Post Reports Could a government shutdown benefit Trump?
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Sep 26, 2025 This conversation features Jacob Bogage, a White House economic policy correspondent, and Dan Merica, a political analyst focused on campaign dynamics. They dive into the brewing potential government shutdown, exploring how it could impact Trump's power dynamics. The guests discuss Democrats' strategy to tie funding to health care subsidies, the White House's threats of mass firings, and the various political calculations at play. They also highlight how shutdowns could cost more than they save, affecting everyday Americans along the way.
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Shutdowns Become Predictable Routines
- Jacob Bogage shares that Washington routines around shutdowns are predictable, with people planning vacations and bars planning specials.
- He calls the choreography 'immensely stupid' to highlight the ritualized nature.
Why Continuing Resolutions Dominate
- A continuing resolution simply funds the government at existing levels and is not a full budgetary agreement.
- Congress often 'kicks the can' by using CRs because passing full appropriations is politically and procedurally difficult.
Funding Could Empower The White House
- Democrats feared funding the government would grant Trump broader discretion to decide what runs during a shutdown.
- That risk made some Democrats prefer holding the White House accountable rather than empowering it via a CR.