Ezra Klein: Democrats Should Have Kept
the Shutdown Going
Posted By: Dreadnought, 11/10/2025 10:48:40 PM
n whatever passes for journolist these days, the word has clearly gone out. Ending the shutdown was a bad move. That's not because keeping it going was good for the country. It wasn't. On top of problems funding SNAP, the country was increasingly having trouble keeping the airports going. But that doesn't matter because the shutdown was good for Democrats, so why stop? It is very, very hard for the opposition party to win a shutdown. Which makes it all the more remarkable that Democrats were winning this one. Polls showed that most voters blamed Republicans, not Democrats, for the current shutdown — perhaps because President Trump was bulldozing
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When Sen. John Kennedy talks politics, you’d be wise to listen. The Louisiana Republican never minces words, and last month, in the early days of the Schumer Shutdown, he made a prediction that turned out to be prophetic.
“It will end eventually when Senator Schumer goes to six or eight of his members and his Democrats and says, ‘Do me a favor. Vote to open it back up. I may have to criticize you, I’m not gonna vote with you, but I need a way out of this. I need an offering.’” He even warned, with his trademark wit, that Schumer
n whatever passes for journolist these days, the word has clearly gone out. Ending the shutdown was a bad move. That's not because keeping it going was good for the country. It wasn't. On top of problems funding SNAP, the country was increasingly having trouble keeping the airports going. But that doesn't matter because the shutdown was good for Democrats, so why stop?
It is very, very hard for the opposition party to win a shutdown.
Which makes it all the more remarkable that Democrats were winning this one. Polls showed that most voters blamed Republicans, not Democrats, for the current shutdown — perhaps because President Trump was bulldozing
The Senate on Monday night passed a bill to fund the government and end the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
The bill, which passed 60-40 with the support of a handful of Democratic senators and nearly all Republicans, will be sent to the House of Representatives.
If it passes in both chambers of Congress, it will head to President Donald Trump to be signed into law. Trump said earlier Monday that he approves the funding deal, which was negotiated between Republicans and a gang of moderate Senate Democrats.
But House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., added uncertainty to the fate of the deal when he refused
Hot Takes: Bluesky Completely Melts Down
Over Shutdown Deal, As Democrat Civil
War Kicks Off 9 replies
Over Shutdown Deal, As Democrat Civil
War Kicks Off 9 replies
The Schumer shutdown is nearing its end, with a deal soon headed to the House, where it's expected to pass. Eight Senate Democrats joined with Republicans to override the frothing mouths of their colleagues, who seem to think they can placate their base by shouting "fight" enough times. It's not the mid-2010s anymore, though. The failure theater of performing on social media while winking and nodding at the surrender isn't enough for the horror show of a base the Democratic Party has coddled over the years. On that note, left-wing echo chamber Bluesky is in the process of a total meltdown over the deal. Here's just a small sampling.
Sorry, Moguls! FAA “Effectively Prohibits”
Private Jets at Major Airports Amid Government Shutdown 6 replies
Private Jets at Major Airports Amid Government Shutdown 6 replies
The government shutdown has come for the preferred mode of transportation for media moguls and the celebrity class: private jets.
While the Senate made moves late Sunday night to begin the process of ending the shutdown, which has now stretched beyond 40 days, staffing shortages among currently unpaid air traffic controllers have forced the FAA to place limits on flights so as not to overburden the airspace.
Last week that meant initiating a 10 percent reduction in flights at airports across the country. As of Monday, that order now effectively shut down private jet travel at some of the most important airports in the country,
Good News From the Department of War
11 replies
The New York Times headlines: “Hegseth is purging military leaders and offering little explanation.” Subhed: “The moves to fire or sideline generals and admirals are without precedent in recent decades and have rattled the top brass.”
I think the Times totally fails to understand that most of us will see this as good news.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired or sidelined at least two dozen generals and admirals over the past nine months in a series of ousters that could reshape the U.S. military for years to come.
His actions, which are without precedent in recent decades, have come with little explanation. In many cases
What did Senate Democrats get out of the 40-day Schumer Shutdown? Nothing more than what they would have had with the clean continuing resolution.
Chuck Schumer’s caucus threw in the towel last night, with at least ten Democrats plegding to vote to end the filibuster on the CR. The Senate will replace that CR with new language that would extend government operations until the end of January while negotiations continue on the FY2026 budget. Forty days ago, Schumer demanded passage of an extension of expiring ObamaCare subsidies, plus repeals of Medicaid changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill that eliminated coverage for illegal aliens.
HOUSTON, TX — Texas Governor Greg Abbott officially launched his campaign for a historic fourth term Sunday evening, delivering a fiery re-election announcement speech that doubled down on conservative priorities and praised President Donald Trump’s border policies.
Speaking to a packed crowd at East River 9 Golf Course in Houston, Abbott unveiled a bold agenda focused on property tax relief, border security, and economic freedom. “Texas is the blueprint for America’s future,” Abbott declared, touting the state’s top rankings in job creation, business development, and innovation. “Since I’ve been your Governor, Texas is number one for new jobs, number one for the best state for doing business, number one
US senators reached a bipartisan deal on Sunday, November 9, that would resume federal funding and end a shutdown that has stretched to a record 40 days and forced many government operations to grind to a halt. The deal between Democratic and Republican senators – just the first step to halting the shutdown – came as authorities warned US air travel could soon "slow to a trickle" as thousands more flights were canceled or delayed over the weekend.
Outlets including CNN and Fox News reported lawmakers had reached a stopgap agreement to fund the government through January after wrangling
A group of Senate Democrats have reportedly reached a deal with Republicans to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, but both of New Jersey’s senators are not on board.
Senators Andy Kim and Cory Booker said in separate statements tonight that they oppose the deal, which entails a bloc of Senate Democrats voting to support a stopgap bill that funds the government through January 2026; it needs 60 votes to pass, a rule that has enabled Democrats to block prior bills for the last month. In exchange, Senate Republicans will allow a vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, a key Democratic priority,
A group of Democrats and one Democratic-aligned independent have helped clinch an agreement to end the government shutdown, saying they had secured a vote on the Affordable Care Act subsidies at the center of the standoff.
The negotiators argued that Republicans’ “flat refusal” to move on Democrats’ earlier proposals made clear that “this is the best possible offer we could secure.”
Here’s a look at some of those members, and their rationale for ending the shutdown.
Four of them are former governors of their home states and none are up for reelection in next year’s midterms.
As more details of a deal to end the government shutdown come trickling out, so to do more Democrats come out against the deal.
A handful of Senate Democrats are working with Republicans on a deal to end the shutdown and re-open the federal government, with a big part of that deal being a future vote on extending Obamacare subsidies by a year. But it appears that both the lack of an immediate amendment to the continuing resolution to extend those credits as well as progressive concerns about President Donald Trump's "authoritarianism" have progressive activists alarmed and progressive politicians quick to say "No."
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Mark Wolf, a Massachusetts-based Reagan-appointed federal judge announced late Friday evening that he is resigning from the bench early so he can publicly trash President Trump.
“In 1985, President Ronald Reagan appointed me as a federal judge. I was 38 years old. At the time, I looked forward to serving for the rest of my life. However, I resigned Friday, relinquishing that lifetime appointment and giving up the opportunity for public service that I have loved,” Wolf wrote in an op-ed for The Atlantic.
Wolf said he’s resigning so he can publicly attack President Trump for ‘targeting his adversaries.’
“My reason is simple: I no longer can bear to be restrained by what
It’s no coincidence that multimillionaire Michelle Obama is on a self-pity jag as she promotes her latest expensive coffee table memoir as her husband’s Democratic Party succumbs to its socialist fringe.
You see it everywhere. Democratic Marie Antoinettes moaning about their plight and the ingratitude of the serfs as the revolution devours their dominion.
For the former first lady, a week of softball interviews for her new $50 tome, “The Look,” has been dominated by bizarre complaints about her time in the White House with President Barack Obama. She is rewriting history to claim bitterly that, as the first black first couple, “we didn’t get the grace that I think some other
Nancy Pelosi's Daughter Launches Her Own
Political Career, Announces Run for Office
in California 18 replies
Political Career, Announces Run for Office
in California 18 replies
Christine Pelosi, daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is officially entering politics. The Democratic Party activist and far-left attorney told KQED-TV Monday that she will run for San Francisco’s state Senate seat in 2028. Her announcement followed the passage of Proposition 50, a measure she campaigned for, which she said helped spark her decision to run. Because our rights are under attack, because having just come out [of] Prop. 50, organizing around the state with working families and swing voters and swing districts and reaching out across every corner of San Francisco, I know how excited and enthused people are to participate
It's Time to Call Out Tucker Carlson
17 replies
After doing my best to ignore the latest Tucker Carlson saga, I find I must say something.
"Go the hell away," for starters.
I'd said pretty much everything I thought I'd ever need to say about Carlson early last year, following his context-free interview with Palestinian Authority propagandist Reverend Munther Isaac. So when the current brouhaha broke out over his kid-glove treatment of neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes, I did my best to ignore it. Yes, even though Fuentes is the guy who rants that "Jews are running society" and that women and blacks should be silenced or imprisoned.
Dr Oz belittled with crushing Hakeem Jeffries
putdown as he elbows way into shutdown fight 17 replies
putdown as he elbows way into shutdown fight 17 replies
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) referred to Dr. Mehmet Oz as a "rando" and slammed the former television doctor as the Senate moves closer to ending the government shutdown.Jeffries was responding to a reporter's question about Affordable Care Act subsidies and Dr. Oz's comments when the Democratic lawmaker responded.
"That's like the most random way to start a question on a serious topic. Nobody who's serious in this country takes Dr. Oz seriously. No one. And I mean, it's shocking that the guy even was confirmed, but this is part of the reality of Republicans here in the House and over in the Senate.
Lining Up For Gas In California
17 replies
California has the trendiest, and most foolish, energy policies in the U.S. The result is a return to the early ’70s, when drivers lined up around the block, hoping and praying the gasoline wouldn’t run out before they got to the pumps.
“California’s oil industry now sits at the precipice of complete collapse,” says Edward Ring, director of water and energy policy at the California Policy Center, “and if that happens, more imports will not prevent lines at the pumps.”
How could California, which has the sixth most proved crude reserves in the country, be looking over the edge of a gasoline crisis?
After rejecting a $25 million deal with ICE, Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux claimed the partnership would bring “no value at all.”
Comeaux defended his decision against partnering with ICE in a joint hearing of the Dallas Public Safety Committee and Government Efficiency Committee on November 6.
As The Dallas Express reported, Comeaux recently rejected a $25 million partnership with ICE under the 287(g) program, which gives funding and immigration authority to local police.
“Can you explain to me if there would be any value for us to be involved in this 287(g) program?” asked Councilman Bill Roth.
“I see no value at all for us to be involved in this program,” Comeaux replied.
On Sunday’s “Face the Nation” on CBS, Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) said she will defend her state’s universities against the Trump administration’s attacks.
Partial transcript as follows:
MARGARET BRENNAN: Just a few days ago, Cornell University reached a $60 million deal with the Trump administration in order to see their federal funding restored. This is the fifth such deal since the administration began this pressure campaign on universities. I know you went to University of Virginia, as did I, and must be following that. UVA cut deals with the government, including kicking out the president of the school. You called that extortion. But now, as governor, are you going to have
A disastrous shutdown for Democrats got worse Sunday when Senate Democrats folded on government funding while receiving nothing of substance in return.
Eight Senate Democrats voted with 42 Republicans Sunday night on a procedural vote to allow a continuing resolution (CR) funding the government to advance. The motion passed 60 to 40, without a single vote to spare, and will enable a future vote on a clean continuing resolution through January 30, 2026, packaged with three relatively non-controversial appropriations bills extending through the fiscal year: agriculture, military construction-Veterans Affairs, and legislative branch.
The Senate advanced a bipartisan deal late Sunday to end the record-breaking government shutdown, overcoming the biggest procedural hang-up that has been used to keep Uncle Sam’s lights off for the past 40 days.
In a 60-40 vote — with eight Democratic-leaning senators joining Republicans — the Senate invoked cloture to break the filibuster and move forward with a bipartisan spending patch to fund the government through Jan. 30, 2026, as well as a “minibus” package that will fully restore food stamp benefits.
The wheels are coming off the socialist bus.
Gov. Kathy Hochul slammed the brakes on supporting Zohran Mamdani’s $700 million call for free city buses — casting doubt that one of the far-left mayor-elect’s signature campaign promises has a smooth road ahead.
Hochul, speaking during a press conference at the SOMOS political retreat in Puerto Rico on Saturday, argued she has already put vast sums of money into the perpetually cash-strapped MTA for major projects. “We’re spending a lot of money, so I cannot set forth a plan right now that takes money out of a system that relies on the fares of the buses and the subways,” she said.
The head of the BBC and the British broadcaster’s top news executive both resigned Sunday after criticism of the way the organization edited a speech by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The BBC said Director-General Tim Davie and news CEO Deborah Turness had both decided to leave the corporation.
Britain’s publicly funded national broadcaster has been criticized for editing a speech Trump made on Jan. 6, 2021, before protesters attacked the Capitol in Washington.
Critics said the way the speech was edited for a BBC documentary last year was misleading and cut out a section where Trump said he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully.