Government Shutdown and Blame Game on “Meet the Press”
NBC’s Kristen Welker challenged Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday during “Meet the Press” about a Democrat senator who shared a clip to protest the government shutdown, despite previously withholding votes needed to reopen it. Jeffries criticized Republicans, labeling them responsible for the shutdown, which began early Wednesday after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and most Democrats voted against a GOP spending bill.
During the discussion on who is to blame for the shutdown, Welker pointed out that Republican senators require at least five Democrat votes to pass their bill. It’s interesting, really—Jeffries argued that while it may be viewed as a Republican closure, it’s also the Democrat senators’ refusal to support what is called a clean resolution that contributes to the deadlock.
Welker showcased a montage featuring prominent Democrats like former Senate Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Jeffries himself. She then pressed him on why Democrats avoid discussing government funding and the extension of the Obamacare tax credit, which is set to expire at the end of 2025.
Jeffries responded, expressing a desire for bipartisan negotiations where both parties could collaborate to pass a spending bill aimed at improving Americans’ quality of life amidst rising living costs. He noted that Republicans had promised to lower costs, yet they seem to be increasing instead.
He elaborated that if the Obamacare tax credits are not maintained, healthcare premiums could rise sharply, further straining Americans already grappling with high costs—a situation he attributed to policies put in place during Trump’s presidency. Jeffries emphasized the urgency for bipartisan dialogue to tackle the ongoing healthcare crisis.
On Tuesday evening, the House passed a GOP-led spending bill, but by the time it reached the Senate, three Democratic senators could not garner the necessary 60 votes, resulting in a 55-45 outcome. Since the shutdown began, Democrats have blamed Republicans for not negotiating adequately on healthcare access, while Republicans counter that Democrats are prioritizing healthcare for illegal immigrants at the expense of essential negotiations.
In March 2025, a potential shutdown was averted when Schumer and a few Democratic senators sided with Republicans to approve a spending bill. This decision quickly drew criticism from progressive members of his party, including Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who publicly condemned Schumer’s choice, labeling it a major mistake. Speculation even arose about her ambitions for Schumer’s Senate seat in the 2028 elections.
Despite the backlash, Ocasio-Cortez maintained that she did not influence Schumer’s decision regarding the funding bill.
