December 17, 2025 • 6 mins
Four Republicans defy Speaker Johnson and sign petition to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies, President Trump ramps up efforts to force out Venezuelan president, and Powerball jackpot reaches 1.2 billion. Stay in "The Loop" with WBZ NewsRadio.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is wb Z, Boston's news radio, redefining local news.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Forty one degrees in Boston, we've got clouds in the city,
feeling more like twenty five at eleven o'clock. Good morning,
I'm Nicole Davis and we're watching developing news. Four moderate
Republicans have now broken with House Speaker Mike Johnson over
healthcare and have signed on to a Democratic led discharge
petition that will force a House vote to extend it
(00:29):
Enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. Now, those subsidies expire at
the end of the year. Without an extension, health insurance
premiums will skyrocket for millions of Americans. This bill would
extend those subsidies for three years. Yesterday, Speaker Johnson said
he would not hold a vote and instead would work
on broader healthcare reform next year. President Trump has floated
(00:49):
the idea of establishing health savings accounts instead, but critics
have warned that plan would not bring down the cost
of premiums. Meantime, President Trump is ramping up his effort
to force Venezuela as president out of power. Last night,
the President posted he has ordered a quote total and
complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and
out of Venezuela. Here CBS's Charli daggattat.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
The country led by dictator Nicholas Maduro has faced heavy
sanctions from the US for years.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Trump is rashing up the pressure on ve Isabel law
international relation.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
To expert Oliver Snunkel, thinks the ultimate goal is regime change.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I think there is a risk that the United States
will inadvertently be pulled into a conflict without a clear
exit strategy.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
President Trump accusing the Maduro regime of stealing oil, land
and other assets from the United States. The Maduro government
says the President is violating international law, free trade, and
the principle of free navigation. Now we're hearing from the
President tonight in a live primetime address from the White House.
Here's Press Secretary Caroline Levitt.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
It's going to be a really good speech. I was
just in the Oval Office with the President discussing it.
He's going to talk a lot about the accomplishments over
the past eleven months, all that he's done to bring
our country back to greatness, and all he continues to
plan to do to continue delivering for the American people
over the next three years now.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
That speech starting at nine o'clock. We will have it
live for you right here on WBZ streaming always on
the iHeartRadio app. Police in Providence still searching for the
gunman who killed two people and injured nine others over
the weekend at Brown University. Video showing a massed suspect
walking around the neighborhoods leading up to the shooting. And
it's not just students who are on edge. There is
(02:30):
tremendous frustration. Look, if I were a parent in Providence,
I would be concerned.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
But it's not only Providence.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
We know now that there is somebody who is believed
to be a cold blooded mass shooter on the loose,
potentially armed period full stop. That is terrifying to say,
to seize Josh mar Golan With that update, plenty of
clouds in Boston right now and for the rest of
the day. We'll see a mix of sun and clouds
as we get toward this evening. It is definitely warmer
(02:57):
than it's been. We have temperatures in the and some
forties if you're on the Capan Islands. The thing is, though,
we have that very gusty wind blowing from the southwest
au gusting to about thirty miles an hour, even seeing
about thirty five mile in hour gusts on the outer Cave.
So you put the two together and it's feeling more
like the twenties, especially on the coast and in higher elevations.
(03:18):
So we've got a high today about fifty on the
capin islands, forty five in the Boston area, but again
feeling like about ten degrees colder for tonight, mostly clear, low,
just about freezing thirty two or so downtown, twenties if
you're in the suburbs. Then for tomorrow, mix of sun
and clouds and a high in the mid forties. Next
storm coming in likely tomorrow night. We've got plenty of
(03:39):
rain for Friday as well, temperature soaring into the upper fifties,
feeling more like spring or fall, and then we'll get
a bit of a reality check over the weekend, where
we're back in the thirties. Right now in Beverly, partly
sunny skies thirty nine south of Boston in Norwood, cloudy
in forty west of Boston in Fitchburg, cloudy in thirty
(03:59):
eight in Boston. Right now at Logan Airport, partly Cloudy Skies.
It's forty degrees right now, but it feels like twenty five.
Well tonight's powerball jackpot is worth more than one point
two billion dollars, and that means all hands on deck.
At the Packe's in General Store selling tickets.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Hennessy News in Situate Harbor is a popular spot to
grab t shirts and greeting cards, but right now it's
for the lottery tickets.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
In the past week or so really sending the pickup
in sales.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
That's manager Eric Johnston, who tells me that's partially due
to an influx of powerball players as the jackpot has
surged past a billion.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
A lot of people trying that luck.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
It'es basically people that normally don't play down the road.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
At the Norwell Package in General store, Linda Brown tells
me she's been printing quick picks NonStop for customers.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
We have some that'll come in. They'll get one hundred
drugs for it.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
They feel it's worth it, and honestly, they win a
billion dollars it is now. The odds of winning the
jackpot are abysmal, but figuring out what to spend it on,
that's the easy part.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Find a new place to move to.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
I guess there we got a one. I'd pay off
all my debt, and I'd probably invest in small businesses,
just help them get their own starts.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
From norwalem Jerre Brosn and WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
It's been many years decades since major changes were made
to the MBTA's Orange Line, but on Beacon Hill lawmakers
are now considering extending it further to the south. Last week,
the House approved state funding to be used for a
new study looking at just how feasible it is to
extend the Orange Line down to Roslindale Village. This could
possibly convert the existing Needum Line the commuter rail line
(05:26):
to fully rapid transit. Supporters say this would improve service
for people living in that part of Greater Boston while
not requiring the MBTA to buy up new property or
build a new right of way. In this study, mastop
will take a closer look at the cost funding options,
potential ridership equity concerns, and potential environmental impacts. And Hyundai
and Kia have made a deal with thirty six states,
(05:48):
including Massachusetts, who suit them overclaims their vehicles are too
easy to steal.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
The Korean car makers have agreed to add anti theft
hardware to millions of vehicles. It became theft targets part
of an online challenge that's in addition to software updates
that had already been issued. Also part of the deal
monetary compensation for the states involved and the consumers impacted
by the thefts man.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
As CBS's Jeff Gilbert, monetary compensation could top five hundred
million bucks. You are now in the loop for news
updates throughout the day. Listen to WBZ Radio on the
iHeartRadio app. I'm Nicole Davis WBZ and Boston's News Radio
This is wb Z, Boston's news radio, redefining local news.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Forty one degrees in Boston, we've got clouds in the city,
feeling more like twenty five at eleven o'clock. Good morning,
I'm Nicole Davis and we're watching developing news. Four moderate
Republicans have now broken with House Speaker Mike Johnson over
healthcare and have signed on to a Democratic led discharge
petition that will force a House vote to extend it
(00:29):
Enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. Now, those subsidies expire at
the end of the year. Without an extension, health insurance
premiums will skyrocket for millions of Americans. This bill would
extend those subsidies for three years. Yesterday, Speaker Johnson said
he would not hold a vote and instead would work
on broader healthcare reform next year. President Trump has floated
(00:49):
the idea of establishing health savings accounts instead, but critics
have warned that plan would not bring down the cost
of premiums. Meantime, President Trump is ramping up his effort
to force Venezuela as president out of power. Last night,
the President posted he has ordered a quote total and
complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and
out of Venezuela. Here CBS's Charli daggattat.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
The country led by dictator Nicholas Maduro has faced heavy
sanctions from the US for years.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Trump is rashing up the pressure on ve Isabel law
international relation.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
To expert Oliver Snunkel, thinks the ultimate goal is regime change.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I think there is a risk that the United States
will inadvertently be pulled into a conflict without a clear
exit strategy.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
President Trump accusing the Maduro regime of stealing oil, land
and other assets from the United States. The Maduro government
says the President is violating international law, free trade, and
the principle of free navigation. Now we're hearing from the
President tonight in a live primetime address from the White House.
Here's Press Secretary Caroline Levitt.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
It's going to be a really good speech. I was
just in the Oval Office with the President discussing it.
He's going to talk a lot about the accomplishments over
the past eleven months, all that he's done to bring
our country back to greatness, and all he continues to
plan to do to continue delivering for the American people
over the next three years now.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
That speech starting at nine o'clock. We will have it
live for you right here on WBZ streaming always on
the iHeartRadio app. Police in Providence still searching for the
gunman who killed two people and injured nine others over
the weekend at Brown University. Video showing a massed suspect
walking around the neighborhoods leading up to the shooting. And
it's not just students who are on edge. There is
(02:30):
tremendous frustration. Look, if I were a parent in Providence,
I would be concerned.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
But it's not only Providence.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
We know now that there is somebody who is believed
to be a cold blooded mass shooter on the loose,
potentially armed period full stop. That is terrifying to say,
to seize Josh mar Golan With that update, plenty of
clouds in Boston right now and for the rest of
the day. We'll see a mix of sun and clouds
as we get toward this evening. It is definitely warmer
(02:57):
than it's been. We have temperatures in the and some
forties if you're on the Capan Islands. The thing is, though,
we have that very gusty wind blowing from the southwest
au gusting to about thirty miles an hour, even seeing
about thirty five mile in hour gusts on the outer Cave.
So you put the two together and it's feeling more
like the twenties, especially on the coast and in higher elevations.
(03:18):
So we've got a high today about fifty on the
capin islands, forty five in the Boston area, but again
feeling like about ten degrees colder for tonight, mostly clear, low,
just about freezing thirty two or so downtown, twenties if
you're in the suburbs. Then for tomorrow, mix of sun
and clouds and a high in the mid forties. Next
storm coming in likely tomorrow night. We've got plenty of
(03:39):
rain for Friday as well, temperature soaring into the upper fifties,
feeling more like spring or fall, and then we'll get
a bit of a reality check over the weekend, where
we're back in the thirties. Right now in Beverly, partly
sunny skies thirty nine south of Boston in Norwood, cloudy
in forty west of Boston in Fitchburg, cloudy in thirty
(03:59):
eight in Boston. Right now at Logan Airport, partly Cloudy Skies.
It's forty degrees right now, but it feels like twenty five.
Well tonight's powerball jackpot is worth more than one point
two billion dollars, and that means all hands on deck.
At the Packe's in General Store selling tickets.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Hennessy News in Situate Harbor is a popular spot to
grab t shirts and greeting cards, but right now it's
for the lottery tickets.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
In the past week or so really sending the pickup
in sales.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
That's manager Eric Johnston, who tells me that's partially due
to an influx of powerball players as the jackpot has
surged past a billion.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
A lot of people trying that luck.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
It'es basically people that normally don't play down the road.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
At the Norwell Package in General store, Linda Brown tells
me she's been printing quick picks NonStop for customers.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
We have some that'll come in. They'll get one hundred
drugs for it.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
They feel it's worth it, and honestly, they win a
billion dollars it is now. The odds of winning the
jackpot are abysmal, but figuring out what to spend it on,
that's the easy part.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Find a new place to move to.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
I guess there we got a one. I'd pay off
all my debt, and I'd probably invest in small businesses,
just help them get their own starts.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
From norwalem Jerre Brosn and WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
It's been many years decades since major changes were made
to the MBTA's Orange Line, but on Beacon Hill lawmakers
are now considering extending it further to the south. Last week,
the House approved state funding to be used for a
new study looking at just how feasible it is to
extend the Orange Line down to Roslindale Village. This could
possibly convert the existing Needum Line the commuter rail line
(05:26):
to fully rapid transit. Supporters say this would improve service
for people living in that part of Greater Boston while
not requiring the MBTA to buy up new property or
build a new right of way. In this study, mastop
will take a closer look at the cost funding options,
potential ridership equity concerns, and potential environmental impacts. And Hyundai
and Kia have made a deal with thirty six states,
(05:48):
including Massachusetts, who suit them overclaims their vehicles are too
easy to steal.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
The Korean car makers have agreed to add anti theft
hardware to millions of vehicles. It became theft targets part
of an online challenge that's in addition to software updates
that had already been issued. Also part of the deal
monetary compensation for the states involved and the consumers impacted
by the thefts man.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
As CBS's Jeff Gilbert, monetary compensation could top five hundred
million bucks. You are now in the loop for news
updates throughout the day. Listen to WBZ Radio on the
iHeartRadio app. I'm Nicole Davis WBZ and Boston's News Radio
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