What to know about Affordable Care Act open enrollment and its rising costs. Zohran Mamdani shares his thoughts on Trump, Schumer and democratic socialism. And, Zach Bryan’s preview of a new song divides his hometown over immigration.
Here’s what to know today.
ACA costs set to rise with no movement on shutdown
Affordable Care Act open enrollment begins Saturday, and this year’s enrollment period is expected to see the largest increase in costs since the law went into effect more than a decade ago. More than 24 million Americans get their health insurance through the ACA, also known as Obamacare.
In 2026, a perfect storm of rising premiums and the expiration of enhanced subsidies that previously kept costs lower for middle-class families means many people will face higher bills or be forced to shop around for cheaper plans. Some plan to go uninsured as a result.
The enhanced subsidies — put in place in 2021 — have helped millions of middle-class Americans pay less for their monthly premiums. The issue is at the heart of the government shutdown, with Democrats saying they won’t vote to reopen the government unless the tax credits are extended.
At the same time, insurers are raising rates for next year to keep up with the growing costs of hospital care and prescription drugs and an increased demand for medical services.
A KFF analysis found that insurers are raising premiums by an average of 30% in states that use HealthCare.gov, and by 17%, on average, in states that run their own marketplaces.
Mamdani readies himself for national spotlight and scrutiny
Ahead of election day, New York mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani paints himself in an interview with NBC News as the city’s bulwark against President Donald Trump, even as the president has threatened his hometown over the prospect of a Mamdani victory.
In the interview, Mamdani laid out his strategy for handling Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in New York City and projected confidence about running the city at age 34. He has sought to position himself as the candidate who will take the hardest line against Trump, to which rivals like former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa have argued that he is either too inexperienced to be an effective counterweight or that fighting Trump would be a risky move for New Yorkers.
But Mamdani’s candidacy also represents a challenge to parts of the Democratic Party, too. He declined to voice confidence in fellow New Yorker Chuck Schumer’s leadership of the Senate Democratic caucus. And Mamdani expressed openness to hiring members of the Democratic Socialists of America, the left-wing group that incubated him during his political rise, to serve in his administration.
