Rising ACA premiums, falling enrollment: It's a vicious cycle

May 20, 2026As healthy people drop their coverage, premiums go up for everyone else. Plus: Utilities rate hikes, Oklahoma energy, tariff refunds, and AI training.

Matt Ramey/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesSegments From This EpisodeJohannes Eisele/Getty ImagesAs the war continues and inflation rises, the cost of government borrowing is going up too.

Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesBusiness owners are skeptical that tariff uncertainty is over, even as money is deposited into their bank accounts.

Alex Potemkin/Getty ImagesThe state isn’t seeing a boom from the energy supply crunch. That limits the uptick in tax revenue that comes from higher prices, and makes employment unlikely to see a big boost.

George Rose/Getty ImagesFresh data from energy nonprofit PowerLines and Ipsos this week says utilities requested $9.4 billion in rate hikes in the first quarter of 2026.