Republican unity cracked when Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Josh Hawley sided with Democrats to advance a three‑year extension of enhanced ACA subsidies, even knowing it would fail under the 60‑vote threshold. Their votes weren’t enough to move the bill, but they were loud enough to signal terror back home: voters are furious about premiums, and 2026 is coming. Collins and Sullivan, already on the Democratic target list, tried to hedge with a more limited bipartisan plan capping eligibility at $200,000 and forcing low‑income enrollees to pay at least $25 a month, while backing a separate GOP push to route subsidy money into health savings accounts.

At the same time, Hakeem Jeffries’ on‑air blowup with CNBC’s Becky Quick exposed the other fracture: Democrats blaming Republicans for a subsidy cliff they themselves scheduled, Republicans betting Democrats will own the rate hikes. Both parties insist they’re trying to “lower costs.” Both are maneuvering to avoid the blame when premiums spike and angry families decide who pays the price.