Anthony Zurcher: Democrats Left Bruised After Historic Shutdown Yields Little
Trump celebrates as Democrats confront the fallout from the end of the shutdown.
– After a grueling 43 days, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is finally over. Federal workers can expect their paychecks again, national parks will reopen, and stricken government services will resume. Air travel, previously agonizing, is set to return to merely frustrating levels.
– But what has this historic shutdown accomplished? And, more importantly, what did it cost?
– Senate Democrats managed to instigate the shutdown, leveraging the parliamentary filibuster despite being the minority party. They took a steadfast position, insisting on extending health insurance subsidies for low-income Americans set to expire soon. However, when several Democrats broke party lines to vote for reopening the government, their return was disappointingly meager—a promise of a Senate vote with no assurance of Republican support or a necessary House vote.
Key Reactions and Implications for Democrats
– Following the shutdown’s conclusion, many Democrats, especially from the party’s left flank, expressed outrage. They criticized Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer for being either complicit in the reopening plan or simply incapable of leading effectively.
– Mainstream Democrats like California Governor Gavin Newsom labeled the shutdown deal as pathetic and a surrender. His frustration reflects broader discontent within the party, with some feeling that recent electoral successes granted them leverage that evaporated during negotiations.
– For Trump, the days following the Senate’s resolution shifted his mood from cautious optimism to outright celebration. He termed the reopening a very big victory, reinforcing his administration’s narrative that the shutdown should never have happened.
– However, despite Trump’s triumphalist tone, the shutdown left significant concerns unaddressed, particularly the fate of healthcare subsidies for millions who might see their insurance premiums surge dramatically.
The Aftermath: What Lies Ahead?
– With Congress now resuming operations, Republicans aim to pass meaningful legislation before the midterm elections. Yet, a looming deadline for budget approvals by January invites the possibility of future shutdowns.
– Democrats, nursing their wounds, may seek further opportunities to exert influence, especially regarding health care—a critical issue likely to affect millions.
– Meanwhile, the political landscape remains fraught with challenges for Trump and the Republicans, especially as the house races unfold against the backdrop of ongoing investigations such as the Epstein case, which momentarily overshadowed the funding vote.
The end of the shutdown serves as a striking reminder that political outcomes can change unexpectedly, reshaping the strategies and fortunes of both parties in the evolving American political arena.