Trump Vows to Call Congress in Early to Repeal Obamacare, D.C. Approves Assisted Suicide and More You Missed in Politics Today

It’s difficult to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in this country and to break through the clutter, so we’re here to make it easier. Here’s what we at Countable are reading today:

1. "Trump wants 'special session' to repeal Obamacare"

Donald Trump said Tuesday that one of his first acts as president will be to call a special session of Congress to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act."[W]e will do it very, very quickly. It is a catastrophe,” Trump said at a rally. But repeal and replace may take a while. "Even if Republicans keep control of the Senate, Democrats will likely have enough votes to filibuster a quick repeal bill.” There is a way to get around the filibuster, using what’s called “reconciliation,” but that could “take months” and there isn’t widespread agreement among Republicans in Congress about what a replacement healthcare bill would look like.

Read more at Politico.

2. "FBI Surprises With Files on Clinton ’01 Pardon of Marc Rich"

"The FBI unexpectedly released 129 pages of documents" on Twitter on Tuesday, relating to a closed 2005 investigation of President Bill Clinton’s decision to pardon “Marc Rich, who had been married to a wealthy Democratic donor.” The tweet comes just as FBI Director James Comey “faces fire from Democrats and even some Republicans for releasing information about his renewed investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of e-mail.”

An anonymous "law enforcement official" said that the documents were released in response to a “Freedom of Information Act request that had been completed and was posted under standard FBI practice.” But, needless to say, the Clinton campaign is not thrilled.

Read more at Bloomberg.

3. D.C. Council gives initial approval to a bill to let terminally ill patients end their lives"

The D.C. Council voted to approve a doctor-assisted suicide bill on Tuesday, which would make "the District the sixth jurisdiction nationwide" and the “first predominantly black community to legalize so-called ‘death with dignity’, overcoming objections from some in the African American community.” The bill still needs the approval of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and to go through a final council vote, but a mayoral spokesman said that she “expects the bill to become law.”

Read more at the Washington Post.

Opponents can now take their fight to Congress, which could use its authority over the District’s budget to stop the law. Should Congress intervene? Let your reps know what you think.

4. "Where Obamacare prices are rising dramatically"

"Monthly insurance premiums for popular plans" under the Affordable Care Act are set to rise “by 25 percent on average next year.” Open enrollment begins today, so the Washington Post broke down some parts of the country where enrollees are likely to face the most sticker shock. Number one on the list: Arizona.

Read more at the Washington Post.

5. "2 years of opposition, 1,172 miles of pipe, 1.3 million Facebook check-ins. The numbers to know about the Standing Rock protests"

As protesters continue to block construction of an oil pipeline "near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, which straddles North and South Dakota," the *Los Angeles Times *breaks down the situation.

Read more at the Los Angeles Times.

— Sarah Mimms
Image via Fibonacci Blue/Flickr