The shutdown continues, although its days are numbered. Last night, Senate Democrats lent 8 votes to reach 60 to end the filibuster on the bill to end the shutdown.
I don’t believe a word of the “outrage” directed against Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (NY) or the eight “defectors” in his caucus. It seems to me to be entirely performative. A show for the rubes who bought into the con.
Headlines like this are completely off the mark:
- Newsweek: Is the government shutdown over? What happens next after Democrats cave?
- Fox News: Senate Democrats cave, open path to reopening government
- New York Post: Democrats melt down, call for Chuck Schumer’s ouster after deal to end government shutdown clears Senate hurdle
Democrats didn’t “cave.” Democrats rode the shutdown to election victories in last week’s odd-year contests, ginning up outrage (and voter turnout) among idled federal workers and food stamp recipients. Democrats were never going to let “shutdown” interfere with their holiday plans.
The shutdown was and is 100 percent fake.
The 2025 shutdown had served its purpose and will now be used again in the 2026 midterms, which will occur four weeks after the current federal fiscal year expires.
My unsolicited advice to Trump and Republicans in October 2026: ignore “shutdown,” keep the government open, keep the money flowing, and invite Democrats to sue.
Meanwhile, the government is still officially closed. Official reopening will have to wait a couple of days to work through the (small “p”) parliamentary niceties in Congress.
But, feel free to enjoy the circus.
