Bulwark Takes Sen. Brian Schatz: When You PUSH BACK, Trump Folds!
Oct 10, 2025
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz from Hawaii, a champion of health care and democratic institutions, delves into the current government shutdown and its implications. He shares why he shifted his stance on continuing resolutions, emphasizing healthcare crises and political resolve. Schatz analyzes the threats posed by executive overreach and discusses strategic pushback against authoritarianism. He also touches on surprising political alliances, including retweeting Marjorie Taylor Greene, and highlights opportunities for Democratic policies in housing, energy, and AI.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Health Care Hike Is Politically Unspinnable
- Schatz says the GOP bill would raise premiums massively and that preventing those hikes is urgent for millions of Americans.
- He also warned Republicans they misjudged Democrats' willingness to stand firm after swallowing a prior CR.
Use Concrete Harms To Force Negotiation
- Push Republicans to fix healthcare because insurers' notices make the problem politically irresistible for constituents.
- Use concrete, unspinnable evidence to force bipartisan engagement rather than relying on vague debate.
Shutdown Threats Lose Credibility After Damage
- Schatz argues politicians resist being shoved around and that Vought was meant as a bad cop to threaten blue states.
- He questions which catastrophic outcome a shutdown responsibly averts given prior harms already done.