Chuck Schumer’s attempt to wave away the New York Times/Siena poll backfired in real time, as Republicans howled when he called the Times “biased” against Democrats. The survey undercut his leverage, showing most Americans opposed a shutdown over expanded Obamacare tax credits and taxpayer-funded coverage that Republicans said would include illegal immigrants. That left Democrats internally split, while GOP leaders and independents stayed united against the standoff.
Outside the Senate chamber, Trump seized the moment. Empowered by the deadlock, he huddled with OMB chief Russ Vought to choose which “Democrat Agencies” to starve, turning the shutdown into a live experiment in Project 2025–style government downsizing. Speaker Mike Johnson openly blamed Schumer for “handing the keys to the kingdom” to Trump, as agencies froze projects, delayed paychecks, and quietly learned which programs Washington really values—and which are expendable.