Without a doubt, Democrats in Congress had to do something.
Senator Schumer has been hammered relentlessly by online trolls, both foreign and domestic, along with heartfelt criticism from the activist wing of the Democratic Party for his (correct) vote in favor of the March "Continuing Resolution".
Add to this, the hits he has been dealt by political comedians like Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers and Jon Stewart -- his old-school, grandfatherly demeanor is not as well suited for the internet age -- plus all of the weakness Congressional Democrats feel and project about their legislative power. The party base has demanded party leadership do something to fight back against Trump and Project 2025. The threat of a filibuster is the biggest tool they have.
There was nothing wrong with them taking a stand. The problem was the hill they chose.
Twenty years ago, health care and Medicaid subsidies might have been a good choice, but whomever chose it this time should step back and let someone else into leadership.
No matter how noble the cause, it was not a good choice.
Of course, the most modern, trolly choice for the social media and YouTube Shorts age would have been "release the Epstein files". Making it the price for Democratic votes is so good, I have to hope someone suggested it and the idea was dismissed as not being serious.
"Release the Epstein files" has become an internet mantra. It is easily digestible and plays well across all platforms. It costs nothing to implement and would be difficult for most Republicans to vote against. A clean CR for the Epstein files would be the ultimate Trump troll.
Alternatively, Nate Silver wrote a piece for the New York Times, where he suggested it would have been better to stand on Sen. Cantwell's "Trade Review Act of 2025", which has a bi-partisan set of co-sponsors including Sens. McConnell, Grassley, Klobuchar and Coons.
The "Trade Review Act" would require the President to notify Congress of new or changed tariffs and would sunset them in sixty days, if Congress did not extend or reverse them.
Everyone is paying the regressive trade tax and they are causing prices to rise across the board. The cost of living was a factor for a lot of voters in the last election and the push to pull them back to Congress would draw attention to the issue.
Historically, the Republican platform has favored free trade. Forcing senators to take a stand on the question would either put a win in the Democratic column, or give them an issue to run with against incumbents in the next election.
Trying to lower health care costs for around 6% of the population would be great and all, but few of those twenty million are aware their health care costs are about to rise. A pro vote would simply continue the status quo, so those who are not following politics would never know that it almost happened and let's be honest, the overwhelming majority of those who would benefit are either non-voters or among those who voted for Trump. That's the demographic.
Unfortunately, virtue signaling about health care was the path Senate Democrats chose.
It wasn't going to work because the Republicans could just point to the Democratic position in 2018-2019 -- they would not allow the Republicans to add funding for the border wall to a clean CR -- tax credits would add to the deficit and Medicare was discussed when the Republicans were wooing Sen. Murkowski for this summer's tax and spending legislation. All they may have gained previously, if the White House were willing to negotiate, would have a promise of a vote and that "pinky swear" would have been lambasted by the internet trolls.
Now that there is a shutdown, the Democrats are still not likely to get their health care subsidies because there is no incentive for the President to cooperate. A goal of this administration is to eliminate regulation and there aren't many ways to have fewer regulations than to send the regulators home. Not only the bureaucrats, but also court staff.
The government will most likely be closed until a group like the air traffic controllers or the TSA call in sick of working for no pay, or Congress passes something the President must sign.
Which brings us back around to the "Trade Review Act and/or "release the Epstein files".
If they want to be successful, the Democrats should pivot.
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