All In with Chris Hayes Hayes skewers GOP attempt to blame shutdown on Dems
Oct 2, 2025
Claire McCaskill, former U.S. Senator from Missouri and political commentator, joins to dissect the GOP's narrative blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. She and Chris Hayes explore the implications of unilateral executive actions taken during the shutdown, particularly regarding health care subsidies. They also dive into the political maneuvering behind failed Senate votes and the ongoing tensions over Affordable Care Act benefits. The discussion is laced with insights on the risks of legislative strategies amid a divided Congress.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Unitary Executive In Practice
- Chris Hayes argues the Trump administration is governing like a dictator by asserting unilateral control over federal functions.
- He highlights frozen appropriations and rescissions as examples of executive overreach targeting blue states.
Make The Message Simple And Aggressive
- Claire McCaskill urges Democrats to stay on message and make the shutdown about health care versus tax cuts for billionaires.
- She recommends aggressive, simple messaging to connect the shutdown to real harms like lost pay and higher premiums.
Rescission Threat Breaks Negotiation Logic
- Chris Hayes and Brendan Buck note the distinctive danger: the administration claims power to rescind or reallocate appropriated funds unilaterally.
- That claim makes negotiated deals unstable and undermines Congress's appropriations power.