BUFFALO WOMAN ARRAIGNED FOR HITTING BICYCLIST WHILE DRIVING PICKUP TRUCK THROUGH PROTEST IN NIAGARA SQUARE

An analyst warns Thursday that GOP lawmakers "drunk with power" have made a major stumble amid the ongoing government shutdown, unleashing "Republicans' worst nightmare."

Salon columnist Heather Digby Parton writes about how Obamacare premiums are set to soar — something President Donald Trump had promised to replace — and now "appears to be one step too far" for Americans.

"Ten years of similar promises have shown that replacing the Affordable Care Act wasn’t so easy after all — and that the only health care plan the GOP ever truly wanted was one called 'you’re on your own,'" Digby Parton writes.

Republicans haven't introduced any alternatives, instead people are receiving notices that their healthcare premiums are set to rise, while they cut Medicaid and close a number of rural hospitals, add work requirements and deny care to millions. And although they've pointed to Project 2025, aiming to force people into a privatized version of Medicaid and "plan to open up the market to sell junk insurance plans which are worth virtually nothing," it's still a half-baked policy, the writer argues.

"But the GOP’s lack of strategy and success makes it clear the party is as flummoxed on this issue as they’ve always been, and they know it’s a loser for them," she writes.

Healthcare matters for Americans because it's something that effects their daily lives, she adds, and "it’s now on the front lines of this massive war against our social safety net."

As the Trump administration works to defund scientific research and following "the government's shambolic response during the first year of the pandemic and the damage being done every day by the administration to our scientific research community, I suspect a lot of people are feeling insecure about their actual health care these days."

That could leave room for Democrats to step in and hold the line.

"If Democrats can find the fortitude to hold out for their demands, they will have taken the first step in reining in this lawless administration and given the American people something to hold onto in these dark days," Digby Parton writes.

Candace Owens is targeting conservative Jewish commentator Josh Hammer in her latest conspiracy theory about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

The post Candace Owens Targets Jewish Conservative in Latest Charlie Kirk Conspiracy Theory first appeared on Mediaite.

MSNBC and CNBC reported Friday afternoon that President Donald Trump intends to usher in "lay-offs" for "thousands" of federal workers.

The government has been shut down for the past ten days as officials in Washington debate a funding measure. Trump had made the threat previously, but now has reportedly made good on the pledge.

The Office of Management and Budget Director, Russell Vought called the job cuts "substantial."

“The RIFs have begun,” Vought wrote on X. The acronym means “Reductions in Force.”

There have already been significant government funding cuts over the past eight months under the Trump administration's efforts to eliminate "waste, fraud, and abuse" in government.

“We expect thousands of people to unfortunately be laid off due to the government shutdown," MSNBC's Vaughn Hillyard said, citing a senior White House official.