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A quick followup on my previous healthcare summit posts.

First, Obama’s big closing issues were covering 30 the million uninsured and doing something about preexisting conditions. Those are smart choices because (a) they’re popular issues with the public and (b) they’re poison for Republicans. Their plans simply don’t (and can’t) cover a substantial number of the uninsured because you can’t do this in a private system without federal subsidies, and that requires tax increases. Likewise, solving the preexisting condition problem within a private system leads you inevitably to a mandate and subsidies, which requires a tax increase. They’re stuck.

Second, his basic message was a promise to consider some changes to his current position and a challenge to Republicans to do the same instead of merely insisting on starting over from scratch. “If we saw movement, significant movement, not mere gestures, we wouldn’t have to start over,” he said. In other words: cut the talking points and get serious about addressing real problems.

Will it work? It depends on what you think “work” means. There’s no chance of Republicans making any concessions, of course, but Obama’s stated willingness to consider their ideas might help win over public opinion and stiffen some Democratic spines. But that largely depends, I think, on how the press ends up playing this. Stay tuned.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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