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Nov. 11, 2025, 1:31 PM ESTBy Sahil KapurWASHINGTON — Senate Republicans say they’re open to extending a pot of Affordable Care Act funds that will expire at the end of the year — but only if Democrats acquiesce to stricter abortion restrictions on insurance plans.The demand presents a significant hurdle to reaching a bipartisan deal to extend ACA funding designed to avoid major premium hikes next year for more than 20 million Americans, as Democrats are adamant that existing abortion guardrails under Obamacare are sufficient.If the funds are not extended by the end of the year, some people insured under Obamacare could see their bills rise by thousands of dollars per month, raising concerns that millions will choose to go uninsured.Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said there will be a negotiation about an extension after the government reopens. He said one condition will be stricter rules pertaining to the Hyde amendment, which bars federal funding from being used for abortion.Senate Democrats only got a ‘pink promise’ on health care subsidies, says House Democrat08:00To satisfy Democratic demands to comply with the Hyde amendment when the first law passed in 2010, Obamacare does not allow federal funds to cover abortions. Some states allow people insured under Obamacare to access abortion coverage using state or other funding. Republicans want to change that.“That’s what we’re going to negotiate,” Thune told reporters before the Senate passed the bill to end the government shutdown. “A one-year extension along the lines of what [Democrats] are suggesting, and without Hyde protections — there’s just not even, doesn’t even get close.”Thune’s demand for more stringent abortion limits on Obamacare money is backed by colleagues, including Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.C., an outspoken proponent of extending the ACA funds, as well as Sens. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Mike Lee, R-Utah.Rounds warned that “you won’t get any” Republican votes to extend the money without more stringent abortion limitations.“That’s the message that we shared with a lot of our Democratic colleagues is you can’t do it under your existing framework, and you’re never going to get any Republican votes. Because we believe strongly taxpayer dollars should not go to fund abortions,” he said. “They have a different point of view, but it’s pretty clear that Republicans are solid on that particular issue.”But Democrats say there’s no way they’ll agree to that.Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., responded with a flat “no” when asked if there’s any way Democrats agree to stricter abortion limitations in order to extend the ACA funds.“It’s a nonstarter,” Shaheen told NBC News, pointing to existing guardrails on abortion funding built into the ACA. “It’s not an issue. We already dealt with that issue.”Other Democrats share her opposition to changing those rules.Behind the push is a pressure campaign by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, an influential group fighting to ban abortion in the U.S., to condition Republican support for ACA funding on tougher abortion restrictions.“Since Democrat offers to pass a ‘clean’ extension of these ACA subsidies would extend funding of elective abortion coverage through Obamacare, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America strongly opposes and will score against any such offers — even for one year,” SBA President Marjorie Dannenfelser told senators in a letter dated Nov. 7 and shared with NBC News. “A vote for this extension is a vote for abortion coverage. Votes will be scored, and double-weighted, in each member’s profile on SBA Pro-Life America’s National Pro-Life Scorecard.”Katie Keith, a Georgetown Law professor and founding director of its Center for Health Policy and the Law, said existing law bans any federal funds from flowing to abortion care through ACA plans, including the premium tax credits and cost-sharing reduction payments, consistent with the Hyde amendment.States have the option to create separate revenue streams where enrollees can pay a surcharge to gain abortion coverage through their plans. 25 states ban abortion coverage through ACA marketplaces entirely. The rest are split between requiring it through additional state funding or deferring to insurers.Still, even for states that allow ACA plans to cover abortion, “there are strict segregation requirements,” Keith said. “Since the law was enacted, no federal funds flow toward abortion care.”She said the same rule applies to Medicaid funding.“What critics of the current policy are arguing is they want Hyde plus-plus. This goes far beyond what Hyde requires,” she added. “It’s not about federal funds flowing toward the care, it’s about federal funds flowing toward coverage, even if it’s financed separately. … They want to knock out abortion coverage fully.”And if the SBA proposal becomes law, it would create a serious conflict with the dozen blue states that use their own funds to permit abortion coverage through the ACA marketplaces.“It could knock out federal subsidies for coverage altogether in those states if those funds cannot flow,” said Keith, who worked a stint in the Biden administration before returning to Georgetown.Daines, who sits on the Finance Committee that oversees health policy, said additional Hyde protections have “got to be in there, absolutely” — in any ACA deal.“We’ve got the language for it, the Hyde language,” he said. “Hyde has been a longstanding principle here of not allowing the federal taxpayers to be used for abortion.”Shaheen, a moderate Democrat who is not seeking re-election next year, is the author of a permanent ACA funding extension. She also helped craft the deal to reopen the government. She said she’s open to other reforms to the enhanced ACA tax credits, such as income-based limits, but going beyond existing abortion limitations is a red line.Other Democrats take a similar view.“I don’t think you’re going to get Democratic votes talking about abortion,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. “But there are conversations you can have about the structure of the subsidies once you get into a negotiation. I’ve heard their concerns about income caps and no-premium plans.”Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said the GOP’s abortion demand seems like a smokescreen to disguise the party’s unwillingness to continue that money, which was first passed during the Covid pandemic in 2021 and extended the following year. The subsidies limit premiums to 8.5% of an enrollee’s income.“At that point, they’re just unserious about extending the ACA [funds],” he said. “Once they get into restrictions on abortion, everyone knows what that means. It means that they would like to say they’re for extending ACA, but that they don’t have the votes to do it right now.”Schatz indicated that President Donald Trump, who softened his position on abortion during the 2024 campaign and said it should be left up to states, can steer his party to a viable solution.“This is solved in 10 seconds if Donald Trump wants it solved,” Schatz said.Sahil KapurSahil Kapur is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.Frank Thorp V and Scott Wong contributed.

- Latest News - November 11, 2025

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans say they’re open to extending a pot of Affordable Care Act funds that will expire at the end of the year — but only if Democrats.

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Nov. 11, 2025, 12:52 PM ESTBy Mirna Alsharif, Austin Mullen and Aria BendixBaby formula maker ByHeart is recalling all of its products amid an outbreak of infant botulism likely tied to its powdered formula.Since August, 15 cases have been reported across 12 states, nearly all among babies between 16 days and around 5 months old, according to the Food and Drug Administration.After the FDA announced Saturday that it was investigating the outbreak and its link to ByHeart’s organic Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, the company recalled two lots of the product. ByHeart then expanded the recall Tuesday to include all batches of the formula, both in cans and “anywhere packs” — small, sealed pouches.”The safety and well‑being of every infant who uses our formula is, and always will be, our highest priority,” ByHeart’s co-founder and president, Mia Funt, said in a statement. “This nationwide recall reflects our commitment to protecting babies and giving families clear, actionable information. Alongside this recall, we are conducting a comprehensive investigation to do our part to get the answers parents expect and deserve.”Infant botulism arises when babies ingest food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which produce a toxin that affects the body’s nervous system. The infection can cause constipation, poor feeding, loss of head control and difficulty swallowing. Untreated, it can ultimately lead to paralysis and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No deaths have been reported in the current outbreak.The FDA said Tuesday that 84 infants nationwide have received treatment for infant botulism since Aug. 1. Of that total, the agency is investigating 15 cases with “suspected or confirmed infant botulism and confirmed exposure to Byheart Whole Nutrition infant formula.” All of those infants were hospitalized.”This information shows that ByHeart brand formula is disproportionately represented among sick infants in this outbreak, especially given that ByHeart represents an estimated 1% of all infant formula sales in the United States,” the FDA said in an update Tuesday. “Investigations remain ongoing but have not identified any other infant formula brands or shared exposures that pose a risk to infants.”The cases linked to ByHeart formula have been reported in Arizona, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington, according to the FDA. The agency instructed parents and caregivers to immediately stop using any ByHeart infant formula products and keep a close eye on children who consumed it recently, as botulism can take weeks to develop. If a child does not develop symptoms within 30 days, the agency says to throw the formula away. If a child does develop symptoms, however, the FDA advises that parents or caregivers hold on to the product for testing. Children who consumed ByHeart formula and are exhibiting possible botulism symptoms should receive immediate medical attention. The New York City-based company said it has invited the FDA and other public health agencies to test unopened cans of its formula to “provide reliable evidence that will help bring clarity to families who are understandably concerned, as currently, no U.S. or imported formula is required to be tested for Clostridium botulinum.”The California Public Health Department was first to report the observed increase in infant botulism cases among babies who consumed ByHeart formula. “As the FDA and CDPH continue their investigations, we stand ready to partner with them at every step, providing full access to our facilities and unopened cans, without restriction,” ByHeart said in an open letter issued Tuesday.Most recalls of infant formula in the past few years have occurred because of potential contamination with a different type of bacteria, Cronobacter sakazakii, which can also be life-threatening in infants. In 2022, Abbott Nutrition, one of the country’s top formula producers, recalled several brands of powdered infant formula after complaints of bacterial infections in infants who consumed the products. The recall contributed to a national formula shortage in 2022.The CDC later determined that Cronobacter infections may have contributed to the deaths of two infants in Ohio but was not able to definitively link the illnesses to contamination at an Abbott facility. Abbott said at the time that there was “no evidence” to demonstrate a link.Mirna AlsharifMirna Alsharif is a breaking news reporter for NBC News.Austin MullenAria BendixAria Bendix is the breaking health reporter for NBC News Digital.

- Latest News - November 11, 2025

Infant formula maker ByHeart is recalling all of its products amid an outbreak of botulism likely tied to its organic powdered formula.

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Savewith a NBCUniversal ProfileCreate your free profile or log in to save this articleNov. 11, 2025, 12:18 PM ESTBy David K. LiA Cal State Fullerton soccer player died almost a month and a half after she and a teammate were struck by a truck as they rode scooters near campus, officials said Monday. Sophomore defender Lauren Turner died in hospice care on Friday, the school announced, six weeks after she and teammate Ashlyn Gwynn were hit by the truck as they rode to a Fullerton men’s soccer match on Sept. 27.Gwynn remains hospitalized and is expected to survive her injuries.“Lauren was the funniest, most charismatic, and loving teammate you could ever ask for,” according to a team statement.The crash, on Associated Road just north of campus, is still under investigation, a Fullerton police spokesperson said on Tuesday.At the time of the collision, Fullerton was 8-0-2 and Turner, who grew up in nearby Tustin, played in all 10 of those matches. She logged a full 90 minutes once this season, in Fullerton’s 1-0 triumph at Pitt on Aug. 28, only the second triumph over an ACC opponent in program history.Turner played in 20 matches in her freshman season, scoring a goal on Oct. 3, 2024 against UC Riverside”She was the first to celebrate other people’s wins,” the team said. “She is the true definition of an amazing person. She always carried herself with compassion, kindness, and happiness. The impact she made on the Titans women’s soccer program is immeasurable.” The player was survived by her parents Christopher and Christine and sisters Nicolette and Victoria.A memorial is scheduled for early Wednesday evening at the school’s soccer stadium.David K. LiSenior Breaking News Reporter

- Latest News - November 11, 2025

Cal State Fullerton soccer player Lauren Turner died almost a month and a half after she and a teammate were struck by a truck as they rode scooters near campus.

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Nov. 11, 2025, 11:09 AM ESTBy Rohan NadkarniThe Dallas Mavericks have fired general manager Nico Harrison nine months after he made a trade that roiled the franchise and shocked the NBA, according to multiple reports. Harrison, 52, was hired as the Mavericks’ general manager and president of basketball operations in June 2021. Dallas made it to the conference finals in 2022 and the NBA Finals in 2024, when they lost to the Boston Celtics.But in February, Harrison traded Luka Doncic, then only 25, to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick. The trade was widely criticized, as Doncic was selected to five straight All-Star and All-NBA First Teams from 2020 through 2024.“I believe that defense wins championships,” Harrison told ESPN in February about his reasoning for trading away a player viewed as a generational superstar. “I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 10 in Charlotte, N.C.David Jensen / Getty ImagesWhile the Mavericks entered Tuesday ranked third in the NBA defensively, their 3-8 record is fifth-worst in the league. No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg — who the team selected after missing the playoffs last season and winning the draft lottery — has struggled. So has Davis, who is currently averaging his lowest points per game since 2014.Harrison has had to endure “Fire Nico” chants at home games as Dallas has struggled, and even Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont has been booed. The frustration is a continuation of what happened in the immediate aftermath in the trade, when fans were canceling subscriptions to the team streaming service en masse or being kicked out of games for bringing “Fire Nico” signs.“The vibes are not good,” Josh Bowe, a podcaster and writer who grew up in the Dallas area and has been covering the team since 2009, told NBC News earlier this year. “And I think what’s happening is there’s a potential for a generational loss of fans. I’ve seen plenty of fans say that they don’t really want to watch the team anymore. I feel like we’ll be studying the effects or the impact of this for years.” Doncic, meanwhile, is averaging 37.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game for the Lakers. Los Angeles is 8-3 and in fourth place in the Western Conference, and LeBron James has yet to play a game.Rohan NadkarniRohan Nadkarni is a sports reporter for NBC News. 

- Latest News - November 11, 2025

The Dallas Mavericks have fired general manager Nico Harrison nine months after he made a trade that roiled the franchise and shocked the NBA, according to multiple reports.

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