Democrat Shutdown Capitulation
Rather than post one commentary, I took multiple commentaries and assembled them in one post at Angry Bear to read. I believe you can get into most of these or sign up free of charge too. Some good reads on the recent event.
Read about the Dems folding like a cheap suit. When they had a chance to make a difference, eight Dems not facing election any time soon or are leaving, gave up and sided with the Repubs.
“Capitulation put millions at risk,” Merrill Goozner, GoozNews
First they came for the federal employees. Then they slashed food stamps. And now that the Democrats have surrendered in their fight to preserve expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies and Medicaid funding. Expect to see a full-blown attempt by the GOP to gut the individual market in December.
Fresh off their overwhelming victories in last week’s off-year elections, a handful of Democratic centrists decided the possibility of delayed Thanksgiving travel plans was the bridge too far when it comes to protecting millions of people from losing their health insurance.
The Democratic Shutdown Capitulation: A Perfect and Unnecessary Failure, Bill Scher, Washington Monthly
A Government Shutdown Looms. Prepare For Democrats to Disappoint.” That’s what I wrote two months ago. And here we are. That an opposition party-driven shutdown failed to secure its primary demands is not unusual.
In fact, as I’ve repeatedly emphasized, shutdowns have a perfect record of failure. In this case, the asks were a guaranteed extension of expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and recission-proof agreements on spending levels.
But I was not expecting a rogue Democratic faction to cave in such a politically illogical fashion when they were on the cusp of proving doubters like me wrong.
In September, I sketched out the typical progression of events in a shutdown: “Public attention shifts to how shutdowns hurt average Americans and how one political party is willing to harm constituents to play political games. Once public opinion quickly turns, the shutdown agitators invariably realize the shutdown failed to provide negotiating leverage and eventually cave.”
Democrats concede shutdown fight without ACA subsidies extension, Steven T. Dennis and Erik Wasson, Bloomberg, Modern Healthcare
Democrats entered the shutdown seeking to renew tax credits to stave off insurance premium price hikes and to show voters they have the stomach for hardball negotiations in President Donald Trump’s Washington.
As the record-long shutdown neared its end more than a month later, they failed to achieve either goal.
A group of eight Democrats on Sunday broke with the rest of their party to vote with Republicans to advance a bill to re-open the government on the impasse’s 40th day.
The plan does not include the extension of the Affordable Care Act subsidies Democrats staked their shutdown fight on. They did get a pledge for a separate vote on the healthcare tax credits in the coming weeks, but the prospects of Democrats landing a win from the endeavor are far from certain.
Furious? You Should Be, Dan Rather, Team Steady
Today, Americans awoke to what can only be described as political surrender by Democrats. We’ve seen it called everything from capitulation to buckling to caving. And what we’ve heard from party faithfuls is full-on fury.
You can hardly blame them. Only days after finally seeing some daylight in big election wins over Trumpism, a small group of Democratic Senators and one Independent seemed to have suddenly lost their nerve and raised the white flag to Republicans as a way of ending the shutdown.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is taking most of the heat, even though he isn’t one of the small group that sided with the Republicans. Some Democrats in Congress are saying he has “failed to meet the moment.” More are suggesting he resign immediately for not maintaining party unity.
Senator Mark Kelly, AZ
I voted no yesterday.
I voted no because I have spent the last month working for solutions with Republicans and this Administration — to try to reopen the government and keep health care costs from spiking for Americans.
I voted no because no family should have to choose between putting food on the table and their health care.
I voted no because Donald Trump proved who he cares about when he spent more time demoing the White House to build a ballroom than negotiating to reopen the government, and literally went to court to block food assistance for hungry families.
Over the last month, Trump has proven he doesn’t care about rising costs, skyrocketing health care, or working families struggling to put food on the table. All he cares about is tax cuts for billionaires and cashing in on the presidency. And honestly, I’m stunned my Republican colleagues don’t seem to care, either.
I haven’t stopped fighting for the families who are going broke or hungry because Trump and the GOP refuse to compromise.
Senator Ruben Gallego, AZ
Frankly, I’m pretty pissed off.
I suspect you are, too.
Early on this year, a lot of people made promises. “I will do anything I can to stop Trump,” or “We have to fight back with everything we’ve got.” I took those promises seriously, but I guess some of my colleagues didn’t.
The biggest tool we have in the minority is to withhold our consent. Make Trump own this. Make Trump go to court to take SNAP benefits from hungry kids. Make it clear that Democrats are the only ones trying to make health care more affordable, and that Trump and the GOP have no plan. Call their bluff.
We have to do that much, because Trump and the GOP put us in this situation. They are pitting working people against each other — a family at a food bank vs a family that can’t afford their health care. In the richest country in the world we don’t have to pick winners. We can fight for both, and we can win for both, but not like this.
This is tough, but you don’t beat a bully like Trump by giving up.
Let me offer a dissenting voice. Why does anyone think Trump was going to cave? He seemed to be content to let large numbers of people suffer. If the shut down had gone another month or two, why would Democrats have been in a stronger position? The Republicans would continue to blame it on the Democrats and, suffering more pain, voters at large might have decided to agree. The length of the shutdown was historic. The Democratic “win” didn’t change anything in the power structure. Forcing the vote on Obamacare tax credits will set up the issue for the midterms nicely.
As Josh put it in Talking Points Memo, a lot of objecting Democratic Senators may have given a sigh of relief when the eight cut the deal.
Jack:
And those 11 million dropped from Medicaid will remain dropped from Medicaid.
Why shouldn’t people be angry and express their views? Did Josh recommend what should be done with the 11 million? I guess we will all turn our backs on them. They can fend for themselves as we got ours and they need to get back to work anyways.
Why should I be grateful to Durbin? In 2009 I was there at “Showdown Chicago,” joining the thousands there. He did his little spiel to the crowd there to show his concern. He panicked when I started to talk to him about his presence there and what he was going to do. One other blogger there edged me out. I did get my questions in.
So here we are today, Again and Durbin capitulates. I was pretty ill afterwards from the weather. And Republicans and Dem Senators hide behind a phyco-president.
Even so, thank you for your comment Jack. It is much appreciated.
Showdown Chicago, Protesters Greet ABA Bankers
Slide Show: Showdown in Chicago
https://www.citizen.org/news/showdown-in-chicago/
Jack, agree. . .
Democrats need to chill out and look to the future with clear eyes. I’m not sure what more they think they could have accomplished & at what cost.
They actually won an increase and continuation of SNAP benefits, back pay and rehiring for government workers, and now Democrats will write a bill to be voted on in the Senate by mid-December to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. They can’t lose. If the ACA bill passes, the public and Democrats win. If Republicans kill the bill (likely), the public will know exactly which Party and which Senators voted for their massive ACA premium increase. What more could we have hoped for?
As a bonus, they are saving 42 million from a lot of pain and suffering, and making air travel safer for the upcoming holiday season. They forced the GOP hand, so now the public knows exactly where they stand. Dems proved that Trump & GOP would do anything to NOT assist the public with healthcare increases, would sacrifice air traffic safety, would allow 1.4 million government workers to go without pay, and would withhold SNAP & WIC funds for needy families. Plus, there will be no speculation about what the ACA cost increases will be. Trump and his band of non-caring, party-only, Republican supporters are going to be under the gun from now until November 2026.
So what more & better would have been accomplished if Dems had kept the government shutdown? And now the new Democratic Rep from AZ will get sworn in, and Trump may get a surprise Epstein Christmas present.
Dems should stop bickering among themselves, message to the public what they have accomplished, and focus on winning big in the 2026 midterms.
Check out MSNBC: The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell 11/11/25 (begin at 5min).
J.P.Jefferson:
“If this is the so-called ‘deal,’ then I will be a no. That’s not a deal. It’s an unconditional surrender abandoning 24 million Americans whose health care premiums are about to double.” Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., Nov. 9 X post
Sept. 30 analysis by KFF that found that the expiration of the credits “is estimated to more than double what subsidized enrollees currently pay annually for premiums — a 114% increase from an average of $888 in 2025 to $1,904 in 2026.” About 24 million people are on the marketplace, and most receive subsidies.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., went further Nov. 9 when he said ending the subsidies “raises health care premiums for over 20 million Americans by doubling, and in some cases tripling or quadrupling” the cost.
“It would cost $38 billion to extend ACA credits next year and prevent millions of people from losing their healthcare. Reminder: Trump sent $40 billion to Argentina for no reason.” — Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., Nov. 7 on Bluesky
The cuts in healthcare are occurring so as to provide tax breaks to the 1-percent of the population in the upper income brackets.
This is ok?
Why Democrats need to get over their shutdown crackup — and fast
Burgess Everett and David Weigel
https://www.semafor.com/article/11/10/2025/why-democrats-need-to-get-over-their-shutdown-crack-up-and-fast
J.P.
What kind of cake did Burgess and David make for those who will lose healthcare insurance (due to cost) or Medicaid?
Bill,
No, none of it is okay. But there can be no question that Democrats put up a good fight for the public and for healthcare. There is also no question that Trump and Republicans fought every step of the way to keep healthcare benefits from the public, including their own constituents. Additionally, Republicans were ready to sacrifice needy SNAP families, government workers, and airline safety to get their way. In the end, Democrats will continue fighting for public healthcare while bringing food services to needy families, relief and support for government workers, and safer transportation through the holidays. The only way Republicans can not be blamed for the healthcare crisis is to vote for the ACA subsidies in December.
@JP,
“The only way Republicans can not be blamed for the healthcare crisis is to vote for the ACA subsidies in December.”
LOL! They don’t care if they’re blamed. They’re counting on the short attention span of the American electorate.
There are over 300 news cycles between now and the 2026 elections.
Next up, the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Just for the record, recent reporting estimates are that around 10 Republican U.S. Senators are open to supporting an extension of the subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits. Including:
Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) — Said he believed a deal could reach the 60-vote threshold.
Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) — Identified by reporting as among those most expected to support an extension.
Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) — Similarly listed as “among those most expected” to support, by Axios.
Susan Collins (R-Maine) — Included in the same list from the Axios piece.
Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) — Also included in that list. Axios
Katie Britt (R-Alabama) — Stated she was “certainly open” to a deal. Axios
Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) — Said he would prefer letting subsidies expire but might support an extension with an income cap. Axios
Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) — Proposed an alternative mechanism (exchange FSAs) tied to the subsidies, indicating some engagement. Thomson Reuters Tax
Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) — Described as “one of the Republicans more open to some form of subsidy extension.” Axios
John Cornyn (R-Texas) — Said Congress should scale back subsidies for high-income recipients, but signaled seriousness about the issue.
Assuming all 51 members of the Democratic caucus (including Independents who typically vote with them) support extending the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies, they would need at least nine Republican Senators to reach the 60-vote threshold required to overcome a filibuster in the U.S. Senate. (Highly unlikely)
Obviously, it would also have to be approved in the House & signed by Trump. The House is even more problematic, and it is doubtful that Trump would even permit Speaker Johnson to allow a House vote. But for the record: At least three House Republicans have publicly signaled openness to extending the ACA premium subsidies — Don Bacon (NE), Jeff Hurd (CO), and Juan Ciscomani (AZ) — and a few more are described in reporting as “open to negotiations” (but haven’t put themselves clearly on record as supporters of an extension.)
I realize that this issue has angered much of the Democratic Party, I would hope they will refocus on the future and the 2026 midterms and accept the good parts of the outcome. While I would have liked to have seen a more uniform agreement among Senate Democrats, the bottom line is that it’s doubtful that Democrats could have achieved anything more with an extended shutdown other than joining Republicans in a “Party Over Country” event to provide significant pain, hardship, and lack of air safety for millions during the Thanksgiving & Christmas holidays.
As it is, Democrats did achieve increased and extended SNAP benefits, and avoided the hardship to millions. Significantly, now it will be very difficult for Trump to try and stop a vote in the Senate. Democrats fought hard and elevated the national attention for the 20+ million ACA insurance holders who will now know exactly who will be causing their massive premium increases. Overall, it was a demonstration of what the public claims it wants, “Country Over Party,” and, combined with other Trump egregious acts, will give Democrats significant leverage in the 2026 midterms.
As the whole issue comes around again at the end of January 2026, it will be interesting to see if Trump’s Epstein entanglements have any impact on the voting persuasions of Congressional Republicans.
J.P.
That is great. Here is a “what about” in answer. So, we sacrifice millions to no healthcare till the midterms? What about them?
Bill,
“We” aren’t sacrificing anything. The Republicans are. I realize you are a Marine veteran. However, some hills can’t be taken with the existing forces and weapons. Trying anyway just gets a lot of guys killed.
Jack:
We can not stand by and watch this occur without saying something. If we do not and allow this to happen in silence, we are just as responsible.
Bill,
We’ve said something. How long do we need to shout into the emptiness? Sometimes we have to cut the losses and wait for the next opportunity. We now know that Trump wasn’t gong to relent if for no other purpose than trying to suppress the Epstein files. It’s going to be hard enough after the midterms if we get back the House (Senate filibuster and Presidential veto) but right now we’ve got no power.
Jack:
How do you leave behind those who died and were with you? You do not. You bring home your dead. You keep raging. We just disenfranchised Millions of people. We left them behind and told them to fend for themselves,
Bill, we are not standing by and watching this occur without saying something. Democrats are now more committed than ever to make the ACA and healthcare a major issue from now until the midterms and there are a number of decision points along the way. First, we have a vote on continuing the ACA subsidies by mid-December 2025 (in about 30 days). Next we have another shutdown opportunity at the end of January. Who knows what could happen then.
Now that the Epstein files have been released as a result of reopening the government and Trump’s potential disgusting involvement may be revealed, there is talk that a whole lot of Republicans may be willing to vote and act beyond Trump’s dictatorial mandates. Who knows what could happen on the next healthcare go-around.
Here’s the latest from Hakeem Jeffries:
“I want to level with you about what’s happening on Capitol Hill: Republicans refuse to protect the healthcare of the American people. This GOP-created healthcare crisis will crush everyday Americans. The cruelty is the point. It’s despicable. You deserve better. We will not forget how Republicans ripped healthcare coverage away from millions of Americans, including their own constituents. We will not forget how Republicans raised healthcare premiums for hardworking Americans and their children. We will not let them get away with this because when Republicans go after our families, we’re coming for their seats. . ., we only need to flip THREE seats to reclaim the House majority next year. Together, we can take back the House For The People. We are in this fight until we win this fight for the American people. Keep the faith, Hakeem”
@JP,
“Now that the Epstein files have been released . . .”
No. The Epstein files have not been released. A tranche of emails from the Epstein estate has been released. While those contain some disturbing language, it’s a safe bet that the House GOP allowed this release to fool people into thinking they’re seeing the Epstein files. Don’t be distracted.
Joel, Understand. Should have said, “are being released.”
@JP,
I hope you are right about this, but I very much doubt it. For now, the only thing that seems likely is that there will be a vote in the House to demand their release. Even if that is successful, it seems unlikely that it will be supported in the Senate over a GOP filibuster. And if that somehow is overcome, a veto by Trump seems certain.
Meanwhile, there are hours of recorded interviews between Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Epstein that Bannon hasn’t released. Wonder what he’s hiding.
https://www.mediamatters.org/steve-bannon/steve-bannon-all-over-newly-released-jeffrey-epstein-emails-raising-questions-about-15
Joel, Yes, if it gets to Trump and he won’t sign it, that will be a very interesting standoff. Will Congress override the veto? Will the peps rebel? Will the King do a Nixon? Also interesting Deputy AG Blanche is claiming that he did not have the Epstein estate files (unbelievable!). Does anyone know if there really are any more Epstein files? There is, of course, the document destruction scenario when you control all branches of government and have a felony-immune POTUS. Or, did Elon Musk make a copy of the Epstein files when he had full access to all government databases? In June 2025, Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter): “@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.”
Stay tuned!
Bill,
We haven’t left them behind; we haven’t been able to bring them out yet. We’re still working on it but not by a hopeless direct assault that only manages to kill more of them. I can’t resist commenting that many of those suffering brought it on themselves by voting for this soulless administration or refusing to vote out of pique, and thus helping elect it, but that’s a different debate. In the meantime, we’re forcing them to vote on medical care issues directly and working towards beating them in the mid terms so that we’ll have some power to fight with. Starving ourselves publicly was going nowhere.