I’m thinking (actually Ms Gnome) that the dems just reopen the govt. the HC point has been made. Every voter that might be inclined to blame the Rs for the HC increases will do so. Those voters that won’t prolly never will. The issue has been elevated, so just take the W and move on.
Senators feel some shutdown pain.
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5582021-senators-dc-flight-delays-shutdown/
Of course, if the Dems just give in then those inclined to blame the Rs for the increases to their ACA policy premiums will now also be able to blame the Ds for not fighting for them.
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I’m currently not feeling that the general zeitgeist is blaming Democrats. Of course, some people will do that regardless the circumstances.
But people like the ACA, to the point that Republicans have largely quit calling it Obamacare because that’s just mashing two popular things together.
My thinking is that, for now on ACA premiums/subsidies, today the Dems have the high ground in some circles, because they are using the one tool at their disposal to fight for funding.
However, if the Dems were to relax their position, and funding bills to be approved without some action on ACA subsidies, that blame will spread. Exactly how that blame spreads will depend on the political persuasion of those impacted…but I suspect that a non-trivial proportion of the impacted population will blame “politicians in general” rather than “mostly Republicans”.
Even a small proportion of the voting public is a material consideration, given how closely divided US voters are in general…and particularly in light of the gerrymandering games likely occurring in the next few months, ahead of the midterms, among Texas, California, and states where blue districts currently exist because of the in-jeopardy portions of the Voting Rights Act.
FWIW, the other complication I see among that portion of the voting public is what happens when we go from “SNAP funds are about to dry up” to “SNAP funds have dried up”. A majority of those impacted generally vote red, rather than blue; and whereas they might be persuadable today given the not-yet-implemented threat to their health care bills, that persuadability might be lost when they or theirs start actually going hungry (or at least having to compete for resources at food banks, charities, etc.) and they more actively look for people to blame.
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I’m wondering if part of the Democrats goal is delaying things long enough that loads of people get massive quotes for what their health insurance will be costing. Seems like a good thing for them going into election year if people see Republicans have blown out everyone’s healthcare costs killing family budgets.
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I think it’s certainly the stick.
While the USDA funds that can temporarily cover SNAP aren’t endless, Democrats have been openly willing, and in several states are suing to continue funding SNAP on an emergency basis. Meanwhile, Michigan Republicans just shot down a Democratic proposal to use state funds to continue SNAP, as well as support local food banks and programs to purchase produce from local farmers and give to the low-income.
…and elsewhere…
Court order requiring SNAP continue to be funded (actually 2 court orders). Trump is big mad.
Been looking at how much revenue grocers in the US get from SNAP benefits spend, and its quite a lot more than I was expecting.
From the FT:
I was so confused by that.
I was like what does Ice have to do with snap? Are you saying more immigrants will be at Walmart why? What?
And then is realized…you meant for me to think that it would be ridiculous to see a masked man in camo threatening people with a large gun at Walmart. Like haha. Oy.
I actually parsed it as an expectation of disorder given the meme creator’s expectation that a significant portion of WalMart’s customers are receiving SNAP benefits.
Some WalMarts in more economically challenged areas can be slightly draconian in their loss-prevention.
I wonder if this grabs people’s attention more than poor Americans starving? Or do they just get pissy at government employees demanding they get paid to work??
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/31/faa-warns-of-surge-in-air-traffic-controllers-calling-out-of-work-00632593
Call them traitors to the regime.
Could be an option…
Yeah, I did get it. It just took me minute because masked men with guns are the new normal.
I wonder if they calculated that Trump would be building a giant golden ballroom while defying a court order to feed hungry people.
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This issue is going to get worse.
Thanksgiving weekend is usually one of the busiest times in the US for domestic flights.
Will likely be very chaotic on the ground if the shutdown continues till then.