Why are Democrats shutting down the government to save enhanced Obamacare subsidies?

I understand, in the abstract, why Democrats like Obamacare subsidies and how they benefit people who would otherwise struggle to buy health insurance. But politically, shutting down the government to protect these subsidies is the silliest thing Democrats have done since they stopped the Republicans from shutting the government down last September.

Republicans love farm subsidies because they view farmers as a central part of their base. And farm subsidies disproportionately benefit red states. But, as it happens, so do Obamacare subsidies. Four out of five Obamacare enrollees live in red states. Out of the top 15 states collecting Obamacare subsidies, Trump won 12 in 2024.

The effect of letting these subsidies expire won’t be trivial, either. The average Obamacare premium will

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