As Democrats refuse to reopen the federal government, they’re clearly attempting to get underneath Republicans’ pores and skin, whereas wanting like “fighters” to their voters.
In the meantime, I don’t assume their greatest nemesis, President Donald Trump, is considering them in any respect.
A month into this self-imposed authorities shutdown, Democrats face way more threat than Republicans do. They appear to be lastly realizing that, nevertheless, and it seems that it’s only a matter of days earlier than they cave.
And I’m right here for it.
Are Democrats beginning to worry the results of their shutdown?
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, speaks throughout a Capitol Hill information convention in Washington, DC, on Oct. 28, 2025, to debate how the continued authorities shutdown is affecting SNAP meals help advantages and well being care.
Senate Democrats determined they wouldn’t help a clear funding invoice and have tried to power Republican help for a large number they created with expiring pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies. (Extra on that shortly.) They’ve voted greater than a dozen occasions to maintain the federal government closed.
Now that the results of the shutdown are getting very actual for a lot of Individuals, together with the withholding of some necessary Supplemental Diet Help Program meals advantages, Democrats are beginning to get uncomfortable with their powerful speak.
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Add to that strain from large Democratic union supporters like the American Federation of Authorities Workers, which on Oct. 27 referred to as on senators to finish the shutdown. Most federal employees have needed to forgo a paycheck whereas the standoff continues.
“Have been some other employer in the USA to deal with its workforce in the identical manner, there could be a bipartisan outcry and calls for that the offending employer reverse course,” AFGE President Everett Kelley stated in a letter to senators.
As a result of greater than 90% of the union’s political donations go to Democrats, it’s fairly apparent whom Kelley thinks he can affect. And cash talks.
Trump and Republicans are staying above the fray
President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on board Air Pressure One en path to the U.S. on Oct, 30, 2025.
Whereas the congressional standoff continues, that hasn’t stopped Trump from doing enterprise as ordinary. His focus continues to be on his priorities, and he spent the week touring round Asia.
Polling retains exhibiting that his approval amongst voters stays pretty fixed. In different phrases, there’s no good motive for him to care in regards to the Democrats’ shenanigans.
CNN information reporter Harry Enten on Oct. 28 highlighted a number of polls that present Republicans are seeing a bump of their approval, regardless of the shutdown, and proceed to outscore Democrats. A latest Quinnipiac College Ballot confirmed that internet approval for Republicans in Congress had improved by 2 proportion factors since July.
“You would possibly assume, provided that the Republicans are in command of each the Home and the Senate, {that a} authorities shutdown would possibly really harm the Republican model,” Enten noticed. “However, the truth is, it hasn’t.”
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Democrats spotlight what a nasty deal Obamacare is for Individuals
This most likely wasn’t their intention, however in drawing a lot consideration to the expiring Obamacare subsidies, Democrats have proven the nation what a nasty deal Obamacare was to start with.
“The true downside is that the Inexpensive Care Act was by no means really reasonably priced,” opined The Washington Publish editorial board on Oct. 5.
The subsidies that Democrats are demanding are actually an issue of their very own creation. Democrats, underneath President Joe Biden, expanded Obamacare subsidies to assist folks afford well being care in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged them in 2022 as a part of the (additionally misleadingly named) Inflation Discount Act. They have been set to run out on the finish of 2025 – the subsidies have been by no means meant to be everlasting.
But, now that Individuals have gotten used to them, Democrats imagine they’ll have public help for maintaining a “non permanent” entitlement round for the long run.
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The truth, although, is that the nation can not afford it. The nationwide debt simply crossed the $38 trillion mark, and the Congressional Price range Workplace has estimated that extending the COVID-19 subsidies would enhance the deficit by $350 billion over 10 years.
“The improved subsidies are a expensive reminder of how non permanent authorities packages can grow to be billion-dollar everlasting entitlements,” writes Adam Michel, director of tax coverage research on the Cato Institute.
Democrats might prefer to tempt voters with taxpayer-paid freebies, however it’s a nasty deal for Individuals. Republicans aren’t more likely to budge on this, they usually should not.
In the long run, Democrats will solely reach reinforcing the view the nation already holds: that they’re weak.
Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques
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This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: Democrats began this shutdown. Now they’re near caving | Opinion
