The longest shutdown in history is over. A secret meeting ended it.
The Secret Meeting That Ended the Shutdown
The Wall Street Journal comments on The Secret Meeting That Ended the Shutdown
The turning point in the government’s longest shutdown didn’t involve President Trump or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Instead, after the Senate adjourned for the day and most reporters had emptied out of the halls, a small group of breakaway Democrats and an independent slipped unnoticed into the office of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.).
The shutdown was nearing the one-month mark and the group was growing antsy as federal workers missed paychecks and food-aid programs ran out of money. Two nights before Halloween, the senators sat down with Thune, ready to reopen the government, people familiar with the meeting said. “It was a group of people trying to solve a problem,” said Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats and helped lead negotiations.
The meeting—one of several—had been requested by King and other centrists, including New Hampshire’s Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, all former governors. Republicans in attendance were Thune and Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota, also a former governor and senior member of the powerful appropriations committee.
The group told Schumer they were talking to Thune and read him into their discussions, but Schumer didn’t participate directly, according to senators involved. Schumer wanted to extend the shutdown, arguing Trump would eventually engage in talks himself and they would get a better deal—one that would address expiring Obamacare health-insurance subsidies that Democrats had made their central demand in the shutdown fight, people familiar with Schumer’s position said.
Longest Shutdown Is Over
Also consider Trump Signs Spending Bill, Ending Longest Shutdown in U.S. History
President Trump signed a spending package to reopen the government late Wednesday, a measure passed by the Republican-led House after a record-long 43-day shutdown.
The legislation passed the House on a 222 to 209 vote, largely along party lines.
The package extends funding for the federal government through Jan. 30 and includes full-year funding for the Agriculture Department, military construction and the legislative branch. The bill also includes language guaranteeing the reversal of federal layoffs initiated by the Trump administration during the shutdown in a move to pressure Democrats, as well as a moratorium on future cuts.
The resolution of the standoff ensures paychecks for federal employees, including air-traffic controllers, and sends hundreds of thousands of furloughed government workers back to the job. But it postponed until later this year the central political fight: how to address the expiration of hefty healthcare subsidies that are set to be cut off for millions of households.
Republicans Own Healthcare Now
The fight over Obamacare subsidies is over. But the Obamacare extension idea is over.
That means Republicans own the problem and the solution. Good luck with that.
Republicans will get the blame for Obamacare price hikes. They offer Flexible Spending Accounts instead of insurance. Trump embraced the idea, but no one can explain exactly how it works.
Paul Krugman, AOC, and others are upset.
I commented Paul Krugman Is Very Upset with the Government Deal. Should Democrats Moan?
Krugman, Nate Silver, AOC and others are upset? Why?
All we know for sure is subsidies that went all the way up top 400 percent of the poverty level are over.
I fear the spending plan hatched by Senator Cassidy of Louisiana, and endorsed by Trump will be even more costly.
That’s my guess, but we will not know until we have details and then sew what actually passes.
For now, Republicans are bragging about winning, with Krugman moaning about losses. I think both positions are wrong. Click the above link for discussion.
Meanwhile, Republicans own the issue. Good luck. Seriously.
Also see The Great Federal Re-Opening of 2025, for a discussion as to when we have economic reports.
Importantly, the Fed looks to be flying blind on the CPI and inflation.
I understand why they are upset. You imagine they should be happy with the start of UBI. If I’m AOC that isn’t a fact it’s a possibility so as of now they have nothing, and they certainly don’t trust Trump to deliver something. Furthermore they prefer a government program with loyal D voting workers and corresponding unions who faithfully give to the DNC over money that skips them entirely. On top of that it’s more politically effective to preen about the other sides cruelty. There are lots of reasons for them to express displeasure.
I really hate to think about it, but I have to agree with Mish that UBI a.k.a. leech bux are in our future.
I can see this playing out as follows:
Someone, please tell me I’m wrong here.
The circus of stupid resumes!
“Trump Signs Bill to Reopen Government, Now What?”
We will be reminded how far the Dems & the GOP are apart on trying to control healthcare costs. Most Dems are elbow-to-elbow with the Krugman’s of the world, thinking there’s a blank check to be written to buy votes.
The GOP on the other hand are split. A small minority want to get serious about cutting the budget, but most aren’t serious, including TACO. If subsidies are reduced, my bet is that they will be minimal. 385% of the federal poverty level would be a good WAG.
Nobody wants to tell healthcare they’ve got to take a pay cut at least not yet.
Doesn’t this mean there is massive inflation in health insurance costs coming right away? I’ve seen lots of reports of those numbers going up 20% or more for most people. How are struggling people going to pay for that?
Oh well, Trump/GOP will get 100% of the blame. 100%
Won’t we get deflation in costs since as you noted, struggling people can’t afford it and therefore will go without? That would mean less demand which in theory should mean lower prices (you know, if medical care was a free market – LOL).
It’s the opposite, if people aren’t buying health insurance, the insurance company needs to make up the loss by increasing premiums across those that are buying into it.
Unlike auto or home insurance, those that go without will simply end up in the emergency room with no insurance and they need to get treated by law.
Higher health care costs, higher health insurance premiums, It’ll be a mess either way and 100% the fault of the party in power. 100%
It’s impossible to fix cost problems with financing and insurance schemes. It doesn’t matter who pays, someone is going bankrupt. I’m glad the health extortion companies didn’t get another 200 billion a year handout.
That may be true, but it’s very possible to lie about it for long enough to get elected.
Everything is about paying, but nothing is about cost. Ever. Since nobody cares about cost, its no wonder that costs are soaring.
Medicare/Medicaid will destroy the country way before the scam known as the Affordable Care Act does.The psychos pushing a trillion dollar war budget are only helping things along.
Good thing this bill afforded a provision for 8 GOPers to sue Jack Smith to high heaven for doing his job. Did you vote for Trump’s personal grievances?
Parasitism so preposterous that it could be considered a performance.
Trump said he would reschedule marijuana from I to III, and now this bill is killing a $30BB hemp industry. Trusting Trump is the dumbest thing anyone can do
This is why he chose to court stupid followers.
“Epstein? Epstein who?”
oh, oh
turns out that China’s “promise” to buy more soybeans was a typical Trump “I want this so I will say it and it will happen” fantasy
China is continuing to support the alternate South American purchases, and the initial small purchases from the US were to give Trump a fig leaf
https://www.farmersadvance.com/story/news/2025/11/12/china-buys-more-brazil-soybeans-as-us-purchases-stall/87230564007/
Won’t US farmers then sell their beans to whoever would have bought them from Argentina?
You would think so, but it does not appear to be happening.
Congratulations, you win the prize for understanding economics better than Scott Bessent.
Substitute “oil” for “beans” and “Russian oil companies” for “US farmers” and put India in there instead of Argentina, and you’ll understand why Taco’s screwed on “bone crushing” sanctions.
Argentina will buy from US farmers at a deep discount then sell them to China for a premium. As an added bonus, the US sends Argentina a big $40 billion check so farmers can grow more soybeans.
Win-win for Argentina and Argentina farmers.
– a small group of breakaway Democrats and an independent slipped unnoticed into the office of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.).
> Even the Smart Dems knew enough to give it up. What a waste of time and effort for nothing! I think Schumer ended his political career.
>> They knew from the get go this was wrong, but pushed for it anyway. They just can’t seem to help themselves, in terms of trying to continually create issues that simply don’t exist. It’s not America Taxpayers Role to Pay for Healthcare for illegals. Hell, we don’t have enough healthcare for Our Very Own Citizens, and yet the Stupid Dems (obvious Majority), thought this was a good idea, to make American Citizens, crying for healthcare, made to Pay For Illegals with No Right to Their Money OR their Healthcare.
– Two nights before Halloween, “It was a group of people trying to solve a problem,” said Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats and helped lead negotiations.
> So an Independent Saved There Behinds? Go figure, they couldn’t even get that done on their own, these Dems are utterly useless crybabies it appears. Do they need help tying their shoes? This Group may be the most useless, uneducated, silly, and downright useless at their roles in Democrat Office History!! They “Shut Down” Our American Government to try to Force Taxpayers to Pay For Illegals Healthcare!! Do they even know How Stupid that was? It has to border on insane, as a hill to die on? WTF are these individuals trying to do to Our Country? Destroy it from the inside out perhaps, as that is where that was ALL heading.
– President Trump signed a spending package to reopen the government late Wednesday, a measure passed by the Republican-led House after a record-long 43-day shutdown.
> Finally Intelligence won over stupidity, geez…
– That means Republicans own the problem and the solution.
> There is no problem, with the proper solution. Shore up the program, if keeping it, and if not, then scrap it, and go back to where we were before we had it. No rush obviously, as the Democrats made that clear. They were willing to keep the healthcare issue front and center forever it seemed until the Independents arrived, and without any fix at all…
– Republicans will get the blame for Obamacare price hikes. They offer Flexible Spending Accounts instead of insurance. Trump embraced the idea, but no one can explain exactly how it works.
> It’s insurance, no matter what it looks like, as long as it works. This is not rocket science. The Dems try to make it such, like everything else they get their hands into, but we don’t need the BS. All we need is a simple Healthcare Program, easy to understand, with basic coverage, and easy to use. Get Musk involved if needed, as he is certainly smart enough to have something written up in a matter of days. I doubt that’s necessary, but if they start crying about it, swiftly get a basic plan in place for immediate use, and work out the details quickly for the balance.
we see through your attempt to start your own version of a Cliffs Notes business
I would have to know what that actually is I suppose, before starting a version. Sounds silly however, whatever it is…
“Get Musk involved if needed…”
If Musk got involved he’d be promising a fantastic self-driving health plan that would be ready in 18 months in perpetuity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4rdISpXigM
From purely an intelligence perspective. He could figure out how to write a sensible, and basic workable healthcare plan in a few days I imagine. Just tossing it out there, as a person of interest, if they are having a hard time with it.
Musk? Lol – you need to get with the times.
How real is the economic pain? Are any red state Senators hearing from constituents? Are farmers really complaining? Hard to find real truth in the media. Prices are clearly up. Has to be hurting people some where, but are they making noise or is our Congress that tone deaf?
“What about a real crisis, like the government shutdown?” asked a student of mine.
“Is the government shutdown a crisis?” I asked.
“YES!!” The whole class shouted.
“My dad hasn’t been paid for weeks!” one cried.
“Mom’s said we don’t got enough money for food!” cried another.
These are students in an inner city school.
“Oh. My bad,” I remarked.
Now we can get the Epstein files out in the open and remove the appropriate offenders from office or their comfy retirements. Perhaps Trump, Clinton and Prince Andrew can share a prison wing with Putin?
Where do you think all those Russian girl strippers came from that worked at Rachel’s in Palm Beach?
When Trump complained that Epstein “Stole” one of his underage girls, said trafficking was exposed and the “Enigmas” can never be put back in the bottle.
Anyone voting to withhold the files is obstructing justice and complicit in the crimes.
“I have no age limit”. Donald Trump on the Howard Stern Show…
>
That was crude, and regarded as “Locker Room Talk” and I would hope you know what that means and implies. If so, then you know it was banter and He did apologize for that. He is human, even as many think otherwise…
“locker room talk” and “banter” is usually the true feeling and facts about subjects the speaker can’t or won’t reveal in public.
That’s just not true. At least not always. Going over the line is often what makes jokes funny. Otherwise you’re just left with puns – the scones of humor.
No it’s not! Locker room talk is a place for Men to Bond and Talk about Men stuff, like girls as an example. Cars and sports are others.
Often times embellishment is utilized as the banter gets slowly exaggerated and one Guy try’s to up the last Guys story. It’s Banter!!! Get out much?
I hang out with real men, mostly at the poker table.
Amazing to find rubes still trying to excuse this guy
Daddy issues are pretty prevalent, as it turns out.
It’s amazing to me that TDS has so many trying to make up stuff about the Guy. They create stories all the time, along with false narratives, and outright Lies constantly!
This is WHY of course, he has never, ever even come close to being found guilty of anything. It’s all made up, and distorted lies and innuendos. Nothing sticks because it’s fake, phony, fraudulent BS!
If he was guilty of ANYTHING he would be in jail by now, but he’s not because he isn’t. I believe he has won every single charge levied upon him… He’s Innocent on ALL Counts!!!
He’s a simple pig, nothing more.
He is “The President” of the U.S. too, so he’s got that going for him. When you get to be President of the U.S. Let Us All Know Please…
A pig is a pig, and his followers have shown us, you don’t need to be a president to be a pig.
Technically there are no strip clubs in Palm Beach. The super rich wouldn’t allow it in their backyard.
They are all in West Palm Beach where the common people like myself live. I personally always found Rachel’s to be way over priced for the quality of what you saw but they did have an excellent Friday lunch special.
Maybe “no age limit” was because he was hoping to bang Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
now what? sameo Nobody’s Buying Homes, Nobody’s Switching Jobs—and America’s Mobility Is Stalling
Why Fewer Americans Are Moving for Jobs and Homes – WSJ
Mish wrote up this topic months and months ago
Chucks fears the rise of radical left. It’s a gang war : Capo dei Capi. Castellano vs Mamdani.
In NY (and other deep blue areas) the primary is the whole election. He just needs to fend off AOC. He might want to announce that he’s a trans woman.
Chuck leveraged the shutdown for Obamacare as Avraham sacrificed Isaac for god.
There is a different opinion on this. As first born son, it was Ishmael who was to be sacrificed and not Issac who was born much later. It does not matter who the mother is, a son is a son whether born of free person or not.
The only thing I’m certain of is that corruption will multiply from here on out. There’s going to be a lot of “broken windows” showing up soon, as a signal of market edifices preparing to collapse.
Ranking Member DeLauro Statement on ‘Million-Dollar Jackpot’ Provision in GOP Funding Billhttps://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/ranking-member-delauro-statement-million-dollar-jackpot-provision-gop-funding
Good people rarely go beyond municipal politics
In he military, they rarely rise above colonel.
Gold sure likes it.
The slaughter of the dollar continues and mining shares roll forward after a solid month of backing and filing.
Huge backlog of financing needs hits the market in the face of lackluster demand for US paper. What could go wrong and yields will have to go higher to compensate for increasing risk.
GC to $3,600/ $3,500
Yawn,
Less bread, more circus!
Epstein vote on the horizon.
How much does orange tanning goo cost in prison?
Epstein spa vs Mar Largo spa. Billie boy wife finished Epstein off.
You could be close. Comey’s daughter was running SDNY and we all know about Bill Barr by now.
There are so many vile people in the U.K., US and Israel involved in Epstein’s honey trap operation that the number glad he was suicided is in the thousands.
makeup to cover multi polyps from the forehead on the nose to the chin.
Schumer was in on the deal. That’s why the democrat senators who caved were the ones furthest away from facing reelection. They were chosen to break the impasse. And that’s fine. I didn’t care one way or the other about this half-assed shutdown. I do think Fetterman did what he thought was right.
Durbin was the other side of the Chuckles The Clown Act.
How much of that was fetterman and how much was the stroke
lol. We’d be better off if all the senators would have strokes. A reminder of their mortality might diminish their venality.
Temporary measures is the key concept here. The fight will continue because all politicians love a Circus. It keeps US separated by stupid ideas, such as Obamacare which has never worked to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Right, he got China to buy a couple of soybeans now his side thinks he solved that, while China has record import surplus and has already tapered if not ended buying of US soybeans while continuingto buy from South American nations
No doubt, taco will take credit for the “agreement.”
Literally the opposite of “taco”. Time to retire that meme.
Nah, it makes me laugh – lol.