Week in Politics: Defense Secretary Hegseth; gerrymandering; birthright citizenship

The Senate is set to vote on competing health care proposals from Democrats and Republicans as the deadline for extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies approaches. Both parties have presented their bills, but they are expected to fail amid a lack of consensus.

California Governor Gavin Newsom released an AI-generated video that humorously depicts former President Donald Trump, along with Pete Hegseth and Stephen Miller, in handcuffs, aiming to mock the Trump administration. This move comes amid ongoing tensions between Newsom and Trump, particularly regarding federal support for California's wildfire recovery efforts.

The US Senate is set to vote on two competing bills aimed at addressing the impending expiration of subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which affects approximately 21.8 million enrollees. The Republican proposal, led by John Thune, opposes the Democratic plan to extend these subsidies until 2028. Both measures are expected to fail, raising concerns about rising healthcare costs for many Americans.

Eleven women incarcerated at FMC Carswell, a federal medical women’s prison in Texas, have reported rampant sexual abuse by staff members over the past seven years, highlighting ongoing issues of misconduct within the facility. This prison has previously been under scrutiny, with 13 staff members convicted of abuse since 1997, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of promised reforms.

Representative Jasmine Crockett has officially launched her campaign for the U.S. Senate from Texas, stepping into the race after Colin Allred's withdrawal, which has shifted the dynamics of the Democratic primary in a traditionally Republican state.

Speaker Mike Johnson expressed his delight over Representative Jasmine Crockett's announcement to run for the U.S. Senate from Texas, highlighting her progressive stance in a predominantly Republican state. This development is significant as it marks a shift in the Democratic primary landscape, especially following the withdrawal of former House Representative Colin Allred, which has opened the field for new candidates like Crockett.

The US House of Representatives has passed a defense policy bill authorizing $900 billion for military programs, which includes a pay raise for troops and reforms to the Department of Defense's procurement processes. The bill, comprising 3,000 pages, also demands more transparency regarding military strikes against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean.

Republicans in Congress are struggling to reach a consensus on a health care plan as the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies approaches in 2026. This lack of agreement comes at a critical time as the GOP faces pressure to present a viable alternative to the Democrats' extension of these subsidies.