The Daily Punch Shutdown, Day One: What's the way out?
Oct 1, 2025
The government is officially shut down, and hosts discuss its historical context and negative effects on federal workers. Political dynamics are shifting, with cracks appearing in Democratic unity and Majority Leader Thune leveraging hardball tactics to push the government reopening. The discussion also highlights a surprising opportunity for Democrats through a new redistricting map in Utah, potentially boosting their prospects in the midterms. Key pressure points during the shutdown are outlined, including public sentiment and economic signals.
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Shutdowns Tend To Fail Politically
- Shutdowns are rarely effective at winning policy demands and usually harm federal workers and families.
- Jake Sherman and Anna Palmer stress shutdowns are counterproductive and historically unsuccessful.
Maximalist Positions Make Exit Hard
- Taking a maximalist funding stance makes it easy to trigger a shutdown and hard to get the demanded concessions.
- Jake Sherman notes you rarely get X when you insist 'I will not fund government unless X.'
Democratic Unity Shows Early Cracks
- Early Senate votes showed fractures in Democratic unity with some moderates backing reopening bills.
- Jake highlights Cortez Masto and Angus King joining yes votes as emerging cracks in the Democratic wall.