It is time to shutdown the government shutdown
We should be able to reform healthcare without starving kids
First: Happy Veterans Day. To the active military members and retired service members among my subscribers, thank you. Your selfless dedication to our country is why America is the greatest nation on earth.
Second: I have thoughts on the government shutdown that’s finally nearing the end. As always, I welcome your thoughts in reply.
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After 42 days, thousands of canceled flights, missed SNAP benefits and paychecks and the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a President Trump’s ballroom, the longest government shutdown in American history is finally nearing the end.
My first reaction? Hallelujah. My second? Anger that it got this far.
Republicans showed no signs they’d negotiate during a shutdown. Democrats had no clear plan for what they could “win.” We’re all losers because it lasted so long. I’m glad it’s ending.
Here’s what we know: People are hurting. And we’ve seen this before. There are almost never winners in government shutdowns. The idea that Republicans would reverse course on healthcare subsidies wasn’t realistic, as much as I wish otherwise.
The damage? Between $7-15 billion per week in economic losses and about $7-14 billion in permanent damage, according various reports including Congressional Budget Office projections. Fourth-quarter GDP growth has been slashed by 1-2 percentage points.
We literally spent more money having this shutdown than keeping the government running.
The numbers don’t even capture the human cost. Trump initially refused to tap the $6 billion contingency fund for SNAP benefits serving 42 million Americans, claiming legal restrictions. After federal judges ordered it, the administration grudgingly provided 50% of benefits.
Kids heading into Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, who depend on school meals, faced hunger at home. Meanwhile, 750,000 federal workers were furloughed or working without pay. Air traffic controllers stopped showing up to feed their families.
For what?
The “Hold Strong” Crowd
How many pundits demanding Democrats “hold strong” worried their kids would go hungry? How many had family members stranded at airports in emergencies? How many faced missing military paychecks before Christmas?
I’m tired of people demanding sacrifices they’d never make themselves. We’ve watched shutdown after shutdown produce zero policy victories. Just pain.
On healthcare reform itself, I’m absolutely with the hold-strong crowd. I want a single-payer system. The current system is broken.
When UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot last year, the online reaction included widespread contempt toward insurance companies. Some celebrated the shooter as a vigilante. I was shocked by the death-cheering.
I wasn’t surprised by the rage at our healthcare system, though. In a system where private companies are charging tens of thousands for basic care with little coverage, there’s understandable fury.
That momentum showed on Election Day. Zohran Mamdani won New York City’s mayoral race decisively. Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill swept Virginia and New Jersey. Exit polls showed the economy was voters’ top concern, and they sided overwhelmingly with Democrats. People are furious about rising costs: healthcare, groceries, childcare, rent.
The hold-strong sentiment assumes Republicans would’ve negotiated on healthcare subsidies. That’s just not true. Neither party negotiates during shutdowns because then you give the minority a reason to do it again.
Two Ways Out
There were only two ways to end this shutdown, as I said on BBC Sunday night. Democrats could cave for less than they wanted, or Republicans could nuke the filibuster.
I keep hearing fantasies that Republicans wouldn’t go “nuclear.” That retiring Republicans wouldn’t cave to Trump.
Really?
Senate Republicans confirmed Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary, amid allegations the former Fox news weekend host had problems with alcohol and committed domestic abuse and with no qualifications to run the world’s largest military. They confirmed a vaccine skeptic with no credentials to run Health and Human Services. They confirmed Trump’s picks to the most sensitive positions because Trump wanted them there.
You’re telling me they wouldn’t nuke the filibuster to get their way? To duck political presure? To feed hungry kids in their states? To get air traffic controllers back before Thanksgiving? To pay military families before Christmas?
I would have caved. If I were a retiring Iowa Republican Senator watching constituents call in tears, families going hungry, airports in chaos, yes, I’d vote to end it any way I could. Even ending the filibuster. They would have too.
The Shutdown Trap
Ultimately, the shutdown was a trap.
Democrats who thought they could hold out for healthcare reform were naive. Or knew all along they wouldn’t win real concessions. This isn’t about the cause being unworthy. It’s about Trump holding all the power and making his next move clear.
The nuclear option would’ve given Republicans everything and eliminated Democrats’ ability to block anything in Trump’s remaining term (or at least until midterms). And this President, who’s shown he’s more concerned with White House aesthetics than healthcare policy, isn’t bringing the necessary reform. The ideas he’s throwing out of late don’t regulate the healthcare industry, don’t ensure Americans’ get what they need out of their insurance, he’s suggesting a direct payment to keep the same options, which are bad and desperately need real reform.
So I’m glad it’s ending.
Americans everywhere have a stake in continued healthcare reform. I don’t know a single state where it’s working perfectly. I expect this debate to continue and dominate upcoming elections.
And while this administration gives me little hope for the reform we need, I believe healthcare reform will come. It’s necessary. But not from a government shutdown.
For now, I’m grateful the shutdown is over. In the richest country in the world, we should be able to both feed hungry kids and pay those keeping our country safe while we debate healthcare policy changes.