Ed Morrissey: Schumer Shutdown Was a Clown Show

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

What did Senate Democrats get out of the 40-day Schumer Shutdown?

Nothing more than what they would have gotten with the clean continuing resolution.

Democrats didn’t get anything they wanted. They didn’t even get a pass on the filibuster for the debate on ACA subsidies, let alone a commitment for an extension. Schumer’s demand for a reversal of the Medicaid changes in the reconciliation bill got completely rejected.

The only real concession in this deal from the GOP is a pledge to rescind OMD Director Russ Vought’s layoffs. But those only took place because Schumer shut the government down first.

How bad was this collapse? Not one Democrat can explain what this shutdown accomplished – other than derailing air travel, federal paychecks, and aid to poor families.

The Schumer Shutdown has been an utter clown show. The progressive Left that demanded a fight against Donald Trump over nothing at all will figure it out sooner or later. Bet on sooner.

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