The U.S. government is still padlocked tighter than a miser’s wallet, and now even CNN’s own Van Jones is throwing shade at the Democrats for their questionable chess moves in this shutdown showdown, as Fox News reports.
As Capitol Hill remains a battlefield, the ongoing government shutdown stems from a bitter partisan clash over Obamacare funding, with Senate Democrats digging in their heels and Republicans pointing fingers.
The stalemate dragged into the weekend, with no end in sight as of Friday, when the Senate failed to muster the votes to reopen the government. The tally split predictably along party lines, proving once again that unity in Washington is as rare as a balanced budget.
Leading the Democratic charge, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his caucus are refusing to compromise on extending Obamacare tax credits set to expire by year’s end. Their argument? Without a bipartisan resolution, healthcare premiums for millions will soar faster than a SpaceX rocket.
Republicans, predictably, aren’t buying it, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune accusing Democrats of holding the nation “hostage” over their demands. Thune insists, “This is about doing what's in the best interest of the American people.” Funny how “best interest” always depends on which side of the aisle you’re sitting on.
Meanwhile, no deal has emerged from the hallowed halls of Congress, leaving federal workers and everyday Americans caught in the crossfire of this political tug-of-war.
Enter Van Jones, the CNN commentator who stepped into the fray on Friday’s “Real Time” with Bill Maher, offering a rare moment of candor from the left-leaning network. Jones didn’t mince words, admitting the shutdown could be leverage for Democrats but questioning if now is the right moment to play that card.
“I think you can always trust our party to do the wrong thing at the wrong time for the right reason,” Jones quipped. Ouch—that’s the kind of self-own even conservatives can applaud for its brutal honesty.
Jones went further, warning of the backlash: “So now people are going to be mad about the post office and a hundred other things that Republicans can then blame on us.” He’s not wrong; when the mail stops and parks close, the finger-pointing game gets ugly fast.
Adding a twist, Jones revealed a past chat with Schumer from about three months back, where the senator adamantly opposed a shutdown as a tactic. “He convinced me that shutting the government down is stupid,” Jones recalled.
Yet, here we are, with Schumer leading the charge to do just that, leaving Jones visibly baffled: “Then I turn on the TV and he says, ‘We’re now shutting the government down.’” Talk about a political U-turn sharper than a NASCAR driver’s.
Jones also empathized with the Democratic base’s frustration, noting, “I get it, the base is upset…’Please do something, do anything.’” But he cautioned against rash moves that could hurt federal workers and cripple government functions just as pain from rising premiums looms.
Still, Jones hasn’t entirely written off the strategy, musing, “Maybe it’ll work.” That’s a big maybe, considering the collateral damage of a shuttered government often overshadows any policy win.
For conservatives watching this unfold, it’s another example of progressive overreach, where noble intentions—like protecting healthcare—collide with the messy reality of governing. Democrats might think they’re fighting the good fight, but they risk alienating the very Americans they claim to champion when essential services grind to a halt.
Ultimately, this shutdown saga underscores a deeper truth: Washington’s addiction to partisan gamesmanship leaves everyday folks footing the bill. Whether it’s skyrocketing premiums or a stalled government, the pain is real, and both sides would do well to remember that actions often feel far beyond the Beltway.
