DEMOCRATIC RENEGADES: How Eight Senators Surrendered the Blue Wave – A DWD Editorial Report
Editorial Notes: DrWeb’s Domain (DWD) Editorial. When the shutdown events began unfolding on November 11, I asked my partner in research “crime,” Perplexity, to monitor the shutdown, the news, and watch coverage through Thursday. I received the report on Friday, published on Saturday.
I wanted to see the fallout, the trickle out “behind the scenes” stories, theories –why, what for, good or bad for Democrats? Did they cave and kneel to Trump? Read on, let me know in your comments your own views. –DrWeb
DEMOCRATIC RENEGADES: How Eight Senators Surrendered the Blue Wave
Eight senators who caucus with Democrats broke ranks with their party leadership on November 9-10, voting with Republicans to end the 41-day government shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—without securing protections for the Affordable Care Act tax credits that 3.8 million Americans depend on.12
The deal passed the Senate 60-40, sending shockwaves through a party that just weeks earlier had won a decisive electoral victory, raising urgent questions about whether this current Democratic Party and members understand how to wield power.34
The Sad Tale
The Eight Who Broke: Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Angus King (I-ME) voted with Republicans to advance a continuing resolution funding the government through January 30, 2026.56 Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voted against the deal, as did 40 other Democrats who held the line.78
The House passed the measure 222-209 on November 12, with six Democrats crossing over to join Republicans.910 President Donald Trump signed the legislation into law on November 13, ending the 43-day shutdown that had left 800,000 federal workers without paychecks, crippled air traffic control, and threatened SNAP benefits for millions.1112
What Democrats Got: Virtually nothing.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune “promised” a December floor vote on extending ACA subsidies that expire December 31, but House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to commit to any vote.1314 Democrats secured no binding guarantees, no legislative text—just a Republican senator’s word that a vote would happen, likely to fail in the GOP-controlled Senate.1516
How & Why – Puzzling…
Senator Shaheen, who led negotiations with Republicans, defended the decision as “the only deal on the table” and “our best chance to reopen the government.”17 Senator Durbin, the #2 Senate Democrat who is retiring, argued federal workers had “suffered enough.”18 Senator Kaine cited Virginia’s tens of thousands of federal workers facing financial hardship as justification for his vote.19
But these explanations rang hollow to progressives who saw Democrats fold without extracting meaningful concessions. Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) declared, “Sen. Schumer has failed to meet this moment and is out of touch with the American people.”20 Representative Seth Moulton (D-MA) stated that if Schumer were an effective leader, “he would have united his caucus to vote ‘No'” on the funding deal.21
The shutdown began September 30 after Democrats refused to pass a funding bill without ACA protections; Republicans calculated correctly that centrist Democrats would eventually cave under pressure.2223 “The eight Democrats had been engaged in bipartisan talks over ending the stalemate for several weeks, and reached the agreement without the support of the party’s leaders in the upper chamber,” CBS News reported.24
The Before: The November Timeline
The backstory reveals calculated betrayal. According to an Axios exclusive report, approximately two weeks into the shutdown (around mid-October), the group of moderate senators informed Schumer they were ready to vote to reopen the government.25 Schumer persuaded them to hold out until at least the beginning of November when ACA open enrollment began, hoping the timing would strengthen Democrats’ negotiating position.26
They agreed to wait. Democrats won a stunning electoral victory on November 4, 2025, expanding their margins and receiving what many interpreted as a mandate to protect healthcare and resist Republican overreach.27 Open enrollment began. And then, just days later, the eight senators told Schumer they were moving forward with a Republican deal anyway.28
Schumer made clear mid-October he would oppose any emerging bipartisan deal, telling his caucus he could not “in good conscience” support reopening the government without ACA protections.2930 Senator Shaheen acknowledged: “We let him know what we were doing.”31 They proceeded anyway, undercutting their own leader and abandoning the leverage Democrats had just won at the ballot box.
The Aftermath: Party in Crisis
The backlash was immediate and furious. “Schumer is no longer effective,” Democratic donors and strategists told Politico, with calls growing for Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to primary challenge him in 2028.3233 One Democratic donor told The Hill: “We’ve got to get rid of him. She’s the future. He’s the past.”34
Progressive grassroots group MoveOn called on Schumer to step down from his powerful role, while Representative Ocasio-Cortez mobilized her base to oppose what she described as Schumer’s “acquiescence” to Republicans.3536 An Axios report documented that “House Dems’ anti-Schumer caucus is growing rapidly,” representing “Democrats’ largest groundswell against one of their leaders” in recent memory.37
The Hill published blistering op-eds with titles like “Shutdown sellouts: Democrats don’t seem to understand the stakes for America” and “In the shutdown showdown, Democrats once again stumble at the finish line.”3839 PBS observed bluntly: “The shutdown is over, with no winners and much frustration.”40
Video Coverage
- Democrats turn on Schumer amid government shutdown fallout (YouTube, Nov. 11, 2025)41
- Senate Passes Bill to End 41-Day Shutdown as 8 Democrats Break Ranks (YouTube, Nov. 10, 2025)42
- House votes on funding bill to end government shutdown after 43 days (YouTube, Nov. 12, 2025)43
The Strategic Disaster
The consequences extend far beyond this single vote. With the ACA subsidies expiring December 31, 2025, roughly 22 million Americans currently receiving enhanced subsidies face massive premium increases.4445 The Congressional Budget Office projects 3.8 million more uninsured Americans if the subsidies expire.46 KFF analysis found that premium payments for some individuals could more than double—those at 115-141% of the federal poverty level could see premiums increase from $0 to up to $794 per month.47
Democrats now have no leverage left. House Democrats are attempting a discharge petition to force a vote on extending the subsidies, but it requires Republican votes they almost certainly won’t get.48 As one Democratic strategist noted, Democrats just demonstrated to Republicans that “sustained pressure works, that centrists will fold, and that Democratic threats are hollow.”49
Perhaps most damaging: Democrats proved to their own voters, fresh off a blue wave victory, that winning elections doesn’t matter if the party lacks the spine to use its power.50 The renegades didn’t just surrender a legislative fight—they may have surrendered the party’s credibility heading into 2026.51
Another Theory – Hmmm – From Facebook?
Editor’s Note: This fact-check section is added for my friends. One of them recently re-posted an article that sent my radar spinning, “Danger, Will Robinson!” Let’s examine the Facebook post, fact-check style. 🙂 –DrWeb
Fact-Check Analysis
Facebook Post Link (Fact Checked): shorturl.at/nC5DD
Credibility Assessment: This Facebook post mixes real events with speculative political analysis and unverified strategic claims.
What’s Accurate:
- Eight Senate Democrats (Durbin, Shaheen, Hassan, Kaine, Cortez-Masto, Rosen, Fetterman, King) did vote with Republicans on November 9-10, 2025 to end a 43-day government shutdown
- The shutdown lasted from October 1 – November 13, 2025, making it the longest in U.S. history
- President Trump did sign the funding bill on November 13, 2025
- The deal did NOT include guaranteed ACA subsidy extensions, only a promise of a December vote
- Democrats did face significant backlash from progressives and calls for Schumer to step down
What’s Questionable:
- Strategic Narrative – The elaborate description of Durbin “orchestrating” a strategic trap for Republicans is speculative political analysis, not documented fact
- Unverified Source Citations – While the post lists major outlets, it provides no actual article links or specific dates to verify the strategic claims
- Hopeful Characterization? – The framing of the vote as a calculated long-game strategy is one interpretation, but not proven by the cited sources
Conclusion: The Facebook post accurately describes the basic facts of the shutdown and the eight senators who voted to end it. However, the strategic analysis claiming Durbin orchestrated this as a deliberate trap is speculative commentary presented as fact. The events happened, but the motivations and strategy described remain unverified.
Fact-check completed: November 15, 2025
Works Cited (Footnotes)
1. ↑ “The Eight Senators Who Broke with Democrats to End the Government Shutdown.” Time, 10 Nov. 2025. time.com/7199246/eight-senator…
2. ↑ “8 Democrats Voted with Republicans on a Shutdown Deal. Here’s What They’ve Said about Why.” PBS NewsHour, 11 Nov. 2025. pbs.org/newshour/politics/8-de…
3. ↑ “Senate Advances Funding Measure to End Shutdown.” CBS News. cbsnews.com/news/senate-democr…
4. ↑ “End of Shutdown in Sight as Some Democrats Break with Leadership to Make Deal with GOP.” PBS NewsHour, 9 Nov. 2025. pbs.org/newshour/politics/end-…
5. ↑ “The Eight Senators Who Broke with Democrats to End the Government Shutdown.” Time, 10 Nov. 2025. time.com/7199246/eight-senator…
6. ↑ “Eight Senate Democrats Back Bipartisan Deal to End Government Shutdown.” 77 WABC, 10 Nov. 2025. wabcradio.com/2025/11/10/eight…
7. ↑ “Schumer’s a No on Shutdown Deal.” Politico, 9 Nov. 2025. politico.com/live-updates/2025…
8. ↑ “End of Shutdown in Sight as Some Democrats Break with Leadership to Make Deal with GOP.” PBS NewsHour, 9 Nov. 2025. pbs.org/newshour/politics/end-…
9. ↑ “House Votes to Reopen Government after 43-Day Shutdown.” Politico, 13 Nov. 2025. politico.com/news/2025/11/13/h…
10. ↑ “House Passes Bill to End History-Making Shutdown.” The Hill. thehill.com/homenews/house/500…
11. ↑ “Longest Government Shutdown in US History Ends after 43 Days as Trump Signs Funding Bill.” Associated Press. apnews.com/article/government-…
12. ↑ “Government Shutdown Ends as Trump Signs Funding Bill into Law.” CBS News. cbsnews.com/news/government-sh…
13. ↑ “Here’s What’s in the Senate Deal to End the Government Shutdown.” CBS News. cbsnews.com/news/senate-deal-e…
14. ↑ “Government Shutdown Concluded but ACA Subsidies in Limbo.” AJMC. ajmc.com/view/government-shutd…
15. ↑ “Here’s What’s in the Senate Deal to End the Government Shutdown.” CBS News. cbsnews.com/news/senate-deal-e…
16. ↑ “Democrats Fold on Biggest Government Shutdown Demand.” Axios, 10 Nov. 2025. axios.com/2025/11/10/democrats…
17. ↑ “8 Democrats Voted with Republicans on a Shutdown Deal. Here’s What They’ve Said about Why.” PBS NewsHour, 11 Nov. 2025. pbs.org/newshour/politics/8-de…
18. ↑ “8 Democrats Voted with Republicans on a Shutdown Deal. Here’s What They’ve Said about Why.” PBS NewsHour, 11 Nov. 2025. pbs.org/newshour/politics/8-de…
19. ↑ “8 Democrats Voted with Republicans on a Shutdown Deal. Here’s What They’ve Said about Why.” PBS NewsHour, 11 Nov. 2025. pbs.org/newshour/politics/8-de…
20. ↑ “House Dems Rebel, Prod Schumer to Resign after Shutdown Deal.” KABC. abc7.com/politics/house-dems-r…
21. ↑ “House Dems Rebel, Prod Schumer to Resign after Shutdown Deal.” KABC. abc7.com/politics/house-dems-r…
22. ↑ “Democrats Fold on Biggest Government Shutdown Demand.” Axios, 10 Nov. 2025. axios.com/2025/11/10/democrats…
23. ↑ “Senate Democrats Fracture as Shutdown Deal Sparks Backlash.” Evrim Ağacı. evrimagaci.org/trmtrl-101249
24. ↑ “Senate Advances Funding Measure to End Shutdown.” CBS News. cbsnews.com/news/senate-democr…
25. ↑ “Scoop: Schumer Privately Fought to Extend Government Shutdown.” Axios, 10 Nov. 2025. axios.com/2025/11/10/schumer-p…
26. ↑ “Scoop: Schumer Privately Fought to Extend Government Shutdown.” Axios, 10 Nov. 2025. axios.com/2025/11/10/schumer-p…
27. ↑ “Senate Democrats Fracture as Shutdown Deal Sparks Backlash.” Evrim Ağacı. evrimagaci.org/trmtrl-101249
28. ↑ “Scoop: Schumer Privately Fought to Extend Government Shutdown.” Axios, 10 Nov. 2025. axios.com/2025/11/10/schumer-p…
29. ↑ “Schumer’s a No on Shutdown Deal.” Politico, 9 Nov. 2025. politico.com/live-updates/2025…
30. ↑ “End of Shutdown in Sight as Some Democrats Break with Leadership to Make Deal with GOP.” PBS NewsHour, 9 Nov. 2025. pbs.org/newshour/politics/end-…
31. ↑ “Scoop: Schumer Privately Fought to Extend Government Shutdown.” Axios, 10 Nov. 2025. axios.com/2025/11/10/schumer-p…
32. ↑ “Schumer Is No Longer Effective: Democrats Lash Out after Shutdown Deal.” Politico, 11 Nov. 2025. politico.com/news/2025/11/11/s…
33. ↑ Reichlin, Ben. “Calls Grow for AOC to Launch Primary Challenge against Chuck Schumer.” Salon, 13 Nov. 2025. salon.com/2025/11/13/calls-gro…
34. ↑ “In the Shutdown Showdown, Democrats Stumble at the Finish Line.” The Hill, 12 Nov. 2025. thehill.com/opinion/white-hous…
35. ↑ “Progressive Group MoveOn Calls for Schumer to Step Aside.” Axios, 11 Nov. 2025. axios.com/2025/11/11/moveon-sc…
36. ↑ Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria. “Ocasio-Cortez Mobilizes Democrats against Schumer Plan to Avoid Shutdown.” CNN, 13 Mar. 2025. cnn.com/2025/03/13/politics/oc…
37. ↑ “Scoop: House Dems’ Anti-Schumer Caucus Is Growing.” Axios, 14 Nov. 2025. axios.com/2025/11/14/house-dem…
38. ↑ “Shutdown Sellouts: Democrats Don’t Seem to Understand the Stakes for America.” The Hill. thehill.com/opinion/congress-b…
39. ↑ “In the Shutdown Showdown, Democrats Stumble at the Finish Line.” The Hill, 12 Nov. 2025. thehill.com/opinion/white-hous…
40. ↑ “The Shutdown Is Over, with No Winners and Much Frustration. How Did We Get Here?” PBS NewsHour. pbs.org/newshour/politics/the-…
41. ↑ “Democrats Turn on Schumer after Shutdown Deal.” YouTube, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[video_id]
42. ↑ “Senate Passes Bill to End 41-Day Shutdown.” YouTube, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[video_id]
43. ↑ “House Votes on Funding Bill to End Shutdown.” YouTube, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[video_id]
44. ↑ “Enhanced Obamacare Subsidies Expire December 31st.” PoliMetrics, Substack. polimetrics.substack.com/p/enh…
45. ↑ “Health Care Tax Credits Are Set to Expire at the End of 2025.” CBS News. cbsnews.com/news/health-care-t…
46. ↑ “Government Shutdown Concluded but ACA Subsidies in Limbo.” AJMC. ajmc.com/view/government-shutd…
47. ↑ “Government Shutdown Concluded but ACA Subsidies in Limbo.” AJMC. ajmc.com/view/government-shutd…
48. ↑ “Democrats Fold on Biggest Government Shutdown Demand.” Axios, 10 Nov. 2025. axios.com/2025/11/10/democrats…
49. ↑ Reichlin, Ben. “Calls Grow for AOC to Launch Primary Challenge against Chuck Schumer.” Salon, 13 Nov. 2025. salon.com/2025/11/13/calls-gro…
50. ↑ “In the Shutdown Showdown, Democrats Stumble at the Finish Line.” The Hill, 12 Nov. 2025. thehill.com/opinion/white-hous…
51. ↑ “In the Shutdown Showdown, Democrats Stumble at the Finish Line.” The Hill, 12 Nov. 2025. thehill.com/opinion/white-hous…
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