The End to the Government Shutdown
In a recent episode of *Washington Week With The Atlantic*, panelists delved into the aftermath of the government reopening following the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The discussion highlighted the pivotal role played by moderate lawmakers who brokered a deal with Senate Republicans, raising questions about the implications for the Democratic Party moving forward. The episode, which airs every Friday on PBS, featured insights from prominent journalists, including Nancy Cordes from CBS News and Natalie Andrews from The Wall Street Journal, as they unpacked the complexities of the shutdown and its fallout.
The shutdown, which caused significant disruptions including flight delays and the potential loss of crucial food assistance for SNAP beneficiaries, has left many Democratic lawmakers feeling frustrated. Cordes noted that some Senate Democrats believed that the shutdown could provide leverage over Republicans, allowing them to negotiate from a position of strength. However, as the situation escalated and the negative impacts became more pronounced, eight Senate Democrats opted to break away from this strategy, ultimately leading to the government’s reopening. This decision has sparked a debate within the party about the efficacy of such high-stakes tactics and whether the risks taken were justified. The panelists reflected on the broader implications for the Democratic Party, suggesting that the internal discord could have lasting effects on their unity and strategy in future negotiations.
As the episode unfolded, the panelists also discussed the dynamics of bipartisan cooperation and the challenges that lie ahead for both parties. With the government back in operation, the focus shifts to how lawmakers will address pressing issues and whether they can find common ground moving forward. The insights shared during the episode provide a critical lens on the current political landscape, emphasizing the need for strategic collaboration in a polarized environment. For those interested in a deeper understanding of these developments, the full episode is available to watch online.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kTcXsExfeU
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This week the government reopened after the longest closure in the nation’s history. Panelists on
Washington Week With The Atlantic
joined to discuss how moderate lawmakers brokered a deal with Senate Republicans—and what it may mean for the Democratic Party going forward.
There is a lot of frustration among Democratic lawmakers following the end of the shutdown, which is now spilling out into public view, Nancy Cordes, the chief White House correspondent at CBS News, said last night. “There are Senate Democrats who feel that the whole point of this risky enterprise in the first place, triggering a shutdown, was because eventually, over time, they felt that they would gain enough leverage over Republicans.”
Although “the pain was mounting; yes, flight delays were mounting; yes, SNAP beneficiaries were starting to lose very crucial food assistance,” Cordes noted, “they felt that they were getting closer to putting Republicans in a very uncomfortable situation.” She added: “We’ll never know if they were right or not, because these eight Senate Democrats said that they weren’t willing to find out.”
Joining the guest moderator and a staff writer at
The Atlantic
, Vivian Salama, to discuss this and more: Natalie Andrews, a White House correspondent at
The Wall Street Journal
; Cordes, the chief White House correspondent at CBS News; Andrew Desiderio, a senior congressional reporter for
Punchbowl News
; Jeff Mason, a White House correspondent at Reuters.
Watch the full episode
here
.
