DDpolitico

I read them for a few reasons.

1) To see a conservative reaction to the news 2) To see their specific scoops — i.e., Rand Paul gave them a newsy interview where he said Paul Ryan was trying to "pull the wool over the eyes" of Trump on this health bill

I can't comment on all of Breitbart — I'm usually just parachuting in quickly to read their health care coverage.

But given all of the criticism I'd heard, one thing that's surprised me is that small details of their health care policy and politics coverage aren't so different from what you might read in the Associated Press. Senator X said this thing, Governor Y said another — they report a lot of things that are factually true.

The big difference is how they spin and frame the news. Their headlines can be especially provocative. That's not so dissimilar from their liberal counterparts, I think.

So if your media diet is overwhelmingly left-leaning news, I do think reading Breitbart can be a useful corrective. Also, their site is much cleaner and easier to use than some of their competitors.

The brinkmanship is because of one person: Trump.

He's pulling power moves straight out of "The Art of the Deal." Those moves may work on Wall Street; the U.S. Congress is really, really, REALLY not designed for "take it, or leave it" deals that are dropped on them like this — especially when the bill has this much impact.

Great question. There’s no reliable roll-up number, but certainly in the tens of millions and probably more than $100 million. Advocacy groups are doing everything from buying ads on “Morning Joe” and “Saturday Night Live” to sending direct mail and holding rallies.

At the same time, there’s a lot more money being spent on non-Affordable Care Act issues, which makes sense — the ACA is just one corner of health care. The pharmaceutical industry recently launched a gigantic campaign to try and repair their reputation (and hold off pressure on drug prices).

Drug pricing is probably the biggest one. The Obama administration tried really, really, REALLY hard to get something done last year. It collapsed.

I wouldn't be shocked if Democrats eventually helped President Trump on some drug price fix.

It's a good observation.

I read Breitbart every day now — which isn't something I would've said a few weeks ago — and it's amazing how critical the site has been of Republicans' health plan and specifically Paul Ryan's role.

I don't think it's been a recent pivot because the bill's odds have plunged, though. They've hated the bill since it was first being drafted, because in the eyes of Breitbart (and conservatives) it doesn't do enough to repeal the ACA right away. And Breitbart has always looked for ways to zing Ryan, who they don't trust.