The Editors Episode 824: Shutdown Wind Down
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Nov 11, 2025 The hosts dive into the end of the government shutdown, analyzing blame and Democratic strategies. They debate Chuck Schumer's leadership role in the ordeal. The conversation turns to recent Trump pardons, their political implications, and calls to reconsider the pardon power. The topic of affordability sparks discussion on how inflation impacts Democratic messaging. Personal anecdotes bring a light-hearted touch, with updates from youth sports to memorable trips.
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Shutdown Backfired On Democrats
- Democrats shut down the government hoping to force ACA subsidy extensions but gained little substantive leverage.
- Chuck Schumer faces political fallout for orchestrating a shutdown without a viable exit strategy.
Mixed Messaging Undermined The Shutdown
- Democrats' messaging during the shutdown was incoherent, flipping between blaming Republicans and claiming moral high ground.
- That inconsistency exposed weak leverage and accelerated the collapse of their strategy.
Pardons Have Become Political Precedent
- Recent pardons are largely political and preemptive, echoing Biden's earlier approach.
- This two-sided precedent risks normalizing partisan clemency and degrading trust in institutions.