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A health care proposal circulated by the White House in recent days is running into the reality of Republican divisions on the issue a familiar struggle for a party that has been trying to scrap or overhaul the Affordable Care Act for the past 15 years.The tentative proposal from President Donald Trump would extend expiring ACA subsidies for two years while adjusting eligibility requirements for recipients. The plan has so far been met with a stony silence on Capitol Hill as Republicans debate among themselves whether to overhaul the law, tweak it or simply let the subsidies expire.It’s unclear now when the White House plan might be released, or if it will be released at all.The Republican indecision comes as the COVID-era tax credits are set to expire Jan. 1, creating sharp premium increases for millions of Americans. Democrats who shut down the government for six weeks over the issue are demanding a straight extension with no changes, though some indicated they could support a plan similar to the one circulated by the White House.But support may be harder to find in the GOP conference, where many lawmakers say costs are still too high and have been eager to make another run at repealing the ACA. The last effort in 2017 failed when Republicans couldn’t decide on how to provide coverage to millions of Americans who depend on government-run marketplaces for their health care. It’s a dilemma that persists for the party after record numbers signed up for coverage this year.Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., promised a group of moderate Democrats a vote on the ACA tax credits by mid-December in exchange for their votes to end the government shutdown. But it’s unclear, so far, whether that arrangement will lead to a solution. Bipartisan compromise? Health care has long been one of the most politically fraught topics on Capitol Hill, so a bipartisan compromise seems unlikely. But the coming price spikes have motivated some lawmakers to look for points of agreement.Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said last week that he hopes the subsidies are extended.“I’m sure some of my colleagues will be mad at me for saying this if we don’t address the subsidies issue in December, I don’t think it’s going to get addressed next year,” Tillis said, adding that Democratic campaigns will be “just churning up all the very sympathetic stories” if it isn’t fixed.The draft White House proposal would put new income limits on the tax credits at 700 percent of the federal poverty level, according to two people with knowledge of the proposal who requested anonymity to discuss it. The White House would also require those on Obamacare, regardless of the type of coverage, to pay some sort of premium for their plans. That would effectively end zero-premium plans for those with lower incomes, addressing a concern from Republicans who say the program has enabled fraud.Some Democrats have suggested they are open to those ideas as a part of broader negotiations. “I’m glad the president is reportedly considering a serious proposal,” said New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, one of the Democrats who voted to end the shutdown.Some Republicans have signaled support as well. Nebraska Rep. Mike Flood, the chairman of the business-oriented Republican Main Street Caucus, said in a statement that the group supports “President Trump’s ongoing efforts to address the ACA tax credit cliff with an extension.”Several bipartisan bills in the House would extend the ACA credits for two years, with changes such as income limits for the enhanced credit. “I think two years is really the sweet spot where everybody is OK,” said Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. Premium spikes on Jan. 1 Still, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has declined to say whether he will allow a vote on a health care bill. Many other members of his GOP conference want to see the subsidies eliminated or the underlying law overhauled. In addition, Thune and other Republicans have said they want new language on abortion restrictions if they pass an extension a dealbreaker for Democrats.If Congress doesn’t act, the enhanced premium tax credits that have helped many Americans pay for Affordable Care Act health insurance plans will disappear. And premiums could more than double for subsidized enrollees, according to an analysis by the health care research nonprofit KFF.Signups for next year’s insurance began on Nov. 1, meaning that many Americans are already planning for the higher costs. Democrats who forced the shutdown at the beginning of October had hoped to negotiate an extension before open enrollment began.“When people’s monthly payments spike next year, they will know it was Republicans that made it happen,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said last week. Republicans could go at it alone As Democrats elevated the health care issue during the shutdown, some Republicans saw an opportunity to renew their efforts to overhaul the law. GOP lawmakers in the House and Senate have been meeting to find consensus, though they haven’t found it yet.Among the GOP ideas are separate proposals from Florida Sen. Rick Scott and Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy to use savings accounts to either shop for insurance or defray out-of-pocket costs. Scott’s legislation would create what he called “Trump Health Freedom Accounts” and make some changes to the health care law, including by allowing consumers to shop across state lines. Cassidy’s narrower bill would create new savings accounts just to replace the enhanced subsidies that are expiring.The draft of the White House plan, meanwhile, would allow those in lower-tier plans, such as the bronze-level or catastrophic plans, to put money into health savings accounts.Those proposals are unlikely to win over Democrats. Schumer said last week that the savings accounts “will go nowhere in the Senate.”Skeptical that the two parties will ever agree, some Republicans have suggested that they try to pass a health care package using budget maneuvers similar to Trump’s ” Big Beautiful Bill ” of tax and spending cuts. If it worked, they could pass the legislation with zero Democratic votes a politically risky strategy that could take months, well into the midterm election year. It all depends on Trump Some Republicans may be waiting for clear direction from Trump, who has been sending mixed signals about what he wants.For several weeks, Trump appeared to be backing the savings accounts on social media, posting as recently as Nov. 18 that “THE ONLY HEALTHCARE I WILL SUPPORT OR APPROVE IS SENDING THE MONEY DIRECTLY BACK TO THE PEOPLE, WITH NOTHING GOING TO THE BIG, FAT, RICH INSURANCE COMPANIES, WHO HAVE MADE $TRILLIONS, AND RIPPED OFF AMERICA LONG ENOUGH.”He added: “Congress, do not waste your time and energy on anything else.”Trump reiterated that message Tuesday evening.“Don’t give the money to the insurance companies,” he told reporters Tusday evening. “You give the money to the people.” Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim, Joey Cappelletti, Kevin Freking in Washington and Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report. Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
The National Park Service said Tuesday it is going to start charging the millions of international tourists who visit U.S. parks each year an extra $100 to enter some of the most popular sites, while leaving them out of fee-free days that will be reserved for American residents.The announcement declaring “America-first entry fee policies” comes as national parks deal with the strain of a major staff reduction and severe budget cuts, along with recovering from damage during the recent government shutdown and significant lost revenue due to fees not being collected during that time.The fee change will impact 11 national parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.As part of the changes, which are set to take effect Jan. 1, foreign tourists will also see their annual parks pass price jump to $250, while U.S. residents will continue to be charged $80, according to the department’s statement.Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a post on the social platform X that the changes make sure U.S. taxpayers who support the park service “continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations!”A White House post on X laying out the increased fees ended with the phrase, “AMERICANS FIRST.”The announcement follows a July executive order in which President Donald Trump directed the parks to increase entry fees for foreign tourists.“There’s a lot to unpack in this announcement, including many questions on its implementation all which NPCA will raise with the Department of Interior,” Kati Schmidt, a spokesperson for National Parks Conservation Association, said in an email.The U.S. Travel Association estimated that in 2018, national parks and monuments saw more than 14 million international visitors. Yellowstone reported that in 2024, nearly 15% of its visitors were from outside the country, which was down from 30% in 2018.The money made off the new fees will help support the national parks, including with upgrading facilities for visitors and maintenance, according to the statement.The “resident-only patriotic fee-free days” next year include Veterans Day, which was one of the parks’ eight free days open to everyone in 2025. The Department of the Interior had announced those days by saying they wanted to ensure that “everyone, no matter their zip code, can access and enjoy the benefits of green spaces and our public lands.” Golden reported from Seattle. Hallie Golden and Matthew Daly, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
Shares in Europe and Asia advanced on Wednesday after benchmarks on Wall Street surged on hopes the Federal Reserve will soon opt to cut interest rates.The future for the S&P 500 gained 0.3%, while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.2%.In early European trading, Germany’s DAX gained 0.2% to 23,500.98, while the CAC 40 in Paris also rose 0.2%, to 9,623.22. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged 0.1% higher.In Asia, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.9% to 49,559.07 in a broad rally that encompassed major exporters and technology shares. However, shares in Kioxia dropped 14.9% on reports that Bain Capital plans to sell $2.3 billion of the computer memory maker’s shares.In South Korea, the Kospi gained 2.7%, to 3,960.87, helped by a 3.5% gain for Samsung Electronics, the market’s biggest heavyweight. Computer chip maker SK Hynix climbed 1%.Taiwan’s Taiex surged 1.9%.Chinese markets were mixed.Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.1% to 25,928.08 and the Shanghai Composite index slipped 0.2%, to 3,864.18.Chinese e-commerce and technology giant Alibaba fell 1.9%. Its U.S.-traded shares fell 2.3% on Tuesday after its profit fell short of forecasts, though it reported stronger revenue than analysts had expected for the latest quarter.Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.8% to 8,606.50. In New Zealand, the S&P/NZX 50 added 0.6% after the central bank cut its official cash rate to 2.25% from $2.5%.U.S. markets will have a shortened trading week due to the Thanksgiving holiday, closing on Thursday and opening for shorter hours on Friday.On Tuesday, the S&P 500 rose 0.9% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 1.4%. The Nasdaq composite gained 0.7%.Easier interest rates can give particularly big boosts to smaller companies, because many of them need to borrow to grow. The Russell 2000 index of the smallest U.S. stocks jumped 2.1% to lead the market.Mixed economic data left traders betting on a nearly 83% probability that the Fed will cut in December, according to data from CME Group.Shoppers bought less at U.S. retailers in September than economists expected, while confidence among U.S. consumers worsened by more in November than expected, signals the economy could use help from lower interest rates.Easier rates can boost the economy by encouraging households and companies to borrow more and investors to pay higher prices for investments than they would otherwise.Another report said U.S. inflation at the wholesale level was a touch worse in September than expected, but a closely tracked underlying trend was slightly better. Lower interest rates can worsen inflation, and higher prices are the main reason the Fed has been holding back on rate cuts.Later Wednesday, the U.S. was due to release more data that had been delayed by the six-week long government shutdown.The Fed has already cut rates twice this year in hopes of shoring up the slowing job market.In other dealings early Wednesday, U.S. benchmark crude oil gained 5 cents to $58.00 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, picked up 8 cents to $61.88 per barrel.The U.S. dollar rose to 156.46 Japanese yen from 156.06 yen. The euro rose to $1.1575 from $1.1569. Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer
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E-Commerce
Since 2019, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has undergone a resurrection from discarded early-2000s mall brand to a sought-after brand for millennials and older Gen Zs. Abercrombie reported $1.29 billion in revenue for quarter three, up 7% year-over-year. The Tuesday, November 25 earnings report is the twelfth in a row with consecutive growth between quarters. The company also beat Wall Streets predicted $1.28 billion in revenue and reached earnings per share of $2.36 earnings, rather than the estimated $2.16, according to consensus estimates cited by CNBC. Abercrombies shares (NYSE:ANF) closed up more than 37% on Tuesday, though the stock is still down 39.63% from the start of 2025. Notably, the most recent growth of Abercrombie (the company) hasnt been fueled by Abercrombie (the brand). This quarter saw the retail stores net sales sink 2% year-over-year to $617.35 milliona 7% decrease in comparable sales. Its an improvement from quarters one and two, during which the brand also saw declines in net sales: a 4% reduction year-over-year to $547.95 million in quarter one and a 5% drop year-over-year to $551,868 in quarter two. Instead, it was another brand beloved by millennials as teens that has held up the once logo-tee-and-low-rise-jean-adorned fort. Abercrombie-owned Hollister reported $673.27 million in net sales for the most recent quarter. This figure represents a 16% increase year-over-year and a 15% jump in comparable sales. Hollisters success left the company with a 7% improvement in net sales year-over-year. Hollister has maintained significant positive growth, reporting 19% and 22% increases in net sales year-over-year during quarters one and two, respectively. In an earnings call for quarter two, CEO Fran Horowitz attributed the Abercrombie brands decline to marking down and selling old inventory. This time around, Horowitz appeared happy enough to have made progress, stating, Abercrombie brands made sequential progress in-line with our expectations, and we are tightly managing inventory as we aim for fourth quarter brand net sales to be approximately flat to last years record. Abercrombie expects a 6% to 7% growth overall for net sales in fiscal 2025, remaining confident it will reach a new record high.
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E-Commerce
The Thanksgiving travel period is in full swing. Today is the last day before Thanksgiving, which means millions of Americans will be taking to the skies to reach their holiday destinations. And myriad more will also be traveling to airports to pick up their incoming loved ones. But on one of the busiest travel days of the year, flight delays and cancellations are inevitable. Here are some tools to track delays, along with information on which airports are currently experiencing the worst delays and cancellations. FAA says this is the busiest Thanksgiving travel period in 15 years Earlier this week, Fast Company reported on the American Automobile Association (AAA)’s latest data, which revealed that this Thanksgiving travel period will be the busiest in six years. The AAA defines the 2025 Thanksgiving travel period as running from Tuesday, November 25, to Monday, December 1. During that time, the AAA says 81.83 million Americans will be traveling by road, air, or other means, including 6.07 million by plane. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released its own estimation, which largely concurs with the AAAs data. Last Friday, the FAA announced that this Thanksgiving travel period will be the busiest in 15 years. The agency says that more than 360,000 flights will take place during the period, shuffling travelers to and from their Thanksgiving destinations. (Its worth noting that the FAAs Thanksgiving period differs slightly from the AAAs period. The FAA says the Thanksgiving period runs from Monday, November 24, to Tuesday, December 2.) The FAA has also forecast the number of flights in the air for each day over the period, including: Monday, November 24: 48,173 Tuesday, November 25: 52,185 Wednesday, November 26: 50,130 Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving): 25,611 Friday, November 28: 41,560 Saturday, November 29: 46,288 Sunday, November 30: 51,268 Monday, December 1: 49,676 Tuesday, December 2: 47,423 The more flights scheduled, the greater the chance of delays and cancellations. This map reveals which airports currently have the most delays and cancellations Delays and cancellations happen for several reasons. According to the FAA, the top five causes of delays in the National Airspace System (NAS) include: Weather (which causes about 62.6% of all delay minutes) Volume (13.5%) Runway (8.3%) Equipment (1%) Other/Staffing (14.6%) In other words, even if it’s sunny and clear skies in the departure or arrival destinations, the sheer volume of scheduled flights, runway availability, equipment issues, and staffing issues can still cause delays. If you have to make a trip to the airport today for any reason, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on where delays are occurring, as they can not only cause flights to depart later than scheduled but also lead to increased crowds in terminals and parking lots. FlightAware.com offers an interactive map, aptly named the Misery Map, which shows the current delays at some of Americas busiest airports. As of the time of this writing, the Misery Map shows that between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today, 63 flights are currently delayed and three have been canceled (keep in mind, this information is updated regularly). The Misery Map shows that the highest number of delays during that time period is at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), where nine delays are currently listed. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) currently has the next-most delays, at eight. All three presently listed cancellations for the period are from flights at MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport (MSP). For the day, FlightAwares expanded data currently shows 549 delays for U.S. flights, as well as 25 cancellations. If you do need to head to the airport today, whether to catch a flight or pick someone up, the best practice is to track the relevant flights information directly in the airlines app or on its website, and to contact the airline directly if you have any concerns about delays or cancellations.
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E-Commerce
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