On this “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” broadcast, moderated by Margaret Brennan:
Reps. Tom Suozzi, Democrat of New York, and Don Bacon, 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 full transcripts from 2025 of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
MARGARET BRENNAN: I’m Margaret Brennan in Washington.
And this week on Face the Nation: The shutdown is over, however the issues that led to the disaster persist, and politicians are scrambling to make costs inexpensive for Individuals.
Affordability is the brand new buzzword in Washington, and President Trump is testing concepts to assist customers, together with potential tariff dividends and 50-year mortgages. These could also be a tricky promote, however Mr. Trump did transfer to assist customers by rolling again tariffs on some meals imports, like bananas, beef and tomatoes.
(Start VT)
DONALD TRUMP (President of the US): There’s been a bit little bit of a rollback with some meals, like espresso for example, the place the costs of espresso had been a bit bit excessive. Now they are going to be on the low facet in a really brief time period.
By way of affordability, it’s not a very good phrase for the Democrats. It’s a very good 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 may’t be mounted by easing tariffs, well being care premiums, particularly for these coated underneath Obamacare.
We’ll search for options for that repair and extra with two members of the Home Drawback Solvers Caucus, New York Democrat Tom Suozzi and Nebraska Republican Don Bacon, together with Dr. and Louisiana Republican Senator Invoice Cassidy and New Hampshire Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
And as we transfer into a brand new period of warfare, what does our army want for readiness? We’ll speak with the secretary of the military, Dan Driscoll.
It’s all simply forward on Face the Nation.
Good morning, and welcome to Face the Nation.
We start immediately with two members of the so-called Home Drawback Solvers Caucus, New York Democrat Tom Suozzi and Nebraska Republican Don Bacon.
Good morning. Good to have you ever right here in a bipartisan dialog. You each acknowledge there’s an issue right here.
Congressman Bacon, let me begin with you.
One out of each 5 {dollars} on this nation that’s spent goes to well being care. We all know these COVID period tax credit score subsidies for Obamacare will go away on the finish of the month. That’s going to hit about 22 of the 24 million Individuals who use that program. What are you able to do within the subsequent six weeks to make prices go down in January?
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON (R-Nebraska): Properly, we want a brief extension of those tax credit to maintain these costs down.
Republicans nor Democrats need to see premiums skyrocket. And they’ll if these expire with nothing instead. That’s why I labored with Tom Suozzi and different Democrats and Republicans to discover a compromise. We simply don’t need to do a clear extension. Most Republicans don’t anyway.
So we predict there must be some caps on earnings, and we need to guarantee all these credit go on to decreasing folks’s premiums. And, proper now, a few third of the cash doesn’t make it to the premiums.
So these are some reforms that we want to see. And if we are able to get these achieved, then we are able to lengthen these tax credit and maintain these – the costs decrease. However we do want a longer-term repair. The Reasonably priced Care Act is unaffordable. And I believe we have to have this extension to provide us time to work on one thing larger and deeper and that can assist decrease prices general.
However I’m proud to work with Tom Suozzi on this. And I respect his partnership.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman Suozzi, I perceive it is a two-year proposed extension of these enhanced premium tax credit and an earnings cap that phases out for these making between $200,000 to $400,000.
However while you take a look at the breakdown, although, that’s a reasonably small portion of the general recipients of the tax credit. It’s like lower than 10 %. So what does this accomplish? How does this make it extra inexpensive and truthful?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI (D-New York): Properly, it helps all people else who makes underneath $200,000 dramatically.
And the primary concern folks have in America is affordability. And well being care affordability is correct on the high of the listing.
MARGARET BRENNAN: How rather more inexpensive?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: So we have to do one thing to increase these premium tax credit.
It’ll save folks 1000’s and 1000’s of {dollars}, actually $1,000 a month for some folks. So it’ll be dramatically extra inexpensive. The individuals who make above $400,000 are the teeny little proportion of individuals that aren’t – a really small group of individuals that will profit from the present tax credit.
Most people are beneath $200,000. That $200,000 to $400,000 is a method to taper it off, so there’s not a cliff.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And the way a lot Democratic assist do you may have for this at this level?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: I believe that Democrats are going to strongly again the concept of extending premium tax credit, in order that we are able to maintain folks’s insurance coverage inexpensive.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Even with these caps?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: So, now we have bought to give you this compromise and – even with the caps, sure..
Individuals – Democrats have at all times mentioned that they need to direct the coverage in the direction of lower- and middle-income of us. Individuals making underneath $400,000 a 12 months is our – our bread-and-butter points, that we need to attempt to make issues inexpensive for these of us.
So – and that can be like actually 95 %, 99 % of the folks which can be affected proper now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman Bacon, sorry. Go forward.
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: I used to be going to say, and Republicans, we pushed again on the considered somebody incomes $600,000 getting all these tax credit.
So after I listened to the Speaker – or Chief Thune, that was considered one of his large issues on these. In order that’s why I wished to make sure that we had this in our framework.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However a tweak with a not everlasting, only a two-year extension. Republicans haven’t actually been proposing numerous various Obamacare choices right here.
Do you suppose your complete system must be rebooted? And when will we see that plan?
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: Properly, I do suppose Republicans and Democrats are going to have to sit down down on the desk and work out, what can we actually do in addition to simply throw extra money at this?
Proper now, the premiums are simply going up a lot sooner than inflation. It’s unsustainable. And – however we are able to’t do a Republican-only repair. It’s not going to work. You’re not going to get 60 votes within the Senate to do it.
And I do know some of us suggest that again in Congress: Let’s go up with our plan. Properly, it could actually’t simply be a Republican plan if we need to move one thing. So we bought to sit down down with Democrats and work out, what can we do? And there’s some good concepts on the market.
So, for instance, I’ve heard, if we are able to immediately subsidize high-risk 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 of us, their premiums are going to go down considerably if we try this.
So there’s completely different ideas that we are able to do to – that may have an effect. However it’s going to should be a bipartisan manner ahead. It’s not going to be a Republican-only invoice, as a result of you’ll 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 mentioned they anticipated to lose as a lot as $400 million. Different large insurance coverage firms have been pulling out.
If insurance coverage firms themselves are having issues with Obamacare, do Democrats have to be extra open to broader reforms of the Reasonably priced Care Act?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: Sure, we completely needs to be taking a look at any type of reform. I need to mend it, not finish it.
You realize that over the previous decade that there have been over 70 makes an attempt, primarily by the Republicans, not guys like Don Bacon, who’s a really affordable man, to attempt to eliminate Obamacare altogether. We predict that’s a horrible concept.
But when folks need to attempt to make it a greater system to make well being care extra inexpensive in America and to get well being care to extra folks, we needs to be doing that. That’s what the folks need. That’s what affordable folks in Congress need. We needs to be working collectively to attempt to broaden well being care protection, decrease costs for everyone, and make well being care more practical and cheaper for folks.
Now, that’s not going to occur with all people yelling and screaming at one another. All people who says “Why don’t you just?” doesn’t know what the hell they’re speaking about. You can’t clear up sophisticated issues in an atmosphere of concern and anger. You want affordable folks to sit down down and speak to one another and say, I believe this, properly, I believe that…
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: … after which work your manner in the direction of discovering compromise. Very laborious to do on this poisonous atmosphere.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: Individuals like Don Bacon and different members of the Drawback Solvers Caucus need to try this sort of factor.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. Properly, however personal well being care prices are additionally going up.
However on this subject of poisonous environments right here, Congressman Suozzi, Democrats, who gained elections only a few days in the past, credited their wins to this affordability difficulty and the message targeted on that. Are you able to clarify the main target this previous week within the Home by Democrats on the Jeffrey Epstein recordsdata?
Is that this a tactic to distract from the failure to extract well being care adjustments or is there one thing else occurring right here? I imply, does the speaker placing it to a vote finish this difficulty?
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: I believe it’s a mix of things, of individuals shining their lights on probably the most – the new subject on the time.
Jeffrey Epstein, after all, is a crucial subject. I’m certain I’ll vote to launch his recordsdata, however that’s not my precedence.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE TOM SUOZZI: My precedence is to deal with the issues that the American folks care about, affordability, immigration, taxes, crime, and well being care. That’s what persons are combating about. That’s what they’re involved about. That’s what we needs to be targeted on in Congress.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, Congressman Bacon, does the speaker placing this to a vote finish the Epstein difficulty and get you again onto well being care? I imply, the speaker mentioned that is all a political train. Actually, the households of the victims don’t suppose it’s.
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: I believe the speaker realizes the practice has left the station on this. Let’s rip the Band-Help off and get it performed.
And I want the president realized that. The extra the White Home pushes again on this, it’s – it simply seems to be unhealthy, proper? I imply, it was – the lawyer normal got here out and mentioned, all these white binders, we’re going to launch all this info, after which a month later mentioned, oh, no, we’re not.
So it’s 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 performed and vote on it. And we bought to understand it nonetheless has to go to the Senate. Then it has to go to the president for signature.
In the meantime, our Oversight Committee is releasing 1000’s and 1000’s of pages of proof regarding Epstein. So, for instance, like 3,000 pages was launched late final week. So the Oversight Committee, Republicans and Democrats, are placing out the info. They’re placing out subpoenas.
I believe it’s already working, however, like Tom, when this comes on the ground, I’m going to vote sure on it. I would like transparency.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly…
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: We need to shield the victims.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: However every thing else ought to simply be – needs to be open.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You additionally, Congressman Bacon, run the Cyber Subcommittee. I need to ask you about one thing vital this previous week, that A.I. agency Anthropic mentioned that Chinese language state-sponsored hackers used their expertise to automate break-ins and perform the primary cyber espionage operation largely utilizing A.I.
It hit like 30 completely different firms. What are you able to inform us in regards to the scope and the targets of this assault?
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: I can’t say rather more than what was simply launched, aside from I can say this.
China has changed Russia as most formidable cyber risk. They’ve a lot greater expertise. They’re utilizing A.I., which provides you much more functionality find weaknesses in your adversaries’ cyber defenses.
What issues me greater than something, whereas China is attacking us each single day and Russia, now we have had no commander accountable for Cyber Command for over eight months. The White Home or the president fired the Cyber Command commander over eight months in the past and has not changed him.
Additionally, the highest two positions on the Nationwide Safety Company, the highest two are vacant for over eight months. And now we have been slicing CISA, which is the company that protects our personal sector, our companies, our infrastructure, and now we have minimize it by a few third.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: And so our cyber capabilities are going backwards. We don’t – we’re rudderless in a time the place China is attacking us day by day. And that’s one thing that actually issues me.
And I’ve been pushing the White Home to take care of this and to confront the cyber risk.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure. Properly, we’ll proceed following that necessary story.
Congressmen, thanks for attempting to be drawback solvers with us immediately.
REPRESENTATIVE DON BACON: Thanks.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Face the Nation can be again in a minute. Stick with us.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We need to flip now to a few of the challenges confronted by the U.S. army.
And we’re joined by the Secretary of the Military, Dan Driscoll.
Good morning. Thanks for being right here.
DANIEL DRISCOLL (U.S. Secretary of the Military): Thanks a lot for having me.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Rather a lot to get to with you.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: I believe that the president and secretary of warfare have spent numerous time occupied with, what’s the smartest thing they will do for the American folks?
And I can converse from the Military’s perspective, which is, now we have numerous coaching in that a part of the world. We’re reactivating our jungle faculty in Panama. We might be able to act on regardless of the president and secwar wanted.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However no orders past these workout routines at this level?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: I – we don’t discuss these sorts of issues, however we might be prepared 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 funding for Veterans Affairs and army development, just a few different measures on this short-term invoice.
However in – now we have seen the shutdown hit army bases and hit army households, expensive, $400 million or extra in emergency loans from USAA. How do you insulate the drive in order that the following shutdown doesn’t hit these households the way in which it did this time?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: I believe the shutdown is indicative of one of many larger issues that now we have a nation have had.
And so when you look again for the final 30 or 40 years, one of many causes we’ve had such unhealthy outcomes, after we spend the American taxpayers’ hard- earned {dollars}, and we go purchase issues that our troopers might want to combat, after we construct issues the place our troopers and their households will reside, we’re such a foul buyer, as a result of while you’re on the opposite facet of the take care of us and you must take care of shutdowns – I imply, this shutdown will take months and months for us to get again and occurring these initiatives.
And that is a part of the calcification of our system that, underneath President Trump, we’re uniquely in a position to attempt to go after numerous these items and really get our Military and their households residing in higher areas, and get our troopers prepared for the trendy combat. And the shutdown doesn’t assist.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Let me ask you in regards to the trendy combat.
Tom Cotton, who’s the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, informed our Olivia Gazis right here at CBS that the risk to army websites and enormous civilian gatherings is extreme and rising. He cited gaps in legislation enforcement authorities. A few of them lapsed throughout the shutdown, I perceive.
And he’s speaking about attempting to shut enforcement gaps on the subject of drones. What authorizations do you want?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: So, underneath Secretary of Warfare Hegseth, the US Military has been put accountable for the counterdrone risk for the Pentagon.
After which we’re working hand in fist – or hand in glove with the broader legislation enforcement companies. We simply final week had a gathering proper exterior the White Home, the place what we try to do, as a result of this drawback is completely different from practically something we’ve confronted in a very long time. It’s a flying IED.
And so this IED…
MARGARET BRENNAN: IED, the explosive.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: IED, improvised explosive system. They’re low cost. You may 3-D print them at house, and so they cross borders extremely shortly.
And so what you mainly want is a digital layer to change info and change sensing and permit the closest individual on the bottom or the closest effector on the bottom to have the ability to take out a drone. And Senator Cotton is correct. I imply, that is the specter of humanity’s lifetime.
What’s occurring in Ukraine, what’s taking place in Russia, when you take a look at the pace and scale of the devastation that may come from drones, we as a federal authorities have gotten to guide on it. However I’m actually optimistic. That is truly one thing we’re doing proper. We’re partnering with each federal legislation enforcement.
In a few weeks, we’re having the Sheriff’s Affiliation come. We had been simply on the NYPD. We’re together with all the completely different legislation enforcement companies, occupied with the borders and the ports and the upcoming NFL video games and Olympics and World Cup.
Like, that is one thing we as a nation can lead on. And so, underneath President Trump’s management, we’re shifting quick at this drawback.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And that is about radar jamming of drones to take them out, not exploding them?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: So that you – the issue with the drone combat is, you want all kinds of layered protection. One answer doesn’t work. When you simply attempt to jam them, when you take a look at what’s taking place in Ukraine, folks have began to hardwire drones.
And so you may’t do R.F. jamming on a hardwired drone. And so there are issues like internet weapons which can be coming again. We’re utilizing all kinds of options and instruments, and it makes it much more sophisticated while you’re by an airport and also you’re doing it in your personal homeland. You simply have completely different authorities.
And so numerous it is a human drawback of communication, command and management and having a layered set of options that you need to use for any given drawback.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you’re speaking about right here on the homeland, issues just like the U.S. internet hosting the Olympics, the World Cup, even simply the Tremendous Bowl video games which can be developing.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Ought to there be restrictions on this nation on who is ready to personal and function drones?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: I’m fairly optimistic that we can work out an answer the place we’ll know what’s within the sky at each second throughout our nation unexpectedly.
And so when you consider the president’s…
MARGARET BRENNAN: However we’re not there but.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: We’re not there but.
However underneath the president’s Golden Dome, I might take into consideration this like a golden mini dome, the place, when you took one of many websites for the World Cup, we’re closely targeted on having the ability to see every thing within the space, have all the interceptors we’ll want, have all the coaching for all the completely different forces that can have to have the ability to act.
And so to your particular query, I believe we try to design a system in order that Individuals are in a position to fly drones, in order that industrial firms like Amazon – like, the way forward for supply, in numerous methods, is industrial drones. And so we’ll simply should deconflict the skies, working with the FAA.
However it is a large subject. I examine in with Secretary of Warfare Hegseth on this virtually weekly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So after we final noticed the president of Ukraine, Zelenskyy, on the White Home, he introduced as much as President Trump, on digital camera, we’ve bought nice drones we need to promote to the US or present to the US.
You referred to Ukraine as the one Silicon Valley of warfare proper now. What do you imply by that? Are they actually forward of the US on innovation?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: I believe, when you take a look at what’s taking place, Operation Spider’s Net in Russia, the Ukrainians used in all probability a pair hundred thousand {dollars} price of drones and took out virtually $10 billion price of kit in Russia.
And Russia’s in that combat. And so I believe what’s superb about our nation is, we’re in a position to acknowledge the place we have to innovate shortly. And what we’re doing for drones, utterly in a different way, I believe, than now we have performed as a military in in all probability 50 or 60 years, is, we’re welcoming in American trade.
So we simply did an A.I. warfare sport the place we invited 15 of the highest CEOs within the nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: They had been price in all probability $18 trillion in enterprise worth. And we mentioned, how do you – are you able to please assist us? What do you may have in your tech innovation pipeline to assist us with information in contested environments? How will we do logistics 6,000 miles away if we’re going through an enemy who’s attempting to contest us?
And we’re working with them, no joke, day by day to mainly take their innovation and apply it to this drawback.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However what I heard you saying there may be, you take a look at the battlefield in Ukraine as type of like a take a look at lab for the place warfare 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 combat, when it comes to, you already know, those that are so isolationist they don’t need to be concerned in Ukraine, even financially?
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: Properly, I don’t suppose I’ve talked to a single one that has mentioned we shouldn’t be studying from what’s occurring in Ukraine. All of our tools, all the beautiful options we’ll want are definitionally going to come back – the info set that the Ukrainians are getting for his or her generative A.I. fashions of once they have drones and so they’re flying and so they’re studying and so they’re doing counterdrone, and so they’re taking all of this info from their sensors and attempting to determine what’s occurring.
There’s not a single individual I do know that doesn’t suppose that’s an unimaginable treasure trove of data for future warfare. I believe numerous the questions are, how will we truly execute on the president’s agenda of peace in that a part of the world?
The place – I’ve not been to the White Home the place it has not come up that we simply need peace, in order that the American industrial base can thrive in all places.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: And now we have to deal with that a part of the world unnecessarily proper now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, you’re on the Division of Warfare.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So that you introduced that the Military desires to purchase one million drones over the following two to a few years. Navy, Marines, Air Drive, they’ll clearly be very concerned in any warfare within the Pacific, however you’ve bought to defend these American bases.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: Sure.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So how do you consider the risk from China there? As a result of I’ve learn that you just suppose they’re forward of America.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: So we’re engaged on one thing with Congress referred to as SkyFoundry.
And mainly the concept is to, once more, do it proper from the start. What the Military has traditionally gotten mistaken within the final couple of many years is, we’re both all in or all out, that means we both use our natural industrial base and we make the drones ourselves, or we are saying, that is too sophisticated for us, we’re going to have personal trade do it.
We’re not doing that with drones, as a result of, when you take a look at – Ukraine is manufacturing 4 million a 12 months. China, I believe, is at 12 to 14 million drones a 12 months.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Wow.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: And we as a nation must have our personal sector in a position to assist us.
And so what we’re going to do is, we’re going to put money into issues like sensors and brushless motors and circuit boards and numerous the parts which can be actually laborious for the personal sector to get proper now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SECRETARY DANIEL DRISCOLL: The USA Military goes to construct these on our bases and empower the personal sector to buy from us. And so we’ll make drones, our personal companions will make drones, and we’ll catch up and surpass the Chinese language extremely shortly.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Secretary, thanks on your time.
And I do need to make the purpose that you’re taking questions. And that’s uncommon today, because the Pentagon has restricted entry to reporters. And we predict it’s necessary right here that the American folks hear about their very own safety in addition to the army’s three million or extra staff. So thanks.
We’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: The Trump administration has launched one other immigration enforcement operation, this time in Charlotte, North Carolina, a blue metropolis with one of many quickest rising immigrant populations within the nation.
The operation, referred to as Charlotte’s Net by the Division of Homeland Safety, began Saturday. Federal brokers from the CBP, U.S. Customs and Border Safety, have been seen making arrests, questioning gardeners, patrolling a Dwelling Depot parking zone, and smashing home windows.
Trump administration 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 many Senate committees answerable for crafting well being care laws. Louisiana’s Invoice Cassidy, who can be a physician.
We started by displaying him what the president is considering of for a well being care repair.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (President Of The USA): I’m calling immediately for insurance coverage firms to not be paid, however for the cash, this huge amount of cash, to be paid on to the folks of our nation, in order that they will purchase their very own well being care, which can be much better and much inexpensive than the catastrophe referred to as Obamacare.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARGARET BRENNAN: So are you, Senator, coordinating with the White Home on this proposal?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY (R-LA): So, we’re completely in communication with the White Home and with the administration, as a result of there’s numerous stuff that you must work out to do this.
However let me give a bit meat on the bones of what the president’s talking about. When you take a look at an Obamacare coverage now, there’s a $6,000 deductible. Democrats are combating to decrease the premiums. You decrease a premium on one thing which has a $6,000 deductible, it’s mainly a catastrophic coverage.
Now, I like to talk to the price of being insured, not simply the price of the medical insurance. The president is proposing that we take the $26 billion that will be going to insurance coverage firms if we simply do a straight out extension. And, by the way in which, 20 % of that $26 billion, 20 % will go for revenue and administration overhead. Give it on to the American folks in an account through which 100% of the cash is used for them to buy well being care on their very own phrases.
Now – now, that makes them an knowledgeable client. It additionally helps deal with the necessity to have protection for that deductible. And in the event that they get that coverage with a better deductible, they will truly decrease their premium. It’s a candy spot. Decrease premiums assist with the deductible, making the endurance the knowledgeable client. The president and I are united. We should always all be united about that.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the president’ financial adviser, Kevin Hassett, was on this program final Sunday. He mentioned the president was simply brainstorming, issues aren’t formally put collectively amongst Republica senators but.
However I simply need to make clear what you’re coordinating with the president on right here as a result of, is it to purchase your personal insurance coverage coverage which is type of sophisticated, or is it, to make use of this versatile spending account you’ve talked about for associated well being care wants, like a – are there restrictions on how you need to use that cash?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: So, first, there’s two forms of premium tax credit. There’s the baseline premium tax credit score, which was a part of Obamacare. That might keep in impact and other people would nonetheless purchase a coverage, for instance, they get in a automobile wreck, one thing disastrous, they want any individual negotiating on their behalf with all of the suppliers. That stays the identical.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: What we’re speaking about, and the shutdown was over, the improved premium tax credit. Insurance policies have change into so costly underneath Obamacare that underneath Joe Biden Democrats handed one other subsidy on high of the primary subsidy. That’s what we’re combating about. And what Republicans are saying, and I’d prefer to hope Democrats will too.
Hey, wait a second, if we are able to have decrease premiums and assist folks with their deductible, by giving the cash on to the affected person, by the way in which, 20 % doesn’t go for insurance coverage firm revenue and overhead, 100% goes for well being care, why don’t we unite Republicans and Democrats in doing that? That’s the place the president is. You’ve bought to determine some issues out, however we’re lots farther alongside than you may think.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, would you like it repair Obamacare, or do you need to remove Obamacare?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: First, you must, like, we’re going into 2026. That’s like a month and a half from now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: And so that you’ve started working with what you may have.
However alternatively, Obamacare was a top-heavy – administratively heavy sort system through which some huge cash is – some huge cash and accountability is taken from people and given to insurance coverage firms as one instance.
I’m a physician. I labored for 20 years in a hospital for the uninsured. I discovered that when you give the affected person the facility, good issues occur. That’s supported, by the way in which, by the medical literature. If the affected person is engaged in her well being care and the well being care of her household, she’s going to be a clever shopper, clever for her well being and clever for her pocketbook. We have to have a brand new mannequin. And that mannequin is to interact the affected person in her personal well being care. Doing so is nice for her and good for us all.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK, however you mentioned we – we have to work with what now we have. That’s, as you simply mentioned, you may have a brief period of time earlier than the – the tip of the 12 months. Do you suppose it’s worthwhile to lengthen the well being care tax subsidies which can be at present in place till you determine all the remainder of this sophisticated coverage making?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: Let me again you up a bit bit, Margaret, to say, all people assumes it’s simple simply to increase the premium tax credit. The improved premium tax credit. It’s not that simple. Fifty % of the states didn’t plan on them being prolonged, and so they don’t have charges as in the event that they had been to be prolonged. So, meaning if we move this mid-December, they’ve bought to recalculate charges in time for, wait a second, by that point we’re already into 2026. It’s not a simple matter.
And, by the way in which, did I point out, the insurance policies that folks need to decrease their premiums for have $6,000 deductibles? It’s mainly one thing for insurance coverage firms to become profitable off of, and for the person to wade via $6,000 of debt earlier than they will lastly entry it.
Now, the type of proposal I’m proposing, Republicans are, and I hope Democrats will be part of, is let’s take that cash, and now we have a mechanism to take action.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: We giving it to the affected person. By giving her that cash, she will select a bronze stage plan, with is to say decrease premiums. So, now her premiums are down, however she has cash in an account to assist with the deductible. And I believe we are able to determine that out about as simply we are able to work out what we might do if we simply did a straight out extension.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you need to do all this, although, by the second week of December, when the Democrats have been promised they’ll have a vote on an ACA invoice of their alternative?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: Sure. And I inform my Democratic colleagues, first, let’s not be Democrats and Republicans. Let’s be Individuals representing all of Individuals. Let’s acknowledge what you’re doing simply provides cash to insurance coverage firms. However we are able to do it higher with decrease premiums and with cash in accounts to pay deductibles. After which why don’t we come collectively?
There’s going to be a Democratic invoice and a Republican invoice and each fail. Let’s do an American invoice the place the American folks profit.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: And let’s work collectively, collaborate, to decrease these premiums and to assist them with that first greenback protection and the – and the deductible.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, we appeared and there are about 293,000 Louisianans, your state, enrolled in Obamacare at present. Six weeks from now, these expanded tax credit that you just’ve been speaking about will go away for people making $62,000 or above. People making lower than that quantity will see their tax credit shrink.
So, are you telling these a whole bunch of 1000’s in Louisiana that that tax credit score goes away it doesn’t matter what? That they need to make plans for greater costs?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: No. I’m telling them that we’re working to make it work higher for them. And they’d inform you, by the way in which, wait a second, I bought a $6,000 deductible. That doesn’t work for me.
Margaret, I’m a physician. I might speak to folks once they’d come to see me, and they might inform me, I can’t afford that, my deductible is simply too excessive. That’s actuality. And that actuality is being misplaced on this dialogue.
We’ve bought to do one thing about sky-high deductible.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: Perhaps you may afford the premium. You may’t afford the coverage. Let’s decrease the price of having medical insurance, focusing by not simply on the premium, however the deductible, and I believe we are able to do each.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, even within the personal market, well being care prices have gone up about six to 9 % while you take 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, you already know them at ACIP, they’re going to satisfy in just a few days and probably vote on altering the hepatitis b vaccine schedule for infants. That very same vaccine advisory group can be contemplating the protection of vaccine components, like aluminum, which might influence various childhood pictures. This could matter for American dad and mom.
Are you snug with what they’re about to place to a vote?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: I’m very involved about this. Because it seems, my medical observe targeted on hepatitis b. And so, we all know that due to a really helpful dose at start of hepatitis b vaccine, really helpful not mandated, the variety of youngsters born contracting hepatitis b at start or shortly thereafter has decreased from about 20,000 20 years in the past to love 200 now. That’s 20 – successfully a clerical error. We’ve decreased the incidents of power hepatitis b by 20,000 folks over the past twenty years with this type of advice.
And by the way in which, when you’re contaminated at start, you’re extra seemingly – you’re 95 % prone to change into a power service. The vaccine is secure. It has been established. And these components they’re talking of have been proven to be secure. That is coverage by individuals who don’t perceive the epidemiology of hepatitis b or who’ve grown snug with the truth that we’ve been so profitable with our advice that now the incident of hepatitis b is so low, they really feel like we are able to relaxation on our laurels.
I’m a physician. I’ve seen folks die from vaccine-preventable illness. I would like folks to be wholesome. I need to make America wholesome. And also you don’t begin by stopping suggestions which have made us considerably more healthy.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, the president of the US additionally informed American ladies to not take Tylenol or give it to their youngsters. That is primarily based on a principle that it causes autism someway. And he additionally, in a social media submit, the identical one, referred to as for the measles, mumps, and rubella shot to be damaged up into three completely different pictures. That was then endorsed by the performing CDC director.
Are you involved by this type of suggestive linkage on the high of the CDC and from the White Home?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: Once more, I’m a physician, and so I’m going to go the place the proof takes me. And the most effective proof is a examine out of Sweden with two million youngsters that discovered no – no causality, no affiliation, if you’ll, between taking Tylenol in being pregnant and getting autism. And, after all, that issues me, as a result of there’s going to be a mama on the market, once more, I’m a physician, I speak to – I speak to sufferers in a – in a room. And her baby has autism. She took Tylenol for a excessive fever throughout being pregnant and now blames herself. That’s simply the way in which mamas suppose. And that’s mistaken. We don’t need her to suppose that.
The very best proof, that there is no such thing as a relationship. By the way in which, in case you have a excessive fever throughout being pregnant, which may be a threat for autism. Now, after all, when you’re pregnant, speak to your doctor earlier than you are taking something. However level being, the most effective proof is that there’s no relationship between the 2. And I don’t need ladies placing themselves on a guilt journey when the most effective proof reveals not.
By the way in which, the president has spoken out strongly in favor of immunizations in different instances. And I famous when he bought his bodily, he bought the flu and covid pictures. So, the president has demonstrated that he believes in immunization.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However that’s why clarifying these statements, I believe, is necessary, because you interpret them in a different way.
I ponder, do you remorse your affirmation vote for Secretary Kennedy?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: I smile as a result of each reporter asks me that. You reside life ahead.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, as a result of these questions run proper right into a pledge that you just extracted from him to not tinker with a few of the buildings that had been set in place to have oversight of those vaccines and this course of.
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: Sure, so you reside life ahead. Once more, you simply do. Let the day’s personal troubles be ample for the day. And I’ll credit score the secretary. He’s introduced consideration to issues like extremely processed meals that has frankly by no means obtained this kind of consideration earlier than. And folks reward him for that. So, he and I’ve publicly disagreed on some issues, however I strongly agree with him on others. And so – so, that’s how I’ll reply your query.
MARGARET BRENNAN: That seems like sure.
Is – if that is your ultimate 12 months in workplace, sir, will you make overhauling well being care your high precedence?
SENATOR BILL CASSIDY: Properly, I certain hope it’s not my ultimate 12 months in workplace. However I’ve been occupied with well being take care of 30 years, as a result of after I labored in a public hospital for the uninsured, I noticed the burden it may very well be on center earnings households who’ve center earnings however couldn’t afford the insurance coverage or couldn’t afford the well being care. And so, it’s been my precedence for 30 years. And I’ll proceed to do this.
And if there’s a silver lining – if there’s a silver lining within the shutdown we simply had, the silver lining is now we’re targeted on, how will we make well being care extra inexpensive for the American folks? That needs to be our purpose, to not be partisan by some means. How will we make it extra inexpensive for fellow Individuals? If we are able to accomplish that, I’ll really feel like I’ve performed my job.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator, thanks on your time.
And we’ll be proper again.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to New Hampshire Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
Good morning to you, Senator.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN (D-NH): Good morning. Good to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, you may have spent a very good a part of the previous 12 months attempting to get laws via to increase these 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 type of vote on an ACA invoice of Democrats personal selecting.
Do you may have 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 targets, one is to get the federal government up and operating once more to finish the struggling that too many Individuals had been experiencing as a result of they misplaced meals help or they weren’t getting paid, federal staff, and the second was to deal with the excessive price of premium – medical insurance that persons are taking a look at as a result of insurance coverage firms are setting charges primarily based on the truth that these premium tax credit will not be – are speculated to go away on the finish of this 12 months.
I believe folks are actually very conscious of the very fact that they’re going to see large fee will increase, double for thus many individuals, and an unaffordable price of medical insurance if these premium tax credit go away. And what I believe we have to do, and these are conversations that we have to have, is we have to work with our Republican colleagues to attempt to get a invoice that may be supported, that may get via each homes of Congress the place we’ve been speaking to our Republicans, Senator Cassidy, all through the shutdown about what we would have the ability to comply with. We’ve been speaking to Home members on either side of the aisle. And so now we have to work collectively.
I agree with Senator Cassidy, this needs to be a invoice that isn’t partisan, but it surely needs to be a invoice to increase these premium tax credit as a result of, as all people has talked about, there may be actual urgency to get this performed. And if we don’t deal with it, then persons are going to see large fee will increase.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: So, we are able to work collectively. We are able to lengthen the credit, however we in all probability can’t implement vital reforms that Senator Cassidy was speaking about in the time-frame that we’ve bought. So, we have to look, each within the short-term and within the long-term for the way we deal with the price of well being care.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK, in order that’s an necessary level there. So, the $26 billion or in order that he talks about as the associated fee for extension of those that he desires to redirect into these money accounts, these versatile accounts, you’re saying, you may’t get that performed in six weeks’ time?
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: No, you may’t.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: And, once more, there’s actual urgency to do that. There’s some good, bipartisan laws that has come out of committee within the Senate that I believe we should always take up, issues that will expedite approval of generic medicine and biosimilars, that will deal with PBM reform, which is a large price improve for well being care. However that’s a long term difficulty. Proper now we have to deal with what persons are going through when it comes to these excessive fee will increase due to the threats that these premium tax credit are going to finish.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Simply to place a nice level on it. After we heard the congressmen on the high of this system speaking about, you already know, caps on earnings and restrictions on who can profit from these tax credit, are you able to get your fellow Democrats, who, by the way in which, are fairly offended at one another, offended at you as properly, about this resolution 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 to have the ability to lengthen these subsidies with tweaks?
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: Properly, to begin with, we have to put the shutdown behind us, finish the round firing squad, and keep in mind why we’re on this scenario. We’re on this scenario as a result of Donald Trump and Speaker Johnson and the Republican majorities within the Home and Senate have refused to deal with the price of well being care and try to throw folks off their well being care. Can we get to consensus? Properly, we have to if we’re going to get a bipartisan invoice out of the Congress.
I believe we’ve seen and heard from medical insurance firms that implementing vital adjustments within the first 12 months goes to be actually troublesome to do, virtually inconceivable. However we ought to have the ability to agree on some adjustments, like capping the earnings of people that obtain these premium tax credit. Proper now 94 % of people that get the credit earn underneath $200,000 a 12 months. And the common earnings for a single recipient is about a bit over $30,000 a 12 months. So, most people who find themselves getting these tax credit will not be in that top earnings stage.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: And so we should always have the ability to agree on that. We should always have the ability to agree that we don’t need any fraud and abuse in this system.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: That’s one thing Republicans and Democrats imagine in. So, let’s deal with what we are able to comply with. Let’s take a look at what we are able to get performed in the time-frame now we have, and acknowledge there may be actual urgency to get these premium tax credit prolonged.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So, you’re going to have this vote across the second week of December, however premiums are already notified out.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: Proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: They’re already kind of baked in right here for – definitely for Individuals who purchase authorities well being care. Is it too late to increase open enrollment? I imply Senator Cassidy was saying, like, ship has sailed right here.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: No, we might truly determine that we had been keen, as a part of this laws, to increase open enrollment. Clearly, we want assist from the administration. However insurance coverage firms, in assembly with the insurance coverage trade, they’ve indicated that whereas it will be troublesome, they might deal with a few of the challenges round not getting settlement till December. Once more, that’s why there’s urgency to get this performed.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need to ask you about one other matter. Survivors of convicted baby intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, in addition to a few of the households of these survivors, wrote a letter to lawmakers supporting the discharge of Justice Division inside communications in regard to his case. In that letter they mentioned, “there was no middle ground here. There was no hiding behind party affiliation. We will remember your decision at the ballot box.”
You realize this Home vote is about to come back up this week. Ought to there be a vote within the Senate? And would you assist it to see the discharge of those paperwork?
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: Completely. We have to launch the paperwork. The American folks have to see what’s in them. And if President Trump says there’s nothing there that he’s involved about, then why doesn’t he assist launch of the paperwork?
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, we’ll see if the Republican chief within the Senate takes up your proposal there. There has not been a dedication to have that type of vote.
However on Venezuela, since you’re rating member on Senator Overseas Relations, I need to be certain that I ask you, the president has mentioned he has kind of made up his thoughts on what to do about Venezuela. You had been one of many only a few senators who’ve obtained briefings inside the previous few weeks from Secretaries Rubio and Hegseth concerning the strikes which can be being carried out on these small, fast-moving boats. Is there a transparent finish sport right here? And is your understanding that ousting Nicolas Maduro from energy is a part of the administration’s plan?
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: I don’t suppose it’s clear what the tip sport is for this administration with respect to Venezuela. They’re counting on a authorized opinion – excuse me, when it comes to the boat strikes that they haven’t launched. They’ve lastly made it out there to members of Congress, however they haven’t launched it to the general public. They’re escalating in a manner that – – speaking a few land strike via particular operations that places in danger our women and men within the army. We’ve a lot fireplace energy now within the Caribbean, the Gerald R. Ford has been taken from the Pink Sea in order that now we don’t have any fireplace energy actually within the Center East as we take a look at the threats there. We don’t have what we want, I believe, within the Indo-Pacific, or in Europe. And so, what the president has performed right here is to place in danger different components of the world and Individuals in different components of the world for this fascination on attempting to eliminate Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, who clearly is a foul character.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: He’s been concerned in drug –
MARGARET BRENNAN: Sure.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: Unlawful medicine. However he isn’t a risk to the US of America.
MARGARET BRENNAN: OK.
SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN: And what the president is doing is elevating actual questions.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Shaheen, thanks on your time this morning.
We’ll be again in a second.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: That’s it for us immediately. Thanks for watching. Till subsequent week. For “FACE THE NATION,” I’m Margaret Brennan.
(ANNOUNCEMENTS)
Face The Nation TranscriptsMore
Full transcript of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Nov. 16, 2025
Transcript: Reps. Tom Suozzi and Don Bacon on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Nov. 16, 2025
Transcript: Sen. Invoice Cassidy on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Nov. 16, 2025
Transcript: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Nov. 16, 2025
Transcript: Sen. Invoice Cassidy on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Nov. 16, 2025
