The Republicans control the House
The Republicans control the Senate
The Republicans control the White House
This shut down is ON THEM.
And, there shouldn’t be ONE Democratic vote. Period.
The Democrats in the Senate negotiated with them last time, only to see everything they negotiated for taken away. So, that means that the Republicans aren’t bargaining in good faith.
They literally cannot be trusted.
The Democratic Party messaging of healthcare, all the time, everyday, is working. It’s working because
1. It’s true
2. For millions of people, NOW is Open Enrollment time. People are faces with the cold hard truth, in black and white, about what their bills are going to be.
They know, under Joe Biden, it was this number.
And, now, under Trump and the Republicans, it’s going to double, triple, quadruple.
3. There is a direct line from that jump to the GOP Tax Cuts for the rich.
The GOP Lie Machine can’t compete with that bill sitting on the family dining room table, and people are faced with the possibility of NOT HAVING ANY HEALTHCARE INSURANCE.
There are no slogans that can get past that.
And, the added lunacy of them floating that they WON’T PAY THE BACK PAY FOR THE FURLOUGHED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES?
THEE ENTIRE PHUCK?!?!
The absolute nonsense in that!
Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) posted at 9:20 PM on Tue, Oct 07, 2025:
“So, Democrats have three words for this: no fucking way. It’s literally life or death. We will not let Republicans blow up our health care system.”
This is, hands down, the best comms work Chuck Schumer has done in YEARS. Surprisingly good. https://t.co/yQRiksIjTu
(https://x.com/cmclymer/status/1975748211521343669?t=iuH77xFbauCiXJzDwQChwA&s=03)
Trump’s off-script comments cause shutdown headaches for GOP
President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are straining to project a united front against Democrats.
… President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are straining to project a united front against Democrats, just barely concealing tensions over strategy that have snowballed behind the scenes since agencies closed last week.
In one stark example, Trump scrambled the congressional leaders’ messaging Monday when he told reporters in the Oval Office he would “like to see a deal made for great health care” and that he was “talking to Democrats about it.”
Within hours, Trump walked it back: “I am happy to work with the Democrats on their Failed Healthcare Policies, or anything else, but first they must allow our Government to re-open,” he wrote on Truth Social hours after his initial comments.
Johnson said Tuesday he “spoke with the president at length yesterday” about the need to reopen agencies first, while Thune told reporters there have been “ongoing conversations” about strategy between the top Republicans.
A White House official granted anonymity to speak about the circumstances behind the president’s statements said the Truth post was “issued to make clear that the [administration] position has not changed” and was not done at the behest of the two leaders.
But tensions surfaced again Tuesday after a White House budget office memo raised questions about a federal law guaranteeing back pay for furloughed federal workers — one that Johnson and Thune both voted for in 2019.
These episodes are among many where the White House and Hill Republicans have been crosswise on strategy and seemingly not communicating in advance about their key moves. Many of those instances have concerned hardball tactics coming from White House budget director Russ Vought seemingly aimed at cornering Democrats by threatening blue-state spending and the federal workforce.
Not only have those moves so far failed to move Democrats off their positions, they have left Johnson and Thune flat-footed as they confront questions about the GOP strategy for ending the shutdown…
In contrast to the GOP divisions, Democrats have been largely successful so far in their effort to focus attention on health care — in particular, on Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies that expire at the end of the year. They are pushing Republicans to engage now while Johnson and Thune insist the problem can be dealt with later, after the government reopens.
And they have noticed the disarray on the other side of the aisle. “I think they are absolutely struggling to figure out how they are going to get out of this,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said Tuesday…
Thank you, Meidas Touch, for making these easily explainable graphics:
MeidasTouch
@MeidasTouch
Letting the health care tax credits expire would devastate American families — and we’re making that crystal clear by giving you the data.We’ve built graphics showing how much costs would rise in every GOP district.
Let’s start with Mike Johnson (R-LA):
Aaron Rupar
@atrupar.com
Follow
Murray: “If House Republicans were here, I’d make sure they understood over 3/4 of the families on the exchanges actually live in R states. And I’d make sure they understand the 10 states where families will face biggest average premium increase hikes when the ACA credits expire are all R states.”
https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3m2msamsr3s2s
Aaron Rupar
@atrupar.com
Follow
“To the extent Republicans have managed to settle on a single talking point, it’s that Dems want taxpayer $ to pay for healthcare for undocumented people — a lie so egregious even the mainstream media is balking at repeating it. It’s almost self-parodic messaging & polling suggests it’s not working”
https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3m2mpumhqfc2s
Carl Quintanilla
@carlquintanilla.bsky.social
Follow
“.. How can anyone in Congress — Democrats or Republicans — make a budget ‘deal’ with this administration if we now know the President is going to ignore implementing any part of the ‘deal’ he wants?”@vermontgmg.bsky.social
http://www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/there-is-n…
https://bsky.app/profile/carlquintanilla.bsky.social/post/3m2ncjbnpak27
Steve Cohen (@RepCohen) posted at 3:29 PM on Tue, Oct 07, 2025:
Trump is now saying he’ll force civil servants to work through the GOP shutdown without backpay. He’ll steal their paychecks to try and force Democrats to cave on ACA credits.This is not the time to back down. Not while they threaten workers’ pay AND your healthcare—all to help billionaires.
(https://x.com/RepCohen/status/1975659753805389834?t=HwwzZroFVvmZLIZECbNG_A&s=03)
Democracy Docket (@DemocracyDocket) posted at 2:01 PM on Fri, Oct 10, 2025:
A new report reveals that an upcoming Supreme Court case could eliminate:
❌ 27 blue congressional districts
❌ 30% of Congressional Black Caucus seats
❌ 11% of Hispanic Caucus seats
And the effects could ripple for over a generation.
https://t.co/TPW5uQDzei
(https://x.com/DemocracyDocket/status/1976724854914142407?t=7yQTsi5ZJoCnDoW3JsRMbQ&s=03)
theGrio.com (@theGrio) posted at 3:30 PM on Fri, Oct 10, 2025:
From Toni Morrison to Ta-Nehisi Coates — the stories they want silenced are the ones we need most. ✊🏾📚
These 16 banned books by Black authors are still teaching, healing, and telling the truth.
See the list #OnTheGrio 🔗
https://t.co/65sJJRbj5D
(https://x.com/theGrio/status/1976747139968516297?t=23uJf_hoWONdTufQJeD3ZA&s=03)
Robert Reich (@RBReich) posted at 3:30 PM on Fri, Oct 10, 2025:
Adelita Grijalva won her election to Congress over two weeks ago, but Mike Johnson still hasn’t sworn her in.
Why the delay?
Perhaps it’s because Grijalva would cast the final vote needed to release the Epstein files.
(https://x.com/RBReich/status/1976747102374887625?t=TkmcKjvlzGoLcrrF1TMumg&s=03)
Acyn (@Acyn) posted at 3:28 PM on Fri, Oct 10, 2025:
Wallace: In just the last 15 minutes, we’ve learned that John Bolton, the former national security adviser turned sharp critic of Donald Trump, is expected to be the subject of a complaint — or even an indictment — as early as next week.
MSNBC, citing two sources. Is reporting exclusively that the acting U.S. Attorney in Maryland is moving forward quickly to seek criminal charges against Bolton.
https://t.co/q08ROJXn61
(https://x.com/Acyn/status/1976746754315108849?t=4OkSIoas-xzK-nL-xbQ1gQ&s=03)
Oversight Dems (@OversightDems) posted at 2:12 PM on Fri, Oct 10, 2025:
TO ALL FEDERAL WORKERS: if you were illegally fired today and have information of wrongdoing or abuse of power by the Trump Administration, our whistleblower tip line is open.
We want to hear from you. All whistleblowers are federally protected.
https://t.co/U3jpznPdS1
(https://x.com/OversightDems/status/1976727598807081291?t=EDl0F_py5o5J_uBWCeLJ8g&s=03)
Acyn
@Acyn
Noem: I was in Portland on Tuesday, met the governor, met with the mayor, met with the chief of police. They are all lying. Dishonest people
https://x.com/Acyn/status/1976326164315783210
Agree 100%, this is a GOP shutdown pure and simple. The Dems have 2 main concessions related specifically to the ACA that would disproportionately target red states. How is that a winning strategy?
BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) posted at 3:09 PM on Wed, Oct 08, 2025:
Trump on Pritzker and Brandon Johnson: “I believe they’re scared. They are actually frightened for their lives.” https://t.co/TZcdyogrZf
(https://x.com/atrupar/status/1976017188390613350?t=rQLxxBdRQGdh6naKkSM2sA&s=03)
Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) posted at 11:57 AM on Thu, Oct 09, 2025:
RFK Jr on Tylenol and autism: “It is not proof. We’re doing the studies to make the proof.” https://t.co/57h9BjNyoL
(https://x.com/atrupar/status/1976331109534191644?t=u9vFHEwu2te5U6qLBYsxLg&s=03)
Brennan Center (@BrennanCenter) posted at 0:16 PM on Thu, Oct 09, 2025:
TAKE ACTION: Proponents of the anti-voter SAVE Act are pressuring the Election Assistance Commission to require documents like a passport in order to register to vote — a move that could block millions of American citizens from voting. Tell the Commission: Don’t make it harder for Americans to cast a ballot. regulations.gov/document/EAC-2…
(https://x.com/BrennanCenter/status/1976335918228222445?t=Le933wn1UBoj959g4bAK8A&s=03)
Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) posted at 7:19 PM on Wed, Oct 08, 2025:
I hate to beat a dead horse, but just imagine if this were Joe Biden making a surprise hospital visit after already having his routine physical earlier this year.
The media would be in full meltdown mode — panel after panel, “anonymous sources,” endless speculation.
But since it’s Trump, they just shrug and move on. The press isn’t even pretending to care anymore. Pathetic.
(https://x.com/ChrisDJackson/status/1976080030250704896?t=4zzvKA3NNG9oYnJzxiRQkw&s=03)
THEE AUDACITY
Aaron Rupar
@atrupar
SCARBOROUGH: The Nebraska Rural Health Association says at least 6 rural hospitals would have to close because of the big beautiful bill
REP. MIKE FLOOD: Here’s the deal: Some hospitals in America that are rural hospitals are going to eventually have to transition from being acute bed hospitals into being like an emergency room model
https://x.com/atrupar/status/1976281352707219569
About Comey’s arraignment hearing yesterday:
LarryO broke down the arraignment on last night’s show. Hilarious. The clown show. They couldn’t get anyone from that Virginia office to go in to represent the government. They had to get people from North Carolina to help the unqualified insurance lady
🤣🤣🤣
Steven Rattner
@SteveRattner
States like Texas, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Mississippi will be particularly hard-hit by the enhanced premium tax credit expiration — they have high Obamacare enrollment and haven’t expanded Medicaid.
My
@Morning_Joe
Chart
https://x.com/SteveRattner/status/1976250547805331648
Why is it smart for the Democrats to be laser focused on healthcare?
Meidas Touch did a fabulous Twitter Thread of the price spike in premiums of the GOP Congressmen that we should be able to knock out . The numbers in black and white.
That’s why I think it’s been terrific of Democrats to focus on this. Open Enrollment is HERE for millions. Even people who aren’t on the exchanges are getting the notifications through HR about the spike THEY will have to contribute to their healthcare premiums. And, even if they aren’t as ridiculous as the subsidy people. it’s still an increase that they are going to notice.
And the Dems always remember to say…..your costs are going up so that tax cuts can go to millionaires and billionaires.
It works, because it’s true, and people know instinctively that it’s true.
The GOP was so phucking arrogant, that they wouldn’t even keep the subsidies through the 2026 Midterms. So glad this is biting them in the azz RIGHT NOW.
Good Morning Everyone 😊😊😊