• Saturday, August 22, 2026
    • 25.8 °C NP

Description

The enhanced subsidies 22 million Americans use to help pay for health insurance are set to expire at the end of this month, and when they do, many Americans will see their insurance premiums balloon. We discuss Democrats' and Republicans' competing proposals to address rising healthcare costs and whether Congress is likely to come to an agreement before — or after — the looming deadline.

This episode: political correspondent Sarah McCammon, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and health policy correspondent Selena Simmons-Duffin.

This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.

Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

What does President Trump plan to do with Venezuela’s oil?

audio-image
NPR

President Trump says he plans to control revenue f....

Emily Dickinson (Archive Episode)

audio-image
BBC Sounds

To celebrate Melvyn Bragg’s 27 years presenting ....

Supreme Court poised to rule on tariffs, birthright citizenship and more

audio-image
NPR

The Supreme Court is expected to rule this year on....

Jan. 6, 2021: Five Years Later

audio-image
NPR

Five years ago, a mob attacked the United States C....

Trump Says The U.S. Will 'Run' Venezuela After Capturing Maduro

audio-image
NPR

Overnight, the U.S. military launched strikes on V....

U.S. foreign aid changed in 2025 – and it was felt around the world

audio-image
NPR

On the night of his inauguration, President Trump ....

Welcome to the NPR Washington Desk

audio-image
NPR

Happy New Year! In this special episode, the Polit....

Shakespeare's Sonnets (Archive Episode)

audio-image
BBC Sounds

To celebrate Melvyn Bragg’s 27 years presenting ....

The Annual Can't Let It Go Year End Extravaganza

audio-image
NPR

We look back on some of the highlights from 2025 w....

Year In Review: The Impact Of Project 2025

audio-image
NPR

As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is t....

Year In Review: Trump's Immigration Policy

audio-image
NPR

As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is t....

Year In Review: Trump's Foreign Policy

audio-image
NPR

Editor's note: This episode originally aired on De....

Year In Review: Trump’s Environmental Policy

audio-image
NPR

As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is t....

Margery Kempe and English Mysticism (Archive Episode)

audio-image
BBC Sounds

To celebrate Melvyn Bragg’s 27 years presenting ....

Year In Review: Trump, Gerrymandering & Redistricting

audio-image
NPR

As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is t....

Year In Review: Trump's Economy

audio-image
NPR

As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is t....

Year In Review: Congress' Successes & Failures

audio-image
NPR

As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is t....

Trump Uses Prime-Time Speech To Blame Biden, Immigrants For Economy Woes

audio-image
NPR

President Trump used his prime-time speech Wednesd....

Eclipses (Archive Episode)

audio-image
BBC Sounds

To celebrate Melvyn Bragg’s 27 years presenting ....

Americans Give Trump Low Marks On The Economy In New Poll

audio-image
NPR

Only 36% of Americans approve of President Trump�....

Year In Review: Trump's Foreign Policy

audio-image
NPR

As we approach 2026, the NPR Politics Podcast is t....

Donald Trump Is Sports-Fan-In-Chief

audio-image
NPR

President Trump has built a brand as the sports-fa....