Every time there’s a government shutdown everybody brings out the tea leaves and the I Ching and tries to determine what’s going to happen next. Usually a month is ample enough to get things straightened out, but it all depends on what’s at issue. And the players are all a bit different. Congress is like a proverbial river, you never step in the same river twice and you never have the same Congress twice. Right now Thune is lying his butt off about how he talks to Democrats and how the Democrats are invested in keeping the government shut down. No, the Democrats are invested in saving healthcare.
The American people are the ones suffering the most during this government shutdown.
Senate Democrats are prolonging the pain by not passing our clean, nonpartisan CR to reopen the government. pic.twitter.com/rNkJ7nQH4t
— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) October 6, 2025
Thune could reconvene the Senate and change the rules to allow 51 votes and then the shutdown would end. But, if he does that, and the Republicans get what they want, then it’s going to be hell and high water time when the ACA subsidies are gone and the 2026 premiums for healthcare skyrocket to levels that can only be described as ghastly.
So Thune could certainly do that. But will he? I don’t think he will yet. I think this stalemate, game of chicken is going to go on for a while longer. And in the meantime, polls are showing that blaming the Democrats is not working — but I believe that they will try a bit longer, because that’s how Trump has decided to play it.
Nobody is buying this. Even a large section of MAGAs who understand that health premiums could spike are against this shutdown. Republicans are going to have to fold and allow ACA subsidies to continue, is my best guess. And guess who else thinks that’s a good idea?
As Benjin Stark said to Tyrion Lannister, nothing someone says before the word “but” really counts. pic.twitter.com/w64s0noJDV
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) October 7, 2025
Hell hath frozen over. Marge and I agree on something. Get the smelling salts. Forsooth, I swoon. (thud)
the Senate voted down both Dems & Rep bills for the 5th time, today.