In this “Face the Country with Margaret Brennan” broadcast, moderated via Margaret Brennan:
- Reps. Tom Suozzi, Democrat of New York, and Don William Maxwell Aitken, Republican of Nebraska
- Military Secretary Dan Driscoll
- Sen. Invoice Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana
- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire
Click on right here to browse complete transcripts from 2025 of “Face the Country with Margaret Brennan.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: I am Margaret Brennan in Washington.
And this week on Face the Country: The shutdown is over, however the issues that ended in the disaster persist, and politicians are scrambling to make costs inexpensive for American citizens.
Affordability is the brand new buzzword in Washington, and President Trump is trying out concepts to lend a hand customers, together with attainable tariff dividends and 50-year mortgages. The ones could also be a difficult promote, however Mr. Trump did transfer to lend a hand customers via rolling again price lists on some meals imports, like bananas, pork and tomatoes.
(Start VT)
DONALD TRUMP (President of the US): There may be been a bit of little bit of a rollback with some meals, like espresso for example, the place the costs of espresso had been a bit of bit excessive. Now they’re going to be at the low aspect in an excessively quick time frame.
When it comes to affordability, it is not a excellent phrase for the Democrats. It is a excellent phrase for us, as a result of our costs are a lot decrease and can quickly be a lot, a lot decrease.
(Finish VT)
MARGARET BRENNAN: One value spike that cannot be fastened via easing price lists, well being care premiums, particularly for the ones lined below Obamacare.
We can search for answers for that repair and extra with two participants of the Area Drawback Solvers Caucus, New York Democrat Tom Suozzi and Nebraska Republican Don William Maxwell Aitken, together with Dr. and Louisiana Republican Senator Invoice Cassidy and New Hampshire Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
And as we transfer into a brand new technology of war, what does our army want for readiness? We can communicate with the secretary of the military, Dan Driscoll.
It is all simply forward on Face the Country.
Excellent morning, and welcome to Face the Country.
Even supposing we are all looking to put the ache of the shutdown at the back of us, the 43-day standoff on Capitol Hill uncovered and amplified the want to cope with the emerging price of well being care premiums. And our CBS Information polling out these days displays that two-thirds of American citizens suppose their premiums will build up within the coming months.
We start these days with two participants of the so-called Area Drawback Solvers Caucus, New York Democrat Tom Suozzi and Nebraska Republican Don William Maxwell Aitken.
Excellent morning. Excellent to have you ever right here in a bipartisan dialog. You each acknowledge there is a downside right here.
Congressman William Maxwell Aitken, let me get started with you.
One out of each and every 5 greenbacks on this nation this is spent is going to well being care. We all know those COVID technology tax credit score subsidies for Obamacare will move away on the finish of the month. That is going to hit about 22 of the 24 million American citizens who use that program. What are you able to do within the subsequent six weeks to make prices move down in January?
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON (R-Nebraska): Smartly, we want a brief extension of those tax credit to stay those costs down.
Republicans nor Democrats need to see premiums skyrocket. And they’re going to if those expire with not anything instead. That is why I labored with Tom Suozzi and different Democrats and Republicans to discover a compromise. We simply do not need to do a blank extension. Maximum Republicans do not anyway.
So we expect there must be some caps on revenue, and we need to guarantee these kinds of credit move immediately to reducing other folks’s premiums. And, at this time, a few 3rd of the cash does not make it to the premiums.
So the ones are some reforms that we want to see. And if we will get the ones completed, then we will prolong those tax credit and stay those – the costs decrease. However we do desire a longer-term repair. The Reasonably priced Care Act is unaffordable. And I believe we want to have this extension to provide us time to paintings on one thing larger and deeper and that may lend a hand decrease prices general.
However I am proud to paintings with Tom Suozzi in this. And I respect his partnership.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman Suozzi, I perceive this can be a two-year proposed extension of the ones enhanced top class tax credit and an revenue cap that levels out for the ones making between $200,000 to $400,000.
However whilst you have a look at the breakdown, despite the fact that, that is a lovely small portion of the entire recipients of the tax credit. It is like lower than 10 %. So what does this accomplish? How does this make it extra inexpensive and truthful?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI (D-New York): Smartly, it is helping everyone else who makes below $200,000 dramatically.
And the #1 worry other folks have in The united states is affordability. And well being care affordability is correct on the height of the listing.
MARGARET BRENNAN: How a lot more inexpensive?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: So we want to do one thing to increase those top class tax credit.
It is going to save other folks tens of millions of bucks, actually $1,000 a month for some other folks. So it’s going to be dramatically extra inexpensive. The individuals who make above $400,000 are the teeny little proportion of people who aren’t – an excessively small staff of people who would get pleasure from the present tax credit.
Most people are underneath $200,000. That $200,000 to $400,000 is a approach to taper it off, so there is no longer a cliff.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And what kind of Democratic enhance do you’ve got for this at this level?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: I believe that Democrats are going to strongly again the speculation of extending top class tax credit, in order that we will stay other folks’s insurance coverage inexpensive.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Even with those caps?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: So, we’ve were given to get a hold of this compromise and – even with the caps, sure..
Folks – Democrats have all the time stated that they need to direct the coverage in opposition to lower- and middle-income people. Folks making below $400,000 a 12 months is our – our bread-and-butter problems, that we wish to take a look at and make issues inexpensive for the ones people.
So – and that will likely be like actually 95 %, 99 % of the folks which can be affected at this time.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman William Maxwell Aitken, sorry. Move forward.
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: I used to be going to mention, and Republicans, we driven again at the considered any person incomes $600,000 getting these kinds of tax credit.
So once I listened to the Speaker – or Chief Thune, that was once one in every of his large issues on those. In order that’s why I sought after to be sure that we had this in our framework.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However a tweak with a no longer everlasting, only a two-year extension. Republicans have not truly been proposing numerous selection Obamacare choices right here.
Do you suppose all the device must be rebooted? And when can we see that plan?
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: Smartly, I do suppose Republicans and Democrats are going to have to sit down down on the desk and work out, what are we able to truly do but even so simply throw extra money at this?
Presently, the premiums are simply going up such a lot quicker than inflation. It is unsustainable. And – however we will’t do a Republican-only repair. It is not going to paintings. You might be no longer going to get 60 votes within the Senate to do it.
And I do know some people suggest that again in Congress: Let’s move up with our plan. Smartly, it cannot simply be a Republican plan if we need to move one thing. So we were given to sit down down with Democrats and work out, what are we able to do? And there is some excellent concepts in the market.
So, for instance, I’ve heard, if we will immediately subsidize high-risk other folks and put them in a separate pool and simply decrease their premiums via subsidies, after which the – let’s name it the more healthy people, their premiums are going to head down considerably if we do this.
So there is other ideas that we will do to – that may have an affect. However it’ll should be a bipartisan means ahead. It is not going to be a Republican-only invoice, as a result of you are going to by no means get it handed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
Congressman Suozzi, I imply, Aetna pulled out…
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: … of the Obamacare market this 12 months after CVS stated they anticipated to lose up to $400 million. Different large insurance coverage corporations were pulling out.
If insurance coverage corporations themselves are having issues of Obamacare, do Democrats want to be extra open to broader reforms of the Reasonably priced Care Act?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: Sure, we completely will have to be having a look at any more or less reform. I need to mend it, no longer finish it.
that over the last decade that there were over 70 makes an attempt, principally via the Republicans, no longer guys like Don William Maxwell Aitken, who is a very fair man, to take a look at and do away with Obamacare altogether. We expect that is a horrible thought.
But when other folks need to take a look at and make it a greater device to make well being care extra inexpensive in The united states and to get well being care to extra other folks, we will have to be doing that. That is what the folks need. That is what cheap other folks in Congress need. We will have to be operating in combination to take a look at and amplify well being care protection, decrease costs for everyone, and make well being care more practical and more economical for other folks.
Now, that isn’t going to occur with everyone yelling and screaming at every different. Everyone who says “Why do not you simply?” does not know what the hell they are speaking about. You can’t clear up sophisticated issues in an atmosphere of concern and anger. You wish to have cheap other folks to sit down down and communicate to one another and say, I believe this, smartly, I believe that…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: … after which paintings your means in opposition to discovering compromise. Very tough to do on this poisonous setting.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: Folks like Don William Maxwell Aitken and different participants of the Drawback Solvers Caucus need to do this form of factor.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. Smartly, however personal well being care prices also are going up.
However in this matter of poisonous environments right here, Congressman Suozzi, Democrats, who received elections only a few days in the past, credited their wins to this affordability factor and the message involved in that. Are you able to provide an explanation for the point of interest this previous week within the Area via Democrats at the Jeffrey Epstein information?
Is that this a tactic to distract from the failure to extract well being care adjustments or is there one thing else happening right here? I imply, does the speaker striking it to a vote finish this factor?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: I believe it is a mixture of things, of other folks shining their lighting at the maximum – the recent matter on the time.
Jeffrey Epstein, in fact, is a very powerful matter. I am certain I will be able to vote to free up his information, however that isn’t my precedence.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: My precedence is to concentrate on the issues that the American other folks care about, affordability, immigration, taxes, crime, and well being care. That is what individuals are preventing about. That is what they are fascinated by. That is what we will have to be involved in in Congress.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Smartly, Congressman William Maxwell Aitken, does the speaker striking this to a vote finish the Epstein factor and get you again onto well being care? I imply, the speaker stated that is all a political workout. Unquestionably, the households of the sufferers do not suppose it’s.
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: I believe the speaker realizes the educate has left the station in this. Let’s rip the Band-Assist off and get it carried out.
And I want the president learned that. The extra the White Area pushes again in this, it is – it simply seems unhealthy, proper? I imply, it was once – the legal professional normal got here out and stated, these kinds of white binders, we are going to free up all this data, after which a month later stated, oh, no, we are not.
So it is been a P.R. blunder from the start. And I believe the speaker is correct. That is going to occur, so let’s get it carried out and vote on it. And we were given to comprehend it nonetheless has to visit the Senate. Then it has to visit the president for signature.
In the meantime, our Oversight Committee is liberating tens of millions of pages of proof regarding Epstein. So, for instance, like 3,000 pages was once launched past due closing week. So the Oversight Committee, Republicans and Democrats, are striking out the knowledge. They are striking out subpoenas.
I believe it is already operating, however, like Tom, when this comes at the ground, I will vote sure on it. I would like transparency.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Smartly…
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: We wish to offer protection to the sufferers.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: However the whole thing else will have to simply be – will have to be open.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You additionally, Congressman William Maxwell Aitken, run the Cyber Subcommittee. I need to ask you about one thing vital this previous week, that A.I. company Anthropic stated that Chinese language state-sponsored hackers used their era to automate break-ins and perform the primary cyber espionage operation in large part the usage of A.I.
It hit like 30 other corporations. What are you able to let us know in regards to the scope and the goals of this assault?
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: I will be able to’t say a lot more than what was once simply launched, instead of I will be able to say this.
China has changed Russia as maximum ambitious cyber danger. They’ve a lot upper era. They’re the usage of A.I., which offers you much more capacity to find weaknesses on your adversaries’ cyber defenses.
What issues me greater than the rest, whilst China is attacking us each and every unmarried day and Russia, we’ve had no commander in control of Cyber Command for over 8 months. The White Area or the president fired the Cyber Command commander over 8 months in the past and has no longer changed him.
Additionally, the highest two positions on the Nationwide Safety Company, the highest two are vacant for over 8 months. And we’ve been chopping CISA, which is the company that protects our personal sector, our companies, our infrastructure, and we’ve reduce it via a few 3rd.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: And so our cyber features are going backwards. We do not – we are rudderless in a time the place China is attacking us each day. And that’s the reason one thing that truly issues me.
And I’ve been pushing the White Area to handle this and to confront the cyber danger.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. Smartly, we can proceed following that essential tale.
Congressmen, thanks for looking to be downside solvers with us these days.
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Face the Country will likely be again in a minute. Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We need to flip now to one of the vital demanding situations confronted via the U.S. army.
And we are joined via the Secretary of the Military, Dan Driscoll.
Excellent morning. Thanks for being right here.
DANIEL DRISCOLL (U.S. Secretary of the Military): Thanks such a lot for having me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So much to get to with you.
Simply temporarily on information of day, the president did say he form of made up his thoughts on Venezuela. I do know that is the Marines, that is the Army which can be deployed. However does the Venezuelan military pose any more or less danger to the U.S. if motion is taken?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: I believe that the president and secretary of battle have spent numerous time fascinated about, what’s the perfect factor they may be able to do for the American other folks?
And I will be able to talk from the Military’s standpoint, which is, we’ve numerous coaching in that a part of the sector. We are reactivating our jungle faculty in Panama. We’d be in a position to behave on regardless of the president and secwar wanted.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However no orders past those workout routines at this level?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: I – we do not speak about the ones sorts of issues, however we’d be in a position if requested.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. OK.
I do need to ask you about what has been taking place with this shutdown. The federal government’s now funded via January 30. You probably did get from Congress full- 12 months investment for Veterans Affairs and armed forces development, a couple of different measures on this non permanent invoice.
However in – we’ve noticed the shutdown hit army bases and hit army households, pricey, $400 million or extra in emergency loans from USAA. How do you insulate the pressure in order that the following shutdown does not hit those households how it did this time?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: I believe the shutdown is indicative of one of the vital larger issues that we have got a country have had.
And so when you glance again for the closing 30 or 40 years, one of the vital causes we now have had such unhealthy results, after we spend the American taxpayers’ hard- earned greenbacks, and we move purchase issues that our infantrymen will want to struggle, after we construct issues the place our infantrymen and their households will reside, we’re this sort of unhealthy buyer, as a result of when you find yourself at the different aspect of the handle us and you have got to handle shutdowns – I imply, this shutdown will take months and months for us to get again and happening those initiatives.
And this is a part of the calcification of our device that, below President Trump, we’re uniquely ready to take a look at to head after numerous these items and in truth get our Military and their households dwelling in higher spaces, and get our infantrymen in a position for the trendy struggle. And the shutdown does no longer lend a hand.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me ask you in regards to the fashionable struggle.
Tom Cotton, who’s the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, instructed our Olivia Gazis right here at CBS that the danger to army websites and big civilian gatherings is critical and rising. He cited gaps in regulation enforcement government. A few of them lapsed all through the shutdown, I perceive.
And he is speaking about looking to shut enforcement gaps in relation to drones. What authorizations do you wish to have?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: So, below Secretary of Conflict Hegseth, the US Military has been put in control of the counterdrone danger for the Pentagon.
After which we’re operating hand in fist – or hand in glove with the wider regulation enforcement businesses. We simply closing week had a gathering proper outdoor the White Area, the place what we’re looking to do, as a result of this downside isn’t the same as just about the rest we now have confronted in a very long time. This can be a flying IED.
And so this IED…
MARGARET BRENNAN: IED, the explosive.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: IED, improvised explosive instrument. They are reasonable. You’ll be able to 3D print them at house, they usually move borders extremely temporarily.
And so what you principally want is a virtual layer to interchange knowledge and trade sensing and make allowance the nearest individual at the floor or the nearest effector at the floor so to take out a drone. And Senator Cotton is correct. I imply, that is the specter of humanity’s lifetime.
What is happening in Ukraine, what is taking place in Russia, when you have a look at the velocity and scale of the devastation that may come from drones, we as a federal govt have were given to steer on it. However I am truly positive. That is in truth one thing we’re doing proper. We’re partnering with each federal regulation enforcement.
In a few weeks, we are having the Sheriff’s Affiliation come. We had been simply on the NYPD. We are together with the entire other regulation enforcement businesses, fascinated about the borders and the ports and the approaching NFL video games and Olympics and Global Cup.
Like, that is one thing we as a country can lead on. And so, below President Trump’s management, we’re shifting rapid at this downside.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And that is about radar jamming of drones to take them out, no longer exploding them?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: So that you – the issue with the drone struggle is, you wish to have all varieties of layered protection. One answer does no longer paintings. When you simply attempt to jam them, when you have a look at what is taking place in Ukraine, other folks have began to hardwire drones.
And so you’ll’t do R.F. jamming on a hardwired drone. And so there are such things as web weapons which can be coming again. We are the usage of all varieties of answers and gear, and it makes it much more sophisticated when you find yourself via an airport and you are doing it on your personal place of origin. You simply have other government.
And so numerous this can be a human downside of verbal exchange, command and keep watch over and having a layered set of answers that you’ll use for any given downside.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you are speaking about right here on the place of origin, such things as the U.S. web hosting the Olympics, the Global Cup, even simply the Tremendous Bowl video games which can be arising.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Will have to there be restrictions on this nation on who is in a position to personal and function drones?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: I am lovely positive that we will work out an answer the place we can know what’s within the sky at each and every second throughout our nation unexpectedly.
And so when you call to mind the president’s…
MARGARET BRENNAN: However we are not there but.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: We aren’t there but.
However below the president’s Golden Dome, I might consider this like a golden mini dome, the place, when you took one of the vital websites for the Global Cup, we’re closely involved in with the ability to see the whole thing within the space, have the entire interceptors we can want, have the entire coaching for the entire other forces that may have so to act.
And with the intention to your explicit query, I believe we’re looking to design a device in order that American citizens are ready to fly drones, in order that business corporations like Amazon – like, the way forward for supply, in numerous tactics, is business drones. And so we can simply need to deconflict the skies, operating with the FAA.
However this can be a large matter. I take a look at in with Secretary of Conflict Hegseth in this nearly weekly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So after we closing noticed the president of Ukraine, Zelenskyy, on the White Area, he introduced as much as President Trump, on digicam, we now have were given nice drones we need to promote to the US or supply to the US.
You referred to Ukraine as the one Silicon Valley of war at this time. What do you imply via that? Are they truly forward of the US on innovation?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: I believe, when you have a look at what is taking place, Operation Spider’s Internet in Russia, the Ukrainians used most certainly a pair hundred thousand greenbacks value of drones and took out nearly $10 billion value of apparatus in Russia.
And Russia’s in that struggle. And so I believe what is fantastic about our nation is, we’re ready to acknowledge the place we want to innovate temporarily. And what we are doing for drones, utterly otherwise, I believe, than we’ve carried out as a military in most certainly 50 or 60 years, is, we’re welcoming in American trade.
So we simply did an A.I. battle sport the place we invited 15 of the highest CEOs within the country.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: They had been value most certainly $18 trillion in endeavor worth. And we stated, how do you – are you able to please lend a hand us? What do you’ve got on your tech innovation pipeline to lend a hand us with information in contested environments? How will we do logistics 6,000 miles away if we are going through an enemy who is looking to contest us?
And we’re operating with them, no shaggy dog story, day-to-day to principally take their innovation and use it on this downside.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However what I heard you announcing there’s, you have a look at the battlefield in Ukraine as more or less like a take a look at lab for the place war goes.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: Sure. Sure. Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Are you able to persuade a few of your fellow Republicans that there’s worth in that struggle, on the subject of, , those that are so isolationist they do not need to be desirous about Ukraine, even financially?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: Smartly, I do not believe I’ve talked to a unmarried one that has stated we should not be studying from what is happening in Ukraine. All of our apparatus, the entire beautiful options we can want are definitionally going to come back – the knowledge set that the Ukrainians are getting for his or her generative A.I. fashions of when they have got drones and they are flying and they are studying and they are doing counterdrone, and they are taking all of this data from their sensors and attempting to determine what is going on.
There may be no longer a unmarried individual I do know that does not suppose this is an unbelievable treasure trove of data for long term war. I believe numerous the questions are, how will we in truth execute at the president’s time table of peace in that a part of the sector?
The place – I’ve no longer been to the White Area the place it has no longer arise that we simply need peace, in order that the American commercial base can thrive all over.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: And we need to center of attention on that a part of the sector unnecessarily at this time.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Smartly, you are on the Division of Conflict.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you introduced that the Military needs to shop for 1,000,000 drones over the following two to a few years. Army, Marines, Air Pressure, they’re going to clearly be very desirous about any battle within the Pacific, however you have to protect the ones American bases.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So how do you call to mind the danger from China there? As a result of I’ve learn that you simply suppose they are forward of The united states.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: So we are operating on one thing with Congress referred to as SkyFoundry.
And principally the speculation is to, once more, do it proper from the start. What the Military has traditionally gotten improper within the closing couple of a long time is, we are both all in or all out, that means we both use our natural commercial base and we make the drones ourselves, or we are saying, that is too sophisticated for us, we are going to have personal trade do it.
We aren’t doing that with drones, as a result of, when you have a look at – Ukraine is production 4 million a 12 months. China, I believe, is at 12 to fourteen million drones a 12 months.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Wow.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: And we as a country must have our personal sector ready to lend a hand us.
And so what we’re going to do is, we’re going to put money into such things as sensors and brushless motors and circuit forums and numerous the parts which can be truly tough for the personal sector to get at this time.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: The USA Military goes to construct the ones on our bases and empower the personal sector to buy from us. And so we can make drones, our personal companions will make drones, and we can catch up and surpass the Chinese language extremely temporarily.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary, thanks to your time.
And I do need to make the purpose that you’re taking questions. And that’s odd nowadays, because the Pentagon has limited get entry to to journalists. And we expect it is important right here that the American other folks pay attention about their very own safety in addition to the army’s 3 million or extra staff. So thanks.
We will be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: The Trump management has introduced some other immigration enforcement operation, this time in Charlotte, North Carolina, a blue town with one of the vital quickest rising immigrant populations within the nation.
The operation, referred to as Charlotte’s Internet via the Division of Native land Safety, began Saturday. Federal brokers from the CBP, U.S. Customs and Border Coverage, were noticed making arrests, wondering gardeners, patrolling a House Depot parking zone, and smashing home windows.
Trump management officers inform our immigration reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez that New Orleans is the following Border Patrol operation deliberate for this month.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome again to “FACE THE NATION.”
On Friday, we spoke with the chairman of one of the vital Senate committees chargeable for crafting well being care regulation. Louisiana’s Invoice Cassidy, who may be a physician.
We started via appearing him what the president is considering of for a well being care repair.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (President Of The USA): I am calling these days for insurance coverage corporations to not be paid, however for the cash, this large amount of cash, to be paid immediately to the folks of our nation, in order that they may be able to purchase their very own well being care, which will likely be a long way higher and a long way more economical than the crisis referred to as Obamacare.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARGARET BRENNAN: So are you, Senator, coordinating with the White Area in this proposal?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY (R-LA): So, we are completely in verbal exchange with the White Area and with the management, as a result of there is numerous stuff that it’s important to determine to try this.
However let me give a bit of meat at the bones of what the president’s talking about. When you have a look at an Obamacare coverage now, there is a $6,000 deductible. Democrats are preventing to decrease the premiums. You decrease a top class on one thing which has a $6,000 deductible, it is principally a catastrophic coverage.
Now, I really like to talk to the price of being insured, no longer simply the price of the medical health insurance. The president is proposing that we take the $26 billion that might be going to insurance coverage corporations if we do just a directly out extension. And, via the best way, 20 % of that $26 billion, 20 % will opt for benefit and management overhead. Give it immediately to the American other folks in an account by which one hundred pc of the cash is used for them to buy well being care on their very own phrases.
Now – now, that makes them an educated client. It additionally is helping cope with the want to have protection for that deductible. And in the event that they get that coverage with a better deductible, they may be able to in truth decrease their top class. It is a candy spot. Decrease premiums lend a hand with the deductible, making the persistence the knowledgeable client. The president and I are united. We will have to all be united about that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Smartly, the president’ financial adviser, Kevin Hassett, was once in this program closing Sunday. He stated the president was once simply brainstorming, issues don’t seem to be officially put in combination amongst Republica senators but.
However I simply need to explain what you’re coordinating with the president on right here as a result of, is it to shop for your individual insurance plans which is more or less sophisticated, or is it, to make use of this versatile spending account you have got mentioned for similar well being care wishes, like a – are there restrictions on how you’ll use that cash?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: So, first, there is two kinds of top class tax credit. There may be the baseline top class tax credit score, which was once a part of Obamacare. That may keep in impact and other folks would nonetheless purchase a coverage, for instance, they get in a automobile ruin, one thing disastrous, they want someone negotiating on their behalf with all of the suppliers. That remains the similar.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: What we are speaking about, and the shutdown was once over, the improved top class tax credit. Insurance policies have turn out to be so pricey below Obamacare that below Joe Biden Democrats handed some other subsidy on height of the primary subsidy. That is what we are preventing about. And what Republicans are announcing, and I might like to wish Democrats will too.
Hello, wait a 2d, if we will have decrease premiums and lend a hand other folks with their deductible, via giving the cash immediately to the affected person, via the best way, 20 % does not opt for insurance coverage corporate benefit and overhead, one hundred pc is going for well being care, why do not we unite Republicans and Democrats in doing that? That is the place the president is. You have to determine some issues out, however we are so much farther alongside than you may believe.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, do you need it repair Obamacare, or do you need to do away with Obamacare?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: First, it’s important to, like, we are going into 2026. That is like a month and a part from now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: And so you have to paintings with what you’ve got.
However then again, Obamacare was once a top-heavy – administratively heavy sort device by which some huge cash is – some huge cash and accountability is taken from folks and given to insurance coverage corporations as one instance.
I am a physician. I labored for two decades in a sanatorium for the uninsured. I discovered that when you give the affected person the ability, excellent issues occur. That is supported, via the best way, via the clinical literature. If the affected person is engaged in her well being care and the well being care of her circle of relatives, she will be a sensible consumer, smart for her well being and smart for her pocketbook. We want to have a brand new type. And that type is to have interaction the affected person in her personal well being care. Doing so is excellent for her and excellent for us all.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK, however you stated we – we want to paintings with what we’ve. This is, as you simply stated, you’ve got a brief period of time ahead of the – the tip of the 12 months. Do you suppose you wish to have to increase the well being care tax subsidies which can be these days in position till you determine all of the remainder of this sophisticated coverage making?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: Let me again you up a bit of bit, Margaret, to mention, everyone assumes it is simple simply to increase the top class tax credit. The improved top class tax credit. It is not that straightforward. Fifty % of the states didn’t plan on them being prolonged, and they do not have charges as though they had been to be prolonged. So, that implies if we move this mid-December, they have got were given to recalculate charges in time for, wait a 2d, via that point we are already into 2026. It is not a very simple subject.
And, via the best way, did I point out, the insurance policies that folks need to decrease their premiums for have $6,000 deductibles? It’s principally one thing for insurance coverage corporations to become profitable off of, and for the person to buckle down and do $6,000 of debt ahead of they may be able to after all get entry to it.
Now, the type of proposal I’m proposing, Republicans are, and I am hoping Democrats will sign up for, is let’s take that cash, and we’ve a mechanism to take action.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: We giving it to the affected person. By means of giving her that cash, she will select a bronze stage plan, with is to mention decrease premiums. So, now her premiums are down, however she has cash in an account to lend a hand with the deductible. And I believe we will determine that out about as simply we will work out what we’d do if we simply did a directly out extension.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you need to do all this, despite the fact that, via the second one week of December, when the Democrats were promised they are going to have a vote on an ACA invoice in their selection?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: Sure. And I inform my Democratic colleagues, first, let’s no longer be Democrats and Republicans. Let’s be American citizens representing all of American citizens. Let’s acknowledge what you are doing simply offers cash to insurance coverage corporations. However we will do it higher with decrease premiums and with cash in accounts to pay deductibles. After which why do not we come in combination?
There may be going to be a Democratic invoice and a Republican invoice and each fail. Let’s do an American invoice the place the American other folks get advantages.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: And let’s paintings in combination, collaborate, to decrease the ones premiums and to lend a hand them with that first greenback protection and the – and the deductible.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, we regarded and there are about 293,000 Louisianans, your state, enrolled in Obamacare these days. Six weeks from now, the ones expanded tax credit that you’ve got been speaking about will move away for people making $62,000 or above. People making lower than that quantity will see their tax credit shrink.
So, are you telling the ones loads of hundreds in Louisiana that that tax credit score goes away it doesn’t matter what? That they will have to make plans for upper costs?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: No. I am telling them that we’re operating to make it paintings higher for them. And they might inform you, via the best way, wait a 2d, I were given a $6,000 deductible. That doesn’t paintings for me.
Margaret, I am a physician. I might communicate to other folks once they’d come to peer me, and they’d inform me, I will be able to’t have the funds for that, my deductible is just too excessive. That is truth. And that truth is being misplaced on this dialogue.
Now we have were given to do something positive about sky-high deductible.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: Possibly you’ll have the funds for the top class. You’ll be able to’t have the funds for the coverage. Let’s decrease the price of having medical health insurance, focusing via no longer simply at the top class, however the deductible, and I believe we will do each.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Smartly, even within the personal marketplace, well being care prices have long past up about six to 9 % whilst you have a look at the projections.
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: Oh, sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However I need to ask you about your oversight rule. Secretary Kennedy has this hand-picked panel of vaccine advisers, them at ACIP, they will meet in a couple of days and probably vote on converting the hepatitis b vaccine time table for babies. That very same vaccine advisory staff may be taking into consideration the protection of vaccine substances, like aluminum, which might affect numerous formative years photographs. This will have to subject for American oldsters.
Are you ok with what they’re about to place to a vote?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: I am very fascinated by this. Because it seems, my clinical follow involved in hepatitis b. And so, we all know that on account of a beneficial dose at start of hepatitis b vaccine, beneficial no longer mandated, the collection of youngsters born contracting hepatitis b at start or in a while thereafter has lowered from about 20,000 two decades in the past to love 200 now. That is 20 – successfully a clerical error. We now have lowered the incidents of persistent hepatitis b via 20,000 other folks during the last twenty years with this type of advice.
And via the best way, in case you are inflamed at start, you are much more likely – you are 95 % more likely to turn out to be a prolonged provider. The vaccine is secure. It’s been established. And those substances they are talking of were proven to be secure. That is coverage via individuals who do not perceive the epidemiology of hepatitis b or who have grown ok with the truth that we now have been such a success with our advice that now the incident of hepatitis b is so low, they really feel like we will relaxation on our laurels.
I am a physician. I’ve noticed other folks die from vaccine-preventable illness. I would like other folks to be wholesome. I need to make The united states wholesome. And you do not get started via preventing suggestions that experience made us considerably more healthy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Smartly, the president of the US additionally instructed American girls to not take Tylenol or give it to their children. That is in keeping with a concept that it reasons autism one way or the other. And he additionally, in a social media submit, the similar one, referred to as for the measles, mumps, and rubella shot to be damaged up into 3 other photographs. That was once then recommended via the performing CDC director.
Are you involved via this type of suggestive linkage on the height of the CDC and from the White Area?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: Once more, I am a physician, and so I will move the place the proof takes me. And the most productive proof is a find out about out of Sweden with two million youngsters that discovered no – no causality, no affiliation, if you are going to, between taking Tylenol in being pregnant and getting autism. And, in fact, that issues me, as a result of there is going to be a mama in the market, once more, I am a physician, I communicate to – I communicate to sufferers in a – in a room. And her kid has autism. She took Tylenol for a excessive fever all through being pregnant and now blames herself. That is simply the best way mamas suppose. And that’s the reason improper. We do not want her to suppose that.
The most productive proof, that there’s no courting. By means of the best way, if in case you have a excessive fever all through being pregnant, that can be a threat for autism. Now, in fact, in case you are pregnant, communicate for your doctor ahead of you are taking the rest. However level being, the most productive proof is that there is no courting between the 2. And I do not want girls striking themselves on a guilt go back and forth when the most productive proof displays no longer.
By means of the best way, the president has spoken out strongly in desire of immunizations in different instances. And I famous when he were given his bodily, he were given the flu and covid photographs. So, the president has demonstrated that he believes in immunization.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However that is why clarifying those statements, I believe, is essential, because you interpret them otherwise.
I’m wondering, do you be apologetic about your affirmation vote for Secretary Kennedy?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: I smile as a result of each and every reporter asks me that. You reside lifestyles ahead.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Smartly, as a result of those questions run proper right into a pledge that you simply extracted from him to not tinker with one of the vital constructions that had been set in position to have oversight of those vaccines and this procedure.
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: Sure, so that you reside lifestyles ahead. Once more, you do just. Let the day’s personal troubles be enough for the day. And I’m going to credit score the secretary. He is introduced consideration to such things as extremely processed meals that has frankly by no means won this type of consideration ahead of. And other folks reward him for that. So, he and I’ve publicly disagreed on some issues, however I strongly believe him on others. And so – so, that is how I’m going to resolution your query.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That seems like sure.
Is – if that is your ultimate 12 months in place of business, sir, will you’re making overhauling well being care your height precedence?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: Smartly, I certain hope it is not my ultimate 12 months in place of business. However I’ve been fascinated about well being deal with 30 years, as a result of once I labored in a public sanatorium for the uninsured, I noticed the weight it may well be on center revenue households who’ve center revenue however could not have the funds for the insurance coverage or could not have the funds for the well being care. And so, it is been my precedence for 30 years. And I will be able to proceed to try this.
And if there’s a silver lining – if there is a silver lining within the shutdown we simply had, the silver lining is now we’re involved in, how will we make well being care extra inexpensive for the American other folks? That are meant to be our objective, to not be partisan in some way. How will we make it extra inexpensive for fellow American citizens? If we will achieve this, I will be able to really feel like I’ve carried out my process.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator, thanks to your time.
And we’re going to be proper again.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: We move now to New Hampshire Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
Excellent morning to you, Senator.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN (D-NH): Excellent morning. Great to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Smartly, you’ve got spent a excellent a part of the previous 12 months looking to get regulation via to increase the ones Obamacare tax credit score subsidies. Final Sunday you crossed the aisle. You agreed to reopen the federal government, finish the shutdown with no assured extension, however with a promise to have some more or less vote on an ACA invoice of Democrats personal opting for.
Do you’ve got consensus amongst Democrats that this must be a vote merely to increase the tax credit as they stand now, or are you open to a broader reform of Obamacare?
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: From the start this shutdown, I’ve had two objectives, one is to get the federal government up and operating once more to finish the struggling that too many American citizens had been experiencing as a result of they misplaced meals help or they were not getting paid, federal staff, and the second one was once to handle the excessive price of top class – medical health insurance that individuals are having a look at as a result of insurance coverage corporations are surroundings charges in keeping with the truth that the ones top class tax credit aren’t – are meant to move away on the finish of this 12 months.
I believe other folks at the moment are very acutely aware of the reality that they will see large charge will increase, double for such a lot of other folks, and an unaffordable price of medical health insurance if the ones top class tax credit move away. And what I believe we want to do, and those are conversations that we want to have, is we want to paintings with our Republican colleagues to take a look at and get a invoice that may be supported, that may get via each properties of Congress the place we now have been chatting with our Republicans, Senator Cassidy, all over the shutdown about what we may be able to comply with. Now we have been chatting with Area participants on all sides of the aisle. And so now we want to paintings in combination.
I believe Senator Cassidy, this will have to be a invoice that isn’t partisan, but it surely will have to be a invoice to increase the ones top class tax credit as a result of, as everyone has mentioned, there’s actual urgency to get this carried out. And if we do not cope with it, then individuals are going to peer large charge will increase.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: So, we will paintings in combination. We will prolong the credit, however we most certainly cannot enforce vital reforms that Senator Cassidy was once speaking about within the time period that we have got. So, we want to glance, each within the non permanent and within the long-term for a way we cope with the price of well being care.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK, in order that’s a very powerful level there. So, the $26 billion or in order that he talks about as the associated fee for extension of those that he needs to redirect into those money accounts, those versatile accounts, you are announcing, you’ll’t get that carried out in six weeks’ time?
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: No, you’ll’t.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: And, once more, there is actual urgency to do that. There may be some excellent, bipartisan regulation that has pop out of committee within the Senate that I believe we will have to soak up, issues that might expedite approval of generic medicine and biosimilars, that might cope with PBM reform, which is a big price build up for well being care. However that is a long run factor. Presently we want to cope with what individuals are going through on the subject of the ones excessive charge will increase on account of the threats that those top class tax credit are going to finish.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Simply to place a fantastic level on it. After we heard the congressmen on the height of this system speaking about, , caps on revenue and restrictions on who can get pleasure from the ones tax credit, are you able to get your fellow Democrats, who, via the best way, are lovely offended at every different, offended at you as smartly, about this choice to reopen the federal government, are you able to get everybody on board, or are you able to a minimum of get to 60 votes so to prolong the ones subsidies with tweaks?
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: Smartly, to begin with, we want to put the shutdown at the back of us, finish the round firing squad, and be mindful why we are on this scenario. We are on this scenario as a result of Donald Trump and Speaker Johnson and the Republican majorities within the Area and Senate have refused to handle the price of well being care and are looking to throw other folks off their well being care. Are we able to get to consensus? Smartly, we want to if we are going to get a bipartisan invoice out of the Congress.
I believe we now have noticed and heard from medical health insurance corporations that imposing vital adjustments within the first 12 months goes to be truly tricky to do, nearly inconceivable. However we ought so to agree on some adjustments, like capping the revenue of people that obtain the ones top class tax credit. Presently 94 % of people that get the credit earn below $200,000 a 12 months. And the common revenue for a unmarried recipient is ready a bit of over $30,000 a 12 months. So, most of the people who’re getting those tax credit aren’t in that top revenue stage.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: And so we will have to be capable to agree on that. We will have to be capable to agree that we do not want any fraud and abuse in this system.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: That is one thing Republicans and Democrats consider in. So, let’s center of attention on what we will comply with. Let us take a look at what we will get carried out within the time period we’ve, and acknowledge there’s actual urgency to get those top class tax credit prolonged.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you are going to have this vote round the second one week of December, however premiums are already notified out.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: They’re already form of baked in right here for – no doubt for American citizens who purchase govt well being care. Is it too past due to increase open enrollment? I imply Senator Cassidy was once announcing, like, send has sailed right here.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: No, lets in truth make a decision that we had been keen, as a part of this regulation, to increase open enrollment. Clearly, we want enhance from the management. However insurance coverage corporations, in assembly with the insurance coverage trade, they have got indicated that whilst it will be tricky, they might cope with one of the vital demanding situations round no longer getting settlement till December. Once more, that is why there is urgency to get this carried out.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to ask you about some other subject. Survivors of convicted kid intercourse wrongdoer Jeffrey Epstein, in addition to one of the vital households of the ones survivors, wrote a letter to lawmakers supporting the discharge of Justice Division inner communications in regard to his case. In that letter they stated, “there was once no center floor right here. There was once no hiding at the back of celebration association. We can be mindful your choice on the poll field.”
this Area vote is about to come back up this week. Will have to there be a vote within the Senate? And would you enhance it to peer the discharge of those paperwork?
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: Completely. We want to free up the paperwork. The American other folks want to see what is in them. And if President Trump says there is not anything there that he is fascinated by, then why does not he enhance free up of the paperwork?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Smartly, we can see if the Republican chief within the Senate takes up your proposal there. There has no longer been a dedication to have that more or less vote.
However on Venezuela, because you are rating member on Senator Overseas Members of the family, I need to make sure that I ask you, the president has stated he has form of made up his thoughts on what to do about Venezuela. You had been one of the vital only a few senators who’ve won briefings throughout the previous few weeks from Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth in regards to the moves which can be being performed on those small, fast-moving boats. Is there a transparent finish sport right here? And is your working out that ousting Nicolas Maduro from energy is a part of the management’s plan?
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: I do not believe it is transparent what the tip sport is for this management with recognize to Venezuela. They’re depending on a prison opinion – excuse me, on the subject of the boat moves that they have got no longer launched. They’ve after all made it to be had to participants of Congress, however they have not launched it to the general public. They’re escalating in some way that – – speaking a few land strike via particular operations that places in peril our women and men within the army. We now have such a lot fireplace energy now within the Caribbean, the Gerald R. Ford has been taken from the Crimson Sea in order that now we have no fireplace energy truly within the Heart East as we have a look at the threats there. We would not have what we want, I believe, within the Indo-Pacific, or in Europe. And so, what the president has carried out here’s to place in peril different portions of the sector and American citizens in different portions of the sector for this fascination on looking to do away with Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, who obviously is a foul persona.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: He is been desirous about drug –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: Unlawful medicine. However he isn’t a danger to the US of The united states.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: And what the president is doing is elevating actual questions.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Shaheen, thanks to your time this morning.
We will be again in a second.
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MARGARET BRENNAN: That is it for us these days. Thanks for looking at. Till subsequent week. For “FACE THE NATION,” I am Margaret Brennan.
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