The Daily The Messy Politics of the Democratic Shutdown Deal
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Nov 11, 2025 
Catie Edmondson, a Congressional correspondent for The New York Times, and Shane Goldmacher, a National political correspondent, dive deep into the recent Senate shutdown deal. They unpack the internal rift among Senate Democrats and the motivations behind their compromise with Republicans. Key topics include the backlash faced by centrist senators, the human cost of the shutdown, and the strategies used to justify the deal amidst growing intra-party anger. The discussion offers a compelling look at the political dynamics shaping the Democratic Party today.
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Moderates Sought An Off-Ramp
- A small group of centrist Senate Democrats grew uncomfortable with prolonged shutdown pain and sought an off-ramp.
- They concluded extending ACA subsidies was unlikely and prioritized ending immediate harm to constituents.
The Deal Focused On Funding And Safeguards
- The negotiators traded on spending bills, securing protections for federal workers and the Government Accountability Office.
- They also won a promise of a future Senate vote on renewing ACA subsidies to put Republicans on record.
Return Of Old-School Gang Negotiations
- Senators privately revived old-style bipartisan dealmaking by forming small cross-party groups in closed rooms.
- That hands-on, senator-to-senator approach produced a swift agreement and surprise votes.