President Trump and other Republicans have falsely claimed Democrats are responsible for the government shutdown due to their desire to provide free healthcare to undocumented immigrants. However, Democrats are focused on extending tax credits that make health insurance more affordable and reversing Medicaid cuts made in a recent bill. Undocumented immigrants are ineligible for both Affordable Care Act subsidies and Medicaid. Experts have refuted the claim as inaccurate, emphasizing that the primary goal of Democrats is not to provide healthcare to those in the country illegally.
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Previously distancing himself from the conservative policy plan Project 2025, President Trump has now announced he will meet with Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, a key figure in the plan, to discuss which “Democrat Agencies” to cut. This shift marks a departure from his prior disavowals of the Heritage Foundation’s blueprint, which proposes significant changes to the federal government, including cuts to the federal workforce and expanding executive powers. Despite Trump’s past claims of not knowing about Project 2025, his administration has already implemented several of its proposals. Now, in the midst of a government shutdown, Trump is further aligning his actions with Project 2025’s goals, with plans to cut funding and eliminate federal employees.
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Amidst the government shutdown, Donald Trump will host a Navy celebration this weekend to honor the Navy’s 250th birthday, joined by the first lady and military officials. The event, expected to be large, comes as active-duty servicemembers are working without pay during the shutdown, with their paychecks potentially stopping on October 15th. Trump, who will receive a paycheck, has blamed Democratic leaders for trying to disrupt the celebration, while Republicans and Democrats continue to clash over funding bills and healthcare provisions. Trump has a history of military celebrations, including a recent and costly Army celebration.
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Democrats are advocating for an extension of enhanced subsidies in any stopgap spending bill to reopen the government. This is a crucial step for the party, who have historically struggled to represent working people. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, which provided subsidized premiums for those making less than 400% of the federal poverty line, made health insurance accessible. As premiums and deductibles increased, the cost of health insurance became unsustainable, prompting the author to forgo coverage due to the financial burden.
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Several national polls conducted just before or during the government shutdown reveal that Americans are more likely to blame President Trump and Republicans. The polls show significant fluidity, however, as a considerable percentage of voters remain unsure of who to hold accountable. While different polls show slightly varying results, a common theme emerges with independents heavily blaming Republicans and Democrats also holding some responsibility. The impasse arose after Congress and Trump failed to agree on funding, with Democrats seeking concessions on the Affordable Care Act and Republicans refusing to negotiate before the government reopens.
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In an effort to pressure Senate Democrats, Speaker Mike Johnson has canceled votes for the upcoming week. This move is designed to force Democrats to accept a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) to prevent a government shutdown, a tactic previously employed by Johnson. The cancellation of votes is a shift from earlier plans, and comes amid ongoing disagreements over the CR, with Democrats seeking provisions for healthcare subsidies. Additionally, keeping the House out of session delays a potential vote on releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a move opposed by Republican leadership.
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Speaker Johnson defended Trump’s actions, acknowledging he is “trolling the Democrats” with content intended to mock their position. Despite the lighthearted nature of using memes and social media, Johnson emphasized the serious effects of the situation on federal employees. He maintained that the party does not take pleasure in the difficult decisions being made, despite some finding the mocking content entertaining.
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President Trump, after distancing himself from Project 2025 during the campaign, is now embracing its conservative blueprint. The president has announced meetings with budget chief Russ Vought, an architect of Project 2025, to determine cuts to Democratic agencies. The administration is also using the government shutdown to accelerate these goals, including preparing for mass firings of federal workers and targeting projects championed by Democrats. These actions reflect a broader effort to concentrate federal authority in the presidency as outlined in the project.
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Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former staunch ally of Donald Trump, is now publicly clashing with him, particularly regarding the ongoing government shutdown. She is blaming the Republican party for the impasse, arguing the Senate could end the shutdown with a simple majority vote. Greene’s stance aligns with the majority of Americans who also hold the GOP responsible, despite attempts by the Trump administration to shift blame. Furthermore, she is criticizing her fellow Republicans for the shutdown’s negative impact on American citizens, including unpaid federal workers and families relying on WIC benefits.
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Education Department employees returning from furlough discovered their out-of-office email messages had been altered to include partisan language blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. Several civil servants reported that their pre-approved, nonpartisan messages were replaced with accusatory statements without their consent, and some had the changes revert back even after they corrected them. The altered messages, presented in the first person, stated that the employee was unable to respond due to the actions of Senate Democrats. This action by the Education Department appears to cross a line, pulling civil servants into partisan political statements, with one official defending the messaging by saying, “Where’s the lie?”
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John Q. Hosedrinker