bill, introduced to replace MGNREGA, passed in Lok Sabha, Opposition raises slogans, ‘We want…’
Th new G Ram G Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha. The bill was introduced by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The bill seeks to replace the 20-year-old MGNREGA Act and guarantees 125 days of rural employment annually.
Ghaziabad SHOCKER: Landlady murdered, stuffed in suitcase by two tenants for asking four month pending rent in Rajnagar Extension
A routine rent collection visit turned into a horror for the owner in the Rajnagar Extension area of Nandgram. On Wednesday, the body of a woman was found inside a suitcase, which was inside the property she owned in Aura Chimaera, Raj Nagar Extension, Ghaziabad.