Harris warns healthcare on the line as Johnson eyes ‘massive reform’ if Trump wins

Both presidential candidates brought their campaigns to the Southwest on Thursday. Donald Trump stopped in New Mexico, a detour from battleground territory, while Kamala Harris jetted off to Arizona. But before she left, Harris spoke with reporters about what’s on the line with five days until Election Day. Laura Barrón-López reports.
Amna Nawaz:
“Welcome to the News Hour.” Both presidential candidates brought their campaigns to the Southwest today. Former President Donald Trump stopped in New Mexico, a detour from battleground territory, while Vice President Kamala Harris jetted off to Arizona.
But, before she left, Harris spoke with reporters about what’s on the line on Election Day just five days out.
Laura Barron-Lopez begins our coverage with this report.
Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States (D) and U.S. Presidential Candidate: Among the stakes in this election are whether we continue with the Affordable Care Act or not.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
In between campaign stops today, Kamala Harris warned that health care is on the ballot, following a vow from House Speaker Mike Johnson for — quote — “massive reform” if Donald Trump is elected.
Kamala Harris:
And now we have further validation of that agenda from his supporter, the speaker of the House. The American people, regardless of who they’re voting for, know the importance of the Affordable Care Act, of, as it’s also called, Obamacare, in terms of expanding people’s coverage to health care.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
In leaked video obtained by multiple outlets, Johnson echoed an audience member, saying — quote — “No Obamacare” and that changes needed to be made.
Later, he walked it back, rejecting that he wants to gut the popular law, even though Trump himself has repeatedly said he wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
It comes as both campaigns battle for votes in the Southwest, Harris in Phoenix, Arizona.
Kamala Harris:
We have an opportunity to turn the page on a decade of Donald Trump trying to keep us divided and afraid of each other. We’re done with that. We’re exhausted with that.
Donald Trump, Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. Presidential Candidate: I said, look, your votes are rigged. We can win New Mexico.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
And Trump in not so-far-away Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Donald Trump:
If we could bring God down from heaven, and he could be the vote counter, we would win this. We’d win California. We’d win a lot of states.
(Cheering)
Donald Trump:
You just got to keep the votes honest.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
Last night, Trump touched down in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Wearing a reflective orange vest, he approached a MAGA-themed garbage truck. The 78-year-old appeared to stumble twice as he reached for the handle. From the passenger seat…
Donald Trump:
This truck is in honor of Kamala and Joe Biden.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
… Trump played up an off-script comment made by President Joe Biden, where Biden appeared to say Trump supporters are — quote — “garbage.” President Biden quickly clarified he was referring to a comedian who made a racist joke about Puerto Ricans at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally.
Trump himself regularly calls Democrats enemies from within and repeatedly refers to the United States as the — quote — “garbage can of the world.”
The theatrics didn’t stop at the tarmac.
Donald Trump:
I’m president. I want to protect the women of our country. They said — they said, sir, I just think it’s inappropriate for you to say.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
During his rally last night, against the apparent advice of his team, Trump insisted his policies would — quote — “protect American women,” a pledge he’s made before. But, this time, he added:
Donald Trump:
I’m going to do it whether the women like it or not.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
Harris responded earlier today.
Kamala Harris:
It’s just — it actually is, I think, very offensive to women in terms of not understanding their agency, their authority, their right and their ability to make decisions about their own lives, including their own bodies. And this is just the latest on a series of reveals by the former president of how he thinks about women.
Gov. Tim Walz(D-MN), Vice Presidential Candidate:
It’s this simple. We trust women.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
In Pennsylvania, Harris’ running mate, Governor Tim Walz, also seized on the remark.
Gov. Tim Walz:
They are going to send a loud and clear message to Donald Trump on November 5.
(Cheering)
Gov. Tim Walz:
They’re going to send that message whether he likes it or not.
(Cheering)
Laura Barron-Lopez:
Meanwhile, in a roughly three-hour conversation with podcaster Joe Rogan, Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, said abortion restrictions should be left to the states. And he suggested that white kids are pretending to be transgender in order to get into Ivy League schools.
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Vice Presidential Candidate: Like, obviously, that pathway has become a lot harder for a lot of upper-middle-class kids. But the one way that those people can participate in the DEI bureaucracy in this country is to be trans.
And is there a dynamic that’s going on where if you become trans, that is the way to reject your white privilege?
Laura Barron-Lopez:
Other members of Trump’s inner circle are also making headlines.
Kaitlan Collins, CNN Host:
Neither of us are doctors.
Howard Lutnick, Co-Chair, Trump/Vance Transition Team:
We are not.
Kaitlan Collins:
Vaccines are safe.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
On CNN last night, Howard Lutnick, tapped as co-chair of Trump’s transition team, was asked whether or not RFK Jr. fits into a potential Trump administration. That prompted him to go on a baseless anti-vaccine rant.
Howard Lutnick:
Why do you think vaccines are safe? There’s no product liability anymore. They’re not proven.
Kaitlan Collins:
Kids get them and they’re fine.
Howard Lutnick:
Why do you think they’re fine? We all know so many more people with autism than had it when we were young. Oh, come on.
Laura Barron-Lopez:
Tonight, both candidates head to battleground, Nevada as voters there file into the polls.
For the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Laura Barron-Lopez.