Post Reports Sen. Cory Booker on the Democrats’ risky shutdown bet
Oct 2, 2025
U.S. Senator Cory Booker, a prominent Democratic voice from New Jersey, discusses the current government shutdown and its implications. He critiques the economic and health-care harms stemming from the standoff, emphasizing the need for bipartisan support to prevent soaring health care costs. Booker condemns the strategies that threaten federal workers and stresses the importance of unity and moral leadership within the party. He also reflects on the delayed Democratic resistance to the Trump administration and calls for renewed commitment to problem-solving.
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Shutdown As Leverage For Health Subsidies
- Cory Booker says Democrats are leveraging the shutdown to force negotiation on health-care subsidies Biden cut.
- He frames the fight as necessary to prevent major premium hikes and protect Americans' coverage.
Demand Negotiation Before Reopening
- Booker urges Republicans to come to the table for bipartisan negotiation rather than expecting capitulation.
- He says Democrats will not blindly vote to reopen without concrete action to help people losing health coverage.
Threats As Political Leverage
- Booker argues Trump uses threats to inflict pain (e.g., layoffs) to gain leverage.
- He frames this as part of a presidency defined by chaos, corruption, and cruelty.