Topline
Democrats are showing no signs of letting up on their healthcare demands in exchange for their votes to reopen the government, and believe Americans will increasingly blame Republicans for the shutdown, according to multiple reports—indicating the government could be closed for weeks.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill on October 8, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he believes that holding the line benefits Democrats’ image and hurts Republicans the more they threaten permanent workforce and funding cuts, telling Punchbowl in an interview published Thursday “every day gets better for us,” adding “every time they try something, it doesn’t quite work . . . even the threat of shutting things.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly threatened it could implement permanent workforce cuts, refuse backpay for furloughed workers and has already rolled back billions of dollars for clean energy projects in Democratic-led states and infrastructure projects in New York and Chicago (the White House attributed the latter to the projects’ alleged association with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives).
Democrats are hopeful their argument to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies past their expiration date at the end of the year as a condition for reopening the government will strengthen once more Americans receive notices about spiking premiums in the coming weeks, CNN reported.
Schumer, in speaking to Punchbowl, also pointed to data that shows Americans “blame Trump,” adding “he’s in charge. You don’t need a political science degree to understand they control everything.”
Big Number
41%. That’s the share of respondents to an Economist/YouGov poll released Wednesday who said they blame Republicans in Congress and Trump for the shutdown, compared to 30% who blame Democrats. A Harvard CAPS/Harris poll released Monday also found 53% blame Republicans, while 47% blame Democrats, though 65% say Democrats should end the shutdown by abandoning their healthcare demands and accepting the Republican spending plan.
What To Watch For
Active-duty military members are set to miss their first paycheck amid the shutdown on Oct. 15 if the government doesn’t reopen before then, though Congress could pass a standalone bill to pay troops.
Key Background
The Senate rejected spending plans to reopen the government for a sixth time Wednesday, with no additional Democrats breaking to vote in favor of the GOP proposal, which needs the support of at least seven Democrats to pass, assuming no Republicans vote against it. The same three Democrats, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, again voted with Republicans for their plan that would extend the existing budget through Nov. 21. Democrats are demanding an extension of ACA subsidies and a rollback of Medicaid cuts included in Trump’s signature policy bill passed earlier this year in exchange for their votes.
Further Reading
Government Shutdown: Senate Blocks Bills To Reopen Government (Forbes)
Trump Approval Rating Hits Second-Term Low In Latest Survey (Forbes)