Good morning. In this edition:

• 🏛️ Congress’ healthcare spat
• 🌍 Gaza ceasefire broken
• 🪧 “No Kings” protests

…and much more.

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s news should be a ~3.35-minute read (891 words).

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“Whatever you are, be a good one.”

–William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863)

The window for extending billions of dollars in healthcare subsidies for Americans is shutting fast.

Enhanced tax credits for the Affordable Care Act (or “Obamacare”), which were first introduced during Covid, are set to expire at the end of this year unless Congress acts to extend them. And open enrollment for 2026 starts next month.

This issue has taken center stage in recent weeks after Democrats in Congress refused to agree to a gov’t spending deal unless Republicans extend the subsidies, prompting an ongoing shutdown that’s stretched nearly three full weeks.

• Among other things, the enhanced subsidies allow Americans who make more than the current eligibility limit—400% of the federal poverty level, or ~$62,600/year for singles—to qualify for healthcare tax credits.
• They also ensure that US households don’t pay more than 8.5% of their income for a benchmark plan under the ACA.

The arguments

Most Republican lawmakers in Congress oppose the enhanced gov’t subsidies for health care, arguing that they drive up insurance costs, are no longer necessary in the aftermath of the pandemic, and only temporarily cover up the inadequacies of Obamacare.

• They also cite estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office that indicate the enhanced ACA subsidies would expand the US federal deficit by ~$350 billion over the next decade.

On the flip side, Democrats in Congress say the government should help Americans afford healthcare no matter the costs. They argue that without an extension of the enhanced tax credits, healthcare costs would skyrocket for millions of Americans, forcing some to forgo coverage altogether.

• Many Democratic officials also point to recent public polling that shows strong support for Congress acting to extend the enhanced subsidies—even among a majority of Republicans who align with the MAGA movement (57%).

Any action would have a major impact

There are currently 24.3 million ACA Marketplace enrollees, a figure that’s more than doubled since the Covid-era enhanced subsidies were first introduced in 2021.

And if that beefed-up assistance expires, annual premiums for subsidized enrollees are projected to increase an average of ~114%, from $888 this year to $1,904 next year, according to health-research nonprofit KFF.

Looking ahead…Early enrollment for 2026 plans under the Affordable Care Act opens on November 1.

📊 Flash poll: Do you think Congress should extend the enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, or let them expire at the end of this year?

• Extend them
• Let them expire
• Unsure/other

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BUSINESS & MARKETS

• 💻 Nvidia and TSMC announce their first completed US-made Blackwell wafer, a foundational piece of the chips that power AI; it marks a major first step towards bringing critical chip production to America.
• 📝 US Chamber of Commerce sues Trump admin over its new $100,000 fee for applicants to the H-1B visa program.
• 👜 Demand for used luxury goods is growing faster than in luxury brands’ own stores, per new WSJ report.

SPORTS, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT

• 🏎️ Apple and Formula 1 announce five-year media rights deal bringing all races exclusively to Apple TV (in the US) starting next year.
• ⚾ MLB Playoffs: Dodgers complete 4-0 sweep of Brewers to advance to the World Series; Mariners and Blue Jays are tied 3-3 in the ALCS, with a deciding Game 7 tonight. 
• 🏈 CFB: Week 8 is in the books (recap). | NFL: See a full Week 7 recap (link). | University of Florida fires head football coach Billy Napier following a 22-23 tenure across four years.

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SCIENCE, SPACE & EMERGING TECH

• 🏥 Researchers create “universal” kidney that can theoretically be accepted by patients of any blood type.
• 🌾 Hidden gene that gives a rare wheat variety its unusual “triple-grain” trait has been discovered, per new research; finding could allow growers to triple their wheat production.
• 🪨 All stalagmites follow a mathematical rule that explains how they grow from cave floors into different shapes, according to a new study.

US, WORLD & POLITICS

• 🌍 Israel conducted dozens of airstrikes in Gaza and halted humanitarian aid after accusing Hamas of killing two soldiers in Israeli-controlled areas; Hamas denied Israel’s claims; Israel’s military later said it resumed enforcing the ceasefire, while aid deliveries will resume Monday. | Prince Andrew relinquishes royal titles and honors, including “Duke of York,” following new Epstein revelations.
• 👥 Millions of Americans attend “No Kings” protests against what participants see as the Trump admin’s drift into authoritarianism; organizers say 7+ million people attended 2,700+ protests across all 50 states.
• 🏛️ President Trump halts all US aid payments to Colombia, citing the country’s drug production and its government’s failure to stop it. | Trump commutes the 7+-year prison sentence of former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) and orders his immediate release.

☝️The Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition, which celebrate the art of photography through a microscope, just unveiled this year’s winners. Now in its 51st year, the contest drew thousands of entries capturing microscopic marvels hidden in plain sight.

🤔 Did you know? The shimmering rings of Saturn might be younger than the dinosaurs, with recent data suggesting they formed only a few hundred million years ago.

📰 Worth a read: How phones are flattening our friendships

🖱️ Clickbait: The 8 oldest artifacts ever discovered

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On Friday, we covered oral arguments before SCOTUS in a case that could strike down or alter Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which prohibits laws that lead to members of a racial group having less opportunity to elect candidates of their choice compared to other voters.

❓ Our question to you: In general, do you support or oppose Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act?

• Support: 57%
• Oppose: 25%
• Unsure/other: 18%

Click here to read some of the most thoughtful longform responses.

+Note on sample size: We received 750 votes and 68 longform responses.

Monday: Orionid meteor shower expected to peak at night

Tuesday: Netflix reports earnings

Wednesday: Leading infectious-disease conference concludes in Atlanta; Tesla reports earnings

Thursday: National Horror Movie Day

Friday: Expected release of September CPI following delay; Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere starring Jeremy Allen White hits theaters; World Series Game 1

Can you guess the definitions of the following Greek/Latin root words?

1. Ampl
2. Cern
3. Eu
4. Later
5. Neur

🐐 Jay Peak Ski Resort in Vermont has devised a climate-friendly solution to clearing its trails before the winter snow hits: a herd of hungry goats on the mountain.

1. Ampl = Abundant (e.g., amplification)
2. Cern = Sift (discern)
3. Eu = Good (euphoria)
4. Later = Side (bilateral)
5. Neur = Nerve (neurology)

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