States Still Divided on Obamacare

Making News

Hamas Issues "Declaration of War" after Israel's Targeted Killing ()

After days of missile- and rocket-fire from Gaza, Israel escalated the confrontation today with multiple airstrikes and the targeted killing of Ahmed-al-Jabari, a senior military leader of Hamas. Hamas, the elected Gaza government, called it the basis for "a declaration of war." Dan Ephron is in Tel Aviv for Newsweek and the Daily Beast.

Guests:

• Dan Ephron: Newsweek/Daily Beast

Main Topic

Obamacare: the Battle Continues ()

Mitt Romney would try to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the biggest expansion of America's social safety net since 1965. But the President's re-election means that repeal of "Obamacare" is less likely than ever, and states have until this Friday to decide if they'll set up "exchanges" where 30 million Americans can buy subsidized health insurance. About one third of the states have already have said, "No," meaning the federal government will step in. Meantime, crowds of special interests are demanding change. What about the impact on Medicare and Medicaid and the rising cost of medical treatments?

Guests:

• Noam Levey: Los Angeles Times, @NoamLevey
• Jim Capretta: Ethics and Public Policy Center, @aei
• Jacob Hacker: Yale University
• Genevieve Kenney: Urban Institute

Links:

• Levey on Obama's re-election cementing his healthcare law
• Capretta on health policy after the election

Reporter's Notebook

Obama Faces the Press in the Midst of a Sex Scandal ()

Wide-open meetings with the White House press corps were a casualty of President Obama's re-election campaign. Today's press conference was the first since last March. He opened with an announcement, as we hear from Rachel Smolkin, White House Editor for Politico.

Guests:

• Rachel Smolkin: Politico, @RachelSmolkin