House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries clashed with CNBC host Becky Quick during a tense exchange over the future of Affordable Care Act subsidies. Quick pressed Jeffries on why Democrats had allowed the subsidies to sunset on December 1 when they previously controlled Congress, arguing that any long-term solution would require bipartisanship. Jeffries grew visibly frustrated and attempted to shift blame to Republicans, prompting Quick to accuse him of wanting rates to rise for political advantage. Jeffries sharply responded, calling her claim “ridiculous” and saying, “Shame on you!”
The dispute comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Democrats for manufacturing a healthcare funding crisis during the recent government shutdown. Johnson argued that Democrats were demanding over a trillion dollars in new spending largely to continue subsidizing Obamacare premiums. He noted that the ACA passed in 2010 without Republican votes and claimed Democratic policies have driven insurance costs higher. Johnson said Democrats prefer to “subsidize” Obamacare instead of reforming it, asserting that taxpayer money flows primarily to insurance companies and contributes to rising premiums.
Johnson defended Republicans as the party working to “save healthcare,” citing GOP efforts to lower costs, improve access, and reduce fraud. He highlighted the removal of millions of ineligible Medicaid enrollees as an example of strengthening the program. Johnson dismissed claims that the shutdown was about healthcare, saying Democrats were motivated by “fear of the radical left,” not policy concerns.