By Outlook’s Dave Schmidt and assisted by Grok AI

(11-12-25) No matter who you support you have to have an opinion on the ‘Government Shutdown’ Soap Opera’.

Seven Democrats change their votes in favor of ending the shutdown after 41 days. One agreed with the Republicans the entire time, he is the one who wears shorts and a hoodie while the Senate is in session.

The eight members of the Democratic caucus who recently voted with Republicans to advance a bill to end the government shutdown on November 9-10, 2025, are:

  • Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
  • Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)
  • Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)
  • Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
  • Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
  • Sen. Angus King (I-ME) (an Independent who caucuses with Democrats)
  • Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
  • Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) 

Retiring Democrat Senator from Illinois Dick Durbin tried to save face favor with his party….

Republican Senator from Kentucky Rand Paul votes against opening the government during the entire process. Why???? The regulation of hemp would hurt Kentucky growers.

When the shutdown started Democrat leadership blamed President Trump and Republicans for the shutdown.

Schumer Lays The Blame Squarely On Republicans For 21-Day Government Shutdown

Forbes Breaking News

If the shutdown was the Republicans fault, why are Democrats blaming Schumer for caving in…when he did not even vote on the changes? Do some on the Left want an excuse to eliminate him from leadership or is that just rumor (?).

Chuck Schumer blasted as Democrats cave to Republicans’ demands and end the government shutdown

Sky News Australia

From the above link on the Intelligencer:

For the record, Chuck Schumer voted against the motion to proceed on a government-reopening measure that is likely to bring his eight-plus years as Senate democratic leader to an end, probably sooner rather than later. But that doesn’t seem to matter. Democrats angry over the abrupt abandonment of a Senate filibuster that seemed to be working in the party’s favor are blaming Schumer, either because they believe he quietly encouraged the eight Democrats who defected, or because he couldn’t keep them in line.

During the shutdown….

Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) released the following statement after Senate Democrats voted to block consideration of S. 3012, the Shutdown Fairness Act, a bill that would have ensured pay for essential federal employees and active-duty servicemembers during the ongoing government shutdown:

“I am appalled that Senate Democrats, including Virginia’s senators, just voted not to pay active duty military members as well as essential federal workers! Voting to shut down the government is one thing, but voting against a standalone bill to pay the men and women who serve our nation in uniform is just shameful.” Rep. Kiggans stated.

Key “Pork” Items Democrats Demanded

Democrats’ counterproposals rejected 12-15 Republican CRs, attaching a “laundry list” of provisions estimated at $1-1.5 trillion over a decade. While not all were itemized as traditional earmarks (district-specific projects), critics like Sen. Ted Cruz and Citizens Against Government Waste labeled them pork for diverting funds from neutral operations to ideological goals. Here’s a breakdown of the main ones, based on reporting from the period:

Quote from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Oct 15, 2025:

“We sent 15 clean CRs to the Senate. Every single one was blocked by Chuck Schumer because Democrats wanted to sneak in billions for their liberal pet projects. That’s not negotiating — that’s extortion.”

This is what the Republicans wanted:

Key Terms of the 2025 Government Shutdown-Ending Bill

The bill in question is a bipartisan compromise package (often called a “minibus” or amended continuing resolution) that ended the 41-day U.S. government shutdown—the longest in history—after it began on October 1, 2025. It passed the Senate on November 10, 2025, by a 60-40 vote (with eight Democrats and one independent joining Republicans, except Sen. Rand Paul who opposed it).

As of November 12, 2025, the House is scheduled to vote on it later today (expected after 7 p.m. ET), with President Trump signaling support for signature if it passes. Passage would immediately reopen federal operations, resume services like air travel and SNAP benefits, and issue back pay.

The agreement largely aligns with Republican demands for a “clean” extension of current funding levels but includes targeted Democratic concessions on worker protections and a future vote on health subsidies. It does not include permanent extensions of ACA premium tax credits or reversals of broader Trump-era cuts (e.g., Medicaid), which were Democratic priorities.

Stay tuned…