The government shutdown is now in effect, leaving Americans everywhere asking, “What happens next?” The answer is straightforward: Democrats need to face reality and stop pushing a losing cause. Their demands—$1.5 trillion in additional spending, permanent extensions of COVID-era emergency programs, and taxpayer-funded healthcare for undocumented immigrants—aren’t just unrealistic, they’re political poison. These aren’t issues that will win over voters, and blaming Republicans won’t change that fact.
On Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance appeared on Fox News to discuss what he called the “Schumer Shutdown.” True to form, Vance delivered a sharp, clear-eyed critique. His opening point made clear that Republicans had already approved a clean funding bill, but Democrats refused to pass it:
Vance said: You don’t shut down the government just because you disagree on policy. These are separate matters. Essential services are already funded—we agreed on military pay, air traffic control funding, food assistance programs. You don’t close the government because you can’t get your way on an unrelated issue—and yet, that’s exactly what Democrats have done. It’s truly astonishing.
Looking back over the past 20 years, I’ve always heard Democrats say, “You don’t shut down the government when you’re not getting what you want.” And now, the far-left wing of Senate Democrats shut it down last night. Why? Because they’re not getting their way. Even more ridiculous, they claim to be fighting to preserve a premium support program under Obamacare that doesn’t expire until next year. So why shut down the government now, on October 1st, over a program that isn’t set to expire for months? Let’s negotiate and talk it out—that’s how Washington works. But no, they chose to shut it down because they didn’t get their demands. That’s what Senate Democrats did.
There’s an underlying motive behind this Democratic obstructionism that Vice President Vance didn’t explicitly mention: a deep-seated animosity toward Donald Trump. “Orange Man Bad” has become their political creed, and they’ll throw every possible obstacle in the administration’s way—even if it hurts the country—to score points against Trump. It’s not a winning strategy, but logic hasn’t been their strong suit lately.
When the discussion turned to Democrats’ push for taxpayer-funded healthcare for undocumented immigrants, Vance’s tone sharpened further. He pointed out that extending benefits intended for American citizens to those who entered the country illegally isn’t just illogical—it’s an affront to the taxpayers footing the bill:
He explained: This is a typical Democrat talking point—they claim they’re not trying to provide healthcare to illegal immigrants, but that’s false. Two Biden-era programs funneled taxpayer money for healthcare to undocumented immigrants, and these were cut off when President Trump took office. The first was federal funding for emergency hospital care given to illegal immigrants. We ended that, because hospital services should primarily serve American citizens, not be a burden on taxpayers while serving those here illegally.
The second was mass parole given to millions of undocumented immigrants, who then became eligible for taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits. Trump and Congressional Republicans shut down that funding. Democrats want to reinstate it. Of course, they’re dug in. Illegal immigrants have become a key part of their political base. They rely on inflating blue-state population numbers with undocumented immigrants to maintain congressional seats they might otherwise lose. It’s a fight for survival. Without that artificial boost, their fragile hold on power slips away. Make no mistake, if Democrats regain control next year, it won’t just be about President Trump—they’ll go after his entire team, and possibly anyone remotely connected to him. That’s the driving force behind their rigid stance. It’s not about good governance—it’s raw political desperation.
Their approval ratings are abysmal, hovering somewhere between athlete’s foot and head lice. They know they’re vulnerable, but a wounded beast is often the most dangerous. Don’t expect reason from Democrats now—they’re driven by fear and the instinct to survive.
