Smoke And Mirrors

The Republicans are good at creating distraction, don't look here... look over there! At those weird trans people! Look at them, not at the bombings, not at the attacks third world nations justified with lies. No look at those weird people over there!

Republicans are trying to change the subject on health care affordability — to transgender care

In a spate of votes and announcements, the GOP is tacking hard to an issue where the party sees an advantage.

By Simon J. Levien and Jessica Piper

12/18/2025

Republicans in Congress and President Donald Trump are trying to flip the health care script to an issue that’s worked for them in the past: restricting transgender care for children.

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers passed a bill Wednesday to make providing hormones or surgery to transgender children a felony and another Thursday to bar the treatments for children on Medicaid. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his advisers announced a slew of rules that would effectively end gender-affirming care at hospitals. In the states, GOP candidates are running ads again condemning Democrats for supporting the care — as Trump did successfully in his 2024 campaign.

With the next election less than a year away, the strategy makes good sense, said Joel White, a former House GOP aide now in the lobbying sector: “The midterm is all about getting your base out. To the extent that there is a divide across the parties on this issue, it helps Republicans.”

Exactly! The Republicans have a huge monolithic base. Who believe in one unifying thing... they are against the Democrats! The Democrats have a very fractured base! But, but... Trump is unifying them! Anyone but Trump!

The GOP push comes as Republicans are struggling to find a message on health care affordability, which polls, including POLITICO’s, have found is a leading concern for voters going into the election year. Insurance is about to get more expensive for millions because subsidies Democrats increased in 2021 for Obamacare coverage are slated to expire on Dec. 31. The vast majority of Republicans oppose an extension, but moderates among them are deeply worried it could cost them their seats.

Exactly! The Republicans have a monolithic base that believes in one unifying thing: they are against the Democrats. Meanwhile, the Democrats have a fractured base—but Trump is unifying them under the banner of "Anyone but Trump!"

The GOP push comes as Republicans struggle to find a message on healthcare affordability, which polls show is a leading concern for voters. Insurance is about to get more expensive for millions because Obamacare subsidies are slated to expire on Dec. 31. While the vast majority of Republicans oppose an extension, moderates are deeply worried it could cost them their seats.

Just wait until the first of the year! Wham! There will be a unifying message in big red dollar signs—$$$$$—when the price of health insurance skyrockets. The voters won't care about the "distractions" anymore; they’ll care about their pocketbooks.

Voters are already getting pissed off. You up there in your golden rooms, saying there is no inflation? You might be able to pull the wool over their eyes regarding social issues, but you are hitting them in the jugular now.

 “Men are men. Men can never become women,” said Kennedy’s deputy, Jim O’Neill. “Children are innocent, and they need our protection.”

Yeah, but the price of eggs is the price of eggs! And the price of milk is the price they have to pay every single week.

The Democrats finally have a united base.