The GOP cares about its donors, who are getting a tax cut. They keep their donors in line by favoring police over black and latino youth, building a wall and talking about Muslim terrorists. Of course, much of their base is on Medicare or soon will be and they won’t be impacted until later, when Part B and D premiums go up.

The new order has the same poison tree problem, but it may be small enough to pass. The fact that the time is so limited may make it simply a publicity stunt unless they can illustrate plaintiffs who are harmed by the wait (unless they keep renewing the order). That there is no proof of harm from these nations will probably show it is arbitrary enough to void.

Medicaid changes kill the health bill in the Senate. Even with the abortion provisions, the USCCB should condemn it. Of course, without the Medicaid cuts, they can’t cut the taxes on the wealthy without ending the deductibility of employer provided insurance or enacting a VAT.