Sludge could have at least mentioned Schumer's position that the keys given to Musk by a shutdown would have opened more doors. And that the courts could not be brought into play during a shutdown, also. And that Musk wanted a shutdown to give him more freedom. It would have been fair of Sludge to have given at least those reasons for Schumer's decision.
I'm with Schumer and Durbin on this one. Thoughts?
Long Form Discussion
Edit to clarify: This is just my current POV. It's a complex situation. I know Trump gained powers through this move, which muddies the waters. I would love to hear others thoughts and opinions to flesh out my own understanding. Links are always welcome, if you have something on hand.
Personally, I think they were forced into a no-win situation.
Blocking the budget would have handed Trump a blank check. Expanded executive powers would have meant he could mass fire federal workers, cripple oversight agencies, and make sweeping decisions with no legal pushback.
These legal challenges matter. Some of his executive orders and DOGE firings have already been blocked or withdrawn. More than a dozen are tied up in court.
Crucially, his responses or contempt of the courts are setting the stage for the next legal battles. Breaches and contempt are their best shot at reining him in or laying the groundwork for impeachment.
In theory, Democrats could have demanded concessions. More oversight. Stricter spending limits. That is how negotiations usually work, but this was not a negotiation. It was a hostage crisis. Trump was holding the entire federal workforce at gunpoint.
And what leverage did they have?
A shutdown did not scare him. He wanted one.
That being said...
I don't blame people for being furious or feeling betrayed.
Many Americans see this as the biggest political crisis they have lived through. Most people are not following the latest boring legal brief or internal memo that looks like boneless finger-wagging. They want to see someone say "No" to Trump. Point blank. Foot down.
I would be shocked if this was not a fatal move for Durbin and Schumer's political careers, if not the other 8. This was a disaster.
They need to harness some of the anger and frustration of their constituents. Frame this as a refusal to surrender a blank check to Trump. A refusal to surrender any more federal jobs or executive power. Directly call out the importance of letting him dig his own grave. Call out that they will be watching his "slush fund" and SWF.
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
