House Republicans release last-minute healthcare plan; TSA defends sharing traveler names with ICE

That’s all for our live coverage for the day. Thanks for following along. Here are some of the big stories from the day.

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  House Republicans late this evening proposed a healthcare plan with no extension of tax credits, as insurance premiums set to rise sharply for at least 22 million Americans.

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  House Democrats published a new tranche of what they called “disturbing” photographs from the estate of the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, featuring Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, the British former royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and others.

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  Trump is facing a federal lawsuit seeking to halt construction on his $300m White House ballroom, with historic preservationists accusing the president of violating multiple federal laws by tearing down part of the iconic building without required reviews or congressional approval.

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  Trump declared he “should be listened to” by the Federal Reserve, as he weighs candidates to lead the central bank amid an extraordinary campaign by the White House to exert greater control over its decisions.

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  The US is ending temporary legal status for citizens of Ethiopia in the United States, as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on immigration.

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  Immigration agents appear to be increasingly arresting and detaining Afghan asylum seekers, especially men, who have arrived in the US recently and are awaiting court hearings to decide their cases.

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  The New York Times reported that the Transportation Security Administration is providing the names of all air travelers to immigration officials, dramatically expanding the Trump administration’s use of data sharing for deportations.

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The US air force said today that the delivery of the first of two new Air Force One jets from Boeing has been delayed again by another year to mid-2028, Reuters reports.

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Trump criticized delays earlier this year, and the latest setback risks further angering the president, who wants to fly in the new planes before his term ends. The cost to build the two new jets is over $5bn.

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The president faced criticisms in May when it was revealed that he would accept a Boeing 747-8 jet as a free gift from the Qatari royal family, with taxpayers footing the bill for the work to secure the plane for his use.

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Boeing told Reuters in a statement it is making progress on the program: “Our focus is on delivering two exceptional Air Force One airplanes for the country.”

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Donald Trump declared he “should be listened to” by the Federal Reserve, as he weighs candidates to lead the central bank amid an extraordinary campaign by the White House to exert greater control over its decisions.

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The US president told the Wall Street Journal that former Fed governor Kevin Warsh is currently top of his list to chair the central bank. Jerome Powell, the current Fed chairperson, is scheduled to finish an eight-year stint in the role next May. Powell has repeatedly defied Trump’s demands for drastic cuts to interest rates, prompting the president to launch a string of public attacks.

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Trump is also considering his adviser Kevin Hassett, who leads the National Economic Council, as a potential chair of the Fed.

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“I think you have Kevin and Kevin. They’re both – I think the two Kevins are great,” Trump told the Journal in an interview published today. “I think there are a couple of other people that are great.” He argued the next Fed chair should listen to him on the future direction of rates: “I don’t think he should do exactly what we say. But … I’m a smart voice and should be listened to.”

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The US Department of Justice has sued Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Nevada as part of its ongoing efforts to collect detailed voting data, the AP reports.

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The federal lawsuits accuse the states of “failing to produce statewide voter registration lists upon request” and follow similar suits against 14 other states and Fulton county in Georgia.

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Critics have raised alarms about potential policy violations, as some of the data the federal government is seeking includes names, dates of birth, addresses, driver’s license numbers and partial social security numbers, the AP said. The department has sought data from at least 26 states, according to a tally by the AP, which notes that some election officials have expressed concerns, as federal law protects the sharing of individual data with the government.

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Mike Johnson, Republican speaker of the House, released a healthcare proposal late Friday night after the Senate failed this week to pass legislation to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies.

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The subsidies are expiring at the end of the month, impacting 21.8 million enrollees, who could face skyrocketing premiums.

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The 111-page proposal from House Republicans focuses on proposals to expand access to employer-sponsored health insurance plans and clamp down on so-called pharmacy benefit managers, according to an Associated Press summary.

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The GOP plan aims to allow more small businesses and self-employed individuals to band together and purchase health coverage, the AP explained: “Proponents say such plans increase the leverage businesses have to negotiate a lower rate. But critics say the plans provide skimpier coverage than what is required under the Affordable Care Act.”

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“House Republicans are tackling the real drivers of health care costs to provide affordable care,” Johnson said in a statement.

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James Comer, a Republican representative from Kentucky and chair of the House committee on oversight and government reform, said Bill and Hillary Clinton “must appear for depositions or face contempt of Congress”.

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Comer’s new statement came after House Democrats released new photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, which included images with Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.

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Comer said it had been more than four months since the former president and former secretary of state and US senator were subpoenaed to sit for depositions related to the ongoing Epstein investigation, saying the couple “have delayed, obstructed, and largely ignored the Committee staff’s efforts to schedule their testimony”.

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“If the Clintons fail to appear for their depositions next week or schedule a date for early January,” Comer continued, “the Oversight Committee will begin contempt of Congress proceedings to hold them accountable.”

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No former presidents have been compelled to testify before Congress, the AP noted. A spokesperson for Bill Clinton has previously said the former president cut off ties more than a decade before Epstein was arrested in 2019 and was unaware of his crimes.

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At an Oval Office event honoring a 1980 Olympic team, Trump briefly took questions from reporters, addressing the new Epstein estate photos, Venezuela and other subjects. Some highlights:

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  Trump said the new Epstein photos, which included images of him, were “no big deal”.

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  He reiterated his calls warning about potential land strikes against Venezuela and saying strikes could extend beyond Venezuela.

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  Asked about Ukraine, he declined to provide details about a key provision in the US peace proposal, saying: “It’s a very complex situation, but it would work. And a lot of people want to see it work.”

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  A reporter asked about the imminent expiration of subsidies for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans, saying: “What’s your message to the 24 million Americans who will see their insurance premiums go up?” Trump responded, “Don’t make it sound so bad, because obviously you’re a sycophant for Democrats.” The president sa