On today’s “To the Contrary” Podcast, Nicholas Grossman and I try to pick up the pieces from the Senate Dem cave-in. We break down why the timing baffled strategists, what the fold reveals about the party’s “normal democracy mindset,” and how it may reshape Democratic leadership. The conversation also explores Trump’s latest wave of pardons, the Heritage Foundation’s hard-right turn, and rising fears of another performative foreign war.
While some others are desperately trying to lopstick this pig, Grossman argued that, “By folding in the government shutdown in exchange for virtually nothing, eight Democratic senators aid Trump’s authoritarian takeover rather than oppose it.”
The timing was especially egregious.
With large No Kings protests followed by resounding Democratic victories in state and local elections, it looked like the public approved. Then eight Democratic senators decided to fold, giving Republicans the votes to move forward in exchange for little more than Republicans saying they’ll hold a separate vote on healthcare that Democrats will presumably lose. That appeasement displays a dangerous misunderstanding of the moment, as if America still has a healthy rule-of-law democracy.
The episode also exposes the real divide in the Democratic Party: “Between those who recognize Trump’s growing authoritarianism and asnt to fight it, an those ho want to weakly acquiesce.”
One of the Appeasement Eight, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, explained that some Republican senators told her they’d work with Democrats after the government reopens, and the White House did too, “so now we’ll see if they’re really going to work with us.”
They won’t. Believing a vague promise from proven liars is willfully naive, like Charlie Brown telling himself Lucy won’t move the football again.
Another appeaser, Sen. Angus King, explained his decision with, “Standing up to Donald Trump didn’t work.”
Well sure, when you prematurely fold rather than see a fight through, you fail. And why should Trump opponents vote for anyone who thinks standing up to Trump isn’t worth doing?
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Some highlights of our conversation
The base is angry.
