It is a rare twist in US politics when a Democrat and a Republican found common ground on a topic — health care. Indian American Democrat Ro Khanna agreed with Marjorie Taylor Greene on healthcare on Sunday, leaving Fox News host Shannon Bream momentarily stunned. The California Democrat made his remarks amidst the ongoing government shutdown, which appears to have no immediate end as Democrats and Republicans continue to assign blame to each other. During their discussion on the shutdown on “Fox News Sunday,” Bream highlighted that Democrats are seeking an extension of Covid-era subsidies through the Affordable Care Act. When questioned about why Democrats are maintaining their stance on a policy that was “always supposed to sunset,” Khanna responded, “I agree with Marjorie Taylor Greene. The health care system is broken.” “Wait, I never thought I’d hear you say that about anything,” Bream remarked as the two chuckled. Just days after the government shutdown commenced, Greene criticised the cost of health care in a lengthy post on X. “I think the entire system is messed up,” she wrote in a follow-up post. GOP House leadership dismissed her comments; however, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries referenced one of Greene’s posts, which criticised the cost of living, including health care costs, during a recent press conference defending Democrats’ demands. “She said the cost-of-living insurance is terrible,” Khanna said on Sunday. “They’re ripping off the American people. Premiums have gone up. That’s why I believe we need single-payer health care with Medicare for all in this country. But we have to deal with the here and now.” Health care is not the sole issue Khanna and Greene seem to concur on. Both have also become strong advocates for releasing all files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Additionally, Khanna indicated on Sunday his support for calls to pay federal workers during the shutdown, a position both Republicans and Democrats have endorsed. “Speaker Johnson, I would vote to pay our troops, to pay essential federal workers, and at least get that passed,” Khanna stated.
