KQED's Forum How a Government Shutdown Will Impact California
Sep 29, 2025
Nicholas Wu, a congressional reporter for Politico, and Russell Berman, a staff writer at The Atlantic, dive into the potential fallout of a government shutdown on California. They discuss the Democrats' demands for healthcare subsidies and the Republican resistance, explore how Senate dynamics affect the situation, and analyze the stakes for Californians, including possible interruptions to federal services. Wu highlights the unprecedented threat of mass firings, while Berman debates the strategic risks for Democrats if they push for a shutdown.
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Health Care Is Democrats' Leverage
- Democrats center their leverage on health care, especially ACA subsidy extensions and Medicaid protections.
- Those asks complicate a simple short-term funding extension and raise the odds of a standoff.
March Deal Changed Democratic Calculus
- Democrats feel increased pressure from their base after earlier concessions in March.
- That political backlash helps explain why leaders are digging in now rather than repeating the prior compromise.
Procedural Realities Raise Shutdown Odds
- Both parties are politically boxed in by prior positions, making a shutdown more likely.
- The procedural calendar and absent House members shrink time for last-minute fixes.